The Lord’s Justice Will Come

If you have your Bibles. Malachi 3 will stand in reverse actually jump back one verse will start in chapter 2 verse 17 the last verse of chapter 2 and will read through verse six of chapter 3.

The Bible says in chapter 217. You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, wherein have the have we wearied him when you say everyone that do with evil is good in the side of the Lord, and he delighted in him or where is the God of judgment. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me in the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in, behold, he shall come, say, the Lord of hosts who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand with you. For he is like a refiner's fire and like the Fuller slope and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver.

They may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord is in the days of old, and as in the former years, and I will come near to you and judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false squares against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside, and the stranger from his right, and fear not me, say, the Lord of hosts, for I am the Lord, I change not.

Therefore, the sons of Jacob are not consumed on we do praise you tonight for your word.

We come tonight because you are worthy of our time.

We love the brethren. We love to be with God's people. We pray that our hearts would be set aflame by your truth, God, may we love your word more than anything else and I pray that you would help us to grasp the understanding of your truth and in the magnitude and weight of it up was to apply these things are we here tonight. Thank you that you are a God of justice that many things happen in this world we don't understand. Thank you that we can trust you. In those seasons and I pray tonight if anyone doesn't know Christ that tonight might be the night they come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We asked her blessing on all that are here. Thank you for them. In Jesus name God's people said then you may be seated tonight. What you find here in the first two chapters of the book of Malachi is a rebellious people before God who is faithful to them in in there like a rebellious child.

Anybody have a rebellious daughter been a rebellious child in your life you at your seen a rebellious child like you. I was at Walmart today so we we we we understand what that can be like because we've all dealt with rebellion.

It did many of those stages and in and really, that the nation is acting like a rebellious teenager. Are you a rebellious child against God and and and Malachi chapter 1 verse two God says I have loved you, saith the Lord, and listen the way that the priest of the people respond yet you say, wear, and hast thou loved us. They immediately question God's love for them and then Malachi chapter 16, God says a son on with his father Servicemaster five then be a father, where is my honor to my Viewmaster where is my fear say the Lord of hosts of priests that despise my name, and ye say, wherein have we despise thy name, verse seven, ye offer polluted radical mine altering you say, wherein have we polluted the everything that God challenges them with their sins they turn around and challenge God with instead of looking inward.

They kept accusing God of being the one who was all they saw God as being the one who was the problem you read somebody who got on you for something and in your immaturity always play the victim card you have dogma is not my fault you're the one that you know maybe that you you know when Isaac did you know it and we began to make excuses for all of our actions and you have children you know has worked to bring them in.

The room is okay. Tell me what happened and that none of them so you know what dad is my fault you knobs of stress that is frustrated you know she took home and that at the kind of conversation going to my house you could call me, knowing that it is on the nab and then you get into this argument, or they they wore their clothes. Anybody have siblings to do that yet because I have four daughters. This is how it sounds.

You know what she's been where my closing in on tired of this and I say listen. Quit wearing your mother's clothing.

You need to make sure you correct it so vaguely I don't have the dealer and I agree with all brothers and that was not always it was a pleasant season, but you see here were there. They're combative.

They're always questioning. They're always arguing there always making excuses.

Malachi 213 God says he will not accept their offering because they had such great sin in her life with her were doing was divorcing their Jewish wives and going out and marrying pagan wives and God says that that he's going to judge them for this and at the end of chapter 2 verse 13 are met after chapter 2 verse 14 it says they said wherefore why are you going to do this, why don't you accept their offerings in verse 17 God says you've wearied the Bible says you where the Lord with your words and they say where Annette we wearied him and so they just this is, this was their attitude and it continues to permeate all through the book of Malachi, so the priest and people would not accept God's call for them to repent. So what happens to a person or people who don't recognize that they're sending it's the same thing that happens if you don't recognize your vehicle has an oil leak, you're going to have a major problem is going to be a breakdown now either. Either you say well the dipsticks offer my oil light. Light is broken and you just take out the fuse and you go on your happy way. You may feel good about it. There's judgment going to follow that that vehicle in the same sense there is a there is an error against two people who will not examine themselves or sin every day. There should be confessional on everyone in this room is part of the daily sins that we commit.

If you can't think up a sin that you committed. I can tell you to that you and I sin every day with its we don't love God enough we don't love others like we should, we don't. We love ourselves too much and we don't love God enough. This is a daily sin on all of our parts, and so friend how do you respond when God's word and his truth confronts you if you don't see sin in your life you will never confess and repent of it won't receive God's forgiveness and so do you repent and get right with God, or do you get upset and defend yourself.

And that's really what conviction does it either causes people repent, get right with God or they get mad, get angry and I think we probably all been on both sides of that one wears reset. It's a dangerous thing when people argue with God and try to defend their sinful ways and so will you find in chapter 3 is God responding to their negative antagonistic question again. Malachi 217.

This is the way it ends now you you need to know that chapters in the Bible, like where they put chapters and verses are not inspired by God's of chapter 3 will God and so you need to put chapter 3. After the word judgment that was something man put in and it helps us divide up the Bible and then to structure it and went away. And so those things are okay, but chapter 2 verse 17 verse 17 goes the really chapter 3 should've started at the end of verse 16, but so so you need to understand sometimes that happens, it's rare, but it happens sometimes over 17 really is included. The first six verses if you can section this stuff off. That's how that would go and so they culminate in and in God says. The Bible says you have wearied the Lord with your words that you say, wherein have we wearied him when he say everyone to do with evil is good in the side of the Lord, and he delighted in them or where is the God of judgment. So the first thing we see tonight is the challenge of God's justice they challenging question God's justice and this is really one of the age-old questions that people throw against God. Why don't believe in God because bad things happen to good people. Why do bad things happen to good people and why do evil people seem to prosper. It's one of the biggest struggles that people sometimes face and really the question. To be honest with you is not why do good things happen to bad people, but why do good things happen to anyone that there are no good people to Bible scissors none to do with good, no not one. So we have a different definition of good and what God does. But this is a struggle that you need to understand that the Jewish people had and it had consumed them. They had been captive for 70 years in the nation of Babylon.

They had not returned to their own nation for the last 100 years they have rebuilt the temple but the temple was not as grand as it was in Solomon's day and some of the forefathers knew that in the book of Ezra.

They wept over it, because it wasn't they were disappointed in the rebuilt Temple. They were also under the mediocre person control.

They were under the thumb of the Medo Persian Empire and they would be for about 200 years after they come out of Babylon.

They were still under under level of oppression. There also about 100 years prior to the book of Malachi.

Zechariah had preached one of the most encouraging messages to the nation and in Zechariah was was pointing forward to the millennial kingdom. The thousand year reign of Christ will happen at the end of the seven year tribulation.

Revelation chapter 20 verse one through seven speak about it in God's goodness of his kingdom upon earth to be heaven on earth. If you would for a thousand years, and so all those blessings that that Zechariah talked about. They were not seeing them come the past they were they were upset again. They were under the control of a pagan nation and so they that they were seeing people that were evil prospering. They were seeing people doing good going through trials and difficulty never like what's the point what's the point in all of this and in their responses literally verse 17 they said everyone that do with evil is good in the sight of the Lord that they were saying things like, God is God is basically saying you're good if you do evil, your good and where is the God of judgment. God delights in the people who do evil. They were they were throwing out some wicked assaults against God. One of the challenges we have to our sensibilities is to see those who do wrong, often prospering in the world. I made some of the most corrupt people in the world are the most wealthy people in the world. Yes, and people that are in power that it's like Iressa?

How do they stay in power they keep. How is that guy still a governor like how is that individual still in that political position or how are they still how are they not in prison.

Is anybody else ever asked this of the last on almost 18 years like you like, how are they still free. Obviously there are some injustices in the world and and then you see sometimes like man. That is one of the nicest men are nicest ladies in and in why are they going through so many heartaches and so much pain and so much difficulty in it and it can be so so difficult to see that stuff they can really weigh on your heart if you're familiar with Psalm 73 you're familiar with that challenge that the author of Psalm 73 had an insult 73 writes about how the wicked were prospering in and he's like I'm doing good and I'm just going through hardship and what basically what's the use of it all. He said it was so burdensome to his heart that EE almost just lost his faith in everything.

Psalm 7316 it says it like this. He said when I thought to notice it was too painful for me. All these seeming injustices were overwhelming to my conscience and sensibility and notice how he concludes in verse 17, until I went into the sanctuary of God then understood either rent when he got a divine perspective, it cleared the haze and I think sometimes we can get so off balance because we begin to define God's goodness by what happens in July 2022. Seriously. So God's going to be defined by that vapor length.

God's goodness is not based upon what happens in a little shot of a life in a little tittle of a life in a little vapor length time span God's goodness is based on what you will have happened to you for the next billion years. I just simply would say if you had a timeline that went from that into this auditorium to the other in a little in in in in in the span of that was 10 trillion years and and and I said okay. The span of 10 trillion years. What would like 100 year lifespan look like on on a scale like that come up here and write up on on the line like how long you think it would take you to come up and you would for the smallest possible.that you could on that timeframe.

I say okay so is God's goodness based upon the little dot that you wrote or is it based upon the whole time span, and so we often say God bless your good ride that little tiny.and you're not good anymore.

I can't trust you and in God looks down at us sometimes and says you don't even have a clue don't understand he is LOL I am the God who sits in eternity. He holds eternity in his hands. The Bible says a thousand days is like yesterday to God. It's like nothing comes and goes. It's like a breath and so any Christian today can commit these kind of sins when they begin to question God's justice.

They think we deserve more than the age-old lie of Satan, you need instant gratification. What he tell Adam and Eve. What you have. Paradise is not enough funding.

If Satan can sell you paradise not being enough, there is a problem right so Jesus he said wanted to make some bread. You deserve it.

You deserve it. You have somebody tell you that you know you deserve better than this unit is you need to stop them and say you know what I don't deserve better than this actually deserve worse than this and you think God for what I do have so so don't get up in this this victim card mentality shall be a verse of the Bible or God comes along, says you're the victim to wrap your arms around yourself and hold yourself tight until you how wonderful you are. You need to really look out for you love yourself. Just give yourself a kiss. This is insanity.

But this is what the world this is a psychobabble that the world puts out now our value and the reason I say that is because our values not defined by the creation when you begin to assess value if the creation determines value, then you have things like abortion because somebody can come along and say that human being does not have value. Therefore, I can in their life without swipe it off Hitler can come along say that you does not have value.

Or you could take early Americans were they sit in certain groups he said you know those black people have different skin color so they are less valuable.

You have all these problems. So once a human begins to define the value of another human.

That's when tragedy strikes our value doesn't come from people are value comes from our Creator. That's exactly what they or our forefathers run the Bill of Rights and so we were endowed with these these inalienable rights because of the art were made in the image of God. And so that's who gives us our value now we see there there cry of questioning in an assault against God's goodness because they felt like God was not just secondly we see the coming of God's just justice shall appear verse number one and two.

God comes at in response of their questions and he says in verse one behold, I will send my messenger. Now the word behold there it's like saying pay attention. Listen up. It's a call to get the reader's attention its use 318 times in the Old Testament and its use twice in verse one God says behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me sit in the Lord, or I don't know. I whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to the temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delighted, behold, he shall come see again, behold, he shall come, saith the Lord, or Yahweh of hosts, not couple questions as we we look at this. Who is the mind of verse one and who is the messenger of verse one.

I believe in verse one. There are three different people being spoken about three different people to my of the message I believe is referring to God the father. This is Yahweh speaking as it is that way the word Lord in the English is used twice.

You notice one of them is LORB that's the last Lord of verse number one.

And that's the covenant name Yahweh probably be better translated Yahweh there. So that's that that's the covenant name that's the name of God, then you have you have the word Lord in earlier midway down the verse. That's the word out an eye in and in and that's it. That's a different person. I believe that this being spoken enough. Now God the father, God the son God always goes could all be referred to that way but there are clearly referring I think to two different people in the Trinity in the in the price person of the Godhead and again the Trinity is something is difficult for our minds to grasp. Don't get a hold of but simply stated, the Bible teaches, there is one God in three separate persons, God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit. The father is not the son. The son is not the spirit.

They are three separate persons in one Godhead. You say that makes three gods, no it doesn't. It's one God in three persons, you say I don't understand that that's okay. You don't understand quantum physics either. If you don't understand God create quantum physics are probably not going understand Almighty God, so, so there are there are three spoke here though the mind is the father. Secondly, the identity of the messenger who is the messenger here it's actually the Hebrew word Moloch Moloch MAL AK it's it's the root from where we get the word Malachi from in and it just means messenger. It's it's often translated as the word angel Malachi is a real person's name here with the messenger here in verse number one is John the Baptist.

The statement we can. We know that because this statement is referred to repeatedly in in in Matthew Mark Luke and John. It's repeated in all four Gospels let me just give you a couple places so you can see this to be the case. Luke 176 the Bible prophesying in Luke one is is is a prophecy of John the Baptist from his own father and it says endowed child shall be called the prophet of the highest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his way, exactly what chapter 3 verse one says Matthew 11 verse 1011 this is Jesus speaking about John the Baptist and this is what he says this is he of whom it is written, behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before the verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist. So so we see when the New Testament defines verse one of chapter 3.

The messenger is John the Baptist. The third person spoken about here is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ word Lord is add-on I which means Lord and master the sovereign one, and this is a clear declaration of the deity of Christ somebody say the Bible never teaches that Jesus is God different survey say that the Bible doesn't teach Jesus is God. I don't know how you could not do you read the Bible with your eyes closed that the Bible is when Thomas said said Jesus came to Thomason, sadness. I see his hands and put my finger into his hand and put my hand into his side. I will not believe in Jesus shows up in the room doesn't open the door. That's a problem little startled comes up to Thomas and how did he know what Thomas said if he wasn't there. Nieces Thomas reach either your finger and put it in the my hand and reach of your hand, and thrust it into my side and be not faithless, but believing what Thomas said in John 20. He fell to his knees and set this my Lord and my God. If Jesus wasn't Lord and God, he would say don't say that I'm just a man like you do remember isn't that what Peter and Paul and John and the rest of them said room and Paul went to like like Tony him.

They thought he was Jupiter which is Sioux City fighting. They thought Barnabas was Mercury which is service at one of their Greek gods and they were the worst of them make sacrifice in and pause like David a scarce restrain the people from offering sacrifice them because he healed a man that was lame from his from his youth, and other things and exporting, and so and then then after this is the date they they stop people from worshiping them because they knew there's only one God. I'm not God. God is God, you don't.

But what did Jesus do you know Jesus said to him when he felt was, he said, my Lord, my God, he said this blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah. Blessed are you, because you see me you believe he said, Blessed are they who have not seen me and you believe, so, so he was calling him blessed because he professed what is true of Christ. You know you you to be saved.

You must confess Christ is Lord.

Salvation is a confession of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot be a Christian and not believe in the deity of Christ. If you don't believe the deed of Christ are not going to heaven, you're not going to heaven. There is because it's a different Jesus and Jesus is created.

He's a man he is.

He is he is not eternal near the Bible says in Malachi chapter 5 verse two when they said where was Jesus to be born. They said in Bethlehem of Ephrata for thus it is written in the prophets out of Bethlehem shall he come whose goings forth have been from old how long from everlasting. That's how long Jesus is been around from everlasting. John 11 in the beginning was the word word was with God the Word was God. He was God. He is the eternal God. God made flesh, and so you just it's so critical to know that if you have questions about that I would be more than happy to sit down with anybody whether watching or here that has questions about the deity of Christ, that is such an essential reality. It's so clear in the Scriptures. The only way you could come to the conclusion of Jesus. Not that you had to be taught out of that and so what does this what is this, again, A.R. Fossett says this when used with indefinite article as it is here in Malachi chapter 3 work verse one when it says the Lord talking about Christ here.

It always refers to God every single time the Bible every single time the Bible so so what does this mean he shall prepare the way before me. When speaks of the custom in that day when everything traveled road crews to think of river is going to clean the debris off the road you drive down the road is big old tractor, Tyrell Broder, one of the tractor-trailers gluing their desires often is my comes along clean that up with a clean road off and so forth so they didn't have that kind of thing in those days. So what do they would they would probably cry Eric hello they would go before them and cry prepare the way for the king and they would literally fill in potholes and they would clear the debris tree branches or whatever else rocks around the road to prepare the way for the king that's that's what they did and so Isaiah prophesies of John the Baptist and just listen to what it says about him. In Isaiah 40 verse three read the book of Isaiah so depressing like for the first 39 chapters is like judgment, judgment, judgment just like to an end and you get the chapter for your like yes this there's something's going to happen that's positive, yummy is like these, this nation just sent in judgment of God and then chapter 40 is like the light comes on and it says in chapter 40 verse three the voice of him that Christ in the wilderness, prepare you the way the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God. That's that's the idea of this preparation. Verse four every valley shall be exalted, every mount shelf and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight up rough places plain, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. All flesh shall see together for the mouth of Yahweh or the Lord has spoken.

Now what John needed to do is not physical road construction for the Lord Jesus Christ, but he needed to prepare hearts for the Lord Jesus Christ and his appearing. Jesus said, my kingdom comes without observation is is a spiritual kingdom that Jesus was ushering in. So the preparation was not roadwork. It was hard work. John was going to do is not external preparation but rather internal preparation not to know there's only one other prophet, Jesus was a prophet, priest and king. There's only one other prophet that the Old Testament prophesies about his coming and that was John the Baptist. He's the only other one outside of Jesus that was prophesied about of his coming. What did John preach that prepare hearts for Christ and I think this is important in Matthew chapter 3. Listen what the Bible says in Matthew chapter 3 verse number one says in those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea because the Bible says when he comes. He's going to prepare hearts for God. He's going to prepare their hearts is going prepare the way for them in. We have maybe Matthew chapter 3 verse two it says since in this is what he preached, saying, repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is he who was spoken by Isaiah prophet Isaiah sang the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way the Lord make his pass rate. So the message John the Baptist preached to prepare hearts for God was a message of what repentance, repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Somebody say you don't need to repent to be saved. Repentance is not part of salvation really within hello Steve prepare a heart for God, there's no other way. Repentance is what prepares you for God. Jesus said of those born of John, born of women there is none risen greater than John the Baptist. There is none that has been risen greater than John the Baptist you know why John was so great it wasn't because of the person it was because of his message and so what John said. He said I'm just a voice.

He elevated the message see so so we need to understand it if if if if he was the greatest born of women than his message was the greatest born of men, and he declared the message of repentance, you need to understand the weight of repentance were repentance is from a Greek word that means to have another mind to change your mind. It is an inward way of thinking that is transformed euro. You literally align your thoughts and agreement with guy Gary had thoughts that didn't line up with the Bible. There is reason to believe something that was not right and then you hurt read it in the Bible, your thought on your like of and realize I got was off like I really believe something is messed up and and so when you what you do is then you have a decision to make. IKII believe something and I've always thought this and that I find of the Bible teaches something different and so what you do. The Bible doesn't change, you have to move your mindset over to where the Scripture is that make sense so there's people who say you and I think I'm good enough to get to heaven. I think you know God will accept me on my own terms of being a good person. I haven't killed anybody in their say stuff like that and then you show from the word of God that you need to repent. Trust in Christ and confess he is the Lord and in and when they understand what the Bible says, then repentance is changing their mind lining their life and will up with the truth of God. And it's not just is not just intellectual, it's an issue of the will of the person you change your N-word will to line it up with God you bow your will to him and so this is not just intellectual. It is a change of mind that produces a change of behavior.

Simply stated, Rick. To repent means to change one's mind and act on that change those and what I would call the easy believe is in camp teach. It does not mean any outward changes necessary. Over the years we've had people very few, but we had a small number of people just you probably count on one hand, but that have left the church year because I believe that the Bible teaches we preach this that you must repent in order to be saved.

They say that's not found in the Bible. I say have you read your Bible says is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that will repent Bible says he's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Jesus preached repent for the kingdom of heaven is and that's what John the Baptist pricked them is just everywhere, just everywhere just drips off the pages of Scripture like the deity of Christ it's in, and so the only way you don't again. You don't see those things as if you've you've been taught in such a way that curves your belief system or you have private is kept God from being able to teach a person the truth because we were were stouthearted in some way, but Jesus made clear. If you clean up the inside of a man with repentance, you will clean up the outside if you're truly repentant on the inside how do you like if somebody said this to go to the store and and and and then you talk to later. You know I change my mind. But then they went to the store anyway you would conclude that they did not change their mind. The make sense for those dull things right so somebody says all I repented and gave my life to Christ with their life is not given the Christ, then it evidences they truly didn't repent and change their heart and mind about it right so it doesn't mean you're going to be perfect but it means that you're being perfected, not the perfection of your life that it is the direction it reveals true salvation. So repentance involves turning from sin and it's all through the Scripture. Let me just show you from the Old Testament.

I could literally I have reached extensively on this in the New Testament just show you couple places the old second Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 very familiar verse says if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and seeking his face.

What does that also cause a person to do they must turn from their wicked ways.

You can't head in the direction of God and head in the direction of sending the same time right then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land. Notice seeking God and turning from sin work in perfect harmony. People say why you can believe without repenting know you can't. Believing involves repenting it's it's a unified harmonious work.

Ezekiel 18 verse 30 says therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his way, say, the Lord God. Repent and turn yourself from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruin cast away from you all your transgression whereby you have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why would you dial house of Israel. When you read Ezekiel 2nd Chronicles you see that God is calling them to repent and turn from their sin when God sent Jonah to preach to Nineveh to remember that Jonah 3 were standing and after they he preached the people repented.

The miracle greatest greatest revival I could ever get broke out in June is the worst missionary in the history of the world. He's upset for their conversion sick. He wants them to die so Jonah 3 verse 10. And God saw their works that they turn from their evil way and God repented of the evil that he said he would do under them and did not so with God. So they turned then God turned out the word evil.

There can be used into waiters in the Bible it can be used of moral evil or calamitous evil calamitous has no moral bearing. It's like a tragedy that strikes where moral is is is sinful.

So, God turn from the evil which means the judgment and calamity that he was going to pour out upon the nation. So here's what happens. The Bible says in John 336. The wrath of God abides on the unbeliever when the unbeliever in repentance and faith turns in trust in Christ God. In like manner turns from the wrath that he was going to pour out and pours out.

Instead, grace and blessing. And forgive. So as the heart of man turned so God will turn from judgment to grace.

How did God evaluate the Ninevites repentance evaluated by their works by what he saw no they didn't get saved obviously by their works, but he could read their heart and mind, but he declares the evidence of true repentance was there, external change and so John the Baptist said in Matthew 318 bring forth fruits meet for repentance bring forth therefore fruits meet or worthy of repentance there should be evidence he saying of repentance. Do you have when you examine your life, but at times it was at this.

Have you been saved in like 80% of Americans will say yes 75%.

These days, 75, 80%, you say, what does that mean some people say why been a good person you like with us salvation. You can ask what kind of questions and those who find out that they didn't understand salvation is I don't ask you, have you been saved as this when your life did you surrender your heart to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and see him revolutionize you from the inside out. When did you fully surrender your will to Jesus and it was evidenced by a departure from the sins of your past to living for Jesus in your new life. So I've never seen a major change in my life with. You've never met the major Savior, because when he comes in. Guess what he does comes out reason you're sitting here tonight your say because he came inside of you.

Anybody thought 20 years ago. You be sitting on it Wednesday night service anybody think that was not in the cards for you raise your hand and I gave him yeah. So we are raising both hand and your feet you as I cavity Lynn's guy put up so so that's that's the grace of God, and that's what does changes. So, here in Malachi 3 God is declaring to rebellious nation with rebellious praise to God's messenger will come, he will prepare hearts for the Messiah and that message was a message of repentance not God's message from Malachi to Matthew never changes what he called into here is what he calls them to 400 years later when the book of Matthew when when when the John the Baptist shows up must repent and turn to God and so this verse has a double meaning.

The double fulfill when I should say many prophecies in the Bible do this because the Jews rejected John the Baptist and Jesus. There will be another messenger, who will come to repair the Lord of the way of the Lord and that's going to be during the seven year tribulation. Revelation 11 verse three it says this I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy 1200 and threescore days and clothed in sackcloth. So for 1260 days is going to be to prophecies profit profits's preach on the streets of Jerusalem looking to do this for the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation. The seven surveys the first half of the tribulation.

They're going to be preaching and in the Bible tells us this is going to go on. According to Revelation chapter 11 verse one through 14.

Third, divinely sent messengers from God. Their protected says if anybody tries to hurt them.

That person will be consumed. They have power to perform miracles are going to be doing incredible things in this this stuff's going to be like on the news that I'm either going to see this stop the probably twisted around as much as they can to make him his evils they can't now their identity is unknown but but I believe this is no one else but Moses and Elijah when they I believe it will be those two Old Testament prophets, you say why would you conclude that will because the miracles that these two men perform in Revelation 11 mirror the miracles of both Moses and Elijah, like Elijah, they're able to keep it from raining for the first for 3 1/2 years and, like Moses, they will be able to change water into blood not also both of them were at the Transfiguration of Christ in Matthew 17 of remember when Peter James and John came the Mount of Transfiguration. It was Elijah and Moses that were there and so also Elijah was taken up to heaven, he never died in they could never find the body of Moses, that I believe he did die and so very, very interesting to read about that later if you do you not familiar with those two prophets in Revelation 11. It's interesting, though this is written 2000 years ago in Revelation 11 it says there they will be killed by the beast. They will lay on the streets for three days and and three net days and a says all the world will see them now. How could all the world see them this written 2000 years ago the impossible.

But today everybody in the world could see two dead bodies laying on the streets of Jerusalem is actually 20 4/7 live feed on the streets of Jerusalem and on to the Wailing Wall right now and after three and half days because the raisins are going to go directly into heaven is going to scare people to death literally stand up on their feet advised dancing and rejoice.

These two prophets who preached all this art stuff to it will be pre-preachers of our messages bring the fire down buddy.

You think you're going to be countercultural you think they're going to be seeker sensitive you think they're going to work on in their skinny jeans and roller and in looking all: whatever they're going to come and bring the fire of heaven to preach like John the Baptist there.

They're not looking for people's acceptance they're looking for God's truth and they are going to preach the word of God there to shake the nations with the Bible and every eye will see them in God's approval for them is going to be. He's going to raise their dead bodies off the ground is going to take them directly to heaven in the world will know we got something wrong and then I can tell you after the first three have all hell breaks loose. Literally, owner not time to get in the revelation of the night, but Malachi that's what he thought it out here. Look at verse number one again this is I will go I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.

In it, and if you remember Malachi chapter 4, he says in verse six it talks about the outcome of the spirit and power of Elijah.

Elijah there's two new. John the Baptist came the spirit of power, Elijah, but I believe this Elijah will also be fulfilled there in that Revelation chapter 11 passage so they were asking in chapter 217. Where is the God of judgment. And God says he will come, he will come his messenger will come in the Lord will come in a says, and he shall prepare the way before me in the Lord, whom ye seek shelter verse one says suddenly come to his temple work. Suddenly there doesn't mean immediately but it means that he'll come in and it went away. That's unexpected to you in an instant, literally in a flash you say will of God sending his messenger.

How could he come unexpectedly upon them.

How could that happen. It doesn't make any sense willing to give you an illustration that may help when Mount Saint Helens blew its top in 1980. Geologist knew that something was brewing.

They could see the bulge on the side of the mountain they could measure the increasingly threatening tremors. They warned the local residents to get out of there but they didn't leave some good that other state. There was an old man named Harry Randall Truman who had lived there for decades. When the newscasters interviewed him.

He said that the amount had been there for centuries. He didn't believe it would blow up so he wasn't going to move.

Suddenly one morning the mountain exploded in and like Harry Truman another's would ignore those warnings perished immediately in the destruction again. The destruction came suddenly upon them though they were warned and in the same way friends. That's what's going to happen to this world. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is on the edge of his return in the rapture of the church will happen and there will be seven years of judgment that comes upon this nation. The 70th year of Daniel will be fulfilled. Daniel nine talks and this will come the past. This is going to happen. This is going to happen need to be's. If you're not safe. You need to be saved and you prepare for and use it within 2000 years I've been preaching about Jesus coming for 2000 years younger right and it's getting close Saturday you know is getting close will because the Jewish people came back to their land. All these things that if God's prophesied about our coming together of preach messages on 10 signs that point to the end times and so many so many things are signing that verse 17 the ask where is the God of judgment of the Bible says the Lord will come suddenly, and he will come to his temple when it's in here is not talking about Zerubbabel's temple that they rebuilt here not talk about Herod's Temple, which they expanded in the New Testament but is talking about Ezekiel's tip of your read Ezekiel the book of Ezekiel chapter 42 chapter 48 is just all about the Temple and if you measure the dimensions of that of some slides on that before but it's just massive. It's so much bigger than Solomon's Temple. It's just huge and so that's the temple that's the temple that will be there during the millennial kingdom. That's the temple, the Messiah will come to know even that is, as even the measure of the covenant, whom you delight, and behold, he shall come, say, the Lord of hosts. Jesus Christ is the messenger of the covenant he will judge people based upon the divine standard of his word in this statement in verse 20 says, whom you delight in is is is really a statement of irony. It's it's it's saying you have no delight in God and in he will come in judgment it's it's it's really mocking them and so we see God's justice question God's justice will common and finally, in conclusion, we see the preparation for God's justice in verse two through 620 says in verse two of Malachi 3, he says, but who may abide the day of his coming and you shall stand when he appeared for he is like a refiner's fire and like like somebody who clean stuff for Fuller's soap and so here Malachi presents two questions to the readers when when Almighty God.

When I deny returns when Yahweh's son returns when he comes. Are you ready to face judgment.

Are you ready for God.

Psalms 30 verse three and four rightly says, if thou, Lord, should mark iniquity shall stand, and no one will stand really. Psalms 24 verse three forces, who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord are shall stand in his holy place, he that hath clean hands and a pure heart who have not lifted up his soul and divinity, nor sworn deceitfully as well. When Jesus came he said blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God.

We needed an inward cleansing friends. We need to be clean on the inside. Now others two kinds of judgments described in verse three down the verse number six.

God's judgment of purifying people and God's judgment, destroying the ungodly. In verse two and three. God's judgment is declared as a refiner's fire and Fuller's soap God would purge his people cleanse them and what would happen when somebody was a silversmith, they would keep this the precious metals up very hot and all of the dross would would bubble up to the top.

It would scrape that often they say that those who silversmith would do that they will keep scraping that off. Is it heated that in the dross move about and they knew all the dross was removed when they could see their reflection in the metals in the silver and the gold when they could see their reflection and in that's what God does. He turns the temperature up in our life.

He purifies us with heat in the heat of life cleanses us with a God, why is there injustice and God says it would be unjust for me not to cleanse you with with trials it would be unjust for me to allow you continuing your center to continue in some way that is not what God's best is for US and in so so that purifying process and in God's doing that so that he could see his image reflected in our life. The Bible tells us friends that did the purpose of salvation is not just to get us to have what is to conform us to the image of his son anybody feel like you have a ways to go. Still no pointer husband or wife you know that's what God's doing anybody like to go through trials Hebrews 12 verse 11 says no chastening for the present scene with joyous, but grievous.

Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby we don't enjoy the pain of of of chastening or the difficulty of trial, but we know from James one Hebrews 12 that it is through that process that God purifies us. I'm so thankful for that. So thankful to God is so gracious that when we sin, he just doesn't cast us away. You know that that he gives us mercy and grace. Always think about Psalms 130. The Bible says in verse 10 he has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities as they have is high above your so great is his mercy toward us. As far as the east is from the West. So far, have removed our transgressions from us as a father pities his children to the Lord descended. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger plenteous in mercy to all that call upon event. That is who God is, he doesn't judge us according to our iniquities. He's not not rendered to us just judgment because we should already be dead fish to be separate from God and he's been so merciful scale.

I been so lopsided of of of how much that I have and how much mercy and grace God's poured out instead of justice and judgment upon me. So there are those who God. God refines and you see that in verse two down the verse number four. He says in verse three and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer the Lord and offering righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant in the Lord is in the days of old. As in the former years, and then what you find in verse five and six is God coming in through chapter and also chapter 4 verse one God coming to bring judgment to those who are ungodly. He says in verse five and I will come near to you to judgment. I will be swift witness against the sorcerers, sorcerers of those who practice a cultic things and against the adulterers, those who were unfaithful in their marriage vows against false squares against those who oppress hirelings those who oppressed people that who have power and in the people who were in earn wages they oppressed them talks about oppressing people like the widows, the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from the right and so in and in. The reason for all of this is says and they fear not me, they don't have a fear of God.

This reflects really. Romans three there is no fear of God before their eyes, and he says, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Yahweh of hosts. That's the name it's used multiple times over a dozen times in the book of Malachi, he says, verse six for I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. If you reverse one of chapter forces for behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud gate all that do wickedly shall be stubble in that day in the data, shall burn them up, say, the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. So you see there is a coming day of wrath and judgment upon the world of unbelievers and enduring the seven-year tribulation, you say what's the purpose of this there's two reasons for the tribulation. When the Jewish people rejected their Messiah, God turned his attention to this unique entity called the church where he married both Jew and Gentile into one in Christ and they became entity called the church the last 2000 years.

That's what Christ has been building. The Bible tells us that that there is one more period of seven years that God has you read Daniel chapter 9 it talks about 7070 weeks of Daniel 70 week product of years of being a citizen is one seven-year period left and when date when the Messiah was cut off.

According to Daniel chapter 9, you see that fulfilled when Jesus crucified God's time for the Jewish people came to a stop and he turned his attention to both Jew and Gentile, brought them together in one Romans 11 talks about this.

Once the church's rapture to up God will turn his attention back to the Jewish people seven-year tribulation Wilkin with the seven years will that clock will begin again in the two purposes for the tribulation is one the salvation of the Jewish people. You will see the Jewish people turn to their Messiah. Secondly, it is to judge the world for their sin.

God's going to bring great judgment. People suffer. People say this also the years all you know I believe health here on earth have no idea what they're talking about. You think you think this is hell you live in America ever been to Haiti your vendor a Third World country been one of those places where you work all day and you make just enough to buy rice and maybe like a 4 ounces of meat for the day. That's just your wages and you live in a little shack off of the hillside is your calling hell on earth. Why because your boss was hard on you as you don't like a political leader where it's ridiculous when health comes to earth unit that their summer should be set off time to divulge all debit. It's critical to know the judgments coming, friends and in and we do we need to make sure there were in the right group that we are under the grace of God and not going to be under the judgment of God. You know which group herein by this examine if your faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ and say in Jesus Christ. But in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible says whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved if you don't get saved by asking Jesus in your heart, you get saved by confessing Jesus is Lord, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in nine argon razor from their death shall be set for whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.

You're the thief on the cross said, Lord, remember me in your kingdom is it is a confession of the King, the sovereign, your God in Christ. Have you done that you repented and turned from your sins and turn to God fearing God more than man your life. Though it may not be perfect.

Obviously none of us are true. Life is moving in a direction that loves God more than anything else. Sometimes friends life will seem difficult to be challenges in our life. But above all else, we need to understand that God's goodness is not based upon what happens in July 2022.

It's based upon what will happen for eternity instead of questioning God's justice trust God and praise him for his perfect justice he is going to bring that in there like where's the justice of God. God says oh it's coming my messages going to come. My Messiah is going to come.

He's going to set his kingdom up injustice like a refiner's fire will even purchase people and cleanse them so his perfect image will be reflected in them in such a glorious way in his temple.

It's God's temple. It's not man's it's God's temple. And if you're not safe tonight. Tonight would be good night for you to be safe. Call out to Christ trust in him, repent of your sins, surrender your life to the King. Let's all stand this evening is about nice close. The authors open of God spoken your heart and welcome to come and you need to make a spiritual decision. Tonight we have men and women at the front ticket. Talk with you and say I have some questions about how to be saved out of no one my lifesaver how I could be in heaven and we love to have you come and sit down and show you from the word of God. How you can know that for sure. You don't delete or deny without knowing that answer other.

We thank you for your work tonight.

We thank you for the gospel for its truth. I pray that you would help us to examine our light and life in light of these truths in and seek to honor you, Lord God with our mind or harder life.

All of us fall short every day and so we come humbly and you said in your word. If we confess our sins, and your faithful and just to forgive us cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And so we crave and you renew that word. Thank you for your mercy and your race ask in Jesus name, amen