Malachi 3
John the Baptist foretold verse 1
BEHOLD – I will send MY messenger
and he shall prepare the way before ME
and the Lord – whom you seek
shall suddenly come to HIS temple
EVEN the messenger of the covenant
whom you delight in
BEHOLD he shall come
says the LORD of hosts
Future purifying of Priesthood verse 2- 4
BUT who may abide the day of HIS coming?
and who shall stand when HE appears?
FOR HE is like a refiner’s fire – and like fullers’ soap
and HE shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver
and HE shall purify the sons of Levi
and purge them as gold and silver
that they may offer unto the LORD
an offering in righteousness
THEN shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
be pleasant unto the LORD
as in the days of old
and as in former years
Great White Throne judgment verse 5
AND I will come near
to you to judgment
AND I will be a swift witness against the
sorcerers – adulterers – false swearers
and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages
widow – fatherless
and that turn aside the stranger from his right
and fear not ME
says the LORD of hosts
LORD changes not verse 6
FOR I am the LORD – I change not
THEREFORE you sons of Jacob are not consumed
LORD calls Israel to repentance verse 7a
Even from the days of your fathers you are gone
from MINE ordinances and have not kept them
RETURN unto ME – and I will return to you
says the LORD of hosts
People ask question verse 7b
BUT you said – Wherein shall we return?
LORD responds to question verse 8a
Will a man rob God? – Yet you have robbed ME
People respond to LORD verse 8b
BUT you say – Wherein have we robbed YOU?
LORD responds to people verse 8c – 9
In tithes and offerings
You are cursed with a curse – for you have robbed ME
EVEN this whole nation
LORD challenges people verse 10- 12
BRING you all the tithes into the storehouse
that there may be meat in MINE house
and PROVE ME now herewith
says the LORD of hosts
IF I will not open you the windows of heaven
and pour you out a blessing
that there shall not be room enough to receive it
AND I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes
and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground
neither shall your vine cast her fruit
before the time in the field
says the LORD of hosts
AND all nations shall call you blessed
for you shall be a delightsome land
says the LORD of hosts
LORD comments on their treatment of HIM verse 13a
Your words have been stout against ME – says the LORD
People respond verse 13b- 15
YET you say – What have we spoken so much against YOU?
You have said – It is vain to serve God
AND what profit is it that we have kept HIS ordinance
AND that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
AND now we call the proud happy
YEA – they that work wickedness are set up
YEA – they that tempt God are even delivered
Entries into book of life verse 16 – 17
THEN they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another
and the LORD hearkened and heard it
AND a book of remembrance was written before HIM
for them that feared the LORD
and that thought upon HIS name
And they shall be MINE
says the LORD of hosts
IN THAT DAY when I make up MY jewels
and I will spare them
as a man spares his own son that serves him
LORD states there is a difference between people verse 18
THEN shall you return
and discern between the righteous and the wicked
between him that serves God
and him that serves HIM not
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Behold, I will send MY messenger, and he shall prepare the way before ME: and the Lord, WHOM you seek, shall suddenly come to HIS temple, even the MESSENGER of the covenant, WHOM you delight in, behold, HE shall come, says the LORD of hosts. (4397 “messenger” [mal’ak] means ambassador, representative, theophanic angel, or one sent.)
DEVOTION: Once we study the New Testament we find this verse used to refer to John the Baptist who prepared the way before the LORD Jesus Christ. When the LORD turned thirty years old HE started HIS public ministry. Remember that HE had a cousin named John who was born to Elizabeth six months before Jesus.
John who was known as John the Baptist started preaching repentance six months before Jesus started HIS public ministry. So John the Baptist was known to the people of the area as a man who preached repentance and lived in the wilderness.
Once Jesus started HIS public ministry HE went to John to be baptized. It was a sign of the start of HIS ministry. It was also done before HE faced Satan who tried to tempt HIM to sin.
The children of Israel were looking for a Messiah but they thought HE was coming as a KING first but HE was coming as a SUFFERING SERVANT first. HE will come as a king in our future if we are still alive when HE comes.
CHALLENGE: Are we ready for HIS second coming? It could be any day!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, says the LORD of hosts. (4941 “judgment” [mishpat] means case, decision, dispute, claim, assessing a person, situation or event, or legal specifications.)
DEVOTION: The Bible is full of lists of people that will not be in heaven if they don’t repent and change. The LORD doesn’t leave any doubt as to who will be in heaven and who will be in the lake of fire for eternity.
Psalm 15 gives us a list of people who will be allowed to be in heaven. It ends with the statement that one who is faithful to the LORD “will never be move.” Nothing will stand in his way to his path to heaven.
A person has to change in order to show a genuine commitment to the LORD. The LORD accepts everyone who comes to HIM as they are but expects that while they are still alive they will show a difference in the way the act. They will not be selfish and lazy. They will be workers for the LORD. They will treat people the way the LORD treated people. They will not live in sin as some who chose to be sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, those who exploit those who work for them, exploit widows and orphans. They will not treat strangers poorly. Remember that some strangers could be angels.
The ultimate way the LORD knows who is genuine and who is faking is that they don’t manifest a true fear or reverence for the LORD. They are more concerned about what people think of them than what the LORD thinks of them. They will be people pleasers and not obedient to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Judgment is coming. Our hearts will reveal to us if we are genuinely obedient to the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (214 “storehouse” [owtsar] means treasury, cellars, magazine, treasure house, or to store up.
DEVOTION: Most people, who call themselves Christians, ROB God of HIS part of their salary each week instead of putting in the offering plate at church. They say that God doesn’t expect ten percent of their salary each time they get paid. They say that it is an Old Testament principle. The problem is that the Israelites paid thirty- three percent of their income each year to the LORD.
On top of the tithe there was a teaching that the LORD desired an offering on top of the tithe. If the LORD had blessed someone abundantly they would bring HIM an offering to say thank you for the blessings.
Here we find that the Israelites were robbing God of HIS tithe on a regular basis. It was because they were not paying their tithe that the priests had to find income other places. Some of them chose to start doing it in the wrong manner.
God is stating in this verse that if they want to test the LORD with their money HE would show them that HE rewards those who give sacrificially to HIM. If they brought their tithe into the Temple regularly HE would bless them with abundant rain so that their crops would grow in abundance and they would grow rich. HE challenged them to test HIM to see if HE blessed obedience.
Today I believe the same challenge is given to those who claim to be followers of the LORD. If they give faithfully, regularly and sacrificially to HIM of their tithes and offering HE will bless them. Now we have to remember that blessings are not always financial. There are other blessings that we would like to see happen in our life. One of the blessings is health and children that become followers of the LORD. The blessings don’t come in the same form to all those who are followers of the LORD but the promise is still given to those who honor the LORD.
Jesus states in Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisee, hypocrites? for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” He wanted them to realize that just giving their tithe wasn’t fulfilling all their responsibility to the LORD. They also had to consider the law, judgment, mercy and faith. People can give of their money without giving of themselves. God is looking at the attitude of our giving. HE wants us to treat others well. HE wants us to honor HIM with our giving in every area of our life.
CHALLENGE: What is your attitude when the offering plate is passed in church or when you get a letter in the mail to support a ministry for the LORD? Do you get angry or prayerfully consider what you should do with your tithe and offerings for the LORD?
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: 16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. (5612 “book” [cipher] means missive, document, writing, letter or scroll.)
DEVOTION: The LORD is confronting the children of Israel through the prophet Malachi. HE gives some of the accusations against them that they think are false.
He accuses them of robbing HIM. They don’t understand. HE says that they are withholding their tithes and offerings from HIS servants. They are not bring their money and goods to the temple to feed the priests as HE had ordered in the Law. HE promises that if they will bring their tithes and offerings to HIS temple to feed the priests that HE will bless them beyond their ability to contain it all.
Secondly, HE accuses them of saying that it is vain to serve HIM. They tell each other that service to the LORD is not profitable. They are getting nothing out of it. So they act wickedly and tell others that they are OK to act that way too because there is no judgment coming from the LORD. The LORD tells them that HE has a document of remembrance that records their deeds. HE knows those who fear HIM and those who do not. HE is journaling their deeds. There is coming a day when the scroll will be opened and their deeds will be measured.
Only those who feared HIM will be honored as Jewels. Those who act wickedly will have a different outcome. Their outcome is eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
Today we have people who think that they can rob God and still expect HIM to bless their life. We are not those who preach the prosperity gospel. It is a false teaching. The LORD is not always saying that if you give HIM an hundred dollars, HE will give you a thousand in return. There are spiritual blessings, as well as, physical blessings. Too often there are people who give expecting to get more in return. Our motive to give is to bring GLORY to the LORD. If our giving puts meat on the table of the servants of the LORD, that is a blessing. HE will take care of us, if we give. We have to trust HIM. There is still a scroll of remembrance that HE is writing in on a daily basis. What did HE write regarding our relationship with HIM yesterday? What will HE write tomorrow?
We are to fear the LORD and honor HIM with our giving and service and watch what HE will do in our lives. Trust HIM to bless in a way that will advance HIS kingdom!!!
CHALLENGE: When you give are you looking to receive only or to say thank you to the LORD for all HIS blessings on your life? Our giving is recorded in heaven more accurately than in the treasurer’s book. God looks that the attitude to see if there should be any reward.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Tithes and offering verse 8-12
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Book of Remembrance verse 16
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Speak often one to another – LORD heard them verse 16
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Temple verse 1
Offering of righteousness verse 3, 4
Offering pleasant to the LORD verse 4
Tithes verse 8, 10
Offerings verse 8
Storehouse verse 10
LORD’S house verse 10
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Ordinances verse 7, 14
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 1
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 3- 7, 10- 14, 16, 17
LORD of hosts verse 1, 5, 7, 10- 12, 14, 17
Judgment verse 5
I am the LORD verse 6
Unchangeable verse 6
Temple = God’s house verse 10
Open windows of heaven verse 10
My jewels verse 17
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Prepare the way before me verse 1
Messenger of the covenant verse 1
Delight in verse 1
Day of HIS coming verse 2
Stand at HIS appearing verse 2
Refiner’s fire verse 2, 3
Fuller’s soap verse 2
Purify verse 3
Purge verse 3
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 8, 14, 15, 18
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Devourer (Satan) verse 11
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
All nations verse 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sorcerers verse 5
Adulterers verse 5
False swearers verse 5
Oppress the hireling in his wages verse 5
Oppress the widow verse 5
Oppress the fatherless verse 5
Oppress the stranger verse 5
Those who fear not God verse 5
Gone away from LORD’s ordinances verse 7
Question LORD verse 7
Rob God of tithes and offerings verse 8, 9
Devourer verse 11
Speaking against LORD verse 13
Saying it is vain to serve LORD verse 14
Pride verse 15
Wickedness verse 15
Tempt God verse 15
Wicked verse 18
Not serve LORD verse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Messenger verse 1
Prepare the way of the LORD verse 1
Seek verse 1
Covenant verse 1
Refined verse 2, 3
Purified verse 3
Righteousness verse 3
Fear the LORD verse 5, 16
Call to return verse 7
Tithes into the storehouse verse 10
Prove the LORD verse 10
Blessing verse 10, 12
Book of Remembrance verse 16
Think about name of the LORD verse 16
Jewels verse 17
Serve the LORD verse 17, 18
Return verse 18
Discern verse 18
Righteous verse 18
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Sons of Levi verse 3
Judah verse 4
Jerusalem verse 4
Sons of Jacob verse 6
Whole nation verse 9
Delightsome land verse 12
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
In that day verse 17
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
Living Messages of the BOOKS of the Bible – Genesis to Malachi by G. Campbell Morgan
That is the opening statement; the burden of the book is that of the constancy of the love of God. (p. 342)
The chief sinfulness of form without power is that it hurts the heart of God. The one master note of the message which God sends to every age of failure is that which affirms the constancy of His love. (p. 343)
It is possible to attend the temple, bend the knee, and make an offering regularly, but unless there is love in the heart there is no communion with God. (p. 343)
“Then they that feared the Lord spoke one with another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard, and a book of rememberance was written before Him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought on His name.”
Here are revealed the secrets of strength in an age of failure; they “thought on HIS name.” The Hebrew word translated thought is elsewhere translated regard. When Paul wrote” If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” he used the same Greek word which in the Septuagint version is employed here, they “thought on His name.” Thus the Hebrew word, illuminated by the Greek word, helps us to understand what otherwise might appear a shallow statement. (p. 345)
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17–18 Verse 17 says two things about God’s people. They will be his very own, and he will spare them. On that day, when all wrongs are rectified and all wickedness punished, it will be apparent that God does judge justly and that he does make a distinction between those who serve him and those who do not (v.18). (Alden, R. L. (1986). Malachi. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 723). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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3:17–18. Those who fear the Lord (v. 16) will become His in the day He makes up His treasured possession. “The day” (also mentioned in 3:2 and 4:1; cf. “that … day” in 4:5) is the day of the Lord. It will be a day of judgment on the wicked and of deliverance for the righteous (God will spare them). As a result Israel will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. In previous times Israel had seen God intervene decisively in judgment and deliverance (e.g., the Exodus, the Exile, and the return). Those events pointed up a distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The future day of the Lord, however, will bring about a much more extensive judgment on the wicked, and through physical deliverance and bodily resurrection, the righteous will be His “treasured possession” in the kingdom, fulfilling God’s original intention for Israel (Ex. 19:5–6; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Ps. 135:4). This hope renews the righteous and strengthens their fear of God. (Blaising, C. A. (1985). Malachi. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1586). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The believers (Mal. 3:16–18). There was a group of true believers in this remnant, and they remained faithful to the Lord. They feared the Lord, which means they held Him in awe and worshiped Him as the Lord Almighty. They met together, not to complain but to encourage and edify each other. They spoke about the Lord and they weren’t afraid for Him to hear what they were saying!
Their assembly probably wasn’t a large one, and they may have thought that very little was happening because they met and worshiped, but God was paying attention and keeping a record of their words. Their neighbors may have laughed at them, but God was pleased with them. They weren’t wasting their time because they were investing in eternity.
God claimed them as His own, and God promised to spare them in the future judgment when everybody would see that there is a difference between the righteous and the wicked and that this difference is important.
One of the sins of the priests was that they failed to make the distinction between the way of holiness and the way of sin. To them, one sacrifice was just as good as another, yet they were supposed to teach the people “the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ezek. 44:23).
Many of God’s faithful servants become discouraged because the times are difficult, the crowds are small, and their work seems to be unappreciated. People who aren’t really walking with the Lord seem to be getting more attention than are the faithful servants. But the day will come when God will reveal “His jewels” (“treasured possession,” niv; see Ex. 19:5; Deut. 7:6), and then the faithful will receive their reward. Every discouraged servant of God needs to read and ponder 1 Corinthians 4:1–5. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be amazed (pp. 162–163). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Nevertheless all were not thus insensate and gainsaying. A remnant is distinguished in vers. 16 to 18 that may well be a shining example to us. In the midst of all the declension and cold-heartedness of the mass, a few there were who feared Jehovah, and sought each other out in the dark and cloudy day, speaking often one to another of the precious and serious things pertaining to a walk with God. The Lord took pleasure in this feeble company, and hearkened, and heard their communings and their confessions, and entered their despised names in a book of remembrance, which will soon be opened at the judgment-seat of Christ: “And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My peculiar treasure;” for as they had found their treasure in Him, He found His in them. In the day when He shall visit upon the wicked their iniquities He will spare the remnant, discerning between those who truly served Him, and those who had no heart for His Word. It is a striking and beautiful passage, that is rich in the ministry of comfort and cheer to the tried and tested ones who value fellowship with God above all else.
Occupation with the evil can only weaken the hand and distress the spirit. But occupation with Him who sits in peace above all the mists of earth will strengthen and cheer, and prove the only real power for practical holiness and victory over all the might of the enemy. (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 455–456). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 18. Then shall ye return, &c.] Either the wicked, who will be converted, as some render the word, and will have a different view of things, and change their minds and language; or they that feared the Lord, who at the time before spoken of will have a new turn of thought, and another and clear discerning of persons and things, and better judge of the dispensations of Providence: some that refer this to the resurrection of the dead, and the last judgment, understand it, as Abarbinel does, of the returning of souls to their bodies, when indeed the difference between persons after described will be very discernible; but it seems to refer to the time of Christ’s first coming, and Jerusalem’s destruction: and discern between the righteous and the wicked; the difference between such who are really and truly righteous, who are here meant, even such who believe in Christ, and are justified by his righteousness; and those that are wicked, as all by nature are: though sometimes this character designs the more profane and abandoned, and even professors of religion; the difference between these is not always easily discerned; as for the righteous, they are not known and discerned by the world; and by reason of afflictions, temptations, and sins, they are apt to judge wrong of themselves; and sometimes are so left to fall into sin, that they look like others: and there are wicked men under the appearance of righteous men, as were the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ’s time; but by the destruction that came upon them, and the preservation of such as believed in Christ, it was discernible who were wicked, and who were righteous; indeed, at the last day, this difference will be more visible; in the bodies of the righteous, which will be raised glorious, when those of the wicked will not; in their souls, having on the wedding garment, the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and perfectly holy; and in their situation, being set at Christ’s right hand, and the wicked at his left; and by the characters that will be given of them by the Judge, and the different sentences passed and executed on them: between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not: that is, between such persons that serve the Lord, and him only, privately and publicly, in righteousness and true holiness, in spirit and in truth, with faith and fervency, with reverence and fear, heartily and willingly, seeking his glory, without any dependence on their services; and those that are ungodly, or only outwardly serve the Lord, for sinister ends, and with selfish views, and according to their own inventions, and the traditions of men, and not the will of God, as the Scribes and Pharisees; between whom, and Christ’s sincere disciples and followers, the awful day, described in the next chapter, will make a manifest difference. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 772). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
There are at least nine words in biblical Hebrew for “treasure” of which this is one. It is used in either a literal sense, referring to the treasure in the king’s house or in the temple or one’s individual acquisitions, and secondly in a cosmic sense, the source of God’s possessions and blessing. (TWOT)
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Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe
The world thinks Jesus is an ancient teacher who is now dead, but the Spirit wants to us us to demonstrate that HE is alive and at work in our world. (p. 96)
The Father and the Son work together to mature us and to enable us to glorify the Lord. Jesus is a great High Priest who knows our weaknesses and can give us the grace to help us in our times of need. (Hebrews 4:14- 16) (p. 97)
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Acts 18
Paul embarks on his third journey that takes him first to Ephesus.
INSIGHT Apollos combines the eloquence of the Greek with the religious instinct of the Jew. Most likely a student from the great university at Alexandria, Apollos is a convert to the Gospel, deeply conversant with the Old Testament. Gifted with marvelous eloquence, he is a strong ally of the Christian forces of his age. But he needs to understand the death, resurrection, and ascended power of Christ. Aquila and Priscilla teach Apollos these things. How wonderful is that holy wisdom that the Spirit of God gives to humble believers so that they can become teachers of men who are intellectually their superiors! When teaching children or new believers, encourage them and have hope that some may become “mighty in the Scriptures” (v. 24).
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NAMES AND WORSHIP
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19
Further evidence for the deity of Christ is the way in which the names of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son are coupled together. There are several examples of this. Christ Himself said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 1:7 speaks of “God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” In 2 Corinthians 13:14, in the so-called apostolic benediction, we read, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.” First Thessalonians 3:11 says, “Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.” And, indeed, you will find it in James 1:1, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
A further piece of evidence supporting the divinity of Christ is that divine worship is ascribed to Him. He accepted such worship from men and women when He was on earth. You will find that in Matthew 28:9 and in Luke 24:52. But you get it also by way of exhortation in 1 Corinthians 1:2 where Paul refers to “all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.” That is worship. In 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Paul tells us, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice”–that this is the Lord Jesus Christ is quite clear from the context. In Acts 7:59 we read of Stephen, as he was being stoned, “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Indeed, our Lord Himself already prepared us for all this when He said, “That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father” (John 5:23).
A Thought to Ponder: The names of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son are coupled together. (From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 269-270, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).
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The Power of the Gospel
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
In this verse we are told that God’s power resides in the gospel—and indeed, that the purpose of this power is the salvation of both Jew and Greek. This passage is intended to incorporate spreading the gospel to all humanity, which is specifically commanded by the Lord Jesus: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Evidently, the event that takes place when one is twice-born is nothing less than a supernatural “creation” by the Creator Himself (Ephesians 4:24)! There is no need for salesmanship or psychology or finesse or technique; the dunamis (power) of the living God is transmitted, applied, and exercised as the gospel is spoken and a person listens.
Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
- Romans 10:17: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
- John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
- 1 Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
To be successful (not to mention obedient) to the Lord’s command, we must most surely use the “power” of God that has been made available to us in the Scriptures!
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The gospel says, “ Give the more earnest heed” – “Come now, and let us reason together” (2:1; Isa. 1”18). Ir claims to be truth, and truth is always something, primarily, that comes to the mind and asks us to think. (p. 37)
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That is what makes these things so alarming. Men and women are so content with temporary relief that they allow themselves to be soothed and comforted, ignoring eternal issues. (p. 39)
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The Bible is God’s message, and that is the first great reason for listening to it.
The second reason is, it is not only God’s message – it is God’s message in a special way.
(p. 40)
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The authority and the source of the message demands attention from eveyr man and woman, and those who do not pay heed to God’s message to them through his only Son must have taken leave of their senses. (p. 42)
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So our final reason for paying more earnest heed to these things is that it is a message from God, the blessed holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If you lack any other reasons, here is the reason to pay heed. Almighty God is speaking to you. (p. 44)
(A Merciful and Faithful High Priest by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Stan writes (NY): When people want to bring up your past, tell them, “Jesus DROPPED THE CHARGES”
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
When I was a young man, the thought of going to college was a big affair. My generation was the first that really considered a college education as important or essential. My brothers and sisters probably assumed that I was lost and not sure of my future as I spent years in education expanding the foundation of my profession.
Solomon, as king, established a research laboratory that allowed him to test and evaluate wisdom and educational principles. The experimentation was on the ability to understand and know man’s thoughts. But before launching into his experiments, Solomon took time to think through the matter. He was the wisest of all men and applied that God-given wisdom to the problem. He devoted his mind wholly to the matter to get to the root of the problem; “seek” as well as to explore it from all sides; “search” (v. 13).
Solomon concludes his investigation into wisdom with two main conclusions. First, life is difficult. In verse thirteen he calls the searching out of wisdom as burdensome. This word has the idea of being difficult, wearisome and evil. Education can be tiresome but we must persevere. Secondly, Solomon states the opposite side of wisdom is madness and folly (v.17). Existence does not get easier by trying to run away from education and the wisdom life brings.
By being able to spend time in examination of both the rigors of academia and the frivolity of folly, Solomon concludes that the results are similar. The seeking after the principles of wisdom that comes from “under the sun” all result in a lack of fulfillment and sorrow. Great wisdom and abundant knowledge of earthly material leads to vanity (frustration, futility, and absurdness) as well as unfulfillment from grasping for the wind (vv.14 & 17).
The writer understood the difficulties that would occur if readers only looked to the works that are done under the sun. The instruction and demonstration of this vanity is to show the readers that only in God would they find fullness and understanding. We will see in the upcoming chapters his experiments and how unfulfilling, without the Creator, life is for man.
Ecclesiastes is relevant for today because so many are trying to grapple and comprehend why everything is vain, nonsensical, and increasingly sorrowful. Jesus came to bring life, light and love by adding the element of the eternal to the natural realm. Without Him, life makes no sense. Read John 1:1-5, 8-14 to see this unfold. Life does have a purpose as we see the more complete picture!
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.
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