SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Caribbean Grace Chapel Podcast, where we value the expository preaching and teaching of the Word of God for the purpose of life transformation.
SPEAKER_00: So if you have your Bible, you're going to begin in Malachi chapter 2, verse number 17, and then we will go into verse chapter 3 down to verse number 5.
SPEAKER_00: Keep in mind that the chapter numbers and the verse numbers are not part of the inspired text that was added later by Stephanos, I think it was.
SPEAKER_00: It was Calvin's printer in Geneva.
SPEAKER_00: Because as people begin to preach expositorily, it was a whole lot easier to have the chapters, you know, broken down in verse numbers so I could stand in the pulpit.
SPEAKER_00: All preachers can stand in the pulpit and say, hey, turn to Malachi chapter 2, verse 17.
SPEAKER_00: It was a reference point for everyone.
SPEAKER_00: But the reason why I bring that up is because as you go through the Bible, don't get stuck at like chapter 2 ends and then chapter 3 begins almost as if it's a new thought.
SPEAKER_00: It's not a new thought.
SPEAKER_00: He was writing a letter.
SPEAKER_00: And so as he writes, it flows.
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so that's why we pick up in chapter 2, verse 17, and we'll bleed over into chapter 3.
SPEAKER_00: So if you have your Bibles open before you, we're going to begin reading.
SPEAKER_00: Malachi chapter 2, verse 17.
SPEAKER_00: You have wearied the Lord with your words, but you say, How have we wearied him?
SPEAKER_00: By saying, Everyone does evil, or everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them, or by asking, Where's the God of justice?
SPEAKER_00: Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
SPEAKER_00: But who can endure the day of his coming?
SPEAKER_00: And who can stand when he appears?
SPEAKER_00: For he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap.
SPEAKER_00: He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
SPEAKER_00: Then I will draw near to you for judgment.
SPEAKER_00: I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who operate or oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
SPEAKER_00: And that is a reading of God's word.
SPEAKER_00: Father, I pray that you would mind every hindrance and every distraction that would keep us from receiving this message this morning.
SPEAKER_00: We pray that our hearts and our minds and spirits and our ears would be open and receptive to the word of the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: In Jesus' name.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: We can take that passage and we can distill the meaning down to one sentence.
SPEAKER_00: That one sentence would be God wanted his people to remember to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: So Malachi wanted God's people to remember to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: How can God's people refocus?
SPEAKER_00: There are two realities that cause God's people to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: The first reality that causes God's people to refocus is the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: Read again, Malachi chapter 2, verse 17 to chapter 3, verse 1.
SPEAKER_00: You have wearied the Lord with your words, but you say, How have we wearied him?
SPEAKER_00: By saying, Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them, or by asking, where is the God of justice?
SPEAKER_00: Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me.
SPEAKER_00: And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.
SPEAKER_00: And the messenger messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
SPEAKER_00: So the Lord through the prophet Malachi confronted his people with their sin.
SPEAKER_00: He brought a charge against his people.
SPEAKER_00: Or as the prophet Malachi addressed the people, he said, You have wearied him.
SPEAKER_00: And the people disputed the charge.
SPEAKER_00: They responded with, How have we wearied you?
SPEAKER_00: And the Lord went about proving his case by quoting their own words back to them.
SPEAKER_00: Now, it's Mother's Day.
SPEAKER_00: Happy Mother's Day.
SPEAKER_00: Everyone who had a good mother knows.
SPEAKER_00: Every now and then she has to crack the whip.
SPEAKER_00: And you know it's bad when she cracks the whip.
SPEAKER_00: And you're like, why you quacking the whip?
SPEAKER_00: And she begins to quote everything you've said and done for the last week.
SPEAKER_00: Right?
SPEAKER_00: Every attitude, every eye roll, she could recount it.
SPEAKER_00: Like, this is why.
SPEAKER_00: So imagine the Lord confronting his people, and the people are like, Why are you doing this?
SPEAKER_00: Why you why why?
SPEAKER_00: What's wrong?
SPEAKER_00: And the Lord begins to quote back their words to them.
SPEAKER_00: He was listening to their conversations, he knew their heart, he knew their attitude.
SPEAKER_00: And so he says, Because you say, you stated that everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he's pleased with them.
SPEAKER_00: Or you ask, Where's the God of justice?
SPEAKER_00: Now, at first that may seem strange to us, but remember the context of the book of Malachi.
SPEAKER_00: God's people have been released from the Babylonian exile.
SPEAKER_00: They've come back into the land.
SPEAKER_00: The temple has been rebuilt.
SPEAKER_00: The worship of the Lord has been reinstituted.
SPEAKER_00: But things aren't going as planned.
SPEAKER_00: They thought because they came back into the land and the temple was rebuilt and the worship of the Lord had been reinstituted, then that meant automatic blessing from God on their life.
SPEAKER_00: But it wasn't working out that way, and it wasn't working out that way because they weren't faithful to the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Nonetheless, they're looking around, the people of God, they're looking around at their pagan neighbors, the pagan nations that are surrounding them, and the pagan nations seem to be blessed.
SPEAKER_00: And they're like, I don't understand that.
SPEAKER_00: Why are they blessed?
SPEAKER_00: Where's the God of justice?
SPEAKER_00: Look at what all they do, and the worship of their false gods and their sexual immorality and even child or infocide, you know, murdering children and so on.
SPEAKER_00: As part of their worship, where's the God of justice?
SPEAKER_00: It appears that paganism is blessed.
SPEAKER_00: It appears those who do evil prosper.
SPEAKER_00: And the Lord answered through the prophet Malachi.
SPEAKER_00: He said, Tell them I am coming.
SPEAKER_00: But before I've come, I'm going to send a messenger before me who will prepare the way.
SPEAKER_00: And then suddenly, the messenger of the covenant that you delight in will suddenly appear in his temple.
SPEAKER_00: Well, we have the luxury of living in the new covenant.
SPEAKER_00: We know this has been fulfilled.
SPEAKER_00: We know that the Lord fulfilled his word.
SPEAKER_00: And by the way, the implication of that is hey, I understand you're looking around at the pagan nations and you're looking around at all the evil, and they seem to prosper.
SPEAKER_00: They seem to get away with everything.
SPEAKER_00: There never seems to be any hardships in their life or anything like that.
SPEAKER_00: They seem to do well financially and all this kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_00: I understand, but I'm coming.
SPEAKER_00: The implication through the prophet is this: don't focus on all the paganism around you.
SPEAKER_00: Instead, refocus on living for God.
SPEAKER_00: Do not get cynical at living for God, worshiping the Lord, and applying his law word to every area of life.
SPEAKER_00: Get focused on living for God.
SPEAKER_00: Because I am coming.
SPEAKER_00: And you'll know when I'm getting ready to come, because I'll send a messenger who will prepare the way before me.
SPEAKER_00: And again, we're in the new covenant.
SPEAKER_00: We know this has been fulfilled.
SPEAKER_00: The messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord came.
SPEAKER_00: His name?
SPEAKER_00: John the Baptist.
SPEAKER_00: And the scripture is abundantly clear on this.
SPEAKER_00: In Luke chapter 1, verses 13 through 17, we read.
SPEAKER_00: But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
SPEAKER_00: And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord, and he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb.
SPEAKER_00: And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
SPEAKER_00: And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
SPEAKER_00: Zachariah was in the temple in his service unto the Lord when the angel appeared to him and gave him this message that he and his wife would indeed have a son.
SPEAKER_00: They would call him John.
SPEAKER_00: And he would do these things, he would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: And Zechariah was a bit shocked, as you can imagine, because they were old.
SPEAKER_00: His wife Elizabeth was barren.
SPEAKER_00: She was not supposed to have children.
SPEAKER_00: Not only was she barren, she was past the age.
SPEAKER_00: And nonetheless, the angel said, This is the way it's gonna be.
SPEAKER_00: And Zechariah had a hard time believing that, so the Lord shut his mouth.
SPEAKER_00: He couldn't speak the entire time until John the Baptist was born.
SPEAKER_00: Which, by the way, let's look at that.
SPEAKER_00: Luke chapter 1, verses 76 through 79.
SPEAKER_00: Zechariah finally has his tongue loose.
SPEAKER_00: He begins to praise the Lord, and he says a bunch of things, but we're gonna pick up in verse 76.
SPEAKER_00: And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you would go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sin in darkness under the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.
SPEAKER_00: Zachariah knew that John the Baptist was indeed going to prepare the way of the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: And by the way, just to make it, you know, ironclad, Jesus said that John the Baptist was the one to come before him.
SPEAKER_00: And he came in the spirit power of Elijah.
SPEAKER_00: He said so in Matthew chapter 11, verses 10 through 11.
SPEAKER_00: This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face.
SPEAKER_00: Now, what was Jesus referencing?
SPEAKER_00: Clearly referencing Malachi.
SPEAKER_00: He's talking about John the Baptist in this.
SPEAKER_00: You can go back and read Matthew chapter 11.
SPEAKER_00: Very clear, he's talking about John the Baptist, and he opens up with, Behold, this is whom it is written, this is the one that will go before your face, who will prepare your way before you.
SPEAKER_00: Truly I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.
SPEAKER_00: Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
SPEAKER_00: And so you see that Eli, I'm sorry, that John the Baptist was the messenger that was sent before the Lord who would prepare the way before the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: The angel said it, his father recognized it, and Jesus certified it.
SPEAKER_00: Yes, this is him.
SPEAKER_00: And so when Malachi, through the power of the Holy Spirit, prophesied that the Lord was going to send a messenger before he came, John the Baptist, is it?
SPEAKER_00: And then the next part has also been fulfilled.
SPEAKER_00: You remember?
SPEAKER_00: He said, and then the messenger of the covenant, the one in whom you delight in, will suddenly appear in the temple.
SPEAKER_00: He did.
SPEAKER_00: The messenger of the covenant, Jesus, suddenly appeared in the temple.
SPEAKER_00: He did so when he was eight days old in Luke chapter 2.
SPEAKER_00: His parents brought him in as a custom to be circumcised.
SPEAKER_00: He suddenly appeared.
SPEAKER_00: And there was a priest who had the word of God that he would not die until he saw the consolation of Israel.
SPEAKER_00: And he verified, This is him.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus later suddenly appeared in the temple in Luke chapter 2 when he was 12 years old.
SPEAKER_00: And his teaching in the temple precincts.
SPEAKER_00: And all of the priests were shocked at the wisdom and teaching that was coming from this 12-year-old.
SPEAKER_00: And then Jesus, the message of the covenant, suddenly appeared again in the temple in the beginning of his ministry in John chapter 2.
SPEAKER_00: And what did he do?
SPEAKER_00: He came to cleanse the temple.
SPEAKER_00: Right?
SPEAKER_00: The people were fleecing God's flock.
SPEAKER_00: And Jesus drove out the money changers.
SPEAKER_00: He cleansed the temple.
SPEAKER_00: And then he suddenly appeared in the temple again at the end of his ministry in Matthew chapter 21.
SPEAKER_00: And what did he do?
SPEAKER_00: He cleansed the temple again.
SPEAKER_00: He goes in and he turns over the tables of the money changers and he lets loose of the animals and he turns and he says, It is written, My father's house shall be called a house of prayer.
SPEAKER_00: But you have made it a den of thieves.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus suddenly appeared in the temple.
SPEAKER_00: He's the messenger of the covenant.
SPEAKER_00: The one in whom Israel delights in.
SPEAKER_00: And he's the messenger of the covenant in whom we delight in.
SPEAKER_00: The new Israel of God.
SPEAKER_00: We delight in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done and what he is doing.
SPEAKER_00: And just as the prophet Malachi gave the prophetic word to his people that a messenger would go before him, and then the messenger covenant would suddenly appear.
SPEAKER_00: They had the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: We too, we too had the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: His second coming.
SPEAKER_00: To quit looking at all of the apparent injustices of the world.
SPEAKER_00: Quit focusing on all of the apparent blessedness of the pagans and the wickedness in our society.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it does appear that those who don't live for God live joy-filled lives.
SPEAKER_00: Notice I keep using the word appear and apparent.
SPEAKER_00: Because what you don't know is what they are struggling with in their heart and in their minds.
SPEAKER_00: Just because on the outside they appear to be blessed doesn't mean that they are.
SPEAKER_00: But what ends up happening is that God's people look around and we focus on the apparent blessedness of those who aren't even trying to live for God.
SPEAKER_00: You know?
SPEAKER_00: They seem to get the promotions, they seem to get the raises.
SPEAKER_00: It appears as though like their cars never break down.
SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00: Like they never get sick and on and on it goes.
SPEAKER_00: And we know that's not true, it just appears that way to us.
SPEAKER_00: And don't focus on that.
SPEAKER_00: Instead, refocus on living for God, worshiping God, and applying his law word to every aspect of life.
SPEAKER_00: Which is actually designed to demonstrate to the pagans around us that Yahweh is the one and only true God, and that his word and his worldview is superior to all others.
SPEAKER_00: But what ends up happening is we get focused on the wrong thing.
SPEAKER_00: And so the prophet Malachi is calling his people to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: Refocus on living for God.
SPEAKER_00: Because listen to me, church, we have the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: When he does, he will make all things right.
SPEAKER_00: Until then, we must focus on him.
SPEAKER_00: Man, when I think about the promise of his coming, there are some great scriptures that jump out at us.
SPEAKER_00: John chapter 14, verses 1 through 3.
SPEAKER_00: It reads, Let not your hearts be troubled.
SPEAKER_00: Believe in God, believe also in me.
SPEAKER_00: In my father's house are many rooms.
SPEAKER_00: If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
SPEAKER_00: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
SPEAKER_00: Because we know that if Jesus Christ went to the cross, was buried in a tomb, and rose again on a third day to prepare a place for us so that we can go and be with him for all eternity, then he will come again, just like he said he would.
SPEAKER_00: And it causes you to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: Another great passage is 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 16 through 18.
SPEAKER_00: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with the cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
SPEAKER_00: Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Therefore, encourage one another with these words.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: We had the promise of his coming, and it causes us to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: Causes us to refocus on what's important.
SPEAKER_00: Notice that when Paul talked about this, uh, there were some issues with the church in Thessalonica.
SPEAKER_00: They were confused over the resurrection, they were confused on if Christ had already turned, the resurrection had already taken place, and so on.
SPEAKER_00: And they were beginning to ask questions well, what about the dead in Christ?
SPEAKER_00: What about our loved ones who were believers but they've died before us?
SPEAKER_00: What about them?
SPEAKER_00: And Paul gives this great promise that when the Lord comes, then the dead in Christ will rise first.
SPEAKER_00: Like they will precede us, they will actually come out of the graves, and then those of us who are alive and remain shall be caught up in the clouds to be with the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: And it causes you to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: My dad, I can all of this church for you.
SPEAKER_00: Isn't it funny?
SPEAKER_00: Or interesting?
SPEAKER_00: What do you think about your loved ones?
SPEAKER_00: The things that you remember?
SPEAKER_00: What you don't remember?
SPEAKER_00: How much money they made.
SPEAKER_00: What was in their 401k?
SPEAKER_00: What was their wealth portfolio like?
SPEAKER_00: You don't remember that, do you?
SPEAKER_00: That's not important.
SPEAKER_00: You don't care.
SPEAKER_00: What you do remember is uh our Christmas traditions.
SPEAKER_00: Our Thanksgiving traditions and being around the family.
SPEAKER_00: I remember the certain meal they cooked.
SPEAKER_00: I remember their laughter.
SPEAKER_00: I remember playing sports with them in the yard.
SPEAKER_00: I remember taking me to church, and I remember they taught Sunday school, and I remember.
SPEAKER_00: Right?
SPEAKER_00: See, when you when you think about the promise of Christ coming.
SPEAKER_00: And the promise that assuming your family members were saved and that you're saved, that you will see them again, it causes you to refocus on what's important.
SPEAKER_00: The type of car you drive is not important.
SPEAKER_00: The style of clothing you wear is not important.
SPEAKER_00: How much money you have is not important.
SPEAKER_00: Great.
SPEAKER_00: And many of you are faithful and many of you are generous to the kingdom of God, and that's great.
SPEAKER_00: That's a blessing in that.
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00: But more than all of that, who you are in Christ, and the legacy you leave behind you is what matters.
SPEAKER_00: And so we have the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: And it should cause us to refocus on what's important.
SPEAKER_00: And if you've gotten sidetracked on the things of the world, then I'm calling you back to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and living for Him.
SPEAKER_00: Because that's what matters.
SPEAKER_00: Revelation chapter 22, the last chapter of the Bible, verses 12 through 13 reads, Behold, I'm coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay each one for what he has done.
SPEAKER_00: I am Alpha of Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
SPEAKER_00: Yes, that's the hope that we have and the promise of his coming, the promise of his second coming, that when he comes, he's bringing his recompense with him.
SPEAKER_00: He is going to bring his reward, he will make all things right.
SPEAKER_00: It will be the vindication of the saints on judgment day when we see God vindicating his people and punishing the wicked.
SPEAKER_00: That's when all things will be made right.
SPEAKER_00: We live for that day, not necessarily this day.
SPEAKER_00: We have to understand that we live for God, things may not always work out the way that we want them to or that we expect them to.
SPEAKER_00: But from God's perspective, it was a good plan.
SPEAKER_00: But that's not the way James wanted it to work out, but that's the way it worked out.
SPEAKER_00: You have to understand, you live with the future in mind that Jesus Christ is coming again, and on that day all things will be made right.
SPEAKER_00: So don't get caught up looking at all the paganism and all the apparent blessings that the wicked have, because it's only for a moment and it's only apparent.
SPEAKER_00: We will receive the true reward for all eternity.
SPEAKER_00: Assuming you have repented of your sin and you've come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: So the first reality that causes God's people to refocus is the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: The second reality that causes God's people to refocus is the purpose of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: Look, if you will, in Malachi chapter 3, verses 2 through 5.
SPEAKER_00: But who can endure the day of his coming?
SPEAKER_00: And who can stand when he appears?
SPEAKER_00: For he is like a refiner's fire, like fuller's soap.
SPEAKER_00: He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
SPEAKER_00: Then I will draw near to you for judgment.
SPEAKER_00: I will be a swift witness against the sorceress, against the adulteress, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
SPEAKER_00: So the Lord revealed to the prophet Malachi that he was coming.
SPEAKER_00: And then he revealed the purpose of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: And he said the purpose of his coming was to purify his people and to judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: And then interestingly, he listed egregious sins that were commonplace during the days of Malachi that he was particularly concerned about.
SPEAKER_00: He said he would come and swift judgment against the sorcerers.
SPEAKER_00: Sorcerers are those who practice or dabble in the occult.
SPEAKER_00: Those who have an inclination toward witchcraft, seances, necromancy, horoscopes, astrology.
SPEAKER_00: And on and on it goes.
SPEAKER_00: The scripture is abundantly clear, have nothing to do with such things.
SPEAKER_00: And those who continue to practice sorcery will be judged and swiftly.
SPEAKER_00: Adulterers, those who commit physical and spiritual adultery.
SPEAKER_00: The reason is because that is rooted in idolatry.
SPEAKER_00: You need to listen to last week's sermon on that.
SPEAKER_00: There is a link between adultery and idolatry.
SPEAKER_00: The two go together.
SPEAKER_00: And so he is going to come and judge the adulterers.
SPEAKER_00: He would judge false swearers.
SPEAKER_00: What is that?
SPEAKER_00: Those who lie under oath are those who pull God's name into an intentional deception and lie.
SPEAKER_00: Oppressors.
SPEAKER_00: So he'd come to judge the oppressors.
SPEAKER_00: And then he listed particular things that were egregious to him.
SPEAKER_00: One, those who do not pay the workers properly, not treat them properly.
SPEAKER_00: Those who take advantage of the fatherless and the widows, and those who thrust aside the sojourner.
SPEAKER_00: A sojourner is a person who is just living in your land temporarily.
SPEAKER_00: They're like passing through.
SPEAKER_00: We have a responsibility to treat them with hospitality.
SPEAKER_00: They're passing through.
SPEAKER_00: And then the wicked, and that was covered under the general statement, those who do not fear God, they broke his laws in all types of ways.
SPEAKER_00: You see, the reality of the purpose of his coming caused the people to refocus their spiritual condition.
SPEAKER_00: Like when they knew, not only was he coming, but they knew the purpose of his coming, and that was to purify his people and to judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: It was meant as a warning passage for them to look in their own hearts and say, hey, wait a second, are these things going on?
SPEAKER_00: Because I'm looking around at my pagan neighbors and I see all of this.
SPEAKER_00: I see sorcery and I see adultery and I see falsewear.
SPEAKER_00: I see oppression going on.
SPEAKER_00: You know, and they seem to be blessed, and it's easy to point the finger at everybody else, but the point of warning passages in the scripture is for you to turn inward.
SPEAKER_00: It's for you to look in your own heart.
SPEAKER_00: Are you exhibiting these things?
SPEAKER_00: In your heart, are you a spiritual adulterer?
SPEAKER_00: In other words, you just come to church on Sundays and you know you check on God as if He's a prisoner in his own house, but then you live the rest of the week how you want to live.
SPEAKER_00: And you put other things ahead of God.
SPEAKER_00: That's idolatry and it's adultery.
SPEAKER_00: So yet we have to look at our own hearts.
SPEAKER_00: Are we guilty of oppressing people?
SPEAKER_00: Do we take advantage of people?
SPEAKER_00: Are we into the occult?
SPEAKER_00: Are you into witchcraft?
SPEAKER_00: Are you watching movies and reading books?
SPEAKER_00: Are you engaging in these seances?
SPEAKER_00: And on and on it goes?
SPEAKER_00: If so, you're a call to repent.
SPEAKER_00: Or just general wickedness.
SPEAKER_00: I mean, you don't fear God.
SPEAKER_00: We should have a healthy fear of God.
SPEAKER_00: Instead, unfortunately, our culture is not different than the days that Malachi was dealing with.
SPEAKER_00: They were looking around going, yeah, everybody who does evil is good.
SPEAKER_00: God takes delight in them.
SPEAKER_00: These people do whatever they want to do, they have no fear of God.
SPEAKER_00: And so we might as well do the same.
SPEAKER_00: No, my friend.
SPEAKER_00: We have the promise of his coming, and we have the purpose of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: The purpose of his coming is to purify his people and to judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: We know that this has been fulfilled.
SPEAKER_00: Again, this is the thing about preaching through the prophets.
SPEAKER_00: We can read what he prophesied about, which was future from his standpoint.
SPEAKER_00: From our standpoint, we're looking at this going, it's already been done.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus Christ came.
SPEAKER_00: We talked about that.
SPEAKER_00: And he came to perfectly fulfill the law.
SPEAKER_00: You can read about that in Matthew chapter 5, verses 17 and 18.
SPEAKER_00: And secondly, he came and he judged sin at the cross and he purified his people at the same time.
SPEAKER_00: Look at this passage.
SPEAKER_00: It's Titus chapter 2, verses 11 through 14.
SPEAKER_00: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.
SPEAKER_00: Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who were zealous for good works.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus Christ went to the cross of Calvary.
SPEAKER_00: He did so not for anything that he did, but for everything that you do.
SPEAKER_00: The one who never committed one sin in thought, action, or speech willingly gave his body to be beaten and to be whipped and to be nailed to the cross.
SPEAKER_00: Where he died, and they took him off that tomb, that cross, and they buried him in the tomb.
SPEAKER_00: And on the third day, he rose from the dead.
SPEAKER_00: He's alive forevermore.
SPEAKER_00: He ascended into heaven, where he's seated at the right hand of the Father, and one day he's coming back again.
SPEAKER_00: And when he was on that cross, he paid for our penalty.
SPEAKER_00: The sin debt that we owe God, he paid for it, he wiped it out.
SPEAKER_00: Not only that, the scripture says he became the propitiation.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, he satisfied the wrath of God.
SPEAKER_00: We don't like to think in these terms about God because we live in a sissified culture that views God as nothing but love, and we define love as He's my boyfriend.
SPEAKER_00: It's a gross misunderstanding of the love of God.
SPEAKER_00: When Jesus was on that cross, the wrath of God that should have been poured out on you was poured out instead upon Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: For every sin that you've ever committed, and those you will commit.
SPEAKER_00: It wasn't like his blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary only covered you up to a certain point.
SPEAKER_00: His blood is powerful enough to free you from all sin, to pay that debt against God.
SPEAKER_00: And in the process, he's purifying you and did purify you.
SPEAKER_00: He cleansed you, he clothed you with the righteousness of Christ.
SPEAKER_00: You see, the purpose of his coming calls the people to quit again, focusing on all the stuff around them and again turn inward.
SPEAKER_00: This warning passage is going, hey, we need to focus on Christ.
SPEAKER_00: We need to focus on living for God.
SPEAKER_00: Because he is coming and he will purify us.
SPEAKER_00: The reason why they weren't blessed in Malachi's day is because they weren't following the principles, they weren't worshiping the Lord in truth.
SPEAKER_00: And so he was coming to purify them.
SPEAKER_00: And he was coming to judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: And I tell you this morning that we too had the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: He's coming again.
SPEAKER_00: And listen, when he comes, he's coming for the same purpose.
SPEAKER_00: When the Lord Jesus Christ returns, he will finally and fully purify his people.
SPEAKER_00: 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
SPEAKER_00: Man, you know it.
SPEAKER_00: Verses 50 through 53.
SPEAKER_00: I tell you, brothers, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
SPEAKER_00: Behold, I tell you a mystery.
SPEAKER_00: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed, for this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
SPEAKER_00: We will fully and finally be purified.
SPEAKER_00: That old, that the remnants of that old Adamic sin nature that we still battle will finally be broken away from us.
SPEAKER_00: We'll be delivered from it in full.
SPEAKER_00: We'll be with the Lord forever, not able to sin.
SPEAKER_00: He will finally and fully purify his people.
SPEAKER_00: But let me warn you with this.
SPEAKER_00: When he comes again, when he returns, when he comes his second coming, he is coming to judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: Revelation 20, verses 11 through 15.
SPEAKER_00: Then I saw a great white throne in him who was seated on it.
SPEAKER_00: From his presence, earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
SPEAKER_00: And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
SPEAKER_00: Then another book was opened, which is the book of life.
SPEAKER_00: And the dead were judged by what was written in the books according to what they had done.
SPEAKER_00: And the sea gave up the dead who were in it.
SPEAKER_00: Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them.
SPEAKER_00: And they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
SPEAKER_00: Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
SPEAKER_00: This is the second death, the lake of fire.
SPEAKER_00: And if anyone's name he was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown in the lake of fire.
SPEAKER_00: He is coming to judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: And if you turn the page, it starts talking about how in the New Jerusalem, you know, the dogs and the sorcerers and the liars and all that are outside.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he is judging and he will judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: The scariest thing about hell, listen to this.
SPEAKER_00: The scariest thing about hell, it's not that you're just gonna be in, you know, this horrible place of torment for eternity.
SPEAKER_00: It's that the wrath of God is against you for eternity.
SPEAKER_00: See, those of us who came to faith in Christ, we escaped that because Christ was our propitiation.
SPEAKER_00: He satisfied the wrath of God.
SPEAKER_00: But those who reject Christ will bear the brunt of God's wrath for all eternity.
SPEAKER_00: Notice that when Christ returns, said He will judge sin, and those who reject Christ, the books will be opened at another book, the Lamb's book of life, and they'll be judged according to what was written in the books.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, it's you know, it's teaching us God sees all things, knows all things, and on judgment day will deal with all things.
SPEAKER_00: So don't get caught up looking around, focusing on all the apparent injustices.
SPEAKER_00: And don't get caught up looking around and focusing on all of the ways that the evil and the wicked and the unbelievers seem to be prospering.
SPEAKER_00: Instead, focus on God.
SPEAKER_00: Because one day, Christ is coming again.
SPEAKER_00: And when he does, all things will be made right.
SPEAKER_00: Rather than trying to point your finger at all the pagans and how they live, take a moment, search your own heart, and repent of your own sin and wickedness.
SPEAKER_00: So that when the Lord returns, you're ready.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: God's people must remember to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: There are two realities that cause God's people to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: The first reality that causes God's people to refocus is the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: The second reality that causes God's people to refocus is the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: So I want to take just a moment and I want to talk to those who are not saved.
SPEAKER_00: You have never repented of your sin and you've never placed your faith in Christ.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe you were reared in church, you played the church game.
SPEAKER_00: You went through children's church, you went through the youth group, you've been to camps, man, you've sang the songs, you've taught lessons, you did VBS.
SPEAKER_00: But you're just as pagan as the Satanist down the street.
SPEAKER_00: Because you've never truly repented of your sin and placed your faith in Christ.
SPEAKER_00: Based on authority of God's word.
SPEAKER_00: And say we had the promise of his coming.
SPEAKER_00: Christ is coming again.
SPEAKER_00: And for a very specific purpose.
SPEAKER_00: And he will finally and fully judge sin.
SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna give you an opportunity now.
SPEAKER_00: To come to faith in Christ.
SPEAKER_00: To have your sin forgiven.
SPEAKER_00: To have your name cleansed.
SPEAKER_00: Your sins cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: To have the wrath of God poured out on Christ in your behalf.
SPEAKER_00: So he may be the propitiation of your sin.
SPEAKER_00: If you have never committed your life to Christ, if you've never truly repented, you might ask, what does that look like, preacher?
SPEAKER_00: Romans chapter 10, verses 9, 10, and following gives us an indication.
SPEAKER_00: It says if you believe in your heart, the message, the gospel message.
SPEAKER_00: That is, that Jesus was born of a virgin, that he lived a sinless life.
SPEAKER_00: That he died on the cross, not for anything that he did, but for everything that you do.
SPEAKER_00: Where he died, was buried in a tomb, rose again on a third day.
SPEAKER_00: You believe in that message and repent of your sin and confess that Jesus is Lord, you'll be saved.
SPEAKER_00: And you know that you'll be saved because there will be evidence of it.
SPEAKER_00: It'll change your life, change the way you view the world.
SPEAKER_00: Everything about you will change.
SPEAKER_00: So that's what it means to repent of your sin and to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: If you've never done so, I'm going to give you that opportunity now.
SPEAKER_00: There's no magical incantation, there's no magical prayer.
SPEAKER_00: It's simply, Lord Jesus, I'm a sinner.
SPEAKER_00: And I confess that you are my Savior, my Lord.
SPEAKER_00: I repent of my sin.
SPEAKER_00: I turn from my sin.
SPEAKER_00: If you can pray that with sincerity in your heart, then I want you to lean over and tell your neighbor, or maybe talk to me after service.
SPEAKER_00: The second thing, or the second group I want to talk to are Christians.
SPEAKER_00: Those who are in covenant with Christ.
SPEAKER_00: I want to challenge you to refocus.
SPEAKER_00: Refocus on worshiping God, living for God, and applying His Word in everyday life.
SPEAKER_00: Don't get sidetracked on the things of the world.
SPEAKER_00: Don't get sidetracked on how easy and blessed it appears that those who don't live for God have it.
SPEAKER_00: Instead, refocus on the Lord Jesus Christ because one day he's coming again and is bringing his reward with him.
SPEAKER_00: You would much rather have your reward for all eternity than now for a few fleeting years.
SPEAKER_00: So refocus on what matters living for Christ.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening to the Carvalho Grace Chapel podcast.
SPEAKER_00: Make sure that you like, share, follow us on socials.
SPEAKER_00: I'm Dr.
SPEAKER_00: Jason Murphy, proclaiming grace, transforming culture.