Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Delightful Land (Mal 3:6-12)
God declares that He still is who He was, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Mal 3:6). He is as faithful to the covenant and Christ as ever. If we believe, though we’re guilty of sin, then we’ll have the benefits promised, as if we hadn’t sinned. Churches & pastors can be restored & lifted, people’s lives will be fruitful to Christ, and He will accept our offerings, so much so, that He’ll bless the works with power and love.
We don’t know how far we’ve fallen, until He tells us, “Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. return unto me, and I will return unto you, says the Lord of hosts. But you said, Wherein shall we return” (Mal 3:7). He reveals the sin, reveals the Savior, and gives the salvation. But, He brings us to REPENT by exposing the sin that is in us. This is the Father’s love to MAKE us hear.
The people didn’t give because they didn’t believe, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings (vs8).” They said, “I’ve got to care for me”, rather than trusting God who cares. We are to prove the sincerity of our love by acting upon our faith to the cost of ourselves. We are to live out the gospel in hope of the reward, obeying God in the hope of the promise that is sure.
God will not have faith that is without works, for it is dead. The people needed faith to cast their bread upon the waters, laboring in the hope of Christ, so they could reap the fruit of prosperity, which is love, joy, peace, & seeing God’s works instead of their own.
All people are guilty of robbing God, and no one is above repentance – “You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation” (vs9). We all could give more, serve more, believe more, and enjoy more of Jesus Christ. We could love
more, obey more, and have more blessedness of faith. We are all, every one, called to repent, from pastor to the people.
Thus, Christ is preached by faith, rather than self-righteous human power. We stand in Jesus’ blood, every one of us. We have no hope but Christ dying in our stead as the REASON that God will give now. We can’t look on our past and expect a blessing, but we may look to the promise of God by faith in Christ and expect good. All are guilty, but all are welcome to the fount for sin and uncleanness: He forgives and gives whatever you need.
God’s promises are good. He says, “Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, an 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” (vs10). If we believe, then we shall have the fruit of believing. And, the fruit of believing – good works – shall be blessed as well.
He calls us to zealous obedience because His faithfulness is real. He calls us to submit to God’s will for us, because the reward is sure. Believe unto good works and you won’t be ashamed, since believing unto good works is merely faith for real.
God promises blessing, “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” (vs11). The man that believes and loves his wife shall have the benefit of service. The man that supports the cause of Christ shall have the benefits because God isn’t believed nor served in vain. He shall exalt the lowly and lift up the servant. We don’t have to serve self, for SERVING Him we get the best life can give. Those curses that have come by unbelief shall be replaced with blessings of faith.
Hardship continues, and temporal things are not promised, but the Father shall be faithful to every look of faith: it will work by love and have love’s reward.
Make sure you get the whole gospel and the reward of the gospel is yours!
Lastly, God’s blessing shall be obvious, “And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts” (vs12). He shall wipe away all tears, and one day, all shall see what He has done for us. He will magnify grace in His goodness to us, revealing it is wise to serve God and REVEALING the grace whereby we did it.
We don’t know how far we’ve fallen, until He tells us, “Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. return unto me, and I will return unto you, says the Lord of hosts. But you said, Wherein shall we return” (Mal 3:7). He reveals the sin, reveals the Savior, and gives the salvation. But, He brings us to REPENT by exposing the sin that is in us. This is the Father’s love to MAKE us hear.
The people didn’t give because they didn’t believe, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings (vs8).” They said, “I’ve got to care for me”, rather than trusting God who cares. We are to prove the sincerity of our love by acting upon our faith to the cost of ourselves. We are to live out the gospel in hope of the reward, obeying God in the hope of the promise that is sure.
God will not have faith that is without works, for it is dead. The people needed faith to cast their bread upon the waters, laboring in the hope of Christ, so they could reap the fruit of prosperity, which is love, joy, peace, & seeing God’s works instead of their own.
All people are guilty of robbing God, and no one is above repentance – “You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation” (vs9). We all could give more, serve more, believe more, and enjoy more of Jesus Christ. We could love
more, obey more, and have more blessedness of faith. We are all, every one, called to repent, from pastor to the people.
Thus, Christ is preached by faith, rather than self-righteous human power. We stand in Jesus’ blood, every one of us. We have no hope but Christ dying in our stead as the REASON that God will give now. We can’t look on our past and expect a blessing, but we may look to the promise of God by faith in Christ and expect good. All are guilty, but all are welcome to the fount for sin and uncleanness: He forgives and gives whatever you need.
God’s promises are good. He says, “Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, an 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” (vs10). If we believe, then we shall have the fruit of believing. And, the fruit of believing – good works – shall be blessed as well.
He calls us to zealous obedience because His faithfulness is real. He calls us to submit to God’s will for us, because the reward is sure. Believe unto good works and you won’t be ashamed, since believing unto good works is merely faith for real.
God promises blessing, “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” (vs11). The man that believes and loves his wife shall have the benefit of service. The man that supports the cause of Christ shall have the benefits because God isn’t believed nor served in vain. He shall exalt the lowly and lift up the servant. We don’t have to serve self, for SERVING Him we get the best life can give. Those curses that have come by unbelief shall be replaced with blessings of faith.
Hardship continues, and temporal things are not promised, but the Father shall be faithful to every look of faith: it will work by love and have love’s reward.
Make sure you get the whole gospel and the reward of the gospel is yours!
Lastly, God’s blessing shall be obvious, “And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts” (vs12). He shall wipe away all tears, and one day, all shall see what He has done for us. He will magnify grace in His goodness to us, revealing it is wise to serve God and REVEALING the grace whereby we did it.
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Heshimu Colar, Pastor
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