HUNSLET CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

Sunday a.m. 31^st January 2010

MAJOR TRUTHS FROM THE MINOR PROPHETS (1)

THE SAVIOUR AND SALVATION PROMISED

Reading – Malachi chapter 3

Today we start a series of messages from the Minor Prophets, those books that to some people are tucked away at the end of the Old Testament and not usually read or studied.

These books are a personal favourite of mine, I guess that I have always liked the underdog, the one not quite in favour, the also rans.

This is probably why I support Leeds United, although after they beat Manchester United and drew with Tottenham Hotspur, they may be looked upon as giant killers.

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and signalled a period of 400 years of prophetic silence, only broken when John the Baptist arrived on the scene with his battle cry ‘PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD’.

Malachi is a real treasure trove of truths and promises even though it is only 4 chapters long.

I would like us to look at chapter 3 today and see what mighty truths are found here.

Firstly we have the promise of the Lord’s messenger in verse 1

‘Behold, I will send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me’

Malachi here 400 years before Christ foretells of the messenger – John the Baptist – look at the words of Malachi and what Luke says of John the Baptist in chapter 3 where he quoted from Isaiah 40 v 3 ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare the way of the Lord’, they are the same.

Some people can’t stand surprise visitors arriving or other things happening without notice.

In our reading the Lord, through Malachi, gave 400 years notice of the arrival of John and also of Jesus. You would have thought that the Jews would be ready for the arrivals, but they were not. The Jews did not accept that Jesus was the Messiah promised by Malachi and indeed many other prophets before him.

We are also sent by God to be His messengers to our world, and we must prepare the way for Jesus to come to the people who we come into contact with.

Secondly we have the promise of the Lord’s coming from the second half of verse 1

‘And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple….. Behold He is coming says the Lord of Hosts’

Due you remember the scene when Jesus was brought to the temple at 8 days old and Simeon's reaction. He was waiting for the Messiah like all good Jews and yet until God revealed Jesus to him he was not aware that the Messiah had been born or had arrived on the scene of time. But when he saw Jesus he said ‘Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace. According to Your Word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation.’ Luke 2 vs. 29 &30

Malachi foresaw the coming of John the Baptist and also the coming of Jesus, into a world that was in a terrible state and he was faithful in telling the people.

When we witness to the people we should always point them to the Lord Jesus, as both Malachi and John the Baptist did.

Malachi said ‘He will prepare the way before Me (that is the Lord) and John said ‘But One mightier than I is coming’ (Luke 3 v 16).

It is easy to try and win people to ourselves and try and be popular but our mission is ‘not self but Christ’

Thirdly Malachi saw the state of the world when Jesus was to come.

Look at verses 5 and 7a, 8 & 9, 13 to 15

When Jesus came in Bethlehem the world was in a terrible state and the Jews were also in the same state. The Romans had taken over and were harsh rulers, taxing the people heavily, doling out rough justice of their own kind and not necessarily right justice, there was evil in all areas, with people taking advantage of others less able to look after themselves, godlessness, lies, witchcraft, immorality, and countless other ills.

Is this not also a picture of the world in which we live? Men turning away from God, turning to false doctrines, the occult, there are more witches and warlocks now than there has ever been, people taking advantage of others, look at the number of elderly who are being conned by rogue traders, the number of muggings, the sexual depravity that we read of in the papers, look at the church today and what is happening there with church leaders appointing those who are in clear breach of God’s law into the clergy, etc. etc.

Is the state of the world not a sign that the Lord is due to return again as He did 2000 years ago.

Fourthly Malachi saw the restoration of God’s chosen people and the way of salvation. See verses 2 to 4, 6 and 7b,

Malachi saw that those Jews who returned to faith in God, and obeyed the call of His messenger and indeed Himself when He came, would be restored to salvation.

We who are of the New Covenant of God are the mirror of the Jews because we too are God’s chosen people and if the ‘church’ repents and turns back to God and stops it’s false message and life then God will restore those who call themselves Christian but have not the experience or lived the life according to God’s instruction.

Can we see the restoration of Israel and the church to its rightful place, can we see the plan of salvation for those who are lost in sin, including false doctrines and teachings. Let us always be telling of the opportunity to turn back to God and show the people we meet the way of salvation.

Finally Malachi saw the promise of God’s blessing upon His people and final victory.

See verses 10 to 12, 16 & 17

Malachi saw what we see, in that when we put our trust in God and follow His will then there is much blessing. The enemies of God’s people are eventually brought down, the Lord provides for all the needs of His chosen ones, Malachi saw opened a book of remembrance for all who feared God and considered His Word. We are reminded by God’s word that there is a book ‘The Lambs book of life’ in which all of us who have

Trusted the Lord for salvation and who follow Him are recorded and this book will be opened when Christ come again for His own.

But while His people are here on Earth He promises His presence, His provision and His blessing.

Let us rejoice and be thankful and determined to work for Him that others may share in the wonder of salvation and the blessings of living for and with Jesus.

If time allows read Hymn number 744

We’ve a story to tell to the nations.

HUNSLET CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

Sunday a.m. 31^st January 2010

ORDER OF SERVICE

HYMN 93 Come let us join our cheerful songs

PRAYER

NOTICES AND OFFERING

BIBLE READING - MALACHI chapter 3

HYMN 32 An army of ordinary people

MESSAGE THE SAVIOUR AND SALVATION PROMISED

HYMN 790 You are the King of Glory

(sing through twice)

BENEDICTION