EASY?

MALACHI 1

Pastor Rick Jackson

Someone has said, “If it was easy. Everyone would be doing it.” Here we have the Word of God telling us what to do! And it is not always easy! But God says it, so it is worth obeying.

I. SOME THINGS ARE NOT EASY TO SAY [v. 1]

1. The “Burden” of the Word of the Lord [Luke 12:48]

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

2. The Recipients of the Burden - Israel [But applicable to us - 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11]

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

3. The Vessel of the Lord - Malachi - whose very name means messenger [Acts 5:20]

               

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

II. SOME THINGS ARE NOT EASY TO ACCEPT [v. 2-8]

1. God is Not Hampered by Ignorance (because He knows all things) [v. 2-4, Rm. 9:10-33]

2. God is Not Honored by Religion [v. 5-7]

3. God is Not impressed by Man’s Offerings [v. 7-8]

III. SOME THINGS ARE NOT EASY TO HEAR [v. 9-14]

1. Position will not Prevent Chastening [v. 9, Hebrews 12:5-13, 1 Peter 4:17]

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby . Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2. Motives Are Taken Into Account [v. 10, 1 Corinthians 4:5,  Heb. 4:12]

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

3. God Expects Our Best [v. 11-14, Mt. 22:37-40, 1 Peter 1:22]

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: