Malachi 3

Malachi 3:1-6

SERMON #12. CHRIST THE REFINER AND Text: Malachi 3:1-6 Subject: Christ’s Refining Work Date: Sunday PM — November 1, 2009 Introduction: (Malachi 3:1-6) “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. (2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: (3) 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. (4) Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. (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, saith the LORD of hosts. (6) For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” We will focus our attention tonight upon Malachi 3:3; but we must always seek to understand a passage in its context. My subject is CHRIST THE REFINER AND . Here the prophet of God tells us that when the Lord Jesus comes, — “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” The Lord Jesus Christ is the Messenger of the covenant, in whom God’s elect delight. When he appeared in this world, all that was not real and genuine, all that was spiritually pretentious, fake and hypocritical was purged away by him. He was like a refiner’s fire, consuming the false pretensions of the Pharisees, the vain boastings of the Scribes and the imagined superiority of the Sadducees. The Lord Jesus Christ is a great refiner and purifier. SUMMARY Let me summarize these six verses with five statements. Then, I will try, by the help of God the Holy Spirit to bring out a few thoughts from verse three about the work of our Savior as our Refiner and Purifier. When he comes to a sinner in the mighty, saving operations of his grace, he comes suddenly, unexpectedly (Malachi 3:1). When the Savior comes to a sinner, he comes to “sit,” to sit permanently, in his house, as Savior and Lord. When the Lord Jesus comes in the mighty, saving operations of his grace, he comes to refine and purify his chosen, “the sons of Levi,” whom he has ordained to serve as priests in his house — (Joshua the High Priest — Zechariah 3). Refined in him and by him, chosen, redeemed sinners, sanctified by his grace offer pleasant offerings in righteousness unto the Lord (Malachi 3:3-4). Yes, blessed be his name, the Son of God takes away the shame of his people and saves all his chosen, because “he hateth putting away,” because he changes not (Malachi 3:6). (Malachi 3:6) “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” “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.” — This is spoken of as one of the results of the coming of the Lord. Malachi said he would test and try all things, destroy the false and the evil, and make those pure whom he had chosen. Behold, the Promised One has come! He suddenly appeared in his temple as the messenger of the covenant. Simeon, and Anna, and all who waited for the consolation of Israel, rejoiced. Faithful witnesses testified, “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” But to many our Lord’s first advent was a day of darkness and judgment. When we look back upon the destruction of Judaism, the destruction of the Jewish nation and the darkness that yet engulfs the physical descendants of Abraham, we understand Malachi’s astonishment in Malachi 3:2. — “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.” SAVING That which was true of our Lord at his first appearance in this world in human flesh is still true of him. When the Lord Jesus comes to his own in the saving operations of his grace, he sits as the Refiner and Purifier in his house, in the hearts of chosen sinners. Whenever the Lord Jesus comes, he comes in utmost mercy to make our souls clean. His coming always means that he is about to purify the soul. Here is his highest mercy: — He comes to rid his people of sin, to purify us into his own glorious holiness. Christ loved his church, and this is bow he showed it: — “He gave himself for it, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” He performs this great work of making sinners pure by three mighty, operations of grace. Redemption — Blood Atonement Regeneration — Sanctification Resurrection (Jude 1:24). (Jude 1:24) “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Malachi 3:3 specifically speaks of our Lord’s work of grace in regeneration and conversion (Titus 3:3-7). (Titus 3:3-7) “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Whenever Christ comes to one he loves, he comes as a refiner and a purifier. He comes to take away the dross from the silver and to make the fine gold pure. He comes as a consuming fire, to burn up much that we naturally love (Religion — Personal Worth — Self-righteousness). He comes as a Purifier, to cleanse our souls. How is this refining work performed? — It is carried on in part by the word of God. (Jeremiah 23:29) “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Wherever the gospel is preached it consumes dross. The Dross of Religious Tradition The Dross of Human Inventions The Dross of Doctrinal Error Read Psalms 107 regularly, and be reminded often that another instrument by which the Lord Jesus refines and purifies his own is his wonderful works of providence. Providence apart from the gospel has no saving effect upon the soul. But providence, working by the gospel certainly does. (Psalms 107) “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (2) Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; (3) And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. (4) They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. (5) Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. (6) Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. (7) And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. (8) Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (9) For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. (10) Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; (11) Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: (12) Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. (13) Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. (14) He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. (15) Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (16) For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. (17) Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. (18) Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. (19) Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. (20) He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (21) Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (22) And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. (23) They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; (24) These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. (25) For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. (26) They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. (27) They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end. (28) Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. (29) He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. (30) Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. (31) Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (42) The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. (43) Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.” “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and will break With blessings on your head. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His works in vain; God is His own interpreter. And He will make it plain.” — William Cowper God the Holy Spirit is the great fire that burns in Zion to refine and purge God’s elect. He is the fire by which the Lord Jesus makes the Word of the Gospel and the works of providence effectual. By the operations of his Word, and by the influences of his blessed Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus brings his people into the furnace of purification. He melts our stubborn nature and our obstinate will. By the Spirit of judgment, and by the Spirit of burning, he purges the dross, takes away our tin and forms all his elect into vessels of mercy and sanctification. This operation of grace in us is as necessary for our everlasting salvation as God’s works of grace performed for us in eternity, our Savior’s work of obedience in his life as our Representative, his death as our Substitute upon the cursed tree, and his resurrection and ascension as Lord over all. Without this refining work, this purifying work of grace, the Son of God could never present his elect unto himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, holy and without blame before him in love. SITTING BY Now, watch this. — All the time he is performing this mighty work of grace, both for us and in us, we are told that our Lord Jesus “shall sit as a refiner.” He sits by and watches over us, constantly tempering the fire in exact proportion to purpose of grace and our souls’ needs. He never permits the enemy to fan it even a 1000th of a degree more than his love and wisdom have ordained. He sits by as a Sovereign upon his throne. He sits with perfect patience. He sits as one who knows what he is doing! “God’s furnace doth in Zion stand, But Zion’s God sits by, As the refiner views his gold, With an observant eye.” Always observing, always watching, the Lord Jesus shall sit, — “He shall sit as a refiner.” See him sitting as a Refiner, eternal power performing what everlasting love designed. — His “fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 31:9). THE FIRE When the hand of God that is turned upon his little ones to save them, we are told, will do so by bringing them through the fire. (Zechariah 13:7-9) “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (8) And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (9) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” It is written, “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). All who wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb must come through great tribulation (Revelation 7:14). They must pass through the fire and be “refined as silver is refined” and tried “as gold is tried.” Both Zechariah and Malachi are describing God’s mercy not his wrath, his grace not his judgment. They are telling us about that which God does for chosen, redeemed sinners when he turns his hand upon them to save them. He refines them with fire. (Isaiah 48:9-11) “For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. (10) Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. (11) For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” If you want to see God’s elect in this world, look for them in the fire. Look for them in the burning and fiery furnace. If you walk with God, you must walk through the fire. When God confirmed his covenant to Abraham (Genesis 15:8-18), he gave him three things, by which he assured his servant of grace. An Altar of Sacrifice – Blood Atonement! A Burning Lamp – Guiding Light (Word/Spirit). A Smoking Furnace – Divine Chastening. Anything precious and valuable must be tried (Proverbs 17:3). (Proverbs 17:3) “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.” It was a law in Israel that everything that could abide the fire must go through the fire (Numbers 31:23). — The diamond must be cut. — The gold must be purified. — The silver must be refined. Whenever there is a sacrifice offered to God there is fire. — You and I are to present ourselves to God as constant living sacrifices (Romans 12:1); but no sacrifice was offered to God unless it was burned. We could never be conformed to Christ were our feet not burned in the furnace (Revelation 1:15). Our Lord’s feet represent his humanity. His head represents his Deity. Deity could never suffer; but his feet, his human body and soul, suffered all the wrath of God in this world, when he died as our Substitute. Thank God, we will never suffer his wrath (Romans 8:1). Yet, our feet must also be burned in the furnace. The furnace of affliction, like the refiner’s fire, has many uses. When blessed of God to our souls’ good the furnace is a very helpful place. The refiner’s fire is a purifying fire. — God uses trouble to purge the dross of sin that he hates from the soul that he loves. The furnace makes hard steel easily molded. — The blacksmith beats his iron on his anvil in vain until he puts it in the fire; but the heated iron bends to the touch. The furnace is a place of great light. — You will see things more clearly in the furnace than anywhere else. — The Vanity of the World! — The Beauty of Life! — The Blessedness of Grace! — The Goodness of God! — The Preciousness of Christ! What mercy it is for God to put us into his furnace! It is his hand that brings us into the fire; and it is his hand that brings us through it. If God has chosen you, you must go through the fire. If Christ has redeemed you, you must go through the fire. If God the Holy Spirit has called you, you must go through the fire. You will go into the furnace; but you will go through the furnace; and you shall not be harmed, but only made better by the furnace. (Isaiah 43:1-7) “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (2) When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (3) For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. (4) Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. (5) Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; (6) I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; (7) Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” THE FIRE OF I do not doubt that the fire spoken of here is primarily the fire of Holy Spirit conviction by the Word of God, the very fire of hell itself in your soul. — “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:29). — “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word” (Psalms 148:8). — “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee” (Ezekiel 20:47). Your time in the fire may be very long and slow, or short and fierce, but you must go through the fire. The Lord knows exactly what we need and what we can bear. When the fire of conviction has done its work and the sinner convinced of his sin looks to Christ, the Lord God declares, “They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” (Isaiah 25:9) “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” That is exactly what Malachi tells us. — The Lord’s object in all this is to make his chosen a people who “may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness,” an offering pleasant to God himself (Malachi 3:3-4). Our Savior’s purpose in refining us is that he may deliver us from all evil and make us perfect. Remember, the subjects of purifying are his own chosen ones: — “He shall purify the sons of Levi.” Levi was the tribe taken out of the rest for God’s service. The Lord has a people whom he has set apart unto himself, and these he will purify. (Titus 2:11-14) “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” What he has redeemed he will refine. Gethsemane and Calvary have bound the Refiner to his task. But none will ever call upon him in faith who are not brought by him through the fire. “O beware of trust ill-grounded; ‘Tis but fancied faith at most, To be cured, and not be wounded; To be saved before you’re lost.” THE FIRE OF Yet, throughout our days upon this earth, our great, gracious, and good heavenly Father continues to bring us through the fire, refining us as silver is refined and trying (proving) us as gold is tried. Trials and temptations, sickness and sorrow, domestic trouble and bereavements, slander and persecution, war and adversity, deep and daily discoveries of the body of sin and death that is in us, the hidings of our Savior’s face and the needful denials of the sense of his presence are all fiery trials of faith through which our heavenly Father brings his “little ones,” fires by which he by which he refines his silver and proves his gold. His “fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 31:9); and when he brings us through the fire, it is to bring us into a wealthy place (Psalms 66:12). And by these things we are brought to call upon, worship our God, who declares, — “They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” By these trials and exercises there is a gradual weaning from the world, a humility, meekness and brokenness of spirit worked in us before the Lord, a greater simplicity and godly sincerity, more willing obedience to the precepts of the gospel, and a greater desire to know the will of God and do it. O that these fruits of the Spirit might abound in us and all the saints and servants of God! Remember, it is God our Savior who puts us in the fire. It is his furnace that we are tried. He is always with us in the furnace. He will bring us through the furnace. And when he does, he will bring us, at last, into heavenly glory which shall be a wealthier place because of the fire through which he has brought us Yes, the very fire by which we are tried shall “be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18; 1 Peter 1:3-9). (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (1 Peter 1:3-9) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” Yes, even after he has performed his mighty work of grace in us, stripping us, laying us low, sweetly forcing us to know our need of him, our blessed Savior still “shall sit as a refiner.” He never abandons the work of his hands. He ever performs his work of grace in us, until it is finished. Graciously, wisely he keeps us needing him and keeps us coming to him! (Philippians 1:6) “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 2:12-13) “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Hebrews 13:20-21) “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” “Grace will complete what grace begins, To save from sorrows or from sins; The work that wisdom undertakes Eternal mercy ne’er forsakes.” Is this the case with you? Is this the case with me? Are all the fiery trials we have gone through, regulated, kept under and blessed, by our Savior to everlasting good? Oh my foolish heart, how have I repined in my affliction, because I saw not my Savior’s hand in the appointment, failed to discern his love carrying me through it and missed the display of his wisdom in appointing it! Lord Jesus, blessed Refiner, give me grace to see you sitting by. Do, blessed Savior, sit in this most needful office over my soul, that as all true believers are of the royal priesthood, being sons of Levi, and made kings and priests to God and the Father, never may my soul come out of the furnace of your purification, until that I am enabled, by your grace, to offer in heaven itself the perfect offering of one made perfect by your grace! Blessed be his name forever! Though he puts us in the fire, none he puts into his fire shall be consumed. (Malachi 3:6) “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Amen.

Malachi 3:6

SERMON #13. “I change not!”

Text: Malachi 3:6 Subject: God’s Immutability

Date: Sunday PM — November 8, 2009

Introduction:

In Malachi 3:6, the Lord our God declares, “I change not!” That is my subject. — “I CHANGE NOT!” The Apostle James describes our God as “The Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). And in our text, the Lord God himself declares, — “I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

How great that God must be who is unchanging and unchangeable! Nothing reaches God. Nothing touches God. Nothing affects God. Nothing moves God. Nothing changes God. — God reaches all things; but nothing reaches him. — God touches all things; but nothing touches him. — God affects all things; but nothing affects him. — God moves all things; but nothing moves him. — God changes all things; but nothing changes him!

God is immutable. Sitting upon his high and glorious throne, with the ease and serenity of total and absolute sovereignty, God looks down upon the heavens, down upon the angels, down upon the earth, down upon men, the worms of the earth, down upon hell, the fallen angels, and Satan himself and declares, — “I am the LORD, I change not!”Satan led a revolt against his throne; but God changes not!

Sin entered into the world; but God changes not!

Nations rise and nations fall; but God changes not!

The heavens and the earth shall vanish away; but God changes not!

A new heaven and a new earth shall be made; but God changes not!

God’s elect shall enter into the bliss of eternal glory, and the damned shall be cast into hell forever; but God changes not!

God alone is unaffected. God alone is immutable. God alone never changes.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day,

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay all around me I see —

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

Immutability belongs to God alone. This world is not immutable. You and I are not immutable. — “Man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity.”Illustrations: The Fall Life in this World. All Temporal Affairs. All Spiritual Affairs. “God alone is, in and of himself, immutable” (John Gill). Divisions: — God is immutable. In the essence of his being. In the perfections of his nature. In his purposes and decrees. In his love toward his elect. In the promises of his covenant. GOD IS IN THE ESSENCE OF HIS BEING. God is the eternal, infinite Spirit. He cannot change or be changed by anything. He who says, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:15), can never experience change. He is immutable. I realize that it is far easier for me to say what God is not than it is for me to say what he is. But, of this you may be certain, whatever God is in the essence of his Being, he cannot change (Psalms 102:25-27). — He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever! (Psalms 102:25-27) “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. (26) They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: (27) But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” will not permit change. — That which is eternal must of necessity be. And that which necessarily exists from eternity can never be changed. God is eternal. He is the only Being who is without cause. He is, because he is. Therefore, he cannot change or be changed. will not permit change. — Perfection cannot be increased or diminished. God, who is perfect, cannot change for the better, because he is perfect already. He cannot change for the worse, for that would make him imperfect. — God never learned anything. Perfect knowledge cannot learn. Though God created the world, he never changed. It was his will to create from eternity.Creative power was in him from eternity.And the creation of the world has had no effect upon him.God underwent no change when Godhead was united to manhood in the incarnation of Christ (Isaiah 9:6). God did not cease to be God. Godhead and manhood were united in one glorious Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of God’s elect. — (Hypostatic Union). Do you see this? God is eternally and perpetually the same. He is immutable in the essence of his Being. GOD IS IN ALL THE OF HIS NATURE. God’s attributes are those perfections of the Divine character which are essential to his Being as God. In all the attributes of his nature God is immutable. The power of God is immutable. — It is never exhausted, or even slightly diminished. The knowledge of God is immutable. — God has never learned anything. And he has never forgotten anything. I rejoice to hear him say, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” But that is a revelation of his grace, not a description of his omniscience. And that non-remembrance of our sins was an act of eternal grace. The goodness of God is immutable. — God’s goodness extends to all his creatures. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. But God’s goodness is never in short supply. It is immutably abundant. The faithfulness of God is immutable. — His faithfulness never fails! Though we believe not, “He abideth faithful.” To His People. To His Purposes. To His Promises. To Himself. To His Son. The glorious holiness of God is immutable. — God’s holiness is never tarnished. He is the immutably just and righteous one. His holiness is always illustriously the same. Satan has not tarnished it. Man has not tarnished it. Grace has not tarnished it. GOD IS IN HIS AND DECREES. John Gill wrote, “There is a purpose for everything, and a time for that purpose. God has determined all that ever was, is or shall be” — All that comes to pass comes to pass according to the sovereign, eternal, immutable counsel and decree of God. And his counsel, his purpose, his decree is immutable (Hebrews 6:17; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:36; Proverbs 16:4). (Proverbs 16:4) “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Romans 11:36) “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 1:11) “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Hebrews 6:17) “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:” The purposes of God are always executed. They are never frustrated. It does not lie within the realm of created power to frustrate the purpose of the Creator. — “The counsel of the Lord stands forever” (Psalms 33:11; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 14:24; Isaiah 14:27; Isaiah 46:10). (Psalms 33:11) “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” (Proverbs 19:21) “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” (Isaiah 14:24) “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:” (Isaiah 14:27) “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isaiah 46:10) “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” God’s purposes are in himself (Ephesians 1:9). That which God has purposed in himself cannot change until he changes. And he cannot change until he ceases to be God. And that cannot be! God’s purposes and decrees are eternal (Ephesians 3:11; Romans 8:28-30). (Romans 8:28-30) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Ephesians 3:11) “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” No new thoughts arise in his mind. No new resolutions are formed in his heart. No new decrees come forth from his lips. His counsels are of old, from everlasting. Note: God’s purposes and decrees are called his counsel because they are wisely and deliberately formed. Yet. we must never imagine that his counsels are like the counsels of men. God sees and knows all things at once. He declares the end from the beginning! Nothing unforeseen can ever arise to make him change his mind. —— He is able to perform what he has purposed. —— Changes in providence do not imply any change in God (Job 23:10-14). (Job 23:10-14) “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (11) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (13) But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. (14) For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.” God’s immutability is not inconsistent with the prayers of his people. Prayer will not change God’s purpose (Jeremiah 15:1). (Jeremiah 15:1) “Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.” Prayer is one of the instruments by which God accomplishes his purpose (Ezekiel 36:36-37; 2 Samuel 7:25-27). (Ezekiel 36:36-37) “Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. (37) Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.” (2 Samuel 7:25-27) “And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. (26) And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. (27) For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.” GOD IS IN HIS LOVE TOWARD HIS ELECT (Jeremiah 31:3; John 13:1). (Jeremiah 31:1-3) “At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. (2) Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. (3) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (John 13:1) “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” God’s love is like himself. It is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. “God is love.” And God’s love for his elect is… Without beginning! Without cause! Without limitation! Without change! Without end! Though we fell in Adam, God’s love never changed. — Though we lived long in rebellion and sin, God’s love never changed (Ezekiel 16:6-8; Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:3-5; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:9-10). (Ezekiel 16:6-8) “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. (7) I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. (8) Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.” (Ephesians 2:4-5) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Titus 3:3-5) “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (1 John 3:1) “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” (1 John 4:9-10) “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Though we often sin against him still, God’s love never changes. — He hides his face from us; but he does not cease to love us (Isaiah 54:7-10). He afflicts us; but he does not cease to love us (Hebrews 12:6-11). (Isaiah 54:7-10) “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. (8) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. (9) For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. (10) For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” (Hebrews 12:6-11) “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (9) 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? (10) 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. (11) 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.” God is immutable in (1.) the essence of his being, (2.) in the perfections of his nature, (3.) in his purposes and decrees, (4.) and in his love toward his elect. AND, FIFTHLY, GOD IS IN THE OF HIS (2 Corinthians 1:20). (2 Corinthians 1:20) “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” The everlasting covenant of grace was made with Christ before the world began. And it stands fast with him. All the blessings of the covenant are called “sure mercies.” They flow to us from the free and sovereign grace of God through Christ. And they cannot be reversed (Romans 11:29). What has God promised in the covenant? (Hebrews 8:10-12). (Hebrews 8:10-12) “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” He promised… Regeneration Adoption Revelation Mercy Forgiveness To whom are these promises made? (Psalms 89:19-37). To Christ. To All Who are In Christ. (Psalms 89:19-37) “Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. (20) I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: (21) With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. (22) The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. (23) And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. (24) But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. (25) I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (26) He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. (27) Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (28) My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (29) His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30) If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; (31) If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32) Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (33) Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. (35) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. (36) His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. (37) It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” The promises are made to all who believe on the Son of God (Isaiah 55:3; Isaiah 55:6-7). (Isaiah 55:3) “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” (Isaiah 55:6-7) “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Will God ever break his promise? (Hebrews 13:5). Never! He will never turn away from you to bless you and do you good. (Hebrews 13:5) “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” He will never take away his gifts of grace. He will never charge his own elect with sin. He will never cease his own to cherish!

“I am the LORD, I change not.” Here is solid comfort (Isaiah 54:10). Here is the Foundation for faith (Micah 7:18-20). — “He delighteth in mercy!”(Micah 7:18-20) “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (20) Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.” Here is encouragement for prayer (1 John 5:14). — “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” Here is terror for you who will not seek God’s mercy. — “I will deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them” (Ezekiel 8:18). Here is assurance and security for every believer. — “I am the LORD, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Satan led his great rebellion; And our father Adam fell. Yet our God remains unshaken, And unaltered is His will! Though God’s Son assumed our nature, He is still unchanged, our God! Christ alone could make atonement, For this Man is truly God! Though His chosen, ransomed people Could not, would not seek His face, God’s purpose, unchanged, abides; and He’ll save all the chosen race! Therefore we, the sons of Jacob, Though we’re weak and full of shame, Are secure and have assurance. — God, unchanged, remains the same! Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever Behold, God remains the same! Amen.

Malachi 3:7-12

SERMON #14. “WILL A MAN ROB GOD?” Text: Malachi 3:7-12 Subject: Giving God His Due Date: Sunday Evening — December 13, 2009 Introduction: The title of my message is found in the words of God spoken to us by his prophet Malachi. — “WILL A MAN ROB GOD?” Will Adam pillage Elohim? Will frail, weak man attempt to supplant the great and mighty God? Dares mortality attempt the robbery of immortality? Dares the creature draw out his dagger and try to slip up on the Creator, to rob him? Impossible as it is for man to rob God, insane as it is to attempt, this is an ancient crime and a crime of which all the human race is guilty. Malachi 3:8 is one of those verses preachers have used and abused to beat people over the head and shame them into paying their religious taxes, their tithes. “If you don’t pay your tithes God’s going to get you. Your children will get sick. Your bills will pile up until you have to file bankruptcy. The Lord might even kill you, or your wife, or one of your children.” Preachers are worse than the Federal government. They make tax evasion (tithe evasion) a capital offence! Then they promise that if you tithe, “God will pour out his blessings upon you, enrich you and make you happy.” Needless to say, that is not Malachi’s message. You can’t bribe God; and God won’t bribe you. Turn with me to Malachi 3:7-12; and let’s see what God the Holy Spirit here teaches us about men robbing God. “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith 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. 11 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, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:7-12) THE The first thing the Lord mentions in our text is apostasy, the relentless apostasy of whole house of Israel from him. — “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.” Israel brought upon themselves the judgment of God by their willful departures from him. The previous generation brought themselves into Babylonian captivity by their departures from God, his worship and his revealed will (Jeremiah 2:13). “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13) But this is not God’s Word to a group of people who lived 2500 years ago. This is God’s Word to you and me. — “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?” What a solemn charge this is! After contemplating the great goodness and faithfulness of our covenant God, goodness and faithfulness arising from his everlasting immutability (Malachi 3:6), the Lord God directs our thoughts to the consideration of our unfaithfulness and our countless, sad and shameful departures from him! There was a time when the blessed and holy doctrine of the Gospel was cherished in this nation, cherished by the rich and the poor, cherished in the church house and in the school house, preached from the pulpit and pleasing to the pew. The distinguishing truths of the Gospel, such as the everlasting covenant love of God the Father, the atoning blood and justifying righteousness of God the Son and the quickening, converting, comforting operations of God the Holy Ghost, were heard, preached, published and received with joy and thanksgiving. —— How we have fallen! Apostasy from the Word and worship and will of God brings the judgment of God upon men and nations. It is this departure from God, a departure to which the nation has been led by will-worshipping preachers, that has led to the moral degeneracy of the nation (Romans 1:16-32); and it is this apostasy from the worship of God to the worship of man that is the sure sign of antichrist in this world (2 Thessalonians 2:1-17). — Freewill, works religion is the apostasy of this day and the ruin of this day! “16 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. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” “19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:16-32) Yes, you read the Book of God correctly. — Homosexuality is a moral perversity, a degeneracy of man, an act of divine judgment that brings greater judgment. And the root to which the moral perversity is traced is idolatry, the idolatry of will-worship, the idolatry of man worshipping himself! 2 Thessalonians 2 “1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” “3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” “13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” “16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-17) Oh, that he, who says return unto me, would graciously accompany the invitation with his power, and cause the hearts of the multitudes, as the heart of one man, to return to the Lord, that our land might be called “Hephzibah” and “Beulah” (Isaiah 62:4). THE ROBBERY This apostasy from God is nothing less than the robbery of God, a robbery of God that holds men under the curse of the Almighty (Malachi 3:8-9). “8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” (Malachi 3:8-9) In the Old Testament, under the Levitical government of that typical dispensation, the tithe was a religious tax collected for the maintenance of the tabernacle and the priesthood, a tax levied by God’s law to maintain his worship (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:26-28; Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Nehemiah 13:10-14). But the robbery of God here spoken of by Malachi involves much more than money. Remember, Malachi’s message was specifically addressed to the priests of Judah and of Israel who refused to give glory to God’s name (Malachi 2:1-2). “1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.” (Malachi 2:1-2) The priests of Israel defrauded God of his worship as God by offering God’s praise and worship to another (Jeremiah 7:8-23), just as the preachers and religious leaders of our day defraud him. “8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. 12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; 14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. 15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.” “16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. 17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. 19 Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? 20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.” “21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. 22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: 23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” (Jeremiah 7:8-23) Think of this matter spiritually, applying it to our day, as God intends for us to do. How does a man rob God? A man robs God by robbing him of his sacrifice and his praise! How do people rob God? You rob God when you refuse to believe him. You rob God when you despise his sovereignty and dominion as God (Isaiah 45). You rob God when you deny his eternal purposes and performances (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-6). You rob God when you slight his darling Son and rob him of the merit and efficacy of his blood and righteousness (Isaiah 53:9-10; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 10:9-14). You rob God when you deny the Spirit’s mighty operations of grace in regeneration, conviction and effectual calling (John 16:7-11). You rob God when you mix the works of man with the work of Christ (Galatians 5:1-4). You rob God when you make man’s will omnipotent and God’s will subservient (Romans 9:16). You rob God when you put your hand to his Ark, put your tool to his Altar and break his Sabbath, — when you despise his Son! You rob God when you give man a place of glorying before the triune God (Psalms 115:1). “1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” (Psalms 115:1-3) If you rob God of his offering he says, in Malachi 3:9, “Ye are cursed with a curse!” It is written, “Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” — “Ye are cursed with a curse,” God declares, “for ye have robbed me.” — There is always a reason for God’s judgment. He never punishes where no offense exists. THE Now, look at Malachi 3:10-12 and learn of God to bring God’s tithe, God’s Sacrifice into the storehouse. “10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith 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. 11 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, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:10-12) The storehouse was the “tithe barn” (Nehemiah 13:11-13) where all the sacrifices of grain and such were brought and kept. The tithe money was kept in the temple treasury. But here the tithe specifically speaks of the storehouse and the grain that was kept there. — God says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house.” When God’s Christ is our Christ, and the Lord’s Holy One, is our Holy One, when poor sinners come to the Lord and look with an eye of faith to God’s Christ and his rich covenant mercy in Christ, they find meat in God’s house, for Christ himself is the living bread. In him and by him the windows of heaven are opened, and God’s blessings are so profusely poured out, that the gladdened heart finds more than it can hold. Then the enemy is restrained. — Satan is rebuked. God’s ordinances are blessed. And God’s Church is made fruitful. The barrenness of the land is taken away! Oh, that our God would grant such blessedness in our day, for Christ’s sake! Indeed, when our God has finished his work in us and for us, he who sought to devour us shall be devoured and we shall be blessed (Romans 16:20; Malachi 3:12; Ephesians 2:7; Revelation 19:1-6). “And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:12) “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” (Romans 16:20) “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7) “1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hathenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.” “5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (Revelation 19:1-6) Amen.

Malachi 3:8-12

SERMON #15. MORE THAN A TITHE Text: Malachi 3:8-12 Subject: Robbing God Date: Sunday Evening — December 27, 2010 Introduction: “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price.” Is that true? Do you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ? Has he bought you with his precious blood? If so, this is in every way a reasonable deduction: — “Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.” Is that reasonable? Is this not an inference which commends itself at once to your conscience? Not only is it reasonable, it demands our attention, because it is the Word of God himself. If I am not my own, if I have been purchased and redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, I ought to be utterly consecrated to God my Savior, dedicated entirely to him. Don’t you think? Anything less would be worse than base ingratitude. Anything less would be robbery. Indeed, that is exactly what God calls it in our text (Malachi 3:8-12). (Malachi 3:8-12) “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith 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. 11 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, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” The title of my message is — MORE THAN A TITHE. I want to talk to you as pointedly and practically as I can about robbing God. Let me say this at the outset: — This business of robbing God goes far beyond paying tithes or not paying tithes. May God the Holy Spirit be pleased now to make his Word applicable to your heart and mine. Every faculty and talent, great or small, God has given me, every possession, everything I call my own, belongs to my God. That which I possess, he has put into my hands, he has trusted to my hands to use for him: His Honor and Glory, His People, His Church, His Kingdom, His Gospel, His Cause. I am not responsible to the Lord for what he has not bestowed upon me; but I am responsible for all that he has trusted to me. I am not responsible for what he has put in your hands; but I am responsible for what he has put in my hands. And everything he has trusted to my hands, as a steward in his house, be it ever so little or ever so great, is to be consecrated to and employed for his glory. I do not much like the word “duty” as a motivator; but the Scriptures do use that word; and it is often implied even where it is not written. “Duty” is not the highest or best of motives. Yet, it is our “duty” to obey and honor our God, even though after we have done all our duty, we are but “unprofitable servants” (Luke 17:10). As Robert E. Lee used to teach his students, respecting every aspect of life, — “Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.” Even in the performance of duty to our God, there is delight. David sang about it in Psalms 19. (Psalms 19:7-11) “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”In the keeping of God’s statutes, in obeying his Word, in doing his will, we find great reward. As we are enabled of the Triune Jehovah to trust and delight in him, our ever-gracious God, our souls are made to rejoice in the Lord. As we are enabled of him to love one another, as we find ourselves walking in love, our very lives are sweetened by the love of the brethren. Every heaven born soul can truly say, with Paul, “I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” Rowland Hill once said, “I do not expect to be saved by a rule, but if I am saved I shall be ruled.” And he was exactly right. The law of God in which we delight and by which we are ruled is the whole of his revealed will in Holy Scripture. And the law of God in which we delight is the whole of his will concerning our daily lives, as he makes it known to us. We have meat to eat that the world can never know. Our meat is to do the will of our God. If I do not render him the fruit of those powers by which I am made capable of serving him, then, according to the expression of our text, I rob God! Be sure you get that. — If we do not render him the fruit of those powers by which we are made capable of serving him, then, according to the expression of our text, we rob God! If we do not utterly devote ourselves to him, the Lord our God declares, “Ye have robbed me!” — “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). — O my soul, taste not, drink not, except to the glory of God! — Whatever we do — Whatever you do — Whatever I do — let us “do all to the glory of God!” — To do less is to rob God. TO I am specifically talking to you who are the Lord’s, to you who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, called by his grace, born again by his Spirit, to you who believe on the Son of God. It is to you and me that this portion of Scripture is distinctly addressed. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, every human being is the creature of God and the property of God; but you cannot serve God until you are born of God.It is only by the omnipotent power of God’s grace in Christ fallen man’s perverted faculties are restored and made obedient to the Creator. Fallen man has power only to injure, power to injure himself and others, but none to help, and none with which to serve God who made him. We can stop our ears; but we can never open them. We can darken our eyes; but we can never enlighten them. We can harden our hearts; but we can never melt them. Yes, we have power to injure ourselves, but none to help. — “My help cometh from the Lord!” Only the heart sanctified by grace, only the regenerate mind has the power to rise above self to a life devoted to God’s glory. To that I aspire. Don’t you? — Oh, may God the Holy Spirit give us grace to live for Christ, unto Christ. This is the thing Paul craved… (Philippians 3:8-14) “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” “Will a man rob God?” — Rob God! It is a horrible crime for a man to rob man. The more intimately acquainted the men are, the more heinous the crime. It is a terrible thing to rob a stranger; but when a son robs his own father, the father who loves him even as he is robbed, the crime is unspeakable. Yet, that pales into insignificance when we think of a man robbing God. — “Will a man rob God?” O how we rob him! We rob God… We rob God whenever we fail to use our tongues to show forth his praise. O my brother, my sister, loved of God, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, sanctified by the Spirit, show forth the praises of your God! — In Supplication! — In Speech! — In Song! We rob God whenever we rob him of worship. — Public Worship. — Private Worship. We rob God when we live unto ourselves (Romans 14:7-9). “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” (Romans 14:7-9) Again, we rob God if we give not to our dear Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, the peculiar honors and glories that belong to him as God our Savior. I will not deny him the honor of his precious atonement, nor fail to acknowledge his justifying righteousness. — I will not rob God the Father, by denying the everlasting purity of his law. Neither will I rob God the Son by refusing to ascribe to him all the merit and efficacy that belongs to him as my Redeemer. — And I will not rob God the Holy Spirit by professing to work out my own sanctification. — He who is our God is a jealous God; and wherever he carries on his mighty works and operations of grace, he causes the saved sinner to give him the glory. No heaven born soul takes that glory to himself that belongs to God alone! “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” (Psalms 115:1) MORE THAN A TITHE “Will a man rob God?” — Those words in their original reference referred to the Levites, who were robbed of the tithes and offerings by which God had ordered they were to be maintained. They had no other inheritance. But God requires more than a tithe. He requires, he desires and he deserves much more than a tenth of our hearts and lives. He demands the whole and he deserves the whole of my being. — “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26; Proverbs 3:5-6). “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Faith in Christ is nothing less than the willing, deliberate, voluntary surrender of my very life to the rule and dominion of the Son of God as my Lord and Savior. It is trusting Christ alone for my salvation, trusting him alone as my sin-atoning Substitute, trusting him alone as all my righteousness before God, trusting him alone to keep me by his grace and bring me at last into the everlasting bliss of heavenly glory. But Christ is more than a fire escape from hell. Salvation is more than the hope of going to heaven and having eternal life when we die. We often speak of Christ saving our souls; but that is not Bible language. The Son of God did not die at Calvary to save anyone’s soul. He will never save your soul. Christ saves sinners, body, soul and spirit. He will either save you, all of you, or damn you, all of you! Do you understand what I am saying? The Lord Jesus Christ demands all of you. If he is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. The Lord Jesus Christ demands that we trust him with the rule and government of our lives, that we commit, consecrate and devote our lives to him and to him alone (Mark 8:34-35). The Son of God demands absolute surrender in the city of Mansoul. He will have nothing less. (Mark 8:34-35) “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (35) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” Illustration: Lee’s Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse I am calling on you now, this very hour to give up yourself to Christ, to believe on the Son of God, to acknowledge that you are his, lock, stock and barrel, that you are from this day forward his servant. I am calling upon you to devote your life, your entire life (All your family, all your time, all your talents, all your money, everything!) to the service of his kingdom, his glory and his cause alone, acknowledging that you have no right to claim anything for yourself, no right to use anything for yourself, no right even to have a thought, or will of your own. Illustration: Baptismal Confession Perhaps you think, “Bro. Don, that sounds great. It seems to be that right thing to do. But it’s just not practical and reasonable. Surely, the Lord does not expect me to totally give myself up to him. Surely, he does not expect anyone to trust him absolutely. — Is it really safe and wise to trust the Lord?” I cannot tell you that it is physically, mathematically, economically, or philosophically safe and wise to trust him. That which is demanded of God can never be made to fit any human graph or scale. In fact, I must honestly tell you that in all earthly terms, faith in Christ is anything but reasonable. As Martin Luther once said, “The first thing that faith does is to knock the brains of reason out.” Listen to our Savior’s word (Matthew 6). When he calls us to believe God, to trust him, he says — If the Lord God, your heavenly Father, watches over and feeds the sparrow, don’t you know that he will watch over and feed you? He who has numbered the very hairs of your head will meet your every need. If your heavenly Father clothes the worthless lilies of the field in splendor, he will never fail to supply your needs. Trust him. (Matthew 6:31-34) “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Can we really be expected to put Christ first in everything? Not only is it expected, it is demanded that we trust him for everything. I do not suggest, or imply, think, or imagine that this trust is perfect. Far from it! Our highest faith in our God is so full of unbelief that it would sink us all to the lowest hell, were it not bathed in Immanuel’s blood and robed in his righteousness. Proposition: Faith is never perfect in us; but true faith is that which trusts the Son of God in all things and for all things, — absolutely. Such faith compels the believing soul to surrender all things to his dominion. I know what you are thinking. — “If I so trust Christ that I devote my entire life to him, how can I live in this world? How can I provide for my family? If I allow nothing to keep me from worshipping God and obeying him, what will happen to my business? Is that really safe and wise?” Let’s look into the Book of God, and see what he says about these very practical things. Exodus 34:24 First, I want us to look at a text in Exodus 34. You will remember that in the Old Testament the Lord God required every male Israelite to leave his land, his herds, his fields, his business, his home, everything three times a year to travel to Jerusalem and spend a week there worshipping him. All their pagan neighbors would soon be aware of the fact that these people not only refused to allow anything to interfere with their daily worship and their weekly sabbaths, those Jews were such religious zealots that they left everything three times a year to go to Jerusalem to worship for a week. We can mark our calendars and take everything they have without resistance when they are away worshipping Jehovah. And the Jews might reasonably fear that their worship of God would make them vulnerable to such people, except for one thing — Exodus 34:24! (Exodus 34:23-24) “Thrice in the year shall all your menchildren appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. (24) For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.” Leviticus 25:18-22 We have a similar situation in Leviticus 25:18-22. Let’s camp here for a few minutes. — Leviticus 25:18-22. In this passage of the law, the Lord does not require the children of Israel to neglect their livelihoods for a week, but for a year, once every seven years (Leviticus 25:1-7). During this sabbath year, they were not allowed to gather crops from the previous year, or sow their fields that year. That meant that they had to trust the Lord whom they worshipped, the God they served, and him alone to miraculously provide them with food for three years! God required them to trust him and obey him because they trusted him. Is that safe? Is that wise? Let’s see. (Leviticus 25:18-22) “Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. (19) And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. (20) And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: (21) Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. (22) And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.” The Lord here gave his people assurance that they would lose nothing by observing these years of rest. In fact, rather than losing by obedience, they would gain much. Look at what the Lord promised. He promised them safety. — “You shall dwell in the land in safety” (Leviticus 25:18). The word “safely” means more than physical safety and security. It means — You shall both be safe and inwardly confident and secure. You shall neither experience evil nor fear it. He promised them plenty. — “You shall eat your fill” (Leviticus 25:19). When we are obedient to our Savior, obedient to the revealed will of God, we may cheerfully and confidently trust him to provide for us all that we need (Philippians 4:19).He promised that they would not lack provisions during that year in which they neither sowed nor reaped. — “I will command my blessing in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years” (Leviticus 25:21).This was a standing miracle of providence. At other times one year yielded food for the next. But in the sixth year the fields would yield enough to last for three years. The blessing of God upon our provisions makes a little go a long way. Our Savior still multiplies loaves and fishes for his own. He who gave manna every day of the week, but gave none on the sabbath, gave twice the daily provision on Friday, so that his people could give themselves without concern on the sabbath to worship him. All of this is intended to be an encouragement from our God to us. Here he teaches you and me to obey him in all things, to put him first in all things, confidently trusting him and casting all our care upon him. He assures us that nothing is ever lost by faith in and obedience to our God. He declares, — “Them that honor me I will honor.”I want to show you five things, five very important spiritual lessons from these verses. May God the Holy Spirit drive them home to our hearts. THE OF FAITH First, If we would honor our God by obedience to him, we must understand that obedience arises from faith in Christ (Malachi 3:18). (Leviticus 25:18) “Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.” There is no keeping of God’s statutes and judgments apart from faith in Christ. (1 John 3:23) “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” Let us not rob God by refusing to obey him; but understand that obedience begins with faith in Christ. — Throughout this blessed Book, the Lord God calls for obedience to that which is revealed in the Book upon one basis. It is repeated throughout the Book. And it is repeated again in the last verse of Leviticus 25. (Leviticus 25:55) “For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” Here the Lord God says, I call for you to obey me because… You are my servants. I brought you out of the land of Egypt. — I redeemed you and saved you. — I bought you and you are mine (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I am the Lord your God. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) The Lord God demands that we constantly acknowledge that he is our God and we belong to him. Nothing we are or have is exempted. All must be consecrated to him. It is his right as our God. Illustration: Two Borrowed Jewels Obedience to the will of God is always costly. It always causes problems. It always requires that we make choices, choices that are sometimes painful. But God still requires obedience. And as we obey him, he takes care of the problems that arise because of our obedience. THE DANGER OF Second, we must never allow the cares of the world to keep us from the worship of and obedience to our God. — When I speak of worldliness, I am not talking about wearing stylish clothes, watching television, or even going to the movies. I am talking about something far more serious. I am talking about the love of the world (1 John 2:15-17). Nothing is so dangerous as worldliness. Nothing is such a powerful poison to our souls as “the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches.” It is the love of the world, more than anything else that keeps people who profess to love Christ from doing that which they know is the will of God, that which they know is best for their souls and that which they know most serves the interests of God’s glory. — It is the love of the world, more than anything else that men and women to rob God! (1 John 2:15-17) “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11) “I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. (11) He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” (Matthew 13:22) “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” THE PROMISE OF Third, I want you to see that the Lord God our Savior pledges his providence to protect and provide for us as we seek to worship, serve and honor him in this world (Leviticus 25:18-19; Leviticus 25:21). (Leviticus 25:18-19) “Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. (19) And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.” (Leviticus 25:21) “Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.” Our Lord Jesus clearly refers to this passage in Matthew 6 and Luke 12, where he tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be supplied. In those two passages, our Master tells us that our primary purpose on this earth must be the will and glory and kingdom of God, and assures us that he will take care of us. The Lord pledges his providence on our behalf. Surely, this should be enough for every believing heart. Our Savior said, — “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.” Yet how often we are overcome by the fear of losing money, or friends, or the good opinion of family, or some little toy, if we devote ourselves to his cause! Oh, how little we trust God’s faithfulness! Should we not leave in his hands all our difficulties as to the matter of our provision and his method of providing it? Has he not promised that he works all things together for our good? — “He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up freely for us all, How shall he not with him also give us all things?” Besides, it is God’s blessing, not our industry, or skill, or foresight, that is the source of all our safety and provision. There is nothing to sustain faith, but the assurance here given that the Lord our God is able and willing to do for us all that we need. His heart is full of love for us. His holy arm is full of strength for us. It is most reasonable that we should trust him implicitly and obey him universally. THE OF FEAR Fourth, we see in Leviticus 25:20 that it is the hindrance of fear that, more often than not, keeps us from obeying our God without hesitation. — How fear robs God! (Leviticus 25:20) “And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:” If I worship God rather than working today, I may not be able to meet my obligations. If I worship God rather than spend the evening in frivolity with my family or friends, what will they think of me? If I give my money to support the gospel of Christ, how can I wisely and prudently expect to provide for my family? Zedekiah, the whining, wimpish king of Judah, discovered (Jeremiah 38:17-19) that he would have been far more safe and far more wise to obey God than to have been kept from obedience by his fear of the Jews and Babylon’s king. (Jeremiah 38:17-19) “Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: (18) But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. (19) And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.” In the eleventh year of his reign, Bablyon invaded Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 39:7-8) “Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon. (8) And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.” THE OF GRACE Fifth, in Leviticus 25:21, the Lord our God teaches us that we will never impoverish ourselves, or suffer any loss by honoring him. (Leviticus 25:21) “Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.” (Psalms 37:25) “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Luke 22:35) “And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.” (Galatians 6:7-9) “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Our God has promised us safety in the path of faith and obedience; and he has promised us plenty; and he is as good as his Word! That fact ought to forever element from our minds every doubt, fear, and hesitation! Illustrations: Brant Seacrist Walter Groover Fred Evans The Pearl Tell me O my God, how I am to live more abundantly to thy glory and praise. Teach me how to redeem my time better, that it may be better spent for your honor and in your service, to your glory and for the benefit of your people. Let me not rob my God! Amen.

Malachi 3:13-18

SERMON #16. BETWEEN THE AND THE WICKED Text: Malachi 3:13-18 Subject: This Difference Between Wheat and Tares Date: Sunday Evening — January 3, 2010 Introduction: My subject tonight is Discerning Between the Righteous and the Wicked. — Our Lord Jesus tells us plainly that in every age, wherever the righteous are found the wicked will be found among them. In every field of wheat, there tares grow and thrive. Wherever sheep find pasture, goats will be found grazing beside them. He also tells us to let the tares grow together with the wheat and let the goats graze with the sheep. We are never to try to separate them. That is the Lord’s work, and he will do it by the gospel. We must never try to separate the tares from the wheat; and we must never try to separate the wicked from the righteous. But that does not mean that they be discerned and will not be separated. In Malachi 3, the Lord God makes a very clear discernment and assures us that, when he has finished all things, we shall with him — “discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” (Malachi 3:13-18) “Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye 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? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. 16 Then they that feared the LORD spake 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. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” GOD’S CHARGE First, in Malachi 3:13-15 we read God’s charge against the wicked, the wicked among his own people, wicked men and women who profess themselves to be righteous and delude themselves into thinking that they are righteous, because they are religious.

“Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord.” — Here the Lord declares that there are some in his house, among his professed people, who speak impudently against him, against his character as God, his gospel, his ordinances, his worship, his providence. They pretend that they have not done so. — “Yet ye say, what have we spoken [so much] against thee?” In fact, few would ever use such speech, though in their hearts they constantly speak evil against God. (Malachi 3:14-15) “Ye 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? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” Few would utter such words, but many there are who are stoutly against God, judging him unjust and evil, because the wicked appear to prosper in this world. Listen to Job’s reply to Zophar (Job 21:6-15). (Job 21:6-15) “6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” Sometimes true believers experience such beastliness as is described in our text. David did (Psalms 73). Sometimes the strongest of God’s saints are envious at the prosperity of the wicked. Do you ask, “Why do the wicked prosper?” Read the Word of God, and understand that when the proud are happy and those who work iniquity are set up, when those who defy God are delivered, it is that they might be ruined forever (Deuteronomy 32:35). (Deuteronomy 32:35) “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” (Psalms 73:1-28) “A Psalm of Asaph. —— Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” (Psalms 92:1-15) “A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. —— It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. 4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 5 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. 6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this 7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: 8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. 9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. 11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:9-11) “What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” THE Second, Malachi draws a glaring contrast between the righteous and the wicked in Malachi 3:16-17. (Malachi 3:16-17) “Then they that feared the LORD spake 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. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Though we sometimes think like the wicked and unbelieving, though we sometimes act like the wicked and unbelieving, yet the Lord God causes his own to hear his word. He graciously causes his chosen to hear when he speaks. And one of the ways he causes us to hear his Word is by our conversations with each other in his house. Notice how God’s elect are described here. “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.” — Of what do they speak? Of what do they think? They who fear the Lord think upon his name. 1st. They are said to fear the Lord. — The Holy Spirit, by tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalms 111:10). This godly fear includes the whole of true faith and godliness. Conviction Repentance Faith Worship Love 2nd The effects that follow godly fear are identified. “They thought upon his name.” — I have no doubt that the name of the Lord here is given to point us to our Lord Jesus Christ, God in his covenant love and faithfulness, as manifested in the person of his dear Son. —— The name of God in scripture language, means the person, work and offices of God, particularly as revealed in redemption by Christ Jesus. —— Let us think on his Name! JEHOVAH-JIREH — “The Lord will provide.” “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen” (Genesis 22:14). JEHOVAH-RAPHA — “The Lord that healeth thee.” “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). JEHOVAH-NISSI — “The Lord our Banner.” “And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi” (Exodus 17:15). JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH — “The Lord which doth sanctify you.”: “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you” (Exodus 31:13); “And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you” (Leviticus 20:8). JEHOVAH-RA-AH — “The Lord my Shepherd.” “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1). JEHOVAH-HOSEENU — “The Lord our Maker.” “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker” (Psalms 95:6). JEHOVAH- — “The Lord our God.” “Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy…He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions” (Psalms 99:5; Psalms 99:7-8). JEHOVAH-ELOHEKA — “The Lord thy God.” “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: … Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me…Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:2; Exodus 20:5; Exodus 20:7). JEHOVAH-ELOHAY — “The Lord my God.” “And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee” (Zechariah 14:5). JEHOVAH-SHALOM — “The Lord our Peace.”: “Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites” (Judges 6:24). JEHOVAH- — “The Lord of Hosts” “And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there” (1 Samuel 1:3); “And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha” (Romans 9:29); “Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth” (James 5:4). JEHOVAH-HELEYON — “The Lord Most High.” “I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high” (Psalms 7:17); “For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth” (Psalms 47:2); “For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods” (Psalms 97:9). JEHOVAH- — “The Lord our Righteousness.” “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR ” (Jeremiah 23:6); “In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16). JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH — “The Lord is there.” “It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35).When our hearts are full with thoughts of the Lord in his grace, and love to our souls; we speak of those things to one another; for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Thus love is kindled and communicated from one to another by heart-refreshing, soul-comforting conversation. They spoke not now and then only, but “often” one to another. They helped each other, by reminding one another of the Lord God and his wondrous works for them and in them Electing Love Redeeming Blood Covenant Faithfulness Special Providence Prevenient Grace The New Creation Preservation Constant Mercy Abiding Forgiveness Perfect Righteousness Heavenly Glory The Triune God — God the Father — God the Son — God the Holy Spirit 3rd The Prophet tells us that the Lord our God hears, approves of, accepts and remembers such speech among his children. — So pleasing are such things to the Lord, that, speaking after the manner of men, “he hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him.” Obviously the God of Glory does not need records, or make records to remind him of things. He is listening to the words or actions of his creatures, to gain information! — “All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). Malachi is simply telling us that our great God delights in our praise of him and in hearing us speak to one another about his greatness, his goodness, his grace and his glory. — IMAGINE THAT! He draws nigh to all who delight in him in mercy, love and grace; and he manifests himself to us in such a way as he does not to the world (Luke 24:13-32; John 14:22-23. Psalms 145:18-19). (Psalms 145:18-19) “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them GOD’S Them, the third thing we have before us in Malachi 3:17-18 is God’s special promises to those who fear him, call uponhis name and speak forth his praise. (Malachi 3:17-18) “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” — The figure here made use of concerning the great day of God, is that of the world on fire, and Christ gathers his Bride, his chosen ones, as jewels from the flame, as men would save their valuables from a burning house. “They shall be mine.” — Manifestly Mine! We were his from everlasting, by the gift of the Father, and redemptively the purchase of his blood, and the regenerating testimony in our hearts by the work of God the Holy Spirit. But in that day he will publicly own us before a congregated world of men and angels, and take us to himself forever. (Ephesians 2:4-7) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Oh, what blessed securities these are! Oh, how gracious is the Lord God our Savior, in the giving us such promises by the way! Oh, how safe we must be in and with and by Christ Jesus! (Malachi 3:18) “Then (when the Lord our God has made all things new) shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Let us, as long as we live in this world, especially as often as we gather here in his house… Fear the Lord Speak often to one another about him. Think upon his name. Amen. SERMON #17. JEHOVAH’S JEWELS Text: Malachi 3:17 Subject: God’s Elect — His Jewels Date: Sunday Evening — January 17, 2010 Introduction: My subject is JEHOVAH’S JEWELS. Our text is Malachi 3:17. — “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” These words were spoken by God through his prophet Malachi in an age very much like our own, to a graceless generation, when the worship of Jehovah was peculiarly distasteful to men. Men and women who claimed to worship and serve the Lord God scoffed at his altar and his sacrifice. — They said, “What a weariness is it!” — They scornfully asserted, “It is vain to serve God!” — And asked, “What profit is it that we have kept his ordinance?” — And scornfully asked, “What profit is it that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?” Yet, even in those dark, dark days, as in ours, there were bright stars shining out of the darkness. Though the great majority of those who claimed to worship God, only mocked him and blasphemed him in their religious exercises, there were small assemblies of devoted worshippers, here and there was a man, a woman, or two or three, upon whom the Triune Jehovah gazed with delight, people who “feared the Lord,” who “spake often one to another” of his great goodness, peerless majesty and wondrous grace, a people standing on the tiptoe of faith and expectation, waiting for the Consolation of Israel. And our God “hearkened and heard” this elect remnant. He so approved of that which he heard, as they worshipped him, that he took notes of it and declared that he would publish it. — “A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” He highly cherished these hidden ones… “Faithful among the faithless found, A meek and holy few they were, Kept in all their heavenly armor bright, And bravely scorned ‘midst error’s night.” The Lord Jehovah so highly cherished these few that he called them his “jewels;” and he declared that, in the great day when he gathers together his peculiar people, his special treasure, the distinct emblems of his royalty as the Monarch of the universe, he would look upon these hidden ones as being more priceless than emeralds, rubies, or pearls. — “They shall be mine,” said he, “in the day when I make up my jewels, when I gather my choicest jewels into my royal treasure house to be my glory and crown forever.” What a great declaration of grace! — “They shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Let’s look this metaphor together for a few minutes and seek to worship our God. THE First, consider the comparison. The Lord God here compares his elect to jewels, his own peculiar jewels. Throughout the ages, men have treasured precious stones. Unbelievable prices have been paid for rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Nothing, it appears, is valued by men in whose hearts God has set the world, like gold and diamonds. So we should not be surprised by the fact that our God compares his chosen to those two things (gold and diamonds)[1] that we may know, and that the world may know, how precious we are to him. The very walls of Zion, the walls of God’s church built upon Christ the Foundation Stone are made of gold, and silver, and precious stones. [1] God’s Elect Compared to Gold (Psalms 105:37; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3) Compared to Diamonds (Exodus 28:18; Exodus 39:11) Though God’s people are, always have been and, as long as time shall stand, always shall be, esteemed by men as something less than the off-scouring of humanity, the great Jeweler of Heaven, the Triune Jehovah, esteems them as precious beyond all price. Oh, how God the Father values his people! He so great values our souls that he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all (Romans 8:32). God the Spirit so highly values the chosen that he makes it his work and his glory to call them, convert them, comfort them and keep them. And God the Son so highly values these sinners he calls his jewels that he gave himself for us. Our Savior’s life was as dear to him as life is to us, and yet all that he had, even his life, he gave for his chosen (2 Corinthians 8:9). He counted-down the price of his jewels in drops of bloody sweat in the gloomy garden of Gethsemane. His very heart was broken, pouring out his precious blood that he might save his people from their sins and deliver us from the curse of the law. Indeed, our Lord Jesus compares himself to a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found the one pearl of great price, the church of his elect, for the joy thereof went and sold all that he had to buy that pearl and make it his own by divine purchase.

Yes, the Triune God places great value upon those he calls his jewels. We see that, not only by the infinitely costly price of our redemption, but also by the fact that all providence is but a wheel upon which to polish and perfect the Lord’s jewels. Those stupendous wheels, Ezekiel saw, portrayed the great machinery of divine providence, by which he cuts the facets of his true choice gems, and makes his diamonds ready for his crown. It is written, — “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” The Lord God values his people very highly; not only the rich among them, not alone the most gracious among them, but the very least and most unworthy among us are Jehovah’s jewels. To fear the Lord and think upon his name are very simple indications of reverence, faith and worship. Yet, if we only measure up to that standard, so that we fear him and think upon his name, our great and gracious God declares that we are dear to him, his very jewels! Though you possess no special gifts or eminent graces, though you have no talents or abilities others might envy, still, if you fear him and your heart is set toward the Lord Jesus, to think upon his name, you are precious to him. Jewels well portray the Lord’s people, because jewels are extremely hard and durable. Diamonds will cut glass. Little penetrates them, to spoil them. Little injures them. They endure, and endure, and endure still. Well may God’s elect be compared to jewels. The believer has within him an incorruptible, undefiled new nature, “created in righteousness and true holiness,” called eternal life and immortality. — He shall never die. Jewels will out last the world’s lifetime, and glitter on as long as the sun shines. — The rust of time does not corrupt them. — The moth of age does not devour them. — And no these jewels no thief can break through and steal. They are kept in Jehovah’s hands, in the grip of his omnipotent grace! The believer is born of an incorruptible seed, which “liveth and abideth forever.” The world has often tried to crush or destroy God’s diamonds, but all the attempts of malicious fury have failed. All that enmity has ever accomplished has only been, in the hands of God, the means of displaying the preciousness and brilliance of his jewels. The fake jewels of gaudy religious works, those imitations made by men are soon enough made manifest. They are soon tarnished and soon destroyed. The greenness of covetousness discolors them. The rust of time erodes them. The heat of trial dissolves them. The weight of opposition crushes them. But the true believer, the true gem, the choice jewel of God, survives the fires of time, and when the fast dissolving day arrives, he shall come forth from the furnace without a flaw. The jewel is prized for its luster. It is the brilliance of the diamond which, in a great measure, that is the evidence and test of its value. The colors of various gems and the purity of diamonds are best seen and known when the light shines most brightly upon them. So it is with Jehovah’s jewels. The heaven born soul catches the beams of the Sun of Righteousness; and his righteousness shines forth in them, for we are immortal and God dwells in us. We are partakers of the divine nature. Christ, the Hope of Glory is in us! — Stand there, my brother, my sister, in the bright, shining Sun of Righteousness. — See how the diamonds flash and sparkle with… Faith! Hope! Love! Joy! Peace! Patience! Forbearance! Tenderness! Care! Forgiveness! Mercy! Generosity! AARON’S Precious stones are the flowers of the mineral world, the blossoms of the deep mines, the roses and lilies of earth’s caverns. I imagine that few things seen by the eyes of men are as beautiful as the breastplate of the high-priest, studded with the twelve rows of gems, each with its own separate beauty, melting into splendorous harmony, that Lord commanded Moses to make for Aaron. The stones on that breastplate were intended by God to represent his people, as he beholds us, perfect, spotless, holy and pure in his darling Son. There is a beauty, a divine and superhuman beauty, about God’s elect. The whole creation affords no fairer sight to the Most High God than an assembly of his saints, in whom he sees “he beauty of holiness,” the beauty of his own dear Son multiplied. The Triune Jehovah looks upon us with divine complacency, because he sees in us the beauty of his own ineffable perfection, because we are one with Christ, because we are in Christ and Christ is in us! Christians are comparable to jewels because jewels are rare. Jewels are precious to men because they are rare. And God’s people are but few compared with the unregenerate multitudes of the world. Like the ruby, the diamond and the emerald, believers are marvelous creations of grace (2 Corinthians 5:17). “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) There are not many gems of grace which enrich the nations of the world. The way to heaven is narrow, and the Savior says, “Few there be that find it.” But there is a city, called “The New Jerusalem,” where pearls, and jasper, and carbuncle, and emeralds are common things. The streets are gold; and the walls are precious stones. — O fair Jerusalem, when shall we enter your gates! It should also be noted, as I have already indicated, that every jewel is the production of God. Jewels are often imitated; but no man has yet been able to make a diamond. Lives have been wasted in attempts to produce precious stones, but none have been made. They are the secret productions of God’s own wisdom and power; and men have no idea how he does it. And all the wit in the world combined cannot find out the secret of the heaven-born life. Religion tries, but can never produce one of these jewels. Papacy cannot. Reformers cannot. Ritualists cannot. Work-mongers cannot. Altar calls cannot. To make jewels for Christ’s crown is God’s work, and God’s work alone. We might preach until our tongues can no longer move and men’s ears grew deaf, but not one dead sinner can ever be brought to life by our talk alone. The Spirit must go with the word, or it is just wasted breath. — The Lord God alone can create a jewel of grace. A believer is as much a miracle as Lazarus when he rose from the tomb. It is as great a work of Deity to create a believer as it is to create a world. There are of many different kinds of jewels, too. Perhaps there is not a single ray in the spectrum that is not represented amongst them, from the purest white of the diamond, to the red of the ruby, to the bright green of the emerald, to the blue of the sapphire. So is it with God’s people. They are not all alike; and they never will be. All attempts at uniformity must fail, and it is very proper that they should fail. We should never wish to be one in the sense of uniformity, but only in the sense of unity. It is not one jewel, but many that are set in one crown. It matters little whether we shine with the sapphire’s blue, or the emerald’s green, or the ruby’s red, or the diamond’s white, so long as we are the Lord’s in the day when he makes up his jewels. Jewels are of all sizes, yet they are all jewels. The Hope diamond is no more a diamond than the one my wife has been wearing for forty-three years. It is a little larger, but no more a diamond. And all believers, are God’s “workmanship (master pieces) created in Christ Jesus.” Unlike the jewels men cherish, no matter the size of God’s jewels, all are his master pieces, equally precious in his sight. Abraham and Lot, Peter and Thomas, Paul and Barnabas are Jehovah’s jewels. One may be valued above another by us, but not by him! He says of all his elect, — “They shall be mine in that day when I make up my jewels.” Once more, jewels are found all over the world. In the most frozen regions, on the tops of mountains, and in the depths of mines, jewels have been discovered, in the hot regions of the tropics and beneath the frozen icecaps, jewels have been found. So, God’s elect are to be found everywhere. Blessed be the name of God, ransomed sinners have learned to sing the praises of Immanuel in the regions of perpetual ice, and the children of the sun have learned to adore the Sun of Righteousness in the midst of the darkest corners Africa. Wherever the jewels have been found, though they differ in some respects, yet they are all alike in others, and kings delight in them, and are glad to use them as regal ornaments. So, wherever Jehovah finds his precious jewels, North, South, East or West, he sees Christ in them and them in Christ; and he delights in them. The Lord Jesus counts them to be his true ornaments, with which he arrays himself as in ancient times a bridegroom adorned himself with ornaments, and as a bride decked herself with jewels. — Imagine that. The Triune God, our great Jehovah, delights in us! THE MAKING UP In the second place, the Lord God speaks of making up his jewels. The Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, has some, who are his jewels, his peculiar treasure. They are loved with an everlasting love. They were chosen in him before the world began. He redeemed them with own precious blood, Justified by his righteousness, And sanctifies them by his grace. They have the graces of his Spirit in them. And they will be glorified with their Lord. They are a peculiar people, separate from all others; And he prefers them above all others. The Lord God has the strongest affection for these jewels he calls his people, And takes special care of them. And there is a time when he will make them up. Their number is already complete in eternal election; but they must be gathered. There was a gathering of them together in Christ at his death (John 11:52). As they are called and converted by his grace, the jewels are gathered as his regenerated and sanctified ones. Then, at the death these bodies, we shall be received into heaven, into his presence and bosom, gathered unto our Redeemer. And at the last day, in the resurrection, there will be a collection of all God’s jewels at once unto him in resurrection glory! The day spoken of by Malachi is distinct from all other days, referring to this Gospel Day in which we are privileged to live and serve our God. In this our day, in this gospel age, in all his works the Lord our God, the Triune Jehovah is making up his jewels! So let us devote ourselves to the business of seeking jewels everywhere. All the chosen are not saved yet. Blood-bought-multitudes remain to be ingathered. Oh, for grace to seek them diligently! Many jewels are found, but they are not yet polished. They are precious gems, but it is only recently that they have been dug from the mine. I am told that when the diamond is first discovered, it glitters little; you can see that it is a precious gem, but perhaps one half of it will have to be cut away before it sparkles with its fullest splendor. — So it will be with many of the Lord’s people. The great Jeweler of Heaven who cherishes them cuts them severely, that he may make them sparkle as diamonds in his hands! The Master Jeweler takes off first one angle and then another, and breaking away much which we have foolishly cherished. Through this cutting process, he makes up, forms, works, dresses his jewels for his crown. Today, the Lord Jesus is making up his jewels. When he has made them all up, as he purposed from the beginning, then he will come again and gather them all unto himself! THE GREAT Think, thirdly, of what a high and honorable privilege it is to be numbered among his jewels, numbered among the crown jewels of Jehovah himself! “They shall be mine.” — That does not include all men, but only “those that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” If we are the Lord’s, then what privileges are ours! Then we are safe. Eternally secure in Christ. Oh, how highly honored we are; and how highly honored we shall be (1 John 3:1-3). “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he Isaiah 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3) Remember where the jewels are to be forever. The Son of God himself shall wear them as his glory and joy. Believers will be unrivalled illustrations of the glory of divine grace throughout all ages. Can you see our glorious Well-beloved? There he sits: adored of angels and admired of men! But what are the ornaments he wears?

Worlds were too small to be signets upon his fingers, and the heavens were not sufficient to serve as his footstool. But, oh, how bright he is, how glorious! And what are the jewels which display his beauty? They are souls redeemed by his death from going down into the pit. Blood-washed sinners! Men and women who, but for him, would have been tormented forever in the flames of the damned, but who now rejoice to sing, — “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” Soon, we shall be in the closest possible, the most intimate possible communion with Christ; and it shall endure forever! You are, one day, to display the glory of Immanuel. Unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places shall be made known, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God. You shall be his “gold rings set with the beryl.” With you as his reward, he shall be “as bright as ivory overlaid with sapphires.” You are so dear to him that he bought you with his own blood because you could not be “gotten for gold, neither could silver be weighed for the price thereof.” “Your redemption by his death proves that your soul could not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the sapphire; and when the ever-glorious God shall exhibit your sanctified spirit as an illustration of his glorious character and work, no mention shall be made of coral or of pearls, for your worth will be above rubies; the topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal you, nor shall the precious crystal be compared to you.” — C. H. Spurgeon SPARED Then, in the last line of our text, the Lord God says, “And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” That is a favor not granted to the apostate angels. God spared not the old world. And he did not the Jewish nation. He did not even spare his own dear Son. Yet, he promises chosen sinners that he will spare them as his own Son who served him faithfully throughout the age of his manhood and more: — who served him faithfully throughout the ages of eternity! Spared for Christ’s sake! Spared with Christ! Spared as Christ! Spared forever! What a day that will be, when Jehovah’s Crown Jewels are all made up, gathered in and set as the diadem of his beauty and his glory, to the everlasting glory and praise of his name and to the everlasting, ever-increasing joy of our immortal souls (Isaiah 6:1-12). For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. (Isaiah 62:1-12) May God gather you with his jewels, for Christ’s sake. O that he might spare you as his own Son! Amen.