Malachi
3
2
Corinthians 2:17 “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.
On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent
from God.” (NIV)
“Experience
supplies painful proof that traditions once called into being are first called
useful, then they become necessary. At
last they are too often made idols, and all must bow down to them or be
punished.” J.C. Ryle, 19th Century English Writer and Minister[1]
“All
truth passes through three stages.
First, it is ridiculed. Second,
it is violently opposed. Third, it is
accepted as self-evident.” Arthur
Schopenhauer, 19th century German Philosopher[2]
Malachi
3 is one of the most quoted yet one of the most misunderstood chapters in the
Old Testament. It is popular scripture repeated numerous Sundays each year in
various congregations all over the world to encourage congregants to give
generously, in financial dollars which are called “tithes”, in order to support
and sustain their leaders and their church properties. This is a chapter rich in meaning, rich in
warning and rich in blessings and promises.
It is unfortunate that only a small segment is quoted repeatedly when
this chapter teaches and expounds some of the greatest blessings the Lord offers
to man.
Malachi
3:1
1 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.
What
qualifies an individual to act as the Lord’s messenger? What would the message
sound like? How can you test the message
and the messenger to know they are from God?[3] God has given us a litmus test; “by their
fruits ye shall know them” [4] What
are the fruits messengers need to bear? There have always been and will
continue to be both true and false messengers. It is up to us to study their
messages and decide for ourselves if they are sent from Him. This is worth careful study, pondering and
prayer. We should have to choose. We should have to test a messenger and their
message. God has made Himself directly known to prophets of old. He did so with Abraham in Genesis 15:1; and
Jacob/Israel in Genesis 46:2; in numbers 12:6.
God has said that He would do so with any authentic prophet.[5]
God
does not abandon His children, therefore, He has either already sent or He will
send us the messenger spoken of in this verse.
One of the tests this messenger must pass is that of preparing the way for
Christ’s return. He will accomplish this
in the same way John the Baptist did: through preaching repentance and baptism
and helping turn us away from following false idols to follow Christ. The verse
continues “the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the
messenger of the covenant.” We are the temple of God.[6] Christ suddenly coming to His temple is no
more and no less than His personal appearance to an individual. Thus, when we are searching for this true
messenger and testing their message one of the tell-tale signs will be that
this messenger has had the Lord appear to him.
We are promised that through this messenger the Lord will re-establish His
covenant. The message will bear the
weight of scrutiny. It will be a message
that all who seek Jesus should take the time to discover, explore, study, ponder
and decide upon.[7]
[1]Viola
and Barna, Pagan Christianity: Exploring
the Roots of our Church Practices” 2012
[2]
Viola and Barna, Pagan Christianity:
Exploring the Roots of our Church Practices” 2012
[3]
Sonntag, Robert “What is a Prophet”, 2014; see the article at this link http://secondcomforter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/What-is-a-Prophet-10.30.2014.pdf
[4]
Matthew 7:16, 20 (KJV)
[5] Snuffer,
Denver “Baptism is Mandatory”, Aug 25, 2015
[6] 1
Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” see also 1 Corinthians 6:19 “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?”
[7]
See http://denversnuffer.com/
