Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I am always glad to be able to post a new message here on the blog. I hope that everyone is having a good week.
I want to thank everyone for their prayers on my behalf. My foot is doing a lot better. Also, I had an interview for a job today that I thought went well. I also have an interview on Monday. Please keep praying that all will go well in this area.
In another area of prayer, please keep praying for those in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands who are still in the midst of recovering from the storm damage. Many people are still without power.
Please keep praying for those affected by the earthquake in Iran. Pray for all those who have experienced problems as a result of natural disasters.
Let us all keep praying for peace. Syria, Iraq and Yemen definitely need our prayers. Pray for peace wherever you know that there is conflict.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's all pray for those who live in Mauritius and Bangladesh. Pray that many will hear of the love of Jesus and respond to that message.
A few weeks ago, we began a series of messages on the book of Malachi. Today, I would like to pick up that series again after a break of a couple of weeks.
We only have one verse that I want us to focus on today. This Lord has really used this verse to speak to me this week, and I want to share some of what this verse has to teach us.
Malachi 2:10 states, "Have we all not one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?"
First let us look at the situation Malachi was dealing directly with. When we read the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi, we can see the situation that Israel was in when they returned from exile in Babylon.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah had been taken into captivity by the Babylonians because of the people's sins. They were in captivity for 70 years. During that time, the Persians conquered the Babylonians, and the people of Israel came under Persian control.
The Persians allowed the people of Israel to return to the land. The Temple was rebuilt as were the walls of the city in Jerusalem.
When the people returned, they began to do things that Ezra, Nehemiah and the prophets were opposed to. Instead of helping each other out, the people were lending money to their brothers, and then they were charging exorbitant interest in violation of the Law of Moses. The men were also divorcing there wives in order to marry wives who were from other lands. This was also a violation of the Law of Moses.
Malachi is calling the people to remember who they are. They all have one father. Abraham was the father of the nation. God had created every one of them. He was their Heavenly Father. Because they were all the people of God, they had no business dealing with each other in these evil ways. Instead, they should have been honoring the covenants that they had made with their wives, and no interest should have been charged.
The people were so supposed to work together to be a light to the nations. They were to work to make the people of Israel strong again. They were to honor God and do His will. Malachi was calling the people to care about the things of God and follow the laws that God had established for them.
Now, I believe that there are two clear applications of this verse for us today. First of all, in the church of Jesus Christ, we are all one body. As Paul spoke about, the hand can't say to the foot I have no need of you or vice versa. Every member of the body of Christ needs the other in order to work effectively to promote and advance the kingdom of heaven.
Unfortunately, Christians are so divided that it is often difficult to spread the message of Jesus' love. When people see Christians arguing and being divided against each other, it is a bad testimony. It causes people to not want to come to know Jesus.
Jesus prayed that we might all be one even as He and the Father are one. The Bible also says that others will know that we are Christians by the love that we have for one another.
As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us help one another and support one another. Let us deal with each other honestly and honorable. This will give a good testimony to others, and see others come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord
There is broader implication for this verse as well. I believe that we can apply to the human race. God has created all of us on this planet. He loves every single person who is alive today. It grieves the heart of God when He sees people that He has created hating one another and making war against one another.
We all have in common that we are created by God. We must put aside divisions and hatred and realize how much God loves us all. Then, we can work together to make the world a better place. This would please the Lord greatly.
Next week, we will continue with our series in the book of Malachi. After that, we will have some Christmas theme messages. On Monday, I will post the verses, and there will be a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
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