Before the Gap – #11 The final chapter of the book of Malachi. God gives his final words that he is going to share before going silent for 400 years. What does he feel the people need to know and understand most to get them through what’s coming? Read Malachi 4:1-6. “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with…

Before the Gap – #10 There is a difference. As Malachi is finishing this chapter, he calls out the fact that there is a difference between the righteous and the unrighteous. There is a difference between those who are seeking to follow God and who are not. Read Malachi 3:16-18. Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare…

Before the Gap – #9 It is possible to steal from God. There are several things that belong to God and any time we take those, it would be considered robbing God. Read Malachi 3:8-15. “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of…

Before the Gap – #8 If we turn to God, he will turn to us. Read this description in Malachi 3:5-7. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts. “For I, the Lord , do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside…

Before the Gap – #7 God must purify. As we continue looking at the last things God said to the people before a 100 year gap, we see God telling the people that he must be the one to purify them. God had already established through the first two chapters of Malachi that the people have a problem and are not pure. Now, he shares with them that the way to become pure is to allow God to purify them. Read Malachi 3:1-4. “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His…

Before the Gap – #6 Do we recognize when God is not pleased with our offering and sacrifice to him? Read Malachi chapter 2 verses 13 through 17. “This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But not one has done so who has a remnant…

Before the Gap – #5 Racism has been forefront in the news lately. What does God have to say about how we treat others? Well, He took issue with not treating people equally as well. Read Malachi 2:7-12, focusing on verse 10. For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. “So I also have made you despised and abased…

Before the Gap – #4 The contrast between the true follower and the fake. Read Malachi 2:1-6. “And now this commandment is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. Then…

Before the Gap – #3 In a world changes constantly, God is constant and worthy of praise. The sun comes up in the east and sets in the west every day and God is the one who sets that in motion and maintains that. No matter what the rest of our day brings, we are to praise Him. Read Malachi chapter 1 verses 10 through 14. “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. For from the…