Speaker: Darrell Jackson
Scripture: Malachi 3:16-4:6
Trivia: The German Bible only has 3
chapters of Malachi!
V1: Various interpretations: “Ah look!
Surely! The day is coming!” All interpretations emphatic, leaves no one unsure!
The best and worst of times! A season of light and darkness! “Destruction”: a
cliff-hanger. Fire can be good or bad. 2013 the fire accidentally started by
ADF destroyed many homes. 2015 with snow in the Blue Mountains, people cuddled
together in the bonfire for comfort. The day of fire is both threat and
comfort.
V4-5: “Remember Moses, expect Elijah.” They
have forgotten the story that were given to them by Moses! In 2005,
missiologist Alan Hirsch made a sermon that talked about the trend towards the
death of the institutional church by 2025.
Institutional centres of worship still dominate
the landscape. Be cautious before writing off the institutional church. 400
years after Malachi’s prophecy, the temple was still there. The body of Christ
does not need to be constrained by the institution though. Faithful story
keeper and storytellers keep alive the stories that anticipate Elijah. The
reward for the faithful remnant: “He will turn the hearts of the parents to
their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents.” There is hope.
For you, will it be a warning sign, or a
consuming fire?
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