How Have You Loved Us?
11/04/10 11:10 Filed in: Recorded Sermon
Podcast
How Have You Loved Us?
Malachi 1:1-5
Historical Background
THis book was written between 465 and 430 B.C. after the exiles had returned from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem.
The historical books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther were written about this time.
Malachi wrote his oracle (means urgent attention) to the people of Israel.
6 Tests regarding Man’s Relationship with God that Malachi Addresses
1. Awareness of God’s Love 1:1-5
2. Honoring God in our Actions 1:6-2:9
3. Faithfulness in Social Relationships 2:10-16
4. Fear of GOd Expressed in His Justice 2:17-3:15
5. Serving God WIth our Material Resources 3:6-14
6. Reaching the Lost 3:15-18
Sometimes God’s Love is not all Pleasant.
Malachi rebukes them for their actions but he also gives them hope. Discipline without hope is brutality and it never changes people. And hope without discipline is wishful thinking.
Our church needs to renew its hope of Christ’s return.
Light is most effective at the darkest times and when salt has lost its flavor food is bland.
4 Ways that God Showed His love to Israel
1. Love Declared-Love is in the Hebrew perfect tense which means not only did God love you in the past, He loves you now.
a. His love is Unconditional-There is nothing yo can do to earn it.
b. Sovereignly Bestowed-It was God’s idea not mans.
c. His Love is Everlasting- Jeremiah 31:3
d. His Love is a Marital Love- “Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying the daughter of a foreign God
e. His love for His Family-”“A son honors his father.” A father’s love for his son is about protection and provision.
2. A Debated Love
-We often debate God’s love when we don’t get our own way in life.
3. God’s Love is Demonstrated
a. In this text love means choice not affection and hate means rejection rather than animosity.
b. The world hate is clarified in Matt. 10:37 when Jesus said it is a matter of priority in whom you love. You must love them less in order to love Me more.
c. God in His foreknowledge knows what is best for His kingdom and He knows the heart of man.
4. Love Diffused
-Israel’s indifference and apathy caused God’s love to be extended to the gentiles.
How Have You Loved Us?
Malachi 1:1-5
Historical Background
THis book was written between 465 and 430 B.C. after the exiles had returned from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem.
The historical books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther were written about this time.
Malachi wrote his oracle (means urgent attention) to the people of Israel.
6 Tests regarding Man’s Relationship with God that Malachi Addresses
1. Awareness of God’s Love 1:1-5
2. Honoring God in our Actions 1:6-2:9
3. Faithfulness in Social Relationships 2:10-16
4. Fear of GOd Expressed in His Justice 2:17-3:15
5. Serving God WIth our Material Resources 3:6-14
6. Reaching the Lost 3:15-18
Sometimes God’s Love is not all Pleasant.
Malachi rebukes them for their actions but he also gives them hope. Discipline without hope is brutality and it never changes people. And hope without discipline is wishful thinking.
Our church needs to renew its hope of Christ’s return.
Light is most effective at the darkest times and when salt has lost its flavor food is bland.
4 Ways that God Showed His love to Israel
1. Love Declared-Love is in the Hebrew perfect tense which means not only did God love you in the past, He loves you now.
a. His love is Unconditional-There is nothing yo can do to earn it.
b. Sovereignly Bestowed-It was God’s idea not mans.
c. His Love is Everlasting- Jeremiah 31:3
d. His Love is a Marital Love- “Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying the daughter of a foreign God
e. His love for His Family-”“A son honors his father.” A father’s love for his son is about protection and provision.
2. A Debated Love
-We often debate God’s love when we don’t get our own way in life.
3. God’s Love is Demonstrated
a. In this text love means choice not affection and hate means rejection rather than animosity.
b. The world hate is clarified in Matt. 10:37 when Jesus said it is a matter of priority in whom you love. You must love them less in order to love Me more.
c. God in His foreknowledge knows what is best for His kingdom and He knows the heart of man.
4. Love Diffused
-Israel’s indifference and apathy caused God’s love to be extended to the gentiles.