Download Audio<\/a>\n\tText: Malachi 3:16-4:3<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. The prophet Malachi declared there would be a distinction between the wicked and\nrighteous\n A. The rising day would burn the wicked like chaff, but serve as healing balm for the\nrighteous.\n
B. The same event produces two dramatically different results. <\/p>\n
C. The result did not depend on the event but on the recipient.<\/p>\n
D. Acts 17:22-34 – Same message yields different responses<\/p>\n
II. The attitude of the righteous to God’s word<\/p>\n
A. It is a light burden<\/p>\n 1. Matthew 11:29-30 – Obligations are incurred, but ones that are easily\nmanaged.\n 2. I John 5:3 – We must keep the commandments of God, which is not\ndrudgery but beneficial to us.\n
B. They are doable<\/p>\n 1. God has never given commands that are out of the reach of men –\nDeuteronomy 30:10-14\n
C. They are enjoyable<\/p>\n
1. Proverbs 3:13-18 – The wisdom of God was given for our benefit<\/p>\n
2. Psalm 19:7-11 – The beauty of God’s law<\/p>\n
D. They bring peace<\/p>\n
1. The words of Christ bring peace to the hearer – John 16:33<\/p>\n
2. His purpose in coming was to guide us to the way of peace – Luke 1:79<\/p>\n
3. Psalms 119:165 – nothing causes them to stumble<\/p>\n
III. The attitude of the wicked to God’s word is quite different<\/p>\n
A. It is foolishness<\/p>\n
1. I Corinthians 1:18 – Yet that “foolishness” will lead to their destruction<\/p>\n
2. I Corinthians 2:14 – He cannot understand what is spiritually discerned.<\/p>\n
B. It causes them to stumble<\/p>\n 1. Matthew 11:2-6 – Jesus causes people to chose. They ignore him to their\nperil because they will stumble over what they refuse to see.\n
2. His teachings at time offended his audience – Matthew 15:10-14<\/p>\n
3. Christ is a stumbling stone to those who will not believe – I Peter 2:6-8<\/p>\n
4. It is the reason the Jews did not accept Christ – Romans 9:32-33<\/p>\n
C. It does not give them what they want<\/p>\n
1. Some tried following Jesus for the food he provided – John 6:26-27<\/p>\n
2. Jesus told them to desire spiritual food – John 6:59-65<\/p>\n
D. They refuse to listen – Jeremiah 6:16-19<\/p>\n
E. It is too restrictive<\/p>\n 1. The way to truth is narrow and few will find and enter thereby – Matthew\n7:13-14\n
2. Only few will be saved – Luke 13:23-24<\/p>\n
IV. God’s word is both a fire and a rock – Jeremiah 23:28-29<\/p>\n
A. It inspires the believer with passion – Jeremiah 20:9<\/p>\n B. But it destroys the unbeliever – burning him and shattering him – Jeremiah 5:14;\nMatthew 21:43-44\n
V. What is your attitude towards God’s word? Will you accept its teachings?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Malachi 3:16-4:3 I. The prophet Malachi declared there would be a distinction between the wicked and righteous A. The rising day would burn the wicked like chaff, but serve as healing balm for the righteous. B. The same event produces two dramatically different results. C. The result did not depend on…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[634,219,238,987],"class_list":["post-25083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-attitude","tag-bible","tag-righteousness","tag-wickedness"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54211,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/lessons-in-the-minor-prophets\/","url_meta":{"origin":25083,"position":0},"title":"Lessons in the Minor Prophets","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wesley Key 2018 Fall Meeting Series The Word of Hosea The Word of the Lord by Haggai The Vision of Nahum The Word of the Lord to Joel The Burden of Habakkuk The Burden of Malachi The Word of the Lord to Jonah","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54593,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-malachi-316-18-saying\/","url_meta":{"origin":25083,"position":1},"title":"What is Malachi 3:16-18 saying?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hey Jeffrey, Can you please help me understand what's going on in Malachi 3:16-18? Is this text saying God is pleased with those who think about Him and meditate about Him? Is it saying He rewards those who do so and fear Him? Answer: \"Then those who feared the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54275,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-burden-of-malachi\/","url_meta":{"origin":25083,"position":2},"title":"The Burden of Malachi","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wesley Key The Minor Prophets","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52510,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-have-walked-in-my-integrity\/","url_meta":{"origin":25083,"position":3},"title":"I Have Walked in My Integrity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalms 26 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0David wants to be judged by God - Psalms 26:1-3 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Most of us want to avoid the judgment of others \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There is a risk of being condemned \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But here David asks God to judge him and it isn\u2019t a risk\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62902,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-justice-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":25083,"position":4},"title":"The Justice of God","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 13, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The prophet Habakkuk was upset with God \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wickedness and violence abounded in the world around him. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeremiah asked much the same question: Why do the wicked prosper? - Jeremiah 12:1-4 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is an old question. Job asked it - Job 21:7-15 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a03.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Asaph\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32062,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/things-the-wicked-despise\/","url_meta":{"origin":25083,"position":5},"title":"Things the Wicked Despise","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Leviticus 26:14-32 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This might come as shock, but have you noticed? The world is full of wicked people who are not nice. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Why do the wicked behave as they do? II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The wicked only care about themselves \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They despise their fellow man - Proverbs 14:21\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25083"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25083\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}