Address—Jim Hyland
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Let's begin this afternoon with hymn #84 in the appendix.
One there is above all others. Oh, how he loves his is love beyond brothers. Oh, how he loves 84 in the appendix of Someone will please start it.
How he loves.
Earthly friends.
Make their poor people one day.
Still the next day grievous.
Love this friend will never be seen by.
Oh, how he loves.
Joy and peace.
It is to know him.
Oh, how he loves.
Thinking how much we owe him.
Oh, how he loves.
With his precious.
He bought us.
In the wilderness.
He sought us.
To his loved one.
We have found a friend in Jesus.
Oh, how he loves.
Us.
Malachi chapter one.
And verse one.
The Burden of the Word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi, I have loved you, saith the Lord. I have it on my heart this afternoon to take up a few expressions in the book of Malachi, and really just to make some applications that I trust brethren will be relevant to us where we are today and that will encourage us to go on in these last moments.
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Just before the Lord Jesus comes, you know, often when we take up the book of Malachi, we look perhaps and focus on the negative side of things. And I don't want to pretend that we're indifferent to the negative side of things. As we go through this little book at the end of the Old Testament, just before what has been often referred to as the 400 silent years, we find that there was indeed much wanting. There was complete indifference to the claims of of Jehovah.
This book isn't written in the as a an appeal in the days of the kings and a denunciation.
Of idolatry. It isn't even an appeal in the days of Ezra when they return to the land. It's not an appeal in the days of Haggai to rise up and build, or even in the days of Nehemiah to take up the wall, build the wall of separation, and so on.
Malachi does bring us right down to the end, but what I want to notice in the book of Malachi are some positive things that God uses to encourage the hearts of his people even in days of weakness and ruin.
Because I'm afraid that sometimes the tendency of my own heart is to look at the negative side of things, to simply look at how far things have deteriorated morally and spiritually amongst the people of God, and certainly.
We have to own that we're part of it, but to become overwhelmed. Because, brethren, we can still be overcomers even in these last moments just before the Lord Jesus comes. Because the resources that we have in Christ this afternoon are the same limitless resources that have always been available to the people of God sometimes said that if the day ever gets so dark that we can't live for God's glory here in this world.
Then the Lord will take us out. But as long as we're here, in spite of the darkness of the day, in spite of spite of the failure, the weakness and the ruin that has come in amongst the people of God, there are the resources to go on. And our brother was bringing before us in an earlier meeting how the last days are characterized by individual faithfulness. I've enjoyed it in connection with Timothy when Paul wrote For the last Time by inspiration.
Of days very parallel to the days of Malachi. Days very parallel to the days in which we find ourselves this afternoon, he said to Timothy. Continue thou, I love that little expression. Continue, thou. In other words, he says. Timothy, these aren't the early days of the church anymore. You're not going to see great revival in Pentecostal power. But Timothy, go on in the things that you've learned and been assured of.
The Lord hasn't changed. The truth hasn't changed. And he said, you go on and walk for God's glory and for the blessing of God's people, even in in in spite of the fact that it's the last days and perilous times. And so this is really the burden of my heart, brethren. I know there's plenty to burden. We've come to these meetings. It's been a time of real refreshment. We've been around the person of Christ. We've had the word of God before us, ministered from various portions.
We had the precious privilege of quite a number of us remembering the Lord Jesus this morning at his table in the breaking of bread. We've enjoyed sweet fellowship with one another. It's been a little Oasis away from the trials and burdens and the grind of everyday life.
And I have no doubt that our brethren sitting in these chairs this afternoon, whose hearts are really burdened as they think of going back, leaving this little Elam that we've enjoyed, and going back maybe to work, to school, maybe to assembly problems and difficulties home situations.
But all the Lord is sufficient. Maybe I don't know what you're passing through, but I know one thing. The Lord is sufficient, and He's able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. But where we begin here in the book of Malachi, we have a couple of beautiful things that introduce these very solemn exhortations that Malachi is caused to write to the people of God. First of all, it says the burden of the word.
Of the Lord to Israel in that beautiful you know, even though it had come right down to just a little company, as we're going to notice later on, who were seeking to go on faithfully for the Lords glory. Yet God had a message, and not just a message for that little remnant.
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Not just a message for Judah, but it was for all Israel, because, you know, God has a message for his people this afternoon. This book we hold in our hands is relevant for every situation, every difficulty, every question that arises.
Even in 2008, this book is sufficient. And if you and I are willing to open our ears and our hearts and let our consciences be reached, He has a message for us. God wasn't forsaking his people all. Maybe many had forsaken him, so to speak, but God wasn't forsaking his people. He had a message, and it was for all of his people. And he raises up this man, Malachi.
With this real burden and that beautiful to realize, God raises up, I believe men and women for the day. I'm thankful for those who prophecy in the day in which we live.
Now I realize that prophecy is a little different today than in the days of Malachi. We had a brother at home for years when I was growing up. He's with the Lord now, but he used to put it this way. He said back in the days of the scriptures there were prophets who foretold. Today there are prophets who forth tell, and so I'm thankful that there are those who God raises up to with a burden and who present not something new.
But they present to us a message from the Word of God relevant to the day in which we live. Because prophecy, if we can bring it down for our purposes this afternoon, prophecy is really speaking a message relevant to those to whom it's addressed. God sends His messengers today, and so when we go over to the the New Testament we find in the Church of God, there are those who prophecy.
Let the prophets speak two or three and let the others judge it says and even sisters too. Not publicly in the assembly, but you know, I think it was Philip in the book of Acts and he had some daughters and they prophesied in the home. A woman is a sister is to cover her head when she prays or prophecies. You know, some of the best lessons I have learned from the word of God are from sisters. Sisters who in their proper place said a word to me. That was just what I needed for the moment.
And I'm thankful for those sisters who had that burden to speak to me, speak to me faithfully. And it's been a tremendous blessing and help to me. And so, brethren, I know again, these are perhaps days when there isn't perhaps great outward manifest power. Maybe sometimes we say, you know, there doesn't seem to be much gift, especially in the local assembly. But, you know, there are those with a real burden for the people of God.
Those who have a message for us, if we're willing to listen. And so the Lord had a message and he used Malachi. In fact, Malachi's name actually means God's messenger. And then it says, I have loved you, saith the Lord. You know these exhortations, and again, they're very serious exhortations, but they begin with a confirmation of the Lord's love for his people.
You know if we were to back up in the history of the children of Israel we would find that at the beginning of their history they were given an exhortation to love the Lord their God, with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind and so on. But nothing of that here Israels love. Had the people of God. Their love had waned, their love had grown cold and indifferent. How does he seek to warm them up at the end? By exhorting them to love him? No, by giving them a confirmation.
Of His love. Because Brethren, there's nothing will warm our souls like in the enjoyment of His love for us. So often we get occupied with our response. But my response is cold and feeble at best. If I'm simply occupied with my response to him, that's going to discourage me. But Brethren, just to get a little taste in our souls again. Of his love to realize as he could confirm to them at the end of the wilderness journey.
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I have loved you, saith the Lord. He loved them just as much on the banks of the Jordan as he did on the banks of the Red Sea, when they were in the freshness of redemption and a singing people there delivered by a mighty hand. All after 40 years of murmuring and complaining and fault finding and all going after idols and all those kind of things, He still loved them the same, right down at the end of their history. Here He still loves them this, love them the same.
It's interesting that before the upper room, ministry begins in the Lot Lord's last final words of encouragement and exhortation. Before he left the disciples, there's another confirmation. Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Because I again, I say there's no use giving exhortations or warnings to the heart that isn't engaged to the heart that doesn't go out to Christ. It means nothing.
But where the heart is engaged, then the feet will follow. We need real purpose of heart to stand and live in days like this, because again we can, brethren. You know, Samuel ministered to the Lord at a very dark point in Israeli history. Why we find there the priesthood was defiled, the sacrifices were abhorred, the lamp of God was going out. Samuel ministered to the Lord.
We find, too, that I think it was the prophet Elijah he ministered in the dark days of Ahab.
Daniel had purpose of heart in Babylon when it seemed like most of his peers were compromising and eating the King's meat. The three Hebrew children were faithful even at a time when others were perhaps compromising and bowing down to the golden image in the plain of Dora. And So what an encouragement it is. But I say we need to have a heart stirred up. I need to have my heart stirred up to the fact that he loves us.
Often said with The Bride and The Song of Solomon.
As she is awakened and restored to her bridegroom, all her affections go out more and more to him. But what is it that awakens her affections for the bridegroom to be occupied with her love and hurt? What her response had been?
No, that would have only discouraged her. And if I can put it this way, it would have caused her to go back to sleep or to run further away. But as she numerated the qualities and glories of the bridegroom, as she was occupied with himself and her love, why her affections were awakened till all she wanted was his company. And she could say at the end of it all he is all together lovely. What deepened her affections?
Oh, it was to realize his love for her. Because, brethren, that doesn't change. You know, divine love is different from natural love. Natural love looks for something lovable in the object and a response from the object. And to a great degree, it's dependent on those two things.
Now it's true, divine love delights in a response from the object. My son give me thine heart, he says. But it isn't dependent on it. I say it delights in it. And it grieved the Lord here when he didn't see that proper response from his people, but it didn't change his love. Just one more comment in that regard before we pass on. It's interesting that when you come over to the addresses to the seven churches.
In Revelation chapter two and three, there are just two assemblies that he confirms his love to. One is Philadelphia. And you say, well, of course there was a freshness in Philadelphia. There was energy of faith and exercise to keep his word and not deny his name, you say, I see why he confirmed his love to that assembly. But then you come to Laodicea, complete indifference to the claims of Christ, so much wanting in that assembly.
I have loved you, saith the Lord. Not beautiful to realize everyone of us can say that. You see, there's so much wanting in my life, maybe even in the assembly I come from. Oh, just hear His words. I have loved you, Seth, the Lord and brethren. If that doesn't stir our hearts up with fresh exercise and desire, I don't know what goes on within our hearts. And so this was the great burden and these exhortation. Start with the fact of His unconditional love.
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But then I just want to drop down to the fifth verse for a moment.
And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, the Lord will be magnified from the borders of Israel. Now, as I say, we're just going to make a few applications here. I realize much of what we have here is prophetic. Some of it will be fulfilled in the coming day when God's purposes will be fulfilled and his earthly people. But I just want to make this little application, because just as it will be with Israel in a coming day, so it is with His people today.
Nothing frustrates the purposes of God. That's something else that we can rest on, brethren. Sometimes our plans and our purposes are frustrated. How often have we had some plan, some purpose for our lives, perhaps for our family? Something we really thought was for the good and blessing of our family and for others, And something came in and we were never able to carry that plan or purpose to fruition.
Say, oh, if it had only worked out that way, I think it would have been helpful and for our good and blessing.
But isn't it wonderful, Brethren, that no failure in man, no lock on the part of his people, is ever going to frustrate the purposes of God because he's going to bring it all to fruition? It says he's working all things after the council of his own will. And that's true whether it's in our lives individually, whether it's in our family lives, whether it's amongst the people of God collectively.
And then to of course, in connection with this world, you know God is going to make sure that his son has his rightful place. He's going to be magnified and glorified from the borders of Israel. His Son is going to be recognized universally as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But a tremendous comfort that is we follow Christ now we say, well, everything seems out of control, doesn't seem to be much honor given to the Lord Jesus.
But are you and I content to follow him knowing that God is working everything for a purpose? And not only is God working everything for a purpose in your life and mine, but he's working everything for a purpose of blessing. You know, sometimes we might have some plan, some purpose, even in connection with our family, But, you know, in the end, it might be just a selfish motive. It may have been just to get something for myself.
But his purposes in our life are not selfish. If I can speak carefully in that way, it's always for our good and blessing all things work together for good. Do we really believe that brethren we quote that it doesn't say all things are good? No, There's some bitter experiences in your life and mind. Again, I'll repeat a little illustration we've often used on an occasion like this. And if my wife was here, she would well confirm after this meeting that I am not a cook in any sense of the word.
And I don't attempt to do anything, perhaps beyond a simple stir fry in the kitchen. But you know, I watch sometimes as my wife or one of my daughters is going to bake something, and they get a lot of ingredients out on the counter. And they're very careful to make to make sure before they begin that they have every one of those ingredients. Or maybe sometimes there's a substitution. But those ingredients are all important.
If the cake or whatever they're baking is going to turn out and be tasty in the end, and you know, as you view those ingredients spread out on the counter, you realize that some of that ingredients is bitter and some is sweet. They're sugar, There's butter, but then there's salt, there's flour. There's other things that by themselves are very bitter, things you wouldn't want to put on your palate by themselves.
And isn't that the way it is in our lives? Sometimes there's those sweet experiences and then there's those bitter experiences. But then we find that they take those ingredients and in the proper order. They take those ingredients and they mix them together. And some of those ingredients need to be sifted. Sometimes they need to be beaten, Just like the circumstances in our lives. He doesn't just know what circumstances we need, he knows how to administer those circumstances.
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As well. And then they're all mixed together and still you can't eat it. Still it isn't very tasty or good for you. It has to be exposed to the fire. Sometimes we have to be exposed to the fire of trial, and they are trials, They are fiery trials, as Peter spoke of to the Saints in his day. But you know, when it's all put together in the right way and exposed to the fire for just the right length of time.
You realize that all those ingredients worked together for good. Not that they were all good on on in themselves, but they all worked together for good to finish the product and make something that was edible and palatable. And rather that's the way we're going to view it in a coming day. He's going to have all the glory in the coming day when we bow before him there and we realize that everything was working out.
For not just for a purpose, but for a purpose of blessing. I've enjoyed that in the end of Revelation 5, where the four beasts which represent to us God's governmental ways on the earth, they say Amen. We see it all now, brethren. We're just going to bow before him in that day. And we're going to see how seemingly those bitter and tangled circumstances that were allowed in our lives, we're all working out for His glory and for a purpose of blessing in our lives.
Then I want to notice verse nine of chapter one. And now I pray you beseech God.
That he will be gracious unto us. Just that little expression. I want to speak for a moment in connection with the grace of God. Brethren, isn't it wonderful that we have that resource for our pathway? We think back some here over many years, some over a few years, to that time when we came to know the grace of God in salvation. Because it is by grace that we're saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.
And we're thankful for that grace that has reached out to us in all our need. But aren't we thankful for that grace that has met every need along the path of faith and service? Oh, God's desire here was to be gracious to his people. That's what He desires. He doesn't want. He doesn't give us what we deserve, always faithful with us, as we'll speak of in a moment. But he's gracious, and so that grace is sufficient.
Paul said my grace is sufficient for the year. The Lord said to the apostle Paul, my grace is sufficient for thee. Do we need more grace? He giveth. More grace, you say? I just don't know how I'm going to face things this week. I just don't know how I'm going to go back to my little assembly next weekend if the Lord leaves us here. But His grace is sufficient. And do we need more grace? He gives more grace, and of all we received of His fullness.
And grace upon grace, because grace meets us in our present need, the Psalmist said. The Lord will give grace and glory. Glory is what comes at the end of the pathway, But grace meets us in our present need. It's remarkable that this book.
Which ends the Old Testament ends with a curse, but the New Testament ends with grace, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. At the end of the Book of Revelation he speaks of his coming, but then to me it's if just as if he without before he closes the book, he says. And if we I leave you here a little bit longer my grace is going to meet your every need. And so brethren, his grace is able. I don't know what you're going to face. I don't even know what I'm going to face tomorrow if the Lord leaves us here.
But again, I have the assurance from God's word that His grace is sufficient. Oh, let's learn to draw on that wonderful resource more and more. Well, we're not going to comment on the second chapter or or read any of it. Suffice it to say that the second chapter is devoted as a rebuke and an exhortation to the priests and those that were in a place of responsibility.
Leadership and influence amongst God's people. And I think it's a very solemn thing to realize because we find often in Scripture, at times of low, of a low ebb amongst the people of God, morally and spiritually, there's a special rebuke to the priests, to the Princess. In the Lord's day there was a special rebuke and warning to the Pharisees, to the scribes, to those who were in a place of leadership.
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And influence. And five times in the second chapter, if you notice Mr. Darby's translation, he translates the word treacherously, as unfaithfully or unfaithfulness.
Here were those in a place of leadership, those who should have been standing for rectitude and righteousness, those who should have been upholding God's word and so on. And they were going on unfaithfully in their personal lives, in their family lives, in connection with their relationships to the world, in connection with their relationships to the people, relationship to the people of God.
And it's a very solemn thing to read the second chapter in that regard. Because I believe that those the work of the enemy has always been to trip up those who are in a place of leadership and influence amongst God's people. Because he knows that if he can trip up those who are in a place of leadership and influence, the result is what we have in verse 8 of that chapter.
They caused many to stumble. Not only do they miss the path themselves.
But they more often than not take others with them. I would just say to to all of us.
That we need to pray, especially for those who are in a place of leadership, whether it's in the local assembly or on a wider sphere, realizing that they are so very vulnerable with Peter in the Lords day, the enemy knew if he could trip up Peter, who took a lead amongst the other disciples, that it would not only lead Peter astray, but others as well. Like when Peter said I go a fishing.
Why he influenced others who said, I also go with thee. And So what a serious thing it is. But now I want to go on to the third chapter. I'm not going to read it, but in the first few verses of the third chapter we have what we might say brought before us the government of God. And the older I get, the more I realize that the government of God is very real in our lives. Oh yes, He loves us with an everlasting love. Oh yes, His grace is sufficient.
For every situation, and not only His preserving grace, but His restoring grace is sufficient whenever we fail. But His government comes in as well, and we need to live our lives in the fear of the Lord.
Daniels Daniels name means God is my judge. I believe Daniel lived his whole life in the fear of the Lord. Thank God will never if we know Christ as our Savior be judged for our sins by one offering. He is perfected forever them that are sanctified.
And there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. And we're justified by His blood. But his government as His people is very real in our lives. We get away with nothing in our lives. God our Father, loves us too much to go our own way, just like an earthly father. If he really loves his children, He loves them too much to just let them drift along and go their own way.
Without training and often chastisement in their lives, whom the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges every son. But I believe when He brings before us the government of God. Here it's really culminated in this sixth verse of the third chapter.
For I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Brethren, isn't this another encouragement amidst the dark background of Malachi? I am the Lord. I change. Not so often we sing that little hymn. We change. He changes not. Our Christ can never die. His love not ours the resting place we on his truth rely.
Oh, he doesn't change. This is the world of constant change. And you know, the older I get, the more I dislike change. I like to slide into a comfort zone. I like things to go along from day-to-day and year to year and not change. But everything changes down here. But there's one who never changes. In fact, if we were to trace out some other scriptures, we would find that he's not only the same.
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But it's one of his titles, the same, and he's the same yesterday, today and forever. Has he been our sufficiency in the past? Or won't he do the same today and won't he be the same tomorrow if we're left here? You know, people say today, there's nothing you can rely on today, but there's one that we can rely on, you know, because of the frequent flyer program I belong to and because I rack up so many air miles in a year.
I have the opportunity to, while I'm waiting for my flight, go to, I suppose, what you would call the VIP lounge, and to relax, have a meal, get caught up on some work and so on, get cleaned up. And as a result, I sometimes rub shoulders with, if I can put it this way, the upper echelon of the political, business and corporate world. And I watch them as they're harried talking on their cell phones, faxing, emailing on their computer.
Getting caught up on their work. And not only that, but usually in those lounges on one end of the lounge there's a big flat screen with CNN and depending what country you're on, and the other end, there's a big flat screen with CBC or BBN or one of those new new stations where 24 hours a day they're churning out the bad news of this world. And I watch people's faces. Especially in the last year or two, I've learned to watch people's faces.
And there's absolute fear written in their faces.
And you watch people turn away from watching the economic and political news of the day as well as the social events that are unfolding, the moral breakdown, and people shake their heads. I've had people just turn to me, strangers, and say, where is it going to end? Something's gotta give. This world realizes that things are on a skit. The skids that they're dealing with, the political and economic and social force that is got to give somewhere. The elastic has got to snap.
And they're afraid. If ever there was a day when men's hearts are failing them for fear, it's the day in which we live. But oh, how thankful we are that, well, we need to be aware. And I don't believe we are isolationists. We need to be aware of what's going on in the world, but not overwhelmed by it. Because we know where it's all going to end. And we know that there's one who's unchanging, who's in control, and not only in control of this world, but he's in control of your life.
Mine, he's the rock, David said. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. And then he says, Therefore, ye I want you to notice this, not ye sons of Israel, but ye sons of Jacob.
Appreciated going through especially the prophets and finding how many times he addresses Israel as Jacob because Israel is what we are. By grace Israel means a Prince with God, and certainly he's brought us as beggars from the dunghill and set us among Princess. And what a lofty position we have through grace. But Jacob is that what we are by nature? And don't we sometimes act just like men in the flesh?
And we get afraid, don't we? You know, sometimes I'll have to confess, I'm afraid too. I, I, I read the front page of USA TODAY or the Ottawa Citizen. I get afraid too. I'm. I'm just like Jacob. But isn't it wonderful that he's still the God of Jacob? And so often you have the two names brought together. Why sayest thou O Israel? And speakest O Jacob? My way is hid from the Lord. It's just as if he says you're acting like Jacob. But that's not the way I see you.
But nevertheless he still the God of Jacob, and he comes in in his grace. But I just want to say this too before we pass on. You know, we talk about talked about fear and being afraid and overwhelmed. You know, we don't get that from the Lord. If our hearts are afraid to this afternoon, if we didn't get that from the Lord, we got that somewhere else. Because he hasn't given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
And if we again, if we can just go back and rest on that which we have in himself, that's what's going to give us the peace of soul, that peace of God that passes all understanding. Oh, that's the peace that he wants us to have. It's the same piece that the Lord Jesus walked through this world with. It's the peace he left with his disciples, who had more turmoil in his pathway outwardly than the Lord Jesus.
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But he walked through this world in perfect confidence. He committed himself to him, that judgeth righteously, and that gave him a peace and a confidence as a man in his pathway. And you and I, as we rest on his unchanging person, and all those things that we have in him that are so consistent, we can have that same peace. And so ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
In the seventh verse, we have an exhortation to return because, you know, brethren, there's always a way back. There's always a return. Maybe there's someone here this afternoon. And you say, you know, I came to this conference and I haven't been following the Lord like I ought to have been. There's been a lot of failure in my life. But, you know, sometimes conferences like this are real turnarounds. I remember as a young man coming to a conference like this, and there were a lot of things wanting in my life, and I heard some ministry from the word of God and the spirit of God.
Applied it. And there's a real turn around in my soul by the grace of God. And so there's always that invitation to return. Oh, there is the government of God. Sometimes there are consequences. We reap what we sow, even in our Christian life because of sin. But there's always that way back.
With Peter, there was a way back and a path of usefulness for Peter, even though he denied the Lord three times with those and curses. But now notice the 10th verse, it says.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it, Well, you know, at the beginning of meetings like this we often read a verse like this. As I've grown up in the assembly and come to many conferences, I've often heard, particularly at the first prayer meeting.
A verse like this read with the genuine exercise on the part of the assembly to be fed, to have the windows of heaven open and a blessing poured out. But I might just say in connection with this statement that I think perhaps, and I don't want to be dogmatic on this, but I think there's perhaps a suggestion here that the Book of Malachi may have been written during Nehemiah's second return to Jerusalem.
In the 13th chapter of the book of Nehemiah, the reason I say that is on a couple of accounts. First of all, if that is so, doesn't it show how quickly indifference and declension come in? Don't we see that even in the days of the Apostle Paul? Why at the end of his pathway wasn't very many years, but at the end of his pathway he writes Second Timothy and he has to say all in Asia have turned away.
And when he describes the last days and perilous times to Timothy, you know, we often think of that in relationship to the world. That's not a description of the world. That's a description of the Church of God. That's a description of professing Christendom and how it deteriorated so quickly. Declension comes in.
And if indeed this book was written during that time of Nehemiah's second return, it shows how quickly declension comes in. But I make this further suggestion that this verse may indicate such in that you remember, when Nehemiah returned, one of the things that really grieved him, and one of the things he rebuked the people of God very severely for, was that they weren't bringing the tithes into the storehouse.
You remember that there were rooms built where they were to bring the provisions for the those who had the full time service of the House of God. They were to bring in their tithes so that they could be provided for. And in that chapter we find that there was such indifference to that.
That the Levites, those who should have been devoting their full time to the service of God, had had to flee to their fields, to till and cultivate and plant and try to make a living for themselves and for their families. And Nehemiah stirs the people of God up to bring their tithes into the storehouse.
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But I want to apply this again for our purposes this afternoon. Now again, brethren, I don't believe we're ever going to return to the Pauline days of the Church. Nor are we going to return to the days of Pentecost, or even the days when there was a great revival of the truth in Britain and Europe.
Just over 100 years ago, we don't expect, as it were, great outward signs of power and thousands saved and gathered to the Lord's name.
But he does still desire to bless. And you know, it has encouraged my heart in traveling to various corners of the world and having the privilege of preaching the gospel and spreading the gospel in various ways. Having the privilege of ministering the truth not only to those gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus, but to other believers. To to see how the Spirit of God is still working in these days. His delight is to bless, to bless in the gospel.
You know, there's still places in the world where there's a hunger for God's word. This is just a little parenthesis in our talk. But are you and I exercised in that regard? Maybe we look around in North America and we say, well, you know, there just doesn't seem to be much hunger for the word of God. Well, you know, maybe we haven't looked close enough because there is still, there are still those who have a hunger. Maybe again, it's not 3000 and 5000.
Flocking and saved in one preaching and so on. But there are still plenty of opportunities.
And not only that, but there's opportunities in many parts of the world are we exercised to rise up and seek in some little way to help fill those needs and and opportunities, you know, brethren, and maybe I'll say this particularly to my younger brethren.
There's no shortage of opportunities. We don't have to get up in the morning and pray for opportunities as much as we need to get up in the morning and pray that we will be in a watchful state of soul to avail ourselves of the opportunities that there are. I know we're not all called to be missionaries and to go out to other parts of the world, but we are all called to be missionaries and a testimony in our own sphere from day-to-day and then to as far as the truth, you know, God is still.
Having his truth spread, and souls are still being encouraged in the truth of God and 1:00 and another here being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus, and little assemblies gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus springing up in various places and encouraged to go on.
You know, I'm not very old, but sometimes I feel like the old man in Nehemiah Day that wept. In Ezra Day that wept. But oh, we need to be encouraged by what there is to just turn to Malachi, to the very end of the history of the people of God in the Old Testament, and to be encouraged to turn to the end of.
Of Paul's writings to Second Timothy to turn to Laodicea and see. Yes, there's lots wanting and lots to exercise, but there's lots to encourage and spur us on as well. He wants to open the windows of heaven, and he wants to pour us out a blessing. Then just notice further on in this third chapter, verse 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him.
For them that feared the Lord, and the thought upon his name.
Or we often enjoy this little verse, don't we? We sometimes sing with the boys and girls that little hymn, when he cometh, when he cometh to make up his jewels. But you know, isn't it tremendous to think, brethren, that every one of us, young and old here, who belong to the Lord Jesus, we're jewels on his heart? It takes us in thought, does it not? Back to that breastplate on the heart of the high priest, a picture of Christ.
Back in the Tabernacle, how there was a special jewel, a unique jewel for?
Each one of the 12 tribes of Israel, each one was precious and unique to him. Then we jump ahead to the heavenly city in its millennial glory in a coming day. And those jewels, that death, the foundation of that that city in that day. It speaks again of the individual preciousness that we will retain to the heart of the Lord Jesus for all eternity. Oh, it's true collectively where the bride of Christ.
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It's true, collectively in that day will be the wife of Christ. But we will retain our individual uniqueness and preciousness to the heart of Christ for all eternity. The Saints as jewels on his heart Christ doth ever bear again. This ought to encourage your heart and mind. Why are they referred to as jewels here Now I realize that Jewelers don't do this so much as they used to.
But you know when I was growing up and you went to a jewelry shop or looked in a shop window, you most always saw jewels displayed on black velvet. I know they don't do it so much anymore. There's other thoughts now as to how to display jewelry. But back then the thought was that the dark background would bring out the luster and the gleam of that precious stone. I really enjoyed it in that connection here. It was a dark background in Malachi's day, but again.
That dark background was the luster of these ones that were precious to the heart of God, a little company seeking to go on.
Like the Lord said to the disciples, fear not, little flock. They might have felt like a very small company seeking to go on with the Lord Jesus. They were little company. They were little company here. But what were they doing? Well, they feared the Lord. They spake often one with another. And what did they speak of? You know, we're not specifically told, and I don't want to read into scripture more than that's here, but I would suggest that when they spoke together, they spoke of those things that would encourage one another to press on.
Brethren, that's what we need. We're going to leave these meetings, and as we have interaction with one another in our home assemblies or wherever we meet one another, what are we going to speak of? I don't mean there aren't times when things may need to be taken up and discussed. For the Lords, glory and sometimes discipline has to be enacted in the assembly, and some serious things have to be talked about. But when we get together, it's so easy. The tendency of our hearts, our natural heart, is to speak of those things that discourage.
Brethren, we don't need to look for things to discourage. There's plenty out there. What we need to do is be exercised. And I say this to my own soul, I can't point the finger at anybody.
I say it to my own soul more than anyone in this room. We need to be exercised to speak together of those things that encourage, you say, what could they possibly have had to encourage in Malachi's day? Well, we've just spoken of some of those things. His love, His purposes, His grace. The fact that they had one that was unchanging. The fact that while they had one who desired to pour them out of blessing all these things they could speak of together and spur one another on in the path of faith and service. Did the Lord value this?
You know, if you notice, I think it's Mr. Darby's translation. He didn't just hearken. He observed it. He looked down and he observed this little company going on together and Speaking of the precious things of himself and encouraging one another. Don't you think that when we speak together, whether it's in the assembly or whether it's on an individual basis, and we speak of the things of Christ and we seek to build up and edify our brethren? Don't you think he observes that? Don't you think it's precious to his heart and furthermore?
A book of remembrance was written before him. You know, every time you say a word of encouragement to a brother or sister.
He jots it down in his book of remembrance, and not only that, but even the thought on his name he remembers because you know what we think is going to come out as what we say. Often I say things to my brothers or sisters in Christ because that's what's on my mind. But if I would set my mind on things above, if my mind was governed with those things that are pure and lovely and so on that are listed for us in the New Testament, wouldn't my my thoughts be expressed out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh?
And so he values every thought, every little encouragement, everything. That's for his glory. He values it. And there's a day coming, brethren, and it's not far off. It's not far off when that book of remembrance is going to be opened to the page with your name on it, and everything that was for his glory is going to be rewarded. He's going, every man is going to have praise of God, and he's going to say, well done, thou good and faithful servant again, that ought to spur us on, to seek to have our thoughts governed by himself.
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And to encourage one another. And so they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts in that day.
When I make up my jewels all I say we're precious to his, to his heart. Well, in the 4th chapter we find prophetically. It speaks of the sun of righteousness rising with healing in his wings. And I realized that this is in connection with the earth.
There's a sun going to rise that's going to bring about a day of blessed glory here in this world. What a day it's going to be when everything is set right regards to what his sense of things is. And he's going to reign in righteousness and Princess rule and judgment. But in the meantime, brethren, may the day star arise in your heart and mind. And may we have Christ as the morning star and before our souls. And may we be looking for his coming. Oh, he's coming any moment. He's promised I will come again.
He that shall come, will come and will not tarry. What a hope, brethren, just to go on the little time that's left. Are we at the end? Yes, we are at the end. We're just at the threshold of glory. But all I trust. But that which we have taken up so quickly and so briefly here from the Book of Malachi will encourage us to go on Again, I want to say not that we're indifferent to what we see around us or what's in our own hearts, but just to be occupied with what we have in himself.
Brethren, what we have in himself is so much greater than our circumstances, than our failure, than our own hearts. But that's what's going to encourage us. We sometimes sing that little prayer. I trust it's the sincere and earnest prayer of your heart and mind all fix our earnest gaze.
So, Holy Lord on thee, that with thy beauty occupied we elsewhere none may see. We used to sing that little prayer too when we were young people, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in this wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Brethren, as we leave this place and go back to the circumstances of life for however long the Lord leaves us here.
May our hearts go out more to Him, and may our feet be hastened on in the path of faith and service for His glory, for the for our happiness, and for the blessing of the people of God.