Study From the Book of Malachi,5

                                    Study From the Book of Malachi, 5

                                                 "The Day of God"

     Today is the fifth part of this series in the last book of the OT, the Book of Malachi; chapter four. Here we come across the final part of God's plan for earth and the universe in general, “The Day of God” , where the Lord will come physically for the unbelievers as “a thief” - as in 2 Peter 3:10. The Day of God will start with "the judgement of the dead"- of the unbelievers who will be raised from death to stand before the Lord Jesus for judgement.

    There will be no mercy as the “Time of Grace,” has gone, no wonder the last verse of the book is ended by a curse.  Then the heavens will be dissolved, being in fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat? “2 Peter 3:12. And it will be a new earth and a new heaven “But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness (The Lord Jesus) shall arise with healing in His wings”    ( Mal. 4:2).

    The above is something to meditate upon, however for us now, we are interested in biblical principles that can be applied in Biblical counselling.

Principle 7, verse 4:5: “Behold , I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

Lesson 7: Here the prophet Malachi looked forward to the first coming of the Lord Jesus when He came to earth around 2000 years ago. John the Baptist  came first “in the Spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), and Jesus said, “If you are willing to receive it, he  (John) is Elijah who is to come “ (Math 11:14, see also Matt. 17:11-13).

Principle 8, verse 4:6 “ He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers , lest I come and strike the land with a curse.”

Lesson 8: The closest mission field we have is our own families. God says  “ He seeks godly offspring.” (Mal.2:15). The children have to be trained to be godly –and that  is the job of parents.

11/3/2018