PASSIONATE PURSUIT...MALACHI

Malachi 1
 
The burden of the Word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage for the dragons of the wilderness. Whereas Edom saith, we are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever. And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel.
 
There are two types of people among the children of Israel. There are ones who operate in the ways of Jacob and there are others who operate after the ways of Esau. The Lord starts first in this prophetic Word by saying to the children I have loved you. He is showing his side as a father who loves his children. He has showered them with His love, mercy, favor, and all sorts of spiritual blessings from on High. Nonetheless, they cry out to the Lord as if it is nothing he has done. There are many who seek for the Lord's hand, but do not particularly care about the intimacy or the relationship portion of responsibility. They don't want to carry their cross. The Lord shares plainly that the spirit of Esau he hates yet, the spirit of Jacob he loves. The Lord says he has indignation forever toward the Edomites who are a people of entitlement and covetousness. They had a heritage set aside for them, but it is not satisfactory. It is not enough. They would rather complain as if the Lord has left them impoverished instead of doing a good work. Then they decide they will go attempt to rebuild the desolate places or place that the Lord has torn down because of their wickedness and abominations. He said they shall call them the border of wickedness. They provoke the Lord by attempting to build what the Lord has made desolate. They provoke their father because they refuse to inquire of His will. They want what they want. The Lord states we will see his indignation with our own eyes and he will be magnified. He will get His honor whether we freely give it or not. He will get the glory due to His name.
 
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mind altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.  
 
The Lord is angry with His chosen and shares His emotion with the prophet and His disappointment. He says they haven't honored or reverenced him. He says to the priests, the Levites, the chosen that carry forth the Word of God, where is the fear of the Lord? Why haven't they addressed the wickedness and perverseness of the people that have called themselves by the name of the Lord. The Lord God states the priests have despised him by allowing the offering of polluted bread. The leadership know that they are giving a watered down Word. They know they haven't supped with the Lord. They know that they are offering a half-hearted praise, a half-hearted worship, and a half-hearted lifestyle of righteousness. The Word says to present yourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. This is our reasonable service. You don't give your whole selves. You give the Lord what's left over of your life and not the first fruits of anything. Is this acceptable? Will my Father accept thy person?
And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
 
The lay persons and chosen men and women of God have ceased from prioritizing the Lord's will and His purpose. They are authority abusers and have allowed for the Gospel to be trampled. The temple is desolate. Spiritually the bread is not sacred and pure. The Spirit of God pleads with the children of God to pray that God may be gracious. For you're already prospering by the prayers of the righteous. Seek to gain the favor of God by doing His will. Are you confident that he will regard you? Seek for His righteousness so that you may be covered in the day of His visitation. The priests are handling the Word deceitfully and running services as business. They are given to the slaughter because of covetousness. The Spirit of God says that they won't even open the church doors without some form of compensation. They are “pimping” the gift of God. Today, there are churches that have prayer lines that line those weak in the faith and heavy laden in sin, at the altar. They request they tithe and sow with the presumption that they will receive of God based on “the price” they “pay.” This is falsehood. The Lord states he will have no pleasure with dead offerings of sacrifice. The price was already paid with the blood of Jesus Christ.
 
Joel 2:12-13
 
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
 
The Lord is the first and the last. He is the risen Savior and our lively hope. He says that he will be glorified in the earth. All will come to know him from the least to the greatest. He will not give His glory to another. He requires a pure offering that he may be glorified among the heathen and the Gentiles. He considers us a pure offering when we present ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. It is our reasonable service. (Rom 12:1) Seek him with your whole heart and surrender completely. Let him lead and guide you in a path of truth.
Therefore, the Lord says “Rend your hearts, not your garments”
 
Matthew 21:44
 
And whoseover shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder
 
Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. He is the potter who will make anyone who surrenders with their whole heart. Fall upon the stone and be broken otherwise. If he shall fall upon you, you shall be destroyed. However, with our “brokenness” he is able to feed the multitudes. For first the bread was broken. Within our weakness is His strength perfected and he is glorified.
But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the shame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? Saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
 
The Lord has spoken that he is furious with those who walk in the spirit of Esau. In the last days we will see more of the operation of that spirit. They are a people who cannot be pleased. Nothing you do is ever good enough. They profane the table of the Lord because they blame the Lord for their misfortune. They blame the Lord when they are not prosperous in their foolishness and folly. They call the table of the Lord polluted when in fact they are the ones who have made the holy things unholy and the fruit thereof. This is a wicked and perverted generation. The Lord has opened doors so that those who have no obtained mercy could obtain mercy. The Gentiles have been given an opportunity to be grafted into the vine. Yet, they find reason to be weary with the precepts of the Most High. They withhold from God glory due to His holy name. Nonetheless, the Lord will be glorified and His name will be made great among the Gentile.
 
Matthew 11:28-30
 
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
 
When it comes to sacrifices, those who have the Esau mentality hold the goodness of God. They praise with a half-hearted praise. They worship with a half-hearted worship. Although, they sow tithes, they are not cheerful givers. They sow with wayward intent. They give the Lord leftovers and sloppy seconds, and put him on a level as if he is not the King of Kings. Although, the Lord has provided. They sacrifice corrupted things which they would reject themselves if they were to receive of it. We must give what's pure, the first fruits. If he is indeed the King of Glory in our lives, we must give him glory as such. He is worthy of a reverent fear. Nevertheless, the Lord has loved Jacob. For he will not take short cuts, but has made the Lord his stay. The Lord Jesus is the author and finisher of his faith. He is the God that keepeth covenant.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malachi 2
 
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
 
The Lord Jesus wants us to remember the accounts of Jacob and Esau. He said Jacob, he loved. Esau was so willing to give up his inheritance and his promise without struggle. He wasn't willing to persevere or endure. Jacob showed that though his intent was misplaced at first, he wanted the Lord for himself. He had what was his brother's but he wanted God to establish and enlarge his territory. We shouldn't want to steal what the Lord has ordained for someone else and then try to grow and build it as our own.
 
Habakkuk 2:6
 
Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
 
We must not just be hearers but doers also of this Holy Word. The Lord said that if we do not hear and apply these words and do His commandments then we are a cursed people. He said if we love him we will do His commands. We cannot speak great swelling words and have our hearts far from God. We must get our hearts right. God is a jealous God, and he is a God who searcheth and trieth the reigns of the heart. In these days, the people are corrupt and the priests are like Eli. They allow the children to corrupt the holy things and the holy places. They are unthankful, unholy, unrighteous, and do not hold a reverent fear of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord warns by His prophet that if they will not hear and hold the children accountable they will walk in a curse. He will also corrupt the children. The Lord makes it clear that he is bringing remembrance of His holy covenant because he desires that we prosper and be in good health. The Lord made promises but those promises were conditional. We must glorify him and fear His holy name. His commandment was with Levi. Levi was the priesthood. We are His chosen. We are His royal priesthood, a peculiar people. We are to be holy and sanctified unto God because we are His heritage. He is our Redeemer. He purchased us with His blood for His glory and His good pleasure.
 
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
 
The shepherds have been taught the ways of holiness. The Lord has freely given His Holy Spirit. He stated that to whom he called, he qualified. They walked in His truth, with His knowledge and His spirit, they compelled many to reconcile to him and turn from their iniquity. We are the Lord's light and His messengers, therefore are we held at high standards; to whom much is given much is required. 
Jeremiah 3:12-15
 
Go and proclaim these words towards the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O ye backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
 
The Lord uses prophet Malachi to plead with the children of Israel. The Lord God is acting as a father. He chastens those he loves. Jesus wants His children to be joint heirs. He wants His children to inherit the kingdom. He desires holiness. He wants to inhabit His chosen. He doesn't want separation. He has shared what pleases him. He doesn't want His children to have to go through Jacob's troubles which is the tribulation period for the entire world. He conquered and overcome the world so we could reside with him. He is the good Shepherd. His sheep are known of His. He has given us shepherds after His own heart to guide us in the righteous path.
 
But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts.
 
The Lord is stating that he has set us as a beacon among the people. He has used us to set the standard of righteousness. Therefore, we cause many people to stumble when we do things that are contrary to the ways of holiness. In these last and evil days, the people who call themselves chosen men and women of God are having a form of holiness, but deny the power of God. I have seen preachers teach and prophesy with jeans and t-shirts in the pulpits. They jump and dance with ungodly dancing, calling it the Holy Ghost. They don't use bibles but instead use cell phones and laptops. These things are abominable in the sight of God. Please get an understanding. I am not staying that it is wrong to wear jeans or informal wear to church. I'm not saying it is wrong to have a cellphone or iPad. However, there was a time when there was a strong reverent fear of the Lord. When the priests entered into the Holy of Holies they feared of not coming out alive; even when they were entering for the very purpose of atoning for one's sins. The pulpit is that holy place where the men and women of God have supplication, and the angels of God are there pouring the purified Word of Life to feed the children of God. It is a holy place. Where is the fear? The standard of holiness didn't change just because Jesus came and gave grace to the believer. We still must hallow a place for him. There must be a sanctified place. There must be a place where the things of the world cannot penetrate. It is one thing if you're coming off the street and need to be cleaned up. It's another to have been clean spiritually, but still want to look like the world naturally.
 
The Lord says to return to your first love and do your first work of faith. Don't offer him a corrupt thing. You cry tears and weep at the altar because you're not prospering in your wickedness and your abominations. The Lord Jesus requires a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. It is our reasonable service. We must not profane the covenant with partial obedience. The Word shares that partiality is a sin and a witchcraft. Do not go after strange gods that can prosper nothing. The Lord Jesus shared with me by His Holy Spirit that people hold conferences and they have their solemn assemblies to feel His Spirit for a moment. They have a high time with a spirit, sometimes not even my spirit says the Lord. They move by a feeling, sensuous and demonic. Then they go out of that place and serve other gods. The Lord established a foundation for them to stand upon, but they do not allow him to be the chief cornerstone. They seek His hand. He said they no longer seek for His Holy Spirit. The saints of God that are in the grave cry out to the Lord, How long? How long O' Lord?
 
The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts. And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
 
Let me remind you of the prophetic utterance in the first chapter. There are two nations. Both nations were born of the Spirit of God. Both nations were blessed and highly favored. Jacob desired a blessing and to receive what was stored for him. Esau took being chosen as an entitlement and he eventually turned away from it. The morale of the chosen ones of God has shifted, and the Lord reminds the children of the account of the two nations that preceded them and the consequence of not making God their first and only choice. False brethren have crept in unawares. The love of many has waxed cold. The priests are corrupt and take bribes. There is turmoil and chaos and the people are content to have it so.
 
The Lord will cut off the scholars, masters, and those who presented offerings of a corrupt thing as if he is not the King of Kings. They put themselves up and put him down to the level of simple man. They cry tears and weep at the altar because their corrupt prayers are going unanswered. He will not hear. The Lord has commanded that the men love their wives and treat them as he treats His church. He has set the standard of how to care for those you love. He says he honors covenant. He has put two together to become one. He doesn't have His wife (the church) bullied, and he makes clear in His Word he will not sit on the sidelines and watch while men deal treacherously with the wives the Lord has blessed them with. He who finds a wife hath found a good thing. The Lord has not and will not turn a blind eye to these things.
 
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
 
The Lord stated for us to bring him fruits and multiply. He wants holy fruits of righteousness. When the Lord had His appointed time for visitation there was a particular tree that he came to desiring fruit, and when he found it did not bring forth fruit he said it should be cut down. He gives us children for fruit, but the Lord God also has bestowed upon us spiritual gifts to bring forth spiritual fruits of the Spirit of God. The Lord asks the question, Did not he make one? He spoke first concerning husbands and wives that the two joined together have become one. However, he made this relationship after a heavenly pattern. He desires the husband love the wife as Christ loves His church, and that unity to be one with Father in heaven. He made one even having the residue of the spirit, meaning there is His Holy Spirit present even a portion when there is unity according to His Word. When two or three are joined His Spirit is in the midst. The Lord then continues to state that He has joined one in unity with His spirit so that might seek a godly seed that would bring forth fruits of righteousness. Therefore, be watchful and take heed as to what spirit and manner we operate that we deal not treacherously one with another.
 
Concerning marriage and divorce, the Lord said he hates putting away. He greatly desires unity and love covers a multitude of sin. The Lord Jesus suffered and had patience. We, too, must overcome with prayer and supplication. One covereth violence with his garment means they hide their sins towards their wives. They're abusive in the last and evil days, and operate in hypocrisy, yet the Lord sees all.
 
I Peter 2:16
 
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
 
3:7
 
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
 
God is a God of righteous judgment. Woe to them that call good evil and evil good. We cannot do iniquity in the sight of God and justify ourselves. The just shall live by faith, and repentance is required for righteous judgment in the sight of God. Vengeance is the Lord's. He will repay. He will not have His bride bullied. Remember, the fruits of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. (Eph 5:9) Be wise because surely the days are evil.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malachi 3
 
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
 
The Lord Jesus Christ has indeed sent His forerunners Elijah and John the Baptist to proclaim His name and prepare for His coming. The Lord Jesus Christ will come suddenly to His temple when we seek him with our whole heart. This temple is not made with hands of man, but is established within our hearts.
 
The Lord reminds us constantly that we must fear him with a reverence. He is Almighty. He is the First and the Last. The Beginning and the End. He is the author and finisher of our faith. However, we cannot fathom the day of His coming. He has already made it clear that no flesh can glory in His presence. Who can abide in the purified glory of God? He is a refining fire. He will purify. He will purge His people and bring every unclean thing to the surface. The hidden things and the secret faults will he cleanse with His blood. He has called us a royal priesthood, a peculiar people. His leaders and priests will be holy that they may present themselves holy and acceptable unto God, as their reasonable service.
 
Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers , and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
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