Malachi 3:13
The sermon highlights God's controversy with man, specifically the charges made against Him, and encourages listeners to reverence the Lord and seek a deep relationship with Him.
Chuck Smith addresses God's controversy with man as depicted in Malachi, emphasizing the people's misguided accusations against God, claiming that serving Him is futile and that the wicked prosper more than the righteous. He highlights that such sentiments often stem from a lack of true commitment to God, where individuals prioritize their own desires over divine service. Smith encourages believers to engage in conversations that honor God, illustrating the importance of fellowship and shared faith. Ultimately, he reassures that those who reverence the Lord are treasured by Him and will be spared in judgment.
Text
"GOD'S CONTROVERSY WITH MAN"
Intro: The book of Malachi deals with many controversies God had with the
people.
I. "YOUR WORDS HAVE BEEN STOUT OR STRONG AGAINST ME."
A. "What have we said against you?"
1. They had made two basic charges against God.
a. It doesn't pay to serve God (verse 14..
b. The wicked are better off than the righteous
(verse 15..
B. I have heard people make these same charges against God.
1. Usually made by one who is not fully committed.
a. To analyze their lives God is not first, THEY
ARE.
1. They can't afford to give to God, but
always seem to manage to spend on
themselves.
2. They don't have the time, "to read the
Word and pray, time for movies or
television or magazines or whatever."
2. They have not truly served God.
a. They have offered lip service.
b. In reality they seek that God should serve
them.
1. They are really saying God hasn't
obeyed their commands.
2. He hasn't given me what I wanted.
3. If God is the Lord and you His servant,
how is it that you want to always give
the orders and never listen?
3. "It is vain to serve God, what profit to try to live
right?"
a. The dividends of the Christian life are not all
given now.
1. Consider the eternal rewards of the
righteous life vs sinful.
4. Those who live for themselves are happy, the wicked
prosper and are better off.
a. How do you know they are happy?
b. The New Testament tells of a rich man who went
away from Jesus sad.
5. What folly to charge God foolishly.
a. I hate to hear it done, it hurts me.
b. How much more must it hurt Him?
II. THERE IS OTHER TALK GOING ON ABOUT GOD.
A. They that reverence the Lord spake often one to another.
1. How beautiful to be in a fellowship where the
conversation can be upon the Lord.
2. You can tell where a persons heart is - listen to what
they want to talk about.
a. New clothes, new jewelry, new furniture.
b. What trite empty conversation pieces.
3. "Oh the Lord was so good to me this week."
a. He freed me from a real fleshly hang-up, my
motorcycle blew up.
4. It doesn't pay to serve God, it doesn't pay to live
right my new bike blew up this week.
B. God claims these as His, they are His treasure.
1. He promises to spare them in the day of judgment.
Sermon Outline
- God's Controversy with Man points: - Charges Against God - It doesn't pay to serve God - Lack of immediate rewards - The wicked prosper
- Offering lip service points: - Lip Service vs True Service - Seeking God's service - Not truly serving God
- The eternal rewards of the righteous life points: - The Folly of Charging God Foolishly - Contrasted with the fleeting happiness of the wicked
- Reverence for the Lord points: - Conversation about the Lord - A beautiful fellowship - Talking about the Lord's goodness
- Those who reverence the Lord points: - God's Treasure - Promised to spare them in the day of judgment
Key Quotes
“It is vain to serve God, what profit to try to live right?” — Chuck Smith
“You can tell where a person's heart is - listen to what they want to talk about.” — Chuck Smith
“He promises to spare them in the day of judgment.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should not make charges against God, but rather seek to understand and reverence Him.
- True service to God involves a commitment to living a righteous life and seeking His guidance.
- We can tell where someone's heart is by listening to what they want to talk about - if they are talking about the Lord, it is likely that their heart is in the right place.