Brothers and sisters,
Rarely, if ever, does the modern body of Christ preach about the teachings and warnings of the anointed and Holy Spirit resident Old Testament prophets.
There are several reasons for this we surmise. Their message is not warm and fuzzy, ishy squishy mud between the toes that is so desired today. Their message comes from the OT where many discount the fact that “all Scripture is inspired and profitable…” meaning the first covenant.
Our brother Malachi was the last voice to proclaim the holiness and judgment of God before the hundreds of years of silence prior to the coming of Jesus Christ. He begins his four chapters with the sin of the leaders. They have the charge of leading the people in truth. Here they were failing at this, but thought they were spot on and doing God a favor. How deceived!
Notice the blanket rebuke, condemnation, and judgment. But like Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb, and a small minority of the Israeli’s in the wilderness, there are always a few who are saved and walking holy but suffer along with the rest.
For every Joshua, there are millions of Saul’s hiding amidst God’s body. For every Kaleb, there are millions of Solomon’s who will not persevere to the very end.
Let us recall that just like ancient times the merciful God of the universe sends the prophetic message to repent years and years ahead of the actual calamity He brings upon His wayward body. Malachi’s life and pronouncement was around 400 BC. This book ends with the coming of Jesus Christ at the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord.
Are you ready? Will you be ready?
This modern paraphrase for today does not carry nowhere near the same weight, of course, as the original inspired writings. You may find the whole of this paraphrase of Malachi for today here.
Malachi 1:1-14 – For Today, A Paraphrase
Sin of the Leaders of The Modern Church
The oracle, the holy and true message, of the word of the LORD, Yahweh, to the today’s body, the Israel of God, the church, through the Lord’s prophets of today.
“I have loved you, My body, My leaders, with my covenant of love,” says the LORD, Yahweh. But you say, ‘How have You loved us?’ Were not your spiritually lost neighbors also My creation too like you?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved You more than them and chose You; but I have hated the rebellious lost who refuse to repent, and I will make their lands and businesses a desolation one day and have appointed their inheritance for the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.”
Though these lost souls will say, “We have been beaten down by our circumstances, but we will return to greatness and build up our lives, homes, and businesses by ourselves alone;” thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked and cursed, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.”
“Your eyes will see this of my enemies, oh leaders, and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the saved body of believers!”
“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor from you, My leaders? And if I
am a master, where is My respect from you?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O leaders who despise My name. But you say in surprise, ‘How have we despised Your name, oh Lord? We always love You!’
“You are presenting defiled and polluted worthless works in front of My eyes. But you say in shock, ‘How have we defiled You in this way?’ In that you say by your deeds, ‘The commands of the LORD are to be despised.’
“But when you present less than your very best in holiness that I command, is it not evil, an insult to your Creator and God? And when you present your third or fourth best leftovers and keep the best of yourselves for amusement and the world’s ways, is it not evil? Why not just offer it to your elected officials who rule over you? Would they be pleased with you? Or would they receive you kindly with such an insult?” says the LORD of hosts.
“But now will you not beg for mercy, to entreat and appease My favor, that I may be gracious to you? With such an insulting offering of deeds on your part, will I receive any of you kindly? Of course not!” says the LORD of hosts.
“Oh that there were one among you leaders who would surely serve Me as I command, that you might not uselessly serve Me as you have been doing! I am not pleased with you, so do not fool yourself,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept busyness from you masquerading godly works as you congratulate yourselves over your worthless deeds.
“For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the entire world, all peoples, and in every place where righteous deeds are going to be offered to My great name, and a holy offering that is pure; for My name will be great among all the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.
“But you are profaning My holy name, in that you say by your deeds, ‘The commands of the Lord are defil
ed, and they are to be despised.’
“You also say by your deeds, ‘My, how tiresome all this is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was knowingly much less than you best, by robbery and what is polluted and worthless; so you bring these things as holy worship to Me! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the LORD.
“But cursed be and woe to the swindler who promised his very best and vows it to Me, but sacrifices a fourth rate deed to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
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From the holy Scriptures…
Malachi 1:1-14 – As Written
The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob;
but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.”
Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.”
Your eyes will see this and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel!”
” ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
“You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised.’
“But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.
“But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.
“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you.
“For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.
“But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’
“You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the LORD.
“But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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You may view our Archives here: CRY OF TODAY’S PROPHETS – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
Bill Bremer says
That is telling it like it is. But, the good news is:
“16Then 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 that thought upon his name. 17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Malachi 3
jesusislord says
Brother Bill,
Yes, those who remain in His fear will do right. The 3rd chapter in this series will be posted in the future!
Blessings in Him.
Marc