Divine Warnings | The Final Call to Obey and Remember | Malachi 4:1-6

Show Notes

Episode 705: 
In this episode, Chris and Wesley dive into the topic of Malachi 4. We discuss the chapter's themes of judgment and hope, starting with the stark warning of impending judgment for the arrogant and wicked, depicted as being burned up like straw. In contrast, those who fear the Lord are promised healing and joy, likened to calves leaping in a pasture. We reflect on the significance of obeying God's commandments, as outlined in the law of Moses, and the importance of remembering God's word not just for knowledge, but for action.

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You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in practical ways. Hey, everybody, welcome to The Bible Guys. I'm Chris and this is Wesley. We are back. We are back. But and we what do we called? What do we call ourselves? Oh? The Bible Guys, Platinum Edition. Platinum Edition. We are one level above, which, by the way, is not only a disc on Jeff but also on Kyle. H Yeah, yeah, So what what metal could we give them? The Titanium Edition? I don't know. Diamond is above platinum. Okay, so yeah they can be Diamond edition. Okay, how about that? All right, so it's not a diss Okay, very good. So we are the Platinum Edition, and we want to welcome you. We are on Heritage Church stage because there's been a podcast studio issue. For those of you who are watching, you've probably already figured that out. And Jeff's out of pocket as well because he's actually sick, which is uh, you know. We'll just make sure to pray for him and make sure it gets better for Sunday especially, So, hey, we are going to be wrapping up Malachi today, isn't isn't today the last day? Yeah, says Maliki four. Malki four. But before we dive into that, we are going to have a segment. It is the segment that everyone waits for. Yeah, well, all segments is though. I sometimes wonder if that's true. Do people really like it better than the other side. I think some people wish we could do this five days a week right here. That's not true, that's not true. But what is the segment? You can tell people it is what made Chris made? What made Chris mad this week? Yes? Yeah, So I'm going to choose something. And by the way, I just thought about it, but what less than two minutes ago? And I've I've mentioned driving things before because driving things can make anybody mad. But I'm going to mention something about that I've not mentioned before, and that is this. If there are two people at a red light, now is this is common in Michigan. But Michigan we have what's known as Michigan lefts right. But there's a lot of people that have like medians where they have turnarounds, and even though it's not necessarily Michigan left, everybody has median turnarounds. Right. So sometimes there's a median turnaround where you are sort of like crossing over, and then there's a red light at that turnaround, and you have the choice either to go straight and cross the opposing line of traffic or you can go left right and you can go left. So you can be at a turnaround and go left. Now there are people on the other side of that traffic light of that turnaround that can either take a right. Well, actually that's it. It's just they take a right. Yea. Normally it's not two way right there, so normally, yeah, you're just making it right. So here's the question who has the right away, the people who are taking the left or the people who are taking the right. Do you know I think it's the people taking the right out of the parking lot. That is correct. And so here's what made Chris mad today. Ready for this. Everybody learn how to drive. Here's another commandment. Learn the rules of driving. Learn learn what to do at a yield sign if there's no cars coming, Guess what. You don't have to yield right, that's just you should have learned that when you were sixteen, when you took a driving class. So stop stop putting on. The brakes to a full stop at a yield sign where there's no oncoming traffic on a turnaround. Stop it stop it. Just learn the rules. Okay, learn the rules. When you're at a median and you're going to turn left and there's people before you're turning right, guess what they have the right way, which means when it turns green, you have to wait. And so I when we're pulling out a hair to church. Oh so yeah, we have this right outside of the that's right, well, not outside of our church, but the complex adjacent to the churches. It's the exact same. And so we take a right and people are lining up to take a left, and so when it. Turns green, they just hit the gas. I just hit the gas. And so many people are like hitting the gas. And guess what I do? I bluff them. Ladies and gentlemen, We are not recommending that you bluff. I just go. I just go. You know why, because I'm in a truck and trucks win, right. I'm in a big old Silverado, which means which means I'm gonna win. If you hit me, you're gonna lose. And so I just I just go and so people start to go and I just go. And then they're like and they trip the rakes and. It's like and I just think to myself, go look at a rule book, Go look at a driving test, right, like. Just go learn something. It's funny. And so listen, listen. I know that sounds harsh, but after all, the segment is called what made Chris Mad this Week? And what made me mad is just learn the rules of driving. When you drive, you know why, because it's your responsibility to why. Because driving is not an individual sport. I'll say it once again. Driving is a community event. You are responsible for paying attention. Here's another thing, Okay, listen, if a guy is going to try to get over into the turning lane and you're at an intersection and he barely has enough room to get by, and yet somehow you choose to stop like two car lengths back, and all he wants to do is bless his heart, get around you so he could take a right intern, which he's entitled to or she's entitled to. But yet you are just oblivious to the world. And you don't think they're oblivious. I think some people are just I'm not letting you in like. It's like it's my right. It's my right to do whatever I want to do. Listen, it is your responsibility to pay attention to the guy behind you, around you, next to you, in front of you. It is not about you, buddy, It is not about you. I'm getting mad as I'm saying it. It's a community event. Everybody has to be responsible for everybody else. You have to be courteous and kind and follow the rules and let people go scoot up and let him pass you. Why because it's a community. Eventious, We've made Chris mad for the whole week. I'm sweating because guess what. I get mad for the world? Liston, Yeah, I do you carry the burden. I carry the burden for the world. I don't get mad for me. It's for everybody. It's for everybody, right there. Hey, listen, let's make them to say, but I do get mad for me. But to be honest, I, by the way, I think this is true. I joke about it, but I really, honest to God, think this is true when like that happen. I do get mad for me, but I actually and my family can attest to this, I actually get more angry for everybody else, I'm like, I'm like, that guy is gonna is gonna it's gonna be a horrible guy in traffic for the world. And I just think to myself, like, guys like that shouldn't be allowed on the road for the world, right. And I get mad when when there's a bad waiter. I get mad for the restaurant. I get mad for future customers. I ask my family, I really do. Yeah, yeah, it's not about me. So you heard it, ladies and gentlemen. That's it. What's made Chris Matt this week. Learn how to drive? Yeah, Mike drop. That's so so harsh. Yeah, So anyway, all right, Malachi. Malachi chapter four and how many chapters are in Malachi? That's it. I know. I was I was looking. For you to affirm Yeah, I was waiting a minute, like what do you mean. I was just looking for you to affirm that today the last day and so, and by the way, that means this ends our series. Today ends our series. When you show up on Monday, we will have a brand new series into play. And this whole series that we've done is our goal is to walk through the Old Testament, not the entire Old Testament. We didn't go verse by verse. So we may go back and do certain books verse by verse, but we went through the highlights or the milestones of the entire Old Testament. And I've heard great feedback from this. By the way. I've heard lots of people saying they've loved this. Yes, yes, And a lot of times we hit obscure books that people are like, hey, I never knew that about this story. I never knew that about this book. I never understood that how those books came together. And of course, as we all know, Jeff is an encyclopedia, right, Jeff is more knowledge. Jeff has forgotten more about history than I have ever learned. So he'll throw in history references and city names and and things that happen ye that coincide, and a lot of Bible kings and history in the Bible that I don't necessarily understand or know. He is an. Encyclopedia, and so he certainly has been a great addition to this series, an enhancer of this series. Yeah, So we're going to Malachi four one through six. The Lord of Heaven's army says, the day of Judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day, that arrogant, and the wicket will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed roots, branches and all. So that's like everything. Yeah verse two. But for you who fear my name, the Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings, and you will go free, leaping with joy like calves, let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicket as if they were dust under your feet, says the Lord of Heaven's armies. Remember to obey the law of mo Is my servant, all the decrees and regulations that I give him on Mount Sinai for all Israel. Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers and their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse. Yeah, that's it. Malach four. Well, Elijah, of course is you know, that's one of the reasons why I remember when they say people believe that John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah. Yes, yeah, yeah, that's that's really cool. There's actually a note here that talks excuse me, that talks about that. In Malachi chapter four, verses five and six. This note says Elijah is one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. His story is recorded in Onet King seventeen through tewod Kings chapter two. With Malachi's death, the voice of God's prophet would be silent for four hundred years. That a prophet would come like Elijah to herald the Messiah's coming Matthew chapter seventeen, ten through thirteen. Luke chapter one. This prophet was John the Baptist. John prepared people's hearts for Jesus by urging people to repent and their sins. Christ coming would bring not only unity and peace, but also a judgment of those who refused to return from their sins. So that's the reason why they said that John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah. And here's the prophet four hundred years earlier saying he will send somebody before before the day that the Lord arrives. Yeah, yeah, pretty neat. Now, what would you say, Chris, to the person who is or has let's say rejected In reference to this rejected, what they've heard, so maybe they went to a church service and they're thinking, well, I don't necessarily believe that, because not everyone who listens to the Bible, guys, is a Christian. Sure, we have lots of people that listen from around the world. So they're listening and they see this in verse one about judgment and they're saying, well, I don't necessarily believe that. What would you say to them to that person. Well, it's pretty clear that there's a lot of steaks. There's a whole lot of stakes. That's what I would say. Yes, I would say, I would say, you know, the Bible warns us of heaven and hell. The Bible warns us of eternal separation from us and God. You know, misery, torment, you know, all these different sorts of things. I mean, these are pretty strong warnings. I mean, even in the word. Pictures that they use here, on that day, the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed roots, branches and all. That's very specific. Yeah, it's it's a it's a it's not a great word picture for those who are clearly defined as those who reject God. And so the question is this, you know, and I've heard preachers say this before, they say, listen, if I'm wrong, If I die and I'm wrong and there is no. God, what have I lost? I've lived a good life. I have lived a good life, you know, a moral life, life of helping others, a selfless life, a life filled with blessing, a life of goodness, a life that has good karma. If there's no God, then sure, let's go ahead and call it karma. Right. If there's no God, which there is a God, but you know, you know what I'm saying, right, So, if there's no God, then I then I've already won. Right. But if there is no God and you. Die rejecting Christ, refusing to believe, and and you know, as an atheist or somebody who rejects Christ, then then then what's what's what's the worst case scenario for you? It's a lot worse, isn't it. Right? So, so so there's a lot of stake, And I would say that you know, you better be sure, you better do your homework. That's I would say. I would say, look into it with every fiber of your being, because if you're going to reject or choose not to believe, do not believe it's casual. Do not believe that it's a flippant decision. And some people, in fact, many people will say, well, I guess we're gonna see what happens, you know, and they treat it as a casual decision, to which I would say, the warnings of Bible. Painted not casual. So what you would say is, this isn't just symbolism, because some people would read that and well, he's just talking about, you know, just a rough day, and this isn't a really a real scenario. This is just well symbolism, and you know. On to be honest, a lot of the references of Hell are symbolic, right, So Gehenna, right was a place you know that was referenced used to describe Hell. And it was a literal place, right, I think in the city of Colossia Colossa or something. So so it's like, uh or hades. Did I get that wrong? Uh? But but but there was a literal place with a cave, there was a literal lake right there. There. There's all these different references, uh that are symbolic, and and I think that, uh, you know that that there are definite warnings as well that are literal, right, and so so there are references of symbolism, but there are literal references, and I think that both are just as strong, and I think that both carry just as much warning. So I definitely think that we don't want to be on the on the bad side of judgment. And I definitely believe that there is a hell. I believe that there's uh, you know, going to be pain there. And I believe it in the same way that God describes heaven as a place of no pain and no sorrow and you know, no more tears, no more night, you know, no more struggle. And I believe that there is you know, uh heaven where we're going to be restored. Holy our bodies are going to be made whole. And by the way, that reminds me of them. Have you ever heard baby Shark that baby you. Know all that stuff? Uh that that that song if you played out to fruition, Uh, it says shark attack and then it says, uh lost a leg? Did you know that shark attack that? And then it goes lost leg and then and then eventually it says uh c p R and. Then it says it says did it work? And then it says go to heaven and then yeah, and then and then and then it says were not the kids version does, but but but the adult version and then and then there's a verse that goes, uh, got leg back? That da dad, that got leg back? That did I got leg back? That is hilarious. Yeah, and so it's like it's like, yeah, the bodies will be restored and we'll be made whole. And so yeah, the opposite you know, pictures of heaven and Hell, Yeah, could not be any more different. And I think the one thing about Hell that and I know we're not talking exclusively about that here, but the part that people don't understand is it's not intermittent weeping and gnashing of teeth. It's not intermittent pain. It's continuous. I mean, this is what you're experiencing. So, yeah, you don't want to take this lightly. You definitely want to be on the right side of salvation, so to speak. You definitely want to accept Christ into your life. But I want to go to a verse four. It says, remember, because this is the important part here, remember to obey the law of Moses, my servant, all the decrees and regulations that I gave him on Mount Sinai for all of Israel. Basically, it's what is being said here is to remember God's word. Yes, that's the thing that you got to remember. You got to remember God. Remember God's word. And it's not just remember God's word for knowledge, it's remember God's word for action. You need to put God's word into action. You need to do actually what God's word says if you want to get the results that God said you would get from doing what he told you to do. So I think that's a very important that we obey and do what God's word says. Yeah, and by the way, it bothered me, so I had to look it up and yeah, so I knew that Gahanna was symbolic. I was getting the words wrong. There is a place in Colossia as well, So those are definitely two places. Geh Hannah was a place of sacrifice, of child sacrifice, so they would. They would literally burn bodies. Yeah, and it was just outside of the South wall of Jerusalem, right. And then and in Colossa there's there's a place that had held like imagery and. There was a cave to it. And so then they actually talked about that as well. So yeah, so yeah, there it is. Yeah, so I was mixing up references, but that is exactly true. So then anyway, verse five, it goes on where it says, look, I'm sending you the prophet Elijah before the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord arrives his preaching Laturn hearts. It's almost very similar to what we covered on previous days about God sending a messenger. We see that same theme coming here where God is again sending a messenger to warn people, Hey, you might want to get your act together. You might want to obey the commandments the law. Hey, you want to get right. And I love the fact that God does that. So God gives us his word to obey, tells us to obey it, and then we'll send a messenger on top of that to make sure that we obey it. So no one will be able to say in the end that they didn't know. Well, I mean case in point. I mean the three previous chapters were all about God's warnings. So God's warnings and you know, and then he even gave promises. So last week we talked well, last week yesterday's podcast, we talked about even the tithe it was a promise of blessings. So you know, one thing we didn't get time to talk about was it's the only place in the Bible where God says test me in this right where he says, test me, bring all your ties to the storehouse and test me and watch and see what happens, and tell me if there's not going to be an overflow of blessings in your life. And we didn't get to talk about that, but we should have. And it's like, yeah, that's the other side of the warning, right. The other side of the warning is the promise, right, And so it's like, hey, listen, if you test me and you obey my commandments, then here it comes. That's the that's the other side of the warnings of hell is heaven. Yeah, I got to toss this in. Have you ever had a time in your life where you didn't not heed God's warning? You knew it was a warning from him, you didn't heed it, and then you felt the effects of it. I can think of like ten things, oh for sure that happened in my life. Where yeah, there's no doubt where. God said don't do something and you're kind of like well it doesn't seem too bamman, it looks okay. I mean, and God's like, I told you don't go there, don't do that. Well I'm going to do it, and then something crazy happens as a result of that. Yeah. Yeah, well, I mean there's definitely I'm not sure I want to get that vulnerable and share. But I think that I think that many of us who have been longtime Christians could probably attest to that story, right, because there are times where we know the word yeah, right, and we know the truth and we know the warnings, and then we're like, yeah, we know it, but we just want to do what we want to do, or we just don't want to do what God tells us not to do, or. We don't understand why we can't, right, you know, you don't see anything obvious, right, and we don't understand, well why God, why shouldn't I. Date that person? Right? God? Why should not? I mean, it seems okay, And God is saying there there are some danger up ahead you don't see. That's why I'm warning you now, right. It's that mentality says, what's the worst that can happen? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, I get that too. Yeah, that's for certain. Yeah, and so yeah, just know that every time God gives us a warning of judgment, it is only after his goodness has been laid out. Yes, his his, his invitation has made known, his commandments are real, his love has been extended, his you know, his patience has been exhausted. Right, and then finally he gives us a warning that says, Okay, there's judgment coming because yet you still, after all this time, have chosen not to go My way. Yeah and so yeah, and so I think that all of us need to understand that, you know, we can't get angry if all those things have taken place beforehand. Yeah, yeah, I think we're out of time, Chris. We are at a time. That's a good place to end. So hey, that is a good place to end. And that wraps up our series. So hopefully we will see you Monday on the Bible guys,