Then 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.
(Malachi 3:16)
The 3rd chapter of Malachi is about the difference between the carnal believer and the spiritual one. Some of the marks of being a carnal believer are falling away from fellowship, witholding the tithe and offering and having a defeatest attitude about being a believer.
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? (Malachi 3:14
The backslider will excuse his backsliding and sin by reckoning that because we are all sinners and because we are justified by faith that there is no value in keeping the ordinances of God. They reason that doing good works is vain. They attempt to sound holier than thou by saying "It is all the work of Jesus so I will not think that I can do anything good." To the backslider sin is not sin for the Christian because it has all been forgiven or Christians do not need to repent because they are in Christ so repentance is vain. They toss out the Ten Commandments altogether and ignore what the New Testament says about "the works of the flesh". The backslider or carnal believer looks for every excuse to ignore and justify their sin.
The backslider does not like to "walk mournfully before the Lord." Everything must be uplifting and exciting. To be "sober" or "grave" is considered by all too many Christians to be unchristian even though it is commanded in the New Testament. When the good news of salvation is shared they do not expect the convert to mourn over their sin and repent - that too is vanity they think.
THE BACKSLIDER HOLDS BACK THEIR POCKETBOOK
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. ( Malachi 3:8
The carnal believer thinks that giving to the Lord's Church is a waste. They look for any spending they do not agree with in order to justify witholding their offerings. They claim that the tithe is Old Testament and so they need not give a tenth to the Lord. They claim they give God their all... just not the 10 percent.
THE BACKSLIDER FALLS FROM FELLOWSHIP
Then 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. (Malachi 3:16)
The New Testament warns the believer:
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25
It can be so tempting to sleep in and have a brunch while reading the newspaper or to go fishing or golfing or a thousand other things or we can go looking for a church for all the wrong reasons, because we like funny sermons or clowns and circus or a lot of activities for the teenagers like dances and trips and lock ins and games. Anything to get away from the hard preaching that brings a holy conviction and serious commitment.
They go to church to hear self help messages because their unholy life is a mess and they want 3 easy key points that will make it all better without any grief over their own sinfulness.
God has a book of remembrance. He is a subcriber to those who "FEAR" Him. (the word actually means fear: "to tremble"). There are those that think God is a playmate or a genie. They reject a God of respect and Holiness. Some like to think Jesus is just "one of the boys."
The fact is this: Christ is King. We who believe are His Subjects not His equals.
God knows those that fear Him. He keeps watch and he listens to our conversations with other "God fearing folk". When he hears us glorifying Him and encouraging others He makes a note of that. Imagine your testimony of God's goodness being recorded in Heaven by the hand of God.
God tells us this in Malachi for our edification and encouragement. We might seem to be few but do not be discouraged - God is listening - are you talking, encouraging and praising?
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