Leaving Laodicea

Often we find ourselves, like the people in Malachi's day, lodging a complaint against God.  Why?  Because He didn't do things the way we thought He should.  Because we don't like the situation we are in.  Because we want more than what He has sovereignly given us.  Because He didn't meet our expectations.Just like spoiled, selfish children.But the granddaddy of all complaints is found in Malachi 2:17 where the people accuse God of blessing evil and ignoring good:  "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them."  Or, "Where is the God of justice?"Want to see how God responds?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Malachi 2:17-3:5.

When we go to court and the prosecutor has a key witness ready to testify against us, we basically have only three options of things we can do..One, we can make the witness disappear, much like Don Corleone in the Godfather.  Or, two, we can try to discredit the witness by digging up dirt on his past sins that would impugn his testimony and character.  In other words, we would put the witness on trial.  And if that didn't work, three, we could hire Madison Avenue lawyers to find a technicality, a loophole, to get us off.This is exactly the course of action the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to no avail.  Why?  Because He was always one step ahead of them.Want to find out more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on John 8:12-20.

When we go to court and the prosecutor has a key witness ready to testify against us, we basically have only three options of things we can do..One, we can make the witness disappear, much like Don Corleone in the Godfather.  Or, two, we can try to discredit the witness by digging up dirt on his past sins that would impugn his testimony and character.  In other words, we would put the witness on trial.  And if that didn't work, three, we could hire Madison Avenue lawyers to find a technicality, a loophole, to get us off.This is exactly the course of action the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to no avail.  Why?  Because He was always one step ahead of them.Want to find out more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on John 8:12-20.

In the latter half of Malachi 2 God employs some strong words to convey His feelings about His people and their attitude towards Him.  He uses treacherously five times in 8 verses.  We also find profane or profaning, abomination, and God saying He literally hates something.  Those two words alone, God and hate, should get our attention.But what does God hate?  Ah, that's where the "D" word comes in.  Want to hear more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Malachi 2:10-17.

In the latter half of Malachi 2 God employs some strong words to convey His feelings about His people and their attitude towards Him.  He uses treacherously five times in 8 verses.  We also find profane or profaning, abomination, and God saying He literally hates something.  Those two words alone, God and hate, should get our attention.But what does God hate?  Ah, that's where the "D" word comes in.  Want to hear more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Malachi 2:10-17.

Sometimes we accept the forgiveness of Jesus and assume it's simply a one-sided act.  He does all the work and we reap all the benefits.It's like changing the lyrics to the old song that goes:  "Jesus paid it all."  And with this we agree.  "All to Him I owe."  Uh, not so fast.  I'd rather just take the forgiveness and go home.But that's not how it works in the Kingdom of God.  In John 8 we see a woman forgiven by Jesus and left with the following command:  "Go and sin no more."   Did you ever wonder why He said that to her?To find out more, keep listening.The following is a study on John 7:53-8:12.

Sometimes we accept the forgiveness of Jesus and assume it's simply a one-sided act.  He does all the work and we reap all the benefits.It's like changing the lyrics to the old song that goes:  "Jesus paid it all."  And with this we agree.  "All to Him I owe."  Uh, not so fast.  I'd rather just take the forgiveness and go home.But that's not how it works in the Kingdom of God.  In John 8 we see a woman forgiven by Jesus and left with the following command:  "Go and sin no more."   Did you ever wonder why He said that to her?To find out more, keep listening.The following is a study on John 7:53-8:12.

One of the most sobering and frightening statements by God to the priests, clergy, and believers just like you and me is found in Malachi 2:3.  There God says:“Behold, I will rebuke your descendants and spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your solemn feasts; and one will take you away with it."Just so you know, refuse means dung, fecal matter, excrement.  That's right.  God is saying He will spread or smear excrement on the faces of His priests or clergy or you and me.Do you want to know why God would do something as drastic as this?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Malachi 2:1-9.

One of the most sobering and frightening statements by God to the priests, clergy, and believers just like you and me is found in Malachi 2:3.  There God says:“Behold, I will rebuke your descendants and spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your solemn feasts; and one will take you away with it."Just so you know, refuse means dung, fecal matter, excrement.  That's right.  God is saying He will spread or smear excrement on the faces of His priests or clergy or you and me.Do you want to know why God would do something as drastic as this?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on Malachi 2:1-9.

Jesus placed as first importance the need to count the costs (Luke 14:28) before coming to Him and partaking of His life (John 7:37-38).  But many today fail to embrace, or even consider, what it means to truly follow Christ.  We debate among ourselves trivial theological matters or define, to our own carnality, what is "permissible" in the Christian life, yet fail to understand the depths of the new life He has call us to.It's a life, mind you, of holiness.  After all, "No man ever spoke like this Man! (John 7:46).Want to know more about the life of faith?  Then keep listening.The following is a study on John 7:40-52.