This week on Fastened Like Nails, Dr. Mark Hamby and Dr. Lew Sterrett unpack the world’s rising hostility toward God’s Word—and why we shouldn’t be shaken by it. What if persecution isn’t a setback, but a setup for revival? Just ask Saul, who went from hunting Christians to spreading the gospel. Even the fiercest persecutors can become God’s mightiest instruments! And as history shows, whenever the Church faces pressure, she always answers with greater passion and boldness for Christ. Tune in for a timely reminder that God’s light shines brightest in the dark!

Light in the Darkness Feat Dr. Lew Sterrett

The mission of Lamplighter Ministries is “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, by building Christ-like character one story at a time.” The mission of this ministry is deeply rooted in the truths found in Malachi 4:6 and Luke 1:17. The gospel writer Luke quotes from Malachi 4:6 in his first chapter. His handling of the text is peculiar because he leaves out part of the quote and adds a sentence that changes the entire meaning of Malachi’s text. In Malachi we read: “To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” In Luke we read: “To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The first part of this verse is identical in both passages. The second part, “turning the hearts of the children to their fathers” is similar to “turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.” It appears that Luke is emphasizing that children’s hearts (the disobedient) will turn to their fathers, if their fathers’ hearts become righteous and worthy. The last part of the verse in Malachi, “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse,” has been deleted and new text has been added, thus changing the meaning. Generally, the New Testament writers will change an Old Testament text to help clarify the intended meaning, but here Luke changes the meaning of the text entirely. Whereas the Old Testament closes out with the word “curse” and a strict warning, the New Testament closes out with hope and an emphasis on grace—“the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.” By Divine design the Old Testament closes in “curse” and the New Testament closes with “grace.” When Luke the physician quotes Malachi 4:6 and removes the curse, I believe he was adding that which is at the heart of Christian discipleship—“making ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

As I studied Luke’s addition, I realized that the words “make ready” and “prepared” are the very essence of our mission. The word “ready,” in Greek, hetoimaz het-oy-mad’-zo, means to prepare, provide, construct, create, or make ready through internal fitness. The word “prepared,” in Greek, kataskeuaz, kat-ask-yoo-ad’-zo, means to build, make, ordain, or prepare thoroughly and properly by external equipment. Lamplighter Ministries has a two-fold focus: preparing people to serve the Lord through internal character development and external career preparation. The words “ready” and “prepared” form the foundation for our mission at Lamplighter. We are building Christ-like character internally through inspiring and godly role models, and motivating individuals to live a life of excellence through external opportunities that cultivate their God-given abilities into the highest level of skill and excellence.

Religion & Spirituality

The mission of Lamplighter Ministries is “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, by building Christ-like character one story at a time.” The mission of this ministry is deeply rooted in the truths found in Malachi 4:6 and Luke 1:17. The gospel writer Luke quotes from Malachi 4:6 in his first chapter. His handling of the text is peculiar because he leaves out part of the quote and adds a sentence that changes the entire meaning of Malachi’s text. In Malachi we read: “To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” In Luke we read: “To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The first part of this verse is identical in both passages. The second part, “turning the hearts of the children to their fathers” is similar to “turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.” It appears that Luke is emphasizing that children’s hearts (the disobedient) will turn to their fathers, if their fathers’ hearts become righteous and worthy. The last part of the verse in Malachi, “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse,” has been deleted and new text has been added, thus changing the meaning. Generally, the New Testament writers will change an Old Testament text to help clarify the intended meaning, but here Luke changes the meaning of the text entirely. Whereas the Old Testament closes out with the word “curse” and a strict warning, the New Testament closes out with hope and an emphasis on grace—“the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.” By Divine design the Old Testament closes in “curse” and the New Testament closes with “grace.” When Luke the physician quotes Malachi 4:6 and removes the curse, I believe he was adding that which is at the heart of Christian discipleship—“making ready a people prepared for the Lord.” As I studied Luke’s addition, I realized that the words “make ready” and “prepared” are the very essence of our mission. The word “ready,” in Greek, hetoimaz het-oy-mad’-zo, means to prepare, provide, construct, create, or make ready through internal fitness. The word “prepared,” in Greek, kataskeuaz, kat-ask-yoo-ad’-zo, means to build, make, ordain, or prepare thoroughly and properly by external equipment. Lamplighter Ministries has a two-fold focus: preparing people to serve the Lord through internal character development and external career preparation. The words “ready” and “prepared” form the foundation for our mission at Lamplighter. We are building Christ-like character internally through inspiring and godly role models, and motivating individuals to live a life of excellence through external opportunities that cultivate their God-given abilities into the highest level of skill and excellence.

Share Light in the Darkness Feat Dr. Lew Sterrett

Sign up to save your podcasts

Light in the Darkness Feat Dr. Lew Sterrett

Light in the Darkness Feat Dr. Lew Sterrett

More shows like Fastened Like Nails

The Heidi St. John Podcast

Focus on the Family with Jim Daly

Focus on the Family Strengthening Marriage Podcast

FamilyLife Today®

Read-Aloud Revival ®

Life with Sally

Breakpoint

The WorldView in 5 Minutes

Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey

The Alisa Childers Podcast

COURAGEOUS PARENTING

The Natasha Crain Podcast

In the Lord I Take Refuge: Daily Devotions Through the Psalms with Dane Ortlund

M Is for Mama Podcast

Raising Godly Girls