THE DAY OF THE LORD

SERIES: MALACHI TODAY.

TEXT: MALACHI 4:1-6.

The day of the Lord is a time when God intervenes in the history of mankind in a tangible way which brings either blessing or judgement. Malachi prophecies that the day of the Lord is coming and it will be a day filled with a burning away of all that is evil and corrupt in this world.

This day will be filled with joy for the ones who revere the name of the Lord. But the day of the Lord will also be a time of judgement for those who have arrogantly rejected the Lord. This time frame is called the Day of the Lord. Let us learn:-

JESUS’ FIRST COMING WAS “THE DAY OF THE LORD.”

• Malachi was written 400 years prior to Jesus’ first coming.
• Malachi chapter 4 has a two-fold meaning-the first coming and the second coming.

1. The first day of the Lord sought to reconcile the sinners to God.

• In His first coming Jesus Christ dealt with the lost and rebuked the arrogant Pharisees and corrupt religious rulers of Israel for not leading the people to God.
• Jesus warned them of the impending fire to come.
• Jesus told them to repent and change their ways.
• The people responded by becoming angry and plotting His death-They killed Him.
• Jesus Christ warned them that there is coming a day that He will judge them by fire.
• Jesus spoke of future judgement day for all who reside on this earth.
• Jesus Christ stressed the importance of following Him and believing in Him to avoid this horrible time of judgement.
• Jesus warned those original hearers and readers of His message and He is still warning us today to make sure that we are ready.
• Each one of these individuals who were alive during Jesus’ day have since died and faced the Lord in judgement.
• The question to ponder today is “Are you ready?”

1. Those who have died without Christ have gone through fire upon their deaths because of what they did to Jesus Christ.

• Those who have died to Jesus Christ have received their punishment for their rejection of the Lord and for their sins.

1. In Malachi 4:2, we are told that He will rise with healing in His wings.

• Jesus first coming brought us the benefit of healing-Isaiah 53:1-12.
• Isaiah prophesied about what Jesus would do on the cross.
• Through the stripes of Jesus Christ we are healed.
• With Jesus’ death and resurrection came the blessing of healing into our lives.
• Divine healing is to the body, spirit and soul.
• This healing comes to us by His rising and it is in His wings.
• When we get under His wings a wave of healing floods into our lives and into our being.
• Malachi tells us that we should be leaping for joy like a calf set free from a stall.
• Malachi tells those who have a relationship with the Lord will trample down the wicked.

THE DAY OF THE LORD IN THE FUTURE.

• This time Jesus Christ is coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But He will bring the sword of judgement.
• “What is the day of the Lord?”
• The phrase, “day of the Lord” usually identifies events that take place at the end of history-Isaiah 7:18-25. It is a span of time during which God personally intervenes in history, directly or indirectly to accomplish some specific aspect of His plan.
• The ‘phrase “The day of the Lord” is used 19 times in the Old Testament-Isaiah 2:12; 13:6;13:9; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1; 2:11; 2:31; 3:14; Amos 5:18; 5:20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7; 1:14; Zachariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5 and 4 times in the New Testament-Acts 2:20; 2nd Thess. 2:2; 2nd Peter 3:10.
• All the Old Testament passages convey a sense of nearness, imminence and expectation.
• The New Testament calls it a day of “wrath,” a day of “visitation” and the “great day of God almighty”-Rev. 16:4.
• Besides the “day of the Lord” being a time of judgement it will also be a time of salvation as God will deliver the remnant of Israel to fulfill-Romans 11:26, “All of Israel will be saved.”
• On the “day of the Lord” the arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled.
• God will punish evil and fulfil all His promises.
• Jesus’ second coming will be very different from the first coming, but it will be wonderful for the believer-He. 9:28.
• For the lost would the “day of the Lord” will be judgement, for the child of God it will be “The blessed hope.”
• The second coming of Jesus Christ is coming in power, glory and authority-Rev. 19:11-20.

THE TIMING OF THE LORD AND THE “DAY OF THE LORD.”

• God is the Lord of timing. There is the right time for Him to return and He alone knows that day-2nd Peter 3:8-10.
• God concept of time is different from our concept of time because God is eternal and we are bound in time.
• Our responsibility is to be ready every moment for we don’t know when.
• We need to remember that “History is actually HIS-STORY. At the center of history stands the cross of Jesus Christ.
• In your life history there ought to be the B.C and the A.D. Jesus is the master of history.
• The historical and cultural significance of Christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ is so huge that no one can begin to give it an adequate description.
• Today one third of the world call itself Christians.
• Sunday or the first day of the week is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Today Christianity is to be found in 223 countries in the world.

CONCLUSION

• Malachi informs us about the first day of the Lord and the coming of Jesus Christ a second time.
• We receive the benefits of knowing that Christ is coming again.

1. We have joy in our lives as a result of evil being defeated someday soon.
2. We receive the benefit of healing from His wings.
3. We receive and will receive a restoration of the family unit when we took to Jesus.

• We are reminded that God has His perfect timing and all we need to do is be ready today. Are you ready?