WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.000 Thank you very much indeed for your welcome and the opportunity of being with you. I'm using this microphone if you can't hear or want to hear, wave of Paul because I can easily speak up. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:26.000 ! I feel I've had lots of links with you here, not the least friendship with Paul, but recently I've been in Singapore and Andrew Leung was there, greatly enjoyed his time with you. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:38.159 And last night I was staying in a student house up in York and one of the students there goes to St Nicholas Seveneights where Paul often does a youth camp with them. 00:00:38.859 --> 00:00:50.019 And this student imitated Paul perfectly. Wonderful Welsh accent, so I felt I was prepared and ready to be with you. 00:00:50.020 --> 00:01:03.400 I hope this is going to be encouraging. You probably know the story of the elderly couple, the alarm went off and the wife got up to make the tea and as she passed the mirror, she looked in the mirror and said, 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:09.459 Oh dear, I'm so grey, I've got lots of lines, I've got bags under my eyes, I've got several chins. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.840 And she turned to her husband and said, Can't you say something encouraging? 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:16.140 Nothing wrong with your eyesight, he said. 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:28.200 I hope you've got Malachi open. I've been walking out with Malachi for a few months, we're not yet an item but we're getting to know one another. 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:34.879 And greatly helped by a very new commentary in the Bible Speaks Today series, which I want to warmly commend. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:45.539 The background is the year 460 BC, Malachi is the last of the prophets and is a natural bridge into the New Testament. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:50.019 He wasn't the last book in the Hebrew Bible, that was Chronicles. 00:01:50.539 --> 00:01:52.819 But in our Christian Bibles he's the last one. 00:01:53.699 --> 00:01:57.219 And the situation is that people are fairly jaded, as you'll see. 00:01:57.739 --> 00:01:59.759 And there are a whole series of disputations. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:03.560 So look with me, chapter 1, verse 1, 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:08.219 I have loved you, says the Lord, but you say, how have you loved us? 00:02:08.920 --> 00:02:10.539 And chapter 1, verse 6, 00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:15.300 Where is my fear, says the Lord of hosts, O priest who despised my name? 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:18.319 But you say, how have we despised your name? 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:23.379 Chapter 2, verse 17, the same sort of thing happens. 00:02:24.040 --> 00:02:27.920 You have wearied the Lord with your words, but you say, how have we wearied him? 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:32.099 By saying, everyone who does evil is good, in the sight of God, and so on. 00:02:32.739 --> 00:02:34.599 Go into chapter 3, verse 7 and 8. 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:36.099 So all these disputations. 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:40.239 Now I know that we are in Ealing, and not in Jerusalem. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:44.039 And I know that most of us probably are Gentiles, not Jews. 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:48.119 So there's not an exactly comparable priesthood, 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:50.399 as we're speaking about Levi. 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:53.619 And yet one of the things we discovered at the Reformation, 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:55.959 was the priesthood of all believers. 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:59.580 So I think we can learn much from this. 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:02.500 And there's a certain amount that is negative here. 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:08.520 A very strong language used in chapter 2, verse 3. 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:14.300 There was a very rude, outspoken, but wonderful evangelist called Donald Barnhouse. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:18.200 And he was doing a mission in Cambridge in 1947, I think it was. 00:03:18.760 --> 00:03:21.280 And he was due to speak at the girls' college, Girton. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:24.900 And he was asked what his text was going to be. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:27.840 And it was going to be Malachi chapter 2, verse 3. 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:31.099 I will spread dung on your faces. 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:33.639 Which was slightly alarming for the young ladies there. 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:35.639 But anyway, that's the way he approached things. 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:38.120 So there's a lot here that is quite strong. 00:03:38.819 --> 00:03:40.240 And in a sense, negative. 00:03:40.740 --> 00:03:43.319 But I want to major on the positives, 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:45.580 with contrast with the negatives. 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:47.520 And here's the first thing. 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:49.360 The Christian believer, 00:03:50.260 --> 00:03:51.020 the Christian believer, 00:03:51.100 --> 00:03:52.620 and I've got lots of x-ray eyes, 00:03:52.700 --> 00:03:55.939 so there may be some here who are still exploring and investigating. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:04:00.560 But the Christian believer must listen to the voice of God. 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:03.120 Chapter 2, verse 2. 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:05.700 If you will not listen, 00:04:06.380 --> 00:04:07.620 you will not take it to heart. 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.060 You will not listen. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:12.840 We can't speak for the Lord Jesus 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:15.680 unless we first listen and heard. 00:04:16.019 --> 00:04:19.199 Do you remember the miracle of the healing of the man 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.579 who was deaf and dumb? 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:26.060 Some people who've got a serious hearing impediment 00:04:26.060 --> 00:04:28.079 don't speak clearly. 00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:30.279 Because they've never heard people speak clearly. 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:32.439 And we won't speak clearly 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:34.199 unless we've heard clearly. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:36.340 And the trouble with these people 00:04:36.339 --> 00:04:39.419 is that they were not listening to God's word. 00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:41.419 And the result of that 00:04:41.419 --> 00:04:44.079 was they caused many people to stumble. 00:04:44.539 --> 00:04:45.719 Look on to verse 8. 00:04:46.419 --> 00:04:47.959 You have turned aside from the way. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:50.879 You've caused many to stumble by your instruction. 00:04:51.299 --> 00:04:52.439 Because you've got to listen first. 00:04:53.559 --> 00:04:55.979 And you know that there's one thing worse than being a sinner. 00:04:57.259 --> 00:04:58.799 It's being a stumbling block. 00:04:59.539 --> 00:05:02.359 So Jesus said that if anybody causes little ones to stumble, 00:05:03.019 --> 00:05:05.419 it would be better for a millstone to be turned round to their neck 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:06.860 and were thrown into the sea. 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:09.100 And this is what was happening with some of them. 00:05:09.540 --> 00:05:10.620 They were not listening. 00:05:11.140 --> 00:05:13.580 And therefore they caused people to stumble. 00:05:14.280 --> 00:05:16.259 And probably they showed partiality. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:17.759 Look at verse 9. 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:19.560 That is, they cherished bits 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:22.259 that they liked and disregarded other things. 00:05:23.080 --> 00:05:25.480 And when Paul says goodbye to the Ephesian elders, 00:05:25.480 --> 00:05:28.700 he said, I preach the whole counsel of God. 00:05:29.780 --> 00:05:32.480 There was a distinguished theologian, 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:33.720 Reinhold Niebuhr, 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:37.160 who characterized liberal teaching in this way. 00:05:37.940 --> 00:05:41.080 He said, the liberals talk about a God without wrath, 00:05:41.700 --> 00:05:43.580 bringing man without sin 00:05:43.580 --> 00:05:46.200 into a kingdom without judgment 00:05:46.200 --> 00:05:49.780 through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross. 00:05:50.960 --> 00:05:51.960 Very shrewd. 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:54.840 And that is people showing partiality. 00:05:55.520 --> 00:05:58.740 They're not talking about the fact that God is a God of holy wrath. 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:01.600 They play down the fact that we are sinners, 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.160 and depraved, and guilty. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:06.160 They say that there's going to be no judgment. 00:06:06.280 --> 00:06:07.720 We're all going to be alright in the end. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.519 And therefore the death of the Lord Jesus is irrelevant. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:14.019 Those are the people all around us, I'm afraid. 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:16.000 Especially in the Church of England. 00:06:16.379 --> 00:06:17.939 For showing partiality. 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:21.400 There was a good American bishop. 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:22.759 One, literally. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.839 And he wrote a book with this brilliant title, 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.519 The Cruelty of Heresy. 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:32.620 You see, the truth of the Gospel is to liberate, 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:33.919 to set free, it's wonderful. 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:38.739 And to deviate from that is very, very cruel indeed. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:42.019 So, what the Christian believers do, 00:06:42.340 --> 00:06:44.480 is first of all to listen to God's word. 00:06:44.660 --> 00:06:46.319 Make sure that what they're going to say 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.019 is in accord with God's word. 00:06:48.840 --> 00:06:52.000 Now, I don't know what some of you senior people feel, 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:52.500 as I do. 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:55.100 There's been a decline, I think, recently, 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:57.960 in the habit of daily quiet times. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:06:59.660 I think 30, 40 years ago, 00:06:59.740 --> 00:07:02.900 it was axiomatic for all key Christians 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:05.920 to be having a good half hour or more than that 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:07.240 before they went off to work. 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:09.519 Obviously, mothers looking after young children 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:10.220 couldn't face that, 00:07:10.280 --> 00:07:12.600 and they mustn't be put under a feeling of guilt. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:15.500 But I get the impression that that's declined. 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:21.759 And there's a wonderful senior Christian statesman, 00:07:21.900 --> 00:07:22.600 Alec Mateer, 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:25.500 who quoted to himself, 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:27.400 Isaiah 50, verse 4. 00:07:27.460 --> 00:07:29.040 He's in his 90s now. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.160 But this is the verse that hit him. 00:07:31.900 --> 00:07:34.720 The Lord has given me the tongue of those who are taught, 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:37.680 that I may know how to sustain with the word 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.040 him who is weary. 00:07:40.020 --> 00:07:41.500 Morning by morning, 00:07:42.020 --> 00:07:42.920 he awakens me. 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:44.620 He awakens my ear 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:47.040 to hear as those who are taught. 00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:49.640 And what Malachi is saying, 00:07:49.760 --> 00:07:49.880 look, 00:07:50.460 --> 00:07:53.200 some of you folk are not listening to God. 00:07:53.860 --> 00:07:55.180 They're not listening to his word. 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:57.240 Whereas Isaiah says, 00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:59.100 look, if you're going to pass on anything true, 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:01.120 you must listen to his word. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:02.540 And of course, 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.220 the glorious truth is, 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:07.000 that we'll never be closer to the Lord Jesus, 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:09.079 than when we're reading the Bible. 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:11.699 Never closer to the Lord Jesus, 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:13.740 than when we've got our Bibles open, 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:16.579 and we're hearing his word to us. 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:18.819 So that's the first positive. 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:22.220 The Christian believer must listen to the voice of God. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:23.800 Some of them weren't doing that. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:25.040 Secondly, 00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:27.439 the Christian believer must honour, 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:29.040 glorify God's name. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.100 And what we discover is that 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:33.379 some of these people were despising his name. 00:08:34.180 --> 00:08:35.279 Chapter 1, verse 6. 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:37.480 A son honours his father, 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:38.960 and a servant his master. 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:40.879 If I then am a father, 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:41.940 where is my honour? 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:43.100 I am a master. 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:44.340 Where is my fear? 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:45.779 Says the Lord of hosts. 00:08:46.560 --> 00:08:47.659 To you, O priests, 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:49.279 who despise my name. 00:08:49.920 --> 00:08:50.500 And again, 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:51.779 in chapter 2, verse 2. 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.240 If you will not listen, 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:54.440 if you will not take it out, 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:56.420 to give honour to my name. 00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:59.579 And the lack of reverence for his name, 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:03.279 was shown in sort of shoddy public worship. 00:09:03.599 --> 00:09:06.860 They were offering knackered animals in the temple. 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:09.459 They were giving their loose change to God. 00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:10.639 And he says, 00:09:10.699 --> 00:09:12.279 well you wouldn't do that for your boss. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.259 Look at chapter 1, verse 8. 00:09:16.199 --> 00:09:17.639 Present that to your governor. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.500 Some churches suffer from 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:22.600 what we call the 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:24.679 tyranny of the volunteer. 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:25.960 That is, 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:27.699 when it comes to their paid employment, 00:09:27.939 --> 00:09:28.939 they arrive on time, 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.840 absolutely regular and so on and so forth. 00:09:31.199 --> 00:09:32.139 But when it comes to things 00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:33.939 they volunteer to do for their church, 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:35.039 the honour rata, 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:36.080 well, 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:37.379 they feel they could arrive late 00:09:37.379 --> 00:09:40.100 and not sort of do it particularly efficiently. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:42.360 And that is what's happening here. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:45.580 They were shoddy in their public worship. 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:48.560 Whereas Levi, by contrast, 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:50.360 was completely different. 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:52.080 Chapter 2, verse 5. 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:55.320 My covenant with him was one of life and peace. 00:09:55.940 --> 00:09:56.759 I gave him to him. 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:58.720 It was a covenant of fear. 00:09:59.300 --> 00:10:00.920 And he feared me. 00:10:02.800 --> 00:10:04.920 The Lord Jesus once said, 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:07.660 his people honours me with their lips, 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:09.200 but their hearts are far from me. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.460 And I think that describes some of the people 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:12.879 in Malachi's day. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.320 Now, I don't know what your reaction has been 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:17.480 over the last ten days 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.220 with what happened in Paris. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:20.800 I mean, 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:22.560 that form of violence 00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:25.379 is absolutely horrendous. 00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:28.660 And we distance ourselves from it in every way. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:30.199 But, 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.740 it's just striking that they 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:36.519 don't like their prophet 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:37.539 being insulted. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.860 Now, the way they reacted to that, 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:40.959 I think, is horrendous. 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:43.579 But have we got the same concern 00:10:43.579 --> 00:10:45.039 for his name, 00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:46.500 his honour? 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:50.580 I wonder whether we feel 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:52.179 as offended as we should 00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:54.100 when his name is just used 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:55.159 to blasphemy 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:57.000 and trips off people's tongues 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:58.019 like that. 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:01.159 This concern for the honour of God 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:02.480 comes throughout the Bible. 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:04.879 Back in Ezekiel 36, 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:06.360 turn to it. 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:09.100 Ezekiel has, 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:10.639 well, God speaks to Ezekiel 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.320 and says, 00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:11.539 look, 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:13.679 the way you've behaved 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.960 has meant that you've gone into exile 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:17.519 and people are saying, 00:11:17.660 --> 00:11:19.160 what sort of God have you got? 00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:20.960 If he can't keep you safely 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:21.700 in your own land 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:22.920 and you've gone off into exile, 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:25.240 he must be a rather feeble God. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:26.259 And so, 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:28.060 God's name was being dishonoured 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:29.180 in that way. 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:31.540 The same thing may be happening here. 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.300 I personally think 00:11:32.300 --> 00:11:33.500 the nation 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:35.220 is under judgment 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:36.460 and the Church of England 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:37.840 is under judgment 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.340 because his name is not honoured 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:41.080 and glorified. 00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:43.480 Do you remember Psalm 23? 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:45.480 He leads me 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.899 in paths of righteousness. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:48.860 Why? 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:51.139 For his name's sake. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:52.860 So that his name 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:54.360 is not dishonoured 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:55.659 in any way. 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:58.300 Hallowed be thy name. 00:11:59.139 --> 00:11:59.480 And intriguingly, 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:02.060 the first reason 00:12:02.060 --> 00:12:03.000 why the Lord Jesus 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.879 had to die 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.539 was to vindicate 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.180 God's honour. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:08.960 This is Romans 3, 25 and 26. 00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:09.940 See, 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.000 the spectacle 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:11.480 that confronted 00:12:12.420 --> 00:12:13.480 the whole of the moral 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.659 universe 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:16.259 was a scandal. 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:17.759 God had said 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.000 that he hated sin 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:20.480 and would punish it. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:21.580 And yet, 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:22.320 Abraham, 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:22.980 a liar, 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:24.659 Moses who lost his temper, 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:26.440 David who was an adulterer, 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.860 Jacob who was a cheat, 00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:29.019 they all get accepted 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:29.620 by God. 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:31.440 And what did God 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:31.899 mean then? 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:33.279 He said that he hated sin 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:34.440 and would punish it. 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:36.940 And therefore his name 00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:37.560 and his honour 00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:38.600 had to be vindicated. 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:40.480 And it was vindicated 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.320 by the Lord Jesus 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:41.899 dying 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:43.639 and the punishment 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.899 due to Abraham, 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:45.720 Moses, 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:47.920 Jacob and the others, 00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.100 was paid for 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.460 by the Lord Jesus. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.019 And so his honour 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:53.980 was vindicated. 00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.160 So the debt 00:12:55.160 --> 00:12:55.820 of the Lord Jesus 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.420 works backwards 00:12:56.420 --> 00:12:57.820 and forwards for us. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.560 And God can only 00:12:59.560 --> 00:13:00.960 accept us honourably 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:02.700 because the Lord Jesus 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:04.139 died for us. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.820 That is a wonderful 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.560 truth, isn't it? 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.740 Just to think 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.259 that if you had been 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:08.980 the only sinner 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.519 in the world, 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:10.660 the Lord Jesus 00:13:10.660 --> 00:13:11.840 would have died for you 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:14.019 for his name's sake. 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.799 So he's very concerned 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:16.879 that people should 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.799 honour his name. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.980 And many of you 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:22.740 like me will 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.919 revere 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.919 the memory 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:26.240 of John Stott. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.159 John Stott said 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:27.980 that verse 2 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.939 of chapter 2 00:13:29.939 --> 00:13:31.399 was a defining moment 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.279 for his ministry 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:34.819 when he set his heart 00:13:34.819 --> 00:13:36.179 to honour 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:37.600 God's name. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:39.340 Take it to heart, 00:13:39.439 --> 00:13:40.559 not to let honour 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:41.360 come to his own 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.379 funny little name, 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:43.879 but to give honour 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:45.179 to God's name. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:47.340 A crucial clarification 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.580 of the goal 00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.279 and objective 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.679 of his life. 00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:51.700 To bring honour 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:52.919 to God's name. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.539 Now, I don't know 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.379 whether you noticed it. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.139 Did you notice 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.000 how God is called 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.019 in our passage? 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:01.379 It's there in 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.360 chapter 1 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.519 verse 7, 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:05.259 it's there in 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:05.860 chapter 1 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:06.379 verse 8, 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.399 verse 10, 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.100 verse 11, 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.720 and on and on and on. 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:11.580 It's the Lord of hosts. 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:14.639 Have you pondered 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.060 on that? 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:16.780 What was the state 00:14:16.780 --> 00:14:17.500 of Judah 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.040 at the time? 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.560 They were a subject 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:20.040 nation, 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:20.980 they were still part 00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:22.120 of the Persian 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.600 empire. 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:23.620 The Persians 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.600 had failed 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.879 to get into Europe. 00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:26.879 They had 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.920 attacked Greece. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:29.840 Athens 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.900 was evacuated 00:14:30.900 --> 00:14:31.379 twice. 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:32.980 If Athens 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:33.680 had been captured 00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:34.860 by the Persians, 00:14:35.020 --> 00:14:35.480 the whole of 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:36.500 Western civilisation 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.300 would have been 00:14:37.300 --> 00:14:37.960 completely different. 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.860 but they were beaten. 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:40.019 But they still 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.460 occupied the 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.460 eastern Mediterranean. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:43.940 And Judah 00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:44.720 was a subject 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.540 nation 00:14:45.540 --> 00:14:46.680 and it had 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.340 no army. 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.660 But their God 00:14:49.660 --> 00:14:51.019 was the Lord 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.080 of hosts. 00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:53.860 What a terrific 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:54.460 thought for them 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:54.940 when they felt, 00:14:55.280 --> 00:14:55.519 you know, 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.420 we are a despised 00:14:56.420 --> 00:14:57.500 subject nation. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.420 Ah, but our God 00:14:58.420 --> 00:14:59.379 is the Lord of hosts. 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:00.560 Do you remember 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:01.620 how Elijah had 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.139 to say to the 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:02.600 young man 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:03.040 who was all 00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:03.420 frightened 00:15:03.420 --> 00:15:04.840 because the 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.600 opposition seemed 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:06.139 so great? 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:07.600 Open the young 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.220 man's eyes 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:08.740 that he might 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.100 see. 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.500 Saw the mountains 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.740 filled with 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.159 the hosts 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.639 of the Lord 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:12.980 God. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.519 And this is 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.139 the reminder 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.700 of who their 00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:16.159 God is, 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:16.759 the Lord 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.519 of hosts. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:18.659 And therefore 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:19.779 honour him. 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:20.480 Honour him. 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.740 Henry Martin, 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.379 that great 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.180 missionary. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.379 There was an 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.320 occasion when 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:28.420 he was in a 00:15:28.420 --> 00:15:29.259 Persian court 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:29.740 or something 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.500 and there 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.180 was a picture 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:33.720 of the 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.680 Lord Jesus 00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:36.019 kneeling 00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:36.820 before 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:37.680 Mohammed. 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:39.640 And 00:15:39.640 --> 00:15:40.780 Henry Martin 00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.460 said he was 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.840 so grieved 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:43.860 and outraged 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.320 at this, 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.440 felt he couldn't 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.200 live for another 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:46.920 moment without 00:15:46.920 --> 00:15:48.500 wanting Jesus' 00:15:48.760 --> 00:15:49.379 name to be 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:49.860 honoured. 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.780 And this is 00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:52.980 the second mark. 00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:53.800 A Christian 00:15:53.800 --> 00:15:54.480 believer must 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.060 honour and 00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:56.520 glorify God's 00:15:56.520 --> 00:15:57.060 name. 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.700 And we 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.720 read in Acts 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.400 again and again 00:16:00.400 --> 00:16:01.000 that as people 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.200 became Christians, 00:16:02.380 --> 00:16:03.120 they gave honour 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:03.740 to his name 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.600 and lived in fear. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:05.700 So as we're 00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:06.200 taking notes, 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.640 you might like 00:16:06.640 --> 00:16:07.200 to jot down 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.720 Acts chapter 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.200 9 verse 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:13.060 31 where 00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:14.240 we read 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.879 So the 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.520 church throughout 00:16:16.520 --> 00:16:17.420 all Judea and 00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.400 Galilee and 00:16:18.400 --> 00:16:18.960 Samaria had 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.000 peace and was 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.680 being built up 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:22.020 and walking 00:16:22.020 --> 00:16:23.080 in the fear 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.680 of the Lord 00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:24.800 and in the 00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:25.780 comfort of 00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.140 the Holy 00:16:26.140 --> 00:16:26.540 Spirit. 00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:27.680 Multiply. 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:28.680 The fear of 00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.080 the Lord. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.060 Practically I 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:31.720 think that means 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.620 daily repentance, 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:35.580 just acknowledging 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.799 that I'm a 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.179 sinner and 00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:37.700 keeping short 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:39.159 accounts and 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.820 being full of 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:40.560 praise and 00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.980 thanksgiving and 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.560 honouring him. 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.299 You know the 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.220 story of praying 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:44.980 Hyde, 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:45.940 missionary in 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:46.419 India. 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.120 Obviously it's 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.759 fairly quaint, 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.000 but he felt the 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:50.539 Lord was laying 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.960 on him the 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.759 idea of leading 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.600 one person to 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.159 Christ every 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.480 day. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.019 And he began 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.539 doing that. 00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:57.659 And day by 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:58.180 day somebody 00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:58.879 was converted. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:16:59.840 And at the 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.259 end of the 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.539 year there 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.680 were 365 00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.580 people converted. 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:04.340 And next 00:17:04.340 --> 00:17:04.819 year he 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.240 felt he 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:05.819 to lead 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.360 two people 00:17:06.360 --> 00:17:06.720 to Christ 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.200 every day. 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:08.140 And that 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:08.500 began to 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:08.759 happen. 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:09.340 And then 00:17:09.340 --> 00:17:09.559 there were 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.380 some days 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.600 where he 00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:11.940 didn't get 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.420 his quota. 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:13.579 And he'd 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.200 flop on his 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.480 knees and 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.160 he'd ask what 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:16.880 sin he'd been 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.340 committing that 00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:19.039 had stopped 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.819 him being used. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:20.819 And again 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:22.180 and again it 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.940 was the sin 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.380 of not praising 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:25.380 and thanking 00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:25.880 God. 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.920 And one of 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.559 the secrets of 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.500 humility is to 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.259 be constantly 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.180 thanking God 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.620 and therefore 00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.539 honouring him. 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:33.759 For all that 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.220 he's done. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.960 All the 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.579 promises that 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:36.899 he's kept 00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:37.359 for us. 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.199 So the 00:17:39.199 --> 00:17:39.480 Christian 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.339 believer must 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:40.839 listen to 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.379 God's word. 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:42.859 Must honour 00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:43.559 and glorify 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.220 God's name. 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.199 And then 00:17:45.199 --> 00:17:45.919 very obviously 00:17:45.919 --> 00:17:46.399 the Christian 00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.079 believer must 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:47.579 be marked 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.899 by holy 00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:49.599 living. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.419 And with 00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:51.939 the folk at 00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:53.139 Malachi's day 00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:54.859 initially it 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:55.279 doesn't seem 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.000 to be so much 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.579 gross immorality. 00:17:57.919 --> 00:17:58.599 There's a touch 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.159 of that in 00:17:59.159 --> 00:17:59.799 chapter 3. 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.879 but this 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:02.299 lukewarmness 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.159 this 00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:04.079 stinginess 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.919 this infidelity 00:18:05.919 --> 00:18:06.659 it comes to 00:18:06.659 --> 00:18:07.599 and probably 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.279 sins of 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:08.980 omission 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.799 not doing 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.339 as much 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.200 as they 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.519 should. 00:18:13.419 --> 00:18:13.680 And you 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.220 remember the 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:14.799 old saying 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.899 it's not 00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:16.940 great gifts 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.399 that God 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:17.839 uses 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.139 but great 00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:19.899 likeness 00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:21.000 to Jesus. 00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:22.519 And therefore 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.720 we've got this 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.539 wonderful example 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.799 of Levi 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:27.319 in verse 6. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.680 True instruction 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.159 was in his 00:18:29.159 --> 00:18:29.460 mouth 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.480 no wrong 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:30.839 was found 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.200 on it. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.139 He walked 00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:32.579 with me 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.399 in peace 00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:34.740 and uprightness. 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:35.740 He turned 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.440 many from 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.440 iniquity. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.420 You're probably 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:41.039 well aware 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.460 that in 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.200 the pastoral 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:42.539 epistles 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:44.659 when Paul 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.019 is giving 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.579 instructions 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.519 to Timothy 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.759 the one 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.420 non-moral 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.119 characteristic 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.980 that Timothy 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.680 had to have 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.899 was being 00:18:52.899 --> 00:18:53.720 apt to teach. 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.839 But all the 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.480 other qualities 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:55.839 were just 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.519 basic Christian 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.100 qualities. 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.819 Put negatively 00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.900 he had to 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.579 have money 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.259 sex 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.819 temper 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.740 alcohol 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:04.140 under control. 00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:05.420 And that's 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:05.860 the things 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:07.000 for us as 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.259 well. 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.700 I suspect 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:12.319 I suspect 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.420 that few 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.120 generations 00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.480 future generations 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.140 will look back 00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:16.660 at us and 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.299 just see how 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:17.940 very very 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.720 wealthy we 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.160 are. 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.339 And there 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:20.720 will just be 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.259 friends who 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.920 come from 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.600 India. 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.220 spent time 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:24.600 here just 00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.740 slightly amazed 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.240 at how 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.620 comfortably 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:26.940 off we 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.059 are. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:27.620 And once 00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:27.759 there's 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.180 nothing wrong 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.420 with it. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:28.700 God's 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.120 made all 00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:29.400 things 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:29.920 richly 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.500 to enjoy. 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:31.960 But are 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.279 we as 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.680 generous 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:33.240 as we 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:33.660 should be? 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.279 I know 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.539 that 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.960 Philip 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.420 Jensen 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.299 back in 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:38.839 Australia 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.720 feels that 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.620 money, 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.480 materialism 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.860 is probably 00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.299 the biggest 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:42.920 problem for 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.680 young pastors 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.039 there. 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.200 So that would 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:45.620 be an area 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.339 to get under 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:46.860 control. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:47.839 Sex 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.140 obviously. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:48.440 I've just 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:48.799 been on a 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.059 student 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:49.559 conference 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.279 and there 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:50.639 was one 00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.879 very helpful 00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:53.200 talk on 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:55.379 digital stuff. 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.139 Now this 00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:56.960 bypasses me 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.539 because I 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.039 haven't got 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.200 it, I 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.460 haven't even 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:58.679 got a 00:19:58.679 --> 00:19:58.919 mobile 00:19:58.919 --> 00:19:59.359 phone. 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.240 But in 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.480 the little 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:00.819 group that 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.059 I was 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.379 with it 00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:01.899 was very 00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.519 interesting 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.980 how honest 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.159 some of the 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.839 students were 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.720 about the 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.359 problems with 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.099 the internet 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.779 and so on. 00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.319 That's an 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.799 area. 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:11.539 And what 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.299 price purity 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:12.960 said one of 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.059 them. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.559 If it 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.179 costs a bit 00:20:14.179 --> 00:20:14.639 to be on 00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.579 covenant eyes, 00:20:16.179 --> 00:20:16.519 well it's 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.079 worth it. 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:17.720 If it's 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:17.960 going to 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.220 help me 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.439 to be 00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:18.779 pure. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:20.839 Temper. 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.939 We read 00:20:24.939 --> 00:20:25.839 of some 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.059 of our 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.500 politicians 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.019 being in 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.539 a rage 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.259 about things 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.019 and that 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.839 we can't 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.379 do that. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.699 And simply 00:20:31.699 --> 00:20:32.240 alcohol. 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.419 Till 1967 00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:36.159 in evangelical 00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.859 circles we 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.139 were pretty 00:20:37.139 --> 00:20:37.619 well all 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.099 teetotal. 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.240 And then 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.079 almost overnight 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:41.799 people stopped 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.439 being teetotal. 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:45.099 And I 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.359 don't think 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:45.659 the Bible 00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:46.299 enjoins that 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:46.559 but there's 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:46.939 no doubt 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.059 that some 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.480 people, I 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.559 remember a 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.559 very distinguished 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.279 senior 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.519 evangelical 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.140 leader 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:55.279 staying with 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:55.400 me. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.740 He'd been 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.240 at dinner 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.420 and I 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:57.820 had to 00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.440 help him 00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:58.860 up the 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.360 stairs because 00:20:59.360 --> 00:20:59.680 he'd just 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.140 drunk a bit 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.680 too much. 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.720 And another 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.500 missionary friend 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:02.960 of mine 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.340 told me that 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:04.580 on the 00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:05.080 mission field 00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:05.600 one night 00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.620 he'd drunk 00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:07.019 and he wasn't 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.460 quite sure 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:07.779 what he'd 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.140 done, had 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.480 he slept 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:08.720 with a 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.080 girl or 00:21:09.080 --> 00:21:09.320 not. 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.779 So there 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.059 is that 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.539 danger. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.000 And what 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.400 Malachi is 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.600 saying is 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:16.919 that the 00:21:16.919 --> 00:21:17.359 Christian 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.959 leader, 00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.500 teacher, 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:19.419 but every 00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:19.839 Christian 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.599 must be 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.219 marked by 00:21:21.219 --> 00:21:22.679 holy living. 00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:23.839 And this 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.259 is a lovely 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.099 example that we 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.500 read often 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.519 of Levi. 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.339 He walked 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:27.980 with me in 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.139 peace and 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.980 uprightness. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:32.480 I think a 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.400 particular problem 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.099 for men, 00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:34.980 where we 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.519 tend to be 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.039 slow to 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.519 admit it, 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.039 is, 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:37.700 according to 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.039 scripture, 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.759 quarrelsomeness. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:40.960 And the 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:42.039 mark of Levi 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.900 was he walked 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.900 with in 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.740 peace and 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.519 uprightness. 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:46.880 Uprightness. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.059 A dear 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.620 friend of 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.099 mine, now 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:50.740 in glory, 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:52.400 he was a 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:52.900 very distinguished 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:53.279 scholar, 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.640 got a first 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.319 in classics 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.500 at Cambridge. 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.660 He was a 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.440 great athlete. 00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.359 I think he 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.579 has a record 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.000 that's filled 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.460 in wisdom 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.359 at the fastest 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:03.200 opening century 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.559 in minor 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.119 counter cricket. 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.519 He was 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.400 headmaster of 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.819 two different 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.259 schools. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.500 When he 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.180 retired, he 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.220 did a second 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.740 degree in 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.200 maths at 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:11.460 the open 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.099 university. 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.319 He had a 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:14.839 lovely family, 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:15.599 a great 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.200 Christian man. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.000 And it was 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.599 said of him, 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.440 his life could 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.319 bear inspection 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:22.000 at every point, 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.599 on the 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.160 capes field, 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.380 at work, 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.099 in the 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:26.440 family. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.940 And that was 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.339 the sort of 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.859 life that 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:30.119 Levi lived. 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.240 And that the 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.859 Christian is 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.140 to aspire to 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:35.500 a consistency 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:37.380 of life and 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:37.660 living. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:39.960 So, there is 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.420 quite a lot 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:42.299 in Malachi to 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:44.339 challenge us 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:45.180 and to 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.980 rebuke us. 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.220 But I'm 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.740 really anxious 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.200 that we should 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:48.680 look at the 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.299 positives. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.920 The Christian 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.980 believer, 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.599 must listen 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.099 to the 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.599 voice of 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:54.940 God. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.440 If you 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:56.960 will not 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.859 listen, he 00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:58.420 says, chapter 00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.000 two, verse 00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.319 two. 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.200 And here 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.819 he's spoken, 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.259 God has 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.900 spoken, we've 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.779 got it in 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.420 front of us. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:05.759 God has 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.180 said all he 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:06.720 needs to 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.599 say in 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.119 this book. 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.500 Let's 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.980 renew our 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.839 determination to 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.500 come and hear 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.319 him through 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:12.819 his word. 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.140 The Christian 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.920 believer must 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.640 be concerned 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.079 for his 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.720 honour and 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.279 glory. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.339 And 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.819 therefore, 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.539 feeling very 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.859 grieved at 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.159 what is 00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.659 happening in 00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:24.119 our country 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:24.579 today. 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.119 The standards 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.440 that are 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:26.940 plummeting, 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:28.079 the way the 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.539 name of the 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.139 Lord Jesus 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.819 is tossed 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.440 out so 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.480 irreverently. 00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:32.519 Whereas we 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.279 want his 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:33.740 name to be 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.700 honoured, to 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.519 be glorified 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:35.960 in our 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.480 lives. 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.460 Paul was 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:37.920 able to say 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.659 they glorified 00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:39.119 God in 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.460 me, in 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.119 our church, 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.019 in our 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.379 land. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.579 And the 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:43.879 Christian 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:45.259 believer must 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.200 live a life 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.700 consistent with 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.240 the standards 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.720 of God. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.620 Take away 00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:51.539 the love 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.220 of sin. 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.980 Remind me 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.460 of your 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:54.839 standards, 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.160 Lord. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.740 Help me to 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.859 live accordingly 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:59.079 so that I 00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.039 reflect the 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.519 Lord Jesus 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.039 and become 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.680 more like 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.680 him day 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.140 by day. 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.720 Let's pray 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.019 together.