Getting Into the Word: Malachi 3:10 Famously Misapplied

This week's lesson in Malachi 3:1-10 is the last in my Walking With Jesus Summer Series. I hope you have gained a few valuable insights from recent recaps from the prophets Micah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Zechariah. These brief recaps served as a source of inspiration to stay in your Bible and study your lessons during the "dog days" of summer. Exciting times are ahead! The new quarter begins next week on the book of Acts where we will learn more about the growth of the early ch...urch. Good stuff! Back to Malachi.

Malachi was unique in that he was the last of the Old Testament prophets. Though all of the OT books are not in chronological order as to when they were written, Malachi really is the last book. When God finishes speaking here, he says not a word for 400 years until he announces his Son Jesus.
Malachi in a nutshell: Worshipping God is not about doing the least you can do to get by, but about "keeping it 100," wholeheartedly. The tone of this book is not jovial but angry. Malachi reprimanded the Israelites for disregarding God's laws, and bringing damaged crops and sacrifices. They also failed to give the tithe which supported the priest and levites. They acted as if they were innocent and/or totally oblivious to their own disobedience and wickedness. Malachi stated, "Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now, return to me and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. But you ask, 'How can we return when we have never gone astray? '"
The Isrealites went astray and we have, in many respects, gone astray today in our giving, yes, but also in our misapplication of Malachi 3:10, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have room enough to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" This text is famously presented as a "give-to-get" text. We ought give as an act of worship, because it is the right thing to do. Let us repent and turn back to God in every area of our lives, also in the application of God's word.
The follow link shares more on how Malachi 3:10 is famously misapplied.
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Jesus Saves Ministries Day at the Movies

It was Jesus Saves Ministries Day at the movies on Saturday, August 29th! A group of us put our war clothes on and went to see the movie WAR ROOM at the Carrmike Cinemas Stony Brook 20. The movie is a must see! Get your group together, family, church members and friends and support this movie on the power of prayer! It will make you laugh. It will make you cry, but most of all, it will make you more inspired to pray! Jesus Saves Ministries is celebrating our 10th anniversary so I brought along giveaways for everyone, great new gospel music CDs by Marvin Sapp, Israel & New Breed, JJ Hairston, Risen, and local artist Michael Young and In God's Presence. Pastors Thomas and Linda Moore gave DVD of their weekly cable ministry. We are planning another movie day real soon. Don't miss it! Jesus saves!

Getting Into the Word: Straight Outta Ezekiel!

My aunt Evangelist Carolyn McKinney  posted this tag about children taking personal responsibility in her Facebook group, Armed and Extremely Dangerous Warriors the Kingdom.   This is what Ezekiel Chapter 18 is about in a nutshell, our Bible study lesson this week!

The Israelites tried to blame their exile in Babylonian captivity on the sins of their forefathers,  as if they did nothing themselves to deserve it.  The prophet Jeremiah warned them time and again to repent and turn from their wicked ways, and so did his contemporary Ezekiel. The Iraelites weren't hearing their loose rap, though.  They worshipped idols and did everything they were big and bad enough to do. They cited a proverb from the past (v2), "The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are on edge," but God wasn't hearing that either!  He told them He didn't want to hear that proverb ever again, because they were using it to shift blame and avoid taking responsibility for their sins.  He said in v4, "The person who sins is the one who will die."

He goes on to say in v20, "The child will not be punished for the parent's sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child's sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness."

Children need to be taught from a young age to take responsibility for their actions, and what the Word of God says about this in Ezekiel 18.  This trumps generational curses. And even if they are not rewarded by the world's standards, God will reward them for their right acts by His standard because He is a just God.  Jesus saves!

Getting In the Word: Jeremiah Chapter 7

GETTING INTO THE WORD: The weeping prophet Jeremiah wasn't weeping and wailing for no reason, or shall I say, without reason. This major prophet prophesied 600 years before the birth of Christ in Judah, the southern part of the divided kingdom prior to and during Babylonian captivity.  The books of Jeremiah and Lamentations both bear his name. When Jeremiah saw the depravity of his people, he cried. He cried for them, and he cried to them over and over again to change their wicked ways. In verse 3, the Lord told him to tell the people, "Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place." Don't you hear Jeremiah crying aloud today?

In Jeremiah chapter 7, we find Jeremiah preaching at a strategic position at the temple entrance. The Lord sent him there to warn the people to reform. The people, though, weren't havin' it. They thought since they had the temple and the Lord was with them they could do whatever they wanted as long as they went to church and gave their sacrifices. 9 “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,[a burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord."

In verse 12, Jeremiah told the people to go to Shiloh. God's temple was once there, but He destroyed it. God told the people through the prophet, don't think I won't destroy your temple, too,  “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.14 Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. 15 I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’

Newsflash! It ain't about the building. It ain't about superficial religiosity. It's about a geniuine covenant relationship with almighty God. We can't do whatever we want -- disobey, disrespect, dishonor, the Lord and expect to receive His blessings. It ain't gonna happen... not then, not now! Jesus saves!

Happenings on the Jesus Saves Social Network - August 6th

 

Black Clergy, Dems Vow To Restore Voting Rights Act On 50th Anniversary

Calling it a “moral issue,” prominent Black clergy leaders will join President Barack Obama in the push to restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which celebrates is 50th anniversary on Thursday.

You may recall that the Supreme Court in 2013 struck down a key provision of the measure that required nine Southern states with a legacy of racial discrimination to procure federal approval before amending their voting laws. The decision made it possible for states such as North Carolina and Texas to adopt restrictive rules requiring votes to bring certain identification to the polls.

The president and other Democrats such as Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz argue that the laws discourage people of color from heading to the polls.

Republicans, who on Thursday are poised to square off in the first 2016 presidential debate, contend that strict ID laws are aimed at reducing voter fraud.

“Today we are witnessing the most vicious and draconian assault that we’ve witnessed in 50 years since the Voting Rights Act was enacted,” the Rev. Dr. Raphael Gamaliel Warnock, senior pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., told NewsOne on Wednesday.

“We must fight to protect the right of every American to end this vicious assault,” he said. “We’re calling on Congress to fix the Voting Rights Act.”  Read more at Newsone.com.

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Rev. LaShonda Fletcher, Drops By With New Book, The Black Church and Mental Health

I could not make it to the book signing on Saturday, but look at God! I have my copy of Rev. Lashonda Fletcher's new book, The Black Church and Mental Health. This is a subject about which I have written and I am glad to see other clergy here locally addressing how the black church can help congregants and their families in this area.

Congratulations to Rev. Lashonda on the release of her new book and grand opening of the Revelation Counseling Center! She stopped by The Life Conference Suite on Monday after her on-air radio interview with Ms. Krystal on 104.7 FM. I enjoyed our conversation and look forward to reading the book and seeing the counseling center soon! The book is available on Ebay. TGBTG!

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Nashville Non-Denominational Church Launches New Church in Louisville

You Can't Hurt God's Property, YCHGP, Praise and Worship Center is officially one church in two locations, Nashville and Louisville with the dedication Sunday, August 2nd of their Louisville location at 2001 W.  Broadway, in The Life Conference Suite.  Bishop Floyd L. Stone, performed the ceremony installing Rev. Richard Smith as Sr. Pastor. The group Men Standing for Christ and songstress First Lady Nebra Smith rendered songs of praise.  Pastor Richard Smith preached from the text, John 6:63, the message entitled, Being Filled With the Spirit..

YCHGP worship services are Sundays at 2:00 pm,  Bible Study, prayer, and choir rehearsals,  Mondays at 6:00 pm; and Health & Wellness Ministry/Dare to Care, 4th Mondays at 6:30. The church meets in The Life Conference Suite,  directly across the hall from the WLOU/WLLV radio studios, 2001 West Broadway,  Suite 10. If you are looking for a church home, or a place to worship and grow in the word, check out YCHGP Praise and Worship Center.

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Jesus In the Building at Cincinnati Music Festival

Jesus was in the building at the Cincinnati Music Festival Saturday, July 25th! The fest featured R&B artists Frankie Beverly & Maze, Jill Scott, Kem, Avery Sunshine, and gospel crossover artist Mali Music.We now have first-hand knowledge of the present-day Cincinnati Music Festival. Mali Music performed his entire set doning a Jesus cap and representing with hit songs, "You're Beautiful,"  and "I Believe" among others. Avery Sunshine took us to church, and her church song had the whole stadium on their feet. Talk about witnessing for Christ, the first three performers, including Kem, did that. And Frank Beverly -at age 69- and Maze were better than I remember back in the day.  Their performance was very positive, and they certainly kept the stadium engaged. They started off with songs, "We Are One," and "Happy Feelings."  The people were singing and dancing when we left the stadium.   We didn't hear vulgar language on Saturday, nothing degrading or derogatory. There was no violence that we saw. My 30-year-old son went on Friday and enjoyed Jennifer Hudson the most.  I can say Jesus and gospel music were part of the Cincinnati Music Festival.  I hope that trend continues.

 

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