ruth 3:11 (page 125 in the story) all the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble...

Ruth 3:11 Ruth 3:11 (page 125 in (page 125 in The StoryThe Story))

All the people of my town know All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble that you are a woman of noble character.character.EZRA

NEHEMIAHMALACHI“I HAVE LOVED YOU.”

CONCLUSION of the OLD TESTAMENT

“The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become . . .”

- Genesis 6:5

Isaiah 1:18Isaiah 1:18

Though your sins are like scarlet,Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;they shall be as white as snow;though they are red as crimson,though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.they shall be like wool.

The power of the gospel comes in The power of the gospel comes in two movements. It first says, “I am two movements. It first says, “I am more sinful and flawed than I ever more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe,” but then quickly dared believe,” but then quickly follows with, “I am more accepted follows with, “I am more accepted and loved than I ever dared hope.”and loved than I ever dared hope.”-Timothy Keller-Timothy Keller

Malachi 1:2Malachi 1:2

““I have loved you,” says I have loved you,” says the LORD.the LORD.

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Malachi 1:2 Malachi 1:2

““I have love you.” says the I have love you.” says the LORD. But you ask, “How LORD. But you ask, “How have you loved us?”have you loved us?”

Malachi 1:6 Malachi 1:6 (page 302 in (page 302 in The StoryThe Story))

““A son honors his father, and a A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord due me?” says the Lord Almighty.Almighty.

Malachi 1:6 Malachi 1:6 (page 302 in (page 302 in The StoryThe Story))

But you ask, ‘How have we shown But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’contempt for your name?’By offering defiled food on my altar.By offering defiled food on my altar.But you ask, ‘How have we defiled But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’you?’

Malachi 1:7 Malachi 1:7 (page 302 in (page 302 in The StoryThe Story))

When you offer blind animals for When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? animals, is that not wrong?

WhyWhy Think Lame Sacrifices Think Lame Sacrifices are Acceptable?are Acceptable?

1.1.The sin that this sacrifice The sin that this sacrifice is atoning for is smallis atoning for is small

WhyWhy Think Lame Sacrifices Think Lame Sacrifices are Acceptable?are Acceptable?

1.1.The sin that this sacrifice The sin that this sacrifice is atoning for is smallis atoning for is small2.2.God is a lower value than God is a lower value than personal financepersonal finance

The People’s Response to The People’s Response to Accusations of Sin:Accusations of Sin:•How have we shown contempt for How have we shown contempt for your name? (1:6)your name? (1:6)•How have we defiled you? (1:7)How have we defiled you? (1:7)•How have we wearied him? (2:17)How have we wearied him? (2:17)•How are we robbing you? (3:8)How are we robbing you? (3:8)•What have we said against you?What have we said against you? (3:13)(3:13)

Malachi 1:10 Malachi 1:10 (page 302 in (page 302 in The StoryThe Story))

““Oh, that one of you would shut the Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar!”light useless fires on my altar!”

Jeremiah 17:9Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all thingsThe heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.and beyond cure. Who can understand it?Who can understand it?

Luke 6:44-45Luke 6:44-45

Each tree is recognized by its own Each tree is recognized by its own fruit . . . A good man brings good fruit . . . A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his things out of the evil stored up in his heart. heart.

Malachi 3:8 Malachi 3:8 (page 303 in (page 303 in The StoryThe Story))

Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.you rob me.But you ask, How are we But you ask, How are we robbing you?robbing you?In tithes and offerings.In tithes and offerings.

Matthew 6:21Matthew 6:21

where your treasure is, there your where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.heart will be also.

We worship pleasure.We worship pleasure.We worship comfort.We worship comfort.We worship security.We worship security.We worship prestige.We worship prestige.We worship experiences.We worship experiences.We worship honor.We worship honor.We worship independence.We worship independence.And money is the tool that And money is the tool that enables it all.enables it all.

2 Corinthians 9:72 Corinthians 9:7

Each of you should give what you Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 8:2-32 Corinthians 8:2-3

In the midst of a very severe trial, In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.even beyond their ability.

Malachi 3:16Malachi 3:16 (page 303-4 in (page 303-4 in The StoryThe Story))

Then those who feared the Lord Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his feared the Lord and honored his name.name.

Malachi 3:17Malachi 3:17 (page 304 in (page 304 in The StoryThe Story))

““On the day when I act,” says the On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who compassion and spares his son who serves him.”serves him.”

Malachi 4:1Malachi 4:1 (page 304 in (page 304 in The StoryThe Story))

““Surely the day is coming; it will burn Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty.on fire,” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 4:2Malachi 4:2 (page 304 in (page 304 in The StoryThe Story))

““But for you who revere my name, But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.”with healing in its rays.”