Return to Me and I will Return to You.

1 2 JUST BEFORE THE DEATH OF ACTOR W.C. FIELDS • A FRIEND VISITED FIELDS' HOSPITAL ROOM • HE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND HIM THUMBING THROUGH A BIBLE. • ASKED WHAT HE WAS DOING WITH A BIBLE, 3 • FIELDS REPLIED, "I'M LOOKING FOR LOOPHOLES.“ (PAUSE) • IN LIFE WE MAY THINK WE WANT JUSTICE • BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS A LOOPHOLE • WE CRY OUT; “LIFE IS NOT FAIR” 4 • BUT WE REALLY DON’T WANT FAIR (PAUSE) • WE WANT A LOOPHOLE. • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT GOD’S ANSWER TO A QUESTION 5 • A QUESTION ABOUT FAIRNESS, A QUESTION ABOUT JUSTICE • TURN TO MALACHI 3:1 • AT THE END OF CHAPTER 2 THE PEOPLE ASKED A QUESTION • WHERE IS THE GOD OF JUSTICE? • THEY THOUGHT THEY NEEDED JUSTICE • THEY THOUGHT GOD WAS NOT FULFILLING HIS PROMISES • GOD WILL NOW TELL THEM ABOUT THE COMING OF THE GOD OF JUSTICE (PAUSE) 6 MALACHI 3:1–7 “BEHOLD, I AM GOING TO SEND MY MESSENGER, AND HE WILL CLEAR THE WAY BEFORE ME. AND THE LORD, WHOM YOU SEEK, WILL SUDDENLY COME TO HIS TEMPLE; AND THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, IN WHOM YOU DELIGHT, BEHOLD, HE IS COMING,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. 7 8 “BUT WHO CAN ENDURE THE DAY OF HIS COMING? AND WHO CAN STAND WHEN HE APPEARS? FOR HE IS LIKE A REFINER’S FIRE AND LIKE FULLERS’ SOAP. “HE WILL SIT AS A SMELTER AND PURIFIER OF SILVER, 9 AND HE WILL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI AND REFINE THEM LIKE GOLD AND SILVER, SO THAT THEY MAY PRESENT TO THE LORD OFFERINGS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. “THEN THE OFFERING OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM WILL BE PLEASING TO THE LORD AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD AND AS IN FORMER YEARS. 10 “THEN I WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU FOR JUDGMENT; AND I WILL BE A SWIFT WITNESS AGAINST THE SORCERERS AND AGAINST THE ADULTERERS AND AGAINST THOSE WHO SWEAR FALSELY, AND AGAINST THOSE WHO OPPRESS THE WAGE EARNER IN HIS WAGES, THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN, AND THOSE WHO TURN ASIDE THE ALIEN AND DO NOT FEAR ME,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. “FOR I, THE LORD, DO NOT CHANGE; THEREFORE YOU, O SONS OF JACOB, ARE NOT CONSUMED. 11 12 “FROM THE DAYS OF YOUR FATHERS YOU HAVE TURNED ASIDE FROM MY STATUTES AND HAVE NOT KEPT THEM. RETURN TO ME, AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. “BUT YOU SAY, ‘HOW SHALL WE RETURN?’ 13 GOD SENDS A MESSENGER • THEY HAD ASKED WHERE IS THE GOD OF JUSTICE • AND GOD RESPONDS; • “I AM GOING TO SEND MY MESSENGER,” 14 • THIS MESSENGER WILL CLEAR THE WAY • THIS PROPHECY IS SPEAKING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST • JOHN SAID; I AM A VOICE CRYING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS • MAKE CLEAR THE PATH OF THE LORD 15 • MALACHI IS THE LAST BOOK IN THE OT • GOD THROUGH MALACHI IS PREPARING THE PEOPLE FOR JOHN THE BAPTIST (PAUSE) • THEY ASKED FOR THE GOD OF JUSTICE AND HE TELLS THEM • I AM GOING TO SEND SOMEONE TO PREPARE YOU FOR HIS COMING 16 • SOMETIMES WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE THE MESSENGER • IN HIGH SCHOOL 23 YEARS BEFORE I CAME TO CHRIST • A YOUNGMAN PREPARED THE WAY • HE WAS KIND TO ME, HE LIVED FOR CHRIST 17 • HE ACCEPTED ME AS WHO I WAS AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT JESUS (PAUSE) • HE DID NOT TRY TO “CONVERT” ME HE PREPARED THE WAY • WE NEED TO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO THIS 18 • TO PLANT THE SEED, TO PREPARE THE GROUND • SO THAT AT SOME LATER POINT OTHERS MIGHT HARVEST • SO THAT THEY ARE READY WHEN CHRIST COMES INTO THEIR LIVES THE MESSENGER COMES • THERE ARE TWO MESSENGERS MENTIONED HERE • THE FIRST PREPARES THE WAY FOR THE SECOND • THE FIRST IS CALLED A MESSENGER 19 • THE SECOND IS CALLED THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT • THIS IS A TITLE FOR THE MESSIAH, FOR CHRIST • THIS TITLE IS LINKED TO THE PHRASE BEFORE IT 20 21 • AND THE LORD, WHOM YOU SEEK, • THE LORD THEY SEEK AND THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT ARE THE SAME PERSON • THEY WERE SEEKING THE GOD OF JUSTICE • GOD SAYS; THIS GOD YOU SEEK WILL COME SUDDENLY TO HIS TEMPLE 22 • THE APOSTLES REMEMBERED THIS VERSE • WHEN JESUS KICKED THE MONEY CHANGERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE • GOD IS ACTUALLY POKING FUN AT THEM A LITTLE HERE 23 • HE SAYS; “THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, IN WHOM YOU DELIGHT” • THEY DID NOT REALLY DELIGHT IN HIM (PAUSE) • THEY WERE NOT LIVING LIKE PEOPLE WHO DELIGHTED IN GOD (PAUSE) 24 • THEY WERE NOT OFFERING THEIR BEST IN THE SACRIFICES • THEY WERE DEALING TREACHEROUSLY WITH EACH OTHER • THEY HAD WEARIED THE LORD WITH THEIR WORDS • WHEN HE COMES IT WILL NOT BE EASY ON THEM • GOD SAYS; “BUT WHO CAN ENDURE THE DAY OF HIS COMING” (PAUSE) 25 MESSENGER FOLLOWED BY JUDGMENT 26 • THIS MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT WILL BE LIKE • A REFINER’S FIRE OR THE LAUNDRY MAN’S SOAP • HE WILL REMOVE DIRT LIKE CLEANING CLOTHES • LIKE PURIFYING SILVER OR GOLD REMOVES IMPURITIES • HERE MALACHI IS TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST • MANY TIMES PROPHETS TALK OF BOTH ADVENTS OF CHRIST 27 28 • IN THE SAME VERSES, FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE • BOTH ARE FUTURE, BOTH ARE CERTAIN BOTH ARE GOD’S WILL GOD DESCRIBES THE RESULT OF THIS PURIFICATION • THE OFFERINGS WILL BE PLEASING TO GOD AS THEY ONCE WERE • THE OFFERINGS IN MALACHI’S DAY WERE NOT PLEASING TO GOD • THE COMING OF THE GOD OF JUSTICE WILL FIX THAT • GOD THEN SAYS HE WILL DRAW NEAR FOR JUDGMENT 29 30 • AND HE LISTS THOSE WHO WILL BE JUDGED • SORCERERS AND ADULTERERS, THOSE WHO SWEAR FALSELY • THOSE WHO OPPRESS THE WAGE EARNER, THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN • AND THOSE WHO TURN ASIDE THE ALIEN 31 • WE CAN SURE AGREE WITH GOD ABOUT SOME ON THIS LIST • NOBODY IS GONNA BE UPSET ABOUT SWIFT JUDGMENT ON SORCERERS • WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND JUSTICE ON THOSE THAT OPPRESS WIDOWS AND ORPHANS (PAUSE) 32 • BUT THAT STUFF ABOUT WAGE EARNERS… • THAT’S BUSINESS, IF THEY DON’T LIKE THE PAY • THEY CAN GO WORK SOMEPLACE ELSE • AND ADULTERERS, I MEAN 33 • WHAT EVER HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO CONSENTING ADULTS • THAT IS THEIR BUSINESS • AND WHAT IS THE BUSINESS ABOUT TURNING ASIDE ALIENS • THIS IS NOT TALKING ABOUT LITTLE GREEN MEN • THIS MEANS PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES • AND PUTTING THEM ASIDE MEANT NOT TAKING CARE OF THEM • WELL NOW WE ARE GETTING POLITICAL • BUT GOD IS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT 34 • HE IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE OR A LIBERAL • AND HE SAYS HE WILL SWIFTLY JUDGE • THOSE THAT FAIL TO CARE FOR PEOPLE FROM OTHER LANDS • I AM NOT GONNA TRY TO EXPLAIN HOW WE ARE TO CARE 35 36 • OR EVEN SPECIFICALLY WHO WE TO CARE FOR • BUT IT IS CLEAR HERE THAT GOD WILL SWIFTLY JUDGE THOSE THAT FAIL AT THIS • WE NEED TO KNOW WE DO NOT GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE FROM THIS LIST • GOD IS GOING TO SWIFTLY JUDGE NOT JUST THOSE ONE THIS LIST • BUT ALL WHO FAIL TO LOVE ACCORDING TO HIS WORD • THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR 37 38 • WILL FACE THIS JUDGMENT AT THE BEMA SEAT • IT WILL AFFECT OUR REWARDS AND SERVICE TO GOD ETERNALLY • THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED CHRIST WILL FACE JUDGMENT AT • THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WHERE THE SHEEP AND GOATS WILL BE SEPARATED • NO ONE ESCAPES THE JUDGMENT OF THE GOD OF JUSTICE 39 HOPE EVEN IN JUDGMENT • GOD OFFERS THE PEOPLE HOPE • BY ASSURING THEM HE WILL KEEP HIS PROMISES • THIS COMING JUDGMENT WOULD NOT BE THE END OF ISRAEL 40 41 • THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE CONSUMED BECAUSE GOD IS UNCHANGING • HE HAD MADE PROMISES TO THEM AS A NATION AND HE WOULD KEEP THEM • HE THEN LOVINGLY ASKS THEM TO RETURN TO HIM • THEY HAD TURNED ASIDE FROM GOD’S STATUES AND WERE NOT KEEPING THEM • GOD SAYS; RETURN TO ME AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU” • THIS IS THE SAME OFFER GOD GIVES EVERYONE OF US 42 • WHENEVER WE TURN ASIDE FROM GOD’S STATUES • WHENEVER WE ARE NOT KEEPING GOD’S WAYS • WE CAN RETURN TO HIM • HE TELLS US; 43 44 • IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND RIGHTEOUS TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. • THIS IS HOW WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE TO “RETURN” TO GOD • THE ISRAELITES OF MALACHI’S DAY ASK; • “HOW SHALL WE RETURN?” MALACHI 3:8–15 45 “WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YOU ARE ROBBING ME! BUT YOU SAY, ‘HOW HAVE WE ROBBED YOU?’ IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. “YOU ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE, FOR YOU ARE ROBBING ME, THE WHOLE NATION OF YOU! 46 “BRING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE, SO THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE, AND TEST ME NOW IN THIS,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, “IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT FOR YOU A BLESSING UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS. 47 “THEN I WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOU, SO THAT IT WILL NOT DESTROY THE FRUITS OF THE GROUND; NOR WILL YOUR VINE IN THE FIELD CAST ITS GRAPES,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. 48 “ALL THE NATIONS WILL CALL YOU BLESSED, FOR YOU SHALL BE A DELIGHTFUL LAND,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. “YOUR WORDS HAVE BEEN ARROGANT AGAINST ME,” SAYS THE LORD. “YET YOU SAY, ‘WHAT HAVE WE SPOKEN AGAINST YOU?’ 49 “YOU HAVE SAID, ‘IT IS VAIN TO SERVE GOD; AND WHAT PROFIT IS IT THAT WE HAVE KEPT HIS CHARGE, AND THAT WE HAVE WALKED IN MOURNING BEFORE THE LORD OF HOSTS? ‘SO NOW WE CALL THE ARROGANT BLESSED; NOT ONLY ARE THE DOERS OF WICKEDNESS BUILT UP BUT THEY ALSO TEST GOD AND ESCAPE.’ ” 50 ISRAEL ROBBED GOD 51 • THEY HAD ASKED HOW THEY MIGHT RETURN TO GOD • AND GOD SAYS THEY HAVE ROBBED HIM • AND AMAZINGLY THEY ASK; “HOW HAVE WE ROBBED GOD?” 52 • GOD IS TRYING TO HELP THEM RETURN TO HIM • AND THEY GET ALL DEFENSIVE • HE HAD ALREADY TOLD THEM THEIR SACRIFICES WERE UNACCEPTABLE • NOW HE TELLS THEM THEY ARE ROBBING GOD IN THEIR TITHES AND OFFERINGS (PAUSE) 53 • THE WHOLE NATION OF THEM WAS ROBBING GOD OF WHAT IS HIS • WHEN WE GIVE WE ARE NOT GIVING SOMETHING THAT IS OURS • WE ARE RETURNING SOMETHING TO GOD THAT IS HIS • HE IS THE SOVEREIGN GOD OF THE UNIVERSE 54 • EVERYTHING IN IT IS HIS • HE IS KIND ENOUGH TO LET US USE SOME OF HIS STUFF • WE ARE BLESSED WHEN WE RETURN A PORTION OF WHAT HE ALLOWS US TO USE 55 • THEY HAD FAILED TO GIVE THE TITHE, THAT IS 10% • THEY WERE UNDER THE LAW AND REQUIRED TO GIVE 10% • WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED 56 • TO GIVE JOYOUSLY, ERIN AND I CHOOSE TO GIVE 10% TO THE CHURCH • ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO 10% IS IT MAKES THE MATH EASY • THE OTHER IS BECAUSE I FIGURE GOD LIKE THAT % • THE MAIN THING IS NOT THE % YOU GIVE IT IS GIVING JOYOUSLY PAUSE GIVE GOD HIS DUE • THEY HAD ASKED HOW THEY COULD RETURN TO GOD • AND GOD STARTED TALKING ABOUT THEM ROBBING HIM • HOW ARE THESE TWO THINGS CONNECTED? 57 58 • GOD SAYS START BRINGING YOUR WHOLE TITHE • GIVE GOD WHAT HE IS DUE AND SEE HOW MUCH HE BLESSES YOU • HE SAYS; “SEE IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN 59 • AND POUR OUT FOR YOU A BLESSING UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS” • GOD IS ENCOURAGING THEM TO BE FAITHFUL AND TRUST IN HIS PROMISES • HE WILL PROTECT THEM FROM THE ONE THAT DESTROYS THEIR CROPS 60 • HE WILL BLESS THEM SO MUCH NATIONS WILL CALL THEM BLESSED • IN A SENSE HE IS SAYING THEY CAN RETURN TO GOD • BY HAVING FAITH IN HIM, RELYING ON HIM • AND PART OF DOING THAT IS BEING FAITHFUL IN GIVING HIS DUE IN WORDS 61 • TO RETURN TO GOD THEY NEED TO NOT JUST CORRECT THEIR GIVING • THEY ALSO NEED TO CORRECT THEIR WORDS (PAUSE) • GOD SAYS; “YOUR WORDS HAVE BEEN ARROGANT AGAINST ME” 62 • IT IS NOT GOOD TO SPEAK ARROGANTLY AGAINST ANYONE • BUT IT IS REALLY BAD TO SPEAK ARROGANTLY AGAINST GOD • INSTEAD OF APOLOGIZING, INSTEAD OF REPENTING THEY ASK A QUESTION • “WHAT HAVE WE SPOKEN AGAINST YOU? 63 • FOR ALMOST 3 CHAPTERS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS • AND IT HAS NOT WORKED WELL FOR THEM • I CAN JUST PICTURE SOME GUY GOING • SSSSH… STOP ASKING THESE QUESTIONS (PAUSE) • SO GOD TELLS THEM WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING • “IT IS VAIN TO SERVE GOD” • VAIN MEANS USELESS, THEY ARE SAYING IT IS OF NO USE TO SERVE GOD • WE DON’T GET ANYTHING FROM IT… IT IS A WASTE OF TIME 64 65 • WHAT PROFIT IS IT THAT WE HAVE KEPT HIS CHARGE” • BASICALLY, THEY ARE SAYING; • WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? WHAT DO I GET OUTTA THIS? • THEY HAD CLAIMED TO HAVE “WALKED IN MORNING BEFORE THE LORD” • THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE PRACTICE OF PAID MOURNERS • THEY GOT PAID TO WALK IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSION AND ACT GRIEVED • THEY ARE SAYING WE ACTED LIKE FOLLOWERS OF GOD, WHERE IS OUR PAY? 66 • THAT IS STAGGERINGLY ARROGANT • WHY THAT IS ALMOST AS ARROGANT AS FOLKS ARE TODAY (PAUSE) • TODAY WE HEAR; • THERE IS NO GOD 67 68 • THE UNIVERSE HAPPENED BY RANDOM CHANCE • WE CAN REDEFINE MARRIAGE ANYWAY WE WANT • WE CAN REDEFINE GENDER ANYWAY WE WANT • THERE IS NO TRUTH, WHAT’S TRUE TO YOU IS TRUE FOR YOU • OK, I’M SORRY I THINK WE HAVE TOPPED THEM ON ARROGANCE • WE WANT TO THINK THOSE THINGS I JUST SAID • ARE JUST SAID BY NONCHRISTIANS, AND SOME ARE 69 70 • BUT WE HAVE MANY CHRISTIANS SAYING THOSE THINGS (PAUSE) • ANYTIME WE DISAGREE WITH GOD’S WORD WE ARE BEING ARROGANT • WHEN WE SPEAK IN THIS WAY IT DISTANCES US FROM GOD MALACHI 3:16–18 71 THEN THOSE WHO FEARED THE LORD SPOKE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND THE LORD GAVE ATTENTION AND HEARD IT, AND A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE HIM FOR THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD AND WHO ESTEEM HIS NAME. 72 “THEY WILL BE MINE,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, “ON THE DAY THAT I PREPARE MY OWN POSSESSION, AND I WILL SPARE THEM AS A MAN SPARES HIS OWN SON WHO SERVES HIM.” 73 SO YOU WILL AGAIN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED, BETWEEN ONE WHO SERVES GOD AND ONE WHO DOES NOT SERVE HIM. GOD REACTS WHEN WE RESPOND 74 • THIS IS AN AMAZING RESPONSE • INSTEAD OF ASKING ANOTHER QUESTION • “THOSE WHO FEARED THE LORD SPOKE TO ONE ANOTHER” • FEARED HERE MEANS RESPECT, REVERENCE, AWE • SOME OF THE PEOPLE STILL TRUSTED GOD • AND THOSE THAT DID GOT TOGETHER AND TALKED • AND GOD RESPONDED, HE; “GAVE ATTENTION AND HEARD IT” 75 • THOSE WHO FEARED GOD WERE RECORDED IN A BOOK • THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS STRIKING • THOSE THAT DO NOT REVERENCE GOD QUESTION GOD’S WORD • THOSE THAT DO REVERENCE GOD TAKE THE TIME TO DISCUSS WHAT GOD HAS SAID 76 77 • AND GOD REMEMBERS THEM FOR THIS (PAUSE) • WHEN GOD CALLS SOMETHING SINFUL MANY IN OUR WORLD ARGUE WITH HIM • WE SEE THIS EVERY DAY ON SO MANY ISSUES • THE BIBLE SAYS THIS OR THAT IS A SIN • AND PEOPLE SHOUT BACK; “HOW IS THAT A SIN” (PAUSE) • WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS LOOKING AT GOD’S WORD 78 • SEEING WHAT HE HAS SAID AND DISCUSSING HOW WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW IT • WHEN GOD HAS ADDRESSED AN ISSUE • THEN THE STATUS OF THAT ISSUE IS SETTLED 79 80 • WE MAY NEED TO DISCUSS HOW WE WILL FOLLOW GOD’S WORD • AND GOD IS OK WITH THAT • WHAT WE DO NOT NEED IS PEOPLE QUESTIONING WHAT GOD HAS SAID (PAUSE) 81 WE LEARN WHEN GOD RESPONDS • GOD SAYS THESE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE TO ONE ANOTHER • WILL BE HIS PEOPLE, HIS OWN POSSESSION • AND THAT HE WILL SPARE THEM. • HE THEN STATES THE RESULT 82 • “YOU WILL AGAIN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED, BETWEEN ONE WHO SERVES GOD AND ONE WHO DOES NOT SERVE HIM.” • NOTICE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SERVING GOD • AND BEING RIGHTEOUS, BETWEEN NOT SERVING GOD AND BEING WICKED 83 • THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE NOT ABLE TO TELL GOOD FROM BAD • RIGHTEOUS FROM WICKED • BUT FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO FEARED THE LORD • GOD WOULD SPARE THEM • AND THEY WOULD KNOW 84 • RIGHT FROM WRONG, RIGHTEOUS FROM WICKED (PAUSE) • THERE IS AN INDICATION HERE THAT THE REASON • PEOPLE CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG • IS THAT THEY DO NOT FEAR/RESPECT/HAVE REVERENCE FOR GOD (PAUSE) 85 • MUCH OF OUR WORLD TODAY SEEMS TO HAVE A HARD TIME • TELLING RIGHT FROM WRONG, GOOD FROM BAD, RIGHTEOUS FROM WICKED • IT IS LIKELY THAT THE REASON THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM 86 • IS THAT THEY DO NOT FEAR GOD • HOW CAN THEY KNOW GOOD FROM BAD • IF THEY HAVE NO REFERENCE POINT (PAUSE) • HOW CAN THEY KNOW A CROOKED LINE 87 • IF THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT A STRAIGHT LINE LOOKS LIKE • IF WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD THE GREATEST THING • WE CAN DO IS HELP PEOPLE TO KNOW, AND FEAR GOD • THEN THEY CAN KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG, GOOD FROM BAD W.C. FIELDS WAS LOOKING IN HIS BIBLE FOR LOOPHOLES • IN SOME WAYS SO WERE THE ISRAELITES WHEN THEY ASKED • “WHERE IS THE GOD OF JUSTICE” • GOD RESPONDS • “HE IS COMING TO PURIFY THE PEOPLE” 88 89 • AROUND 400 YEARS LATER CHRIST CAME • THE GOD OF JUSTICE TOOK THE FORM OF A MAN A DWELT AMONG THEM • THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE ANSWER THEY WERE LOOKING FOR (PAUSE) 90 • WE HAVE PEOPLE TODAY CRYING OUT WHERE IS THE GOD OF JUSTICE • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE TELL THEM • HE HAS COME AND WILL COME AGAIN 91 • SERVING HIM IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME • WHEN WE SERVE HIM AND TURN TO HIM • HE WILL REMEMBER US IN GRACE AND MERCY • HE WILL HELP US TO KNOW GOOD FROM BAD, RIGHT FROM WRONG 92 • FOR GOD TO HELP US KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG • WE MUST KNOW HIM • WE COME TO KNOW GOD BY TRUSTING IN JESUS CHRIST • THAT HIS WORK ON THE CROSS PAID FOR OUR SINS • IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO HAS NOT TRUSTED IN CHRIST IN A MOMENT… 93 94