Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.13UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.52LIKELY
Joy
0.56LIKELY
Sadness
0.22UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.62LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.55LIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.79LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.88LIKELY
Extraversion
0.16UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.67LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.72LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Previously from My Messenger
The returned remnant has some recurring problems the prophet is promptly addressing
Previously Malachi, whose name means “My Messenger” had some strong messages for the people.
A contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah (about 444B.C.)
He had
Identified and attacked the spiritual and moral decay of the people.
Identified one of the main reasons, the leadership (the Priests)
Malachi was a different style of prophet who spoke in didactic-dialectic style
Make the charge, raise potential objections and refute them even before they could be asked.
Points previously made
They were doubting God’s love (Mal1:1-5)
They were dishonoring God’s name (Mal1:6-2:9)
By offering blemished sacrifices
And by half-hearted worship
They were profaning God’s covenant (Mal2:10-16)
By divorcing their Jewish wives
By marrying heathen women.
(Transition) So, after giving three proofs of moral decay, today we will see three more, as well as promises concerning the coming Messiah.
So, here is how we will approach it this morning.
People were trying God’s patience (Mal2:17-3:5)
People were forsaking God’s ordinances (Mal3:6-12)
People were despising God’s service (Mal3:13-4:6)
Trying God’s patience
People who argue with God rarely receive all the blessings God has for them.
They had argued about His love, Worship and Women (marriage) and now we get to arguments about God’s justice.
Trying God’s patience by questioning God’s justice (Mal2:17)
What are the two questions Malachi raises as if from the people (v.17)?
How have we wearied Him?
Words, words and more words, they are arguing with the Lord
They are calling evil good and good pleases God.
Or is it saying.
Where is the God of justice?
Why is not God judging and executing judgment on others and blessing us?
Why are You not blessing us God, look at all we have done, returned, rebuilt, reestablished yet we are being mocked and attacked, where is your justice?
We want your blessings.
God’s response will be, send His Messenger (Mal3:1-5)
God’s messenger, forerunner, John the Baptist (Isa40:3; Mt3:1-3, 11:7-10)
Clearing the way came via the Pax Romana by the Roman’s the one in the wilderness is John the Baptist.
In Mt11:7-10 was when Jesus spoke to the crowds on why did they go to the wilderness to see John, and look here at (v.10)
God’s messenger, the messenger of the covenant (Mt26:26-28; Mt3;11-12)
Covenant of the Lord’s supper
He will come to cleanse the temple too (see Mt21:12ff) - He will be the one who will purge, cleanse His people
The day He will be like what according to (v.2)?
A refiners fire, a fullers’ soap
What is the purpose of this purging, look at (v.3)?
To refine them, to purify them, so they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness
They had questioned the Lord’s justice and when you look at (v.5) it is coming on those who do not believe, those who oppress.
Consider
That is what John had to say about the coming judgment from the coming Messiah, the Messenger.
(Transition) so, from questioning God’s justice the next complaint is they were forsaking God’s ordinances.
Forsaking God’s ordinances
It is heartbreaking, God heartbreaking when we forsake God’s holy ordinances or when we allow them to loose priority in our lives.
God through the prophet brings another complaint.
Inconsistency, have you ever started off strong in something and been very committed, then over time things have become, less consistent?
God bring a charge, a complaint against Israel for their inconsistency..
God charges them with inconsistency (Mal3:6-7)
What is the charge against the people (v.7)
They have turned aside,
God calls for them to return to Him, but they do not see the need, so they ask how are they to return?
God uses their example of tithes against them (Mal3:8-9)
What is the charge against the people (v.8)?
They are not bringing their tithe, offering their tithe
For this reason the whole nation is cursed (v.9)
A solution is offered, bring the whole tithe, and if they do what will the results be (v.10)?
God wants to open the floodgates of heaven for them, always has, it is not about the offering it is about the obedience and the trust, faith in Him.
(Transition) this leads us to our next point this morning
They were despising God’s service
Why serve God?
That was the question that Malachi foresaw from the people.
Their life, their actions reflected their own vanity.
So, he has some words from the Lord for them.
Harsh words, useless words, arrogant words (Mal3:13-15)
Words matter as do actions, let’s look and see what is said here.
What is the accusation against the people (v.13-14)?
Your words have been harsh against Me (God)
It is useless to serve Him, what profit is it to us to be obedient?
Stop: Think about this, what kind of mentality do they have here, is it a consumer mentality?
What do we/I get from this, or a giver mentality?
And isn’t that the problem that is being addressed really?
They were robbing God by their tithes
What benefit is it to us if we serve God when we see those who do evil or don’t follow God are blessed, or not judged.
May we not forget that God is just and God does judge, but also God is patient, and longsuffering that people may repent and turn to Him.
The Words from Malachi were to remind them what happen and to help prevent judgment against them again, for them to repent and return now!
Some did believe, repent and heed Malachi’s message (Mal3:16-4:6)
This is a little longer section so will make some stops along the way
mal3:16
Who did the Lord give attention too (v.16)?
Those who feared the Lord, those who esteem His name
Who will be His possession (vv.17-18)?
The one who serves God, you can tie this back to (v.16) the one who fears and esteems the Lord will be spared judgment (v.17)
What is the judgment that was going to come against the arrogant and evildoer (v.1)?
They were going to be burned up like in a furnace, for they will be like chaff set ablaze and nothing will be left, neither root nor branch.
What will be the results for those who fear the Lord (vv.2-3)?
Will rise with healing, tread down the wicked!
An exhortation to the faithful (Mal4:4)
What is the exhortation, the command given (v.4)?
Remember the law!
Keep the law!
Wait, there is more coming (Mal4:5-6)
What was the Elijah that was to come going to do (v.6)?
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9