ARE YOU SITTING ON THE SIDELINES?

Malachi 3:13-18 "Your words have been stout against me," saith the Lord. Yet ye say, "What have we spoken so much against thee?" ¹⁴ Ye have said, "It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered."

¹⁶ Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. ¹⁷ And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. ¹⁸ Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Are You Sitting On The Sidelines of Christian Service? There are some common reasons why you find some believers sitting on the sidelines.

• Weariness In Well Doing (Gal 6:7-10). An Issue of Faith. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the house of faith.

• Becoming Shipwrecked (1 Tim 1:18-19). An Issue of Ignorance. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,.. that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; ¹⁹ Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

• Backsliding (Hosea 11:7; 14:4). An Issue of Rebellion. My people are bent to backsliding from me... [14:4] I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely:

Progression of Backsliding in Malachi:

• Doubting God's Love (1:2).
• Denying God's Place (1:6-8).
• Despising God's Worship (1:7, 12-13).
• Resisting God's Standards (2:17).
• Robbing God's Storehouse (3:8-11).
• Sitting on the Sidelines (3:13-18).

Today's Text Tells of Two Type of People.

On The One Hand… there are those who doubt God is just, and they question His motives and actions... For these people, this text is a warning to humble themselves, give the matter deeper consideration and to stand in awe of God’s freedom to vindicate the righteous when and where and how he pleases.

On The Other Hand… there are those who worship the Lord, hold his name in high esteem and honor Him as a good son honors a good Father. For these, the text is a comfort and encouragement to press on in trust and obedience until the Lord comes to vindicate their cause.

Main Division of The Passage:

• The kind of people we SHOULD NOT be (v13-15).
• The kind of people we SHOULD be (v16-18).

1. THE KIND OF PERSON WE'RE NOT TO BE (v 14-15).

Three things they believed. They believed serving God was... ¹ useless, ² vain and ³ a waste of time. Are there people like this today?  Why?

What they believed was the result of...

A worldly view of heavenly things.

They expected God's blessing as a result of dead formalism.

They thought because they ascribed to certain religious forms and practices the Lord was obligated to bless them.

When He didn't, they gave up and quit (Rev 3:14-22).

What they believed was...

A prosperity gospel. These words seem to assume that God must bless the religious in an immediate and material way or righteousness is in vain (Matt 6:2, 5, 16).

Making careless comparisons. 2 Corinthains 10:12 We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2. THE KIND OF PERSON WE ARE TO BE (v 16-18). ¹⁶ Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. ¹⁷ And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. ¹⁸ Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

What We're Supposed To Be Is Described In Three Ways...

We are to fear the Lord (v 16).

We are to honor God (v 17).

WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE? (Contrast v 14 & 17).

Verse 14 says it is pointless to serve God.

Verse 17 says God will bless those who love and serve him.

It's the difference between the service of a son and the service of a slave.

It's the difference between the younger brother and the elder brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11cf). The younger brother had come to an end of himself. The older brother saw only how good he had been.

It's the difference between being saved by grace and attempting to be saved by works.

A person saved by grace has seen their sinful condition and God's divine love.

The person saved by works is always trying to justify themselves to God through good works and religious service.

What about the problem of injustice? The fact evil persons appear to prosper while those who fear God appear to go unrewarded? We've ALL seen it;... at least WE think WE have!

3. FOUR PROMISES FOR THOSE WHO LOVE AND SERVE GOD. The answer is this,.. those who reverence God, honor His name and serve Him believe four things that can be gleaned from v 16-18.

God will act to vindicate them in his time in the future. 

• The Lord Will Hear the good things that those who fear God say to each other for the glory of God (v16a).

• The Lord Will Remember them (v16b). He will never forget what we have done in his power and for his glory (Heb 6:10).

• The Lord Will Reward those who fear and glorify Him (v17).

• The Lord Will Separate the righteous and the wicked (v18).