The Days in Which We Live

Introduction:  As God’s people we ought to never give up hope on our day as to what God can do.  We, however, are not to close our eyes to the wickedness of our day and pretend that we are in the midst of a world-wide, national or even local revival.

Charles the Twelfth of Sweden had his secretary sitting by his side writing from dictation, when a bombshell fell through the roof into the next room. The secretary, in alarm, dropped his pen, upon which the king exclaimed, ‘What are you doing?’ The poor man faltered, ‘Ah, sire, the bomb!’ The king’s answer was, ‘What has the bomb to do with what I am telling you?’ –from An All-Round Ministry by C. H. Spurgeon (p.72).

Though there is some great practical truth in this event, are we as God’s people not to concern ourselves at all with our time?  Time and time again we are admonished in the scriptures to consider our days and allow them to draw us closer to God.

1. THE CONDITION OF THE DAY 
1. A Day of Unnatural Emotions
1. Earthly honour without heavenly honour (Malachi 1:6)
2. Earthly fear without heavenly fear (Malachi 1:6)
3. Exceeded in our day (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
2. A Day of Ignorance Among Gods People
1. They despised His name unaware (Malachi 1:6)
2. They offered polluted bread unaware (Malachi 1:7)
3. They cover the altar with their tears unaware (Malachi 2:13-14)
4. They wearied the Lord with their words unaware (Malachi 2:17)
5. They were gone away from Gods ordinances unaware of how and why to return (Malachi 3:7)
6. They robbed God unaware (Malachi 3:8)
7. Their words were against the Lord unaware (Malachi 3:13-14)
3. A Day of Inadequate Service
1. Inadequate sacrifices offered (Malachi 1:8)
2. Self centered service (Malachi 1:9)
3. The best withheld (Malachi 1:13-14)
4. A Day of an Unchanging God (Malachi 3:6)
2. THE COMING JUDGMENT 
1. Judgment Upon the People of God
1. Judgment begins with the people of God (Malachi 2:1-2; 1 Peter 4:17)
2. To whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48)
2. The Soon Return of the Son
1. In the midst of the wickedness in Malachi the Lord turns the focus to the coming of His Son (Malachi 4:1-2)
2. When times get bad enough, God always has to shake things up
3. The next thing will be the return of His Son
3. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A REMNANT  
1. The Fellowship Enjoyed
1. The frequency of their fellowship they spake often (Malachi 3:16; Hebrews 10:25)
2. The people with whom they fellowshipped one to another (Malachi 3:16)
2. The Faith Lived
1. They feared the Lord (Malachi 3:16) unlike those in Malachi 1:6.
2. They thought upon His name (Malachi 3:16) unlike those in Malachi 1:6 who despised His name.
3. The Favor of God
1. They got the Lords attention
2. The Lord had a new book written about them
3. The darker the days are the brighter a little light will shine

Conclusion:  What are you doing with the times in which God has allowed you to live?  The Bible says that David served his generation well, but what would be said of you?  Let us not coast because of the wickedness of our day, but may we more fully yield ourselves as instruments of righteousness to the King who is worthy.