New Hope Church Detroit Lakes
This series calls to remembrance what Christmas should be about.
The reason for Christmas is not gifts, meals, or family. The reason for Christmas is found in the name Christ. It is a time when people do celebrate the birth of Jesus, but what if Christmas was more than just the birth of Jesus? What if Christmas offered far more than that? Through this series we will look at what gift we truly have this Christmas.
What do we do when God corrects us?
In Malachi Chapters 1-4 we see God was questioned, doubted, and his temple desecrated.
Many times we do what has been done in previous generations.
Malachi 2:8 CSB
What if the last time God corrected you was the last time?
Malachi 4:5-6 CSB
A time of silence
Around 400 years God was silent and did not reveal anything to his people and he did not raise up any prophets
But his promise still stood!
God is always faithful to his promise
You see in their unfaithfulness God was faithful
When his people were undeserving God promised and God fulfilled
During the time of silence
The first synagogue was built
The Pharisees began to teach their law and regard it higher than the law of God
The Sadducees were the upper class and high priests and served power
It is almost like they began to do what was right in their own eyes
Even with all that the promise came
Luke 1:5-7 CSB
What was important to note in that scripture?
Luke 1:8-20 CSB
Which scripture is related to Malachi and which chapter and verse show this in Malachi?
What do we do in God’s silence?
We wait
God’s silence was not because he hated his people
Don’t be discouraged by his silence, but rather seek to continue in his faithfulness and know that God does not change and that he is still continuing to work
Questions for reflection:
When was the last time you felt the correcting conviction of God?
How did you respond to it?