Introduction
I’d like us to think about theology and application of teaching God’s word in our homes, and the verse we’ll be looking at is Malachi 4:6, which is the last verse in the Old Testament and calls for practical gospel-disciplines in our homes and lives.
The Book of Malachi
Malachi served as a prophet during Israel’s return to Jerusalem after the exile, and the book is structured differently than the other prophetic books, with a series of rhetorical dialogues. God singles out a number of sins in the book, including dishonour and injustice among the people.
I. God’s Faithful Fatherly Love (Mal 1:2-6, Mal 3:6-7, Mal 3:16-18)
We see in Malachi 3:6-7 how God forgives his people when they turn to him, not counting their previous sins against them, but simply delighting in them serving their Father, and we read that some people responded positively to Malachi’s preaching.
II. Israel’s Faithless Family Relations (Mal 2:10-16)
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? says Malachi 2:10, verse 10. The indictment is about unfaithfulness in marriage and family life, and we see that Jewish men were divorcing their wives and intermarrying with foreign women.
III. The Restoration of the Family of God (Mal 4:5-6)
The people of Israel, in their unfaithfulness, were ultimately disobeying their heavenly Father. In Lk 1:13, Gabriel tells Zechariah of the child who will be born to him and Elizabeth in their old age.
I. Repentance is Turning Towards God’s Promises to our Fathers
Repentance is a turning away from what is wrong in a heart of rebellion and turning to God and His promises in faith; the law did not justify, but faith in God did. If anyone is listening who has never turned from their sins to God, do so now.
II. The Gospel is God’s Power for Fulfilling His Generational Promises
The New Covenant is described in Isaiah Chapter 59 in terms of generational faithfulness: circumcised hearts enable us to hold fast to God’s promises to us and our children, and renewed minds enable us to grasp and teach the truths by which someone can be saved.
II. The Spiritually-Renewed Foster Their Children’s Spiritual Blessing Above All Else
Fathers, your greatest desire, endeavor, and adventure should be to raise, govern, judge, teach, and train your children, and through them, their children after them, so that we can say to the Father, “Here I am, and the children you have given me.”
I. Pray the Promises of God for Your Children
Singles, please join in praying for our next generation. If your children have walked away from the Lord, cling to the promises even more. And God will hear and respond.
II. Practice Daily Family Worship: Scripture Reading, Prayer, Hymn, Memorization.
The Christian home is to be a small church where the Father gathers the family for worship and the family reads scripture, prays, memorizes scripture, and even sings. Daily family worship is part of our church covenant, and we must be disciplined for the sake of the next generation.
III. Build a Christian Culture Within Your Home, and Consider Your Children’s Education.
Father, we need a culture of the Bible in our homes, and our children need to understand that having Christ at the center of our lives changes everything. One way to be intentional is to homeschool your children, and there are people in our church who have done so. Make your home a Christian environment, no matter what schooling option you choose.
What is the central message of Malachi?
Malachi’s mission was to reaffirm his people’s faith and confidence in Yahweh, as well as to remind them of their responsibilities as members of Yahweh’s covenant community. The concept of the Covenant of Israel is central to Malachi’s message, and it is a major theme throughout the book.
How do you pray for servants of God?
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the joyful, abundant life that You have given me through our Lord Jesus Christ; guide me according to Your will, and help me to become a servant whose life is a worthy example to others.
What do you pray for spiritual leaders?
What Leaders Should Pray For:
- Pray for wisdom.
- Pray that leaders do not tire of doing good.
- Pray for humility.
- Pray for unity and love in the families of the leaders.
- Pray for faith in God.
- Pray for encouragement.
- Pray for Godly friendship and connection.
- Pray for boldness.
What is Malachi known for?
The author is unknown; Malachi is simply a transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “my messenger.” The author encourages people to keep Yahweh’s covenant, emphasizes the importance of proper worship, condemns divorce, and warns that the day of judgment is approaching.
Why is Malachi important?
Even after exile, God promises to purify a faithful remnant and establish a new Jerusalem, as Malachi reveals Israel’s corruption.
What does the name Malachi?
Jewish: derived from the Hebrew name Malachi, which means’my messenger’ and refers to a Biblical prophet.
Was Malachi an angel?
Malachi is a Heavenly Angel who was Kazann’s older brother and Daniel’s older brother. During the rebellion, when Lucifier and Kazann chose to rebel, Malachi chose to stay on the side of Heaven.
What day is Jesus’s birthday?
Although most Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday on December 25, few in the first two centuries of Christianity claimed to know the exact day or year he was born.
What is a good prayer for healing?
Loved God, I pray that you will comfort me in my suffering, strengthen the hands of my healers, and bless the methods used to cure me; give me such faith in the power of your grace that I may put my complete trust in you even when I am afraid; through our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Why should you pray for your pastor?
Never before has a pastor had to make so many difficult decisions in such a short period of time; pray that the Lord will give him wisdom as he continues to make difficult decisions in the days ahead. Your pastor may second-guess his decisions; therefore, pray that the Lord will give him peace with his decisions.
How do you pray for your leader?
Thank You, God, for the men and women who serve in leadership roles in our country, as well as their families; please remind our leaders every day of why they chose to dedicate their lives to public service, and use that commitment to inspire them.
How do you pray for someone?
Here are seven ways to pray for the people on your mind:
- Let the Lord know you’re available to be the answer to the prayer(s) you’re praying for people.
- Let the people know you’re praying for them and ask if there’s anything they’d like you to pray for.
What does the Bible say about praying for spiritual leaders?
When we pray for our leaders, we are praying for God’s will to be done, as Romans 13:1 acknowledges that those in positions of power may have been placed there by God for a specific purpose. It is also important to remember that our leaders face spiritual battles and opposition that they may not be aware of.
What does the Bible say about Pastor?
u201cIt is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables,u201d the twelve said, summoning the entire number of disciples. u201cSo, brothers, choose seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.u201d