Return to the Lord

Order of Service

• Hymn — Come, We That Love the Lord
• Call to Worship — Psalm 65:1-4
• Hymn — Come, We That Love the Lord (sung)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Sin
• Assurance of Pardon — 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Scripture Reading — Proverbs 11:23-31
• Hymn — Lord, Thou Lovest the Cheerful Giver
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Dedication
• Hymn — Speak, O Lord
• Sermon
• Hymn — The Man Is Blessed Who Fearing God
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
• Doxology

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Sermon Title: Return to the Lord

Scripture: Malachi 3:6-12

I. Repentance Responds to the Immutable God

A. The key word in the passage is not tithing but return (Malachi 3:7) — tithing is a symptom of a heart turned back to God, not the root issue

1. A church budget is not always an indicator of faithfulness; giving must flow from a heart turned away from idols
2. Repentance is the headwaters; tithing and offering flow from it

B. God's immutability is seen in both his justice and his covenant faithfulness

1. Malachi's language closely parallels Deuteronomy — God foretold Israel's unfaithfulness and promised restoration upon repentance (Deuteronomy 30, Deuteronomy 31)
2. The pattern of sin, judgment, crying out, and restoration runs throughout the Book of Judges
3. From Genesis to Revelation, the whole counsel of God declares that God does not refuse the returning sinner

C. One of the greatest roadblocks to repentance is believing God cannot or will not forgive

1. The cross is the sign of God's unchanging posture of forgiveness toward the repentant sinner
2. Jesus commands forgiving seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22) because that is the very nature of God
3. God's patience with Israel in the wilderness — he knew their darkened hearts yet restored them in steadfast love
4. Christlike forgiveness is costly; bitterness comes easily, but forgiveness carries the cross

II. Repentance Requires Sacrifice

A. Israel's disobedience in tithing is the presenting symptom of their turned-away hearts (Malachi 3:8-9)

1. The tithe (a tenth) is an ancient practice: Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14); Jacob vowed a tenth to God at Bethel (Genesis 28)
2. The Mosaic law declared a tenth of all produce holy to the Lord (Leviticus 27), intended for the Levites; the Levites in turn gave a tenth to the Aaronic priests
3. The tithe also blessed the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) — echoed in the generosity of the early church at Pentecost (Acts 2)

B. Israel's difficult circumstances under Persian rule do not excuse disobedience

1. They paid the Persian governor with healthy animals (Malachi 1:8) yet withheld the full tithe from God's house
2. God calls them to bring the full tithe — whatever the circumstances, God always comes first

C. A major obstacle to repentance is seeking to live for God without self-sacrifice

1. When circumstances determine obedience, we become like ignorant Israel asking, "How have I robbed you?"
2. Seek first the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 6:33) — God's provision follows God's priority

III. Repentance Repays Abundantly

A. God's remarkable invitation: "Test me in this" (Malachi 3:10)

1. "Opening the windows of heaven" echoes the flood language of Genesis 7:11 and Genesis 8:2 — but now floods of blessing rather than judgment
2. God will "rebuke the Devourer" (Malachi 3:11) — the same Hebrew word used in Deuteronomy 28:20 for covenant curse, now turned against the locust on Israel's behalf

B. The pattern of reversal: curse → blessing

1. Disobedient Israel becomes a byword among the nations; repentant Israel will be called blessed and a land of delight (Malachi 3:12)
2. This curse-to-blessing pattern culminates in Christ — who endured the cross for the joy set before him and is now seated at God's right hand (Hebrews 12:2)
3. From the curse of Golgotha to the glory of resurrection Sunday

C. A final obstacle to repentance: the lie that life with God is misery while life for the world brings abundance

1. In robbing God, Israel was herself being robbed — her crops devoured under her feet
2. True abundance comes only from turning to the Lord; the gods of this world only take
3. Without Christ, one is already cursed (John 3:18); in repentance toward Christ, the cursed estate of sin becomes a blessed state of glory