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The Joy of Those Who Fear God

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Bible verse : Malachi 4:2(NIV)

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

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There are a total of 39 books in the Old Testament. The first Bible of the Old Testament is 'Genesis'. So what is the last Bible of the Old Testament?

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The last Bible in the Old Testament is ‘Malachi.’ The books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi at the end of the Old Testament were written by prophets who worked after the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity as promised by God. The last Bible in the Old Testament records the words delivered by the prophet Malachi.

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It is recorded in the Book of Malachi how much God loves the Israelites through the prophet Malachi. God chose the Israelites as separate from other nations and gave them special love.

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But the Israelites rudely asked, “When did God love us?” In response to these words, God said that although the Israelites received great love and grace from God, they did not respect God and committed the blasphemous sin of treating God carelessly. God told the Israelites what mistakes they had made.

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First of all, God said that the priests and people worshiped incorrectly.
In the Old Testament era, sacrifices offered to God during worship had to be clean, unwounded, and healthy.
However, they offered dirty bread and sick animals to God. The hearts of the people who treat God carelessly are revealed through their half-hearted sacrifices.

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Even though the priests knew that the people had brought unclean and wrong sacrifices, they did not consider it a big deal and offered them to God.
They openly committed very evil acts, disregarding the sacred sacrifices that should be offered to God. The worship that was supposed to glorify God's name actually brought great disgrace to God.

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God said this to the priests and people through Malachi: “Do not bring me these vain sacrifices! I am not happy with you! “I will not accept what your hands offer!”
God declared that he would not accept their sacrifices or worship.

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God pointed out wrong worship and severely rebuked the priests. The priests, who were supposed to properly teach God's law to the people, did not do their job properly. They deviated from the right path that God wanted and lived a corrupt life. They led the people astray.
God caused these priests to be despised and despised in front of all the people.

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The Israelites also ignored God's words and preferred to marry pagan women.
For God's people to engage in pagan marriage was a great sin of abandoning the Word and the covenant with God.
God declared that anyone who practices these things will be cut off from Israel.

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During the time of Malachi, the people who left God disrespected God with evil words. They said, “Blessed are the proud, and prosperous are those who do evil!” They even uttered blasphemy words, saying, “Where is the God of justice?”

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Even though living in these evil times, those who fear and follow God are not swayed in the slightest by the words of the wicked. They firmly maintained their faith, believing that God would never forget those who fear Him.
They always served only God, exalted Him, and lived a righteous life.

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Through the prophet Malachi, God gave an amazing promise to those who fear God. He said that just as a person loves more a child who is dutiful to his parents, so he will cherish a person who fears God.
He said that in the day of God He would make them His special possession.

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On the other hand, God warned that the coming day of God would be an extremely painful day for the wicked who act carelessly toward God.
God declared that on that day, the proud and those who do evil will be burned like straw. God said he would judge them for their sins.

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God is love, but He also judges with righteousness. God is a loving being who cherishes and considers special those who honor and respect Him.
However, he is a righteous judge who makes sure that those who do not respect God and treat Him harshly pay the price for their sins.

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God’s purpose in saving us by sending His only Son, Jesus, is clear.
The purpose is so that we fear God and live a life that fully honors Him.
Jesus is still helping us live lives that fear God and is praying for us in heaven.

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Through the mouth of the prophet Malachi, God announced the blessings that will be received by those who fear God.
God promised that our Savior Jesus would rise as the “Sun of righteousness” and save all people. And the book of Malachi says that those who receive the grace of salvation will enjoy freedom and joy like a calf coming out of the stall.
[But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. (Malachi 4:2)]
We received the grace of salvation because what God said through the prophet Malachi came true. As children of God, we must become people who exalt and fear God even more. Those who fear God will live in the true joy given to us by God.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)