THE ACCEPTABLES

Malachi 1:12-14

A PASTORAL LETTER

Dearest family,

From the outset of Malachi’s prophecy, we noted that the revelation of the compassion of God preceded the reiteration of the commands of God. His love preceded law, His devotedness preceded discipline, His care preceded correction, His forgiveness preceded their confession, His expression of faithfulness preceded the exposure of their faithlessness. Despite the state of the people, from their “blah” indifference to their defensive cynicism and aggressive agnosticism, God just puts his love for them right out there – one might add, in great danger of being rejected and crucified by their arrogance and ignorance. As in the messages to the churches in Revelation, the love of God confirms His people, before it confronts them. We saw on Sunday that the last part of chapter 1 is all about God’s response to their unacceptable offerings. All they were doing was in clear contradiction to the careful instructions that had been given in Leviticus. As a result, God charges them for defiling and profaning the “table of the Lord”, both by their attitude to sacrifice, and by what they actually brought to the table to be sacrificed. Both attitudes and actions came under God’s condemning scrutiny. It is heavy and serious stuff.

If I had been a pastor in Malachi’s time, a priest, listening to this prophecy, then I think I would want to teach the people about what made for an acceptable offering to God. God is clear in his denunciation of the unacceptable stuff, and they should have been clear too. But they were out of touch with the word, particularly Leviticus, as we have already seen. So that’s where I would take them, as I will take you, in order to encourage you about what makes for an acceptable offering of your life, substance and service to God. Leviticus is a book all about holiness, all about pleasing God, doing his will. I want to use the grain offering here as an illustration of how to make a good offering to God.

Of course, before I refer to Leviticus 2, I should say that there are many other scriptural principles that help us to know how to make acceptable offerings. Let me give some examples:

• Willingly – scripture is full of descriptions of “a freewill offering”. Acceptable offerings are not coerced, or reluctantly given, but come from a thankful heart. Does this gratitude characterize how you offer and give of your life and substance and service to God?
• Not holding anything back – in other words not giving to God or serving God like a scrupulous accountant with a calculator and a clock – billable hours for God! Does generosity mark your self giving and life-offering to God in substance and service?
• Without concern for cost – not giving to God what costs us nothing (2 Sam. 24:24) – not giving the “butt ends”, the unwanted, the undesirable, the dispensable, the unsacrificial. Does sacrifice mark the offering of your life and substance and service to God?
• In accordance with God’s word – 1 Chr. 23:31: “serving in the way prescribed.” Ezra 3:4: “They celebrated with the required number of offerings…in accordance with what is written.” Does obedience and adherence to God’s word mark the offering of your life and substance and service to God?
• Without making course adjustments according to preferences – King Ahaz in 2 Kgs.16 went to Damascus and saw an altar he liked the design of, so he ordered the design of the altar in Jerusalem to be reconfigured to conform with it! Same looking, same sounding sacrifices but a totally different altar! He changed the meaning and the purpose of it, to serve personal desires, not necessarily God’s needs and desires. Does integrity mark your offering and giving of your life and substance and service to God?
• Without defect – not giving second best or taking short-cuts. Does excellence mark your offering of life and substance and service to God?

So what is Leviticus 2 about? Why would I have taken the Israelites there? Here’s the deal. It’s a lovely picture of an acceptable offering to God, that trustingly and holily responds to his love. This describes what needs to be in the offering and what should not be part of the offering.
What should not be part of the offering:
• Leaven (v.11): This speaks of falsehood and hypocrisy (Leaven of Pharisees – Lk.12:1); of the taintedness of sin (leaven of malice and wickedness – 1 Cors.5:8) Because it ferments it is an image of corruption, of decay and death, of what is antagonistic to life and holiness. So we can’t offer to God anything of ourselves that is tainted, that is unholy or unhealed, pretending that it doesn’t matter or isn’t there. We can’t ask God to bless what his holiness cannot approve and affirm.
• Honey (v.11): This speaks of what we want to look good – a cover-up, an apparent sweetness, a counterfeit fragrance. Honey had a bad history because it was the favorite of the gods – it is the idea of a fleshly cosmetic job, making something that stinks smell good, like cologne on a corpse. Like leaven, honey is subject to fermentation. The appearance of goodness and sweetness soon dissipates.
What should be part of the offering:
• Oil (v.4-5): Of course the oil speaks of the Holy Spirit, so in other words, we give an offering that is a part of the sanctifying work of the Spirit in us – a naturally spiritual outflow of a sanctified life. Oil denoted a consecrated life. But it also speaks of joy (Isa.61:3 “the oil of gladness”) which marks the nature of our offering of life. No reluctance, no regrets!
• Incense (v.2): The frankincense was an image of godliness, of the qualities of deity no less. In other words, how we live and give and serve does not draw attention to ourselves but only attracts praise to the Lord. Our good works will be seen and the only response is that people will glorify our father in heaven – thus the pleasing aroma to God. One thing to note – it is the effect of fire and heat that brings out the fragrance – it is the fire of God’s sanctifying work in us, perfecting holiness, that produces the aroma.
• Salt (v.13): In a way this is the most crucial ingredient because it was necessary for all offerings. It was known as the “salt of the covenant.” Its application is affirmed no less than 3 times in this single verse, underlying its importance. As you know from Jesus’ teaching, the salt represents preservation against corruption, but it speaks of permanence and unity. It represents a commitment to faithful covenant, so our offerings should come from a committed heart that is covenanted to belong to God and not to the things of this world. It speaks of a loyal and undivided heart, a faithful witness. Jesus used the image of salt to suggest the necessary ingredient in disciples that is their holy distinctiveness (Mt.5:13) and their spirit of peace and reconciliation with God and each other (Mk.9:50) To make an offering with salt is to live and give with a binding commitment to God and his work, a dedication that is not subject to whims of choice or changes in personal circumstance.

It is a direct reference to a passage like Leviticus 2 that is in Paul’s mind when he writes to the Romans: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual worship. Do not conform…but be transformed…” You see, there are unacceptable ways to serve God and acceptable ones. Prove what is acceptable, and approve what God’s will is for your life and service. Don’t take short-cuts with God. Remove all that is dishonoring, all that is defiling. Remember what the Israelites forgot when they made their offerings: no leaven of hypocrisy, no honey of appearance, but lots of the oil of joy, lots of the incense of godliness, lots of the salt of covenant relationship and steadfast commitment. With such a sacrifice God is well pleased!

In 2:10 God says through Malachi, “Shut the doors!” But by 3:10 he is saying he will “open the windows.” Maybe you need to shut the door on something unacceptable and unprofitable in order for a fresh flow of the spirit to come from God’s open window on your life. Do not despise the offering of God for you – Jesus Christ crucified, the lamb of God who takes away all the “unacceptables” of our lives. God changes a message that could have been entitled “The Unacceptables” into one that can be rightly called “The Acceptables.” YEAH!

Accepted in the beloved,

Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download audio of sermon)

For Prayer

Mauricio Nieto, recovering from cataract surgery, and Patricia Nieto, recovering from treatment for cancer.

Brenda—please continue to pray for her health and life.

Please continue to pray also for Scott Livingston, Patty Whitnah’s father Charlie Bauer, and for Gracie Mitchell (http://www.firstgiving.net/graciem).

Announcements

Men’s prayer breakfast is this Saturday, October 27 at 8:00am. This month we’re inviting the youth boys to join with us.

The COSC Women’s lunch bunch will meet Sunday, October 28 at 1pm in the Fellowship Hall. Dessert and coffee will be provided. Please bring or pick up something for lunch before 1pm. The topic will be “Looking at Loneliness”. We welcome all women at any stage and situation of their lives. We are exploring the lives of Christian women along with work issues and we welcome the contributions of all.

Youth: October 30, you’re invited to join WCF for their Fun Night at WCF (9th & Maryland NE), 7pm-9pm

Lydia Conference: Nov 1-3 in Houston, TX: We hope you will join us to learn the dynamic prayer principles of meditating in the Word of God, seeking the mind and the will of God for our churches, communities, cities, and the nations of the world. www.newlifechurch.net

The next Night of Prayer will be Saturday, November 3 from 6pm-midnight. All are invited.

Books, videos, resources: If Stuart has loaned you any materials (recently or over the years), from his personal library or the church’s, he is offering complete amnesty, no questions asked, for their return.

Bulletin Board

Postings are not officially sanctioned by COSC.

Attention Mom Business Owners: Ladies Who Lunch, DC (LWLDC) is a new networking group for Mom Business Owners in the Washington DC area. If you are a mom and a business owner, then I invite you to learn more about LWLDC. We are dedicated to building friendships while building businesses and having fun doing it! To learn more, please send an email to LadiesWhoLunchDC@gmail.com Chantel Grant

FOR RENT-DUPONT CIRCLE: One bedroom apartment. Available for 1-year lease starting as early as October. Rent approx $950/mo, including heat & hot water, but not other utilities. 17th/P NW, eat-in kitchen, big windows & lots of natural light. Susan, soozshin@aol.com

FOR RENT: Cheverly, MD: 2 story, 4BR/2BA furnished brick house—15 Oct. 1 mile from Metro, near parks/community center. Fully furnished everything from furniture & dishes to linens. Backyard, deck, eat-in kitchen, dining room, living room, office. Cable TV & wireless internet. Whole house $1950/mo plus utils or individual rooms $450-550 plus utils. Karan, karantownsend@gmail.com or 304-702-1872 Jason, Jason@RealEstateinDC.com or 202-415-7400

Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the gorgeous flowers, calls, cards and other expressions of your love and support on the recent passing of my mother! I so appreciate you all and could feel Christ’s peace and comfort extended to me through you. -Karina Szimonisz

THE GRACE OF GOD

A PASTORAL LETTER

Dearest Family,

We have been understanding why the prophet Malachi begins his oracle with the reference to Esau and Jacob. God reminds them of this as evidence of His love and in answer to their question, “How have you loved us?” We have noted, however, that this serves both as a “wooing” of the people (pointing out God’s faithful love to Jacob over centuries) but also a “warning” (pointing out the tragedy of rejecting spiritual birthright.) The Israelites are very close to Esau’s position. He said, “What good is the birthright to me?” They are now saying, “It is futile to serve God. What good is it to keep all the requirements?” Lest we think that this is only an Old Testament thing, towards the end of the New Testament, we find the same incident being used in Hebrews 12. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.”

On Sunday, we looked at several other NT scriptures that exhort us not to sin against grace: Don’t receive God’s grace in vain. (2 Cors.6:1) Bring also to completion this act of grace on your part (2 Cors.8:6) You have fallen away from grace (Gals. 5:4) They change the grace of God into a license for immorality (Jude v.4) I do not frustrate (set aside) the grace of God (Gals.2;21) Paul acknowledges the many ways that we can render grace of no effect, set it aside, nullify it, frustrate it, misuse and misappropriate it. Someone has said, “Esau becomes the paradigm for a person who treats the honors of an heir lightly.” We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Roms.8:17) of the inheritance of the Father, purchased at the unfathomable price of his blood. Furthermore, the inheritance is God himself. The inheritance is the gospel with all its blessings and promises. Paul talks to the Ephesians about the greatest evidence and experience of this inheritance, the Holy Spirit no less! “A deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” (Ephs.1:14) The inheritance is the present experience of God’s rule in our lives and the future anticipation of what is to come, described by Peter as “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you.” The ante is high. O the tragedy of sinning against the grace of God like Esau. Why is it so tragic to miss grace? Because to miss God’s grace is to miss everything. “Grace is the sum and substance of NT faith” (Packer) “Everything is of grace in the Christian life from the very beginning to the very end.” Lloyd-Jones) We might also say it is the sum of the nature of the godhead: God of all grace…Spirit of grace (Hebrs.10:29)…the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:11) The whole of NT theology is summed up in it. It has been said that what justice is to law, and love to marriage, grace is to Christianity. The fact is, it helps to survey scripture to get a glimpse of the range of grace’s expressions, of the depth of its explanations, of the height of its experience. It will not be confined to being one of a number of things that are helpfully operative in our salvation.

The NT is one long grace-song, and every touch of God by His spirit is a grace-stroke on ungraced, and disgraced hearts. The opening of the Lucan account describes from the very get-go how the grace of God was upon Jesus, and John opens with the declaration that he is full of grace and that from the fullness of that grace we have all received grace upon grace. From the beginning to the end of the NT, Jesus and grace are synonymous. Grace is in Him, grace is of him, grace is through him. Not surprisingly, the evidential and essential mark of the early church was that “great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33) Euphemisms for Christians were grace soaked: they were those who “continued in the grace of God” (13:43); they were those “by grace had believed” (18:27) What they believed was the gospel described as “the grace of God…the gospel of grace…the word of grace” It was a synonym for anything that was good, that was God no less, in his dynamic and delivering, passionate and purposeful, fathering and favoring, birthing and blessing, saving and sanctifying power. As we journey on into the Romans, the mother-lode of explanation of the gospel, we hear expounded the glories of our justification “freely by his grace”(3:24) our access “into the grace in which we stand” (5:2). Grace abounds (5:17)…grace reigns… to bring eternal life. Every aspect of Christian life is sourced in grace. Paul’s calling was “by His grace” (Gals.1:15)…when he taught it “by the grace given me to say” (Roms.12:3) In Acts 15:15 he talks of “the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus”. His testimony was that God’s grace to him “was not without effect.” “I worked harder – yet not I – the grace of God that was in me.” (1Cors.15:10) Grace was the call and commission, grace was the means and the message, grace was the reason for ministry and the result of ministry. Everything that pertained to their lives and ministries was grace pinioned, grace producing. Paul says they conducted themselves according to the grace of God. (2Cors.1:12) and that when they ministered it was “so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to flow to the glory of God.” (4:15) He honored the churches that excelled in grace, and in 2Cors.9:8 expresses the relationship between an experience of abounding grace and one of abounding work. Yes, grace was sufficient in difficult times, but it was also surpassing (9:14) His ministry was “the administration of God’s grace” (Ephs.3:2) Peter saw it similarly when he spoke of being “stewards of the manifold grace” (1 Pet.4:10) Paul’s understanding of worship included “singing with grace” (Cols.3:16) For James the great encouragement for a walk with Christ was simply that He “gives us more grace” (James 4:6) And when it comes to a fundamental understanding of prayer, it is all about the throne of grace where we find grace. Saying grace has more to do than just with a few words before a meal. We say grace every time we pray.

A helpful way to summarize the specific workings of grace, described in these scriptures from the entire NT, would be like this:
1. Saving grace: “saved through grace” (Acts 15:11) Part of this experience of saving grace is the instruction we receive for the totality of our lives. Listen to how Paul describes it to Titus (2:11): “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
2. Securing grace: “this grace in which we stand” (Roms.5:1-2) “…the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.” (1Pet.5:12)
3. Sanctifying grace: growing, maturing, progressing in faith and godliness, pleasing God.
4. Serving grace: enablement to minister – charismata – grace gifts.
5. Sending grace: the callings of God, commending us to the word of his grace. “I commit you to God and the word of his grace.” (Acts 20:32)
6. Speaking grace: grace those who listen (Ephs.4:29) “Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt.” (Cols.4:6)
7. Singing grace: “With psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, with grace in your hearts to God.” (Cols.4:16) the hymnody and psalmody, formal and informal, liturgical and non-liturgical, ancient and modern of grace that must be turned into gratitude in song and antiphon. The range of grace that requires more range of human intonation as our heart wants to give all the keys of its grateful piano to God.
8. Sustaining grace: (strengthening grace) special times of need – sufficiency of grace perfects strength in weakness (2Cors.12:9) – receive mercy at throne of grace in time of need – gives grace to the humble.
9. Staying/stopping grace: I would add this one because the grace of God is not just manifested in what he does do but in what he doesn’t do – for example, delay judgment. Maybe I can stretch something else under this category. God’s grace is manifest in what he gives and allows, in what he provides, but it is also in what he disallows, what he prohibits. The word that commands us not to, is a staying word of grace. Stop! Halt! No further! Do not transgress! Do not move that boundary! (Crucial to understand the law as an expression of God’s love and grace. He loves us so much that he commands us not to engage that which he knows will destroy us and separate us from Him.) Take Genesis for example: all the trees (provision) except (prohibition) These are equally evidences of grace. The fall is fundamentally a sin against grace. There is grace in giving, but also grace in the staying of things, the with-holding, the taking away of those things that are not going to promote spiritual growth in grace.
10. Suffering grace: often brings God’s good grace in a way that doesn’t at first feel good to us. Phils.1:29: “It has been granted (literally-graced) for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in him but to suffer for him.”
11. Suffusing grace: the grace that dwells within – the indwelling spirit of grace that rises within us (better stop there!)

Its power, its penetration, its communication – every expression is proactively an expression of the nature of God ministering to the needs of man. It is strong grace according to the NT. It is a strong brew, and those who experience it are grace intoxicated, but more importantly, God-centered and God adoring. It has to be strong because by our nature we are so ungracious and so ungrateful. This leads me to an important foundational point. A moment ago I said that what grace expressed was the nature of God. If you like, grace is self-effacing. It is the grace OF God! It points away from itself to the giver of grace. What is grace for? In a word, GOD! This is the point of Malachi’s message here. To miss the grace of God like Esau, to receive it like Jacob but in vain, is to miss God! We live in a self-absorbed culture, including Christian culture. Our decisions are suited to what works best for us, suits us, conforms to our preferences, supports our traditions and perceptions, fits our comfort zones. This is true of how we often choose our churches, our missions, our vocations, how we express our spirituality. This raises an important point. Do we need God in order to experience this grace we need, or do we need grace in order to experience the God we desire? Piper has put it this way: “Is the ultimate treasure the grace of God or the God of grace?” We know what it is to mutter “Give me grace O God!” How often do we say, Give me God O grace!” The question Piper is asking has to do with who is at the center. What is the ultimate object and purpose of grace? To gratify me or to glorify God? Is the main issue that I receive grace’s works or that God receives grateful worship? As simple and foundational as this is, it is the most ignored truth. All doctrines start with the doctrine of God. This is true for the doctrine of grace. Piper: “We cherish grace because it brings us to God, rather than cherishing God because he brings us grace.” Every which way you look at grace, any description of grace, whether saving or serving, securing or staying, sanctifying or sending, speaking or singing, sustaining or suffering or suffusing, the ultimate purpose is a revelation of who God is. Grace is utterly God-horizoned, Godfocused, God-centered. Grace’s ultimate homing instinct is the glory of God. (Roms. 11:33-36) “Who has given a gift to God that he should be repaid?” God has no “wants/lacks” so the idea of trying to pay him back is futile and foolish. He is totally self-sufficient so His grace to us is this brilliant overflow of His life. Grace is not rationed or given in small portions – it is always amazing, always huge, always extravagant, always gratuitous. When God’s life and love wash over us, spill over us, soak into us, we call it grace. Grace is not other to himself. We often limit our understanding of grace to the particular provision or answer or deliverance that we get. No, the grace is Himself – for that is always the best that he can give. In any case, God being God, is moved by his nature, his gracious and compassionate and loving nature, to continually show himself, give himself away, reveal himself so he can be known. Because of his grace he gives gifts to men and women, but there would be no deficiency in grace if he gave nothing – graced with his presence is prior to being graced with his presents! Not surprisingly, the primary response that God wants to receive for the manifestations of his grace is our joyous, unbridled, celebratory worship – more than a study group on grace, more than a sermon, more than our doctrinal rectitude. When grace appears to us to be satisfying our needs, what it is really doing is inviting us to be satisfied with God, the grace-giver. Are we satisfied with God, or do we miss the grace because at the end of the day, in Paul’s terms, we still want Jesus-Plus? That does not mean that there is no pain in the offering, but it does mean that we still have grace-grounds to grace-sing “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”

Gratefully yours,

Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download audio of sermon)

For Prayer

Mauricio Nieto, recovering from cataract surgery, and Patricia Nieto, recovering from treatment for cancer.

Brenda—please continue to pray for her health and life.

Please continue to pray also for Scott Livingston, Charis Whitnah, Patty Whitnah’s father Charlie Bauer, and for Gracie Mitchell (http://www.firstgiving.net/graciem).

Announcements

For the Youth: October 20 will be an all-day youth event: 10AM-9PM at COSC. October 30, you’re invited to join WCF for their Fun Night (7pm-9pm)

Youth Parents’ meeting: Oct 20, 10:30am12:30pm at the Parker’s.

October 20, 9am-4pm, WCF is presenting Walk Thru the Old Testament. Cost is $20/adult, $15 first child, $7.50 additional children (includes lunch & snacks). http://wcfchurch.org/wttb.html or call Donn Northrup or Jesse Johnson (202) 543-1926.

Lydia Conference: Nov 1-3 in Houston, TX: We hope you will join us to learn the dynamic prayer principles of meditating in the Word of God, seeking the mind and the will of God for our churches, communities, cities, and the nations of the world. More info, see www.newlifechurch.net

BULLETIN BOARD

Postings are not officially sanctioned by COSC.

FOR RENT-DUPONT CIRCLE: One bedroom apartment. Available for 1-year lease starting as early as October. Rent approx $950/mo, including heat & hot water, but not other utilities. 17th/P NW, eat-in kitchen, big windows & lots of natural light. Susan, soozshin@aol.com
FOR RENT: Furnished rooms available from Townsend family on month-to-month leases. Includes wireless internet & utilities, linens, microwave, fridge, washer/dryer, shared kitchen. 330 D Street SE $850/mo available 1 Oct 114 Third Street NE $850/mo available 1 Oct Karan, karantownsend@gmail.com or 304-702-1872 Jason, Jason@RealEstateinDC.com or 202-415-7400
FOR RENT: Cheverly, MD: 2story, 4BR/2BA furnished brick house—15 Oct. 1 mile from Metro, near parks/ community center. Fully furnished—everything from furniture & dishes to linens. Backyard, deck, eatin kitchen, dining room, living room, office. Cable TV & wireless internet. Whole house $1950/mo plus utils or individual rooms $450-550 plus utils. Karan, karantownsend@gmail.com or 304-702-1872 Jason, Jason@RealEstateinDC.com or 202-415-7400
VOLUNTEER: Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center is training new volunteers for 6 weeks starting Saturday, Oct 20 from 9am-noon. If you feel called to this ministry or would like more information, please call Ann Wink at 202-546-1018 or chpcvol@yahoo.com
PAGES TOUR 2007: Friday, Oct 12, 7:30PM at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield VA. Shane & Shane, Bebo Norman, and Alli Rogers. Tickets ($18) at http:// www.itickets.com/pages/
MATH TUTOR SOUGHT: young girl needs help with middle school math/long division/pre-algebra. Would need help at least 1 night/wk. Preferably female, but… Karen, karen@kidsave.org or 202-547-8807
In the Arts...William Swetcharnik will give a talk about the artists of the Old Testament and what they show us about service, conscience and celebration. Swetcharnik Art Studio, 7044 Woodville Rd, Mt. Airy, MD 21771. Info: Sara, 301-829-0137 or www.swetcharnik.com

AN ORACLE - MALACHI 1

Malachi 1: 1-5

A PASTORAL LETTER

Dearest family,

The very opening words of Malachi’s message to Israel would have caused them to brace themselves for what was about to come. It reads: “An oracle…” The important original sense does not necessarily come through this translation. It would seem to mean that this was a pronouncement or a declaration. If you knew about the Greek Oracle, the place of exchange with the gods, then you would maybe assume that this was at least a divine communication. It helps to know what it means in this context however. None of the above meanings are true to the root of the word used, which more literally should be translated “burden.” It is the word used in Ps.38:4 describing a burden of guilt. It is the word used in Ezek.23:5 to describe the load put on the back of an animal. The best way to understand it is by reading Jer.23:33 where it says: “What is the oracle of the Lord?...You are the burden, declares the Lord!” Here is a sarcastic and judging response from God with a play on the word. “What is your burden, God?” “You are my burden!” You also need to know that in 27 uses of this word in an OT context, 25 of them carried the idea of something ominous about to happen or be said. In other words it is about the idea of weightiness combined with seriousness. As you know, the idea of weight is intrinsic to the biblical word for “glory”. It has substance. It is not some vague “will o’ the wisp.” It is not “wishy-washy.” God’s presence, God’s character, God’s revelation, God’s word are not ephemeral. Life without God is rightly described by some (like the novelist Kundera) as “the unbearable lightness of being” because it is a life that is not anchored or weighted by a relationship with God. We live in a world of lite-beer, lite-bread, lite-mayonnaise, and as the world goes so goes the church: lite-word, lite-services, liteworship, lite-ministry, lite-conviction. Sometimes it is reduced to liteentertainment. God’s word is not “lite”! This is an arresting, commanding and demanding opening to this prophetic word. As I shared on Sunday, it reminds me of Annie Dillard’s exhortation that ushers should hand out crash helmets to people in the pews after they have strapped them in! Do we have any idea about the God with whom we have to deal. Through Malachi, God is letting them know it is “crash-helmet” time. As for them, so for us in examining this text. God wants us to know that there is a pressing in his presence. There is a holy pressure and weight that his word brings. It is symptomatic of its seriousness, its importance, its priority. You can’t take-it-or-leave-it. It is a burden!

If you were one of those listening to Malachi and chose not to feel the weight of the word, then you would at least have to reckon with the sound that could not be ignored. It also suggests weight of volume. This is about an intensity of emotion within the heart of God for his people that causes him to speak out of that pressure, in a way that cries out. God is crying out! The question is: why aren’t the people? Why aren’t we so moved? Malachi (whose name you’ll remember means “my messenger”) has been drawn into God’s amazing transmission process. “The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.” It’s interesting to me that like the last book of the NT, the last book of the OT begins by stating God’s chosen means of transmission of truth: OF the Lord…TO Israel… THROUGH Malachi / OF Jesus Christ…TO the churches…THROUGH John. Both Malachi and John have messages that mark the end of an era. Similarly, I believe that we are called to be messengers in the late-history of our civilization. This opening verse in Malachi gives us some clues about what it is going to take. Let me emphasize the point by presenting it in the form of questions to determine whether or not you are preparing or prepared for the prophetic calling of the hour. What’s being received from the Lord by you? What’s working itself into your life ? What’s coming through you? To whom are you God’s messenger? Are you connected? Are you articulate? Are you ministering out? Are you a receiver? Are you a transmitter? Are you burdened? Is there a compelling pressure within to share the Lord’s words and to do his works? Do you have an interest in being prophetic not pathetic? Could God name you “my messenger”? Are you burdened by the message? Do you respond to God? Do you serve God out of duty or desire? The prophets were men with a burden! Are we?

Pastorally yours,

Stuart

P.S. So I only covered the first few minutes of the message! For the other “several” minutes order a tape or a CD. Blessings in your homegroups! But get the burden!

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download audio of sermon)

For Prayer

Charis Whitnah—diagnosed with shingles (an adult variation of chicken pox).

The radio frequency broadcast license application for the Ministry of Jesus in Benin. The Murdocks received word that they’ve passed the pre-selection stage and are now one of 45 applicants for 5 frequencies that will be issued. Please continue to pray for the success of “WMOJ”!

Please continue to pray also for Scott Livingston, Brenda Lockard, Patty Whitnah’s father Charlie Bauer, and for Gracie Mitchell (http://www.firstgiving.net/graciem).

Announcements

Night of Prayer this Saturday, Oct 6, 6pm-midnight.

Need to update your directory listing? Or were you not listed last year? If you plan to make COSC your home for this season of life, please contact the office to be added to our community listing! (202) 544-9599

We need someone to take pictures of the congregation inside the building on a Sunday morning—the lighting is very low. Contact the office if you can help.

Fundamentals of Healing Prayer: What Do They Mean For Me? has begun. If you want to learn about healing prayer, come to the 8:45am-9:45am sessions, Sunday mornings through October 21. Coffee served at 8:30am!

YOU ARE INVITED to...Who are my neighbors, & how do I love them? Come to Ebenezers Coffeehouse (201 F St NE) Saturday, October 6 at 10am for fellowship, teaching and to encourage one another to honor, love and respect the homeless in our neighborhoods. More information: talk to Monique, 202-544- 8312 or carefordc@yahoo.com

Youth events:
OCT 20 All day event! (10am-9pm) at COSC
OCT 30 Fun night at WCF (7-9pm)

Youth Parents meeting:
Oct 20, 10:30am-12:30pm at the Parker’s.

Children’s Sunday School—reminder:
Kids, bring your Bibles to church!

Regeneration of Northern Virginia invites you to their 20th Anniversary Celebration, Oct 5, 7:30pm at Columbia Baptist Church. Come hear testimonies of how the Lord has set men and women free from sexual brokenness. RSVP 410-661-0284.

Stand in the Gap 2007 Prayer Team invites prayer warriors, both men and women, to join them throughout the day Oct 6 to pray for the men who are coming to stand before God. More information is available at http://www.standinthegap2007.org/

Ladies, Capitol Hill Baptist invites you to 2007 Women’s Conference, Oct 12-13, with speaker Noel Piper. Noel will be speaking on “The Psalm 91 Woman: meditations on living as godly women without fear.” RSVP by 10/4 http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/

WCF presents Walk Thru the Old Testament on Saturday, October 20, 9am-4pm and invites our congregation to join them. Cost is $20/ adult, $15 first child, $7.50 additional children (includes lunch & snacks). To register, visit http://wcfchurch.org/wttb.html or call Donn Northrup or Jesse Johnson at (202) 543-1926.

BULLETIN BOARD

Postings are not officially sanctioned by COSC.

FOR RENT-DUPONT CIRCLE: One bedroom apartment. Available for 1-year lease starting as early as October. Rent approx $950/mo, including heat & hot water, but not other utilities. 17th/P NW, eat-in kitchen, big windows & lots of natural light. Susan, soozshin@aol.com
FOR RENT: Furnished rooms available from Townsend family on month-to-month leases. Includes wireless internet & utilities, linens, microwave, fridge, washer/dryer, shared kitchen. 330 D Street SE $850/mo available 1 Oct 114 Third Street NE $850/mo available 1 Oct Karan, karantownsend@gmail.com or 304-702-1872 Jason, Jason@RealEstateinDC.com or 202-415-7400
FOR RENT: Cheverly, MD: 2story, 4BR/2BA furnished brick house—available 15 Oct. 1 mile from Metro, near parks/community center. Fully furnished—everything from furniture & dishes to linens. Backyard, deck, eat-in kitchen, dining room, living room, office. Cable TV & wireless internet. Whole house $1950/mo plus utils or individual rooms $450-550 plus utils. Karan, karantownsend@gmail.com or 304-702-1872 Jason, Jason@RealEstateinDC.com or 202-415-7400
FOR RENT-ALEXANDRIA: fully furnished house, Del -Ray area. Pleasant walk-able neighborhood. Avail Sept. Inquire at kkotopoulos@gmail.com
SEEKING HOUSING: Christian male attending National Community Church, seeking house-share with other Christian men, to move at the end of Sept. Onu, onu.ocholi@gmail.com, 202-486-2455.
VOLUNTEER: Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center is training new volunteers for 6 weeks starting Saturday, Oct 20 from 9am-noon. If you feel called to this ministry or would like more information, please call Ann Wink at 202-546-1018 or chpcvol@yahoo.com
PAGES TOUR 2007: Friday, Oct 12, 7:30PM at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield VA. Shane & Shane, Bebo Norman, and Alli Rogers. Tickets ($18) at http://www.itickets.com/pages/
MATH TUTOR SOUGHT: young girl needs help with middle school math/long division/pre-algebra. Would need help at least 1 night/wk. Preferably female, but… Karen, karen@kidsave.org or 202-547-8807

INTRODUCTION

HAGGI PART 1

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. ...

ZECHARIAH PART 1

Zechariah's prophecies took place during the reign of Darius the Great and were contemporary with Haggai in a post-exilic world after the fall of Jerusalem.Ezekiel and Jeremiah wrote before the fall of Jerusalem while continuing to prophesy in the early exile period. Scholars believe Ezekiel, with his blending of ceremony and vision, heavily influenced the visionary works of Zechariah 1–8. Zechariah is specific about dating his writing.

HOSEA PART 4

Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy offers a few glimpses into his life. The prophet’s name means “salvation,” likely a reference to Hosea’s position in Israel as a beacon of hope to those who would repent and turn to God because of his message.1 Following the command of God, Hosea married Gomer, a bride God described as “a wife of harlotry” (Hosea 1:2) and a woman who bore Hosea three children, two sons and a daughter (1:4, 6, 9). God used the names of Hosea’s children, along with his wife’s unfaithfulness, to send specific messages to the people of Israel.

PAUL'S ARGUMENT

His point is that no one is truly free; we are either a slave to sin or to God. He exhorts believers to choose the right way, God's way, which is the only way that leads to eternity.

HOSEA PART 2

Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy offers a few glimpses into his life. The prophet’s name means “salvation,” likely a reference to Hosea’s position in Israel as a beacon of hope to those who would repent and turn to God because of his message.1 Following the command of God, Hosea married Gomer, a bride God described as “a wife of harlotry” (Hosea 1:2) and a woman who bore Hosea three children, two sons and a daughter (1:4, 6, 9). God used the names of Hosea’s children, along with his wife’s unfaithfulness, to send specific messages to the people of Israel.

HOSEA PART 1

Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy offers a few glimpses into his life. The prophet’s name means “salvation,” likely a reference to Hosea’s position in Israel as a beacon of hope to those who would repent and turn to God because of his message.1 Following the command of God, Hosea married Gomer, a bride God described as “a wife of harlotry” (Hosea 1:2) and a woman who bore Hosea three children, two sons and a daughter (1:4, 6, 9). God used the names of Hosea’s children, along with his wife’s unfaithfulness, to send specific messages to the people of Israel.