December 31, 2018
THE GOD OF THE OLD IS THE GOD OF THE NEW
As the Old Testament closes with the writings of the prophet Malachi, the Lord reminded the descendants of Jacob of His immutability. People today often wonder at this. How can the God that judged the world with a devastating deluge be the same God who so loved the world that He sent His only begotten to save it?
The immutability of God is better understood when we see the Bible as a progressive revelation of God. Page by page, as we read from Genesis to Revelation, we learn more about God. Finally, the fullest revelation of God is seen in Jesus. As the author of Hebrews wrote, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son… The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God” (Heb. 1:1-3). As Jesus told His disciples, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
The new covenant of grace, which was introduced in the New Testament, is not evidence of any change in the God who gave Moses the Law. On the contrary, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets. God gave the law to reveal His holiness and our sinfulness that we might repent. God gave us Jesus to pay for our sins that we might believe in Him and be saved.
God’s immutability is better understood when we read the Bible from back to front, rather than front to back. Indeed, God and His Word are only rightly understood by reading through the lens of Jesus. For Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb.13:8).
December 31, 2017
It’s become my habit to highlight a verse from each of the four daily readings in the One Year Bible on the last day of the year. So, on this last day of 2017, I offer a prayer for all of us from each of the readings:
From Malachi, I pray that we will receive healing and the power to go out kicking up our feet like young calves.
From Revelation, I pray that we will look forward to Christ’s return and be blessed by the promises of His Word.
From Psalms, I pray that we grow in our awareness and acknowledgement of God’s “mighty acts” and “excellent greatness,” so that we are always praising the Lord.
From Proverbs, I pray that as members of His Bride, the Church, we would be be clothed in “strength and honor,” always “rejoicing in time to come.”
I pray these prayers over all of us, knowing that His Word is true, His promises sure, and His ear, always listening, ready to answer the prayers of His people.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
December 31, 2016
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21 ESV)
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6 ESV)
“Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:31 ESV)
Since it’s the last day of the year, I thought I’d just post on the last verse in the OT, NT, Psalms and Proverbs. Looking at them together, an encouraging word emerges. After all, even though the Bible is a collection of 66 books, it is actually one Book.
The last verses in Malachi and Proverbs speaks of God’s desire to bless both fatherhood and motherhood. May we let His Word instruct and encourage us to honor our parents and also to empower those of us who are parents ourselves. God cares about fathering and mothering. He is a relational God.
The last verses in Revelation and the Psalms encourages us to lift our voices up to our Lord Jesus! He is full of grace and has given us life and breath. Let us finish this year with gratitude and praise to Him, shouting “Praise the Lord! Amen!”
December 31, 2015
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:13 NKJV).
“Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:2 NKJV).
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” Proverbs 31:30 NKJV).
On this last day of 2015, it seems appropriate to quote from all four OYB readings. As I do, I am reminded that the Bible is primarily a book about God. Malachi speaks of God’s immutability. Revelation reveals Christ’s prominence, preexistence, and eternality. The Psalmist calls us to give praise for the Lord’s mighty works and excellent greatness. And Proverbs reminds us that real and lasting beauty comes from knowing and fearing the Lord. God has given us the Incarnate Word, Christ Jesus, so that we might be saved and know Him. And He has given us the written Word, so that through the help of the Spirit we might understand His character.
I hope you have been encouraged by this year’s “Bible bus” tour! Get ready. We’re pulling into the station and preparing for another tour in 2016!
March 29, 2015
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Malachi 4:1-6
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exposition
Pastor Gary concluded our sermon series through the book of Malachi. Malachi ends with a warning about the “Day of the Lord”, a day that has yet to come even now, to encourage us to repent, remember and return to God.
March 22, 2015
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Malachi 3:13-18
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exposition
Pastor Gary Combs continued the 8-week exposition of Malachi entitled, “Dialogue With God,” with this message from chapter three. In this chapter of Malachi, God told the people of Israel that He heard all of their words and that some had spoken against Him, complaining to one another about Him, while others had rightly feared and esteemed His name before one another. He warns that there is coming a Day when He will separate those who speak against Him from those who fear Him and will only call those who fear Him as His own. Which group do you want to be in? Those who speak against God or for God? The text gives three steps to how we can change our grumbling into gratitude.
March 15, 2015
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Malachi 3:7-15
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exposition
As we continue our series going verse by verse through the book of Malachi, we learn how God accused the Israelites of robbing him, what that means for us today, and how through Jesus we can respond to God not through the law of tithing, but by willingly giving our whole selves back to God.
March 8, 2015
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Malachi 2:17-3:7
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exposition
In this 5th sermon in our series going verse by verse through the book of Malachi, “A Dialogue With God”, God tells the Israelites that they have wearied him. Pastor Gary helps us understand how the Israelites were questioning God and how God’s ultimate answer came in the person of Jesus Christ.
March 1, 2015
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Malachi 2:10-16
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exposition
Pastor Gary Combs continues the sermon series through the book of Malachi entitled: “A Dialogue With God.” This 4th message in the series is taken from Malachi 2:10-16. In this passage, God warned the Israelites that they had been unfaithful in their relationship to Him, to their fellow countrymen and to their spouses. God is a covenant-making and a covenant-keeping God. And He wanted His chosen people to enjoy the life and peace of living in covenant with Him and others. We can heed God’s warning today and live under the New Covenant that enables us to be faithful in all our relationships.
February 22, 2015
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Malachi 2:1-9
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exposition
Pastor Gary Combs continues the sermon series through Malachi with this message from chapter two about how the priests had lost their way and were no longer leading the people according to God’s Word. Those who carry the Name of God are to follow His ways.