Malachi 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read Malachi 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mal/4/1/s_929001

Meditate on verse 2.

But for you who fear My name, the sun of

righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,

and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

God’s final recorded Words in the Old Testament are the closing verses of Malachi; they describe the coming Day of the LORD (vs. 1, 5). For those who fear God’s name, it holds the promise of health, youthful vitality, and restoration (vs. 2, 6). For the arrogant and wicked, it is a day for being consumed by fire (v. 1).

God gave His people 400 years to think about His sobering words. His next message came through John the Baptist, the messenger, who “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (vs. 5; Luke 1:17) declared:

 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

—John 1:2

Pray God’s final Old Testament message from Malachi 4:1-6 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let ________ and me be arrogant evildoers for whom the day is coming burning like a furnace. Please save us from the chaff; do not set us ablaze! Do not leave us without root or branch! Let us fear Your name, 

so the sun of righteousness will rise on us with healing in its wings.

Let us go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

Save ________ from being the wicked who will be ashes under the soles of our feet on the day which You are preparing, LORD of hosts. Let us remember Your law of Moses, Your servant, even the statutes and ordinances which You commanded.  Thank You for sending Elijah the prophet in John the Baptist before the coming of Your great and terrible day, LORD. Continue to restore the hearts of the fathers to their children

 and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that

You will not come and smite the land with a curse.

Because You saved us from the curse, Lamb of God, Jesus Christ~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Malachi 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read Malachi 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mal/3/1/s_928001

Meditate on verses 13 and 16.

“Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the LORD. 

“Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’” 

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to

 one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it,

and a book of remembrance was written before Him

 for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.

The questioning conversation between God and His spoiled children continues into Malachi 3. Questions of: “How shall we return?” and “What have we spoken against You?” spill from the mouths of those unwilling to take responsibility for their actions (vs. 7, 13). Then suddenly the questions cease; the conversation stops, and the LORD turns His attention from the arrogant God-questioners to the humble God-fearers (vs. 16-18). As God listens to this quite different conversation, He is so touched that He has   a book of remembrance written about them (v. 16). He makes those who esteem His name His own precious possession, promising to spare them from His judgment (vs. 16-17).

With whom do you most identify from Malachi: God-questioner or God- fearer? Ask God to make your conversations and actions pleasing to Him by praying Malachi 3:16-18 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ___________ and I fear You!

  As we speak to one another, let our words be ones

 You give attention to and hear.  Please write about us in

 Your book of remembrance, as those who fear

 You and esteem Your name.  LORD, we want to be

Yours; prepare us as Your own possession

 and spare us as a man spares his own son

who serves him.  LORD, You distinguish between

 the righteous and the wicked, between one who

 serves God and one who does not serve You. 

Make us Your righteous ones who serve You always.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Malachi 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Malachi 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mal/2/1/s_927001

Meditate on verses 13 and 17.

This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the

LORD with tears, with weeping and with groaning,

because He no longer regards the offering or

accepts it with favor from your hand.

You have wearied the LORD with your words.

Yet you say, "How have we wearied Him?"

In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in

the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,"

 or, "Where is the God of justice?"

This chapter sounds like it was written today. God’s Word was not taught truthfully, causing many to stumble (vs. 6-8). People wanted God’s favor without seeking His forgiveness (v. 13). Divorce was rampant (vs. 14-16). People called evil “good,” and dealt treacherously with each other (vs. 14- 16). As lives crumbled under unchecked sin, people questioned, “Where is God?” (v. 17).

God and His Word have not changed with the times. Times change when impacted by God and His Word; otherwise, times stay like they were when God spoke through Malachi over 2400 years ago.

Pray Malachi 2:5-7 over yourself and those you love to uphold God’s Word as His faithful, prayerful watchmen (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, thank You for Your covenant of life

 and peace with _________ and me.  Your Words are

 an object of reverence to us, so we revere You and

 stand in awe of Your name.  May true instruction

 be in our mouths, and unrighteousness not be found on our lips. 

May we walk with You in peace and uprightness

 and turn many back from iniquity.  May our lips

preserve knowledge; let people seek instruction from

our mouths.  Let us be Your messengers, LORD of hosts.

 For the sake of Your name, LORD Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Malachi 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read Malachi 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/mal/1/1/s_926001

Meditate on verse 6.

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master.

Then if I am a father, where is My honor?

And if I am a master, where is My respect?”

 says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name.

 But you say, “How have we despised Your name?”

God spoke one more time to His people through the prophet Malachi. His message begins with, “I have loved you” (v. 2). The people’s response sounds like a spoiled, disrespectful, whiny child: “How have You loved us?” (v. 2). God patiently answers their questions as the Father/child conversation continues throughout the book.

As you read Malachi, examine how you approach the LORD. Do you ever sound like the Israelites who insolently questioned God’s motives and actions? Keep in mind you can ask the LORD anything; take some time to ask Him what He hears when you present your inquiries. Let God shape your attitudes toward Him and what He is doing in your life.

Pray Malachi 1:6, 11, and 14 in respectful honor of the LORD, as His faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Father, I honor You.  Master, I respect You, LORD of hosts. 

May I never despise Your name! For from the rising of the sun

 even to its setting, Your name will be great among the nations,

and in every place, incense is going to be offered to Your name.

 May all my offerings be pure, for Your name will be great

among the nations, LORD of hosts.  Do not let me be a swindler

 who does not keep my vows.  May my life be an

unblemished sacrifice to You, for You are the great King,

 LORD of hosts, and Your name is feared among the nations.

Because of Your name, LORD Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

James 5 - Praying God's Word

Please read James 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jas/5/1/s_1151001

Meditate on verses 19-20.

 

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,

let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James is a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred letter written to Christians. It addresses many areas of life: trials, temptations, favoritism, saving faith, the tongue, God’s wisdom versus worldly demonic wisdom, sinning after salvation, the power of confession and prayer. James wanted his readers to take an honest look at their walks with Christ. Some may have read the letter and accused James of being judgmental and stepping on toes, but James wrote under the divine power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The letter is from God, and its purpose is to convict Christians of sin, helping them grow-up in the LORD. James causes those who claim to be Christians to evaluate their lives and determine whether their faith actually produces good works or not. If they are really friends with the world and not friends with God, then they are not really Christians. God wants those who read this letter to humbly submit to Him, so their souls can be saved from death and their sins covered by the forgiveness of Jesus Christ (v. 20).

“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (v. 16b). Pray James 5:19-20 over those who need to really become Christians, as their faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, _________ has strayed from the truth.

Help me turn them back. 

Make them turn from the error of their way.

Save their soul from death and cover a multitude of their sins.

Thank You for saving my soul from death

and covering a multitude of my sins.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

James 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read James 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jas/4/1/s_1150001

Meditate on verse 9.

 

Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your

 laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

Taken out of context, the meditation verse makes Christianity sound like a real downer. However, it is written in the context of Christians lusting, murdering, envying, fighting, and quarreling (vs. 1-2). It is written in the context of God calling Christians’ friendship with the world “adultery” thus making them enemies of God (v. 4). It is written in the context of Christians not allowing the Holy Spirit to move and live inside of them (v. 5). It is written in the context of Christians laughing at and finding joy in sin, and that should make Christians weep grievously (v. 9).

Sin is horrific! Christian, do not entertain the idea of indulging it, much less enjoying it. Humble yourself, confessing and repenting of everything this chapter of God’s powerful Word convicts you.

Pray James 4:4-10 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, please forgive _______ and me for being adulteresses by being friends with the world. Make us stop being hostile to You, God! We do not want to be Your enemy. Thank You for making the Holy Spirit dwell in us; we will let the Holy Spirit live out in us. Thank You for Your greater grace that forgives us for sinning against You. Give us Your grace as we humble ourselves before You; do not let us be proud.

We submit to You, God. Help us resist the devil; make him flee from us. Draw near to us as we draw near to You. We are sinners; please cleanse our hands and purify our hearts.

Let us no longer be double-minded!

We are miserable, mourning and weeping over our sin. We will stop laughing and being joyful because of sin. We humble ourselves in Your presence.

Jesus, be exalted in our lives for the sake of Your name~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

James 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read James 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jas/3/1/s_1149001

Meditate on verse 8.

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless

 evil and full of deadly poison.

Perhaps the first reading of the meditation verse is discouraging. You may think, “Why even try to control my tongue if it is impossible to do so?” Continue to meditate on the verse—only the Holy Spirit can control your tongue; you must give your tongue to Jesus to be used by Him for His glory. Once you allow God to control your mouth, He can bridle your whole body as well (v. 2). Even Jesus yielded His tongue to the control of the Father:

“The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative,

but the Father abiding in Me does His works.”

—John 14:10b

Ask the LORD to tame your tongue, controlling it with the power of His wisdom by praying James 3:8 and 17-18. Pray the words over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I confess that no human can tame _______ and my tongue;

it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

                                   Please control our mouths with Your wisdom from above!

                                           Make our words pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable,

full of mercy, full of good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy.

Let our words produce the seed whose fruit is righteousness.

Make us people of peace who sow our words in peace.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell