Return Unto Me
Central thought: God accepts and establishes anyone who earnestly returns to Him.
Text: Malachi 1-4 (reading 3:1-18)
God, since the creation of man, has never kept him ignorant of His will for all. Even when man goes astray, He still seeks his return to Him, because it is really not His will that anyone should perish but get repented, Genesis 3:15; Matthew 4:10.
Though man has always wanted to go his own way to his hurt, God always desires and puts all possible machinery in place to bring him back to the way of life. So many ways which seem right to man are destructive at the end, Proverbs 14:12. Hence, this all-important and sovereign call by God unto man to return to Him.
Israel as a nation and all spiritual Israelites by rebirth, have always been given this benevolent call from Him – “Return unto Me and I will return unto you”, vs.7. A good heed to this glaring call gives peace and abundant life. No matter the level or gravity of man’s sins, God is always able and willing to set him free by cleansing him of them all if a sincere intention and action is exhibited by the sinner, Isaiah 1:18.
Prophet Malachi was used at a time when the Israelites were caught in the web of ungodliness having put off the word of God. At that time, they even had deceivers bearing big titles in God’s house, but telling them lies in the form of messages they intend to hear and not the truth from the Almighty god.
Similarly, among the spiritual Israelites of today are some lying prophets, but there are still a remnant like Elijah who will not bow down to Baal; they are rather busy telling us the truth from God, to enable us retrace our feet from when we fell.
This lesson presents a good chance of retreating back to the way, that narrow way back to God, such that one will make it to heaven if the individual remains in faith till the end.
1. From the following scriptures, identify the activities of the priests and the people for which they were condemned. Malachi 1:6-14, 2:7-9, 11-17; 3:8-9, 13-15; Haggai 1:2-6
The entire people of Israel in the days of Malachi no doubt have gone astray from the way of the Lord, and followed their own way contrary to the will of God. They failed to see God as their maker, who deserves all the honor they can give Him. They did not treat God as their Master and Father who gave them grace to be whatever they were.
The priests failed to teach the people the truth from the word of God. The priests whose zeal for godliness had dwindled, saw no reason to make enough result-oriented effort to enable them know the truth that sets free and restores godly living. Thus everyone did what seemed right in his sight to the detriment of their spiritual well-being.
The resultant effects were that:
-No one was interested in seeking the truth.
-They all disrespected the Creator and worshiped the creatures they had.
-They put God secondary instead of in the right place as real Father.
-They neglected God and His house.
-They failed to fear and worship God in sincerity and in truth.
-They gave unworthy offering to God as if God was a beggar.
-They failed to pay complete tithe.
-They lived in comfortable houses but neglected the places where God is worshiped; procrastinating building them at their convenience that never came.
2. Discuss the similarities in attitudes between the people and prophets of Israel’s days and the present day church of God. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
In those days, the synagogues were neglected and abandoned because people were not zealous. In these last days also, people are after their own personal aggrandizement (self-enrichment). Some have left God and are now following after self-pursuits both as shepherds and sheep in this our time. Today, some, who care to teach, select their type of teachings which only make their followers to be happy and remain in the church as congregational members even when they know that they cannot make it to heaven as they are. They are not bothered as far as they can flow in their affluence in ungodly and camouflaged joy.
Many prophets of old prophesied to gain fame, some sought after Baal having lost the Spirit of God. Some also took bribes to speak contrary to God’s word. So have some pastors of our days been distracted from focusing on the Lord. Many have left teaching their people the truth that gives eternal life and make quotable quotes to encourage their flesh and in ecstasy, remain as members of their church group even when the preachers know their hopeless spiritual bankrupt state. Such pastors are after earthly positions and titles, instead of manifesting the Holy Ghost power to the Glory of God.
Disobedience to the word of God is even worse off in our time, among the leaders and the led. The believers’ primary allegiance and obedience should be to the LORD and not to man, irrespective of title, position or possession. An example is in the dressing style of some of our church members which is not better than of some insane persons. Most painful of it is that some pastors are in support of this shame. Some supposed enlightened ones even see half naked type of dressings as proof of exposure, not minding the effect on people around them. Attempting to correct them brings one to ridicule.
3A. Israel failed to pay tithe and offering in Malachi’s days, what is tithe and offering?
Tithe is one tenth of a person’s total income that should be paid into the Lord’s house.
Offering on the other hand is anything or the amount one gives cheerfully to the Lord according to ones enablement. It should be given bountifully unto the Lord, to attract blessings from Him – the giver of all good things in life.
3B. What are the blessings of paying tithes and giving offering? Malachi 3:10-11
God’s promises abound to everyone that is faithful in tithes and offerings. The class should reflect on the following scriptures: Malachi 3:10-12; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6.
God does not only give for our earthly usage but also eternal things.
4. How should we return unto God?
The Lord does not despise a repentant heart. He wants sinners to return to Him for forgiveness and re-absorption into the sheep-fold. For one to return to the Lord, he has to realize himself, by identifying his real sinful spiritual state like the prodigal son. He needs to tell himself the truth regarding his insecure ungodly state. Such a one needs to make a resolve to come back to God who forgives at any time. He needs to make deliberate efforts to repent of all his sins and accept Christ to save him.
Thus, one should despise shame, scorn, fear, arrogance, threats and intimidation and any other distraction to return to God.
5. Discuss some benefits of sincere return in repentance to God. 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 1:19; Revelation 3:21
Sincere return in repentance to God will bring about the following:
-There’s joy in heaven.
-The repentant sinner’s name gets written in the Book of Life, as he now has peace with God, and is guaranteed answered prayers.
-The individual has grace to live a victorious Christian life on earth, and has hope of eternal life.
The class should mention other benefits.
Daily living application:
God always makes provisions for salvation and for backsliders to return again because He is not willing that any should perish. It will be too painful for one to deliberately remain in sin, despising the grace available for his redemption, and still go to hell.
Once we hear His voice we should not harden our hearts but humble ourselves in repentance that enables salvation. Anyone of God suffers condemnation having thrown away God’s provision for eternal life.
Have you take advantage of this rare privilege to return to God from your sinful state? One’s position, title and family background is not relevant in this matter but a humble, earnest search for godliness. Accountability is required of every one of us some day. It is only a genuine return to the Lord and stay with Him in righteousness that can provide man a place in the kingdom. Therefore, let us come back to our first love for God, Revelation 2:4, in all our ways daily.
Please avail yourself of this opportunity and return to the open forgiving hands of your maker and start to enjoy the abundant life in Christ with the unprecedented peace that comes along with it as evidence to smile all your life.
Memory verse
Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”