GICF Calendar Jan – June 2018 Weekly New Believers / Baptism course (until early June)  May 20 etc Divine Design for Women (Every 2 Weeks) May 12 GICF Men's Retreat May 25 Prayer / Worship Night TBC Farewell to graduates Jun 17 Baptism

Living in the Kingdom Pay Me in Jewels Malachi 3:13-18

“If all insects on Earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.” Jonas Salk?, biologist (Disputed)

CAT DROP Anti-malaria campaign, Borneo in the 1950’s, WHO sprayed insecticides to kill the mosquitoes on the inside walls and ceilings of the large “long houses” that housed an entire village. Malaria was reduced. Thatched roofs began to fall because a moth caterpillar that eats the thatch avoided the DDT but their parasite, the larvae of a wasp, did not. Cats were poisoned by the insecticide on their fur. No cats = rats & related diseases like typhus & the plague. Cats were collected in coastal towns & parachuted by the Royal Air Force . http://catdrop.com

Living in the Kingdom God Listens Malachi 3:13-18

Difficult questions Malachi 1 - You don’t really love us Malachi 2 - It’s not fair! Sounds like a spoilt child

More Difficult Questions Who can stand the day of Jesus’ coming? In what way shall we return to God? In what way have we robbed God? Today’s passage sums up the arguments from the previous 2 chapters and God gives a definitive answer.

Malachi 3: 13-12 13 ​​“Your words have been harsh against Me,” says the LORD, ​​“Yet you say, ​‘​What have we spoken against You?’ 14 ​​You have said, ​‘​It is useless to serve God; ​​What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, ​​And that we have walked as mourners ​​Before the LORD of hosts? 15 ​​So now we call the proud blessed, ​​For those who do wickedness are raised up; ​​They even tempt God and go free.’ ” ​

SIN PAYS It’s a waste of time to serve God 1. The Complaint (… the sinners are prospering & God doesn’t punish them!) SIN PAYS SIN PAYS How would you answer?

What is the profit in keeping God’s commands? 2. The Questions What is the profit in keeping God’s commands? What’s the point of suffering for God? In what way shall we return? The short answer is … however you need to! Inner attitude & faith, & external evidence How would you answer?

Malachi 3: 13-18 16 ​​Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, ​​And the LORD listened and heard them; ​​So a book of remembrance was written before Him ​​For those who fear the LORD ​​And who meditate on His name. ​

Malachi 3: 13-18 17 ​​“They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, ​​“On the day that I make them My jewels. ​​And I will spare them ​​As a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 ​​Then you shall again discern ​​Between the righteous and the wicked, ​​Between one who serves God ​​And one who does not serve Him.

3. The Final Account Those who fear the Lord … spoke to one another… God listened (He still does!) and wrote a book…

Fear the Lord Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 3:7 - Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. Job 28:28 ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.' ” The fear of the Lord leads to wise decisions & actions Wisdom is the character of God in action!

Meditate … Joshua 1:7-8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Psalm 1:1-3 ‘Blessed is the man … 2 …his delight is in the law of the Lord,     And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 … whatever he does shall prosper.

3. The Final Account How to get in the book & in the box… Fear the Lord: Prov 3:7, 4:7, Job 28:28 Meditate on his name (Ps 1, Josh 1:7-8) God is in business. We should be too. What return is he getting on my life? Rom 14:12 Give account God wants his return on investment to be paid in JEWELS

After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box. Italian Proverb

God’s Jewels RETURN ON INVESTMENT In the end, we’ll know the difference between those who chose correctly and those who did not. It will be too late to go back. Say ‘I want to be a ‘blessed person’ V10-12 Then you shall again discern… God’s Jewels

Mark 8:34-38 34 …“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

God’s Answer It's worth serving God It's worth obeying It's worth returning to God It's worth tithing and giving It’s worth losing everything for the sake of Jesus We find our purpose in life as we take pleasure in seeking Jesus and His kingdom purposes God’s Jewels John & Betty Stam Jim Elliot & friends Billy Graham You?

RG LeTourneau (1887-1969) Earthmoving Innovator  A 6th grade dropout who became the leading earth moving machinery manufacturer of his day with more than 300 patents & major contributions to road construction & heavy equipment that changed the world. Most importantly, his contribution to the advancement of the Gospel ranks him among the greatest of Christian Businessmen.  Famous for living on 10% of his income and giving 90% to the spread of the Gospel, LeTourneau shows what a Christian businessman should be. Perhaps the most inspiring Christian inventor & businessman ever. “God needs businessmen too.” 

Our service to God may be costly but it’s eternally worth it! CONCLUSION The Cat Drop – YOU! Everyone has a part to play! Our service to God may be costly but it’s eternally worth it! Only one life, T’will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last Oh, that I could dedicate my all to God. This is all the return I can make Him. David Brainerd.

How will you invest your life this week? Living in the Kingdom How will you invest your life this week? What a privilege to be God’s children and to serve! Let’s not waste that and begin living in the Kingdom. It’s not a waste to serve God!