1. “Living Christmas Card” Sunday 12/21/14 AM Messiah Texts

2.  Haggai 2:6-9 6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

3.  Malachi 3:1-3 KJV ¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2 ¶ But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

4. There is a need for purity to appreciate the Messiah!  100 years had passed since the return of the Jews from Babylon.  Jerusalem and the Temple had been rebuilt  Enthusiasm had dwindled.  Priests and people had backslidden and become mechanical.  Their worship was lax and their tithes were sickly.  God speaks of his compassion for them briefly and then…  He gives them a specific scolding Malachi 1:6-3:15  But right in the middle of this scolding – a blessed prophecy of the Messiah appears.  Note:  His Personal Attendant  His Personal Appearance  His Personal Agenda

5.  Who was this Jesus?  What titles has He been given?  He came once already. Why?  Will He come again? Why?  What will the second coming be like?  What if I don’t care?  II Peter chapter 3  What must I do if I care?  Acts 16:30,31