November 8, 2015 October 30, 2016

Early hours on the morning of May 26, 2013 Atlantic Ocean off the coast of S. Nigeria “…one of three tug boats towing a Chevron oil tanker…”

Air Pocket in the engineer’s office Harrison Okene Air Pocket in the engineer’s office Over 72 hours 100 feet depth

by text message, sometimes called the Prayer for Deliverance: As the temperature dropped to freezing, Okene, dressed only in boxer shorts, recited the last psalm his wife had sent by text message, sometimes called the Prayer for Deliverance: "Oh God, by Your name, save me. ... The Lord sustains my life."

The Lord sustains my life." H O P E "Oh God, by Your name, save me... The Lord sustains my life."

Malachi’s Burden of Hope

Timeline of Old Testament Prophets One hundred years* *Human nature forgets previous lessons learned, necessitating reteaching. Baker

Timeline of Old Testament Prophets Four hundred years John the Baptist

Malachi (Messenger of Yahweh) Author Little else is known of Malachi Date 450-400 BC Theme Israel has become apathetic and unfaithful. Israel must live up to her high calling as a holy nation if it expects God to bless crops and economic welfare. Israel must also wait for the coming of the Messiah

Key Chapters the answer to our sin Chapters 3 and 4 together are the key chapters of the book. The Messiah, Christ, is the answer to our sin as illustrated in the sins of the returned remnant.

and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?” Key Verses 2:17 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?”

Key Verses 3:1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the Messenger of the Covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

Key Verses 4:5-6“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6“And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”

Malachi (Messenger of Yahweh) Author Little else is known of Malachi Date 450-400 BC Christ in this book Malachi predicts the coming of the messenger who will clear the way before the Lord; and also jumps ahead to Christ in His second advent

Malachi Love Rebuke Hope Ch. 1:1-5 Ch. 1:6-2:9 Ch. 2:10-3:15

Malachi Love Ch. 1:1-5

1The burden/oracle/message…

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. Romans 1:14

1The burden/word/message of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

NIV Application Commentary Malachi “Just as Moses, the lawgiver to Israel at Sinai (cf. Lev. 7:37–38), did not receive his legitimacy through his person but rather through Yahweh, his sender, so it is for this prophet. Both message and messenger receive a divine authorization.” NIV Application Commentary

2 “I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed My love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob,

3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. 3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.” 3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”

for repentance, even though he begged 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. Hebrews 12:16-17 3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”

we will rebuild the ruins.” 3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.” 4 Esau’s descendants in Edom may say, “We have been shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins.”

But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies replies, “They may try to rebuild, but I will demolish them again.

Rather than being a man-made place of refuge, of which Edomites proudly boasted, it would become a wasteland ruined by warfare. D.W. Baker

But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies replies, “They may try to rebuild, but I will demolish them again. Their country will be known as ‘The Land of Wickedness,’ and their people will be called ‘The People with Whom the Lord Is Forever Angry.’

5 When you see the destruction for yourselves, you will say, ‘Truly, the Lord’s greatness reaches far beyond Israel’s borders!’”

‘Truly, the Lord’s greatness reaches far beyond Israel’s borders!’” It is not Edom’s power but rather God’s love that is questioned and needs demonstration. This love for Judah is shown by God’s dealing severely with Edom, Judah’s enemies. D.W. Baker

2 “I have always loved you,” says the Lord.

God’s love is: Unconditional Sovereign Almighty Eternal

What Next? “May the LORD grant that our lives may be completely abandoned to the LORD that His abundant life may flow through to others, Christ in you the hope of glory,

(Herald of His Coming – Oct. 2016) What Next? through this earthly pilgrimage, ‘till He Who is our life shall appear, and then shall we also appear with Him in glory.’” H.C. Spence (Herald of His Coming – Oct. 2016)

What Next? Harrison Okene Akpovona Okene

What Next? Okene, has vowed never to return to the ocean. He and his wife regularly testify to the hope they have in Christ, and the power of prayer.

“we also appear with Him in glory.” What Next? Share your burden of hope today and every day until “we also appear with Him in glory.”