On March 4, 1974, Brother Stephen delivered a ministry in Richmond, Virginia, emphasizing the importance of love and repentance in the relationship between God and His people. He referenced Malachi, highlighting Judah's unfaithfulness and the need for God's people to repent. Stephen pointed out that the closer one is to God, the more one recognizes the need for repentance. He illustrated this with the example of the prophet Isaiah, who repented upon seeing the Lord. The message of repentance is central to both the Old and New Testaments, as seen in the messages to the seven churches in Revelation. Stephen stressed that God's love is unwavering, yet His people often fail to honor Him and may become unfaithful, turning to the world for satisfaction. He warned against spiritual unfaithfulness and the dangers of living in the intellect rather than the spirit. The ministry concluded with a call to repentance, urging believers to return to God and prioritize their relationship with Him, as well as to support His work through tithes and offerings.
Introduction and prayer
Scriptural reference: Malachi 2
Judah's unfaithfulness and need for repentance
Importance of recognizing God's love
Call to honor God and avoid spiritual unfaithfulness
Consequences of neglecting God's house
Encouragement to prioritize relationship with God
Conclusion: Call to repentance and support for God's work
11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. 13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. 17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
Chapter 3
1 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 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?