Introduction:  As God’s people we ought to never give up hope on our day as to what God can do.  We, however, are not to close our eyes to the wickedness of our day and pretend that we are in the midst of a world-wide, national or even local revival.

Charles the Twelfth of Sweden had his secretary sitting by his side writing from dictation, when a bombshell fell through the roof into the next room. The secretary, in alarm, dropped his pen, upon which the king exclaimed, ‘What are you doing?’ The poor man faltered, ‘Ah, sire, the bomb!’ The king’s answer was, ‘What has the bomb to do with what I am telling you?’ –from An All-Round Ministry by C. H. Spurgeon (p.72).

Though there is some great practical truth in this event, are we as God’s people not to concern ourselves at all with our time?  Time and time again we are admonished in the scriptures to consider our days and allow them to draw us closer to God.

1. THE CONDITION OF THE DAY 
1. A Day of Unnatural Emotions
1. Earthly honour without heavenly honour (Malachi 1:6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
   See All...)
2. Earthly fear without heavenly fear (Malachi 1:6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
   See All...)
3. Exceeded in our day (2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
   See All...)
2. A Day of Ignorance Among God’s People
1. They despised His name unaware (Malachi 1:6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
   See All...)
2. They offered polluted bread unaware (Malachi 1:7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
   See All...)
3. They cover the altar with their tears unaware (Malachi 2:13-14 [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.
   See All...)
4. They wearied the Lord with their words unaware (Malachi 2:17Ye 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?
   See All...)
5. They were gone away from God’s ordinances unaware of how and why to return (Malachi 3:7Even 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?
   See All...)
6. They robbed God unaware (Malachi 3:8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
   See All...)
7. Their words were against the Lord unaware (Malachi 3:13-14 [13] Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? [14] Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
   See All...)
3. A Day of Inadequate Service
1. Inadequate sacrifices offered (Malachi 1:8And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
   See All...)
2. Self centered service (Malachi 1:9And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
   See All...)
3. The best withheld (Malachi 1:13-14 [13] Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. [14] But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
   See All...)
4. A Day of an Unchanging God (Malachi 3:6For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
   See All...)
2. THE COMING JUDGMENT 
1. Judgment Upon the People of God
1. Judgment begins with the people of God (Malachi 2:1-2 [1] And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. [2] If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
   See All...; 1 Peter 4:17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
   See All...)
2. To whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
   See All...)
2. The Soon Return of the Son
1. In the midst of the wickedness in Malachi the Lord turns the focus to the coming of His Son (Malachi 4:1-2 [1] For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
   See All...)
2. When times get bad enough, God always has to shake things up
3. The next thing will be the return of His Son
3. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A REMNANT  
1. The Fellowship Enjoyed
1. The frequency of their fellowship – they spake often (Malachi 3:16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
   See All...)
2. The people with whom they fellowshipped – one to another (Malachi 3:16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
   See All...)
2. The Faith Lived
1. They feared the Lord (Malachi 3:16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
   See All...) unlike those in Malachi 1:6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
   See All....
2. They thought upon His name (Malachi 3:16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
   See All...) unlike those in Malachi 1:6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
   See All... who despised His name.
3. The Favor of God
1. They got the Lord’s attention
2. The Lord had a new book written about them
3. The darker the days are the brighter a little light will shine

Conclusion:  What are you doing with the times in which God has allowed you to live?  The Bible says that David served his generation well, but what would be said of you?  Let us not coast because of the wickedness of our day, but may we more fully yield ourselves as instruments of righteousness to the King who is worthy.