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[0:00] We'll read from Malachi 2, beginning in verse 17, through chapter 3, in verse 7. You have wearied the Lord with your words.

[0:13] How have we wearied Him, you ask? By saying, all who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and He is pleased with them. Or, where is the God of justice?

[0:25] See, I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire will come, says the Lord Almighty.

[0:39] But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire, or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

[0:52] He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness. And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord as in days gone by, as in former years.

[1:07] So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me, says the Lord Almighty.

[1:27] I, the Lord, do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers, you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them.

[1:41] Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty. But you ask, how are we to return? Please open with me to Malachi chapter 3.

[1:54] We have launched on a study of the attributes of God, and we're wanting to find out what God is like, and the difference that that should make in our lives.

[2:07] So we've come to his book, the Bible, where he tells us what he's like. Last week, we turned to the first verse in the Bible, and found him to introduce himself to us as the uncreated creator.

[2:24] Now, today we begin at the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi 3.6, and God has this to say about himself.

[2:36] I, the Lord, do not change. Now, the position of that statement, where it is, is interesting. As the Old Testament comes to an end, we have this witness standing at the end of all that's been said from Genesis onward about God.

[2:55] I, the Lord, do not change. That means what I was at the beginning, before creation, I still am.

[3:07] That means what I was in Genesis, and Exodus, and Leviticus, and Judges, and Ruth, and Esther, and Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, I still am. Now, you see how important this is to our knowledge of God.

[3:25] God is telling us, anything that you have learned about me in these 39 books preceding this statement, I still am today. I'm exactly the same now as then.

[3:42] I am that I am. I do not change. Now, right away, this claim stands as a challenge to many people's ideas about God.

[3:53] You've heard them. I like the God of the New Testament better than the God of the Old Testament. You know the God of the Old Testament. He's always judging people.

[4:04] He's full of anger and wrath and punishing the wicked. He's holy. He's a lawgiver. He's a law enforcer. And in the New Testament, we find He's the God of love, the God of light, the God of peace, the God who forgives, the God who's gracious.

[4:22] I like the God of the New Testament better than the God of the Old Testament. And God simply says, you're wrong. There are not two gods, an Old Testament God and a New Testament God.

[4:36] Neither is there a new and improved God in the New Testament who has grown and developed from what He used to be in the Old Testament. I, the Lord, do not change.

[4:51] All that I have been, I remain today. For I, the Lord, do not change. Not even the slightest bit. James chapter 1 and verse 17 says that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of heavenly lights.

[5:09] With whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning. Who does not change, the NIV says, like shifting shadows.

[5:20] No variations in Him. The illusion is to the heavenly lights. The sun. The moon. Casting their shadows on the earth. Here we have a sundial.

[5:33] And it tells time by the shadows cast from the sun. In relation to the movements of the earth rotating as it is some 1,000 miles per hour.

[5:47] And it makes that rotation once every 24 hours. And as it's spinning and revolving around the sun to some 76,000 miles per hour.

[5:59] Even as it's rotating on its axis. It's moving, you see. And so, with the slightest movement of the earth, the shadow casts a different shadow.

[6:14] There is no shadow of turning with Him. There is no change at all with Him. Not even the slightest. Great is Thy faithfulness.

[6:28] O God, my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

[6:42] Now, we want to meditate today on our unchanging God. Our unchangeable God. And it will mean more to us if we see just how changeable everything else is.

[6:53] Everything created has this mark. This stamp upon it. That we are changeable and changing. God alone does not change. It's an attribute that marks Him out as God.

[7:07] And He shares it with no one and no thing. He is changeless. But everywhere else we find change. Change in the weather.

[7:18] Change is in our jobs. In our cars. In our houses. Change is in my garden. From one month ago. Flowers that were once blooming in splendor are now withered and gone.

[7:31] Men. Men. Who were once in the strength and vigor of life. Are now but a shadow. Of the man. And the men that they once were. Living one day.

[7:46] Dead the next. So much so is substantial change a part of our life. That we are not even to boast about tomorrow. Because things could really change between now and tomorrow.

[7:57] Change and decay. And all around. I see. Oh thou that changes not. Abide with me. Couples once in love.

[8:08] Are in love no more. Their love has changed. Professional athletes. Once the best. In their sport. Are now has-beens. Their skill levels have changed. Rulers once reigning.

[8:20] Are now set aside. And others are reigning in their place. Businesses once thriving. Are no more. There's no more Gilberts. There's no more Studebaker. There's no more Bulban. Schools we once.

[8:32] Studied in. Are gone. Or are so changed. That we can hardly recognize them. And at our 30th. Anniversary of our graduating class. We need name tags. To identify each other.

[8:45] Change. And decay. And all around. I see. But the change isn't just out there. I find this change in me.

[8:57] It's a different John. That looks back in the mirror. At me every morning. He's a little different from yesterday. A little richer. A little poor.

[9:09] A little smarter. A little dumber. I learn things today. That I didn't know yesterday. That's change. My body's changing. A little less hair.

[9:24] A little more wrinkles. Change. Decay. In all around I see. There's changes in my walk with God. There's days when I'm warm with love to God and to man.

[9:37] And they can be followed with days when I feel very little toward either. I can waver between two opinions. Such that God must say to me.

[9:50] How long will you waver between two opinions John? If God's God serve him. If Baal's God serve him. I can be counting God my highest delight one day.

[10:02] And envying the wicked the next. As we found in Psalm 73. My resolve to live for Christ can be. So strong on Sundays.

[10:13] On Sundays. Oh I'm ready to die with Jesus. Like Peter. But on Monday. At the first temptation. I'm ready to deny him. I can witness in one situation.

[10:24] And have a perfect opportunity in another. And the cat's got my time. I cannot speak. I will not speak. Change. And decay. My prayer closet knows the changeableness of my heart.

[10:38] Where'd he go? He was here two days ago. But we haven't seen him since. This is man. So changeable.

[10:49] Like the chameleon. Changing his color. Like the weather vane. Changing so often. So fickle even. People. Ready to make Christ a king by force.

[11:03] And not many days later. Picking up stones to stone him. Shouting Hosanna on Sunday. And crucify him on Friday. And then there were those islanders on Malta.

[11:16] The island of Malta. You remember Paul was making his way to Rome. To Rome to his trial before the emperor Nero. With other prisoners. And soldiers. And sailors. And they hit this big storm.

[11:28] And they're shipwrecked. And they make for the land. And they all get to land safely. And the Maltese are there. And they welcome them. And they're burning the fire. Because it's cold and damp. And Paul's gathering firewood.

[11:41] And a poisonous snake hangs on him. Bites him. And the people say. Ah. This is one of those real bad criminals. Justice is caught up with him.

[11:53] And they just keep watching him. And he shakes the snake off. And they're watching him. Waiting for him to drop dead. Like everyone else. That's been bit by these poisonous snakes. But he doesn't drop dead.

[12:05] And now they say. No. He's not a criminal. He's a God. So quickly. From a criminal to a God. The fickleness of man. We change. We change our ideas.

[12:16] We change our minds. We read just recently. In Jeremiah 34. How the people of Judah. Were not to take slaves. From their fellow Hebrews. And they had done that.

[12:26] Broken the covenant of God. And God calls them to task for it. The Bible says. They agreed. And set them free. But afterwards. They changed their minds. And took back the slaves. That they had freed.

[12:37] And enslaved them all over again. Just like Pharaoh. Letting them go. And then changing his mind. It's not just politicians. Who do flip flops on issues.

[12:49] I too have changed my mind on things. I didn't. I didn't know this. I've come to see this now. And it's changed my. My mind on this person. On this thing.

[13:03] No wonder the Bible. Refers to man as unstable as water. Unstable. As changing as water. There it is. So still.

[13:13] So calm. The next minute. Bubbling and boiling in the pot. Or whipped up into turbulence on the sea. Or overflowing its banks on the river.

[13:25] Or on the shoreline. And flooding and devastating. This is man. Unstable. As water. But God is not like man.

[13:38] He does not change. I the Lord do not change. He's always the same. He's perfectly consistent with who he is. And so in scripture. He's not compared to water.

[13:49] Something as unstable as water. But a rock. A rock. Yes. He's the rock. Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord the Lord.

[14:00] Is the rock eternal. The rock of ages. Unchanged by time. There's no wrinkle on the brow of the eternal one. He stands unmoved.

[14:12] Let all the waters crash upon this rock. It just stands unmoved by it. Unchanged by anything that's happening around him. He remains the same. The rock.

[14:25] And he doesn't change his mind like we do. Numbers 23.19. God is not a man. You see. How many times does he need to tell us this? You people are like this.

[14:37] But I'm not like you. God is not a man that he should lie. Or a son of man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

[14:49] The expected answer is never. Never. 1 Samuel 15.29. He who is the glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind. For he is not a man.

[15:01] That he should change his mind. You see. Men change their mind. Men change. God never. And that means.

[15:13] Boys and girls. That what God says is unchanging. That God's truth. Is unchanged and unchanging.

[15:24] And he never takes back anything. He never says. Oh I was wrong about that. You can scratch out that verse out of your Bible. I've changed my mind on that. I was going to do that.

[15:35] I had promised this. No. The grass withers. And the flowers fall. But the word of our God stands forever. Forever.

[15:45] Oh Lord. Thy word is settled. In heaven. His plans. His purposes. Are unchanging. The Lord foils the plans of the nations. And he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

[15:56] But the plans of the Lord. Stand firm forever. The purposes of his heart. Through all generations. So that means young people.

[16:08] You can build your life. On the word of God. And never ever. Be ashamed for having done so. Never disappointed. Oh I wish I wouldn't have followed that. Wish I wouldn't have changed my life.

[16:19] And ordered it with God's word. Never come to that. Because this word. Like its author. Is unchanging. Unchanging. It's not only his word. And his plans. And his decrees.

[16:30] That are unchanging. God is unchangeable. In all that he is. It's true of his entire being. As the answer to the question.

[16:40] For the shorter catechism. Answers the question. What is God? God is a spirit. Infinite. Eternal. And unchangeable. In his being.

[16:52] In his wisdom. Holiness. Justice. Goodness. And truth. You see. You can put. Unchangeable. In front of. Every one. Of God's attributes.

[17:04] I the Lord. Do not change. That means. My power. Is unchangeable. Power. There is not one. He has no more. No less power. Than the day. He created the world.

[17:16] Unchangeable. Holiness. No less holy. Now. After sin. Has entered his world. Unchangeable love. No increase. No increase. Or decrease. In his love.

[17:27] To his children. Unchangeable justice. He is never anything. Other than. Perfectly. Just. Unchangeable knowledge. Now.

[17:37] You and I don't have that. We gain knowledge. I trust children. You are getting ready. To gain more knowledge. As you head back to school. You go in. Knowing so much. And you come out.

[17:48] Knowing more. You have changed. You have. You have added knowledge. To you. Never. Does that happen. With God. Did you realize that kids. God never learned anything. He always has known it.

[18:02] Known from the beginning. Of the world. Are all the works. Of God. Acts. 15. 18. He knows the end. From the beginning.

[18:12] He knows all there is to know. Right from the get go. Because he's been forever. He always. Has known. Yes. He's unchangeable. In all that he is.

[18:23] It's hard to. To. Imagine a God like that. Isn't it? There's mystery at the bottom. Of all of his attributes. I mean.

[18:34] You and I. We change. And we change. In one or two directions. Don't we? We either. Improve. Or we worsen. We change for the better.

[18:45] Or we change for the worse. We change. But as A.W. Pink says. God cannot change for the better. Because he's already perfect. And being perfect.

[18:58] He cannot change for the worse. You cannot improve on perfection. God is perfect. So he can't get better. And being perfect. He cannot worsen. Since there's no imperfections in him.

[19:12] Nothing added. Nothing subtracted. I am that I am. I do not change. Now hold your place here. We're going to return at the end to it.

[19:22] But over in Psalm 102. We have. A psalm. And it's labeled for us. A prayer of an afflicted man. When he's faint. And pours out his lament.

[19:33] Before the Lord. Now here's a prayer for us. In any of our afflictions. Are you ever afflicted? Are you ever downcast? Here's a prayer for you. Take up Psalm 102. And pray this psalm.

[19:45] The first part of the psalm. Verses 1 through 11. Set forth his cry for help. And then the last half of the psalm. Verses 12 and following. Give the assurance of God's deliverance.

[19:57] In response to his plea for help. And then at the end. We have this statement on the unchangeableness of God. As an encouragement to all of God's afflicted people.

[20:10] Of all times. To know that this delivering God is not changed. This God who came to the help of David. Hasn't changed. 2007. Are you afflicted? Then call on him like David does here.

[20:24] Now here's the passage where he speaks of his unchangeableness. Verse 25. This is Psalm 102. Verse 25.

[20:35] In the beginning. You laid the foundations of the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands. And when the author is going to tell us about God being unchangeable.

[20:48] He goes to the most unchanging things that we see about us. The heavens. And the foundations of the earth. If there's anything stable.

[21:00] It's the earth beneath our feet. It's the foundations of the earth. It's the heavens. What's more stable than the foundations of the earth and the heavens? The movement of the heavenly bodies is so consistent and so predictable.

[21:15] And so unchanging that we can set our watches by it. And we call the U.S. Naval Observatory. And we find out from the heavens what time it is. Because everything is so unchanging in the heavens.

[21:29] And we can tell the precise time of the high and low tides for years to come. And the time of sunrise and of sunset. And of the seasons.

[21:40] Because of the predictability and the unchangeable consistency of the heavens. But they're no comparison to the stability of God.

[21:51] Notice verse 26. They. That is the heavens and the foundations of the earth. They will perish. You see they are going to change too. But you remain the same.

[22:03] You remain. They will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing. You will change them. And they will be discarded. You see even these stable parts of the universe.

[22:14] Wear out. Like clothes that you wear over and over. And finally mom says that thing is ratty and tatty. It's ready for the dust bag. And you change it.

[22:27] So with the heavens and the earth. We are looking for a new heavens and a new earth. God's going to make a new heaven and a new earth. For this old one will wear out. And it will no longer be what it is today.

[22:39] There will be change in the heavens and the earth. Verse 27. But you. See the contrast. But you remain the same. And your years will never end.

[22:52] Everything else is changing and being changed by you. But you remain the same. He is the unchanged changer. Now the interesting thing about this passage is that when we come to the New Testament.

[23:05] We turn to Hebrews chapter 1. And the writer there is writing how that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is none other than God. God. In the flesh. And how is he going to prove it?

[23:17] Well he has several proofs that he offers. But one thing that he does. Is that he takes this passage in Psalm 102. And he applies it to none other than Jesus Christ.

[23:30] Beautiful thought isn't it? Jesus Christ. You are the one. Who laid. The foundations of the earth. And stretched out the heavens. They will perish.

[23:42] But you Jesus Christ. Remain. They will all wear out like a garment. And you will roll them up like a robe. Like a garment. You will change them. When you've changed them. And make a new heavens and a new earth.

[23:54] But you Lord Jesus. Remain the same. And your years Lord Jesus. Will never end. One of the great proofs of his deity. Because none but God.

[24:05] Is unchangeable. Later on in Hebrews. Chapter 13. At the end of the book. In verse 7. Verse 8. Jesus Christ.

[24:16] Is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. The same. Yesterday.

[24:28] Today. And forever. To remain the same. Means that. What. He was yesterday. He will be today.

[24:38] He is today. And what he is today. He will be tomorrow. On out into. All eternity. Forever. And ever. For I the Lord.

[24:49] Jesus Christ. Do not change. Kids. Sameness. Sometimes bores you.

[25:00] Doesn't it? You're ready for something different. Change is nice. We say. You don't have to worry about that. With God.

[25:11] Sameness is never boring. In deity. Because it's. It's perfection. And it's infinite. And for all eternity. You will never get bored.

[25:23] With Jesus Christ. You go to heaven. You live with him. All eternity. And you will be thrilled with him. Thrilled with him. On and on.

[25:34] Through all the ages. Even though he remains the same. Wonderful thing to remember. When we're reading our Bibles. And we're going through the Gospels.

[25:47] And we see. Our Lord Jesus. Meeting people. And talking. And teaching. And preaching. And healing. Helping. Wonderful thing to think. Isn't it? That. Jesus Christ.

[25:58] Is the same. Today. As he was then. His attitude. Is the same. He is still. Is willing. To receive sinners. Today. As he was then. He's got the same.

[26:12] Compassion. The same grace. The same holiness. The same hatred. Of evil. The same justice. The same righteousness. The same zeal.

[26:23] For his heavenly father. The same love. For his own. You know. The love of some. For their. Their lovers. Is.

[26:34] Is so. Changeable. That the loved one. Sits with the daisy. And she's pulling. The. The petals. Of her daisy. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. She would. Try to figure out.

[26:44] If he really loves her or not. Never. Never. With the child of God. Loved of. Christ. His love is unchanging. Changeless love.

[26:56] Octavius Winslow writes. That the Lord Jesus. Loves you. Child of God. The Lord Jesus. Loves you. So much. That he would die. All over again.

[27:07] For you. If that were needed. Now it's not needed. He died once. To put away our sins. But get the thrust. Of what Winslow is saying. He's saying. Jesus love.

[27:18] Never changes. That the same love. That was pouring out. Of his wounds. In blood. For you. On Calvary. 2000 years ago. Is undiminished. Toward you.

[27:29] You say. Oh. But I sin. Oh. I fail. I'm down in the. His love is unchanging. Same yesterday.

[27:40] Today. And forever. There is none like him. The unchanging. Lover of our soul. Every human tie may perish.

[27:50] Friend to friend. Unfaithful prove. Mothers cease their own. To cherish. Heaven and earth. At last remove. But no changes. Can attend Jehovah's love.

[28:02] No changes. Can attend Jehovah's love. You see. It's changeless love. It's. It's a grip of love. That will not let me go. Though the mountains be shaken.

[28:14] And the hills be removed. Yet my unfailing love. For you. Will not be shaken. Nor my covenant of peace. Be removed. Says the Lord. Who has compassion on you. And so.

[28:25] It is with his power. And you watch. As he comes into these. Hopeless situations. In the gospel. This poor woman. And she's lost. She's a widow. She's lost her husband. She's.

[28:36] Now lost her only son. And she's hopeless. And in comes. Jesus Christ. With power. The same power he had. When he spoke. And there was light.

[28:47] Now he stands on the scene. And he goes. And touches the beer. The funeral coffin. And the man. Comes alive. And he has the same power.

[28:59] Today. As he had then. And he walks into. Our hopeless situations. And he instills hope. Because the things. Impossible. To man. Are still possible.

[29:10] With God. And his power is. Not diminished. One kilowatt. Think of the sun. How it gives off. Its power. Every moment.

[29:21] Of every day. It's pouring out. All this energy. They talk about. How many. Hiroshima bombs. These megaton bombs. How much power. Comes out. Every second. Of this. This sun.

[29:32] And yet. You know. That sun is burning. And its reservoir. Is only so full. And eventually. So many billions. Of years. It will run out. It will burn out.

[29:44] It after all. Is a created. Finite thing. Then we come. To the Lord Jesus. And we think of him. As the infinite. Eternal. Unchangeable one. And there he is.

[29:55] In creation. And he is exerting. His power. What power. Is exerted. In creation. When with a word. The billions. And billions. Of sons. Are created. And then.

[30:05] With his powerful word. He has. Every day. Been upholding. All things. By this great. Power of Jesus. And every day. He is giving power.

[30:15] To his people. All. And yet. He remains. Undiminished. In his resource. He does not have. Any less power. Than when he began. Creating. And helping us.

[30:28] He's the same. In his power. His fullness. Is the same. Down to the present age. He's still. Just as full. Of grace. And power. To help us.

[30:39] In our time of need. As he's ever been. So as you encounter. The Lord Jesus. In your reading. Of scripture. Know this. He's the same. Today. As he was here. As you're reading.

[30:50] And he will be. The same tomorrow. So live upon him. Live upon him. As you find him here. And don't worry. About tomorrow. He'll be the same. Tomorrow. As well.

[31:03] Well. That's the doctrine. The truth. About God. Stated. And explained. Now let's. Seek to apply it. What difference. Should it make. In our lives. That. God the Lord. Does not change.

[31:16] Well first of all. We ought to keep. Before us. The changing nature. Of all things. Created. We ought to see. The great contrast. Everything else. Changes. So.

[31:26] So don't live for them. Don't. Don't be consumed. In these things. That. That are. Perishing. With the using. Young people. Don't give. The strength.

[31:36] Of your youth. To. To transit. Changing. Things. Don't make them. The object. Of your. Trust. Or of your joy. Or of your goal.

[31:47] Or you'll be disappointed. The Bible tells us. That often. Don't make money. Or men. Your trust. Why? Because they're so. So changeable. First Timothy. Six. Seventeen.

[31:59] You're taught. Not to put your hope. In wealth. Which is so uncertain. You've got it one day. And it's gone the next. It takes wings. And flies away. It's so changeable. Uncertain. Riches. No ground.

[32:10] For a solid hope. There. But neither are you. To trust in men. Do not put your trust. In princes. Psalm 146. Tells us. In mortal men.

[32:20] Who cannot save. When their spirit. Departs. They return to the ground. And on that very day. Their plans come to nothing. Oh. But blessed is he. Whose help is the God of Jacob. Whose hope is the Lord. Is God.

[32:30] The maker of heaven and earth. The sea. And everything in them. The Lord. Who remains faithful. Forever. So the first application. Is to remember.

[32:41] That God alone. Is unchanging. And so. How foolish we are. To put our trust. On changeable things. When we have the unchanging. God. To make as our refuge.

[32:54] And that's our second point. Build your life. Upon this unchangeable rock. Then. Make the unchangeable God. Your trust. So that when things.

[33:05] Begin to give way. Even solid things. Even things that appeared. So stable. That. That marriage. That was so stable. And now it's crumbling. That institution.

[33:17] That. That seemed like. It would last forever. There it stood. As a beacon. Of light. And of righteousness. And now it's crumbling. And we see these. Stable things.

[33:27] Start to change. The earth. Moving beneath. We can still say. That God. The unchanging God. Is our God. Lead me to the rock.

[33:38] That is higher than I. And there. And the Lord Jesus. Our rock. We find something. Solid beneath our feet. Our life might be unraveling. Around the fringes.

[33:49] But our center. Is holding firm. He does not change. He will not change. Trust in the Lord. Forever. For the Lord. The Lord. Is the rock.

[34:00] Eternal. Yes. Change and decay. And all around. I see. Oh thou. That changes not. Abide with me. Make this. Unchanging God.

[34:10] Your trust. Your rock. But in the third place. There is a challenge here. To be more steadfast. And unchangeable.

[34:21] In our walk with God. I spoke of. How fickle we can be. Hot one moment. Cold the next. True to the Lord. Loyal. And then disloyal. Oh.

[34:32] We. We need to realize. That the more changeable. We are. The less like God. We are. That your purpose. Your resolve. Your determination.

[34:43] Your zeal. For God. Be more steady. Cling to him. With steadfast devotion. Love him. Serve him. Unswervingly. Unchangingly.

[34:55] First Corinthians. 15. 58. Therefore. For my brothers. Stand firm. Let nothing move you. You see. Let nothing change you.

[35:06] There are things that we need to be unchangeable about. And this is a challenge. To us. When we see our unchanging God. Unchanging in his love toward us. Should we not be unchanging in our love to him.

[35:19] You say. I don't have that. I don't have that kind of love. John. I don't have that kind of loyalty. John. No you don't. But you know who does. And so we come to him. The unchangeable God.

[35:30] And we say. Oh God. I'm so fickle. I'm so changing. Come and give me steadfast love for you. Come to the. Unchanged. Changer. And we ask him to change us.

[35:41] And to make us. Into his own image. More steadfast. Less changeable. In our. Relationship with him. And then.

[35:53] Fourthly. This is the ground of our assurance of salvation. Back to Malachi chapter 3. Here's the ground of our assurance of final salvation.

[36:09] Malachi 3. Malachi 3. And verse 6. Says. I the Lord. Do not change. So. You. O descendants of Jacob. Are not destroyed.

[36:21] Now ever since the time of your forefathers. You've turned away from my decrees. And have not kept them. Return to me. And I will return to you. Says the Lord Almighty. Now what we find in the opening verses of chapter 3.

[36:34] Is that the Lord is coming. In judgment. And it's not going to be an easy thing. To stand in the day of judgment.

[36:44] He asks that question. How can they. How can you endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? How is it that the people of God. Will not be destroyed. When the Lord comes again.

[36:56] In judgment. Well it's certainly not. Because of their steadfastness. And unchangeableness. And their loyalty to the covenant. And serving God. Because he tells them.

[37:06] Doesn't he? Ever since the time of your forefathers. You've been changing. You've been turning away from my decrees. And have not kept them. They were a people of changing loyalty.

[37:20] At Mount Sinai. They promised to obey God. And keep his laws. And one month later. They're dancing before a molten calf. A calf of gold. They're thankful for mercies then.

[37:34] When God gives them. And then their unbelief. And complaining. When there's no water. There's no food. In Hosea 6 and verse 4.

[37:47] God complains about his people. That their loyalty and their love. Is like the early dew. We've had a lot of this recently. Kids. You know when you get up. And it's time to go out and play. And you notice. Oh. The grass is all wet.

[37:58] Well it's just the morning dew. And it's burned off. And it's dry by noon. And God says. That's the way your loyalty and love is. Oh Israel. It doesn't last long.

[38:10] It's just there for a moment. And your soul resolves. Oh Lord forgive us. We'll walk in your ways. And you do for four hours. And then you're back to your own way. Changeable you see.

[38:21] Even changing their God. Something unheard of. God asks. Have you ever heard of a nation changing its gods? How soon do you think Saudi Arabia will be ready. To trade in Mohammed for Jehovah?

[38:34] Well our God is able to do that. He does that in individual life. But it's something that is unknown. Isn't it? For a nation to change its gods. Yet he says.

[38:45] You. Israel. Have changed your God. My people have exchanged their glory. For worthless idols. Jeremiah 2 and verse 11.

[38:57] No you see the reason that they are not destroyed. Is not because of their unchanging faithfulness to God. It's rather because of his unchanging faithfulness. To his own covenant promise.

[39:09] I the Lord do not change. So you. O descendants of Jacob. Are not destroyed. If Jehovah God were as fickle. As his covenant people.

[39:21] They would have been destroyed long ago. From being. The people of God. Oh but the Lord never changes. And he remembers his covenant. And his promises. To their forefathers.

[39:33] And he keeps them. I the Lord do not change. Therefore you. O descendants of Israel. Are not destroyed. So the Lord could say.

[39:45] To us. Who are in covenant with him today. Through Jesus Christ. In the new covenant. He could say to us. I the Lord do not change. Therefore you believers in Jesus. Are not destroyed.

[39:58] It's because I don't change. Here's the ground. Of my assurance. That John Heaney. Will make it into heaven. One day at last. Will be finally saved. That he who chose to save me.

[40:10] Does not change his mind. That those he predestined. He also called. And those he called. He also justifies. And those he justifies. He also glorifies. He does not change his mind.

[40:23] Halfway through. My salvation. And say oh I started a good work. But I'm now. No. I didn't. Didn't realize you were going to do that. Didn't realize you were going to sin like that. I'm not going to go on with you anymore.

[40:34] No. He finishes. The work. He's unchanging. In his purpose of salvation. What a word of comfort. Hebrews 6. 17 and 18.

[40:45] Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature. Of his purpose. Very clear to the heirs of what was promised. He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that by two unchangeable things.

[41:00] Both his promise and his oath. Two unchangeable things. In which it's impossible for God to lie. We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us.

[41:10] May be greatly encouraged. And we have this hope as an anchor for the soul. Firm and secure. Now here's the anchor for our souls. We put our trust in Jesus.

[41:23] How do we know that we're going to make it to the end? He gives us two unchangeable things. To show the unchanging purpose to save us. His promise.

[41:35] He can't lie. But he adds to his promise and oath. He swears by his own name. So that by those two unchangeable things. We who have fled to take hold of Christ. Might be encouraged.

[41:47] Oh yes. Our assurance of salvation. Is as firm. And certain. As his unchanging purpose to save us. Trusting in Jesus.

[41:58] Jesus. I have assurance of final salvation. Because. Because. He does not change. Because I do not change. You John. Will not be destroyed. After all my name is written.

[42:10] Not on the shifting sands of time. But on. His hands. Hands that were pierced. For my sins. The Lord Jesus is determined.

[42:22] To safely see all that the Father has given him. Safely home to glory. I will lose none. Of all that he's given me. Drink in that comfort.

[42:33] He's going to recover. All that the Father has given. When they fall into sin. When they with Asaph. Start saying. It's not worth serving God. It's not worth living this.

[42:44] Life of battle with sin. I'm going back to the world. You know what God will do. He'll come back. And he'll go after them. And he'll recover them. And he'll renew their repentance. And restore their soul. And set them back on their feet again.

[42:55] And he will maintain their perseverance. All the way to the end. I the Lord do not change. So you believers in Jesus are not destroyed.

[43:09] Fifthly. This turns the study of the scriptures. Into an adventure of getting to know God. Everything that was written. Was written to teach us. So that through the encouragement.

[43:20] Of the scriptures. We might have hope. Now. That means that. As I'm reading back in Genesis. And I'm seeing. All that God was to Abraham.

[43:32] He's the friend of God. God is a friend to Abraham. I can know he's that to me. His child today. As I'm reading. All that he was to Jacob.

[43:45] To David. To Esther. To all of his people. Throughout the scripture. To the apostle Paul. What Jesus was to Peter. And John. He is that to me.

[43:56] His child. Today. He does not change. For instance. When we're reading Psalm 46. And we find this repeated refrain. At least twice in the Psalm. The Lord Almighty is with us.

[44:08] The God of Jacob. Is our fortress. Now that's meant to come. Oozing to us. With comfort and encouragement. That the God of Jacob. Is our fortress. Our refuge.

[44:19] Change. But it only has comfort for us. If the God of Jacob. Is still the same today. As he was. When Jacob put his trust in him.

[44:31] Think for a moment. If God were not changeable. Or if God were not changeless. Think if God changed. So I'm reading about Jacob. What was God to Jacob?

[44:42] There he is. He's leaving. He's running away from home. Because his brother Esau. Is trying to kill him. And he's got a 500 mile. Howling. Wasting desert. Full of dangers. In front of him. To go to try to find a wife.

[44:53] And an occupation. And a living. Somewhere far off. All the uncertainty. And God meets him there. As he sleeps on the rock. For a pillow. And God promises. To be his protector.

[45:04] And his provider. And his helper. And the one to bless him. And to keep him. All along the way. And I say. Oh. What a.

[45:14] What an enviable man is Jacob. To have God. For his help. But I can't. Draw any comfort from that. This morning. As I'm going to work.

[45:25] Because. I don't know. Whether God. Will be that to me. Perhaps he's changed. No. No. You see. The reason that. The scriptures.

[45:36] Are set before us. Is to encourage us. Why would it say. The God of Jacob. Is your. Is our refuge. Is your refuge. If not to say. That what he was. To Jacob.

[45:46] He'll be to you. A protector. A provider. A keeper. A blesser. A helper. In your time of need. And so. Our study of scriptures. Become. An adventure.

[45:57] In getting to know God. This God. That we meet in scripture. Is exactly. The same today. And sixthly. It's an encouragement. To pray.

[46:07] Isn't it? When I come to God. In prayer. How good it is. To know that God. Is unchangeable. Do you know any moody people? Moody people. They. They have mood swings.

[46:18] Like the weather. They may be sunny. In the morning. And they're. Stormy. In the afternoon. Already. And you're never really. Quite sure. What mood. They're going to be in. And so you walk on eggshells.

[46:28] All day long. Not sure. Kind of like someone. Living at the. The foot of Mount. Vesuvius. You don't know. When it's going to blow. So you're never at peace. Aren't you glad. Our God is not moody.

[46:40] Unpredictable. Changing. Like the weather. Don't know. Whether he's going to be angry. With me today. Don't know. Whether he's going to be kind. Well.

[46:51] I don't know. That I would do much. Praying. If God were changeable. What an encouragement. Is mine. To know. That when I come to God. In prayer. That I can know. He's unchanged. He's the same God.

[47:02] I prayed to yesterday. He's the same God. That David prayed to. That Abraham prayed to. The God who is gracious. And compassionate. And slow to anger. And abounding in love. He is a God of justice.

[47:13] He is a God of wrath. He's a God of forgiveness. He's all this to me. That he ever was. To any other child of God. And his promises. To answer prayer. Are the same. And his willingness.

[47:23] To answer prayer. And his ability. To answer prayer. Unchanged. His attitude still. Toward me. Is what it was. Before that blind beggar.

[47:34] When he says. What would you have me. To do for you. Isn't it wonderful. To come to such a God. And know that's his attitude. Toward me. His child. What would you have me. To do. For you.

[47:46] The golden scepter. Is always lifted to us. In Jesus Christ. I've been studying Esther. On Sunday nights. We don't have to worry. Oh is he going to raise the scepter. Is he going to see me. Is he going to strike me dead. In Christ.

[47:59] Is always raised. We come on the arm of Jesus. Into his presence. We can know. That we're accepted. What confidence. It gives us in prayer. Because. The unchangeable God.

[48:11] Never changes. But lastly. There's a warning. In all of this. To all who are outside. Of Jesus Christ. Can you see it? The God. That we've been reading about. In Jeremiah.

[48:21] On Sunday mornings. We're just reading. Right through. The book of Jeremiah. We're going to have to talk about that sometime. When we. Get further in our study.

[48:31] But week by week. What do we find in Jeremiah? We find a God who punishes sinners. We find a God who punishes men. Who. Who. Just. Neglect his word. And just. Write it off.

[48:42] And cut it off. And throw it in the fire. That's what I think of you God. That's what I think of your word. We see the ferocity. Of God's anger. And his judgment. Now dear friend.

[48:55] You must know. You must know. That the God of Jeremiah. Is no different today. He has not made a truce with sin. His hatred and aversion of sin.

[49:06] Is no less. You see the God of Noah's day. Who. Who flooded the earth. Because of its wickedness. Is the same God. Today. The God who rained fire and brimstone.

[49:18] On Sodom and Gomorrah. He still hates sin. Just as much today. This is the God. That you are insulting. By not coming to his Christ. By refusing.

[49:30] To own your sin. And come as a beggar. And cast yourself on his mercy. And say. Jesus. I'm a sinner. I'm worth nothing. But save me. Save me. And you won't do that. He commands you to do it.

[49:41] And you say. I'll do it later. Do you know what later is? It's. It's. It's rebellion. Another day. It's saying no to God. Another day. Don't think kindly of your procrastination.

[49:52] Young people. Don't think that God views it as something. Oh. She's. She's going to come to me later. Oh. That's okay. No. His word is. Repent. And believe. Today. And anything short of immediate faith.

[50:04] And repentance. Is rebellion. And insolence. To this God. Of strict justice. There's a warning here. In the unchangeableness of God.

[50:17] He's much as ever. The enemy of sin. And he's as determined. As ever he was. To punish it. When you die.

[50:27] My sinner friend. And come to judgment. You won't find. That he's changed his mind. Towards sin. You won't find. That all of his threatenings. Were just really smoke screens. He really didn't mean them. No. You'll find. That he's unchanged.

[50:40] Unchangeable. In all that he is. They will go away. To eternal punishment. But the righteous. To eternal life. For God is not a man. That he should lie. Neither the son of man.

[50:50] That he should change his mind. So can you see this. This glorious reality. About God. His unchangeableness. Is like the cloud.

[51:01] That stood between. Israel and Egypt. As they went through the Red Sea. It's got two sides to it. Doesn't it? There was the light side. And the dark side.

[51:12] The cloud. Shed its light on Israel. And they walked in the light. To deliverance. That same cloud. That gave light to Israel. Was darkness.

[51:23] To the Egyptians. And they walked to their destruction. God. Never changes. Oh. What light. Comes to the child of God.

[51:36] This God. Who accepts me. For Jesus sake. Who loves me. Who loves me. With an everlasting love. And will never stop loving me. This. This unchanging God. What wondrous light.

[51:46] Is this. For my soul. But what a fearsome thing. It is for you. Outside of Christ. To know. That this God. Who is so serious. About sin.

[51:57] That even when it's his own son. Who bears. The sins of his people. He does not. Spare him. But he strikes him down. He pours out his wrath. He crushes him. So fierce.

[52:08] Is his determination. To punish sin. And you must know that. My sins. Will be judged one day. If not in Christ.

[52:18] On Calvary. Then in hell. Forever. And ever. And ever. Oh. If you're on the dark side. Of God's unchangeableness. And you're still under his wrath.

[52:29] Come over into the light side. Of his unchangeableness. And you do that. By getting into Christ. As you trust in Christ. And get into Christ. Then his unchangeableness.

[52:40] Shines with every encouragement. For you. For all that God is. In his glorious being. He is for you. For your salvation. Come to Christ.

[52:52] Get out of the darkness. Come into the light. Our unchanging God. We. Count it our highest privilege. To have you with us forever.

[53:03] To know that you'll never change. And never be anything less to us. Than what you are today. Thank you that in the hour of death. You're with us. Thank you that in the day of judgment.

[53:16] You stand for us. Thank you that going through the red seas of our life. Where everything is threatening about us. That we have you with us. So teach us to treasure you.

[53:28] And to say. With the psalmist. It is good for me to be near unto God. I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge. You are our rock. Give us to trust more fully upon you.

[53:42] And bring those who are on the dark side of your unchangeableness. Still under your wrath. To find rest in Christ. In Christ alone. And we ask for Jesus sake. Amen.