MALACHI | THE LORD'S MESSENGER
Walking With Giants : Major Messages from Minor Prophets • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 53:57
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TEXT: MALACHI | THE LORD’S MESSENGER
TEXT: MALACHI | THE LORD’S MESSENGER
There are 12 books that have been given this title of “Minor Prophets”
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
These 12 books cover a period of roughly 400 years.
INTRO: Nearly a century has passed since the completion of the temple rebuild that we saw in Haggai and Zachariah.
INTRO: Nearly a century has passed since the completion of the temple rebuild that we saw in Haggai and Zachariah.
One would think that Israel would walking with God and enjoying His presence.
That they would have fresh on their minds the deliverance God had given them after their captivities and destructions.
But as we come to the final book of the OT, we find that Israel was far from where they should have been.
In fact, I believe we can find an overarching theme through the book of Malachi… “Good is good enough.”
They were complacent… apathetic… disinterested in the things of God.
They were so numb to just where they were, that God came to them in v.2, and their response says all we need to know:
2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: Yet I loved Jacob,
“How have you shown you love me?”
APPLICATION: There are times that I have been overwhelmed by the love of God
APPLICATION: There are times that I have been overwhelmed by the love of God
There have been services when I have reflected on the death of Christ on the cross for me that His love has been overwhelming.
There have been times when reading the Bible the God’s love for me has astounded me.
I hope there are have been times in your life that you have been overwhelmed by the love of God!
When I got saved
When first held my kids
It’s in those moments that it is so easy to live for God because we sense His love so clearly.
We talked in our membership class that the first core realization for every person at WBC is to realize our motivation for all things… The love of God!
Not our love for Him but His love for us!
When you understand His love, you are willing to do anything for him!
But for many Christians, that isn’t where you live.
No, in reality you live much closer to where the Israelites were in the book of Malachi.
They were asking the question, “How has God shown that He loves me recently?”
You may not say it with your mouth, but the actions of your life communicate it loudly enough.
EXPLANATION: That’s exactly what was happening in the book of Malachi.
EXPLANATION: That’s exactly what was happening in the book of Malachi.
They had lost sight of God’s love for them… and it led them to an apathetic, complacent, disinterested life for God.
And it’s very likely that many in this room could check the very boxes of apathy that the Israelites had in their day.
So God sent a messenger… That’s what Malachi’s name means, “The Lord’s Messenger”… with a message to wake them up about where they were.
This morning, will you listen closely to the Word of God… because it just might be that you have lost sight of God’s love for you… and in turn, you are falling out of love with God!
1:7-8, 11-12, THEY HAD HALF HEARTED WORSHIP
1:7-8, 11-12, THEY HAD HALF HEARTED WORSHIP
7 Ye 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.
8 And 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.
11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; And in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: For my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; And the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
EXPLANATION: The time to offer sacrifices in worship to the Lord had come.
EXPLANATION: The time to offer sacrifices in worship to the Lord had come.
But for years they had followed the traditions of the Scriptures.
And now they were no longer offering the sacrifices out of worship, but rather out of necessity.
They weren’t offering the best lambs, but rather they would choose the ones that were lame or blind.
They were offering what cost them far less and kept the best for themselves.
They were going through the motions of religion, but there was no heart behind it.
It was half hearted worship.
APPLICATION: Are you going through the motions this morning?
APPLICATION: Are you going through the motions this morning?
Have you grown content with doing the things you know you’re supposed to do without any real love for God behind it?
You sing the songs, but don’t worship
You attend the services, but don’t respond to the Spirit
You can hear about Christ, and feel no emotion.
Your just doing religion, without any real relationship, and the Lord grows weary of this half hearted worship!
God responded to Israel’s surface level worship in 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.
God says your heart is not in it!
We talked about this kind of worship back in Joel 2:12-13
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn unto the Lord your God: For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness, And repenteth him of the evil.
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
May we not offer half hearted worship to the One that gave everything for us!
Wake up from your spiritual sleep, and discover what it is to truly worship your Savior.
THE HAD HALF HEARTED WORSHIP
2:11, THEY BETRAYED THEIR SACRED RELATIONSHIPS
2:11, THEY BETRAYED THEIR SACRED RELATIONSHIPS
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.
EXPLANATION: The children of Israel knew that they weren’t supposed to have relationship with people from foreign lands.
EXPLANATION: The children of Israel knew that they weren’t supposed to have relationship with people from foreign lands.
They knew that those people would turn their hearts from God.
Yet they pursued them anyway.
Some were even leaving their spouse for these unholy relationships that God had condemned.
They were turning their back on a holy covenant and sacred relationship and pursuing the lusts of their flesh.
The marriage relationship is supposed to be a picture of our commitment to God and His commitment to us.
But now that picture had been shattered because they had turned their back on God for an adulterous relationship with these men and women from the world
APPLICATION: For many they have cheapened their relationship with God to be nothing more than a weekend fling
APPLICATION: For many they have cheapened their relationship with God to be nothing more than a weekend fling
They enjoy time with Him on Sunday and then live for the world throughout the rest of the week.
It’s no wonder out kids are growing up so confused, because they know that what they see on Sunday is nothing more than a facade that is put on and the real YOU comes out the rest of the week!
When will we decide to make our relationship with God more than just something we do for a few hours on Sunday?
Our world is fast spiraling into an eternity in a lake of fire, but the church is too busy with our adulterous relationships with the world than to show them Christ!
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We talked about it on Wednesday night, adultery is a painful act that causes much destruction in the marriage relationship.
Trust is broken
The relationship devastated
But for the grace of God and unfathomable forgiveness, there is no way that relationship could survive.
But what if it happened over and over and over and over again?
I dare say that probably no marriage could survive.
That is what you and I have done to our God.
He loves you and His grace is immeasurable!
And over and over and over again, you and I leave what should be a commited relationship to Him to fulfill the lusts of our flesh.
And every time… He takes you back.
But just because you know His grace is immeasurable, is no excuse to continue to commit sin!
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
The incredible love of God shouldn’t cause us to seek to exhaust it’s boundaries… it should motivate us to stop leaving it for the lusts of this world.
THEY HAD HALF HEARTED WORSHIP, THEY BETRAYED THEIR SACRED RELATIONSHIPS
2:17, THEY DOUBTED GOD’S CONTROL
2:17, THEY DOUBTED GOD’S CONTROL
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?
EXPLANATION: They asked that familiar question, “Where is God’s judgment?”
EXPLANATION: They asked that familiar question, “Where is God’s judgment?”
APPLICATION: I don’t know if anyone else has been stirred by what is going on in Israel or not… but I sure have been.
APPLICATION: I don’t know if anyone else has been stirred by what is going on in Israel or not… but I sure have been.
To hear and see innocent victims being tortured and their lives being taken… It stirs something in me.
It’s sorrow and brokenness
It’s anger at the wicked and their wickedness
It’s a feeling of hopelessness as I just want to see the wicked ones wiped off the face of the earth.
In the midst of these emotions a reminder from a recent message came to me:
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
When sinners keep sinning
When evil seems to be winning
When the devil is grinning
And God doesn’t seem to be condemning… just hold on!
Because he that is higher than the highest...
He’s higher than the queens
He’s higher than the kings
He’s higher than the prime minister
He’s higher than the presidents
He’s higher than all the powers of this world combined
And He knows what is going on, and nothing is out of His control!
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
There has never been a moment in all of history that was out of God’s omnipotent control… and there never will be.
And he is turning the rivers of our world to funnel into His perfect plan for what is to come!
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.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
THEY HAD HALF HEARTED WORSHIP, THEY BETRAYED THEIR SACRED RELATIONSHIPS, THEY DOUBTED GOD’S CONTROL
3:8-10, THEY DISTRUSTED GOD’S PROVISION
3:8-10, THEY DISTRUSTED GOD’S PROVISION
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.
But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?
In tithes and offerings.
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me,
Even this whole nation.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be meat in mine house,
And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts,
If I will not open you the windows of heaven,
And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
EXPLANATION: God asks the Israelites a painful question, “Will a man rob God?”
EXPLANATION: God asks the Israelites a painful question, “Will a man rob God?”
He’s asking, “Why are you robbing me?”
In their rational minds they ask a quest back, “Where have we robbed you?”
God created the universe with a spoken word.
“Let there be…” and there it was.
There is nothing in the universe that is out of God’s control.
Everything belongs to Him!
And therein lies the problem… everything belongs to God.
And in God’s perfect plan, God was so good to bless those people in Israel with everything that they had.
Everything that they had was given to them by God.
It this time they had been delivered from their captivity, they were living in their own land, and had freedoms that many before the hadn’t enjoyed.
But in the midst of all that they had, they had forgotten that God had instituted the tithe.
Of everything that belonged to God that He had given to them, God required them to give 10% back to Him for the work of the ministry and upkeep of the temple
It was something that God had instituted even before the Law came into existence!
He could have allowed them to keep 10% and had them give 90%, but God was so gracious that He said He only wanted 10% back.
But Israel wasn’t giving it to the Lord.
Why would Israel keep back from God what is rightfully His?
Because they didn’t believe He would take care of their needs… so they kept it for themselves.
APPLICATION: Friend, God doesn’t need your money.
APPLICATION: Friend, God doesn’t need your money.
But He created a way that you could be involved in His work and you could receive His blessing.
v. 10 has one of them most incredible promises we find in the Bible:
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be meat in mine house,
And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts,
If I will not open you the windows of heaven,
And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
He says if you will give that 10%, I will bless you.
Now we don’t give to get… but often when you give you will get!
Because when you give the tithe to the Lord… you are no longer operating in this world’s economy… you’re operating in Gods!
ILLUSTRATION: I was giving my tithe, and trusting God to meet my needs.
ILLUSTRATION: I was giving my tithe, and trusting God to meet my needs.
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APPLICATION: Friend, if you are holding back from giving to the Lord, you are missing out on an opportunity for the blessing of God to be demonstrated in your life.
APPLICATION: Friend, if you are holding back from giving to the Lord, you are missing out on an opportunity for the blessing of God to be demonstrated in your life.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Once you get that tithe nailed down, then you can start giving an offering as well, and that is when you get to experience some of the real blessings of God!
But for many they think they can’t afford to give a tithe… I’ve found in my life that I can’t afford not to!
THEY HAD HALF HEARTED WORSHIP, THEY BETRAYED THEIR SACRED RELATIONSHIPS, THEY DOUBTED GOD’S CONTROL, THEY DISTRUSTED GOD’S PROVISIONS
3:14-15, THEY BELIEVED LIVING FOR GOD WAS A WASTE
3:14-15, THEY BELIEVED LIVING FOR GOD WAS A WASTE
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?
15 And now we call the proud happy; Yea, they that work wickedness are set up; Yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
EXPLANATION: After everything, God points to the final straw that in truth was the heart of the matter.
EXPLANATION: After everything, God points to the final straw that in truth was the heart of the matter.
They didn’t believe living for God was really worth it.
Their life was full of mourning and the prideful nations that didn’t follow God seemed to be so happy!
It was a vain thing to live for God!
ILLUSTRATION: The man who was given the most wisdom ever, was a man named Solomon.
ILLUSTRATION: The man who was given the most wisdom ever, was a man named Solomon.
The son of David and Bathsheba was given the opportunity to request anything he wanted from the Lord because he was the son of David.
He requested wisdom.
Because of his request, God granted him wisdom and riches and power.
But if you’re given the most wisdom of anyone who’s ever lived and don’t use it… well that might just make you the greatest fool.
Solomon loved many strange women whom he was warned to have nothing to do with.
He took for himself 700 wives and 300 concubines from other countries with false God’s and they turned his heart from the Lord.
Later in his life, Solomon would write a book in which he described what he had found after all his selfish endeavors.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
It was a phrase he would repeat over and over throughout his book.
It’s worthless!
It’s pointless!
But at the end of the book before he concluded he stated that there was one thing that actually did matter:
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Coming from the man who had experienced all the pleasures this world had to offer, he says, “These is only one thing that really matters: Fear God and keep His commandments!”
Live for God… it’s the only thing that is worth it!
APPLICATION: Friend, one day you will stand before God and the only thing that is going to matter is what you did on this earth for Him!
APPLICATION: Friend, one day you will stand before God and the only thing that is going to matter is what you did on this earth for Him!
And I can tell you on that day, there will be a lot of people who wondered, is it really worth it?
And if I can answer with the words of the old song writer,
“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus
Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase.
So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!”
On day to stand before the One Who gave everything for you, and to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
APPLICATION: Friend, this morning, have you lost sight of the love of God?
APPLICATION: Friend, this morning, have you lost sight of the love of God?
Have you forgotten just how much He loves you, and in turn, stopped loving Him the way you should?
If you have can I remind you the same way the messenger of the Lord reminded those in Malachi’s day:
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.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet In the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, Which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, And the heart of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Malachi turned their attention to the day that Messiah would come to redeem them!
Friend, turn your attention back to the greatest act of love ever shown… when your Messiah came to redeem you!
And allow that love of God to capture your heart once again!
THEY HAD HALF HEARTED WORSHIP, THEY BETRAYED THEIR SACRED RELATIONSHIPS, THEY DOUBTED GOD’S CONTROL, THEY DISTRUSTED GOD’S PROVISIONS, THEY BELIEVED LIVING FOR GOD WAS A WASTE