Offending God With Betrayal

made with Proclaim

Rev. Lex DeLong

Washington Baptist Church

Major Posts from Minor Prophets: Be an Influencer • Sermon • Submitted 7 months ago • Presented 7 months ago • 40:11

Malachi 2:10–16

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Southern Israel is on fire. Israel has declared a state of war, the first such declaration since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Hamas, the Palestinian Arab terrorist organization in Gaza unleashed an attack on the general population of Southern Israel, killing over 200 and injuring more than 1,000 men, women, and children.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is calling up reservists and starting its response to the Hamas attack named “Iron Sword.” The IDF is the most equipped and best-trained army in the Middle East, but the war will take its toll on the young men and women of Israel who defend the Jewish state. As the IDF regains control of the communities around Gaza, the full extent of the loss will be known. There is an imminent risk that Hezbollah, the Palestinian Arab terrorist organization in Lebanon, could launch an offensive along Israel’s northern border, creating a second front for Israel to defend. Hamas is also calling upon the enemies of Israel in the West Bank to attack Jerusalem and Jewish communities in the West Bank. Some of our own Friends of Israel family have been called up to duty by the IDF and will be a part of its military response to Hamas’ brutal, unprovoked attack on Israel. Please lift up in prayer Israel and all who are under threat there. Pray that the Lord will protect His people, both national Jews and His church.

Isaiah 43:1–3 “1 But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3 “For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior...”

PRAY

What leads the world to such tragedies? How do we get to the place of such horrors?

Ignoring God.

Rebelling against God.

Creating our own religions and/or warping what God intended into something fashioned after our own lives.

Putting ourselves as priority over others and even God Himself.

Seeking control, dominance, security in human rule.

Anything one embraces in contrast to what God has designed, breaks down the peace that God intended for His people.

Man’s creation of religions that part from God’s established means of relationship with Him, move humanity further and further from true relationship with God and the blessings that come from that relationship. It blurs mankind’s ability to see the truth. It leads humanity down an ever increasing slope of sin from which it cannot recover.

The Bible is not about creating a religion for mankind, so that he can somehow rise to the presence and acceptance of God, without conforming to the righteousness and holiness of God. The Bible is meant to present God’s means by which there is true relationship with Him, in His righteousness and holiness. It communicates the blessing that God has in store for those who are willing to adopt, surrender to, embrace, or inculcate into their daily lives, God’s defined means of access to that acceptable relationship.

Both priests and people were apathetic, bored with worship (1:13) and mean in their giving (3:8). In short, they despised the Lord (1:6), cheated him of vows and robbed him of dues (1:14; 3:8). Having failed to love God, they failed also to love their neighbour. A broken relationship with God led on to broken relationships in human society, intermarriage and divorce being the examples of unfaithfulness quoted by Malachi.

Joyce G. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 28, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1972), 231.

Stop Believing the Lie (Malachi 2:10-12)

Anytime you choose to ignore God’s desire for you and instead, choose the world over Him, you isolate yourself from meaningful relationship with the one Who created you, offers to save you, and longs to give you peace.

Stop Ignoring God’s Design (Malachi 2:12-16)

Anytime that you choose to leave your love for God in exchange for the love of the world against the nature of God’s Spirit within you, you push God away and tarnish any value in your worship.

God Wants Your Heart (Malachi 2:15-16 b)

Every time you choose to stay true to God’s Spirit within you, God will keep you on a path of justice and peace.

God calls His people to genuine worship, to loyalty both to Himself and each other; don’t offend God with Betrayal by wanting the world over God.