The LORD Rebukes the Priests

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stephan challen

Homerton Baptist Church

Malachi • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago • 33:32

Malachi 2:1–9

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Evening 17 December 23

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Order of Service

Welcome

Prayer

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Notices

Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm

Friday 7pm - Online

Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm

Tithes & Offerings - £

Main Prayer

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Reading

Malachi 2:1–9 ESV

“And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Sermon

*** Start Timer ***

Example of George Whitfield, aged 23, when he first cross the atlantic.

3 ships

100 soldiers, travellers and seaman

they swore, gambled and low moral tone

Initially rediculed, when he said he hoped to see all shoudl know Jesus during the trip

personal example, turned his head “by way or reproof” in disapproval for swearing, and share when he had opportunity

Towards end of journey captains would call their men to a service and even brought the three ships close to allow them to hear

God’s Warning

Malachi 2:1 ESV

“And now, O priests, this command is for you.

It is rare for the spirirtuality of a group of Christians to exceed that of its leaders

Those who aspire should think twice and probably tremble

The spirituality of the priests was at a very low ebb and the effect on the nation was disasterous

The Lord had a word of rebuke and warning for them, through his mouthpiece, the prophet Malachi

Leaders should be mature men in the faith

One of the marks of spiritual maturity is being able to take admonition and rebuke

not to be confused with false accusations or an unloving approach

scripture is clear what the appropriate way to admonish or rebuke

Being able to own up to your faults and seek to correct is the mark of maturity in life generally

difficult when self-esteem and emotional security centres on their achievements and what other people thing of them

what is needeed is the firm foundation of the fact that God loves us

There is no liberty to go around attacking your leaders and pastors

No leader should become the puppets of every self-appointed, big-headed critic or slaves to other people’s opinions

Galatians 1:10 ESV

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Men are not falliable and can make grievous mistakes

Mature men of faith will have the discernment to sift the ture from the false criticism, the humility to listen and change.

Acts 6 - The Apostles made a mess of daily food distribution to the church, and so Deacon’s were appointed.

Gal 2 - Paul had to correct Peter for his acceptance of circumcision and withholding fellowship from Paul because of the circumcision party. Peter responded maturely.

Criticising leader should not be taken lightly...

1 Timothy 5:19–20 ESV

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

A spirit of love and humility is needed in us all for the right balance that the work of God may progress.

God’s Judgement

Malachi 2:2–4 ESV

If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.

God holds them responsible for their lack of reverence and true worship

So often people look for their emotions to be moved to prompt them to worship

They effectively blame God for their shallowness and irreverence

It is easy to rpaise God when we are on top of the world

It can be a mark of deepest love worshipping God, when all our emotions are opposing us

set your heart on honouring His name

Do we feel our coldness and awkwardness? Then express this in prayer to God. Be sincere!

We should express out regrets and implore the Lord to send us a greater measure of His Spirit

God had promised to bless the people

Numbers 6:27 ESV

“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Return...

Malachi 2:2–4 ESV

But now God promises to turn their blessings to curses

God will make it plain for all to seee that these men were out of touch with God

Elders and ministers whose sermon have become boring waffle under the judgement of God. “God will turn your sermons into sedatives”

God will judge the counterfeit Christian

Those witnessing seen for their double standards and hypocrisy

Modern Paraphrase of God’s Words:

‘I’ll show you up for what you are. You cannot go on in this respectable irreverence and coldness towards me and expect to get away with it. I will make you powerless. I will make you a laughing stock.’

God affirms he will punish them, and they will be removed.

So many are put off of churches becuase “the church is full of hypocrits” or “self-righetous”

Jesus warned:

Mark 9:42 ESV

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Paul reiterated..

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

God is a gracious God and his warnings always have a positive purpose

God says “If you do not” allowing for them to heed his warnings

There was no formal covenant with Levi, but refers to their appointment (Jeremiah 33:21) for their commitment to God’s Law

If people do not listen to God’s warnings then God will eventually step in and bring Judgement

If God has been speaking to youy and disturbing your conscience and you refuse to listen and rationalise it away, then eventually God will judge you.

During the Barness of Judaism, Jesus came and God moved in Judgement.

The levite priests were finished and the animal sacrifices stopped.

God destroyed the temple at Jerusalem in AD 70

The tribe of Levi has been replace by a new priest from the tribe of Judah, our Lord Jesus Christ

Revelation 2:5 ESV

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

God will judge the professing church for its unfluence upon the community...

Matthew 5:13 ESV

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

God’s Explanation

Malachi 2:5–9 ESV

My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Prophets had the purpose of calling the nation back to fidelity to the practice and spirit of the things of God, as established in the time of Moses.

How did Levi respond when God first gave him the great job of caring for and influencing the nation to walk in fellowship with God?

Attitude

They responded to God with reverence and stood in awe of Him

Teaching

They were careful to be true messengers of the Lord

They made it their responsibility to preserve what had been taught in the past, and not to teach anything false.

Made it their responsibility to know the scriptures and how they applied in current practical situations

Even if that wasn’t very popular

Behaviour

False teachers are those that do not practice what they preach

Henry Venn, Vicar in Huddersfield, 1759-1771. ~ Socinians (denied the trinit and that Christ is God) sent two to spy on a service in order to ridicule. ~ Amazed at the fervency and desire to worship God and Venn spoke with such seriousness and deep concern both for the souls of the people and the Glory God ~ Left deeply impressed said “Surely God is in the Place! There is no matter for laughter here!” ~ James Kershaw, one of the two, left the Socinians, and gave his heart to Christ, and became one of Venn’s cloest friends.

To hold God in awe, and give sound biblical teaching and live a holy life are fundamental prerequisites for spiritual leadership.

This was missing from Malachi’s priestly contemporaries

God’s Lesson

What is the great work of Christian Leadership?

Answer: To influence people towards God and away from their sin

True Love for Christ brings a hatred of sin

however praiseworthy a cause is it is totally worthless in the sight of God if it does not bring individuals to reconciliation with God.

The true success of a church is not its size, but the effect the church has upon the moral life of those around them

Elders must speak lovingly and tenderly and caringly about the people’s sin, and speak firmly and never let the issue be clouded.

Spergeon reminds us “Jesus saves us from our sins, not in our sins. Faith in Jesus does save and will save all who have it, but it is by purging our sin.”

As believers we should not be offended, when elders come to speak to us about out lives.

This is the work God has given them to do for our God

Blessed indeed is the church whose leaders sincerely command enough respct for this work to be undertaken withoit hypocrisy and whose member are teachable enough to receive such correction.

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