Returning to the Lord

Free To Worship

In the United States we have a freedom that is unlike any other around the world. Our practice of Christianity is something that we are free to express as deeply and boldly as we choose.

Today if you were to look at your social media whether you are believer or not you are likely to come across what appears to be the spark of a revival. Yet to call it a revival may be a bit premature. Not taking away from the events currently at work, there are many people who will travel far to be at the hub of this, longing for a chance to be participant in what many have called Revival.

Many will clamour and rave about the events and attest to the experience forgoing the effort of defining what revival actually is. That is, in a true revival there is a moving away from just emotionalism to a call to action. There are many who go from place to place seeking a “refreshing” or “revival” they are unsettled in places where there is work to be done, its too constricting, its too square for them… Quite frankly, they are bored of church work, and do not believe there is a need to engage in the work of the church.

Yet the NT reminds us what true revival is: Matt 9:37-38 tells us that it is about praying for and contending for the arrival of the laborers. Matt 6:10;33 tells us that it is the receiving and the anointing of the Holy Spirit not for an emotional experience but to be filled to go and profess the gospel and is accompanied by signs and wonders. It is the longing to not just see the work of the Kingdom but to do the work of the Kingdom.

Its not that revival is starting as it begun the moment Jesus arrived and that movement has not died. The issue is that we have become callous and challenge God to see Him as we want not as He is already moving.

There is a charge for the church of God to awaken from its slumber and to return to the work of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sleeping through the Outpouring

Joel tells of a time in which a latter rain would come

Peter in Acts tells of the same…

The young and old, men and women, would operate in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some people say there is a generation coming… scripture says everyone will… stop using excuses and waiting on the next in line.

We are free to worship and yet we are too busy, too tired, too numb

Rooted in;

Malachi 1:2 ESV

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob

Author of Malachi addresses the problem with the people.

this book is an address to the priest.

1 Pet 2:9 tells us that you, me, we are a holy nation a royal priesthood…

this address is for us.

He says He Loves us;

have loved, love and will love you…

Speaks to the special relationship He desires for us...

Jacob over Esau…

He does play favorites… His priests those who serve Him are His Favorites and He desires a closer relationship with them

We despise His love..

How have you loved me…

I havent seen you move in my life lately… i havent encountered your power lately… so if you really loved me… (Try that with your spouse.)

Because we dont “see” His love we grow cold to Him.

We have gone to sleep and refuse to wake up

Igniting the Love for His Name

Malachi 1:6 ESV

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’

Father, Master, Lord of Hosts, Lord

Attributes we give God and yet do we treat Him as such

How have I despised your name

Sunday worship maybe?

He doesnt really want all of me

What is the polluted offering we are brining?

The Lord’s Table may be despised… (What in our life is the blind animal, lame or sick animal,)

not all of my time

not my worship

not my service

we act like God in our lives He’s just a decoration for us

Malachi describes a people who are giving from excess, or out of obligation, out of ritual, the Lord says give it to your governor will he receive it? We cannot go on hating His name by acting like we are gods

v. 10 ( Shutting the door to the church) the Lord asks for their to be one who will close the doors and say fix this mess, stop giving this broken offering.

Love for the Banquet

Those who are saying we can dismiss the word of God… or dismiss His Spirit

The food on His banquet table is bad for us… here eat the food of others.

Malachi 1:12–13 ESV

But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord.

More than actively working against the work of God there are a people who use and abuse His word to fit their need

The love for the banquet starts when we stop snorting at His word when it is causing change in us

Today there are a people who long for “revival” but will not bring to God what is rightfully His… They think revival is what they get out of worshipping God instead of what they bring God....

They bring Him even the things that are dead:

Marriage

children

career

ministry

In this section of scripture the Lord declares He will not accept it…

Malachi 1:14 ESV

Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

Today the Lord is asking you to restore what you are bringing to His house. Not with the expectation of a return but because He has already Loved… The generation of people that profanes the Lord, His Love, and His offering. Its a people who are free to worship no longer oppressed but are frankly bored and do not want to honor God. Yet God is raising those who will honor Him.

Let us return to a right worship of the Lord.