THE PROBLEM, THE PRESCRIPTION AND THE PROMISE

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Cath The Fire Church!

I am blessed to be with you / And let me say you are blessed to have these incredible pastors and their family!

I have a Word I believe is for you and this church today. A word I believe is from the Lord to you.

So if I can let’s jump right into it.

--------------------------------------------------------------- Mal 1:6-11

Malachi 1:6–11 NASB95

“ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’ “But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts. “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts. “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.

Verse 10 and 11 are the two that I want to really focus your attention on.

Malachi 1:10–11 NASB95

“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.

God is wanting someone to be brave enough to shut the door and lock it!

Close it all down because the offerings of the people had become contaminated.

They were not giving to God their best but were saving their best for themselves.

Verse 11 God declares His hearts desire and intent.

His name will be great! His name will be honored among the nations.

------------------------------------------------------------------- TODAY GOD IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH IN AMERICA HONOR MY NAME, MAKE ME FAMEOUS AMONG THE NATIONS OR I WILL SHUT YOUR DOOR.

(COVID 19 - Repent or the next time I will shut the doors for Good)

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THE PROBLEM -

THE WORSHIP OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH HAS BECOME IDOLATRY TO SELF!

Three prominent forms of evangelical Christianity in America today!

Moralistic – Therapeutic - Deism

· Focus on being good moral people based on a set of cultural values

· God’s role is as a therapist, making us feel good about ourselves, helping us accomplish our dreams, comforting us when we or others mess up our dreams.

· Deism – God is distant and does not interfere in our lives – sleep with who I want – not a part of my day to day life – only injects himself when I need to be encouraged.

· The religion of Oprah – Goal is to have a good and happy life based on materialism.

Christian Buddhism –

· All that matters is my personal experience and feelings.

· Truth is not relevant, instead we each have our own experience with Jesus and the experience is truth no matter what the Bible says.

· Holiness is based on how I feel, social justice warrior, Living to the fullness of how you feel. God does not care about sin – He or She only cares about me living to the fullest of my personal experience. God is all about my personal happiness.

Man Centered Worship –

· I go to church to be fed

· I choose a church based on the music and or preaching style

· If the church confronts my sin, instead of submitting to discipline I will look for another church.

· Church is about making me feel good, Entertainment, personal comfort.

· Finding a church with people who are just like me so I never feel uncomfortable and never have to be challenged by other cultures.

· “Pastor I did not like the worship music today”, Good because it was not for you!

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DO YOU SEE WHAT CONNECTS ALL THESE TOGETHER?

Worship and Devotion is about man not Jesus!

THE CHURCH HAS BECOME CONSUMERS RATHER THAN WORSHIPPERS.

THE CHURCH IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN GET FROM GOD AND ONE ANOTHER, WHEN OUR CONCERN SHOULD BE ABOUT HONORING HIM AND GIVING SERVICE TO HIM.

· RESULT IS NO REAL POWER / EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION / MAGIC SHOW WITH SMOKE MACHINES AND LIGHTS

· FOCUSSED SO MUCH ON PLEASING ONE ANOTHER THAT THE CHURCH HAS BEGUN TO SEE GOD THROUGH A HUMANIST LENS AND NOT A BIBLICAL LENS – WOKE THEOLOGY – ANDY STANLEY.

· SO CONCERNED WITH BEING WELCOMING TO ONE ANOTHER THAT WE HAVE MADE GOD FEEL UNWELCOME – CHURCH IS NO LONGER A GATHERING OF HOLY ONES OFFERING HOLY SERVICE TO YAHWEH. IT IS NOW A PRODUCT TO BE CONSUMED SO WE CAN GROW OUR CHURCHES AND BUILD OUR EGOS.

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NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PRESCRIPTION TO THIS SICKNESS AND ROT IN THE AMERICAN CHURCH.

THE PRESCRIPTION IS: THE RECOVERY OF OUR GOD GIVEN IDENTITY AND PURPOSE.

Revelation 1:5–6 NASB95

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:9 NASB95

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

OUR IDENTITY AND THEREFORE OUR PURPOSE IS TO BE ROYAL PRIESTS TO OUR LORD!

Not priests to our self - Not priests to one another.

THE PRIESTHOOD WAS FIRST AND FOREMOST FOCUSSED ON SERVING THE LORD AND NOT THE PEOPLE..

We have to turn from serving our selfish desires to serving His Desires.

We have to turn from serving the desires of others and Serve His Desires.

THE QUESTION YOU AND I NEED TO ASK IS WHY DID WE GATHER TODAY?

Did we gather to hear a guest speaker?

Did we gather to be entertained?

Did we gather to be healed, set free, see friends,

Or did we gather for the sole purpose of serving and worshipping the Lord?

Number one question I get asked? Pastor, what is my purpose?

My answer is now and will remain this: Your identity through Jesus is a royal priest unto Yahweh

Therefore, your purpose is to first and foremost Serve Him in Spirit and Truth in all You do.

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THE PROMISE THAT COMES WITH THIS CHANGE IS INCREDIBLE.

Psalm 22:3 NASB95

Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

How do we solve all the problems that come up in our churches?

(Widows - fighting - how do we fix this?)

Acts 13:2 NASB95

While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

They fasted and ministered to the Lord.

Then He showed up and by His Spirit gave them the answer.