Velocity Requires Proof

Velocity Requires Proof

Malachi 2:1-9

speedometer measures how fast you are going. A GPS is needed if you are going to measure velocity.

How do we know in our spiritual life if we are moving forward?

We only know by whether our heart is bearing forth fruit.

Malachi 2:1–9 ESV

1 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 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. 3 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. 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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, 9 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.”

Priests= descendants of Aaron of tribe of Levi in OT- specifically the descendents of Aaron were the priests and the rest of Levites served the priests

There are a lot of variables that determine whether a garden will develop good fruit.

-water -temperature -weeds -animals -insects -skill of gardener

4 Areas that Influence Our Fruit

1. Our Heart (2)

Malachi 2:2 ESV

2 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.

God's blessing have conditions placed on them.

Exp- 2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

"take it to heart"

Heart= for the Hebrews the heart was the the command center of a person's life, where knowledge is collected and considered and where decision and plans are made that determine the direction of your life.

This is different than the Greeks and the way us Westerners see the heart. We think of it as the seat of our emotions.

Hebrews- place of reason, not emotions. (bowels were the emotions)

Man's actions are determined by reason, not feeling.

Do your actions match your proposed faith?

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego

They had been taught.

But when the time came they determined in their heart not to eat of the unclean food.

Their Fruit proved where their heart truly was.

Your fruit proves where your heart is.

Jesus said, "you will know them by their fruit." (not by what they say, how they live)

Hypocrites- their problem was their heart, not their religion.

2. Our Blessing (3)

Malachi 2:3 ESV

3 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.

reap what you sow.

This curse will affect your descendents.

This happened with Eli (Hophni and Phinehas)

He refused to discipline his sons and his descendents were not allowed to be priests.

"behold, I will rebuke" =Describes something happening in the imminent future.

Phrase adds urgency to the appeal

Blessing or Curse (no middle ground)

Offal= the guts and waste left over after the sacrifice. had to be taken outside the city and burned because it was unclean.

They were cursing their children and making them unholy, unworthy of being a priest.

Literally- They would be removed from office in utter disgrace.

The priests' actions were a disgrace.

Since they considered it a burden to serve God, he would remove that burden by removing them from service.

3. Our Responsibility (4-7)

Malachi 2:4–7 ESV

4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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.

The purpose of this warning was to change behavior so the covenant with Levi and his descendents could be preserved.

"life and peace"= promised to Levi when God made a covenant with him to be the priest.

Covenant= unbreakable agreement between two people for a specific amount of time. Usually has conditions.

4 parts of Priests' responsibility

A. Fear

proper respect for the Sovereignty and Justice of our Creator

Awe- don't make God fit in a small box. He is bigger than our comprehension

Fear properly motivates the next 3 responsibilities.

B. Truth

Malachi 2:6–7 ESV

6 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. 7 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.

It is the Truth that will set man free, not a great story. It is God's special revelation through his servants. Truth is what fuels justice. To not speak truth would make one a false teacher (New Testament).

"no wrong found on his lips.

lips should "guard knowledge"

People should seek instruction from those speaking truth.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

C. Obedience

practice what you preach.

D. Evangelism

Malachi 2:6 ESV

6 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.

"turned many from iniquity"= because of their teaching they caused many to repent.

4. Our Accountability (8-9)

Malachi 2:8–9 ESV

8 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, 9 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.”

Accountability= who do we answer to. Ultimately answer to God.

We are accountable (answer to God) for our own actions (8a)

We are accountable (answer to God) for our follower's actions (8b)

leaders will be held accountable for false teaching.

James 3:1 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Romans 1:18–20 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

We are accountable (answer to God) for the covenant (8c)

Corrupting the covenant of Jesus Christ.

Failure to accept Jesus as the only way to salvation.

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We answer to God and he punishes sin.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We will be held accountable unless someone else has paid the price for us.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

CONCLUSION

-Are you ready to stand before God in judgement?

What does the fruit in your life say about your heart?