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Restoration: Reverance
Restoration: Reverance
If we dont pray to know God, then we become idol worshippers.
Introduction:
July 14th @6pm
I pray you mess them up and provoke there spirits in the room today!
1 A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,
3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
4 Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord.
5 You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’
6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’
Pray
Illustration: In 1950’s Einsinhower who was not a particilaly religous president prior going to the geneva peace conference with the soviets, went on national television and urged everyone to go to church and pray for the peace in the 1950’s. That type of jesture was routine then, but it would be unimaginable today, in a short time we have gone from defining the culture, being the culture, to being out of step, uncool, frequently mocked and ignored, counter culture.
How did we get here? some might say a certain president, some a specific pollicy, others will say this and then that, but honestly those are all wrong, they are only symptoms of what the Truth speaks.
Many within scriptures says be on guard….the devil roams around like a lion. To steal kill destroy, Be on guard for what…deception.
The symptoms of deception are the church has lost the fight for God’s Holiness.
How do we adjust and become Christ Church again?
Watch this….we need to stop caring about what people think about us, and care about what God thnks of us we can not allow this world to define who we are.
We are children of the most high, our father is not dead, we serve the kings of kings, and lord of lords, there is power in the name of jesus, demons tremble at the sound of that name.
“Everyone knows were a community about love, everyone knows we a community of forgivness, a place of transformation for the broken hearted, everyone knows where we stand with marriage there is no secret there, and were not going to change our convictions just because of a culture.”
We will not surrender our convictions just because of culture has drifted.
Do you know How to approach the presence of the Lord?
Do you know How to approach the presence of the Lord?
Theres nothing like the presence of the Lord. Within scriptures we see the presence of the Lord is treasured.
Wasnt it moses who said. If you presence is not with me Lord, do not send me.
David also sent a request for the presence of the Lord.
Not only do these two treasure the presence of the Lord, they knew How to approach the God.
They knew the path to His presence was reverance.
The evidence that Shows to God that we treasure His presence is reverance for Him.
Consequently, one evidence of backsliding is irreverance.
Which shows itself in forbidden behaviors, behaving eradictally, doing and thinking what ever you like.
1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command.
2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “ ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ ” Aaron remained silent.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.
By those who come near to me, I must be regarded as Holy.
Which means the more you know God, the more you show Honor!
Where is your honor today? Where is your allegiance.
Better yet, where do you find devotion?
Devotion comes from weightiness
Take a look with me at Malachi 1 1
1 A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
now a prophetic word is a message From God, given through one who is in deep agony due to his/her closness to God.
1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
So when we get closer to God, under our reverance, we will also have a deep burden.
The prophets where people who personally felt the burden of God.
Thats a sign of the prophetic, When you are praying and God gives you a burden.
its this weight for the things of which God sees and when God gives you this burden this yoke, God is giving you an assignment.
This is the difference between those who visit church, and are the church of Jesus. Visitors come to be filled, When you are the church, you already come filled. you come ready. Im not talking about coming to church, im not talking about coming to the worship service this morning.
Im talking about coming to God. Visitors come to take a peak at whats prepared on the table, if they like it they will stay, but only long enough for a single portion.
When a dicsciple comes full and leaves hungry than that disciple must have poured out his praises to God.
Look at Phillip in Acts 8. He leaves a revival, not tired, worn out from all the work he just put in, but ready for the next assignment. he runs into an ethiopian man who is walking circles around the text of scripture. Phillip could have easily said, well ive done enough today, someone else will have to…no he said hey brother how can i help.
Phillip understood this, his assignment wasnt tied to the place he just left, but rather what was infront of him.
phillip had reverance for the Lord, and the burden of the church always is biblical illiteracy.
So Mal 1 1 is saying the burden of the word of the lord, or the weight of the word of the Lord.
Today were talking about getting gains to handle this weight, to handle our assignment. The path to being closer with God is restoring reverance into your life.
Finding Devotion….
We need to ask..
1. Where’s the Love?
1. Where’s the Love?
1 A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,
We should be afraid to forget the love of God.
We should be afraid to forget the love of God.
Israel has forgotten God’s love, how can that be….
Because they have reduced there relationship with God to their need.
If you base your relationship on what you want to recieve from him, you wont grow.
If you measure the love of God based on what you want from him, you wont grow.
We sang the song today
“ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Your perfect love is casting out fear,
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I wont turn back i know you are near.”
Do we believe this?
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
No greater love.
God said Jacob I loved, esau I hated. Although esau was the first born, I have everything to Jacob.
We must not see the comparrison quite yet.
Although I first loved Jacob whom was named israel, God is saying, you are my choosen people! You I have given everything to, i have provided for, i have protected, and care for, its you i have given grace when it wasnt deserved, its you who has my mercy, my compassion.
The very people God is speaking to through the prophet God is saying Its you whom I have given my heart.
And through this act of love i have given all things God says to all people! I have come to give life. Abundant Life Jesus says.
For the fact that God of ALL creation looks at you in sin, and says i choose you over creation, Its God looking at you, and saying its for you I have given my son, Its for you I am.
And we have the audacity to measure our love on the fact that we dont have a job!
we measure God’s love under the validation of our self love, How condensiding can mankind be, yet while we were God’s enemies He sent His son to die for us!
we have the audacity to measure the love of God, based on a short sickness, when we are offered eternity.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
we ought not to have the audacity to measure such a love.
Do you Love God this morning?
Do you love God this morning, or is the Love for God growing cold within because the issues of life have become to much?
Come on lets help our neighbor out this morning.
Look to your neighbor and say “nothing shall seperate me from the love of God!”
We have to come to the conflusion that nothing will seperate us from the love of God.
When the enemy of our soul attempts to throw doubt of God’s love at you, you must have integrity to stand on the foundation of the Word! Prophesy to the devil God’s love. There is no opponet for the love of God.
Doubt isnt an opponet
Worry isnt an opponet
Fear leading to anxiety isnt an opponet to the Love of God.
We must first above all else, determine the Love of God is real, always, perfect, more than substancial, it is protection, it will become our refuge.
Come on how many people with spouses come home after a long days worth of work and voice the real issue to their spouse.
They are with you still today right?
And the love of a spouse is no where comparrable to the love of God. He laid down his life through jesus for you! No more comparrison is made.
God’s Love conqures all
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
It is written. It is done!
We must come to the conclusion of God’s love. And we must bask in it!
When we realize and walk in God’s love, we can come to the next step.
Understanding the Word of God is a narration for our lives. But the word does no good on a bookshelf, no good collecting dust. The best way to taken advantage of the word of God, is to use it for what it says!
For it is God’s love that drives His plans forward.
2. Do we Worship in Obligation or Love?
2. Do we Worship in Obligation or Love?
Appliance professionals: we had this guy working with us when I was Appliance Technichian. His name was unknown…there would be times when we would have to sometimes as for a second technician to go out and help us. Well this unknown fella would come on out and be the 2nd tech often. Usually we needed to move something or get in a difficult place. But on top of that, if a 2nd tech came out then you are splitting the commison for that job. so real incentive to not invite another tech out. Well this unkonw fellow would come out and boy oh boy, he would pull up to the job late, he would come in really unprofessionally and he would just talk, i mean literally no help would ever be given. no tools, no advice on getting the job done better, his hands would be just as clean as when he showed up. Drove us crazy. However, he showed up, clocked into that job with us and would get paid the same id get paid, with no work being done.! whew drove us crazy. That stopped quick, then he moved to another location and we praised the lord.
or
Parents reason with me here, have you ever taken your kids somewhere new? New place to eat, a new church, a new school, a new friends house for the first time. If you are anything like me and have kids that are uhh expressive. Then you may sit the kids down look at them and give them this speal… “ Now listen were going to this place and I want you to be on your best behavior, we want to respect people around us and their things….”
Now why do we do this? Becaue our children are representing us parents. We dont want our daughters and sons going around saying crazy things, asking personal questions, or jumping off sofas because they represent us.
- God was upset with israel because what they offered to the “invisible God” wasnt even worthy of being offered to the official goverment.
8 times in the first 2 chapters God refers to the disgrace israel had upon His name.
When we mention God’s name attached to it is, His identity. So when israel offered impure animals blemished sacrafices, blind lambs. they attacked the identity & reputation of God.
Here when God is saying they are despising His name, it means they are doing things contrary to God’s character.
Defiling his name.
In our lifes outside of our church clothes, hair, and smiles. Who are we? To that friend weve had 25 years, who are we to our spouses behind closed doors?
Whats our temperment?
What we do, determines who we represent.
Consequently, one evidence of backsliding is irreverance.
Which shows itself in forbidden behaviors, behaving eradictally, doing and thinking what ever you like.
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
3. Dont Disrespect the Power of God
3. Dont Disrespect the Power of God
6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’
It is you priests who show contempt for my name.
These few words are the most powerful and set the stage for the entire book of malachi, but rather than giving you a commentary on this passage what does it mean for us?
To show contempt is to show blantent disrespect.
Our Provisional Position can get us carried away from the Provisional Presence !
Our Provisional Position can get us carried away from the Provisional Presence !
We must be careful to not seek position over presence!
Provisions can be changed per prefrence of the Lord. If we dont live under the blood, through his love, in the word then we will be swapped out.
our position is avaiable because his presence made it so.
Because God is speaking specifically to the priest means he is speaking to people who 100% know better but lack the discipline to change out of the distasteful behavior and walk into holiness.
None the less, they ask, how…And God explains.
59 “ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant.
just as esau gave up his birthright for a bowl of food, the nation even now is giving up the covenant with God for selfish ambitions.
Our covnant isnt theirs, but it is straight to the point
Under the BLood of Jesus we have a new law. Which states.
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
It all comes back to God, and His love.
Just as the priest of old, if we despise this covenant of the blood of Christ, then we are in contempt, and therefore showing lack of position of which God has given us.
Today we have an opportunity, sometimes only offered once in a life time but many times, we have this opportunity many times.
Its time to reset to the default. We have conformed out default to be our very own motives, thoughts and actions.
- Its time we stop holding on for the sake of control, sake of comfort, this old phone is broken, it keeps glitching, its not working properly. Its almost of no use.
We must be careful not to become edom/esau whom helped the multitudes of Israels enemies in battles. We arent called to befriend the enemy but rather to stand in our position of authority and speak truth.
Its a call to get closer to God, giving the respect and honor is due his name, the name above every other name. The name of Jesus.
To fear God means to take God seriously, his thoughts, his views, his perspectives.
I dont want to end a service on this note so lets take this home and become reset.
The important thing is …..
“ We must know, we have to take God seriously, how many parents do we have in the room this morning? Okay, how many times have you said to your children, Im not playing with you, how many times have you said, didnt you hear me? how many times have you said, who do you think youre talking to? In those moments, you wanted them to know your position, you wanted them to understand that you are to be taken seriously, and you arent to be played with. We have a church today who’s playing with God. People just throwing around His name.”
“One of the best illustrations we can use to explain the fear of God, is how we fear electricity. Electricity is a blessing, we are blessed with electrical power, the lights cut on, the appliances work, the thought of life beyond electricity is beyong our imagination, because virtually everything that benefits us indirectly or directly is tied to electricity.We are blessed by the power of electrcity. But you dont take a screwdriver and stick it in an outlet, because that same power that blessed you will hurt you. That same power that gave you good things, can make you feel real bad. So you enjoy electricity but you handle it carefully. Because you knowm this power is not to be played with.”
To fear God means to take God seriously, not to just use his name for benefits, for a mention, a like on social media. But rather you take God’s name, his thoughts, his views, his perspectives.
But today weve gotten so use to the casual relating to God, that we throw his name out and we care less about what he feels about it.
Whens the last time you watched a award show, the grammies, oscars, all types of people Thanking God for this that and the other thing, and then diving into all sorts of profanity. Diving it a whole slew of evil rhetoric afterwards, but hey they thank God for the ability to get this reward. This is taking God’s name casually, rather yet call it for what it is. Thats taking God’s name in vain.
conclusion:
God’s love should keep us in aligment with his word, as our master we will honor him with our lives, not walking alone, when we loose these convictions, we become unaligned with God.
And alignment with God is a spiritual necessity for us.
Have you ever seen a car out of alignment? Some of yall like yeah outside mine. I just get blown away seeing an entire car titled 18 degrees the wrong directino, while the tires are going straight, i mean they have never taken that car to a shop its crazy!
Its like it wants to go straight but its not, but it is. the car is confused. Cant be good on gas milage right.
The same goes for us. When we dont position ourselves in the right posture before the lord then our willingness and our effort are going in two seperate directions.
Gods love is real. Nothing will seperate us
Through his love we show a posture of true worship
In worship we see the power of Holy Spirit transforming our lives to default creation.
We are all guilty of measuring how much God really sees us, we compare the hand we have at the table to the person next to us.
This is deception. Dont be decieved, for through this deception we loose time with our kids, we make mistakes in our marriages, we act a fool about a job.
It’s not worth it.
God has made you strong, God has made you courageous, God have given you His very burden of love.
This makes us doubt, because His love is perfect and the world we live in now is not.
This makes of jealous, because God is a jealous God.
This makes us want to cry when our friends are crying.
Its okay, but dont let the deception of what you see be the conclusion of the events!
Have hope! Trust in God! Watch as He makes all things pleasing, and watch as you pursue His heart! How He is pursuing yours!
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
DONT READ THIS…USE FOR NEXT WEEK.
113 I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.
114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
115 Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees.
118 You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes.
120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.