Faithful Living

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We are in the middle of Malachi where we are seeing what it looks like to live God’s way in a changing culture. We saw last week how the culture we live in is not unlike the culture of the 1800’s and is not unlike the culture of the 300-400’s BC. You see, there is nothing new under the sun and we will continue to see the culture that we live in swing into a godless manner, and we as the church will need to step up…then we seem to get comfortable as Christians and that leads itself to a culture that becomes more and more godless. The question you have to ask yourself…are you up for the battle, or are you going to stand on the sidelines?

This morning I want you to think about Chicago…Now Chicago is a city that is built with over 300 bridges. These bridges were built to last, especially those in the downtown area. The bridges in downtown are iconic. The steel and masonry that put those bridges together is craftsmanship that today, is frankly unmatched. There was a pride not only in the structure, but in the details of those bridges. Those bridges were built to connect communities, allowing people to pass from place to place while still allowing for the shipping that was so important to Chicago.

But, like all structures, it doesn’t need to be flawless to fulfill it’s purpose does it? No, I guarantee over the years small cracks have appeared, bolts have needed tighted, or maybe even replaced. You see, when these bridges are maintained properly they remain strong and reliable. Their strength comes not from being perfect, but from being well cared for, from being kept strong by the hands who care for it.

The same way that those builders designed their bridges to last, and that maintenance department keeps them strong…we are called to be faithful, even though we aren’t perfect. You see, as leaders, spouses, and beleivers, God has called us not to perfection, but to reflect his own faithfulness. That’s when our faithfulness points others to Jesus, who is perfect and never fails.

Today, as we look at Malachi’s message, we’re reminded that when we are faithful in our roles—in our leadership and in our marriages—we become a picture of Christ’s perfect love for us. And it’s this faithfulness, more than anything, that holds our church, our families, and our communities together, our imperfection, pointing others to the One who is perfect.

Now, let’s go ahead and open your Bibles to see what we are talking about today. Last week we talked about what God is worth and we talked about actually giving him his value of our time and our resources. This week we are going to turn over to talk about me a little bit as well as marriage. Let’s talk about what faithful leaders look like so that you can help hold me accountable…although, you might be a little surprised about what I’m about to tell you. Let’s see what Malachi says about

Unfaithful Leadership

You see, in this section Malachi calls out the priests for dishonoring God’s name. Instead of leading the people in reverence and obedience, they’ve corrupted the covenant God made with Levi by teaching wrongly and leading unfaithfully. Maybe what they didn’t realize is that their unfaithfulness has widespread effects on the community.

Let’s go ahead and read

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.”

Last week we saw that Malachi said it would be better to close the door of the temple rather than to continue to profane the Lord’s name. This is a pretty clear continuation of that concept. In this very short section we see that Malachi is rebuking the priest and everything they have been doing. In the same way, there are millions of pastors today that need to be rebuked. Actually there is a book that has recently come out called, Shepherds for Sale where an investigative journalist dug in and saw that there were hard leftist pro child sacrifice organizations that have been pouring millions of dollars into various churches and funding Bible studies that just so happened to teach things like, if someone chooses to sacrifice their child, that is a decision that we should honor and not call to repentance, or that lgbt might actually be a valid choice within a Biblical worldview. Now we know these things are totally unbiblical, but for decades there has been millions of dollars going into churches to teach a certain message. Actually, the prophet Micah talked about that as well,

Micah 3:9–11 (ESV)

Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.”

Again, we see that there is nothing new under the sun. However, what are the key issues that we need to take away from this passage in Malachi. What are the key concepts that we should be taking with us? Well there are four things that I want you to take with you this morning, so let’s take a look real quick at these. First off is

The Role of the Priest/Pastor:

Today when we think of a priest, we would think of a pastor. That’s because we are not living under the same conditions as they were in the Old Testament. Today we go to church and our leaders are pastors. Let me show you by telling you what priest were.

Priests were teachers of God’s Word. They were models of holiness and guides to the people they were leading. You see, their faithfulness is essential to the health of the entire community.

Remember what the priest were doing at this time. They were annoyed at God for telling them to stop allowing leftovers to be offerings. They were actively teaching things that were not true, they have turned aside from the Lord and were more focused on themselves. They had corrupted the position of priest, and had made it about themselves.

That is a general thought about the position, but what about

Integrity and Reverence:

This is where we see that God’s leaders should walk in integrity, fearing the Lord. Their lives should reflect the holiness they preach. You see, the pastor is not meant to be perfect, but is meant to rely on the one that is perfect. The pastor is meant to be a man of integrity who reveres the Scripture. That means not taking Scripture out of context, but sharing the truth instead.

Paul wrote a whole section in his letters devoted to telling what a pastor should be characterized by. Look at this…

Titus 1:6–9 (ESV)

if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

What happens when this no longer characterizes your pastor? What about

Accountability and Judgment:

Well, God holds leaders accountable, and when they lead others astray, it brings big consequences. God rebukes unfaithful leadership because of its impact on the entire community. You see, When the pastor leads others astray, it affects not only the church but also those outside the church.

Here is what the priest were doing. They were taking their privilege for granted. They had forgotten the covenant that God had made with them through Aaron, way back after they left Egypt. You see, it was a privilege to be a priest, to serve the alter, to minister in the temple, and to teach the Law to God’s people. The problem is that the priests at this time had no fear of God…no respect for who God is. They were treating sacred object like regular common objects because their hearts weren’t in line with the Lord. These men weren’t doing ministry; they were only doing empty religious behaviors, and that disgusted the Lord.

Lastly let’s look at

The Covenant with Levi:

God’s covenant with Levi was one of life and peace. Priests are called to uphold this legacy by teaching truth and guiding people in worship. That was basically their whole job. However, these priests, again, had decided that this was not a fun option and not something they wanted to do, so they decided to live life according to their own plans and what they wanted. Basically…being a priest became just a job…and not a calling from the Lord.

Let me just tell you I have absolutely met pastors like that today. I have met pastors who have said that being a pastor was just a career choice and it was the same as any other career choice that someone could make. Well, let me just be very clear for a minute…that is not true! I don’t have time to tell you the difference, but feel free to hit me up sometime and I’ll tell you about it.

Now the Lord made this covenant with the tribe of Levi after a man named Phinehas made a stand for the Scriptural truth. The other priest had been failing and ignoring their calling, but Phinehas made the decision to live for the Lord and not for self. This caused the Lord to give the covenant of peace and life. That is not the whole story though. Phinehas had seen enough idolatry and enough empty worship. This turned back the wrath of God on his people and instead gave hope for the future. Again, Phinehas did not need to be perfect himself, and he was not…but he had to know where perfection came from.

The priesthood was pointing to something more. These men were pointing to the day when a man would be born from a virgin and would live a sinless life. A life of perfection. If the priest were to offer unworthy sacrifices that would point to an unworthy savior. That makes them false ministers, and a false minister is an awful weapon in the hands of Satan.

The sacrificial system was a picture of what was to come…

That’s not all that’s talked about here though…what about

Unfaithful Marriages

Just like God spoke through Malachi to talk to the leaders of Israel, he is also speaking to the people of Israel. God rebukes the people for breaking faith with one another, especially in marriage. The people have been divorcing their spouses and marrying those outside the faith, actions that betray their covenant commitments. God calls marriage a holy covenant, designed to produce godly offspring and reflect His own faithfulness. Let’s go ahead and read the rest of our passage this morning.

Malachi 2:10–16 (ESV)

Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Do you remember how a few weeks ago I said that marriage was a union that was set up by God for a purpose, not a political issue…Well, this morning let’s briefly discuss that because sometimes we need to be reminded that its not about my feelings, but my obedience. Now just like there were four things that we looked at with leadership, there are four quick things we will look at in marriage this morning. Let’s kick it off with

Unity and Covenant:

Just as Israel, God’s people are one nation under Him, marriage is a union designed by God, reflecting His covenant nature. Betraying marriage vows is like betraying God’s covenant. This can and does take with it very real consequences. At this time the priest were allowing unrighteous living within the nation of Israel. The men of Israel were breaking their marital covenant with their spouses which was an example of how they were breaking their Spiritual covenant with the Lord.

This was not a new problem within the nation of Israel. Ever since the people left Egypt they had been leaving the safety of God’s protection to find pagan partners. However, they seem to be going a step further at this point. They are breaking unity and divorcing their Jewish wives and marrying pagan women. These men are committing several sins. What these men did was contrary to what God had written into nature and in His covenant.

But what does this say about

Marriage as a Sacred Bond:

God calls marriage a “holy institution,” emphasizing its sacredness. Marriage is an example of commitment that mirrors God’s commitment to His people. However, when people profane the institution of marriage by divorcing simply because they have found another person they would selfishly rather be connected with, this does not give justice to the sacred.

Verses 14–16 is one of the strongest statements on the marriage bond in Scripture. We read throughout that God does not condone divorce, however what we just read is pretty harsh on the concept of divorce. God is the witness…Look, even if you were married outside of the church…marriage is explicitly a religious ceremony, so you cannot marry away from God. God is the witness of your marriage. Are you behaving in a way that is honoring to God at home? Are you treating your spouse in a way that is honoring to God? The way you speak to your wife…the way you speak to or about your husband…if you realized that God was with you, would you be proud of the things you did or said.

What about

God’s View on Divorce:

God strongly condemns divorce, calling it an act of violence against the covenant. God desires faithful, enduring love that stands as a testament to His faithfulness. We see all over Scripture that divorce was allowed in various times, but this was never the design that God created. We do know there are reasons for divorce from a Biblical perspective, but we also know there are far more reasons for reconciliation.

Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you must do something. Paul tells us that Moses allowed for divorce because of the hardness of peoples hearts…in other words due to the rebellious hearts of his people…However, God’s ideal is reconciliation. That doesn’t mean that reconciliation will always happen, just that this is the better options. However, reconciliation requires two humble hearts that are repentant over their idolatry.

The last concept of marriage this morning

Faithfulness and Holiness:

The community’s spiritual health is impacted by the marriages within it. Faithfulness in marriage produces faithfulness in the next generation, pointing others to God’s character. You see, this is such a practical expression of God’s love and grace. When kids grow up in a two parent home, they are able to understand more about how God created them. When kids grow up in a two parent church…meaning a church that is marked by healthy marriages, they are able to see that a pattern of how God works in peoples lives. When kids grow up in generational churches meaning they are going to church with grandparents they are able to see the longevity of God’s faithfulness. Then when those kids grow up themselves, they are able to take all of those lessons they have learned and pass them on to the next generation.

Beyond that…Marriage is a picture of what is to come…

Let’s put all of this together this morning., everything we’ve read. The overarching theme is covenant faithfulness. Whether in leadership or marriage, God’s people are called to honor Him through their commitments. Just as God is faithful to His promises, He expects His people to be faithful both in their worship and in their personal lives. We’ve been talking about this for a while…but honestly we’re going to keep talking about this stuff until we all agree to live lives pleasing to the Lord.

As your pastor, I am called to model covenant faithfulness, setting an example in my life and teaching. Not being perfect myself, but relying on the one who is for his promised forgiveness when i fall short and repent. Now you know how to both support me and to hold me accountable in a biblical way.

Those of you that are married, your faithfulness isn’t just a moral issue…it’s a Gospel picture. Just like Christ’s commitment to the church, marriage display’s God’s love and calls us to holy living. Again, no one here is perfect, but we can all rely on the one who is.

To those that have experienced divorce, either as the child of divorce or as the one being divorced. God’s love and grace covers you and his forgiveness is available to all. Whether you sinfully sought divorce, or attempted to reconcile your marriage to no avail. We know that Christ died for sinners just like you and me here this morning.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

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

We also know that Christ comforts the afflicted this morning.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (ESV)

who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

To all of us, whether you are a leader, or married, or single…we are all called to foster a community that is rooted in holiness. That means making LRBC a light to the world…starting right here in Leaf River, through various ministries, and extending all over the globe through the missionaries we support.

This morning I want to ask you to repent of any unfaithfulness you have lived this past week…or maybe longer. Right now I am going to pray and I want to ask you to join me as we seek to make God our focus for everything we do, especially as we are preparing to come into the Christmas holidays and the opportunities we will have both to serve and to invite others to our Christmas Eve service.

Pray: Pray that God will turn our focus to him. Ask for conviction for those moments when we are more focused on self than on him, and ask for wisdom as we move through our days.