Loved by God, Called to Honor Him

Scripture Reference: Malachi 1:1-14

Title:

"A Heart of Honor"

Foundational Elements:

Sermon Title: "A Heart of Honor"

Text of Sermon: Malachi 1:1-14

Subject: Honor

Central Idea of the Text (CIT): God rebuked Israel for dishonoring Him through their worship and offerings.

Proposition: God calls us to honor Him wholeheartedly in our worship and lives.

Objective: Hearers will honor God with sincere worship, obedient lives, and sacrificial offerings.

Main Point of the Sermon (MPS): We honor God when we give Him our best in worship, our obedience in daily living, and our trust in His faithfulness.

Formal Elements:

1. Introduction:

Have you ever received a gift that felt like an afterthought? Maybe it was a regifted item, something clearly rushed or lacking care. How did it make you feel? Such gestures reveal a lot about the giver’s heart and their regard for the recipient. Now, let’s turn that question toward God. If our worship, our obedience, and our trust were a gift to Him, what would they say about the honor we give Him?

The book of Malachi is the last prophetic voice of the Old Testament, a bridge to the New Testament era. It was written to a people who had returned from exile, rebuilt the temple, and reinstated religious practices. Outwardly, it looked like they were doing everything right. But God, in His omniscience, saw deeper. He saw a people who had grown complacent, offering Him half-hearted worship and second-rate sacrifices.

Malachi begins with a powerful declaration of God's love: "I have loved you," says the Lord (Mal. 1:2). Yet, this declaration is met with skepticism and ingratitude. The people questioned God's love and responded with dishonor. The priests brought blemished sacrifices, the people treated worship as a burden, and their actions reflected a lack of reverence for the God who had been so faithful to them.

This passage calls us to examine our own hearts and lives. Are we honoring God with our best, or have we fallen into the trap of complacency? Have we given God our leftovers—our leftover time, energy, and resources? Through Malachi’s words, God asks a piercing question: "Where is my honor?" (Mal. 1:6).

Today, we’ll unpack this chapter to discover what it means to honor God truly. We’ll explore three key areas where Israel fell short and where we, too, must guard our hearts: honoring God in worship, in obedience, and in trust. Let’s allow God’s Word to challenge and transform us so that we may live lives marked by genuine honor for Him.

Transition to Point I: As we begin, let’s consider how Israel’s worship fell short of the honor God deserves.

2. Body:

I. Dishonoring God Through Inadequate Worship (Malachi 1:6-8)

Malachi 1:6–8 ““A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?” “By presenting defiled food on My altar.” You ask: “How have we defiled You?” When you say: “The Lord’s table is contemptible.” “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Hosts.”

Explanation:

God rebukes the priests for offering blemished sacrifices—animals that were blind, lame, or sick. According to the Mosaic Law Leviticus 22:20–25 “You are not to present anything that has a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. “When a man presents a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it has to be unblemished to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it. You are not to present any animal to the Lord that is blind, injured, maimed, or has a running sore, festering rash, or scabs; you may not put any of them on the altar as a fire offering to the Lord. You may sacrifice as a freewill offering any animal from the herd or flock that has an elongated or stunted limb, but it is not acceptable as a vow offering. You are not to present to the Lord anything that has bruised, crushed, torn, or severed testicles; you must not sacrifice them in your land. Neither you nor a foreigner are to present food to your God from any of these animals. They will not be accepted for you because they are deformed and have a defect.”” , sacrifices were to be without blemish, symbolizing the perfection and holiness of God. Offering less was an act of irreverence.

The priests were responsible for maintaining the sanctity of worship, but their complacency revealed a heart problem. They treated God’s altar as ordinary and the act of worship as a routine.

God challenges them with a stark comparison: “Would you offer such gifts to your governor? Would he be pleased with you?” (v. 8). This rhetorical question highlights the absurdity of giving God less than what they would give to a human authority figure.

Argumentation:

God asks, “Where is my honor?” (v. 6). Would you offer such gifts to your governor? (v. 8).Worship that costs us nothing is not true worship.

Application:

Evaluate the quality of your worship—are you offering God your best in time, talent, and treasure?Honor God by prioritizing Him in all areas of life.

“Gladiator” (2000): "What we do in life echoes in eternity."

A reminder that our actions, including how we honor God, have lasting significance.

C.S. Lewis: "The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God."

Challenges us to focus solely on God in our worship.

Illustration: Imagine giving a loved one a broken gift—it shows a lack of respect and love. How much more does God deserve our best?

Transition to Point II: While worship reflects our honor for God, our actions and obedience reveal our hearts even further.

II. Dishonoring God Through Disobedience (Malachi 1:10-12)

Malachi 1:10–12 ““I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. “For My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name in every place because My name will be great among the nations,” says Yahweh of Hosts. But you are profaning it when you say: “The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.””

Explanation:

God expresses His displeasure with Israel’s hypocrisy. They went through the motions of worship but treated God’s name and table with contempt.

The phrase “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors!” (v. 10) underscores God’s desire for genuine worship over ritualistic practice. He would rather the temple be closed than receive insincere offerings.

The Israelites profaned God’s name by offering defiled sacrifices and viewing worship as a burden. Their actions revealed a lack of true devotion.

Argumentation:

Worship without obedience is empty (1 Samuel 15:22 “Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.” .God desires true devotion, not mere ritual.

Martin Luther: "The heart of religion lies in its personal pronouns. It is one thing to say, 'Christ is a Savior'; it is quite another to say, 'He is my Savior and my Lord.'"

A reminder to respond to God’s love personally and sincerely.

Application:

Honor God through obedience in daily decisions, big and small.Let your actions align with your faith and demonstrate your love for Him.

Illustration: A soldier who salutes their commander but disobeys orders dishonors their leader. True honor is shown through both respect and action.

R.C. Sproul: "The holiness of God is at the heart of the Christian faith. If we do not understand God’s holiness, we do not understand God."

A call to revere God’s holiness and approach Him with awe.

Transition to Point III: Finally, let’s examine how trusting in God’s faithfulness shapes our ability to honor Him.

III. Dishonoring God Through Distrust (Malachi 1:2-5, 13-14)

Malachi 1:2–5 ““I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you ask: “How have You loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” This is the Lord’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.” Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of Hosts says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country and the people the Lord has cursed forever. Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.’”

Malachi 1:13–14 “You also say: “Look, what a nuisance!” “And you scorn it,” says the Lord of Hosts. “You bring stolen, lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord. “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My name will be feared among the nations.”

Explanation:

The chapter begins with God declaring, “I have loved you,” but Israel responds, “How have you loved us?” (v. 2). This doubt reveals a heart of ingratitude and distrust.

God reminds them of His covenant faithfulness, contrasting Jacob, whom He loved, with Esau, whom He rejected. This demonstrates God’s sovereign love for Israel, yet they failed to trust Him.

Their distrust led to half-hearted worship and offerings. They considered the sacrificial system a burden (v. 13) and offered less than their best while keeping the best for themselves (v. 14).

Argumentation:

God’s love is evident in His covenant with Israel, yet they responded with doubt and ingratitude.Faith in God’s character fuels wholehearted devotion.

Application:

Trust God’s faithfulness even in difficult circumstances.Honor Him by responding with gratitude and trust in His provision.

“Facing the Giants” (2006): "If we win, we praise Him. If we lose, we praise Him."

A statement of trust and honoring God, no matter the outcome.

“Bruce Almighty” (2003): "You want to see a miracle, son? Be the miracle."

Inspires obedience and trust in God’s work through us when we honor Him with our lives.

Illustration: Trusting a bridge’s stability determines whether you cross it. Trust in God’s faithfulness enables true worship and honor.

Transition to Conclusion: As we reflect on Malachi 1, the question remains: how will we choose to honor God?

Conclusion:

The message of Malachi 1 is both a warning and an invitation. It confronts us with the reality of how we may dishonor God through complacency, disobedience, and distrust. Yet, it also extends an invitation to return to a posture of reverence, obedience, and trust—a posture that reflects a heart fully devoted to God.

Think for a moment about the love God declared to Israel at the beginning of this chapter: “I have loved you.” Despite their failures, God’s covenant love remained steadfast. The same is true for us today. God has demonstrated His ultimate love through Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. In light of His love, how can we offer Him anything less than our best?

Honoring God isn’t about perfection but about intention. It’s about giving Him the first and best of our time, our talents, our resources, and our hearts. It’s about obeying His commands, not out of obligation but out of gratitude. And it’s about trusting His faithfulness, even when circumstances are uncertain.

Imagine what could happen if we truly honored God with our lives. Our worship would be vibrant and sincere, a reflection of hearts that are in awe of Him. Our obedience would be a testament to His transforming power in our lives. Our trust would inspire others to see God’s faithfulness through us.

So, how will you respond to God’s question: “Where is my honor?” Will you continue offering Him the leftovers of your life, or will you choose to honor Him with your whole heart?

Call to Action: This week, take one intentional step in each area:

In worship: Set aside uninterrupted time to praise and adore God, giving Him your full attention.In obedience: Identify one area where you’ve struggled to follow God’s commands and take a step toward faithful action.In trust: Reflect on God’s faithfulness in your life and surrender one area of worry or doubt to Him.

Let us be a people who honor God not just with our lips but with our lives, giving Him the glory He so rightly deserves. As Malachi reminds us, God’s name “will be great among the nations” (Malachi 1:11). May our lives reflect that greatness to the world around us.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with hearts humbled by Your Word and Your unwavering love. You are the great and glorious God, deserving of all honor, praise, and devotion. Yet, we confess that we have often fallen short. We have given You less than our best, treated Your name and Your worship too casually, and trusted in our own ways rather than Yours. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have dishonored You with our actions, our words, and even our attitudes.

Thank You for reminding us through Your Word that You are a God of love and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness, even when we fail. Thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ, whose perfect sacrifice cleanses us and makes true worship possible. May the truth of Your love transform our hearts and stir in us a renewed desire to honor You in every part of our lives.

Father, teach us to worship You in spirit and truth, giving You our best in all that we do. Help us to live in obedience to Your commands, reflecting Your holiness and bringing glory to Your name. Strengthen our trust in You, especially in times of doubt and difficulty, so that our lives will testify to Your faithfulness and power.

As we go from this place, may the words we’ve heard today not just remain in our minds but take root in our hearts. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to live lives marked by reverence, obedience, and trust. May our worship bring You joy, our lives bring You glory, and our faith inspire others to seek You.

We offer all that we are and all that we have to You, Lord, for You alone are worthy. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is our Savior, Redeemer, and King.

Amen.

"The Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman

Speaks to returning to the essence of worship, offering God our best.

"Build My Life" by Pat Barrett

Declares God’s worthiness and calls for living lives built on His truth and love.

"Jesus, We Love You" by Bethel Music

A response of love and honor to God’s faithfulness.

"No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music

Encourages trust in God’s faithfulness and power, even in times of doubt.

"Is He Worthy?" by Andrew Peterson

A worshipful declaration of God’s worthiness and a reminder of our call to honor Him.

On Worship and Giving God Our Best:

A.W. Tozer: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

A reminder that how we perceive God shapes the honor we give Him.

Charles Spurgeon: "God will not accept a divided heart. He must be loved first and best."

Speaks to the call to give God our wholehearted devotion.

C.S. Lewis: "The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God."

Challenges us to focus solely on God in our worship.

On Reverence and Honor:

R.C. Sproul: "The holiness of God is at the heart of the Christian faith. If we do not understand God’s holiness, we do not understand God."

A call to revere God’s holiness and approach Him with awe.

John Calvin: "The surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves."

Highlights the importance of obedience to God over self-centered living.

On Trust and God’s Faithfulness:

Hudson Taylor: "God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply."

Encourages trust in God’s provision and faithfulness.

Charles Stanley: "Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him."

Emphasizes the importance of trusting God, even when obedience feels difficult.

Corrie ten Boom: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

Inspires trust in God’s unchanging nature and love.

On Gratitude and Responding to God’s Love:

John Piper: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

Encourages worship and devotion as a response to God’s greatness.

Martin Luther: "The heart of religion lies in its personal pronouns. It is one thing to say, 'Christ is a Savior'; it is quite another to say, 'He is my Savior and my Lord.'"

A reminder to respond to God’s love personally and sincerely.

On Honoring Authority and Giving Your Best:

“Gladiator” (2000): "What we do in life echoes in eternity."

A reminder that our actions, including how we honor God, have lasting significance.

“Remember the Titans” (2000): "It's not about you. It's about the team."

This can be used to highlight that worship is not about us—it’s about God and giving Him His due honor.

On Sacrifice and True Worship:

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” (2005): "When a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Stone Table would crack, and death itself would start working backward."

Illustrates the depth of Christ’s sacrifice and our call to respond with wholehearted devotion.

“Chariots of Fire” (1981): "When I run, I feel His pleasure."

Speaks to giving God our best in all we do, even in our talents and daily lives.

On Trust and Faithfulness:

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001): "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."

Encourages trust in God’s ability to use us, even in our imperfections, when we honor Him.

“The Prince of Egypt” (1998): "A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shines, can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design."

A beautiful metaphor for trusting God’s larger plan when we obey Him.

On Reverence and God's Holiness:

“The Lion King” (1994): "Remember who you are."

A powerful call to live in light of our identity as God’s children, honoring Him in all we do.

“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989): "The penitent man kneels before God."

Highlights the importance of reverence and humility in worship.

On Trust and Surrender:

“Facing the Giants” (2006): "If we win, we praise Him. If we lose, we praise Him."

A statement of trust and honoring God, no matter the outcome.

“Bruce Almighty” (2003): "You want to see a miracle, son? Be the miracle."

Inspires obedience and trust in God’s work through us when we honor Him with our lives.