We Willingly Belong to God

Introduction: This morning our main text will be Malachi 1:6-14 but in order to build some parallels and context, I want to turn to the New Testament and ask some questions. So, for the introduction I need some participation. Look with me in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 NKJV

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

What is that text saying about believers?

We are the temple of God

The dwelling place of God

The Holy Spirit dwells in us

And if anyone defile this temple, pollutes it, they will answer to God. In the context this is through teaching false doctrine to steer people away from the faith. Chapter 6 however takes this a step further and talks about how we worship with, serve with, and treat our bodies. Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:19

1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

We are not the possessors of our bodies, only the stewards of it. It belongs to God by purchase and redemption. Hence the temple of God!

So, the point, we are the temples of God.

Now, look with me in 1 Peter 2:5

1 Peter 2:5 NKJV

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

What does Peter add to the discussion in 1 Corinthians?

Not only are we stones in the greater temple of God, but we are a holy priesthood that offers up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God. He goes even further with this in 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Our role as priest is to represent God to men and men to God. We sacrifice, serve, and proclaim God.

So, we are the temple of God and the priest of God.

Let’s go a little further. Look with me in Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

What does this add to the discussion?

We are the temple.

The priesthood

And the sacrifice

I want to make a summary statement here and I want you to listen closely:

God is looking to us to by our own free will to consecrate our entire being, body, soul, and spirit to His glory by doing service to Him, and sacrificing our lives to His will.

The temple did not close, the service of the priest did not end, and sacrifices did not stop, but rather there continuance is in those who have gladly called upon the name of the Lord.

One last question before we read the text in Malachi. Is this a serious matter?

We should be cautious not to treat holy things ordinary.

We should be fearful when offering our service to God.

We should careful about our attitude and actions when we worship a holy God.

Now, I want us to take this New Testament understanding of our role and look at Malachi 1:6-14

Malachi 1:6–14 NKJV

6 “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ 7 “You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts. 9 “But now entreat God’s favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts. 10 “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the Lord of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. 11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts. 12 “But you profane it, In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the Lord of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?” Says the Lord. 14 “But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished— For I am a great King,” Says the Lord of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations.

This morning I want to ask four questions and somewhat leave the application in your hands.

Who is Speaking in Malachi?

God is speaking and He is stating the obvious.

The law is clear that a son should honor their father and a servant their master. God is both of those to us.

I don’t believe that we would argue with that, but I fear that we often think that we are serving people, the pastor, or a place.

We don’t need to forget who is speaking. I can imagine that those in Malachi’s day thought the same.

The priests probably thought, I am doing this service for the people only, or the temple only, or the leaders only. Their service was to God, at the temple, through people.

Lord, help me have the right attitude in my service to you.

Who is God Speaking With?

It is clear in verse 6 that God is speaking with the priest.

In fact, God is building a case against the priest.

They despise Him

They offer defiled food on the altar.

The table of the Lord is contemptible to them

They seek God’s favor, but their actions bring God’s punishment.

They profane God’s name by their actions.

They offer inferior sacrifices and then complain about having to do it.

They give God their worst not their best. They give Him what they wouldn’t use anyway.

There is no joy, no reverence, no fear, no sacrifice, and therefore no fruit in their service to the Lord.

What is God Displeased With?

The sacrifices. Why?

They are half-hearted, ritualistic exercises.

The least they can get by with and still be considered worship.

The sacrifices are not sacrifices at all but waste.

God said that they would not offer these things to the governor.

They use the best for themselves and tip their hats to God.

God states in verse 10 that they would be better off not offering these blind, lame, blemished, half-hearted offering because they will only bring judgment, because He will not accept them even though they are offered.

One of the biggest reasons God will not accept their offerings is because of the attitude behind it.

There is no passion.

No reverence

No fear

No love

No joy

No sacrifice

And worst of all NO FAITH!

Will a Blessing Be Found for this Kind of Service?

No. Why?

Because the name of the Lord will be glorified in all the earth (v. 11).

His name will be fear among all the nations (v. 14).

He is a Great King (v. 14).

He is a Father worthy of honor. A master worthy of devotion. And the only one worthy of praise.

In fact, we see that this kind of attitude towards living for God brings a curse (v. 14).

What kind of curse?

I’m not sure, the text doesn’t say, but the worst thing that can happen is for God to allow us to continue in half-hearted, apathetic service to Him.

To remain in the delusion that we are serving the Lord.

How have we despise your name? (v. 6)

In what way have we defiled you? (v. 7).

To begin to see serving the Lord as a weary waste of time or scoff at the idea of serving Him. (v. 13)

So, How do We Apply This Scripture?

If you remember, I said I would leave application to you, but I want you to remember.

You are the temple of God.

You are the priesthood of God.

You are the sacrifice to be offered.

God is God and He is worthy of the best that we can offer Him.

I would add this thought. You cannot give God the honor He desires, deserves or demands in your own strength and passion.

It flows from the spirit-filled life of a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.