God Demands Worship

Introduction

Good morning please open in your Bibles to Malachi 3:6-15 that is Malachi 3:6-15. That is on page 754 if you are using one of our pew bibles again that is page 754 if you are using one of the pew bibles. As we have been making our way through the book of Malachi we have come to see that the people in Malachi’s day had a worship problem. They offered blemished animals to the Lord instead of the best of their flocks, their priests did honor God from their hearts, they did not remain faithful to one another or their own wives, they were covenant breakers. However, God rich in mercy made them a promise to restore them and make their offerings and worship pleasing to the Lord again. He promised to do this through the messenger of the covenant, who we know to be Jesus Christ. He would come and purify the priests and people like a refiners fire and fuller’s soap. While this future promise is what these people would need to fix their worship problem God still wanted to deal with them in their current moment.

God wants to do deal with us in our current moment. God wanted to to fix their worship problem (ultimately through Jesus) but in their lives through the future promise of Jesus. God wants to fix our worship problems in our current and personal situations. And He does this through the fulfilled promise of Jesus’ death and resurrection and the future promise of Christ’s return. Today we see 3 tangible expressions of God honoring worship. Three ways in which the people of Israel were commanded to express their changed hearts and three ways that we can express our changed hearts as well. We are to worship God through repentance, through generosity, and through service. We are to express our worship through repentance, generosity, and service.

Worship Through Repentance v. 6-7

Malachi 3:6–7 ““For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’”

Verse 6 is a call Back to Malachi 1:2 ““I have loved you,” …” God loved Jacob and hated Esau who represented the nation of Edom. Edom was destroyed not to be rebuilt and Jacob was rebuilt by this audience. This rebuilding was evidence of God’s love. In verse 6 is telling the people because I love you and because my love does not change you are not consumed. These people are covenant breakers (since the day of their fathers) and deserve judgement. Yet God will not consume them because He has chosen to love them. And He does not change, His love does not change.

And therefore, God says to them Return to me, and I will return to you. The word return is Shamar which is used in the OT to refer to a change in loyalty, it is to change directions. They are loyal to themselves and false idols but tells them they are beckoned to return to the Lord. The message is you have failed through idolatry, return to me.

This is a bit shocking, at least it should be. If it doesn’t shock you that God wants these people back listen to how Ezekiel describes unfaithfulness to God after God tells Ezekiel Ezekiel 16:1–2 “Again the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations,” Ezekiel tells a parable of sorts of a young female child that represents Israel, whom the Lord takes up. But the child grows up and in unfaithful… In Ezekiel 16:15–22 ““But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore. And you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them. Also my bread that I gave you—I fed you with fine flour and oil and honey—you set before them for a pleasing aroma; and so it was, declares the Lord God. And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.” Israel is a cheater, and adulterer. And God says to this cheater.. Return to me.

Would you do that? To have someone sin against you in such a grievous way and say Return to me and I will return to you. And what is the basis of this forgivness? God does not change. God has set his love on Jacob and God does not change. He loves these people and will not, cannot, stop loving them.

What drives you to repentance? The pangs of guilt, possibly… the fear of death and hell, sure… but you what else? The love of God. In fact, I am convinced that the love of God is the greatest motivator for repentance in the Christian life. Most of us live as if God is like us. He’ll forgive me if I have something to offer, if I am truly sorry if I reall gravel for it them he’ll forgive me, because that is what we want from others. Yet, God tells these people return me and I will return to me… why? Because I do not change. I do not change and therefore, you are no consumed. I am a promise keeping God and I have chosen to set my steadfast love on you. Therefore, return to me.

It is in this sense that we might say that God’s grace is irresistible. You see the when we see the truth of God’s character the unchanging God we are in awe of him. He is a refiners fire who burns away every rogue desire and affection within. His love removes every obstacle until there is nothing left but our love for Him which is a response to his love for us. We repent that is change because God does not change. His unchanging love for His people, his elect, is the greatest motivator for repentance. You repent, because you know that in Christ you are loved.

T/S- and as repentance takes hold of us and our loyalties change, God has His way with all that we are. He changes us as we worship Him and he makes us a generous people. God says, Return to me and I will return to you and the people ask How do we return?

Worship Through Generosity v. 8-12

Malachi 3:8–10 “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

They can return to God by no longer robbing God. How do that rob God? They rob God when they do not give their full tithe. A tithe was something commanded of Israel in Leviticus 27:30–32 ““Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the Lord.” The people were to tithe that is give a tenth or ten percent of their fields and their livestock to the Lord. This tithe would be used to care for the Levites were not given a portion of land since they were to work in the temple. This is how God provided for His priests. When the Israelites refused to bring in their full tenth they robbed God. God demanded that they obey His word and return to him by returning to the practice of tithing.

He declared to them, “put me to the test” If you tithe I will open the windows of heaven and pour down blessing until there is no more need. Some translations say no more room, and on even translate the phrase “without measure.”

What so often limits our generosity is not the fear that if we give generously then we won’t have enough for ourselves? Yet, God promises these people I will bless you will such blessing you will have no need. He continues in his promise in Malachi 3:11–12 “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.” The people were plagued by a “devourer” possibly locust or some other plague that consumed crops. In Joel, locusts are called the devourer and cause a famine. Perhaps the people were already being plagued since they were not tithing so God promised to rebuke or turn away the plague. Maybe they had been plagued in the past and feared its return so they held back their tithe as a means to prepare for the possibility of plague. But God promises, return to me, obey my law and I will provide for you. What keeps you from being generous? Is it present trouble, the fear of past trouble, or the fear of future trouble. You see giving is always about trust. Do we trust that God will care for us if we are generous with our money?

Now, this passage brings up the common question of are Christian’s commanded to tithe today? Now, regardless of where you land the broad principle still stands. Your generosity or lack of generosity is a reflection of your trust in God. Those who trust much will give much and those who give little trust little. Our giving is a response to the unchanging love of God that beckons us to return to him though we sin against Him. The tithes of the people of Israel in this text are the tangible answer to the their question “How shall we return to you?” In other words can we show that we believe that you are the unchanging God that loves us? Tithe, and trust that God will provide.

Are we commanded to tithe? Christians are split some say yes, because Abraham tithed to Melchizedek which preceded the giving of the law, and therefore is a practice to be continued and they point to 1st century Christians and documents like the Diache, an early teaching on the NT, which commended tithing. Others say no because tithing was a ceremonial aspect of the law which was fulfilled in Christ. They point to the reality that the NT never commands us to tithe. These folks would point out that we give out of grace which is greater than the law and suggest most western Christians can do more than 10 percent.

I would fall into this second camp. I do not believe the NT requires you to tithe, and even those who do believe you are to tithe argue about were the 10 percent is supposed to go. Where is the NT “storehouse” I would rather point to what Christians are commanded to do in the NT and point to the reality that gifts to our church do translate fulfilling these responsibilities. If you give here were will use the money to fulfill these responsibilities. There are three areas of responsibility that all Christians share together in regards to their money. Christians are responsible to pay their pastors, support the work of missions, and care for the poor, especially poor Christians. This might require Christians to give 10 percent or more of their income, depending up their level of income and the varying needs that God places before you.

Let’s do a very fast survey of the NT to prove my point. First the three categories and then my claim that Christians may need to exceed 10% in their giving.

Pastors - 1 Timothy 5:17–18 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”” 1 Corinthians 9:13–14 “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”

Missions- 3 John 5–8 “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” Romans 15:24 “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.”

The Poor- Galatians 2:9–10 “and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” 1 Timothy 5:3-16 is a set of specific instructions about how to care for the widows in the church, James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Out of the general budget at RHC, given by our members and regular attenders, 90% is used to sustain our ministry here. We pay our staff who labor to teach and counsel God’s Word to adults and children, equipping you the saints to do the work of ministry and wisely steward our money to proclaim the Gospel here and ensure our ability to do that for a very long time. We give away 10% of budget to the CP which helps pay for seminary training for future pastors and missionaries, international missionaries like Chris & Tateum, and Reid and Shelby and NAMB missionaries like me. We also give directly to Salt and Light Church a church plant in downtown Columbus, the Pillar Network which equips church planters all over the world, and the Strategic Church Network which helps church planters here in central OH. God’s church is a great investment. Redemption Hill church is a great kingdom investment.

While NT does not require you to give 10% of your income it does remind us in 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 when it comes to giving “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” My encouragement to you is to invest heavily in the Kingdom of God. And do so not under complusion but because our unchanging God rules your heart. Give because you know you are loved and you love His love. Matthew 6:19–21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

So how much to you give? A commentator who agrees that the NT does not require a tithe said it like this, “

Haggai, Malachi (3) Blessing from the Nations (3:12)

How much, then, should the Christian give? Since the New Testament lacks specific instruction on the amount one should give, though on the other hand continuing the principle of giving as one has prospered and according to one’s means, and since the giving of a tenth is the pattern used in the Old Testament, even before the founding of the Mosaic covenant (

Let’s give generously and trust God to provide for our daily bread. Invest in what will last, invest in the kingdom of heaven. You will not regret it.

T/S- And while Malachi was at it telling the people to tithe he just kept pooring it on as he urged them to serve the Lord.

Worship in Serving v. 13-15

Malachi 3:13–15 ““Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’ ””

God starts another indictment against the people saying their words have been hard against him. They ask How? and God tells them because they have said it is vain to serve God. Then they asks what is the point of keeping his charge, why should we repent (walk in morning) before Him. The arrogant are more blessed than we are, the evildoers prosper and when they test God He lets them escape!?

How you ever felt like this? You serve in the church, you serve your neighbor, your co-worker, your kids and no one appreciates you. You don’t get any richer, in fact if you take to heart the last point you might be 10% or more poorer. In fact, what you do get is tired and worn out. It feels vain…There are seasons when the church doesn’t grow, when the kids are extra rowdy and ruin your lessons, no one helps you with the signs, you feel like you are doing this all on your own and you find yourself jealous of all the people who get to sleep in on Sundays.

The wicked prosper and God just lets them. And you want to know why should I even keep on serving the Lord and walking in his ways?

I want to read to from Pslam 73 and I pray it is the answer. The psalmists feels the way I just described. Listen to his words:

Psalm 73:12–13 “Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.” Psalm 73:16–20 “But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.” Psalm 73:21–22 “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.” Psalm 73:23–28 “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

When you are embittered and brutish to the Lord wondering why should I keep going remember… Because he never changes… He loves me when I am a beast toward Him. That’s why I keep serving. I keep serving because he keeps loving. Nevertheless… Nevertheless… We are continually with him, he holds our right hand, guides us, and after this all over… He will receive us to glory. Who else do you besides Him. No one else is gonna love you like that. Your heart and your flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! Know it is GOOD to be near God, make him your refuge, tell of His works!

Conclusion

If you have been at RHC for anytime at all you may have heard me say this before, but it continues to be true. I am encouraged and haunted by this reality. It is a thought I try to keep near me as I labor hard for the Lord. And it is the thought that one day I will die and I will stand before my Maker. One day I will look and see the kingdom of God before me. I will give an account for all of my life. I am haunted because I know that in that moment I will see the reality of all my sin and all of my life that I wasted. But I am encouraged because I also know that I will be forgiven of all my sin. I am encouraged because I’ll know that I am his and He is mine and the life I lived, I lived for the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me. I will lookout across the expanse of the New Heavens and New Earth and I will now none of my sacrifices were in vain. My faith shall be made sight and I will know that every second that I spent on in counseling, on preaching, on evangelism, on teaching my kids about Jesus, every late night and early morning were not wasted. I will know that every cent given to the cause of Christ was not wasted. And you can know the same thing.

Why? Because God does not change. His promises are always true. He will not stop loving sinners like us. So let’s lock arms together and give and serve for the glory of God. Knowing we are a forgiven people who can always return to the God who loves us.