Faithlessness Condemned

I. WELCOME & OPENING PRAYER

INVITATION: Turn to Malachi 2:10.

!! THANK for CHRISTMAS GIFT !!

* PITCH READING PLAN *

!! Open in Prayer !!

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II. INTRODUCTION: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS 🗣️🚫

Many passages in Scripture teach us— actions are louder than words.

The Problem: If there is a seeming discrepancy between our voiced love for God and our ACTIONS, we have a PROBLEM on our hands. ⚠️

Ref. 1 John 4:20

1 John 4:20 (ESV)

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

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TALK a LOT ABOUT LOVING OTHERS…

Focus: ONE RELATIONSHIP MIGHT EASILY GET GLOSSED OVER—MARITAL RELATIONSHIP

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Spouses:

😔SEE the WORST in US

CAN EASILY GET TREATED WORST

KNOW OUR DARKEST MOMENTS & GREATEST STRUGGLES… 😔

OF ALL PEOPLE—SHOULDN’T BE TREATED as LESS-THAN.

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Story: Man & Counselor

HEARD STORY—CHRISTIAN MAN… in COUNSELING, MARITAL ADVICE

LOVE HER as WIFE? .... NO

LOVE HER as FRIEND?.....NO

LOVE HER as SISTER (in CHRIST)??......NO

LOVE HER as an ENEMY?? --- WE CAN START THERE!

FUNNY STORY—SAD REALITY…

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📷 Focus: OPENING TEXT in MALACHI… GOD CARES A LOT ABOUT MARITAL COVENANT…

…HOW WE TREAT OUR SPOUSES…

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Transition: INVITE YOU… LOOK W/ ME @ PASSAGE… V.10-16

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III. Passage Reading:

Malachi 2:10–16 (ESV)

10 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?

11 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.

12 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!

13 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.

14 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.

15 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.

16 “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.”

Church, this is God’s Word for us this morning.

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IV. CONTEXT RECAP: DEFILING THE UNCLEAN 🏛️

PREVALENT SINS: Leftover offerings and blemished animals that INSULTED God. 🐑❌

**ECONOMICAL WORSHIP**

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Last Week: PRIESTLY FAILURES:

CAUSED PEOPLE to STUMBLE.... W/ ERRANT TEACHING

PARTIALITY in INSTRUCTION—TAILORING to PLEASE PEOPLE...

💥 Response/Conclusion: GOD PROMISED JUDGMENT to PRIESTHOOD

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FOCUS: Today, we see that the NEGATIVE VIEW of GOD… HELD by PRIEST.... HAD IMPLICATIONS for PEOPLE…

W/ ONE PROBLEM in PARTICULAR...

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Transition: LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 10… SEE MALACHI’S INTRO…

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V. PASSAGE EXPOSITION: MALACHI 2:10-16

THOUGHT 1: FAITHLESSNESS TO ONE ANOTHER (v. 10) 🤝🚫

Malachi 2:10 (ESV)

10 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?

COMMONALITY: MALACHI BEGINS HIS CHARGE— W/ COMMONALITY HELD AMONGST ISRAELITES…

SAME HEAVENLY FATHER

SAME CREATOR

DESCENDANTS of SAME COVENANTAL PROMISES to ABRAHAM/ISRAEL

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Background: Israel as KINGDOM of PRIESTS:

Exodus 19:5–6 (ESV)

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

GOD’S SPECIAL PEOPLE—SHOULD ACT LIKE IT!

👉👉 SOUND FAMILIAR? CONSIDER 1 JOHN!

Takeaway: VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD—HAS SIGNIFICANT HORIZONTAL IMPLICATIONS.👣

THEN & NOW!

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(v10C) Problem: THEY PROFANED COVENANT—FAITHLESS to ONE ANOTHER…

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Transition: HOW WERE THEY DOING THIS??

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 11-12

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THOUGHT 2: FAITHLESSNESS TO GOD (v. 11-12) 🛐💔

Malachi 2:11–12 (ESV)

11 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.

12 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!

Horizontal Problems = Connected to Vertical Sin…

KEY WORD: FAITHLESS (To act treacherously; to violate a standard).

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✨THE SIN: Intermarrying with those who SERVED FOREIGN gods...🚫💍

**Clarification** IT WASN’T ETHNIC ISSUE—BUT a RELIGIOUS ONE…

Background: RUTH = in JESUS’ LINEAGE as MOABITESS

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Problem: DIFFERENT PEOPLE—DIFFERENT gods — COMPETING WORLDVIEWS…

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 (ESV)

3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons,

4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.

GOD IS JEALOUS: He doesn’t want PARTIAL custody of His people.

He wasn’t going to share with Baal, Molech, Chemosh, Asherah, Dagon, or any others. 🛡️

GOD is NOT a PARTIAL CUSTODY GOD.

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1st Commandment:

Exodus 20:2–3 (ESV)

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before [OR besides] me.

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OT History:

PEOPLE SNARED BY OTHERS

Solomon’s Folly: 1 Kings 11:2–4 (ESV)

4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

**REASON for ISRAEL’S SPLIT**

DIFFERENT FAITHS = DIFFERENT WORLDVIEWS…

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Modern App: BELIEVERS, MARRY BELIEVERS

EQUALLY YOKED: Faith characterizes your entire WORLDVIEW. It cannot be glossed over as secondary.

DISAGREE ABOUT MUSIC, RESTAURANTS, HOBBIES, ETC… BUT FAITH ISN’T SECONDARY

2 Corinthians 6:14(ESV)

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

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(v11b) THE CONSEQUENCE: This is described as PROFANING the sanctuary and an ABOMINATION.

SIN AGAINST ALL ISRAEL! DEFILING THEM as HOLY NATION

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(v12) Prayer for Cutting Off

MALACHI RESPONDS—DESIRING THEY BE CUT OFF...

BROUGHT OFFERINGS—THINKING THEY WERE GOOD to GO… SCARY—NOT RIGHT W/ GOD.

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Transition: MALACHI HAS ANOTHER WORD—CONCERNING OFFERINGS…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 13-14

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THOUGHT 3: FAITHLESSNESS IN MARRIAGE (v. 13-14) 😭💒

Malachi 2:13–14 (ESV)

13 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.

14 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.

PEOPLE CAME W/ OFFERING & WEEPING— LORD DIDN’T REGARD.

GOD WANTS OBEDIENCE BEFORE EMOTION. 💡

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Exhortation:WE MUST BE,, GRIEVED OVER SIN—RATHER THAN CONSEQUENCES

😬ONLY SORRY BECAUSE of CONSEQUENCES—NOT SORRY AT ALL… 😬

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(v14) Problem: THEY WERE FAITHLESS—LEAVING WIVES

**PERHAPS 2 SEPARATE PROBLEMS/PERHAPS 1 in SAME**

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—ABANDONING YOUR WIFE

& SHOWING UP for WORSHIP…REALLY??

Ref. Coudersport— trumpet

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Exhort: GOD CARES ABOUT MARRIAGE

LORD as WITNESS

WIFE as COMPANION

MARRIAGE COVENANT

Reference, Quote: “In application, contracts are limited by the terms of the exchange of property (“this is yours, that is mine”), while covenants involve an exchange of life (“I am yours, you are mine”), which covers a virtually unlimited range of human relations and duties.”[1]

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Exhort: MARRIAGE = GOD-ORDAINED COVENANT

NOT CULTURAL CONSTRUCT

NOT OUTDATED

COVENANT B4 GOD— HE’S WITNESS💥

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👣 Takeaway: DON’T EXPECT GOD to ACCEPT WORSHIP IF YOU’RE NOT FAITHFUL in COVENANT 😬

1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

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Transition: TO CLARIFY—GOD’S INTENTIONS for MARRIAGE—

—MALACHI TAKES US BACK to the BEGINNING…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 15-16

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THOUGHT 4: A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS (v. 15-16) 🛡️💍

Malachi 2:15–16 (ESV)

15 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.

16 “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.”

IF WE WANT to KNOW GOD’S PLAN for MARRIAGE—WE LOOK BACK @ EDEN...

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God’s Plan for Marriage—Look @ Eden

Genesis 2:24 (ESV)

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

GOD’S PLAN for MARRIAGE = ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN—FOR LIFE. 💡

POLYGAMY WASN’T GOD’S DESIGN— ADAM COULD HAVE JUSTIFIED IT! (ONLY GUY)

NEVER UPHELD in SCRIPTURE as GOOD THING— “DESCRIPTIVE VS.PRESCRIPTIVE”

MAN & MAN ISN’T GOD’S DESIGN.

DIVORCE ISN’T GOD’S DESIGN.

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(v15B) Purpose: GODLY OFFSPRING—UNITING W/ OTHER gods RUINED THIS!

CREATION MANDATE— “BE FRUITFUL & MULTIPLY”

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(v15C) WARNING: GUARD YOURSELVES… DON’T BE FAITHLESS.

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(v16) Crux: GOD CONDEMNS DIVORCE.

**DIFFICULT HEBREW**

Malachi 2:16 (LEB)

16 “For I hate divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “and he who covers his clothing with violence,” says Yahweh of hosts. “You must be attentive to your spirit and you must not be unfaithful.”

**ALSO: NRSV, NLT, GNT**

GOD’S PLAN: ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN—FOR LIFE.

Matthew 19:4–6 (ESV)

4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

APART from ADULTERY & NONBELIEVING SPOUSE LEAVING DIVORCE = UNBIBLICAL…

THERE’S NO: “IT JUST ISN’T WORKING OUT”

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I’D MISREPRESENT GOD IF I SAID DIVORCE is NO BIG DEAL…

C.C. MODERN CONNECTION— DIVORCE CELEBRATED— SIMPLIFIED

SOCIAL MEDIA—EN ROUTE to DIVORCE

GOD HATES DIVORCE.

Illustration: OLD COUPLE,, LIVED in a GENERATION—WHEN WE FIXED BROKEN THINGS...

👉 Takeaway: IT’S EASIER to REPLACE THAN FIX—BUT GOD’S DESIRE = ALWAYS RECONCILIATION

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(v16B) DIVORCING WIFE = COVERING GARMENT W/ VIOLENCE

INSTEAD of SAFE COVERING— BRINGING HARM.

Quote, E. Peterson: · “I hate the violent dismembering of the ‘one flesh’ of marriage” (MSG).💔

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🛡️(v16C) GUARD YOURSELVES—DON’T BE FAITHLESS… 🛡️

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Transition: MARRIAGE ISN’T EASY—UNITING of TWO SINNERS— BUT IT’S a BEAUTIFUL THING…

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VI. GOSPEL CONNECTION: SELF-SACRIFICE & LOYALTY ✝️❤️

THE MODEL: PAUL EXPLAINS—MARRIAGE = MODEL for CHRIST & CHURCH....

MARRIAGE = PLACE for SELF-SACRIFICE…JUST as JESUS SACRIFICED HIMSELF for US…

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Christ’s Pursuit:

WHEN WE WERE FAITHLESS—CHRIST PURSUED US…

GOD WORKING in REDEMPTION RATHER THAN SCRAPPING the WORLD… WORKING to FIX—THAT WHICH WAS BROKEN.

HOW MANY TIMES—GOING BACK to ISRAEL?!

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Ref: HOSEA & GOMER — AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE LOVE

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Proclamation & Response:

CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF for US—

IF WE TURN to HIM in REPENTANCE & FAITH— WE CAN BE RECONCILED to GOD…

ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SIN = SINFUL

COMING to HIM for SAVING…

BY GRACE—THROUGH FAITH—WE CAN BE RECONCILED to GOD…

JESUS PAID for EVERY ACT of FAITHLESSNESS on CROSS—

— PROVING ETERNAL FAITHFULNESS of GOD…

Invitation: HERE WITHOUT GOD—WITHOUT FAITH— WITH QUESTIONS—TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE…

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Transition: AND NOW— FOR BELIEVER— WHAT’S THIS PASSAGE TEACHING US?

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VII. APPLICATION: FAITHLESSNESS BEFORE GOD

PASSAGE IDEA: · Faithlessness in human covenants is faithlessness before God.

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WE PROVE OUR LOVE for GOD—BY HOW WE LOVE OTHERS

Focus: ESPECIALLY TRUE of MARITAL RELATIONSHIP!!📷

MARRIAGE = SERIOUS BUSINESS to GOD…

**CLOSING— A FEW PRACTICAL THOUGHTS**

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Practical Takeaways:

SINGLES— SEEK BELIEVING SPOUSE

** MOST IMPORTANT, NONNEGOTIABLE QUALITY**

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RELATIONSHIP, BUT UNMARRIED— MARRIAGE = COVENANT B4 GOD

MARRIAGE ISN’T JUST a CONTRACT

NOT CULTURAL CONSTRUCT

NOT ABOUT TAXES

COVENANT of COMMITMENT B4 GOD.

YOU SHOULD BE MARRIED.

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MARRIED— STAY MARRIED. 🛤️

COVENANTAL COMMITMENT B4 GOD— LIFELONG.

MARRIAGE WAS GOD’S IDEA

FIX WHAT is BROKEN—DON’T THROW AWAY…

STRIVE to REPRESENT CHRIST in MARRIAGE...

BE BEST SPOUSE YOU CAN BE—GLORY of CHRIST

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DIVORCED— NOT UNFORGIVABLE SIN—BUT SERIOUS

RESPOND W/ GENUINE REPENTANCE

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Conclusion:

ALL of US: MARRIAGE is a GIFT FROM GOD— & IT’S NOT SOMETHING to BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

!! Close in Prayer !!