Worship 12/1/2019

we have been on the series of three prophets and a gospel and working through first Micah and then Hosea and now I know Malachi before we head to the Book of Matthew couple of things just to kind of set the stage for the Book of Malachi to give you the just the historical background and where people were what was going on why this message was important as we work with this is really the last of these Minor Prophets the last book and it's a message that comes in and I think it's fair to keep this in the very front of your mind as we go through this The Book of Malachi, when you consider that the history of writing the history of books the history of messages that people have been able to hold onto and been able to go back and read and and this this message that that we have A written record of this is what God says when you read through the Book of Genesis, it covers this great big long history of time. And then we have these few books scattered out over a couple thousand years and let me have the Book of Malachi which comes really at a time in the the life of the Jews, especially those from Judah the life of the Jews and then their history that God gives us one more message from this guy named Malachi and then we have nothing else. With no record of any message recorded. We have no record of any any book that's written nothing that's included with in the Bible of here's what God Said No, is there stuff for 3rd or sure there is there are different ratings and there's things that happening in the 400 years from the end of Malachi to the The Book of Matthew. But when you're reading through scripture when you're reading through the Canon of scripture than your reading through a we have put together that we called God's word in the Bible as you sit down and read this for 400 years nothing silence and all of a sudden the shout of Christ is born and so let's keep that in mind as we go through the Book of Malachi. The author is Malachi. I his name means my messenger. We really don't know anything else about him. So that's what you get to know. This message came roughly 430 maybe 450 years before the birth of Christ. The the Exile had already happened that there was the the Jews were taken Israel been scattered. The Jews are taken Nebuchadnezzar comes in and takes of Judah and so that's already happened. They returned from the Exile. They rebuilt the temple house has been rebuilt. Probably rebuilding the walls about the time that the message of Malachi comes out Assyria is no more a Syria as a nation was one that it caused a lot of problems for Israel and they're gone now also and God use them as a tool to chastise Israel and an Egypt comes up and fights against the Syria a flood happens. The Assyrian capital is gone as a nation. They are completely wiped out and then on the heels of that Babylon comes in and is another great big. Nation to deal with in his book how to understand and apply the Old Testament Jason derouchie who is had been an instructor over at Bethlehem says this. Just take a look at the big picture of the Minor Prophets and all how it points to Yahweh to God and we've taken a look at Hosea in the message in a Jose is Israel. Yahoo has a case against do you have played the Harlot and been like an Unfaithful wife departing from faithfulness steadfast love and knowledge. Please return to Yahweh your husband. Men's little bit further down right in the middle the message from Micah Yahweh from his courtroom. His phone's you when the nation's guilty yet your final Judgment Day has not come and then just Mercy, he will still forgive your sins. If you but returned soon God through his word and Messiah will be exalted over all things. Will you be a part of the punishment or the Redemption and so even at the message of Micah they're still getting this message of hope that and a message. I love turn from your ways term for me ways now and avoid the punishment.

Hosea gave the message. It's too late. Malachi this restoration is for you if you will but fear and honor Yahweh and all areas of your life awaiting the day when curse will give rise the full restoration blessing. And so the Cry of Malachi is the punishment is already happened. There is a day coming but because you've already face the punishment turn your heart toward God. I'm so before I read through the Book of Malachi. There's like 55 versus here before I read through this. I I just want to I tried to give you the mindset of what must have been going through there through their head as they are living there as a people. So they've they've been exiled and Daniel's day and Babylon is capture Diamond after the 70 years of Exile Cyrus. Lets them go back and rebuild the Temple and then go back and rebuild the wall. 7 years of Exile

do they know where God is?

Do they know like you say you love us? And how are we supposed to see that and they come back and rebuild this Temple Judah as a nation is just a fragment of what they used to be the temple pales in comparison to what Solomon had built. So I think that there was some challenges in the hearts of the people from the prophets who have said repent and come back to a prophet who says don't worry. You can't come back. Punishment is sure to now a prophet who says after the punishment. Please come back. I happen to hear a message this last week from Robbie Zacharias about the Book of Malachi.

He says this the entire prophecy of Malachi has only 55 vs. But if this book was taken to Heart by each believer, it could be one of the most revolutionary change is ever to take place in our thinking.

One of the most revolutionary changes ever to take place in our thinking if we would read and reply these 55 verses. I want to ask you an embarrassing question.

How many of you regularly read through the Book of Malachi?

How many of you have read the book of Malachi?

And I read through the bible plan.

And we don't run back to Malachi. There are two verses or passages in the Book of Malachi that I've heard preached on and I've heard them used to beat people up. So many times we're going to address both of those one of them next week in the one the week after that just the abuse of those verses and and how it doesn't how we've used. It doesn't fit the whole picture of Malachi. One of them is God hates divorce. I want to tell you the Book of Malachi is not an expert 8 it is it's not like this this great teaching on marriage and divorce and what does that look like? It's about Covenant keeping a covenant keeping God How He Loves Us and how they had strayed from that. The other one is you're not being faithful with your giving your robbing God. If you don't give tithes and offerings will use that to beat people up also.

So what's in the rest of that book? What is in there that Robbie Zacharias is convinced that if we would spend time in there and apply this to our heart would change. Our thinking has promised God step back from the Covenant. He is punished the people he has followed through with a curse has no God is going to give them this message from Malachi and he's going to just very plainly takes a ball place it in their court and say, Come back. When you come back. I will come back to you until let's read through the Book of Malachi. It's only 55 vs. I will read the whole thing and then we'll come back and I want to take the next 3 weeks to really explore. What does it mean to worship An Almighty God. What does it mean for us to take what Malachi is saying here? Where they messed up where they've distorted. What worship is where they've taken their view of God and they walked away from there and have become something else. And so let's take a look at that. So starting out in verse 1 of Malachi. The Oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. I have loved you says the Lord but you say how have you loved us? Is that Esau Jacob's brother Curtis Lord. I have loved Jacob. But Esau I have hated I have laid waste as Hill Country and left its Heritage to jackals of the desert. If even says we are shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins the Lord of host says they may build but I will tear down and they will be called The Wicked country and the people with whom the Lord is angry forever. You're what I shall see this and you shall say great is the Lord be on the border of Israel. Ahsan honors his father and a servant his master if then I am a father, where is my honor and I find a master. Where's my fears says the Lord of hosts To You O priest to despise my name, but you say however, we despise your name by offering polluted food upon my alter but you say how have we polluted You by saying that the Lord's table may be despised. What do you want for blind animals and sacrifices that not evil and when you offered those that are way more sick is that not evil present that to your Governor. Will he accept you or show you favor says the Lord of hosts and now I entreat the favour of God that he may be gracious to us with such a gift from your hand. Will he show favor to any of you says the Lord of hosts old that they were wanting money who would shut the doors that you might not Kindle Fire on my altar in vain. I have no pleasure in you says the Lord of hosts and I will not accept an offering from your hand. The rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the Nations every place in cents will be offered to my name and a pure offering for my name will be great among the Nations says the Lord of hosts, but you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted and its fruit that is its food may be despised. But you say what a weariness this is and you snort at it says the Lord of hosts your brain what has been taken by violence was lame or second this you bring as you're offering shall I accept that from your hand says the Lord cursed be the chief who is a male in his flock and bowsette sacrifices the Lord what is blemished for? I have a great king says the Lord of hosts and my name will be feared among the Nations and now will priests this command is for you. If you want to listen, if you will have to take it to her to give honor to my name says the Lord of hosts that I will send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings indeed. I have already curse them because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your Offspring and spread done on your faces as a dozen of your offerings and you shall be taken away with it. So Michelle, you know that I have sent this command to you that my Covenant with Levi Mae stand says Lord of hosts. My coming out with him was one of life and peace and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear and they feared me Keystone in all of my name true instruction was in his mouth and no one was found on his lip. He walks with me and peace and uprightness and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge and people should see construction 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 despise in a base for all the people and as much as you do not keep my ways, but you part show partiality in your instruction. Hopefully not all one father had that one God created us. Why then are we faceless to one another profane in the Covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless an Abomination has been committed in Israel and Jerusalem for Judah his profane the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loved and is married the daughter of a foreign God may the Lord cut off on the 10th of Jacob any descended of the man. Who does this who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts and the second thing you do you cover the Lord's altar with tears with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accept 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 and their Union and what was the one God seeking Godly Offspring so guard yourselves and your spirit and let none of you be faithful to the wife of your youth for the man who does not love his wife, but divorce is Hurst. The Lord the god of Israel covers His Garment with violence says the Lord of hosts so guard yourselves and your spirit and do not be faithless. You have wearied the Lord with your words, but you say how are we wearing him by saying every one of those evil is good in the sight of the Lord and He Delights in them or by asking where is the God of Justice behold? I send my messenger. He will prepare the way before me and the Lord whom you say possibly come to his Temple and the messenger of the Covenant in who Pedialyte behold. He is coming says the Lord of hosts, but who can endure the day of his coming and who can stand what he appears? What is like a Refiner's Fire like a fuller soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver and they will bring offerings and righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old as in former years. Then I will draw near to for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers against the adulterers against those who swear falsely against those who oppress The Hired worker in his wages the Widow and the fatherless against those who thrust aside the Sojourner and do not fear me says the Lord of hosts for I the Lord do not change their for you or children of Jacob are not consumed from the days of your father's you have turned aside from his statues and have not kept them returned to me and I will return to you says the Lord of hosts, but you say how shall we return will man? Rob God yet. You are robbing me. But you say how have we robbed you in your ties and contributions you are cursed with a curse where you are robbing me the whole nation of you bring the full tithes into the storehouse at there may be food in my house and thereby put me to the test says the Lord of host if I will not open the Windows of Heaven for you and pour down for your blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the Devourer for you so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil and you're vying in the field shall not fail to bear says the Lord of hosts that all nations will call you blessed for you will be a land of delight says the Lord of hosts. Your words have been hard against me says the Lord but you say we spoke against you you are said it is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or walking as in morning before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the Arrogant black evil doors, not only Prosper, but they put God to the test and they escaped then those who fear the lord spoke with one another the Lord paid attention and heard them and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who fear the lord and esteemed his name. They shall be mine says the Lord of hosts in the day when I make up my treasured possession and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked between one who serves God and one who does not serve him for behold. The day is coming burning like an oven with all the arrogant and all evil doers will be stubble the day that is coming shall set them Ablaze says the Lord of hosts so that it will leave them neither rooting or Branch, but for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing and its way you should go out leaping like Calves from the stall and you shall tread down the wicked for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day. When I asked says the Lord of hosts. Remember the law of my servant Moses the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel behold. I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers lest. I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.

Ducati the flavor where the hurt was they try to get a list flavor of it's hopeless. Why should we worship god? Look around us. All these Wicked people the people that are against us the people that that want to see destruction all around us that are these these people that are are prospering and we're supposed to honor God. We're supposed to follow God where has God been in all of our trouble? I'm so Malachi is just begging them pleading with them. Please come back and know God come back and know the God who does safe know the God who does hold your future in his hands. This morning as we begin to break down the Book of Malachi. Let me ask you a couple of questions to start with. You'll know the answer to some of these.

Is God most desire of us? Where exactly were we created? Let me phrase it like this and this is where you'll get it. What is the chief end of man?

Westminster catechism puts it like this in this question and answer. What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. That by enjoying God by finding pleasure and God by finding pleasure and what God does and how he deals in our lives and the things that he's created in the focus on God is the Creator God who loves us. We will do and say things that bring honor and glory to his name. God desire is that in his purpose in creation is that he would have these beings that would look to him and glorify him. Are you may think that sounds a little selfish God creates one that will then glorify him?

and yet what would you rather glorify? Name one thing that you could glorify that's more deserving of it than God. Or one being or one person or and so God deserves to be worshipped. And that is one of the ways that we glorify God is through worship. It is probably the one activity associated with glorifying God that is most mentioned in scripture. And that is worship. So what are we? What can we learn? What can Malachi help us with chapter 1 verse 2. I have loved you says the Lord but you say how have you left us?

the first element in worship is loving God. The first element and worship is recognizing the love that God has for us and taking that and spinning it and putting it right back to God. One of the things that we need to do is love God in our worship. I hear the explanation here is they ask how have you loved us? And God says one. Let me show you one way that I loved you. There's one way there's Jacob and Esau one was loved and one I have hated. Don't think our word of hate as a sinful hate. God had a righteous hate for Esau. For what happened in his life for everything that he gave up and then as he attacks the children of Israel, but he says I chose you. Jacob and Esau I could have chosen to your brother. But I chose Jacob and you were descendants of Jacob. That is one way that I have loved you. I have set you apart as a people as a nation as a priesthood. I have set you apart I chose Jacob. I think that borrow from our last prophet. I picture in the story of Hosea. That there were some pretty shameful embarrassing moments in hosea's life. Hosea who's living in a atouna city of Village, whatever it might be and as he's walking down the street and people looking at him knowing that he is a man who is married to a woman whose heart goes after chases after prostitution. Can you imagine the guy is sitting along the role and not ashamed of their own sin, but both staying to Hosea hating God in Boston Hosea? Oh, hey, you're the guy that's married to the woman. I want to be with tonight.

I can't imagine the shame or the grief that rips a man's heart as he knows. He has an Unfaithful wife who's going out and yet God has commanded him. I want you to marry her.

Can you also Imagine our picture of these guys that are sitting there and they're bragging about being with his wife and and call Johanna was there? Why did you make me a woman like that? Who's going to be on Facebook?

And in this very Jewish town. in this town of a chosen people and a priesthood Hosea saying I'm glad you asked.

How could God choose a people like you? Who would choose to be unfaithful?

And that's why I married her because God had a picture that he wanted to show you. And they have abused that love of God this completely unmerited Love This Love that God pours out on them without any measure just blow up. I'm love I'm love this chosen people and it gets to a point in Malachi's. They were there going how have you loved us? Taupe blinded by the love that God give Isaiah writes about Isaiah 5:4 says, it's what more could I have done for you that I have not already done. I have loved you as a people.

The Silence from the time of Malachi until the Book of Matthew has to be unbelievably deafening to the children of Israel. I don't know if the birth of Christ.

Answering Isaiah's question. What more could I have done? So I know I can sacrifice my only son. I can send an offering to cover your sin.

What more could God have done than that? He isn't this process for Israel is as they have gone through rejecting God's love is as they have taken all that God has poured on them and they walk away from it in that process. They did not make God any left than God.

What they did in essence was they made themselves less than what they could have been. What was the nation of Israel had chosen to love God back? What is the nation of Israel chosen to we're going to worship you fully where we recognize the guy that you are and your love is amazing and they love them right back. Can you imagine what kind of nation that could have become?

and so now

we have all of that love and the gift of Christ.

The Divine expression of his love in a baby in a Manger who dies on the cross for our sins. So what do we do with that love? Rejecting that doesn't make got any left. Abandoning that love doesn't make the sacrifice The Life of Christ in the death and burial and Resurrection cuz it doesn't make it any less. But it does make us laugh in what potential God has for us. number two rip 5 release number one is worship requires. Love number 2. Worship also requires honorverse six of chapter 1 a son honors his father and a servant his master if then I am a father. Where is my honor? And if I have a master, where is my fear says the Lord of hosts to you?

If I am a father. I think he is.

We live in a world in a society where we've lost all sense of honour not that's a pretty general statement. The parent-child I think I may have mentioned it as I'm handing out candy at a trunk or treat down in Mackinaw City thing parents run after their children and like this is somehow something that they need to do instead of children looking up to their parents in obeying them.

You want to experience loss of Honor become a substitute school teacher.

That's not even the substitutes. It's the irregular teachers at that that teacher-student relationship that there used to be some honor their that they would look up to the teacher that's gone.

We got a couple of grades in our school that are scary.

Melissa's had the opportunity to do some substitute teaching and the horror stories that she tells of these kids. And it's not just the younger ones. It's all through. and the respect of the young for the old and with that loss we also have this. Honor of showing got on her between us. Do we really honor him the way that we should do do we recognize that? We're the created being and he is the creator. worship We must show honor number 3. worship requires sacrifice good on the verse 7

God says that you have despised the table of Altar and there are we doing that.

Gus's because you say one thing and you say you're bringing an offering but the offer you bring is junk for seven by offering polluted food upon my altar you say how we polluted you and this is how by saying that the Lord's table made us be despised when you offered blind animals and sacrifices that. Evil. What do you offer? Those are the way more sick is that not evil? Percent that your Governor will he accept you or show you favor says the Lord of hosts. You don't even do this in any way that you bring me this garbage and you throw it out there. And you say This Is My Sacrifice because I don't need this anymore.

Sacrifice that's sacrilege. G Campbell Morgan who was in a band tourist in the early 1900s says this he Define sacrilege sacrilege is taking something that belongs to God and using it profanely. But I don't need propane news. It hurts worse Forum sacrilege consists of taking something and giving it to God when it means absolutely nothing to you.

Giving of your lame in your sick animals. That's how do we avoid this? How do how do we avoid?

sacrilege ask yourself this Does God get your best?

My best what?

Does God get the best of your time?

This last week. Just last month. Does he get the best of your time or what's left over and you don't really need? Does he get the best of your energy or? You are thinking.

Does God Captivate my thoughts or do I often forget him?

Is it get the best of our wealth or or when we're planning and scheming and preparing for the future? Where does God fit in that? Does he get our best or does he just get what's left over number for? first 10 old that there were one among you who would shut the doors. Do you might not Kindle Fire on my altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you says the Lord of hosts and I will not accept an offering from your hand. So not only were they giving God garbage and calling it sacrifice. They didn't even have good motives for giving God a sacrifice. And so number for worship requires right motives are emotions going through the motion of worship. What we do what we say that the let's sing the song the song Another World have a little off ring and then we'll do this song and then we'll whatever are parts of worship are whatever we do in our private worship. If we don't have the right motive equals absolutely nothing.

Are you doing it to give God glory or are we just doing it because we know that's what we're supposed to be doing or do we do it because we know that's what's supposed to be done and somebody's going to talk to us about it if we don't do that.

We need to have the right motives when we come to God and want to worship down and verse 13. It says this but you say what a weariness this is and you snort at it says the Lord of hosts. You bring would have been taking my balance on his way more sick. And this you bring as you're offering shall I accept that from your hand says the Lord. Probably do we need to bring our very best to God it has to cost us something sacrifice is a part of worshipping God, but we need to do it with the right attitude. We need to have the right motivation to coming and worshipping God. It's because of who he is.

number 5

what you can say this one is I'm me but it's not. Center Church It was directed toward the priest for what they were doing, but an element that is necessary in. Worship is teaching go to chapter 2 verse 7.

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. One of the things that was happening in Malachi's day. These priests were preaching messages of hope they weren't preaching messages where they would grow in the knowledge of God.

people suffered Hosea cried out. It's for lack of knowledge my people. are destroyed That's what element of worship among all the other things that we do. There's an element of teaching. Prince of Heart of Worship Is gleaning from God's word in your private worship. It's it's getting into God's word and and gaining knowledge of who God is

End of the congregation is that what the word is as it's presented is it truly God's word and is there knowledge to be gained from what is being spoken? Malachi calls to the people come back. Come back. And God says what do you step back into the Covenant? I'm right here. I still love you. I still deserve honor. I'm still got. So let's make sure that we worship God has a hole in it and throughout December and throat. I mean always as a believer.

Got to show you incredible love.

What's love him back? Father I do thank you for that love and for the incredible sacrifice.

We often scorned. Shake her head at the Jews in the nation of Israel that that they would fail so miserably.

Yeah, we get discouraged. We're rich points in our our life. Are we question? Does God really love me does.

Why is this happening or why the struggle? Father even in that you are God. You do love us. You have shown love and incredible way through the gift of your son and and father. There is a right response to that. I pray that you would help us to worship you to to completely give our lives to loving and honoring and glorifying your name.

father Step 1 of that is accepting the gift knowing Christ as our own Savior and father be on that for all of us. Once we have that gift once we've experienced that Grace. That we give back to you with a right heart something that cost us that that we would. Lift up a sacrifice of praise to you.

Father help us to worship you well. To gain knowledge from your word of who you are and that knowledge would help us to love you more. And that love would help us to bring glory to you. We pray in Christ's name. Amen and write the team to come up next week if you're tracking with us and I don't want to study ahead. There are two passages of scripture. I think I wrote the one down but in Chapter 2 verses 9 Or 10 through 16 read to those just a short passage and we're going to do something a little bit different next week since I will be in the Bahamas. And so I presented this is something that would be fun. Now the elders thought it sounded fun. But back to the old Reformation days that we were part of the northern Michigan Reformation Society where they had three different teachers one taught. I'm tryna of the background to the passage 1 Todd on the what's a passage is actually saying one taught on the application of the passage that way each man only has to do 10 minutes 10 minutes segment. That's all we're challenging the elders to do that next week and present that I also encourage you to be a part of our Sunday school class as we take a look at the lives of different Puritans that has been very very fruitful and I have enjoyed that so now I'll turn it over to Jimmy's.