Where Is Mine Honor?

Introduction

God ask a question to the Priest through His Prophet Malachi “Where is mine honor?”

I would like to pose that question to the church this afternoon.

Where is mine honor?

We opened at the beginning of Malachi talking about how God loves us. God loves his people with a fierce and jealous love that requires them to respond with fidelity and trust.

that requires them to respond with fidelity and trust.

We must recognize the love, mercy, and goodness of God toward his people, and respond appropriately to his love.

Have you ever poured all of your love into someone and they didn't love you back?

toward his people, and respond appropriately to his love.

All the effort, dedication and sacrifice for someone who doesn't feel the same way you do.

This is what our Father feels about His children that responds to His Love in the same way.

In Malachi the people have been out of Exile for over 100 Years and their living conditions and heart condition haven't changed.

God ask them:

Malachi 1:6 NLT

6 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’

God begins to tell them how they have despised Him and have shown Him Contempt.

Notice He states if i am your Father.

God desires a relationship with His people as a Fathers love.

As a child we should respond to His Love with Love.

Our Father tell us we dishonor Him...

Firstly, We Dishonor God because of Irreverence

Cause of Irreverence

Inadequate views of the holiness of God

The sinfulness of men.

Sign of Irreverence

Malachi 1:7–8 KJV 1900

7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; Will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.

Malachi

Formal and half-hearted services - You bring blind, lame, sick or polluted offerings.

The people of God are barely obeying his commands and are bringing half-hearted effort to their worship of the God of the universe, just like these people who are taking shortcuts and putting forth minimal effort in everyday life.

obeying his commands and are bringing half-hearted effort to their worship of the

God of the universe, just like these people who are taking shortcuts and putting

forth minimal effort in everyday life.

Offer to God what we should not dare to offer to an earthly superior - (The Lamb that was slain, is worthy to receive everything and the best of everything we can offer to him.

Vow the best but give the worst

Malachi 1:14 NLT

14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!

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Secondly, We Dishonor God because we allow it to go on...

Revelation 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Rev

Secondly, We Dishonor God because we allow it to go on...

Malachi 1:9–10 ESV

9 And now entreat the favor 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. 10 Oh that there were one among you 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.

Malachi 1:

Who will stand and say we don't do this in the house of the Lord?

God say’s I want accept your Worship either!

enough is enough...

What makes matters worse, the people are complaining that the act of worshipping God has become wearisome to them (v. 13).

Malachi 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! And ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; And ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; Thus ye brought an offering: Should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.

They have ceased to enjoy and delight in the worship of God.

worshipping God has become wearisome to them (v. 13). They have ceased to

They have ceased to

What was designed by God to bring deep satisfaction and health to the nation has been reduced to religious platitudes and rote obedience, devoid of heart.

enjoy and delight in the worship of God. What was designed by God to bring

deep satisfaction and health to the nation has been reduced to religious

The people have become selfcentered, seeking self-gratification rather than pursuing the worship of God.

platitudes and rote obedience, devoid of heart. The people have become selfcentered,

So, God ask us a question today, “Where is mine honor?”

God say’s don’t get it twisted! I have a people, nations that will praise me.

seeking self-gratification rather than pursuing the worship of God.

Malachi 1:11 KJV 1900

11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; And in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: For my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.

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