The Honor of God
The Idle Church • Sermon • Submitted
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The Bored Church
Recently I was mindlessly scrolling through FB although it was not as mindless as I thought.
I encountered several of my friends had posted some common statements.
Some professing Christians others were atheist. In multiples they were posting about “Where is God...” “If God were all good why all this evil...”
I thought this is not too far removed from what I have heard in churches. We have heard in times past the end was here.
1988 a book published about the rapture and the 88 reasons why it would happen in 1988.
Of course that next year he came out with another book on why 89 would be the end of the world… 90-2000 each year had a predicted end date
People have grown tired of hearing the same thing … and turned to idle not idol worship…we don’t have idols anymore right?
This is a huge problem there is no room in the Body of Christ for apathy.
Malachi the Oracle of the Lord
Divine messenger
unknown where he came from or where he goes from this point.
some consider this to be an angel
The people of Israel are no longer divided they are experiencing freedom from oppression
Free to worship at will
The Love of God for His People
The Love of God for His People
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob
The word used for love is one that is conveys an entreating of because of a close relationship
it is made in perfect tense and reads better I have loved I love and will love you
Jer 31:3 an everlasting love
Contending with the Love of the Lord
Contending with the Love of the Lord
How have you loved us?
People in calamity declare how can God love
The Latter over the Former
The Latter over the Former
Jacob over Esau (Malachi 1:2-3)
Esau sells his birthright
Israel first and the gentile is the latter
Latter rain Amos
Edom will be ruined (v4)
Israel will see how those outside of their borders will honor the Lord
The Honor of God
The Honor of God
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
Close attention to the wording
Lord, Lord of Hosts, Master, Father
Neither the priest nor the congregation have reverence or honor for the Lord.
Sunday is the only day
Don’t devote too much time
The Lord’s table may be despised
follow some ignore others
Pick and choose gospel
Unwanted Offering
Unwanted Offering
By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.
When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or 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 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.
blind lame and sick…
the left overs
only out of convenience
Abel’s offering vs Cain’s offering
You give more to this world than to the Lord
Mal 1:10 Shutting the door on the church
The Bored church
The Bored church
But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord.
Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.
scoffing in disbelief
bring even what has died as an offering
marriage
children
career
Curse to the one who having something of value to offer denies it and only brings that which is dead
A Generation that will Honor His Name
A Generation that will Honor His Name
For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.
The latter who will bring honor to His name
The religious will profane it
I have loved you
The generation of people that profanes the Lord, His Love, and His offering. Its a people who are free to worship no longer oppressed but are frankly bored and do not want to honor God. Yet God is raising those who will honor Him.