WHAT WRONG ATTITUDES CAN WE HAVE TOWARD GOD?

Malachi 1:6-11

INTRODUCTION

As parents we have a responsibility to teach our children to have good, wholesome attitudes. And probably every parent here has had to give at least that child an “attitude check.” It has been said that the attitude within is more important than the circumstances without.

As God’s children, the Lord often has to work an “attitude check” on us. It is easy for us to major our attention on minor matters.

Of all the attitudes we hold, what is our attitude toward the Lord? Some might think it strange to question our attitude toward the Lord, but it is a very proper question. The question is not how busy we are, or how spiritual we are, or how successful we are in our Christian endeavors. The question is what is our present attitude toward the Lord?

Our text concerns a group of people who had received much from God. They were the priests, those supposedly the closest to God. Yet their attitude was not very lofty. To use our vernacular today, they had a low opinion of Him.

The Lord said, “I love you” to the priests. Their position was not by works or seniority, skills or intelligence. They had their position because they had been born into the family of Aaron. No one outside the family had the privileges they had.

Because they were in this family they were guaranteed security for life; no unemployment among the priesthood. Oddly, it was the priests who led the way in showing a lack of respect toward God.

The message of Malachi will never go out of date as long as the world has Christians who feel that nothing is too good for their homes, offices, etc. and just anything will do for the Lord and His work.

THEME: WHEN CAN WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LORD?

I. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE DESPISE THE LORD    1:6

     A. There Was Not A Father-Son Relationship

NOTE: The unnaturalness of the disobedience of the priests

     1. The love of God made Israel His first born

NOTE: Say unto Pharaoh, Israel is my son, my first born   Exodus 4:22

     2. A son by natural instinct honors his father

NOTE: God loves them        vs. 2

He asks for honor and fear            vs. 6

Love cannot come until after honor and fear

          3. Penalty for a son disrespecting his father           Exodus 20:12 cf. 21:15, 17; Deuteronomy 21:18-21

     B. This Was Not A Master – Servant  Relationship

          1. A good master sees that his servants receive food, clothing, shelter, etc.

          2. The priests despised the Lord but they never left; they stayed for the free ride

NOTE: They were willing to change God’s requirements and laws by circumstances

T.S. WHEN CAN WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LORD?

          I. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE DESPISE THE LORD    1:6

II. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE POLLUTE THE LORD  vs. 7-8a

NOTE: It proved easier to complete God’s house than to live in it for His glory

     A. By Polluting The Bread

          1. The priests said, How have we defiled thee?

               a. Not, How is the food defiled?

               b. What’s that to you?

          2. Bread on a table suggests fellowship with God more than sacrifice

     B. By Offering Pitiful Sacrifices

NOTE: The best proof that they defiled the Lord was in the flagrant violations in the sacrificial system

          1. The sacrifices were polluted by blind and lame animals

NOTE: “There’s nothing wrong with it, it isn’t serious (evil vs. 8). It’s the thought that counts”

          2. The Scripture on animal sacrifices

               a. If there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the Lord thy God            Deuteronomy 15:21

               b. Free will offering    Leviticus 1:3-10

               c. No blemish … or not make an offering by fire    Leviticus 22:17-25

NOTE: God will not despise the widow’s mite  but He will despise the miser’s mite

T.S. WHEN CAN WE HAVE A WRONG  ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LORD?

          I. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE DESPISE THE LORD    1:6

        II. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE POLLUTE THE LORD  vs. 7-8a

III. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE DISREGARD THE LORD      vs. 8b-10

     A. In Comparison To The Governor          vs. 8b-9

          1. They offered to God what they would not dare offer to the governor

NOTE: The majority of the people did not regard the offerings as wicked, so the priests did not hesitate in their actions

          2. What would he think of these gifts?

          3. Could we expect any favors after such disgraceful behavior?

          4. “Beseech” means to “weaken, soften up” the face of God     vs. 9

          5. We wouldn’t dare to treat our governor this way, so why try it on God?

NOTE: All too often, Christians feel that anything is good enough for God. As long as a person or an activity is even half heartedly dedicated to God, we assume God will be delighted with us. We do not take God’s standards seriously           I Corinthians 10:31

          6. If the governor will not receive worthless gifts, how much less will Jehovah?

NOTE: No one would think of acting toward their fellow man as they do to Almighty God

     B. In Comparison To The Temple vs. 10

          1. Jehovah was so disgusted that He would gladly see His worship discontinued

          2. O, that some one of you would even shut the doors of the Temple

NOTE: They had to be paid to shut the doors of the Temple at night

          4. No sacrifices are better than vain ones   Isaiah 1:11-15

          5. No worship is better than rejection or contempt

6. It is better to lock up and stay at home  than be guilty of their practices

T.S. WHEN CAN WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LORD?

          I. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE DESPISE THE LORD    1:6

        II. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE POLLUTE THE LORD  vs. 7-8a

       III. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE DISREGARD THE LORD      vs. 8b-10

IV. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE LET OTHERS SERVE THE LORD WITHOUT US          vs. 11

     A. The Priests, The Best Examples, Were The Major Violators

          1. They failed to honor God

          2. They showed contempt by actions more than by words

     B. The Ox And Ass Know Its Owner; Israel Doesn’t       Isaiah 1:23

     C. Because Of Their Sins God Turned To The Gentiles

          1. Nineveh and Jonah

          2. Nebuchadnezzar

     D. The Gentiles, Who Did Not Have The Clarity Of God’s Revelation As The Jews Did, Honored The Lord More Than The Priests

NOTE:  Ultimately the real reason we don’t sacrifice properly is because we don’t love the Lord

          1. The sacrifices of the Gentiles were more acceptable than the unworthy sacrifices offered by the Jews cf. Luke 4:24-27

NOTE: Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully           Jeremiah 48:10

          2. The Gentile sacrifices       Psalm 51:17

CONCLUSION

WHEN CAN WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LORD?

I. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDEWHEN WE DESPISE THE LORD     1:6

II. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE POLLUTE THE LORD  vs. 7-8a

III. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE DISREGARD THE LORD      vs. 8b-10

IV. WE HAVE A WRONG ATTITUDE WHEN WE LET OTHERS SERVE THE LORD WITHOUT US          vs. 11

WHEN SERVICE TO GOD IS NOT WORTHWHILE

Malachi 1:12-14

INTRODUCTION

     1. Because of their sin God sent them into Babylonian Captivity

     2. They repented and God returned them to the land

     3. They got to work for God

          a. Rebuilt the altar under Zerubbabel

          b. Rebuilt the Temple under Ezra

          c. Rebuilt the city walls under Nehemiah

     4. But they got so engrossed with outward service that they forgot the heart

          a. They were busy with ceremony or ritual

          b. Their energies were spent upon outward works

          c. They then became disappointed  because the outward manifestation of the Golden Age did not appear

     5. They became weary in and of the work

          a. Weary in – the body gets tired

          b. Weary of – the soul gets tired (their heart is not in it)

     6. As a result of their soul weariness they were treating God as common

THEME: SERVICE TO GOD IS NOT WORTHWHILE WHEN:

I. THE TABLE IS CORRUPT      1:12

NOTE: Table represents home, fellowship

     A. You Have Profaned It

          1. “You” is referring to the Jews

          2. A Gentile was considered unclean

          3. They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God   Leviticus 21:6

          4. You are habitually profaning

               a. It was not a one time act

               b. It was the daily result of their daily lives and acts

NOTE: God will forgive a one time act

     B. The Table Of The Lord Is Polluted

          1. It was not a verbal or vocal saying

           2. “The fool has said in his heart … ”

     C. The Fruit And Meat Of The Lord’s Work Is Contemptible

NOTE: Contemptible (Def.) – scorn, despise, disgrace, underrate, neglect

          1. The fruit of a polluted ministry is:

               a. Scorn for the work of the Lord

               b. Despising what is done in the work of the Lord

               c. Underrating the work of the Lord

               d. Neglecting the work of the Lord

               e. Disgracing the work of the Lord

          2. The priests ate the choice cuts of meat

               a. They allowed the neglected animals to be given

               b. It hurt their own table

NOTE: We receive our spiritual strength and spiritual nourishment from the Lord’s work

          1. Cheap works mean cheap rewards

          2.We reap what we sow

THEME: SERVICE TO GOD IS NOT WORTHWHILE WHEN:

          I. THE TABLE IS CORRUPT

II. THE WORK IS CORRUPT     1:13

     A. Because Of Weariness

          1. A tiresome chore instead of participation in the glorious ministry of the Almighty God

               a. Isaiah 43:22-24

                    1) They are weary    vs. 22

                    2) God is weary        vs. 24

               b. Isaiah 7:13

                   1) Small thing to weary men

                   2) Weary God also?

               c. They looked on their service not as an honorable privilege but as oppressive drudgery or a boring chore

          2. The people offered God the cheapest possible price for His favor and blessings they felt He already owed them

               a. What the people could not sell, what they refused to eat, all the sick, old and defective animals were palmed off on God

NOTE: Tithe. After our bills are paid cf. first fruits

               b. They then faulted the Lord for conditions they themselves brought about

NOTE: When weariness sets in the service of God, service begins to be more toil or work with less reward from this earth, than the things of earth.

          3. Our only choice of service is between love and weariness

               a. Love and be loved

               b. Weary and be wearied

     B. Because We Snuff At The Work

          1. Snuff means:

               a. Sneer

               b. Scoff as at an enemy

               c. Show without any concealment one’s contempt

               d. Turn our nose up at it

          2. Psalm 10:4-5

     C. Because Of The Type Of Sacrifice

          1. Lame         vs. 8

          2. Sick            vs. 8

          3. Torn            Isaiah 61:8

NOTE: It means:

               a. Stolen

               b. Gotten by fraud

               c. Unjustly taken

NOTE: Some had turned to stealing in order to bring God an offering

NOTE: The “Robin Hood” complex doesn’t work with God

          a. Steal a runt (not worth looking for)

          b. Sacrifice it

          c. Who would think to look in the Temple?

          d. Besides, the evidence is burnt up

THEME: SERVICE TO GOD IS NOT WORTHWHILE WHEN:

          I. THE TABLE IS CORRUPT

        II. THE WORK IS CORRUPT

III. THE WORKER IS CORRUPT          vs. 14

     A. When He Makes A Vow And Won’t Pay

NOTE:  Ecclesiastes 5:4,5

          1. Offered by his own free will        Leviticus 22:17-25

          2. These voluntary vows show that he wants to be known as a spiritual individual

          3. The vow is to be fulfilled in public

     B. When He Has It To Give And Won’t Give

NOTE: “… which hath in his flock … ”

          1. Made a vow

          2. God supplied

          3. Their reaction to Jehovah’s love: contempt

NOTE: Faith Promise is a positiver reaction to Jehovah’s love

          4. It is not poverty but greed

     C. When The Worker Is Cursed

          1. By withholding a suitable offering

          2. By presenting a runt as his best

NOTE: “This is all God has blessed me”

NOTE: Offered blemished for faultless cf. Christ was faultless for blemished

          3. By having external accuracy and internal hearsay

CONCLUSION

They should have been living a example of faith in Jehovah and devotion to Him.

The very heathen fear God more than my own people. In their blindness they have more of a dread of offending me than my own people.          Job 42:5-6

Notice vs. 13 – “should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.”

Jesus

     1. About my Father’s business

     2. Two cleanings

          a. My house shall not be a den of thieves

          b. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate

Are you Christ like – If so, you will be about your Father’s business. If not, your house will be left unto you desolate.

GOD’S REBUKE OF THE PRIESTS

Malachi 2:1-10

INTRODUCTION

Everything rises and falls on leadership. Yet the truth is, everyone is a leader in Christian circles. Because a leader is one who influences others.

The priests, of all people, should have been faithful to God.

     1. Guaranteed job for life

     2. Guaranteed wage

     3. The highest calling

     4. The most secure job available

THEME: GOD HAS TO REBUKE AND CONDEMN US BECAUSE OF:

I. OUR UNBELIEF THAT LEADS TO DISOBEDIENCE      2:1-3

     A. God Issued A Commandment  vs. 1

           1. Decree (as sent out by a king)

          2. Resolution

          3. Sentence. (as by a judge)

          4. Announcement of a coming catastrophe

          5. It was not given to them but in regard to them

     B. God Gave Them A Chance      vs. 2

          1. If you will not hear

          2. If you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name

NOTE: “Glory to my name” – six times in sixteen verses

NOTE: To give glory to God is the end and aim of the priesthood

          3. Failure to repent means:

               a. Your blessing will become a curse

NOTE: He did not say He would send curses instead of blessings

               b. When what you have is used to God’s glory it will be a blessing: When used for self glory and pride it will be a curse

     C. God Named Their Punishment  vs. 3

          1. “I will corrupt your seed”

               a. The produce of the ground

NOTE: The seed obeys the Lord better than men do

               b. Leviticus 26:16b  “Ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it”

          2. “I will spread dung upon your faces”

               a. The entrails or insides of sacrificed animals

               b. This and the hide are burned outside the camp            Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 8:17, 16:27

NOTE: One shall take you away with it

               c. The priests will suffer the same fate as the refuse of the sacrifice: Separated from the community and destroyed

NOTE: (Honor me, I will honor – despise me will be lightly esteemed)

THEME: GOD HAD TO REBUKE AND CONDEMN THE PRIESTS BECAUSE OF:

          I. THEIR UNBELIEF THAT LED TO DISOBEDIENCE

II. WHICH LED TO CORRUPT TEACHING   2:4-8

     A. The Ministry Of Levi        4-7

NOTE: Ye shall know that I have sent …

          1. It was of life and peace    vs. 5

               a. Because Levi  reverenced God

               b. Because Levi honored God’s name

          2. The law of truth was in his mouth

NOTE:  cf. Proverbs 31:26; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:18; II Corinthians 13:11; Matthew 5:9

          3. Iniquity was not found in his lips

          4. He walked with me in peace and equity

               a. Walked with me, not  after me

               b. Equity – Our tendency is to ignore God and be afraid of men and what they will think of us

          5. The result:  Many did turn  away from iniquity    Daniel 12:3

          6. Because (vs. 7)

               a. The priest keeps knowledge      Proverbs 1:7

               b. The priest speaks the law

               c. Because he is of God’s spokesman

     B. The Ministry Of These Priests    vs. 8

          1. Departed from the way

               a. They didn’t live it

               b. They taught by example how to break it

NOTE: Ye are departed out of the way

          a. Commences with a tendency

          b. Continues with carelessness

          c. Culminates in a habit

          2. Caused many to stumble

               a. The priests were not concerned in the least about their sinful actions, let alone the sins that were robbing the people of peace with God

NOTE: A cheap religion is always a cheat religion

               b. If we fall we drag others down and have to bear a part of their sins

               c. They kept not the ways of the Lord, yet they saw not need to return

NOTE: 14th Century writer:   There are many priests and few priests; many in name, few in deed. See then, how ye sit on your thrones: for the throne maketh not the priest, but the priest the throne: the place sanctifieth not the man, but the man the place.

THEME: GOD HAD TO REBUKE AND CONDEMN THE PRIEST BECAUSE OF:

          I. THEIR UNBELIEF THAT LED TO DISOBEDIENCE

        II. WHICH LED TO CORRUPT TEACHING

III. AND LED TO PARTIALITY IN DISPENSING THE LAW          2:9-10

     A. Because Of Their Actions God Made Them Despised And Abased Before All The People      vs. 9

          1. They despised the Lord 1:6

          2. They despised the sacrifice        1:7, 12

          3.  Now they reaped what they sowed

NOTE: As ye have not kept my ways

     B. Because They Dealt Treacherously      vs. 10

          1. By sinning against a weaker brother       I Corinthians 8:12

          2. God speaks of the sin as affecting those who did not commit it

          3. Why do we deal treacherously?

NOTE: Definition – deceit, betrayal

CONCLUSION

The “older brothers” became:

     1. Stumbling blocks by bringing down the nation by their behavior and treacherous teaching

     2. By stifling the spiritual growth of the weaker

IF WE REFUSE TO BE TAUGHT BY PRECEPT, THEN WE WILL BE TAUGHT BY PUNISHMENT.

OUR TREACHERY AGAINST GOD

Malachi 2:11-16

INTRODUCTION

The theme of Malachi could easily be “Weariness in Well-Doing” or “Sinning Righteously.” Consistent righteous living meant nothing to these people of God. “I used to … “They had dabbled in all sorts of righteous works, and still did, but their heart wasn’t in it.

There once was:

love……………………… adventure

zeal………………………. excitement

devotion……………….. victory

There now was:

experience……………. criticism

blahs…………………….. sarcasm

Their attitude towards God

“God owes me!” attitude

“I dare you to correct me.” (wherefore?)

“None of your business.”

“That’s nice but …”

Now there was only:

Memories of the glorious past present failure.

NOTE: In every case at the root of every manifestation of failure was the fact that the people had failed in their love for God. This is the heart of every sin:  a lack of faithfulness to God, an alienation of affection.

THEME: HOW CAN WE COMMIT TREACHERY AGAINST GOD?

NOTE: Definition of treachery

          a. Deceit

          b. Betrayal

I. WE COMMIT TREACHERY WHEN WEPROFANE THE HOLINESS OF GOD          vs. 11-13

     A. Judah Once Loved The Holiness Of God

          1. Judah dealt treacherously

NOTE: The word “treachery” is used five times in verses 10-16

          2. “An abomination” – things offensive to God

          3. Profane – defiling – making unclean – doing what one is not allowed to do with holy things

     B. Judah Profaned The Holiness Of God By Marrying The Daughter Of A Strange God

          1. Intermarriage is specifically forbidden in the covenant  Exodus 34:16

          2. Jewish saying – “He that marrieth a heathen woman is, as if he made himself son-in-law to an idol”

          3. A wife derives her character from her parents

NOTE: Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel

     C. The Lord Will Cut Off The Person That Profanes His Holiness

          1. Master and scholar

               a. A Jewish proverbial expression stating no one would be left

               b. Refers to the universality of judgment

               c. Those who originate sin and those who perpetuate it

          2. He that offers an offering unto the Lord of hosts           12c-13

               a. And this ye have done again and again

               b. Covering the altar with tears (indicating the intensity of zeal with which they seek Jehovah’s favor)

NOTE:  Tears can be:

          1. Liquid love

          2. Drops of sympathy

          3. Flowing sorrow

          4. Floods of jubilance or,

          5. Empty tears out of empty hearts

          6. Without conviction, only torment

          7. They may imprint the altar but leave no impression upon the Lord

NOTE: Tears accompanied by repentance speak; Tears accompanied by compassion produce

NOTE: He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.            Psalm 126:6

               c. The offering will not be received

T.S. HOW CAN WE COMMIT TREACHERY AGAINST GOD?

          I. WE COMMIT TREACHERY WHEN WE PROFANE THE HOLINESS OF GOD         vs. 11-13

II. WE COMMIT TREACHERY WHEN WE PROFANE OUR MARRIAGE COVENANT WITH GOD           vs. 14-16

     A. The Witness Of God In Building A Home        vs. 14

          1. “Wherefore” – The tears didn’t avail

          2. Their double sin

               a. Marrying a strange woman

NOTE: “Married” root of the noun “Baal” meaning, lord, master, husband

               b. Divorced the wife of their youth

NOTE: Age is not to destroy or even weaken love; it is to purify, solidify, deepen it.” Sweeter as the years go by.” cf. Christian love for Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, brothers and sister. cf. Mark those that create division. They were as unfaithful as a “wadi,” a stream that runs dry during the heat of summer.        Job 6:15

NOTE: My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away          Job 6:15

     B. The Witness Of God In Building A Nation        vs. 15

          1. Did not He make one (nation, family of Jews)?

          2. Yet had He the residue (remaining power and ability) of the Spirit (to do the same for other people)

          3. And wherefore (why) one (Israel)?

          4. (The answer:) That he might seek a godly seed. cf. Jeremiah 2:21

     C. The Witness Of God In Violence                vs. 16

          1. I hate putting away (divorce, separation)

          2. Instead of spreading their garments to protect their wives, they covered their garments with violence toward heir wives. cf. Ruth 3:9

NOTE: The garment symbolized wedded trust  and protection

NOTE: Blessed is he … whose sin is covered.    Psalm 32:1

NOTE: Watch who does the covering!

          3. This action in the family is like a filthy spot on his/her garment, his/her reputation

NOTE: The Lord only observes three kinds of garments

          1. Fig leaves – unrighteousness     Genesis 3:7

          2. Filthy rags – self righteousness    Isaiah 64:6

          3. Fine linen – Christ’s righteousness          Revelation 19:8

NOTE:  vs. 14 thou hast dealt treacherously

vs. 15 let none deal treacherously

vs. 16 take heed to your spirit that ye deal not treacherously

CONCLUSION

HOW CAN WE COMMIT TREACHERY AGAINST GOD?

I. WE COMMIT TREACHERY WHEN WE PROFANE THE HOLINESS OF GOD         vs. 11-13

II. WE COMMIT TREACHERY WHEN WE PROFANE OUR MARRIAGE COVENANT WITH GOD           vs. 14-16

WHAT WEARIES THE LORD?

Malachi 2:17

INTRODUCTION

Whether as children or as adults we never liked a know-it-all. They were obnoxious, boring, self-centered and too often right. We never could stand their smug I-told-you-so look. Here is a spiritual parallel: God does not enjoy it when His people are know-it-alls and “know more” than Him.

The people of Malachi’s way were spiritual outwardly. They were smugly satisfied with their works and condition. They were downright arrogant. When God, speaking through Malachi, lovingly pointed out something that needed correction they arrogantly replied, “Wherein?”

1:2

1:6

1:7

2:17

3:7

3:8

3:13

2:17

Ye have wearied the Lord with your words

     1. Talk is cheap

     2. Didn’t try to weary the Lord with words; Wherein have we wearied Him?

NOTE: We weary the Lord when we justify ourselves in our sins (know-it-alls)

NOTE: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)  Romans 2:15

     1. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts

     2. Their conscience also bearing witness

     3. And their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or excusing one another

NOTE: Thou hast made me serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities         Isaiah 43:24

THEME: WE WEARY THE LORD WHEN WE SAY:

I. THAT EVERYONE THAT DOES EVIL IS GOOD IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

     A. The Success Of Folly            Ecclesiastes 10:5-7

          1. Folly is set in great dignity

               a. Definition of folly

                    1) The absence of wisdom or judgment

                    2) Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom  Proverbs 15:21

                    3) Hebrew – Self – confidence or thick headedness

               b. Folly is out and out evil

          2. “Rich” refers to persons bred so as to qualify for positions of rule

               a. Those by birth and training were qualified for positions of great responsibility found themselves abased

               b. Folly set in high places (plural)

     B. These Jews Did Not Believe God

          1. They served God

               a. They kept His ordinances

               b. They walked mournfully before Him

NOTE: “God hinders my life and the joys of life”

          2. They were:

               a. Discontented

               b. Selfish

               c. Rebellious to the uttermost (in a spiritual sort of way)

          3. They knew better than God

T.S. WE WEARY THE LORD WHEN WE SAY:

          I. THAT EVERYONE THAT DOES EVIL IS GOOD IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

II. THE LORD DELIGHTS IN THOSE WHO DO EVIL

     A. Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness           Isaiah 5:20

NOTE: TV and movie stories and stars, “Our idols”

     B. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord Proverbs 17:15

NOTE: Justifying the wicked

          1. TV situation comedies

               a. Laughing at sinful situations

               b. Laughing at sinful insinuations

          2. Comic strips – immoral comedy

NOTE: Condemning God’s people and those who have rule over us and justify adultery in classic movies and four – letter words in the presence of our families

     C. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with thee            Psalm 5:4

T.S. WE WEARY THE LORD WHEN WE SAY:

          I. THAT EVERYONE THAT DOES EVIL IS GOOD IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

        II. THE LORD DELIGHTS IN THOSE WHO DO EVIL

III. WHERE IS THE GOD OF JUDGMENT?

     A. They Complained When God Didn’t Punish The Wicked When And Like They Think He Should

     B. Yet By Asking God To Bring Justice Or Judgment (Same Hebrew Word) They Were Also Bringing It Upon Themselves

          1. They were not ready

               a. Every man’s work shall be made manifest            I Corinthians 3:13

               b. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.            Ecclesiastes 12:14

          2. They quarreled with God’s time table

               a. They began to deny the coming of the Lord to judge the world

               b. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. And saying, where is the promise of His coming?

For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

II Peter 3:3-4

     C. Their Complaint Was Grounded Upon Visible And Obvious Facts:

          1. Prosperity of wicked

          2. Happiness of the proud

          3. Abundance of the prayerless

NOTE: They prefaced everything with outward appearances

     D. They Were Upset Because The Righteous Seemed To Be Getting The Short End Of The Deal

     C. What Can Be The Answer?

          1. Stop a man building a house

               a. Roof and sides not on

               b. Is this fit for man?

          2. We give the building time; can we do no less for God?

               a. We look at God’s world and see graves, agony, misery, disappointment, and tragedy

               b. God, what are you doing?

          3. It may seem God works slowly but He works thoroughly and deliberately

NOTE: The child’s agony of waiting for Christmas

CONCLUSION

WE WEARY THE LORD WHEN WE SAY:

I. THAT EVERYONE THAT DOES EVIL

IS GOOD IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

II. THE LORD DELIGHTS IN THOSE WHO DO EVIL

III. WHERE IS THE GOD OF JUDGMENT?

THE PROMISED COMING

Malachi 3:1-6

INTRODUCTION

We often have a frustration with God. We just do not understand why God works the way He does. Why can’t He see things my way? After all, my way is the best! So often we are guilty of knowing better than God what is right and when something is to happen.

In 2:17 the Jews angrily say, Where is the God of judgment? God’s answer: “You have wearied the Lord with your words (2:17)” Nevertheless behold … (3:1)

Judgment will come and will include those who knows their own sinfulness would call for the judgment of God.

THEME: WHEN IT IS TIME FOR GOD TO BRING JUDGMENT, HE WILL:

I. HAVE TWO COMINGS            vs. 1

     A. I Will Send My Messenger

          1. Not a messenger

               a. Isaiah 40:3-5

               b. Luke 1:76

               c. Matthew 11:10

          2. My messenger – (personal)

NOTE: Not a single prophet came in the 400 year period between the prophet Malachi and the prophet John the Baptist. Called the 400 silent years.

     B. He Shall Prepare The Way Before Me

          1. Not a physical way as with kings

          2. Preparing by calling people to repentance       Matthew 3:1-3

               a. By removing everything that will slow down His coming

               b. Implies the nation was not ready to receive the Lord

NOTE: Where is he? Preparing to judge our sins in His two-fold judgment.

          a. To saved – a judgment of love

          b. To sinner – a judgment of damnation

     B. The Lord Shall Suddenly Come To His Temple cf. 2:17

          1. Whom ye delight in (seek)

               a. They all longed for Him

               b. Even in their sins

          2. The messenger of the covenant

               a. Greek, angel

               b. Exodus 23:20

          3. He shall come suddenly

               a. Too late to prepare then

               b. Must be ready

          4. To His temple

               a. The place of communication for the Jew to God

               b. The Christian communicates through the cross

NOTE: Both a place of sacrifice

T.S. WHEN IT IS TIME FOR GOD TO BRING JUDGMENT, HE WILL:

          I. HAVE TWO COMINGS            vs. 1

II. THE CLEANSING         vs. 2-4

NOTE: This is directed to the righteous. Doesn’t cover the Great White Throne.

     A. Who May Abide Or Stand (The Test) Then?

NOTE: Psalms 130:3; Joel 2:11;Revelation 6:16-17

          1. He is like a refiner’s fire

               a. Drives away all impurities

               b. Baser materials are in worked with the rich ore cf. severe, heavy sins

               c. God is a consuming fire   Deuteronomy 4:24 cf. Luke 3:16

          2. He is like fuller’s soap

               a. Lye or potash soap

              b. The washing of garments by trampling on them           Mark 9:3

          3. He is like a refiner’s fire that removes all dross and He is like the lye of the soap which cleanses all the stains left by the dross

NOTE: To be a useful vessel, we have to be cleansed by fire. To be a useful garment, we have to be cleansed by beating

     B. He Will Sit As A Refiner And Purifier Of Silver            vs. 3

          1. The refiner sits down by the fire for several reasons

               a. So the fire does not get too hot

               b. So the fire does not stop too soon and He has to start over

               c. So the fire does not have to last more than is needed

          2. The refiner stays with the process:

               a. Until He can see His own image perfectly reflected here

               b. Until the fire is removed

NOTE: Ore cast into the glowing crucible seems to be destroyed. When the process is ended what went in cold, dirty and impure, comes forth bright, glowing, molded and pure.

NOTE: The purer the silver – the hotter the fire. The whiter the garment – the harder the washing.

     C. The object of His purifying and cleansing is the sons of Levi vs. 3b-4

          1. They corrupted the people by:

               a. Their example

               b. Encouragement without participating

          2. That they might offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness

          3. Verse four is the result of refining and cleansing

               a. The offering shall be pleasant

               b. Only a righteous act from a righteous source is pleasing unto the Lord

               c. As in:

                    1) Day of old – their “go old days”

                    2) Former years: Before their time

T.S. WHEN IT IS TIME FOR GOD TO BRING JUDGMENT, HE WILL:

          I. HAVE TWO COMINGS            vs. 1

       II. THE CLEANSING         vs. 2-4

III. THE CLOSE JUDGMENT     vs. 5

     A. I Will Bring Judgment To You cf. 2:17 Those Who Call For The God Of Judgment

          1. Some will be purified       vs. 3

          2. I will be a swift witness     Revelation 1:5

NOTE: God’s judgments are always unexpected by those on whom they fall

     B. Witness and judgment will be brought against those condemned by the law

          1. Sorcerers – connected with heathen worship

          2. Adulterers (male)

          3. False swearers

               a. Men excusing one another

               b. Men condemning the women

          4. Those who oppress the worker through wages. cf. Deuteronomy 24:14, 15; James 5:4.

               a. Widow

               b. Fatherless

               c. The stranger (Gentile)

          5. The root cause for their crimes is they do not fear the Lord

NOTE: George Whitefield mentioned in his journal that during his first voyage to Georgia, the ship’s cook had a bad drinking problem. When the cook was reproved for it and other sins, he boasted that he would be wicked until the last two years of his life, and then he would reform.

Whitefield added that within six hours of the time the cook made his boastful statement, he died of an illness related to his drinking.

T.S. WHEN IT IS TIME FOR GOD TO BRING JUDGMENT, HE WILL:

          I. HAVE TWO COMINGS            vs. 1

        II. THE CLEANSING         vs. 2-4

      III. THE CLOSE JUDGMENT     vs. 5

IV. BRING THE COMFORT        vs. 6

     A. I Am The Lord, I Change Not

          1. People tire, God doesn’t

          2. They should be destroyed

               a. God (Jehovah) says no

               b. He promised otherwise

               c. God changes not

NOTE: Our life is a “becoming” rather than a simple “being;” it is a continual losing of what we had, and gaining what we had not. St. Augustine

NOTE: In the movie Papillon, the main character was a criminal who was imprisoned for life for his crimes. In a dream, he stood before a tribunal for a crime. He pleaded that he was not guilty of the crime for which he was being tried. The judge replied that he was not being tried for that crime, but for a crime that is the most heinous crime of the human race. Papillon asked what crime it was. He replied, “The crime of a wasted life.” Papillon wept, “Guilty, guilty.” The judge pronounced the sentence of death.

     B. Ye Are Not Consumed

NOTE: Dad teaching us how to swim. Held us up and said, I won’t let you go under. Had to relax and trust him or never learn to swim.

NOTE: Our hope is not in ourselves, but in God

CONCLUSION

WHEN IT IS TIME FOR GOD TO BRING JUDGMENT ON US, HE WILL:

I. HAVE TWO COMINGS            vs. 1

II. THE CLEANSING         vs. 2-4

III. THE CLOSE JUDGMENT     vs. 5

IV. BRING THE COMFORT        vs. 6

THE HARDEST RETURN IN THE WORLD

Malachi 3:7

INTRODUCTION

The original sin is pride. Everyone of us yield in some manner to the sin of pride. By definition pride is when we do something. God is not in the program. We pride ourselves in our talents, our accomplishments. In pride we find ourselves satisfied, comfortable and complacent in our accomplishments.

The people of Malachi’s day were very much satisfied with themselves. Against all odds they (piously recognizing God’s part in it) returned from the Captivity. They had kept their national and religious distinctives.

They had rebuilt the Temple. cf. Church

They had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.

They were very satisfied with their outward spiritual condition. Their actions justified their shallow religious convictions.

How many times they went to the Temple. How many times they sacrificed. How many times they prayed took the place of a strong personal relationship to Jehovah. “Oh God, how fortunate You are to have me here.”

They were outwardly, piously correct. Nevertheless, there was something lacking. cf. Matthew 23:27

THEME: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY”?

I. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE LEAVE GOD ON OUR TERMS

NOTE: This is an inward, spiritual departure while everything is respectable on the outside

     A. Ye Are Gone Away

          1. Three ways to go away

               a. To drift

                    1) Unintentional

                    2) David with Bathsheba

NOTE: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.  II Samuel 11:1

               b. To run from

                    1) Deliberate

                    2) Jonah

               c. To run to

                    1) Deliberate

                    2) Samson

NOTE: Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. Judges 14:3

          2. This statement denotes they were not where they should be

               a. This is not a physical departure

                    1) They were in Jerusalem

                    2) They were in the Temple

               b. This is a spiritual departure

                    1) They were not against God

                    2) They had drifted into a spiritual slackness

NOTE: This is hard for us to see but the Lord looks on the heart …

     B. Ye Have Not Kept Mine Ordinances (Or Laws)

NOTE: Not your ordinances           Exodus 18:20; Psalm 119:91

NOTE: They continue this day according to thine (God’s) ordinances: for all are thy servants.           Psalm 119:91

          1. They did not propagate (personally) the truth as teachers

NOTE: Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers (scorners) have transgressed against me.        Isaiah 43:27

          2. This spiritual laziness turned to rebellion

NOTE: Like father – Like son

NOTE: And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.         Ezekiel 2:3

     C. Ye Have Done This From The Days Of Your Fathers

          1. Their sin

               a. They were in a physical wilderness, under Moses and in a spiritual wilderness under Malachi

               b. They returned to Jerusalem

                    1) They began where their fathers left off

                    2) Their trust was in righteous acts, not God directly

          2. Their fathers contributed to their sinful condition

NOTE: Having our boy follow in our footsteps can be very disconcerting, especially when we think we’ve covered our tracks – but aren’t absolutely certain

               a. Leviticus 26:39

               b. Job 21:19

               c. Psalm 37:28

               d. Isaiah 14:20-22

               e. Lamentations 5:7

               f. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:5-6

NOTE: We love our parents whether they are in or out of sin

               a. They can be additional restraint against our sinning

               b. They can through their sin compound the sin of their future generations

NOTE: Homes and churches would be better off if parents stopped sowing wild oats and started cultivating their children

T.S. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY”?

          I. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE LEAVE GOD ON OUR TERMS

II. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE RETURN TO GOD “OUR WAY”

     A. You Return Unto Me

          1. They returned

               a. To the land of their fathers

               b. To the city of their fathers

               c. To the temple of their fathers

               d. To the sins of their fathers

NOTE: Even from the days of their fathers

               e. But not to the God of their fathers

          2. To return, one must:

               a. Turn from one’s present condition

NOTE: An elderly couple were riding in the car; he driving, she on the passenger’s side. In front of them in a pickup was a young couple, clearly in love. They could barely see the “one of them,” they were setting so close together. The elderly woman began to berate her husband, “We used to be like that. We used to set like that …” She continued along this line of thought for several minutes until she ran out of something to say and then just glared at him. He continued to look forward and calmly said these words, “I have not moved.”

               b. Turn back to the former walk of righteousness

               c.  Turn toward God

NOTE: True repentance has a double aspect; it looks upon things past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful eye               Robert South

NOTE: He leadeth me, O blessed thought cf. Psalms. 23

     B. I Will Return Unto You

NOTE: Ye (plural) are gone away. cf. you (singular) return. A group may leave but each individual must individually return

          1. Israel wanted the God of judgment to come     2:17

          2. The Lord said He will come and purify them in judgment        3:3

          3. In His mercy He is crying,

               a. Return to me

               b. Then I will return to you

               c. And there will be no need for judgment as a refiner’s fire

T.S. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY”?

          I. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE LEAVE GOD ON OUR TERMS

        II. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE RETURN TO GOD “OUR WAY”

III. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE LIVE A LIFE OF FRUSTRATION

     A. But Ye Say, Wherein … ?

          1. As if the accusation of departure was a slander

          2. They would, in general terms, agree to being a sinner

               a. When called on to wholly turn to God, as being wholly turned from God, they ask, “In what?”

               b. What would God have of them (as if ready to do it)?

     B. Wherein Shall We Return?

          1. This is the pharisaic spirit found in the Gospels

          2. God is saying:

               a. I am not changed from good; ye are not changed from evil

               b. I am unchangeable in holiness; Ye are unchanged in perversity

          3. They were saying, In what particular way shall we return

     C. These People In Malachi’s Day Were Outwardly Spiritual

          1. They were frustrated because God was saying, Turn

          2. They felt they could not do more; that’s Pharisaism

NOTE:  A woman called the police station to report a skunk in her basement. The officer told her to make a trail of bread crumbs lead into the yard and wait for the skunk to follow the trail outside.

A little later she called back and said, “I did what your told me and now I’ve got two skunks in my basement.”

          3. When God said turn, they should have cried out, Lord, help my unbelief.

              a. Turn us O God of our salvation   Psalm 85:4

               b. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. Lamentations 5:21

NOTE: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?    Luke 6:46

CONCLUSION

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY”?

I. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE LEAVE GOD ON OUR TERMS

II. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE RETURN TO GOD “OUR WAY”

III. WHEN WE ARE RELIGIOUS “OUR WAY” WE LIVE A LIFE OF FRUSTRATION

  CHRISTIAN ROBBERS

Malachi 3:8-12

INTRODUCTION

There are a lot of things that Christians tolerate from a preacher. He can call them names, he can skin them but when he gets to money, he has quit preaching and gone meddling.

Our use of money is often the acid test of our character. The use of money by Christian Americans is a revealing index to our character.

1. The liquor industry spends more for advertising than the total expenditure of American Christianity

2. America spends more for chewing  gum than she does for God. Our money is such a practical thing that it reveals our willingness or unwillingness to trust God

Before we get into our text some Biblical truths about tithing must be stated.

1. The tithe is not the church’s way of raising money, it is God’s way of raising Christians.

2. The purposes of tithing is not to get more money in the offering plate each Sunday morning. It is God’s way to enrich Christian’s lives so that God can pour out the full measure of blessing on those lives and incidentally on the local church.

3. Tithing is not a request of God, it is a command

a. If ye love me, keep my commandments           John 14:15

b. If a man loves me, he will keep my words … He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings       John 14:23-24

c. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf         II Corinthians 8:24

4. All tithes and offerings in the New Testament are given through the local church

a. In the Old Testament there was a central depository

NOTE: Nehemiah 13:12 treasury same word as storehouse: Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

b. In the New Testament the Christian is to bring his tithe and offering on the first day of the week

NOTE: If we are not willing to donate through the local church to a certain cause then something is wrong with us or the church

I. THE ROBBERY   vs. 8-9

A. Will A Man Rob God?

1. Hebrew word used only here and in Proverbs 22:23, Rob not the poor because he is poor

2. “Rob” means to cheat

a. Can be done by not paying at all

b. Can be by tipping God

NOTE: Don’t we normally tip a waitress or waiter about 15 to 20 percent???

c. Which is worse?

B. Wherein Have We Robbed You?

NOTE: The arrogance – “Wherein”

1. In tithes

a. The word “tithe” means one tenth

b. Leviticus 27:30-32

2. In offerings

a. The tithe is God’s command

NOTE: A first step of obedience, like baptism

b. The offering is the test of the mature Christian’s love and faith in God; we gives according to our love and faith

NOTE: These Jews simply didn’t believe God. They were selfish.

NOTE: In Malachi we have seen the cry of:

1. Injured wives         2:14

2. Polluted altars of the Temple       1:7-8

3. The withholding of the tithe from God

NOTE: “And still you ask where in you must return?”

C. Ye Are Cursed With A Curse   vs. 9

1. Ye have robbed me

NOTE: The emphatic, personal “me”

NOTE: In Charles Spurgeon’s first church was a very old deacon named Mr. Sewell. One Sunday morning this deacon was late getting to church. He only arrived after Mr. Spurgeon began preaching. At the end of the service, with the congregation standing, Mr. Spurgeon asked Deacon Sewell to dismiss the service in prayer. Every head was bowed and no prayer came forth. Mr. Spurgeon could see Deacon Sewell fumbling in the back of the auditorium. Mr. Spurgeon repeated the request for Deacon Sewell to pray. Sewell replied, “I will, pastor, just as soon as I put my offering in the plate back here. I cannot pray without first an offering to my God.” Mr. Spurgeon said that was the best sermon of the morning.

2. The whole nation robbed God

a. Used excuse everyone else did it

b. The sin of Achan

c. They were impoverished by His curse

II. THE REPENTANCE       vs. 10-11

A. What God’s People Must Do

1. Ye bring all the tithe into the storehouse

a. Ye bring, not send; the personal responsibility

b. All the tithe

NOTE: To bring only a portion is to defraud God

c. Into the store house (singular, not plural)

2. That there may be meat in my house

a. For sacrifices

b. For food for priests

NOTE: Laborer worthy of his hire

The most important jobs should have the most pay

“But I believe the minister should be just like us.”

That’s a cop-out for jealousy and stinginess

Who has the greater responsibility medical doctor or preacher?

But this church doesn’t have that kind of money

It would if you loved God

c. For selling meat for upkeep of Temple

B. Prove Me Now Herewith Saith The Lord Of Hosts

NOTE: The Lord God needeth not: He asketh not a reward but reverence

1. “Prove me” – They were questioning whether He is a holy and righteous God

2. I will open the windows of heaven

a. Window – a gate that controls the flow of water

b. Genesis 7:11; 8:2

NOTE: Constant obedience will produce a constant shower of blessing

3. I will pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it

a. If you obey I will supply all your needs

b. God’s gifts are limited only by our capacity to receive them

NOTE: God’s challenge:

1. Be faithful to God’s command

2. See if He will be faithful to His promise

c. “room enough” – sufficiency – only as long as God endures

C. I Will Rebuke       vs. 11

1. The devourer

NOTE: Locust – signifying anything we can’t handle

2. The miscarriage of fruit

a. Fruit falling off vine before it is ready

b. The heart break of wasted work

III. THE REWARD   vs. 12

A. All Nations Will Call You Blessed

1. Deuteronomy 33:29

2. Zechariah 8:23

B. Ye Shall Be A Delightsome Land

1. An object of pleasure to everyone

2. A delightsome land

a. It is not so much the land as the people – ye shall be called

b. The land stands for the people

NOTE: Do the material good we posses  reflect our abundance or our happiness and blessed estate in Christ?

CONCLUSION

1. We may try to rob God but in the end we will only rob ourselves     Deuteronomy 32:29

a. Jewish parable of an eagle who robbed the altar and set fire to her nest from the burning coal that adhered to the stolen flesh

b. Those who retain God’s money will find it a losing possession

2. No man ever yet lost anything by serving God with a whole heart, or gained anything by serving Him with a half one

3. If we would have God open His treasury, we must open ours. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

4. Perfect love casteth out fear

a. “But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”    James 1:22

b. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17

c. “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things I say?”     Luke 6:46

THE FINAL “WHEREIN”

Malachi 3:13-15

INTRODUCTION

The “Whereins” of Malachi

     1. 1:2  Wherein hast thou loved us?

     2. 1:6  Wherein have we despised Thy name?

     3. 1:7  Wherein have we polluted Thee?

     4. 2:14   Wherein (have we treated our wives wrong?)

     5. 2:17   Wherein have we wearied God?

    6. 3:7  Wherein shall we return?

     7. 3:8  Wherein have we robbed Thee?

Our text for today:

     8. 3:13           What (wherein) have we spoken so much against Thee?

The first “wherein” finds fault with God.  The rest attempt to justify self by contradicting God.  In many ways 3:13 is the summation of all the other “whereins” and the key to the sinful condition of the people. They had spent much time and effort in serving God. But all this effort was null and void because of their motives.

     1. They were simply mercenary

     2. “If there is not reward in the good things of this life, service to God is a failure”

THEME: HOW CAN WE SPEAK AGAINST GOD?

I. BY SAYING STOUT THINGS REPEATEDLY AGAINST GOD vs. 13

     A. Your Words Have Been Stout Against Me

          1. “Stout”

               a. Bold

               b. Violently

               c. Stubbornly

               d. Aggravated insult

NOTE: “God just doesn’t understand”

          2. “Against”

               a. Not to God

               b. But of God, one to another

NOTE: The characteristics of such people Ezekiel 33:30-31

NOTE: They would have “roast God” for lunch like “roast preacher”

     B. Wherein Have We Spoken So Much Against Thee?            Matthew. 12:36 – 37

          1. Wherein – They were so blinded by their covetousness they were not aware they were criticizing God

NOTE: Conversationalist and bore: former talks about what you are interested in; latter talks about what he is interested in

          2. Spoken so much

               a. Spoken so often

               b. The impatient murmuring of “God gimmie”

THEME: HOW CAN WE SPEAK AGAINST GOD?

          I. BY SAYING BOLD THINGS AGAINST GOD

II. BY SAYING IT IS VAIN TO SERVE GOD vs.. 14

NOTE: El, not Jehovah; His name of power, not covenant

     A. What Profit Is It That We Have Kept His Ordinance?

NOTE: The sin of having to put a dollars and cents value on service to God

          1. They did their duty

               a. Not from a love of God

               b. Rather from a hope of being paid or receiving recognition of men from it; a pat on the shoulder

          2. Ordinance (singular)

               a. Guard

               b. Faith (body of beliefs)

NOTE: “We have followed God’s Word to the letter” (but with the wrong motive).

     B. What Profit Is It That We Have Walked Mournfully Before The Lord Of Hosts?

          1. Piety and sorrow are constant companions

          2. To walk mournfully

               a. The mourning of fasting

               b. Wore a black penitence robe

               c. Put ashes on face

     C. Their Outward Work Is The Genuine Worship God Must Acknowledge And Reward

          1. Because of their good deeds they felt they had claims upon God and complained when He did not reward them

          2. If God receives the gifts (tithe), obedience (attendance) and worship of the people, He must in turn give in the form of material prosperity, political influence and the like. If they don’t come, why worship Him?

NOTE: What if America turned to God and then a great depression came?

THEME: HOW CAN WE SPEAK AGAINST GOD?

          I. BY SAYING BOLD THINGS AGAINST GOD

        II. BY SAYING IT IS VAIN TO SERVE GOD

III. BY SAYING THE PROUD ARE HAPPY

     A. The Proud Are The Favorites Of God

NOTE: vs. 10  Prove me now herewith, said God

vs. 15 The wicked prove God and are delivered

          1. “Proud” – The godless sinner in Israel

          2. The sinner’s position is to be envied

     B. They That Work Wickedness Are Set Up

          1. The only people who seemed to prosper were the rugged individualists who had no regard for God or their neighbor and regard religion as a refuge for incompetent weaklings

          2. The sinner’s position is to be envied

     C. They That Tempt God Are Even Delivered

          1. The wicked are delivered when they are tempted

          2. They call blessed who God calls cursed

CONCLUSION

Why do “solid” Christians drop by the wayside? Why do they quit serving God? Originally they were at church every time the doors were opened.

Then they:

     1. Went to another church

     2. They put all their effort into their:

          a. Job

          b. Hobby

          c. Golf

          d. Fishing

          e. Etc.

Why? According to this passage, the answer is quite simple: Their entire motive was mercenary

(Quote from the Introduction:) “If there is not reward in the good things of this life, service is not worthwhile”

Some common statements:

     1. At that church they don’t preach against ___________           (Fill in the blank)

          a. Tobacco

         b. Fishing on Sunday

         c. Golfing on Sunday

         d. Going to places of “worldly amusements”

NOTE: “Muse” means to think; in Greek add the alpha to get the opposite (not to think): hence, amuse

         e. Sin that I like

     2. I don’t get anything out of the church (translated, I get more rewarding feelings out of:)

         a. Work

         b. T.V.

         c. Staying home

         d. Rest

         e. Etc.

NOTE: We get out of church what we put into it

The whole summation to this worldly, mercenary spirit is:

     1. It is not rewarding to serve God His way

     2. I will not walk in my service by faith, I  want to walk by sight

NOTE: Samson – I want her because she pleases me (not God)

Are you walking by faith or by sight?

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL

Malachi 3:16-18

INTRODUCTION

The world has often used certain popular phrases like:

     1. Might makes right

     2. The majority is right

NOTE: The popularity of polls. The only absolute is what the majority says. God’s righteous are rooted like a tree in the Word of God. The ungodly are not so. Psalm 1:4 describes the ungodly tossed about the wind.

In Malachi God’s word is directed toward those who claim to be His people. Basically they don’t want to be like the world.  But many of them

don’t seem to have in themselves either the ability or the desire to do things God’s way.

They are so like King Saul. They know God has placed them where they are.  They know what they should do. But the world keeps tripping them up. They try to serve God their way.

In every group of believers, as in Malachi’s day, there will be those who put a lot of effort into serving the Lord but blow it.

But in the background will be the quiet, faithful “seven thousand who have not bent their knee to Baal.” These are the ones we wish to direct our thoughts now.

THEME: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL ARE:

I. THEY FEAR THE LORD           vs. 16

     A. Fear

          1. Not of terror or guilt but fear of a love that is always alive to the possible alienation of its object

          2. Reverential love

     B. Lord

NOTE: vs. 14 El cf. vs. 16 Jehovah

          1. Personal relationship

          2. Denotes fellowship

     C. They spake often one to another

          1. The more the ungodly spake among themselves against God, the more these faithful spake among themselves for God

          2. In order to strengthen each other against the ungodly sayings of the ungodly

          3. Jewish saying:  “When two sit together, and there is no words of the Law spoken between them, there is the seat of the scorner.” cf. Psalm 1

NOTE: On the phone, make a point to tell of a blessing rather than gossip

     D. The Lord hearkened and heard it

          1. Hearkened – bent His ear from heaven

          2. Heard–understood attentively

NOTE: Watch two people talk about us

     E. A book of remembrance was written for them that fear and thought upon His name

          1. A book of remembrance

NOTE: Kings had books written containing the good and evil deeds of their subjects toward the throne cf. II Kings 1:18

               a. Esther 6:1

               b. Psalm 56:8

               c. Luke 10:17-20

               d. Revelation 20:12

NOTE: Not one loyal word for Him and His glory escapes Him

          2. Thought upon His name

NOTE: Thought – intense meaning

               a. Esteemed or prized cf. 1:6 cf. Isaiah 53:3

               b. The taking of an inventory of treasury

NOTE: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. cf. the treasures of Malachi’s day

          1. In their possessions

          2. In their nationality

          3. In their temple

               c. The thinking on His name was with all care to avoid all things which may tend to the dishonor of it

THEME: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL

          I. THEY FEAR THE LORD

II. THEY BELONG TO THE LORD        vs. 17

     A. They shall be mine when I make up my jewels (special treasure)

           1. Prized

NOTE:  Prize His name and He will prize you

          2. Guarded – a possession of special value

NOTE: Many are called but few are choice

     B. I will spare them

          1. Not of their own merits

               a. cf. Works of the Pharisee

               b. Matthew. 21:28-31

          2. Spare – in contrast to the  punishment of the ungodly

          3. As a man spareth his own son who serveth him

               a. Psalm 103:13

NOTE: Pitieth means “to have mercy”

               b. Manifest tender mercy  to them as a father to an obedient son

THEME: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAITHFUL ARE:

          I. THEY FEAR THE LORD

        II. THEY BELONG TO THE LORD

III. THEY CAN DISCERN            vs. 18

NOTE: Return – when we turn from our sinful state and have the characteristics of the faithful, then we return to see in light of God’s Word

     A. Between the righteous and the wicked

NOTE: Are they for God or against God (very simple)

          1. The wheat and the tares

NOTE: They may look alike but the fruit of their actions give them away

          2. Preoccupation with evil can only weaken the hand and distress the spirit. But occupation with Him who sits in peace above all the mists of the earth will strengthen and cheer, and prove the only real power for practical holiness and victory over all the might of the enemy

     B. Between Him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not

          1. The Lord put a difference between Israel and Egypt  Exodus 11:7

          2. The time will come when we shall see the difference   Isaiah 65:13-14

CONCLUSION

The characteristics of the Faithful are not as a theory to boast to other people but rather is the power in which they live all their days.

Those who feared Him did it not as an attempt to make up what they lacked in character, but is an output of character.