Fresh Worship Series

• To offer such a sacrifice brings one under the curse of God (Mal 1:14).

• Because the priests did not respect, honor, or love God, they were allowing most anything to be put on the altar.

• These men knew better.

• This was a massive failure of leadership on their part.

• Do you think the common person would argue with the priest over this if they could get away with riding their herd of substandard animals and still do their religious duty? I bet not!

• God asks the priests if they would bring such things to their governor? The expected answer is NO!

• The actions of the priests revealed their heart or lack of heart for God.

• These people failed to give God their very best.

• King David understood the inherent principle of sacrificing in all worship, saying, when he might have received the threshing floor of Ornan as a gift upon which to build the temple, chose rather to pay for it

SLIDE #7

2 Samuel 24:24 (CSB)

24The king answered Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for twenty ounces of silver.

• Are you willing to give the best you have to the Lord? Our actions speak louder than our words.

• I can sing praises to Jesus all I want; however, if all He gets is not “B” game, then what does that say?

• God then says, if you offered this to your governor, would you expect him to be pleased with you and your actions to the point of blessing you?

• the answer is no, and the priests should expect nothing from God as they have worked hard to insult Him.

• God concludes in verse 10.

• “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

• The actions of the priest do not impress God, He can see right through it.

• God can see through me also.

• Their RELIGIOUS deeds were called USELESS.

• Let’s turn to verses 11-14

SLIDE #8

Malachi 1:11-14 (CSB)

11“My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of Armies.

12“But you are profaning it when you say: ‘The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.’

13You also say: ‘Look, what a nuisance!?’ And you scorn it,” says the Lord of Armies. “You bring stolen, lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord .

14“The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the Lord of Armies, “and my name will be feared among the nations.

SLIDE #9

Fresh worship requires one to have a…

III. Refreshed heart.

• The priest had a heart problem.

• This helped the people of Israel to develop a heart problem.

• In verse 11, God tells the priests that the GENTILE world would one-day offer worship and praises to Him.