WHERE IS MINE HONOUR?
Malachi 1:1-14
Intro: The Book of Malachi has the distinction of being the last of the prophets and the bridge between the two Testaments, looking forward both to John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.
To understand this book you must first realize to who it is written. It is written to the post-exilic Jews sometime after the temple, the walls of Jerusalem and the rituals of worship had been restored. Just as the church world today there was a lackluster of worship amongst the people. So to stir those up Malachi preached on things like marrying those with unlike faith (Ch.2), unjust financial practices and withholding tithes for the house of God (Ch. 3) and the judgment of the wicked (Ch.4) So many of the problems churches face today Malachi was facing 2500 years ago. The sad part about Malachi is that this would be the Lord’s last pleadings with his people for 400 years until the coming of the forerunner of Christ John the Baptist.
But I drawn to the problem in Chapter 1 that Malachi addresses with the local assembly of Jerusalem. In this Chapter he is addressing one the of major problems that Christianity is facing today and that is the lack of honour toward God. These Jews were filled with ingratitude toward God and they openly displayed it. I want to preach on this subject out of verse 6 “WHERE IS MINE HONOUR”?
Now the word “honour” in this text means, “to reverence, to manifest the highest respect for, in words and actions; to entertain the most exalted thoughts of; to worship and adore” In today’s church world very little honour is given to who it should be given because man is claiming it all. This is the same thing Malachi was dealing with and there are three ways people were and still are dishonoring the Lord.
I. DENY HIS LOVE
A. (v.2) I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?
B. These Jews who had been brought out of Babylonian captivity was denying that the Lord even loved them and wanted proof.
C. The Lord reminded them of how they got their start with the ruin of Esau and raising of Jacob.
D. Many people today do the same thing and don’t care who is watching or who is hurt over it
1. They deny is love in their actions
2. They deny his love in their attitudes
3. They deny his love in their attendance
E. If two people love one another they are going to express it in their actions
F. If they don’t love one another they will manifest that as well
G. So many people in the church today have the wrong attitude toward one another, the pastor, the church and everyone else they come in contact with.
H. If it doest not center around them they are not happy.
I. There was a man in Diotrephes (3 John) who had this same problem. He wanted to have preeminence over everyone.
J. He was a troublemaker in the church. He wanted people to follow him rather than the Lord
K. Finally, I have seen people who boycott the church and God’s people by not coming to service.
L. When you deny yourself to the local assembly and to God’s people you are denying His love
M. Do to all of these things is failing to give honour to God
II. DESPISED HIS NAME
A. (v.6)...if then I be a father, where is mine honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear?
1. The Lord was straight out telling them if I am your father then why you will not honor me.
2. If I am your master then why don’t you obey me
B. O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
C. They went right on acting as if everything was okay. This is the modern day Christian. They act like they love God and his people but in all actuality it is nothing more than a front.
D. (II Peter 2:10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
E. These are people who refuse to listen to anything God’s man has got to say
F. (Proverbs 1:28) Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me
G. (Proverbs 1:29) For they that hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord
H. (Proverbs 1:30) The would none of my counsel: they despised all of my reproof
I. These are people who God had called and they had refused. He had stretched out his hand and no man regarded.
J. Now in their dilemma they want to call out for God but they have despised him one to many times.
K. I often wondered how necessary if was to continue to preach and preach and beg and plead to those people who continually reject you, God’s Word and abuse the assembly from which it comes.
L. Matthew 7:6 tells what Jesus has to day about
M. (Matthew 7:6) Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you
N. I feel if a preacher, pastor or local church has done all they can do to help people and reach people and has received nothing but abuse time and time again their obligation to that person is over
O. Yes we must be careful and be sure we use spiritual discernment in doing this but it is Biblical.
III. DEFILE THEIR OFFERING
A. In verses 7 and 8 the Lord has made accusation against them for bringing defiled offerings
B. (v. 7) They have offered polluted bread as a sacrifice and denied it
C. (v. 8) He reminded them that they acted as if anything was good enough for the Lord but they would not dare offer it up to their secular leaders
D. (Malachi 1:8) 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 please with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of Hosts>
E. There are people every time they come to worship they are bringing junk with them to offer the Lord
F. I am talking about in their music, manners, meetings, money, minds
G. If it has anything to do with exalting man over the Lord it is a defiled offering
H. If Jesus Christ doesn’t get all honour and glory it is a defiled offering of whatever type (praise, tithes etc…)
Close: This is my challenge to each and every person that hears the message. Examine your heart and life and your worship and see if it brings honor to Jesus Christ each and every time you meet. If God has to question you to find out where is honor is then there is no honor in what you are doing.
