Mal. 1 HE SAID, WE SAID:
Intro:
Have you ever had an argument with a spouse and she knew what you were gonna say even before you did? Eerie isn’t it? Like she can read your mind. Malachi was a prophet of God and he has to confront the priests.
“I know what He’ll say.” Malachi already knows their response.
1) Vs. 2 “I have loved you…”
Yet you say, “In what way have you loved us?”
1 John 3: 1
Eph 2:1-4
Psa. 103:1-6, vs 10-12
You shall say the Lord is magnified…
For we are his workmanship…
2) Where is My honor? V. 6-7
Where is My reverence?
You Say: “How have we despised your name?”
“How have we defiled you?”
Vs 8 Funky sacrifices-
Imagine this; you’re on your way to Jerusalem to offer a Passover sacrifice. As you are walking down the road, an area peddler calls to get your attention. He has in his possession a lamb that is being made available to you for this one time low price. As you look over this possible purchase opportunity, you notice one eye is swollen & encrusted shut. As you examine its front legs, you fine her knees face opposite directions. Flies congregate around her mucus oozing nose, as she drools down her neck.
So do you give him your five magic beans for this fine piece of livestock, thinking this is a worthy sacrifice?
(No cost; No true sacrifice)
Ananias & Sapphira- Acts 4:32-34; 5:1-10
* David Threshing Floor 2 Sam.24:18-25
We fail to bring our best.
Our sacrifices don’t come from the heart.
God made the biggest sacrifice!
Rom 12:1
1 Pet. 1:15-19* the precious blood of Christ!
“Self on cross, Christ on the throne”
Sacrifice of Praise?
Isa 29:13 “Inasmuch as these people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward me is taught by the commandment of men”
V.10 “Shut the door!” Don’t even waste the matches!
It’s all religious; going thru the motions
3) Final word- Take it to heart
Heb. 10:22 “draw near w/a true heart…”
Gonna rub your noses in it!
Rev. 3:15,16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish that you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
4) You say “Oh what weariness!”
Too tired for church…any excuse!
