ACCEPTING THE TRUTH
Malachi 1:1-14 Text v.10-14
In an age that has grown lax, and consciences that have become dry, Malachi here rings out a warning, unchanged by peoples criticism or sarcasm. The people of his time were not irreligious i.e they were not (indifferent or hostile to religion, or having no religious beliefs) they went to church, sung in the choir,gave offerings,were well dressed, etc. as a matter of fact they were so religious that they thought they had it going on. But their situation was worser than that. They were playing at religion, they thought they were playing God.
We may be able to fool others with the games we play, but God is never fooled. He not only knows what we do in secret, he knows what what we think in our heart.
They made no conscience effort that the things they were doing for themselves or for God was wrong, as long as they kept up some kind of religious form.
They were spending enormous sums upon their own selfish pleasures, and offering their left overs to the worship and the service of God. They didn't think what they were doing was wrong; or if they ever did think about it, they did not recognize the shabbiness of their conduct, or have the saving grace to admit that it was true.
Malachi says," Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 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 pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 1:7-8
The priests were offering defiled sacrifices on the altar. The word “food” (v. 12) refers to the sacrifices provided in the Law of Moses (Lev. 1–7). These animals had to be perfect; nothing imperfect could be brought to the altar of God and accepted (Lev. 22:17–33; Deut. 15:19–23).
In short, the priests were permitting the people to bring God less than their best. If they had offered these defective beasts to their governor, he would have rejected them, but the people presumed the animals were good enough for the Lord. Malachi 1:6
These were the circumstances that gave rise to the prophets remark. See, Israel’s priests were bringing lame, blind, blemished animals for sacrifice; animals that had little, if any, market value to God. They were giving God in essence the left overs of their belongings.
They were offering Him the live stock which they couldn't use at their own table. This is why he says Offer it to your governor and see if he will be pleased with you, see if he will accept it? saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi says, If you were anxious to secure the favor of some highly respected official, would you give sufficient attention to the Creator of all things?
Our offerings to God are an indication of what’s in our hearts, for “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). People who claim to love the Lord and His work can easily prove it with their checkbooks! Giving is a grace (2 Cor. 8:1–15), and if we’ve experienced the grace of God, we’ll have no problem giving generously to the Lord who has given so much to us.
Malachi 1:8
Israel had lowered their standard of worship, they were excited about the worship. But God, however, wasn’t impressed.
Malachi 1:10
Sacrificing lambs and spilling their blood i can imagine was a messy situation. But they had forgotten that the sacrificial system was God’s way of dealing with their sin so he could give them the provisions of his covenant. They were despising that which was the source of their life and blessing!
Malachi 1:12
Malachi told these disobedient priests that closing the doors of the temple and stopping the sacrifices altogether would be better than to continue practicing such hypocrisy. Better to have no religion at all than a religion that fails to give God the very best. If our concept of God is so low that we think he’s pleased with cheap halfhearted worship, then we don’t know the God of the Bible. In fact, a god who encourages us to do less than our best is a god who isn’t worthy of our worship or praise.
Malachi 1:10 says, Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. ESV
There is a Hebrew word behind that phrase "in vain" that carries a lot of weight. The word is hinam. It is used, for example, in 2 Samuel 24:24 in a way very similar to this verse, but the translation is much fuller. David was trying to avert a plague. To do so he needed a place to build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord. The threshing floor of Araunah was in the right place and Araunah offered the threshing floor and animals to David for nothing.
But David responds, "No, but I will buy it of you for a price; I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing."
In other words, David was saying I value God so much that I cannot bring myself to worship in a way that looks as if I love money more than I love him. It must cost me something. It must say that He is my supplier and not the world.
I believe that like then God knew that in these times in which we live that there would be those in our churches who are just sharply-groomed show pieces of Christianity with a well-to-do attitude, who are satisfied with just having a religious life that costs them nothing.
Yes, they tithe! But the nine-tenths that they keep is still a hundred times more than others are use to having. While it is right that we should tithe because it is God’s work, but it does not really cost us anything—it does not bring us to the point of sacrificial giving.
Remember David said, “Shall I offer God something that costs me nothing?” 2 Samuel 24:24
I realize that this message will not win any popularity contests, but I must add this based on my observations on the current state of the church: Christianity to the average church member is simply an avenue to a good and pleasant time, with a little biblical devotional material thrown in for good measure! i.e. let me look the part. let me dress the part but don't challenge me where I'm sitting at right now. I'm doing my part what more do you want me to do?
It is time that we begin to search our hearts and ask ourselves: “What is my faith costing me? Am I offering to God something that has cost me absolutely nothing or am i willing to make a sacrifice?
Sacrificial giving (above the tithe) is giving beyond our means. It’s no secret that we are part of a generation known for living beyond our means. What would happen if we all determined to change one letter in that phrase? From living beyond our means to giving beyond our means?
If your giving to the Lord does not hurt, or infringe upon the comfort level of your lifestyle, then it’s not sacrificial. If your giving does not stretch you, and stress your faith, then it most likely is not sacrificial.
Sacrificial giving is an unusual, uncommon, excellent, outstanding, painful and extra ordinary giving that cost you much in order to attract the attention of God towards your life.
Lets talk about a steward, a steward, by definition, is someone who manages that which belongs to another. Since everything that we have and everything that we earn belongs to God, we need to ask Him how He wants us to manage it. According to the Bible, the first fruits, and particularly the tithe (ten percent), are to be given straight back to God, so that we can acknowledge His ownership and our stewardship.
Tithing is a way of acknowledging God in our life. Tithing is not merely symbolic. It has a purpose. God has a real need of it from us, but sometimes He needs much more than the tithe. This is where sacrificial giving comes.
2 Corinthians 9:7 says “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
God does not accept the gift of a person who does not want to give.
God expects three things of the person who gives.
1. The giver must give as he purposes in his heart.
2. The giver must not give grudgingly: not out of sorrow, not with reluctance or regret.
3. The giver must not give out of necessity. A person's gift is not acceptable to God when he...is forced to give or gives because he/she fears what others will think, gives just to please others, gives to keep others from pestering him, gives out of a desire for personal honor and recognition.
The giver must give cheerfully if he/she wants God to accept his/her gift. The word "cheerful" (hilaros) means joyful. The giver is pleased and delighted to give to meet the needs of God's people and of the world.
God loves the cheerful giver, for the cheerful giver is just like His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ willingly and cheerfully gave all He was and had to meet the needs of the world.
God is the very One who has given the supreme ultimate gift as a sacrifice....the Lord Jesus Christ. The most loved passage of Scripture clearly proclaims this glorious truth is found in John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
The word gave (edoken PWS: 1641) has a twofold meaning. God gave His Son to the world, and He gave His Son to die. The idea of sacrifice, of great cost, is in both acts.
It cost God dearly to give His Son up to the world and up to the cross.
He gave up His Son to be separated from Him, allowing Jesus to leave His presence, to leave the majesty and glory, worship and honor of heaven.
He gave up His Son to be separated from Him, allowing Jesus to come to earth.
He gave up His Son to be separated from Him, allowing Jesus to die for the sins of men.
Isaiah said, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5,6).
"In due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3).
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21).
"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15).
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Galatians 3:13).
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9).
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
The songwriter said, Amazing Grace shall always be my song of praise, For it was grace that brought me liberty, I do not know just why He ever came to love me so, He looked beyond my faults and saw my need.
And I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary,To view the cross where Jesus died for me, How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul, He looked beyond my faults and saw my need.
Conclusion:
We may not have the ability to profane God’s table today, but we can certainly bring ungodliness and guilt with us. Paul tells us that we should care for the poor among us and concern ourselves with them before approaching Christ’s table. Otherwise, we’re bringing guilt with us—and consequently judgment (1 Cor 11:17–27). We need to put others before ourselves, especially at God’s table.
We often approach God’s table like the priests: We think that serving God in the way He desires makes us too weary and thus is not worth doing (Mal 1:13). What can we do to combat those feelings and do what Christ desires?
The priests were also cheating God out of what was rightfully His (1:14). What do we cheat God out of (Acts 2:42–47)?
What are the implications of God being our great King, the Lord of hosts (that is, Lord of many armies) (Mal 1:14)? Do we fear God today? What does it mean to fear God? Does it simply mean obeying Him, or is it more?
What are you doing to show God how much you appreciate Christ’s death for your sins?
Dr Charles Jones
4/1/2020
