✎ ILLUSTRATION: YARD SALE–FLEA MARKET. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! All too often stuff that is in the yard sale today is in the dumpster tomorrow.
Sometimes we feel like the leftovers from a yard sale; our self esteem is in the dumpster. We’re useless; we’re no good for anyone or anything.
God doesn’t see us as worthless. God was not searching for bargains at a yard sale, but He willingly paid the highest price for our lives. God gave His Son; Jesus laid down His life so we could live. Unfortunately we don’t feel alive.
A grey Monday morning feeling lingers through Sunday morning and we get up and make ourselves go to church. We go through the motions of worship, but our hearts are cold. The Bible tells us that God will give us “joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair,” but we leave wondering if it’s really real (see Isaiah 61:3).
Last week we began our series in the book of Malachi; The Final Prophet: Godly Insight for Daily Living. Malachi opens with the foundation of God’s love; God’s love is [1] sovereign, [2] strong, [3] steadfast, and [4] seeking. Having laid the foundation of God’s love, Malachi addresses our approach to God. How do we come to God in worship? Are we guilty of bringing God our leftovers from yesterday’s yard sale?
+ Read: Malachi 1:6-14
1. THE PROBLEM.
Israel was bringing God their leftovers from yesterday’s yard sale. God gave His people clear instructions about the sacrifices they were to offer. For instance God’s law says, “If your sacrifice for a whole burnt offering is from the herd, bring a bull with no physical defects” (Leviticus 1:3 NLT); diseased or deformed animals were not to be given as an offering to God.
God was not pleased with the sacrifices offered by Israel. Their sacrifices were given as a duty, with disregard, and in disobedience.
▸ DUTY: the people felt obligated to bring an offering; it was an expectation and not an expression of worship. Therefore, they gave as little as possible; their worship was cheap.
▸ DISREGARD: the people didn’t care how they sacrificed to God; it was an attitude of neglect. Disregard and indifference was the rule of the day.
▸ DISOBEDIENCE: the people offered sacrifices as they wanted and not as God commanded.
Actions speak louder than words. The way the people came to God revealed their genuine attitudes about God.
+ Isaiah 29:13 These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. . . they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it. (MsgB)
When an animal sacrifice was brought to the temple, it was an act of worship. You may be tempted to think, “We don’t have that problem because we don’t sacrifice animals on an altar to God anymore.”
You’re right, God doesn’t require animal sacrifices from us. God wants MORE than that.
+ Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV)
+ So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. (MsgB)
You see it’s all or nothing; God wants us to give Him our very selves. Everyday, everything we do and say is a sacrifice, a love gift to God.
For the nation of Israel their sacrifices were no longer offered from a heart of love; instead it was simply a burdensome job for the priest. Their worship was not an outpouring of adoration, but instead it was a chore.
How about you and me, do we have the same problem? Do we come to God as an act of duty; is our worship filled with disregard and disobedience? Be careful how you answer because actions speak louder than words.
DUTY:
▸ Why are you here today? Are you simply here to be seen by others or to appease your conscience? Will you be quick to leave at the conclusion of the service or will you be willing to spend time in prayer or with other believers who have gathered?
DISREGARD:
▸ The Bible says we belong together; we are interdependent upon one another. Are you reaching our and entering into relationships with other believers, or are you trying to go it alone?
▸ Is it more important for you to be on time for work than on time for worship? Do you come late simply because it is more convenient for you and your schedule or desires?
DISOBEDIENCE:
▸ The Bible says we are not to forsake joining together with one another. Do you miss opportunities for Bible study, worship services, fellowship, or prayer with little or no thought. Would you be embarrassed if your attendance record were on display for everyone to see?
▸ The Bible says to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that’s 10 percent of your income is given for the work of the local church. Some of us make unwise financial decisions and then hold back on what we give.
If we give God only our “yard sale leftover” time, money, and energy, we fall into the trap of duty, disregard, and disobedience. Our daily lives are our offering to God which in turn reveals our true attitude toward Him.
Remember as Paul told the Romans, in view of God’s great love for us we ought to offer everything we do, including but not limited to church attendance as an offering of worship to God. Is God pleased with the daily gift we offer Him?
2. THE SOLUTION
God never exposes sin without offering the cure; for every problem God has the solution. When God sees all the yard sale junk we have collected, He does not throw it into a dumpster of guilt and despair. God offers freedom from our junk making all things new through the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Put simply, God always offers forgiveness for our sin.
God uses Malachi to show us that true worship only takes place within a relationship. Worship is not a ritual; it is not a religious experience. Worship is the expression of a loving relationship.
We find three primary relationships that we can all share with God, and with these relationships we can find a key to worshiping God “in Sprit and in truth.” Malachi reveals the relationship of FATHER, MASTER and KING.
A. FATHER
✞ Malachi 1:6 “If I am a father, where is the honor due me?” (NIV)
“Honor” is the same word translated elsewhere as “glory;” it literally means “to be heavy.” The idea of heaviness refers to the “weightiness of a person’s reputation and wealth or the impressiveness of power or accomplishments” (The Complete Biblical Library). Therefore, honor or glory is associated to the personal abilities, actions, and characteristics of an individual.
▸ Stop for a moment and think about God’s reputation. Can you even begin to imagine the greatness of His wealth and power? The more you know about who God is and all that He has done, the greater the honor and glory you will give to Him.
Honor and glory are not just given freely to an individual. Instead honor and glory precede an individual and are recognized or seen by those who respond by giving the honor and glory which the individual appropriately deserves.
✎ If we were all seated together at a church and then the bridal march would begin to be played how would you respond. We would all stand to give honor to the bride. Or if we were to be seated someplace and unexpectedly an announcement was made saying “Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States” and a band began to play “Hail to the Chief” how would you respond? Again you would stand to give honor to the president.
The honor or glory preceded the arrival of the individual and brought about a response from those present. If group of people present did not make the appropriate response, you would conclude that either they did not know who was entering the room, or they resisted or opposed the individual to whom you gave honor.
How does this apply to God when He asks, “where is my honor?” God is really asking, “Don’t you know me? Is this how you should treat your Father who loves you?”
The people of Israel were fulfilling the ritual or religious duty by offering sacrifices to God. However, their hearts were not in it. Genuine worship is not based in ritual or religion; worship flows out of relationship–a loving relationship between the Father God and His children.
Some of us may have difficulty accepting God as our Father. When you think of “father” you can only picture the abuse or neglect that you received as a child. Instead of having a father lovingly drawing you close, your father either wasn’t in the picture at all or he pushed you away.
It’s time for you to set aside your image of an earthly father and come to know your Heavenly Father. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven. . .”
+ Romans 8:15-16 15. . . you received the Spirit of [adoption]. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (NIV)
If you struggle in your personal worship, it’s time for you to begin to get to know your heavenly Father. Worship flows from relationship.
The first key to being able to really begin to worship God is to come close to Him as Our Father. Let’s draw near to God and discover His awesome love and provision which He has freely given us.
B. MASTER
We are children of God, but we are also His servants.
+ Mal. 1:6 “If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” (NIV)
During the days of Malachi slaves were sold at auction to the highest bidder. God is our master, and we are servants of God. He purchase us, and we belong to Him. God paid the highest possible price–He gave the life of His Son Jesus.
+ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 . . . You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. (NIV)
God was not out hunting for bargains at Sam’s Club; you were not purchased at a discount store. The devil had you for sale at a yard sale and no one wanted you; Satan was about to throw you away. That’s where God found you, but then He did the unexpected; God paid the ultimate price.
+ 1 Peter 1:18-19 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (NIV)
You are of incredible value to God! Those whom this world would want to throw away God wants. He loves us and has purchased us with the life of His Son. God is not just a loving Father; He is our Master who cares for us.
+ 2 Chronicles 6:14 . . . there is no God like you in heaven or on earth–you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. (NIV)
When we recognize God as our loving Master who has chosen us to be His servants, it should transform our worship. Not merely the worship we sing to God in church, but the worship of our lives lived daily for our Master.
+ 1 Peter 2:16 Live as servants of God. (NIV)
The second key to worship is to live in surrendered obedience to our loving master. We are His servants.
Our response of worship to our loving Master is a lifestyle of service and obedience. Through an intimate relationship with God we come to know Him as our Father and Master. Our knowledge of Him causes us to recognize His glory and honor. Through service and obedience we actively give glory and honor to God.
C. KING
God is our Father; God is our Master; God is our King!
+ Malachi 1:14 “For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.” (NIV)
As our Father we give God the honor He deserves.
As our Master we serve Him with surrendered obedience.
As our King we humble ourselves and bow before Him.
+ Romans 14:11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” (NIV)
Paul goes on to tell the Romans that we will all give an account of our lives before God; a day of judgement is coming (see–Romans 14:12). You may not accept God as your Father; you may reject God as Master. It’s your choice. However, when your life is over, you will bow before God as King.
✎ It’s like the Fram oil filter commercial says, “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.”
The cost to humble yourself now will not be as great as the cost when God makes you bow in His presence and give an account for your life. The choice is yours.
What does it mean to recognize God as our King? What does it mean for us to worship God as King?
+ Psalm 95:3-5 3For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (NIV)
The third key is to remember that God is in control; God is sovereign. He reigns with all authority and power; nothing is beyond His jurisdiction and realm.
It does not matter what circumstance you may find yourself in today. God is still King. Regardless of whether you are well fed or hungry; whether you are rich or poor; whether you are healthy or sick; whether you are tall and skinny or short and fat (or somewhere in-between); no matter what situation you may find yourself in God is still in control.
Acknowledge God as your King. Worship may not change your circumstances; however, when you worship the king it will always change you.
Real worship is not a matter of ritual or religion. Genuine worship flows from our relationship with God.
God is your Father; worship Him by giving Him the honor He alone deserves.
God is your Master; worship Him through a lifestyle of obedience.
God is your King; humbly bow before Him and proclaim your confident faith in Him.
How build your relationship with God and worship Him as Father, Master, and King?
[1] Start at the beginning. Have you accepted Christ as your personal savior? Confess your sin and receive His forgiveness today.
[2] Spend time with God in prayer and personal Bible study. Turn off your TV, or your computer; lay down the newspaper. Don’t get busy entertaining yourself until you have had time with God each day.
[3] Read the Psalms. Not only will you how to exalt God through praise and worship, but you will also discover how to trust God in difficult times.
[4] Join together with other believers to share what God is doing in your lives; study the Bible together and pray for one anther.
