“But You Say”
Introduction
This week I was thinking about how so many of us take God for granted or maybe even not for granted but we just do not have a sense of reality about God. In other words we don’t see God in our lives and we have a disconnection from Him. It is sad to say that in churches all across America we have people who are coming to Church because they feel it is expected of them, or they are putting on a show for the people in their community. So many people don’t have a sense of urgency about their Christian life. Do you realize that when you woke up this morning by the grace of God you were one day closer to Jesus’ return. What have you to accomplish before He comes again should be your morning thought. Many people get up in the mornings and don’t give a single thought to the blessing they had just received. They were blessed with another morning by the grace of God. To many people live their lives with acknowledging that God is in control of their life and He is master of all that happens. Nothing can happen that He already doesn’t know about.
To many Christians today have bought into Satan’s lies. The story is told of a time when Satan held a strategy session for subverting those who were close to salvation. “What shall we do?” asked Satan. A daring demon stood and shouted, “I have it! I know what we can do! We can tell men that there is not life after death, that they die like animals.” Satan’s face fell as he answered, “ It will never work. Man is not ignorant, even atheists admit of times whey sense a tomorrow after death.”
Another demon spoke, “Here’s the solution! Lets say there is not God or if there ever was, he is dead-because even if he started the universe, he has left it now.” Satan replied in dismay, “That won’t work either, most of them know there is a God, even though they don’t seek him.”
Other ideas were presented, but none brought hope to Satan and his underlings. Finally, as they were about to give up, one demon leaped in glee, “ I have it! A sure solution!” The other demons crowed around to hear the plan. “Go tell them that God is real and the Bible is God’s Word.” A gasp came from the audience as the demon continued, “And tell them Jesus is God’s Son and frees men from sin.” The other demons were horror-stricken, thinking that their associate had gone bananas, until, with a smile, he added, “then tell them that this is not the best time to choose Christ. Help them make excuses for delaying their decision. Tell them there is no hurry!” The demons danced in delight, realizing a workable plan had been discovered. Many people have bought into this lie and are putting off salvation. Others have been saved but then have bought into Satan’s lie that since we have been saved we need do nothing else. And yes you do not need to do anything else for salvation but since Christ purchased you out of the slave market of sin, then you have a new master and just as you willing followed your old master, your old sin nature, now you must follow your new master Jesus Christ. Today we are going to examine a people that had rejected God and we are going to see what God has to say about it.
The book of Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament and wash written after the Babylonian captivity. Malachi is also the last of the prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus. In this book Malachi deals with a priesthood that has defiled itself no longer worthy of holding the office and a people that were neglecting their spiritual responsibilities. We can parallel today’s world with that of Malachi’s. Many Preachers have defiled themselves with the love of money or of the world. Many Christian today is neglecting their spiritual responsibilities. The book of Malachi is thought to have been written at the end of the return from Babylonian captivity. By the time of Malachi the Jews had been back in Judea for many years, nearly a hundred since the first ones had returned.
You had a generation that had been born who had suffered no hardships like their forefathers. The Israelites like us today had let their worship deteriorate to mere form. In other words they were just going through the motions. Worship of God was not a reality for them it had become something you did for show.
Open your bibles with me to Malachi chapter one verse one. Malachi is found right before Matthew. Now look at verse one, which says The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. Here are God’s people? He has blessed them, protected them, and disciplined them, but through it all he has loved them and now they are saying that God’s word is a burden to them. HE wants me to do what? Today I wonder how many people feel that God’s word is a burden on them. I just can’t go visiting that is not something that I have time to do. I can’t go on missions, or work in Sunday school, or whatever God calls them to do. They just can’t accept that burden. That was were the ancient Israelites were and that is exactly where many Christians are today. My prayer is this I hope that I never get to that point again in my life. Yes I said again. I am not infallible, I can fall just like you. For many years I denied the call to preach I did not want that burden on me and even today I don’t feel qualified to preach but it is what God has called me to do and if he can use me for any good what so ever then let it be so. I just which that the rest of us who feel a burden from God’s word will do the same. Can you imagine what would happen if every Christian caught on fire for God. Man what a revival that would be and God would work a mighty work then.
Look at verse two-four "I have loved you," says the Lord. "Yet you say, ’In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?" Says the Lord. "Yet Jacob I have loved; verse 3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness verse 4 Even though Edom has said, "We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places," Thus says the Lord of hosts: "They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
Now we want to consider God’s complaints to the people and their replies, and then God’s answers to them. God says I have loved you. But says yet you say “In what way have You loved us?” After every thing that God has done for these people they are going to sit there and say what have you done for me. God said was not Esau Jacob’s brother did I not love Jacob and hate Esau and laid to waste His inheritance. Has not the Edomites, Esua’s descendants, been destroyed and the Lord’s indignation will be against them forever. They could not look in any direction and see God love. They had been delivered from the Babylonian captivity, they had their own country once again, they had enough food and to spare, How blessed where they compared to Edom. They were safe and secure in their own land. We are safe and secure in our own land. What blessings has God given you in your life. God has richly blessed us spiritually. He has given us the free gift of salvation, He has blessed us in so many ways but many don’t want spiritual blessing they want physical blessings make me rich oh lord. Well I haven’t told you this but it is now time to tell I am rich extremely rich. My wealth I cannot even begin to comprehend I am so wealthy. My wealth is stored up in the safest place that I know in heaven guarded by God Himself and you are just as rich too if you have been saved. But many don’t want this they want it all here on Earth.
Charles smith, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism said, “The whole scheme of redemption is foolishness to me. Because our parents and forefathers disobeyed God, he would not be on good terms with us until His was nailed on a cross. This is reasonable” We may never understand why Jesus loved us so much that He had to die on the cross, but that is no reason to reject God’s plan of redemption. Let us give continual thanks for all the blessings that He has given us.
Verse six says "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ’In what way have we despised Your name?’ God says you honor your earthly fathers. But where is my honor. I am your spiritual father and you give me no honor in fact you despise my name. And yet you say how have we despised you?
Verse seven then begins to describe how they have despised God. "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, ’In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ’The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Verse eight, Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the Lord of hosts. They offer defiled food on His alter. They offer polluted Bread. God was not important enough to give good food to much less their best. Now many are saying how terrible that the Israelites did this. After all that God has done for them. But I want to ask the question what about us? Are we not often guilty of the same crime? Do we always give of our first fruits? Do we give with a reverent and loving heart or is it begrudgingly given. God said told the Israelites you think my table is contemptible because you will not give me your first fruits. That is what we are telling God when we refuse to work for the kingdom. When we spend our first fruits on anything else besides God we are telling God He is not good enough. Malachi says offer this to your ruler and see if he will accept anything less than the best that you have. No he want, so why do you think the Lord of hosts your creator would accept anything less than your best. Why do we think we are do God a favor by offering Him our crumbs. We often give God the crumbs from our life and expect Him to be pleased that we did at least this much. What would you do if your child showed you less respect than you felt you deserve. Why would you think God would do anything less?
Verse 10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the Lord of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. God is saying what is not given of your best is for nought because He takes no pleasure in it. If it is worship by the numbers there is no reverence in it. It does not bring any honor and glory to God. Aren’t many today who claim to be Christian doing the same thing as the ancient Israelites. They come to Church on Sunday morning, maybe Sunday night very rarely on Wed. night and think they are doing a great service to God. Don’t ask them to do anything though. During the week you might even recognize as Christians. You wee we don’t have to sacrifice an animal for the remission our sins, no Jesus did that when He sacrificed Himself on the cross. God Himself paid our sin debt that we might have eternal life and how do we pay back that free gift of salvation. We grumble and complain about having to come to church. We find every excuse in the book as to why we can’t make night services. It is a chore to get up and have to come to church. People God laid down His life for us. He has paid a debt we were unable to pay. He provide a method whereby we can be saved and spend eternity with Him. We should be knocking the doors down trying to get in to worship Him. We should be excited about worshiping Him and fellowshipping with our Brothers and Sisters. We have a direct line with our Spiritual father. Yet instead of being excited about our rebirth and our personal relationship with God we are like the ancient Israelites of Malachi’s time. We are saying what has God done for me? Why should I do anything for God when He hasn’t done anything for me? We had better step back and take a look at what God Has done for us. He has given us salvation, everything we have is a gift from God. All things come from Him. Have you thanked your father for what He has done for you.
Verse 13 says You also say, ’Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it," Says the Lord of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" Says the Lord. The Israelites were actually saying that service to God is a weariness. To do God’s work had become bothersome to them. It cut into their recreation time, or work schedule or what ever was more important to them. It had become a burden that they had to carry. There was no joy any longer in worship. They were just going through the motions. Their was no feeling, no awe at what God had done for them, what He was doing for them, and what He would in the future do. To many God did not even exist they were just going to worship to be seen. They were not concerned about the wrath of God. He was not real to them. That was why they no longer brought the first fruits of the harvest to God. To them God was dead. And God said why do you expect to accept this offering. Your left overs. If it is not good enough for you why do think it is good enough for me.
Now lets compare Malachi’s world and our world today. How many people fail to honor God? How many just go through the motions of being a Christian without the awe and reverence that God deserves? How many fail to honor Him by not giving our first fruits but giving what is left over. God says why do you think I should accept these. God demands our best. He does not want our second best or our lest best no He want the First or our time, the first of our Work, the first of our service, and the first of our faith.
We can make all the good noises and signs that we want to. We can even do good works but if it is not the first fruits that we are giving, if it is not done with love and devotion, out of awe and respect for our God then it is worthless. He does not want it.
In verse 14 "But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished-For I am a great King," Says the Lord of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations. God said He would curse those who did not give Him their first fruits. God is an awesome God, He is a just God, He is a loving God, and He is a Jealous God. He will not abide His children serving other gods. And when anything becomes more important in your life than God that has just become your god. People today have made idols out of T.V. shows, music stars, sports heros, their jobs and many many other things. We rather be doing those things than doing God’s service.
God has sent us a warning here in Malachi. We can not stand before Him and say we did not know. Numerous times in other places in the Bible God has warned His children about not Honoring Him. His word has sent us a message of warning today. I Don’t know about you but on judgment day I don’t want to have to answer why I did not give my first fruits to Him when He gave His first fruit to me, His son Jesus Christ to die for my sin on the cross. Remember as Christ hung on that Cross, every stripe that was place on His body, every bit of flesh that was torn from His body, every thorn cut, every nail in His hands and feet we put there because of our sin. He was willing to go to the cross even though He knew that someday we might not give Him our first fruits, but he elected to go any way. HE did it out of love for you and for me. Jesus did not have to sacrifice himself but HE did out of love. How much more should we sacrifice for Him. God has done it all we just have to surrender all to Him.
Don’t let your pride stand in the way of you giving your first fruits to God. Maybe today you are sitting there and the Holy Spirit is dealing with you and you need to rededicate you life to God. You need to tell Him I am going to give you my first fruits from know on. Come down to alter and do that. May be you are looking for a church and you want to make this your church come down we would be glad to have you. Or maybe you are sitting there and Holy Spirit has Gripped your heart and you realize that you are a sinner and you want to be saved. Come down to the alter and pray the sinners prayer with me don’t put of God any more you may not get another opportunity. God does not promise us the next day the next hour not even the next second. Don’t put off the Holy Spirit. Don’t buy into Satan’s lie that you have plenty of time because you may not. What ever reason why you need to come to alter come . Brother Dewayne come lead us in a hymn of invitation.
