Remnant: Impure Offerings // Malachi 1:6-14 – Jeremy Daniel

Remnant Malachi 1:6–14

Introduction:

Recap Week 1:

            Malachi Week 1 Recap

-       God’s starting point with us is Love

-       God chose to place His love on them

-       When we realize we aren’t entitled to anything God has given us, it    makes us grateful for everything God has given us

[6] “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (ESV)

Our impure offerings (Personal and corporate purity)

But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’[7] By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. [8] When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. [9] And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will He show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts.

Leviticus: 5 Offerings in the Old Testament: Burnt Offering, Grain offering, Peace offering, Sin offering, Guilt offering (about relational presence)

1.    We don’t offer our worship to God so He will give us what we really want or so that He won’t take what we really love.

Job 13:15 Though He slay me yet I will hope in Him

[10] 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. [11] For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. [12] But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.

2.    While God is worthy of our worship, and desires our worship, and even commands it, He does not need our worship.

Acts 17:  God that made the world and everything in it, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by man;  nor he served by the hands of men, as though he needed anything, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things

3.    We do not add to or take away from God with our worship, but we do draw near to Him through it, and His nearness is our good.

[13] But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. [14] Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. (ESV)

"The fear of God is the death of every other fear; like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it." - Charles Spurgeon

Ephesians 3:14–19

[14] For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (ESV)

A conviction and A question

Invite to respond: Am I desperate for the nearness of God? What keeps me from believing that in His presence there is fullness of joy? Repent of impure offerings, ask for His nearness.

May we not be a people who Honors God with our lips, but whose hearts are far from Him!