Category: Malachi

Robbing God (Malachi 2:17-3:12)

  • The whole book is written as an ironic conversation between the people of Judah and God.
    • It’s about God being faithful to his promises and it’s a call from God for the people to be faithful to him.
  • This messenger is John the Baptist.
    • He calls people to repent and to turn back to God.
    • Matthew 3:11 says: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
    • Malachi is looking forward to a time where God will bring justice.
  • The Levites were the people of Israel, they were suppose to lead the people in godliness.
  • Jesus is going to come and he is going to replace the priesthood.
  • Jesus is going to come, once for all as a sacrifice for all of humanity.
    • Hebrews 7:27 says: “Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”
    • When Jesus comes and dies on the the cross he deals with the corrupt priesthood, he deals with the issue of sin. When Jesus comes again he will deal with the issue of justice.
  • When we repent, God forgives.
  • Judah is accusing God of failing to act justly, God sees the sin in the world and he will act.
  • Tithing was about recognising Gods blessing to you over the past year.
    • The people were called to set aside 10 percent, to give back to God.
    • Refer to Deuteronomy 14:22-23 & Deuteronomy 14:28-29
    • We often think about tithing in giving 10 percent, but in the Old Testament tithing was about recognising what God has given you.
    • We are called to use what God has given us and to give generously and to use it in God’s service.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 says: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.“
    • God calls us to live under grace and not law.
  • We are called to give generously.
    • We want to honour God with our money.
    • The more generous we are in the money that we give to God, the more we can use that in his service.
    • God works though our generous giving.
    • When we think about our money, start with God first.
    • “Are we using our money wisely in the service of God and for his glory?”
  • Our hope is looking to the future, our hope is heaven.
    • Matthew 5:11-12 says: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.“
  • Money has the capacity to corrupt.
    • It has the capacity to turn us away from Christ.
    • Be content with where God has placed us.
  • Whatever God has given us, let us be thankful for what God has given us.
  • God may not have provided for all of our wants, but he has provided for all of our needs.
  • We should use our money to support those that are in need.
  • We should invest our money in sharing the Gospel in the community around us.
  • We want more people to share in God’s blessing, we want more people to love Jesus.

Unfaithful (Malachi 2:10-16)

  • It is a deeply confronting and personal passage.
  • When someone comes to us and challenges us that they come for the intention of our good.
    • Is it a fair criticism?
    • Is it a fair rebuke?
  • Where there is forgiveness there is also freedom.
  • We should love each other enough, to challenge our choices and decisions, but we do it with humility.
    • We come with an attitude of grace, desiring the good of the other person.
  • Nothing should hinder our love for Christ.
  • “10 Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?” – Malachi 2:10
    • It’s not directed to God, it’s directed to the unfaithfulness of each other.
    • They give in to the temptations of the world around them.
  • “3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, 4 for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.” – Deuteronomy 7:3-4
    • They knew what God expected of them, but completely ignored him.
    • They wondered why God isn’t pleased with them.
    • All religious practice, but no obedience.
    • Their action will have consquences for not just them, but for the generations to come.
      • They will no longer be called the people of God.
  • We are not Israel
  • We are not bound or under Old Testament law.
  • We have the promises of Abraham.
  • What does the New Testament affirm in who we should marry.
    • 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
      • It doesn’t specifically mention marriage, it’s very general.
      • A yolk is a big bit of wood and is put between 2 oxen to make then walk in the same direction.
        • We can apply this to marriage.
        • Our direction is firmly fixed on following Jesus.
    • 1 Corinthians 7:39
      • If you are in the dating phase in life, be with someone that loves Jesus as much as you do.
      • You need to make a conscious decisions on where you set your affections.
      • You will find it a great joy in sharing your faith with the person you love.
      • Don’t date someone with the hope of them becoming a Christian.
        • It’s particularly with young people.
      • When we date people it’s about looking for a partner and not a project.
      • Love the person you married.
        • You have made promises before God.
        • 1 Corinthians 7:24
  • The people have been unfaithful to their marriages.
    • The people of Judah have been unfaithful to God in who they marry and they have also been unfaithful to God in their marriages as they seek divorce.
    • A covenant simply means a promise.
    • Promises are not subject to change.
    • The feeling of love does wear off, and when it does wear off, there is more of a feeling of commitment and hard work.
    • Jesus also talks about marriage and divorce.
      • Matthew 19:4-6
        • “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
      • God has created something unique in marriage.
      • We get to share life together.
      • It’s a safe place to be vulnerable and to be honest.
      • God wants us to take our marriage commitment seriously.
      • God does provide a last resort, divorce.
        • There are legitimate grounds for divorce.
        • God doesn’t hate divorce he hates the actions and the sin that makes divorce the most safest option left.
  • God expects us to be faithful to our promises.
  • Tips for a healthy marriage.
    • Keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.
      • Keep listening to Gods word.
      • Keep praying that God will mould us and guide us.
    • Love sacrificially.
      • Love seeks the good and the godliness of the other person.
      • Marriage works best when the person is focused more on the other person, than themselves.
      • How do you love the other person the way they want to be loved?
    • Be wise in how you speak to one another.
      • Marriage is hard when you feel criticised or corrected.
      • Marriage is hard when the other person is constantly undermining your confidence and ability.
      • Marriage is a lot easier when you feel supported and appreciated.
      • Let’s be generous with our words.
    • Don’t place yourself in situations where you are tempted to be unfaithful.
      • God has bought this union together.
      • It should glorify and honour him.
  • One of great blessings that we have as a church is that we have a family that is bigger than a biological family.
    • We have older and wiser men in our church that can help us in knowledge and grow us as a Christian.
  • Love your husband or love your wife, put them first.
  • Prioritise of raising your kids for Christ than giving them every opportunity.
    • It’s okay if they don’t learn how to play a sport or catch a ball.
    • Put Christ first and at the centre of your family.
    • Keep being a godly model to your kids.
    • Take every opportunity that you can possibly take.
  • Do everything in your power to make godly and wise choices, for yourself, for the sake of your spouse and also for the sake of your children
  • Serve Christ faithfully in everything that you do.
  • Learn for the history of Judah
  • Learn from our own past and our own experiences.

Curse The Clergy (Malachi 1:6-2:9)

  • Have you ever overheard a conversation
    • Overhearing it and it’s really important.
  • Last week we were eavesdropping on a conversation with God and his people.
    • God loved them, he chose to love them.
  • This is the 2nd of 6 conversations
    • God raises a concern.
  • The priests were treating God like rubbish
    • You can see it in their attitudes and their actions.
    • “Whatever, tell someone who cares.”
  • God is the one taking initiative.
    • He sees the problem and he loves his people enough to confront the problem.
  • “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.” – Malachi 2:7
    • The priests ask “How have we shown contempt for your name?”
  • The name of God is the very character of God.
    • “My name will dwell there”
      • He’s saying I will be there
    • When we talk about the name of God we are talking about the power and the character of God.
  • “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” – James 3:1
    • Pray for those whose work is to explain God’s word to others.
  • The priests were treating God like rubbish
    • “Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.” – Leviticus 22:20
    • This is incredibly offensive to God.
  • God’s people were using the temple to clean up the bad sacrifices.
  • Get rid of the rubbish and keep the best for yourself.
    • How would you feel? Not happy.
  • Do we really offer God our love, or our leftovers?
  • Are our hearts set on pleasing Christ, or just on personal comfort?
  • “What we pray for is a good indication of what or who we love most.”
  • Every relationship needs time.
  • God desires our best! So let’s give it!
  • “Set our hearts to honour Gods name.”
    • Set a schedule.
    • Set a time.
  • Our lives can easily drift away from our focus on Jesus.
  • We can’t offer God acceptable worship.
  • “For 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 ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” – 1 Peter 1:18-19
    • Jesus is that unblemished sacrifice for sin
  • “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” – Hebrews 4:15
  • “Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” – Hebrews 7:26-27
    • Jesus sacrificed our sins once and for all, on the cross.
  • When we put our trust in Jesus, our sin is covered, our hearts are washed clean.
  • We are all clean in God’s eyes.
  • “ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” – Colossians 1:20-22
    • Because of Jesus we are without blemish and we are free from accusation.
  • Once we are right in God’s eyes we are able to offer ourselves to him in acceptable worship.
  • “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:1-2

I have Loved Jacob (Malachi 1:1-5)

  • Losing Sight of God’s Special Love
  • Malachi
    • 300 years after Micah
    • 15 years after the revival during Ezra/Nehemiah’s time.
  • People didn’t see the promised king that was prophesied (during Ezekiel) so they lost faith in God.
  • Malachi 1:1
    • oracle = burden
    • The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel, through Malachi.
      • It bought God’s message of heavy judgement.
      • This was written to God’s people, it can apply to us.
  • What does the word of the Lord mean to you?
    • In your mind
    • In your heart
    • In your soul
  • How are you going in response to God’s word?
  • How is important is Gods word, what does it mean to you?
  • How do we respond in response to Gods word? A loving obedience.
  • Malachi 1:2
    • Israel slipped away from the close loving relationship with God.
    • How are you enjoying your relationship with God?
    • Do you know that special love of God today?
    • Are you enjoying a loving relationship with the living God – through Jesus, your Saviour?
    • “How have you loved us?”
      • Israel has seemed that God has forgotten.
      • Israel has forgotten what God has done for them, so God reminds them.
  • God called Jacob to love, honour and obey him.
    • This great passion and love of God is his great electing love.
  • How are you responding to the loving relationship with God?
    • Israel had forgotten, through the help of Malachi they were reminded.
    • We come before a God that is altogether loving but also altogether just.
    • How committed are you in your love for God.
      • In all of your hurts, doubts and disappointments, how has your relationship with God been affected.
      • Do you love him or do you blame him and walk away?
      • Remember his love for you.
        • God has the one who has called us, we are his adopted children.
  • Remember and return, know his love.