Acceptable Worship Malachi 1 1 14 F Man

Acceptable Worship Malachi 1: 1 -14

F “Man” e i w “the Godhead” S HS “Woman” e i w Genesis 1: 26 -27 (ESV Strong's) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping that creeps on the earth. ” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Mental Soul Health F S e i w “healthy soul” HS “the Godhead” s p r “unhealthy soul” Adapted with permission from Beth Barone’s Pure Love

which passions rule your life? F a passion to worship a passion to trust e i S HS “the Godhead” a passion for self a passion for control s p a passion to grow a passion to define a passion to obey a passion to perform w “healthy soul” r “unhealthy soul”

CELEBRATION s p COMMISSION CONNECTION r NO!!!

CELEBRATION I COMMISSION CONNECTION HS YES!!! + W E hs

e i F i w “the Godhead” e HS w S i e w “spiritual community” “…for wherever two or more are gathered in My Name there am I in the midst of them…” (Mt 18: 20)

Acceptable Worship “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. But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 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. 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. ” (Malachi 1: 11 -14, ESV)

Introduction The encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah contributed to the completion of the temple in 516 B. C. but disappointment set in when the promised messianic age and fulfillment of covenant promises did not immediately begin. The people’s warm response to Zechariah’s call to repentance grew cold and resulted in Zechariah’s betrayal and murder in temple. This was the setting in which Malachi was called to lead the people to repentance in personal and public worship through tithes and offerings, the practices of the priesthood, holy relationships and social justice.

1. The unfaithfulness of God’s people. (Malachi 1: 1 -5) a) The love of God contrasted with the response of God’s people. b) The rejection of God by His own chosen people. 1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. 2 “I have loved you, ” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us? ” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother? ” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert. ” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins, ” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country, ’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever. ’” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

2. The unfaithfulness of God’s priests. (Malachi 1: 6 -9) a) The greatness of the priest is not in their words or works but in the One they represent. b) Recognizing and representing God as holy in honor, fear and proper attribution of worth. 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. 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. ”

2. The unfaithfulness of God’s priests. (Malachi 1: 6 -9) a) The greatness of the priest is not in their words or works but in the One they represent. b) Recognizing and representing God as holy in honor, fear and proper attribution of worth. 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. 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. ”

3. Offer acceptable sacrifices of worship and praise to God. (Malachi 1: 10 -14) a) Don’t confuse the glory of creation with the glory of the Creator. b) Recognizing and responding to God’s greatness, power, love and faithfulness privately and publicly. 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… (Malachi 1: 10 -11, ESV)

3. Offer acceptable sacrifices of worship and praise to God. (Malachi 1: 10 -14) a) Don’t confuse the glory of creation with the glory of the Creator. b) Recognizing and responding to God’s greatness, power, love and faithfulness privately and publicly. 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. 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. (Malachi 1: 12 -14)

Acceptable Worship Conclusion The Hebrew and Greek words which are most often translated “worship” in the Old and New Testaments are used at least 219 times and whether the Hebrew שחה (s a h a ) or the Greek προσκυνέω (proskyneo ) both roughly mean the same thing: to bow down or prostrate oneself in the presence of someone much greater. The English word we use today—“worship”—comes from the Old English word “weorthscipe” which meant to attribute great value or worth to an object or person. How much do we really value God in our daily lives?

For our prayerful study, discussion and application: 1) From the Scripture passage, what are some examples or expressions of acceptable praise and worship of God? 2) How is God magnified in your own personal and public practices of worship? 3) What are the Spirit and Word of God saying to you and how will you respond?