How Have We Robbed God?
Podcast
How Have We Robbed God?
Malachi 3:6-12
Giving is an act of WORSHIP, and worship comes from a heart of love for God.
The word rob in Hebrew means to DEFRAUD.
Israel failed to honor God and show the due reverence and respect that He deserves by:
Offering CORRUPT sacrifices and service in worship
Breaking the covenant of MARRIAGE
Defrauding the HELPLESS
WITHHOLDING their tithes and offerings
Tithe:
The word tithe means a TENTH
The tithe was to be brought to the storehouse where the Levite priests were responsible for it’s distribution to those who served as PRIESTS at the temple and for acts of BENEVOLENCE. The tithe was responsible for keeping all spiritual services functioning.
Tithing in Scripture:
The first mention of tithing in the Bible was by ABRAHAM prior to the writing of the Law when he gave a tithe to Melchizedek. Genesis 14:20
JACOB tithed as well according to Genesis 28:22
Jesus never ABOLISHED the tithe. He endorsed it. Matthew 23:23
No epistle writer condemned tithing either but they encouraged free will offerings in ADDITION to tithing
New Testament Giving
1 Corinthians 16:2 ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 8:2 ____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 8:7 ____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 9:5-8 __________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Heart Issue:
How God Rewarded Faithful Giving of the Israelites
It is all His anyway why not enjoy the pleasure of giving some of it back to Him as an act of WORSHIP.
Broken Faith
Broken Faith
Malachi 2:10-16
The Book of Malachi: 3 Topics
The Privilege of God’s people….. You are loved
The Pollution of God’s people….. Sin issues
Promise for God’s people…… You have a future
3 Areas That You Have Broken Faith In
Infidelity Against One Another
4 Essentials to a Covenant
A relationship between two or more people
Made with a non relative (no blood lines)
It involved obligations and stipulations that had to be kept
It was established by an oath
Covenant with Noah- He would never again destroy the earth by water
Abrahamic Covenant- Forming of a race of pope that would be set apart by God
Mosaic Covenant- Establishing a moral code
Davidic Covenant- A promise of an eternal kingdom which would be established by the Messiah
The church is called the bride of Christ on earth. We are a favored and blessed people because of our God relationship through Jesus Christ.
We are more powerful for God when we are united than when we are divided by personal preference.
Intermarriage with pagans
5 Rhetorical Questions Addressed by Apostle Paul
What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?
What fellowship has light with darkness?
What harmony has Christ with Satan?
What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
What agreement has the Temple of God with idols?
By Breaking Faith in Marriage------- Divorce
God hates divorce because it destroys what His intention for marriage should be.
On all things in Scripture that God hates, it comes down to one thing…. SIN
If you want a godly marriage then follow godly principles and teaching on marriage.
Godly marriage was meant for 3 things:
Faithful Companionship and Love
Spiritual Blessing
And Godly Offspring
Love between a husband and wife was unique form all forms of love. The Bible calls it oneness; oneness of Body, soul and Mind.
1 Peter 3:7 If your marriage is in trouble your prayers will be futile.
Jesus restated every one of the Ten Commandments to deal with the Heart issues of man. “You have heard it said, but I say unto you.”
There were two schools of thought regarding divorce
Adultery
Loss of Affection
Matthew 19:9 __________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Divorce goes far beyond the individuals involved. It affects family and friends and it affects the community of believers.
When divorce took place that promise of protection and love was broken and the garment was removed, which resulted in hatred, fighting and violence between husband and wife.
A Matter of Worship
A Matter of Worship
Malachi 1:6-14
The Book of Malachi was God’s word to His people in 3 areas:
Privilege as God’s People - They are a Loved People
Pollution Because of Sin -Sin had Destroyed their worship
Promise as a Chosen Nation -You have a future
What the Priests Were Doing
“LORD of Hosts” had special meaning
LORD (Capitals) is the English word for Yahweh, which is the personal name of God that Israel used in total reverence for God
Used in relation to God’s Sovereignty over all powers in the universe. That included the armies (angels) of God that protected them from their enemies.
How did they despise His name?
By offering Polluted animal sacrifices to God. God had a standard that He expected His people to keep but they chose their own way of doing things.
Proper worship begins with sin issues being dealt with.
Attitude Issues
Half Hearted Service: Their ministry became burdensome
Arrogance: “they sniffed at their service before the Lord.” This work is too low for us. Let other people do it.
Carelessness: Anything for God is good enough
Accountability: They expected others to serve them
Matthew 20:26-28
Matthew 23:11
Ephesians 4:12
James 3:1
Followers of Christ’s Responsibilities According to Scripture
- -1 Cor 9:7-14
- -1 Tess 5:12-13
- -Heb 13:7
- -Heb 13:7
- -Heb 13:18
- -John 3:11
How Have You Loved Us?
How Have You Loved Us?
Malachi 1:1-5
Historical Background
THis book was written between 465 and 430 B.C. after the exiles had returned from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem.
The historical books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther were written about this time.
Malachi wrote his oracle (means urgent attention) to the people of Israel.
6 Tests regarding Man’s Relationship with God that Malachi Addresses
1. Awareness of God’s Love 1:1-5
2. Honoring God in our Actions 1:6-2:9
3. Faithfulness in Social Relationships 2:10-16
4. Fear of GOd Expressed in His Justice 2:17-3:15
5. Serving God WIth our Material Resources 3:6-14
6. Reaching the Lost 3:15-18
Sometimes God’s Love is not all Pleasant.
Malachi rebukes them for their actions but he also gives them hope. Discipline without hope is brutality and it never changes people. And hope without discipline is wishful thinking.
Our church needs to renew its hope of Christ’s return.
Light is most effective at the darkest times and when salt has lost its flavor food is bland.
4 Ways that God Showed His love to Israel
1. Love Declared-Love is in the Hebrew perfect tense which means not only did God love you in the past, He loves you now.
a. His love is Unconditional-There is nothing yo can do to earn it.
b. Sovereignly Bestowed-It was God’s idea not mans.
c. His Love is Everlasting- Jeremiah 31:3
d. His Love is a Marital Love- “Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying the daughter of a foreign God
e. His love for His Family-”“A son honors his father.” A father’s love for his son is about protection and provision.
2. A Debated Love
-We often debate God’s love when we don’t get our own way in life.
3. God’s Love is Demonstrated
a. In this text love means choice not affection and hate means rejection rather than animosity.
b. The world hate is clarified in Matt. 10:37 when Jesus said it is a matter of priority in whom you love. You must love them less in order to love Me more.
c. God in His foreknowledge knows what is best for His kingdom and He knows the heart of man.
4. Love Diffused
-Israel’s indifference and apathy caused God’s love to be extended to the gentiles.