First Lynnhaven Baptist ChurchWednesday Bible Study

“The Covenant is Broken: Disrespect through Reluctant Worship and Offensive Sacrifices”

Malachi: 1: 6 – 14

October 14, 2015

Focusing Premise: Our Honor and Respect for God Is Demonstrated by What we offer to God, as well as how we offer it!

20 Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you. 21 When a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to [p]fulfill a special vow or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. 22 Those that are blind or fractured or maimed or having a running sore or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord, nor make of them an offering by fire on the altar to the Lord.

The CONDITION of a “gift” MATTERS...

“What is the ‘CONDITION’of what we OFFER to God?”

MY USE OF TIME?

MY FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP?

MY ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE?

MY INTEGRITY

AS AN

EMPLOYEE?

MY FUNCTION AS A PARENT?

MY SERVICE IN THE HOUSE OF

GOD?

OUR WITNESS ABOUT CHRIST?

Review Leviticus 22:17-32

GROUP DISCUSSION

5 FACTS ABOUT WORSHIP!

1. WE ARE CALLED TO WORSHIP In the law of Moses, many details were specified. Specific people were assigned to do specific actions at specific times in specific places. In the New Testament, Christ did away with the Mosaic requirements. All believers are priests and continually offer themselves as living sacrifices.than outward actions—it involves a change of behavior, rooted in a total change of heart, a change produced in us by the Holy Spirit.

5 FACTS ABOUT WORSHIP!

2. WE MUST WORSHIP ONLY GOD Only God should be worshipped. Worship, to be acceptable, must be exclusive. God requires all our love—all our allegiance. We cannot serve two Gods. If something distracts us from obeying God, we need to get rid of it. God wants people who worship only him, who have him as the center of all life.

5 FACTS ABOUT WORSHIP!

3. WE MUST WORSHIP IN SINCERITY Worship must be sincere. It does no good to go through the right motions, sing the right songs, meet on the right days and say the right words, if we don’t really love God in our hearts. Jesus criticized those who honored God with their lips, but who worshipped in vain, because their hearts were not close to God. Worship must be in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

5 FACTS ABOUT WORSHIP!

4. WE MUST WORSHIP IN OBEDIENCE True worship includes obedience. This includes God’s words concerning the way we treat one another. We cannot honor God when we dishonor his children. To truly honor God, we need to eliminate racial prejudice, social class stereotypes, and unfair economic practices.

5 FACTS ABOUT WORSHIP!

5. WE MUST WORSHIP WITH OUR WHOLE LIVES Worship, if genuine, should make a difference in the way we treat one another seven days a week. Worship must go far beyond music, days and rituals. Those details are not as important as the way we treat our neighbors. It is hypocritical to call Jesus Lord if we do not also seek his sense of justice, mercy, and compassion. Worship is more than outward actions—it involves a change of behavior, rooted in a total change of heart, a change produced in us by the Holy Spirit.

What the TEXT shows us:

A SON GIVES ‘WEIGHT’ AND HEAVINESS TO HIS FATHER, AND A SERVANT TO HIS MASTER. IF I AM YOUR FATHER, WHERE IS MY ‘WEIGHT’… IF I AM YOUR LORD, WHERE IS MY FEARFUL REVERENCE? SAYS THE LORD WHO IS CLOSE TO US AND HEAD OF THE HEAVENLY ARMY, YOU PRIESTS WHO ‘HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH IN DISDAIN OF MY HEAVENLY AND REVERED NAME [REPUTATION]. YOU UTTER, HOW?! HOW HAVE WE HELD OUR HEAD HIGH IN DISDAIN YOUR HEAVENLY AND REVERED NAME [REPUTATION]?

6 “‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My [h]respect?’ says theLORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’

What the TEXT shows us:

YOU BRING CLOSE OVER THE PLACE OF SLAUGHTER AND SACRIFICE DESECRATED BREAD ? HOW? HOW IS THE BREAD DESECRATED? YOU UTTER [IN YOUR HEART] THE TABLE [MEAL] OF GOD WHO IS CLOSE TO US IN HELD DISDAINFULLY.’

7 You are presenting defiled [i]food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the

LORD is to be despised.’

What the TEXT shows us:

AND WHEN YOU BRING TO SLAUGHTER FOR SACRIFICE THE BLIND, NOT [THIS] EVIL AND ADVERSE? WHEN YOU BRING NEAR THE ‘LEAPING LAME’ AND ‘GRIEVOUSLY SICK’ NOT THIS EVIL AND ADVERSE? I PRAY YOU APPROACH WITH IT TO YOUR GOVERNOR‼ WILL IT SATISFY A DEBT? WILL IT CAUSE HIS FACE TO TURN TO YOU? SAYS THE LORD WHO IS CLOSE TO US AND HEAD OF THE HEAVENLY ARMY,

8 But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? [j]Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be

pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.

What the TEXT shows us:10 “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the [m]gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from [n]you. 11 For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts. 12 “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 

What the TEXT shows us:13 You also say, ‘[o]My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should Ireceive that from your hand?” says the LORD. 14 “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is[p]feared among the [q]nations.”

What the TEXT shows us: YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT HAVING TO GIVE… YOU BREATH EXASPERATINGLY… YOU BRING TO GIVE TO GOD WHAT YOU HAVE SNATCHED FROM SOMEBODY ELSE! SHOULD THIS BE ACCEPTED BY ME TO SATISFY THE DEBT YOU OWE?BUT UTTERLY LOATHED IS THE CRAFTY LIAR WHO HAS A MALE IN HIS HERD, PROMISES IT FOR SACRIFICE, BUT BRINGS SOMETHING ‘THAT SHOULD ALREADY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED’ I AM A KING THAT IS TO BE GROWN GREAT SAYS THE LORD WHO IS CLOSE TO US AND HEAD OF THE HEAVENLY ARMY… AND MY NAME [REPUTATION] SHOULD BE REVERENCED AMONG THE FOREIGN NATIONS.