Audio Sermons

How Have We Despised Your Name? (I)

Sunday, 21 July 2024

Building Up the Church of Christ:

How Have We Despised Your Name?

Life B-P Church Worship Service, 21^st July 2024

Text: Malachi 1:6-14

The people of Israel had been spiritually revived after the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt in 52 days under Nehemiah’s leadership.

After 12 years Nehemiah had to return to Persia. (Nehemiah 5:14; 13:6)
Then many of their old sins and abuses began to appear, and they were in need of another revival. (Nehemiah 13:4-28)
Through Malachi, God brings charges against the priests of Israel which resulted in the despising of God’s name. (cf. Deuteronomy 21:5)
Since Christ has made us priests unto God (Revelation 1:6), we need to ask if we too have despised God’s name:

God was both a father and a master to the priests.
They should have been very grateful for the privilege to serve God in the Temple.
But when God charged them, they rudely challenged Him to prove that they had despised His name.
God had heard them expressing contempt for His worship.
Application: If God is worthy of worship, how is this reflected in what you do each Sunday morning?

The giving of animal sacrifices to God is an acknowledgement that all wealth comes from God and belongs to Him.
But the people kept the best animals for themselves and gave their blind, lame and sick animals to God.
The priests were supposed to disqualify such animals from being used as sacrifices in the Temple. (Deuteronomy 15:21; Leviticus 22:22)
But they allowed such animals to be sacrificed, thus insulting God.
Application: Is it right to offer God worship which costs us nothing? (cf. 2 Samuel 24:24)

Love should always be our only motive for anything we do for God.
The priests had other motives for what they were doing in the Temple. They did not do them ‘for nought.’ (v.10, cf. Job 1:9)
God would rather accept sincere offerings made by Gentiles than hypocritical offerings made by the priests. (cf. 1 Peter 2:9)
God hates hypocritical worship, and curses those who attempt to deceive Him. (cf. Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-10)
Application: Is your worship defiled by motives other than love for God?

If you realise that your worship is displeasing to God…

Humbly repent of your sins.
Seek God’s forgiveness.
Change your manner of worship to one that pleases Him.
Seek God’s grace to become more like our Great High Priest. (cf. Hebrews 7:26,27; 13:15)

Questions for Reflection:

How should you respond to the immense privilege of being made a ‘holy priesthood’ (1 Peter 2:5,9)?
What kind of sacrifices are we to offer to God’s as priests? (see Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15,16; Philippians 4:18; 2:17)
Since love is so essential to sincere worship, how can you love God more?
What makes the singing of hymns acceptable as worship to God?