This sermon, titled “Flesh Failures, Sloppy Seconds, and Weary Worship,” focuses on the rebuke God delivers through the prophet Malachi concerning the failures of His people in honoring Him. In Malachi 1:6-14, God critiques the priests, sacrificial system, and worship practices of the Israelites, pointing out their lack of reverence and the degradation of their offerings. The sermon examines how the priests failed to honor God appropriately, offering defiled sacrifices and showing contempt for the sacred duties of their ministry. It highlights the broader implications of these failures on the temple and worship, stressing that a true relationship with God involves sincere, wholehearted devotion rather than mere ritual. The message challenges believers to reflect on their own worship practices and commitment to God, urging them to offer their best and engage in worship with genuine reverence and enthusiasm.
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Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord
of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have
we despised Your name?’
Malachi 1:7 “You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, ‘In what way have we
defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’
Malachi 1:8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you
offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be
pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 1:9 “But now entreat God’s favor, That He may be gracious to us. While
this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?” Says the Lord
of hosts.
Malachi 1:10 “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that
you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the
Lord of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name
shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to
My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 1:12 “But you profane it, In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’
Malachi 1:13 You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the
Lord of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring
an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?” Says the Lord.
Malachi 1:14 “But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, And takes
a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished– For I am a great King,” Says
the Lord of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations.
Adrian Rogers once said, “Wicked rulers are God’s reward for wicked people.”
(Quote)
“What if we prayed, ‘Lord you know my future. If you see that I’m going to do
something to hurt my family or destroy my ministry, would you, by your grace,
take me to an early grave.”
I. THE PRIESTS WERE FAILING.
Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord
of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have
we despised Your name?’
People who don’t honor God are simply people who don’t take God seriously.
Malachi 1:6 (VOICE) From your self-centered oblivion you ask, “How have we despised
Your name?”
II. THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM WAS FAILING.
Malachi 1:7 “You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, ‘In what way have we
defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’
Malachi 1:8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you
offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? …
Malachi 1:12 “But you profane it, In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled;
And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’
Malachi 1:8 “… Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would
he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts.
2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or
of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Acts 20:35 (AMP) “… Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said,
‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’'”
The giving is not to get a blessing.
The giving is the blessing.
The blessing is not in the getting, the blessing is in the giving.
III. THE MINISTRY WAS FAILING.
Malachi 1:9 “But now entreat God’s favor, That He may be gracious to us. While
this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?” Says the Lord
of hosts.
Malachi 1:9 (NLT) “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring
that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the Lord
of Heaven’s Armies.
Malachi 1:9 (GNT) Now, you priests, try asking God to be good to us. He will not
answer your prayer, and it will be your fault.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you….
IV. THE TEMPLE WAS FAILING.
Malachi 1:10 “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that
you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the
Lord of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
If God’s people don’t take God’s glory seriously, then no one will.
10,000 churches in America have disappeared in a five-year period.
50% of new church starts never make it to a second year
V. WORSHIP WAS FAILING.
Malachi 1:13 You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the
Lord of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring
an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?” Says the Lord.
Malachi 1:14 “But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, And takes
a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished– For I am a great King,” Says
the Lord of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations.
We will become weary if our heart is not in it.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart fail ….
1 Timothy 3:14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
1 Timothy 3:15 But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to
conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar
and ground of the truth.
