Sunday Sermons
The Great King
The Great King
"For I am a great King", says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 1:14)
On June 3, 2016 Muhammad Ali passed from this life. Besides being a boxing heavyweight champion, he was also known for a number of famous expressions, such as, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee", "His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see", "I'm so mean, I make medicine sick", "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was". In this lesson I want to talk about Who actually IS the greatest and what our attitude must be toward Him. Over and over in Scripture the point is made that absolutely nothing and no one can compare with God:
- "To whom then will you liken God?Or what likeness will you compare with Him?" (Isaiah 40:18).
- "To whom then will you liken Me that I would be his equal?" (40:25).
- "The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not become weary or tired.His understanding is inscrutable" (40:28).
- "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done" (46:10).
- "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count" (Psalm 40:5).
Only the Best
God is so astonishing, so great, loving, merciful and patient, that when it comes to our worship and service, He deserves the very best we can offer. This is why in the Old Testament the Law made it clear that when an animal was offered to God in sacrifice it needed to be unblemished (Exodus 12:5; Numbers 19:2). The same point is made emphatically in the New Testament, that the final sacrifice, Jesus on the cross for our sins, was the ultimate unblemished and perfect sacrifice (1 Peter 1:19). Thus, God gave us His best. How could we not give Him our best?
What God most cherished, He surrendered for our salvation. By dramatic contrast, in the time of Malachi the people of Israel were bringing blind, lame, stolen and diseased animals to sacrifice to God and everyone seemed to be okay with it, including the priests who were accepting such sacrifices (Malachi 1:6-8, 13 "taken by robbery"). Note that the people actually did have animals in prime condition that they had promised to offer, but had changed their minds when the actual offering took place (1:14). Sound familiar? "I promise God, I promise" one may pray at a time of crisis or initial gratitude – then when the actual moment shows up, God gets a lot less than promised. So how does this happen, especially among God's professed people who have God's clear word on the matter (Romans 3:1-2) and should thus know better? Let's decide today to always follow through with the God glorifying things we say we are going to do.
"What Does Unblemished Really Mean, Anyway?"
When we don't want to give God our best, it is tempting to be less than honest with the clear wording of the text. I can see some people arguing that "unblemished" doesn't really refer to the actual sacrifice, but only to some mysterious condition in the heart of the worshipper. In like manner, we can do that same thing today. Jesus clearly told us to put God and His kingdom "first" (Matthew 6:33). Yet the word "first" starts becoming fuzzy in our thinking when something appealing competes for that place in our life. We can easily end up like these people, where God and His kingdom are far from first in our schedules, priorities, thoughts and hearts, yet we still fool ourselves into thinking we are still putting Him first. God likewise tells us to get rid of "all" that remains of sin in our lives (1 Peter 2:1; James 1:21). Let's not allow ourselves to forget what the word "all" really means. God tells us to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16) and that if we love Him we will obey His commands (John 14:15). Let's ask His help in keeping in the forefront of our minds the simple meanings of "holy" and "obey" and to give us the strength to, moment by moment, make the decision to glorify God through obeying Him.
What Is Forgotten
Jesus said something very similar to what is said here through Malachi. He said, "Why do you call Me 'Lord', 'Lord' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). If we deeply believe that God is the King of Kings, then giving Him the best should be second nature. There should never be any thought of putting Him second! For example, if I really believe that Jesus is the only way to God (Acts 4:12) and that an eternal hell awaits those who do not obey Him (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9), then what I am doing remaining silent about all this?
Times are Hard, God Understands
It is also tempting to think that in our time God's standards are not attainable, or that they have been adjusted. Yet God did not excuse the people in Malachi's time because "times are hard". In fact, what was making times hard was their lack of obedience (Malachi 3:9,11). The Holy Spirit also reminds us that they did possess plenty of animals that would have been acceptable (1:14). And if the situation were a little different, if they were entertaining or showing respect to some human dignitary, famous person or celebrity they would have offered their best happily and without hesitation (1:8). I have observed as a believer for over 35 years that people, in all situations can still offer and do their best for God. People always bring the best of their time and energy to what they really love and value – no matter what the circumstances. One of the most important questions one can ask oneself is "Of all the things I do, is God getting my best, or is someone or something else getting my best?"
Not Your Presence, But Your Passion
It is so easily to slide into a mentality that just being physically present during worship is more than most people do, so God will be happy that I am just here. How backward! God does not need us; we need Him! God is not desperate for worship or worshippers. We do not make Him relevant, He makes us relevant (1 Peter 1:24-25). If the worship is not reverent and respectful, God has absolutely no interest in it. "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar!" (Malachi 1:10). Wow, this is a far cry from the oft stated attitude, "God is just happy you are here". Where does the Bible say that? Our worship must be an outpouring of a heart overflowing with gratitude and passion for God, or it is nothing.
Some are under the mistaken impression that a true love and zeal for God will only lead one to do and say "positive" things. Yet here God wishes that someone, maybe one the priests, would have enough love for God that they would do something that would be viewed by many as very negative, that is, refusing to accept the worthless sacrifices being brought by the people (1:8). God actually does refuse to accept worship that doesn't conform to His standards. The fact that God rejected the "corrupted" Lord's Supper in which the Corinthians were engaging (1 Corinthians 11:20), and would judge those who participate with unworthy motives (11:28-29), stands as proof that God still feels the same way He always has about the worship His professed people offer Him.
"My, How Tiresome It Is" (1:13)
The great service at the temple had become “tiresome”. Today, some people will say, “Worship/church is boring”, “I don’t get anything out of it”. Well, is it? Do we eagerly look forward to times of prayer, time spent in the Word of God, and being together with Christians on the first day of the week? How about what David said in Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord”. When we pray, sing, study, or gather with Christians, does the time pass by quickly, or does it drag? We need to be impressed that when we are tempted to treat God's requirements as a burden, the person who is really burdened, is God! (Isaiah 43:24 “Rather you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities”). As previously noted, when people who do not attend worship anywhere are polled, some complain that "church is boring". Yet I am impressed, how could worshipping the Creator ever be boring? Rather, if I cannot get excited about coming into the presence of the Creator of the Universe and expressing my gratitude for my life, my blessings, Jesus dying for my sins and the millions of things He does for me on a daily basis – certainly the problem is not Him; certainly I am the one is who boring.
Be A True Worshipper: 1:11,14
God is telling those who professed to be His people, but who were taking Him for granted, that there is coming a time when others would appreciate Him and would offer Him the worship He desires. True worshippers will always exist (John 4:23-24; Acts 10:2; 16:14). If I can't get excited about serving God, and if I can't get motivated, then someone out there exists to take my place (Acts 13:46 “behold, we are turning to the Gentiles”; 18:6; 28:28 '”Let it be known to you therefore, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen”). In this time and place, will I be one of those who worship God in Spirit and Truth? Am I willing to become a person of depth, who is truly willing to take an honest look at the world (Romans 1:20) and myself and come before God with absolute gratitude? Let's be people who are deep thinkers with grateful hearts that are excited over the privilege of drawing near to His holy throne to worship.
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
