ARE YOU DESPISING GOD'S WORSHIP?

ARE YOU DESPISING GOD’S WORSHIP?
Malachi 1:11-14 | Psalm 145

11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. 12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. 13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. 14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

The Purpose and Proclamation of God (v 11b-12a). How they polluted the worship of God (v 12b-13). They polluted...

·      The Place of God's Worship (12b) "...in that ye say, The
table of the Lord is polluted;..." Polluted = defiled, desecrated

·      The Plan of God's Worship (12c) "...and the fruit thereof,
even his meat, is contemptible." Loathsome, disgusting

·      The Purity of God's Worship (13). They polluted it in how…

1. -       They Viewed it (v13). Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness it is!
2. -       They Valued it (v13). Ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts;...
3. -       They Violated it (v13). Ye have brought that which was torn,.. lame,.. sick. Torn = seized, take away by force.

The Displeasure of God (v 13f-14).

The Titles of God (v 14b). I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and
my name is dreadful among the heathen.

The root cause of carelessness in worship is a failure to sense & know the Greatness of God. How does this cause careless worship? It makes a person bored with God and excited about the world.

-     If you don't see the greatness of God then all the things that money can buy become very exciting. In the same way that...

                   

          If you can't see the sun you will be impressed with a street light.

                   

          If you turn your back on the greatness and majesty of God you'll fall 

in love with a world of shadows and short-lived pleasures.

When God is the center of your life, you'll praise him every day, because you are able to find blessings no matter how difficult your circumstance.

In Psalm 145 we see that the writer was caught up in four different aspects of God's person and work. Understanding these will help you to render true worship to God. We should…

1.   WORSHIP THE LORD BECAUSE OF HIS GREATNESS (v 3-6). Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

·      If God is God at all, He has to be the greatest of all.

·      The only thing great about man is his wickedness (Gen 6:5).

God is great in His Person (v 3). He is the... Solitary… Infinite… Eternal God!

God is great in His Works (v 4).

-     The world seeks to minimize God's influence on our World.

-     The believer sees the wisdom and power of God in creation & history.

God Is Great In His Majesty (v 5). The word 'Majesty' means regal, lofty,
stately, grand, supreme in greatness. There is not a fault in Him!

God Is Great In His Judgment (v 6). And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

Because He is perfect in every divine attribute His judgment is pure and absolute. Therefore God informs us that He will not to be mocked; whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.

2.   WORSHIP THE LORD BECAUSE OF HIS GOODNESS (v 7-10). They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. ⁸ The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. ⁹ The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. ¹⁰ All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.

·      Greatness without Goodness would leave God as a selfish tyrant.

·      Goodness without greatness would render God incapable.

·      Whatever God thinks, says, does, plans, and accomplishes is Good.

God's Goodness Is Abundant (v 7). We should celebrate the generosity of God (Science, intellect, emotion, dominion). Matthew 5:45 He maketh His sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

God's Goodness Is Compassionate (v 8). His Compassion is undeserved and without merit! This is one of the reasons we should praise Him.

God's Goodness Is Universal (v 9-10). Selah!!!

3.   WORSHIP THE LORD BECAUSE OF HIS GOVERNMENT (v11-13).

Do not be deceived... God still reigns today!

Colossians 1:17-20 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Matthew 28:18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

God's Kingdom Is A Powerful (v 11). They shall..talk of thy power.

Today there's a conflict between Kingdoms!

God's Kingdom Is A Glorious (v 11-12). They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; ¹² To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

The kingdoms of men have faded and will turn to dust!

God's Kingdom Is An Eternal (v 13). Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

4.   WORSHIP THE LORD BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE (v 14-20). Our God is the God of all Grace! Salvation and Eternal Life are the works of God's grace.

God Is Gracious To Those Who Fall (v 14). The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

Life is, at times a great struggle! We, as a result, sometimes stumble and fall. Praise the Lord, God lifts us up!

God Is Gracious To Those Who Hunger (v 15-17). The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. ¹⁶ Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. ¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

To those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

God Is Gracious To Those Who Pray (v 18-19). The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. ¹⁹ He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

God Is Gracious To Those Who Love Him (v 20-21). The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. ²¹ My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.