ARE YOU SITTING ON THE SIDELINES?

Malachi 3:13-18 "Your words have been stout against me," saith the Lord. Yet ye say, "What have we spoken so much against thee?" ¹⁴ Ye have said, "It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered."

¹⁶ Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. ¹⁷ And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. ¹⁸ Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Are You Sitting On The Sidelines of Christian Service? There are some common reasons why you find some believers sitting on the sidelines.

• Weariness In Well Doing (Gal 6:7-10). An Issue of Faith. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the house of faith.

• Becoming Shipwrecked (1 Tim 1:18-19). An Issue of Ignorance. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,.. that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; ¹⁹ Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

• Backsliding (Hosea 11:7; 14:4). An Issue of Rebellion. My people are bent to backsliding from me... [14:4] I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely:

Progression of Backsliding in Malachi:

• Doubting God's Love (1:2).
• Denying God's Place (1:6-8).
• Despising God's Worship (1:7, 12-13).
• Resisting God's Standards (2:17).
• Robbing God's Storehouse (3:8-11).
• Sitting on the Sidelines (3:13-18).

Today's Text Tells of Two Type of People.

On The One Hand… there are those who doubt God is just, and they question His motives and actions... For these people, this text is a warning to humble themselves, give the matter deeper consideration and to stand in awe of God’s freedom to vindicate the righteous when and where and how he pleases.

On The Other Hand… there are those who worship the Lord, hold his name in high esteem and honor Him as a good son honors a good Father. For these, the text is a comfort and encouragement to press on in trust and obedience until the Lord comes to vindicate their cause.

Main Division of The Passage:

• The kind of people we SHOULD NOT be (v13-15).
• The kind of people we SHOULD be (v16-18).

1. THE KIND OF PERSON WE'RE NOT TO BE (v 14-15).

Three things they believed. They believed serving God was... ¹ useless, ² vain and ³ a waste of time. Are there people like this today?  Why?

What they believed was the result of...

A worldly view of heavenly things.

They expected God's blessing as a result of dead formalism.

They thought because they ascribed to certain religious forms and practices the Lord was obligated to bless them.

When He didn't, they gave up and quit (Rev 3:14-22).

What they believed was...

A prosperity gospel. These words seem to assume that God must bless the religious in an immediate and material way or righteousness is in vain (Matt 6:2, 5, 16).

Making careless comparisons. 2 Corinthains 10:12 We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2. THE KIND OF PERSON WE ARE TO BE (v 16-18). ¹⁶ Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. ¹⁷ And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. ¹⁸ Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

What We're Supposed To Be Is Described In Three Ways...

We are to fear the Lord (v 16).

We are to honor God (v 17).

WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE? (Contrast v 14 & 17).

Verse 14 says it is pointless to serve God.

Verse 17 says God will bless those who love and serve him.

It's the difference between the service of a son and the service of a slave.

It's the difference between the younger brother and the elder brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11cf). The younger brother had come to an end of himself. The older brother saw only how good he had been.

It's the difference between being saved by grace and attempting to be saved by works.

A person saved by grace has seen their sinful condition and God's divine love.

The person saved by works is always trying to justify themselves to God through good works and religious service.

What about the problem of injustice? The fact evil persons appear to prosper while those who fear God appear to go unrewarded? We've ALL seen it;... at least WE think WE have!

3. FOUR PROMISES FOR THOSE WHO LOVE AND SERVE GOD. The answer is this,.. those who reverence God, honor His name and serve Him believe four things that can be gleaned from v 16-18.

God will act to vindicate them in his time in the future. 

• The Lord Will Hear the good things that those who fear God say to each other for the glory of God (v16a).

• The Lord Will Remember them (v16b). He will never forget what we have done in his power and for his glory (Heb 6:10).

• The Lord Will Reward those who fear and glorify Him (v17).

• The Lord Will Separate the righteous and the wicked (v18).

ARE YOU SUPPORTING GOD'S WORK?

    

Malachi 3:7-11 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? ⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. ⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. ¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

God Wants Us To Be GRATEFUL GIVERS. Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 
God Wants Us To Be WILLING GIVERS. Exodus 35:5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD;...

God Wants Us To Be CHEERFUL GIVERS. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

The Word of God is very specific about the means through which the ministry should be financed. It's not to be financed through, Bake sales, rummage sales, solicitations, bingo or Carnivals.

Televangelist and para-church organizations are not the storehouse.

Some defend these practices as just another means of promoting the Gospel, but God has given specific instruction on how to support His work.

1.   THE TITHE HAS BEEN A PART OF GOD'S PLAN IN THE PAST. 

• The Tithe is to be brought into The Storehouse (3:10).

• The Tithe dates back to at least Abraham's Day. Genesis 14:18-20 Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God,... And he gave him tithes of all.

These verses indicate that tithing was recognized as a part of worship.

• The Purpose of The Tithe. Numbers 18:21 Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel... for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

• The Ownership of The Tithe. Leviticus 27:30 All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

Colossians 1:16-19 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were    created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all      things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church:

• God Gives Us The Ability To Make A Living. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 Don't say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

• We Should Desire To Honor God With Our Substance. Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

2.   THE TITHE IS STILL A PART OF GOD'S PLAN TODAY.

• Jesus Approved Tithing: Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

• Paul Taught Tithing. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

                   

1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

3.   THE BENEFITS OF HONORING GOD THROUGH GIVING.

• God Blesses those who honor Him with the Tithe (v 10-11). Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

• What God Says About Those Who Do Not (3:7-9). Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? ⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. ⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

• Learning to Trust God is our first step in spiritual growth. Matthew 6:19-21, 33 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

4.   HOW CAN I START GIVING TO THE SUPPORT OF MY CHURCH?

• God never asks us to do something He will not enable us to do. 

• He employs many means to provide. He is able to. . . .

Increase Our Supply

Decrease Our Spending 

Give Us Wisdom To Be Better Managers 

Give Us Grace To Sacrifice

Perform The Supernatural