04/02/2018 13:20
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Date: 2 February, 2018
Text: Malachi 1
Title: Burdened for God
Theme:
Proposition:
Rhetorical:
Introduction:
Have you ever been burdened by something? Sometimes you can know when someone you love is burdened because they will sigh inadvertently. (Is something wrong?) "I'm just burdened for... about. I can't stop thinking about." If it is for someone else they say, "I just wish they would....." etc."
ill. My wife at times will sigh and I will ask her what is the matter and she will say, "I'm just burdened for one of the children in our church."
exp. What she has expressed to me is what each one of us WHO CARRY THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD should feel - A BURDEN THAT THE GOD'S PEOPLE WOULD GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
Moses
Exo 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Jeremiah
Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Paul
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
quote: Spurgeon "The prophets of old were no triflers. They carried a burden. The servants of God mean business; they have something to carry, worth carrying."
YOU OUGHT TO BE BURDENED TODAY FOR PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO THE DESIRE OF GOD. You ought to know what God desires for His people - and it ought to stir you up to the point where you are burdened about it. Do you carry that burden today?
Malachi was burdened....
1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
exp. He knew the DESIRE of God for the people of God - AND KNEW THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONDING TO GOD'S DESIRE.
ARE YOU CARRYING THE BUREND OF THE WORD OF THE LORD THIS MORNING?
I. God's DESIRE is for a people who love Him.
2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
quote: Merril Unger "Where God's love is most manifested, it is frequently least acknowledged. Sin is potent in blinding people to God's love and filling even His own people with doubts concerning that love."
exp. They had gone through the Babylonian exile and were part of the remnant that had returned to Jerusalem. God had allowed them to rebuild the temple which would still be standing in Jesus' day. But it was far less glorious than the temple of Solomon.
note: Esau was the firstborn of Isaac and Rebekah -
treated his birthright with contempt (sold for a mess of pottage)
lost the blessing as his younger brother stole it.
He purposely married Canaanite woman in disobedience to His parents.
God chose instead his younger brother - who was converted to faith in God when on his journey he received a dream of the ladder to Heaven.
Genesis 28
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
quest: How could Jacob not know the loving mercy of God in chosing to set His affection upon Him? How could his offspring (Israel) not know the mercy of God in loving and chosing them?
Deut. 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers,
app. Isn't it natural that God would desire those whom He loves - TO LOVE HIM? Is your heart affectionate towards God today? God desire a people who LOVE him.
II. God's DESIRE is for a people who magnify Him.
4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
exp. Two people groups are in these two verses - Edom(ites) Israel (ites)
exp. Esau was so named because of ginger hair (which was all over like a hairy garment). The word Edom - means red - They are the offspring of Esau. God would perpetually be against the Edomites. HOWEVER HE WOULD BE MAGNIFIED THROUGH ISRAEL.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
ill. Our generation enjoys magnification like no other generation. Blue Planet - blue ray - incredible magnification of the beautiful coral - showing all the glory of God's incredible creation.
ill. When Israel came into Canaan the first time - THE WHOLE WORLD FEARED THE GOD OF ISRAEL. God was magnified through them!
exp. We live in a day where the magnification of God through Israel is beginning again to be seen. HOW GOD WANTS TO BE MAGNIFIED THROUGH HIS COVENANT PEOPLE (ISRAEL, CHURCH AND AGAIN ISRAEL).
app. Is God against you or for you today? If you are converted to Him - GOD WANTS YOU TO MAGNIFY HIM TO THE WORLD!
III. God's DESIRE is for a people who honor Him.
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour?
exp. Honouring your parents is one of the ten commandments.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
ill. US - "Yes sir, no sir, yes mam, no mam...."
NOTE: We are living with a generation of people who VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
ill. I love it - when I see a parent say something one time in a normal tone of voice and a child or young person who obeys.
exp. IT IS GRIEVOUS TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE GIVEN AN INSTRUCTION BY AN ADULT - they ignore it, despise it, and go back to what they were doing.
def. stupid - having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense.
Ill. Like the boy who teases the lion at the zoo or thinks it is fun watching sparks come out of the power outlet because he is putting a knife into it.
TO DISRESPECT PARENTS AND AUTHORITY IS INCREDIBLY STUPID.
Deut. 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
app. Parents are to be honoured - GOD IS OUR FATHER. Are you responding, "Yes sir!"
IV. God's DESIRE is for a people who fear Him.
and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you,
exp. Do you fear God? Does God agree with you? Is He your master?
ill. Dr. Johson - Godly missionary to Cambodia - rushed to help in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami - medical doctory - encouraging muslims to trust Jesus - surrounded by angry muslim mob - Thinking "The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him." Do I really fear God?
app. If your life depended upon your fear of God, would you have any confidence your life would be spared? If you are toying with that which God hates, you don't fear Him. If you are not doing what God desires - you don't fear Him.
V. God's DESIRE is for a people who truly worship Him.
O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
exp. GOD's priests despised Him and treated His law with contempt. Even a human authority wouldn't accept their sacrifice and they thought it was good enough for God.
ill. Visiting a church in AL- woman SS teacher for adult class - topic "Rebellion" "Rebellion is anytime God says something in His Word and we say, 'I'm not going to do that.'" WE ARE TREATING HIS WORD WITH CONTEMPT.
I Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
app. Do you respect the Word of God today? If God says it does that settle it for you?
God isn't going to accept your self righteousness. God isn't pleased with worship that violates His Word. Oh for a generation that lifts up the Word of God and worships Him accordingly.
VI. God's DESIRE is for a people who repent towards Him.
9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
quote: Merril Unger - "This verse, addressed to the guilty priests, is bitingly ironical: 'but now please (in the light of such wicked hypocrisy) implore God (lit., "stroke or soothe the face of God," "appease" Him) to be gracious to us.While this (sort of conduct) proceeds from your hands, will He receive (accept) you?"
ill. Imagine you and I trying to get into an event without a ticket - would we be allowed into that place? However, if the queen did the same thing - what would happen? BECAUSE OF RESPECT FOR WHO SHE IS - SHE WOULD BE ALLOWED ENTRY.
NOTE - DOES GOD CARE IF YOU'RE THE QUEEN IF YOU VIOLATE HIS WORD?
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
app. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO PLEASE GOD AND HAVE HIS FAVOR - GET RIGHT WITH HIM - REPENT!
VII. God's DESIRE is for a people who have pleasure in Him.
10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
ill. Getting to do a professional fireworks display - GOT PAID TO DO IT. I would do it for free - it is incredible!
ill. I often tell people that the wonderful thing about full time ministry is that I get paid to do what I would do for free.
Psa 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Ill. People today call a church to SEE WHAT THEY CAN GET not what they can give.
Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
app. BUT IN OUR DAY IT IS nearly IMPPOSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE TO COMMIT TO DO ANYTHING FOR GOD. THEY ARE TOO BUSY AND NOT INTERESTED.
app - are you burdened because God desires a people who have pleasure in Him and they are no where to be found!
VIII. God's DESIRE is for a people who are right with Him.
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.
exp. Israel would blow it! They would lose their opportunity for several millenia as the covenant people of God. Their DISOBEDIENT sacrifice was not accepted BUT GOD WOULD ACCEPT THE OBEDIENCE OF THE HEATHEN NATIONS.
ill. King Saul's sacrifice which he was not allowed to give.
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
app. If you want to give God something today which He delights in - give Him your obedience. GET RIGHT WITH GOD! THAT IS A PURE SACRIFICE WHICH GOD ACCEPTS.
IX. God's DESIRE is for a people who are excited about Him.
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.
ill. As a youth pastor - I had to come up with games weekly for youth activities. Inevitably there was always someone who said, "I don't want to play that - that's boring!" I wanted to take them to another country with very primitive toys and teach them what boring was....
exp. Is it a burden for you to come to the house of God? Do the hymns bore you? Is the Bible reading laborious to your ears? Would you rather be somewhere else? Could you care less about evangelism and buildling God's church?
app. Have you forgotten who God is and what He has given to you?
X. God's DESIRE is for a people true to Him.
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.
exp. They were trying to "trick God" when they had good stuff they could give - they were giving HIM that which was worthless.
ill. Annanias and Saphira - Tried to trick God -
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
app. Don't try to trick God with fake worship - God knows your heart? He isn't looking for hypocrites. He's looking for disciples. He knows if you are giving Him your best (WHICH HE DESERVES.)
conclusion: Do you understand the BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD THIS MORNING or could you care less about what God desires?
1.) He desires a people who love Him.
2.) ....magnify Him.
3.) ....honour Him.
4.) ....fear Him.
5.) ....truly worship Him.
6.) .... repent towards Him.
7.) .... have pleasure in Him.
8.) .... right with Him.
9.) .... excited about Him.
10.) .... true to Him.
Date: 2 February, 2018
Text: Malachi 1
Title: Burdened for God
Introduction:
Have you ever been burdened by something? Sometimes you can know when someone you love is burdened because they will sigh inadvertently. (Is something wrong?) "I'm just burdened for... about. I can't stop thinking about." If it is for someone else they say, "I just wish they would....." etc."
ill. My wife at times will sigh and I will ask her what is the matter and she will say, "I'm just burdened for one of the children in our church."
exp. What she has expressed to me is what each one of us WHO CARRY THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD should feel - A BURDEN THAT THE GOD'S PEOPLE WOULD GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
Moses
Exo 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Jeremiah
Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Paul
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
quote: Spurgeon "The prophets of old were no triflers. They carried a burden. The servants of God mean business; they have something to carry, worth carrying."
YOU OUGHT TO BE BURDENED TODAY FOR PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO THE DESIRE OF GOD. You ought to know what God desires for His people - and it ought to stir you up to the point where you are burdened about it. Do you carry that burden today?
Malachi was burdened....
1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
exp. He knew the DESIRE of God for the people of God - AND KNEW THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONDING TO GOD'S DESIRE.
ARE YOU CARRYING THE BUREND OF THE WORD OF THE LORD THIS MORNING?
I. God's DESIRE is for a people who love Him.
2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
quote: Merril Unger "Where God's love is most manifested, it is frequently least acknowledged. Sin is potent in blinding people to God's love and filling even His own people with doubts concerning that love."
exp. They had gone through the Babylonian exile and were part of the remnant that had returned to Jerusalem. God had allowed them to rebuild the temple which would still be standing in Jesus' day. But it was far less glorious than the temple of Solomon.
note: Esau was the firstborn of Isaac and Rebekah -
treated his birthright with contempt (sold for a mess of pottage)
lost the blessing as his younger brother stole it.
He purposely married Canaanite woman in disobedience to His parents.
God chose instead his younger brother - who was converted to faith in God when on his journey he received a dream of the ladder to Heaven.
Genesis 28
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
quest: How could Jacob not know the loving mercy of God in chosing to set His affection upon Him? How could his offspring (Israel) not know the mercy of God in loving and chosing them?
Deut. 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers,
app. Isn't it natural that God would desire those whom He loves - TO LOVE HIM? Is your heart affectionate towards God today? God desire a people who LOVE him.
II. God's DESIRE is for a people who magnify Him.
4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
exp. Two people groups are in these two verses - Edom(ites) Israel (ites)
exp. Esau was so named because of ginger hair (which was all over like a hairy garment). The word Edom - means red - They are the offspring of Esau. God would perpetually be against the Edomites. HOWEVER HE WOULD BE MAGNIFIED THROUGH ISRAEL.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
ill. Our generation enjoys magnification like no other generation. Blue Planet - blue ray - incredible magnification of the beautiful coral - showing all the glory of God's incredible creation.
ill. When Israel came into Canaan the first time - THE WHOLE WORLD FEARED THE GOD OF ISRAEL. God was magnified through them!
exp. We live in a day where the magnification of God through Israel is beginning again to be seen. HOW GOD WANTS TO BE MAGNIFIED THROUGH HIS COVENANT PEOPLE (ISRAEL, CHURCH AND AGAIN ISRAEL).
app. Is God against you or for you today? If you are converted to Him - GOD WANTS YOU TO MAGNIFY HIM TO THE WORLD!
III. God's DESIRE is for a people who honor Him.
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour?
exp. Honouring your parents is one of the ten commandments.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
ill. US - "Yes sir, no sir, yes mam, no mam...."
NOTE: We are living with a generation of people who VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
ill. I love it - when I see a parent say something one time in a normal tone of voice and a child or young person who obeys.
exp. IT IS GRIEVOUS TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE GIVEN AN INSTRUCTION BY AN ADULT - they ignore it, despise it, and go back to what they were doing.
def. stupid - having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense.
Ill. Like the boy who teases the lion at the zoo or thinks it is fun watching sparks come out of the power outlet because he is putting a knife into it.
TO DISRESPECT PARENTS AND AUTHORITY IS INCREDIBLY STUPID.
Deut. 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
app. Parents are to be honoured - GOD IS OUR FATHER. Are you responding, "Yes sir!"
IV. God's DESIRE is for a people who fear Him.
and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you,
exp. Do you fear God? Does God agree with you? Is He your master?
ill. Dr. Johson - Godly missionary to Cambodia - rushed to help in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami - medical doctory - encouraging muslims to trust Jesus - surrounded by angry muslim mob - Thinking "The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him." Do I really fear God?
app. If your life depended upon your fear of God, would you have any confidence your life would be spared? If you are toying with that which God hates, you don't fear Him. If you are not doing what God desires - you don't fear Him.
V. God's DESIRE is for a people who truly worship Him.
O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
exp. GOD's priests despised Him and treated His law with contempt. Even a human authority wouldn't accept their sacrifice and they thought it was good enough for God.
ill. Visiting a church in AL- woman SS teacher for adult class - topic "Rebellion" "Rebellion is anytime God says something in His Word and we say, 'I'm not going to do that.'" WE ARE TREATING HIS WORD WITH CONTEMPT.
I Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
app. Do you respect the Word of God today? If God says it does that settle it for you?
God isn't going to accept your self righteousness. God isn't pleased with worship that violates His Word. Oh for a generation that lifts up the Word of God and worships Him accordingly.
VI. God's DESIRE is for a people who repent towards Him.
9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
quote: Merril Unger - "This verse, addressed to the guilty priests, is bitingly ironical: 'but now please (in the light of such wicked hypocrisy) implore God (lit., "stroke or soothe the face of God," "appease" Him) to be gracious to us.While this (sort of conduct) proceeds from your hands, will He receive (accept) you?"
ill. Imagine you and I trying to get into an event without a ticket - would we be allowed into that place? However, if the queen did the same thing - what would happen? BECAUSE OF RESPECT FOR WHO SHE IS - SHE WOULD BE ALLOWED ENTRY.
NOTE - DOES GOD CARE IF YOU'RE THE QUEEN IF YOU VIOLATE HIS WORD?
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
app. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO PLEASE GOD AND HAVE HIS FAVOR - GET RIGHT WITH HIM - REPENT!
VII. God's DESIRE is for a people who have pleasure in Him.
10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
ill. Getting to do a professional fireworks display - GOT PAID TO DO IT. I would do it for free - it is incredible!
ill. I often tell people that the wonderful thing about full time ministry is that I get paid to do what I would do for free.
Psa 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Ill. People today call a church to SEE WHAT THEY CAN GET not what they can give.
Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
app. BUT IN OUR DAY IT IS nearly IMPPOSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE TO COMMIT TO DO ANYTHING FOR GOD. THEY ARE TOO BUSY AND NOT INTERESTED.
app - are you burdened because God desires a people who have pleasure in Him and they are no where to be found!
VIII. God's DESIRE is for a people who are right with Him.
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.
exp. Israel would blow it! They would lose their opportunity for several millenia as the covenant people of God. Their DISOBEDIENT sacrifice was not accepted BUT GOD WOULD ACCEPT THE OBEDIENCE OF THE HEATHEN NATIONS.
ill. King Saul's sacrifice which he was not allowed to give.
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
app. If you want to give God something today which He delights in - give Him your obedience. GET RIGHT WITH GOD! THAT IS A PURE SACRIFICE WHICH GOD ACCEPTS.
IX. God's DESIRE is for a people who are excited about Him.
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.
ill. As a youth pastor - I had to come up with games weekly for youth activities. Inevitably there was always someone who said, "I don't want to play that - that's boring!" I wanted to take them to another country with very primitive toys and teach them what boring was....
exp. Is it a burden for you to come to the house of God? Do the hymns bore you? Is the Bible reading laborious to your ears? Would you rather be somewhere else? Could you care less about evangelism and buildling God's church?
app. Have you forgotten who God is and what He has given to you?
X. God's DESIRE is for a people true to Him.
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.
exp. They were trying to "trick God" when they had good stuff they could give - they were giving HIM that which was worthless.
ill. Annanias and Saphira - Tried to trick God -
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
app. Don't try to trick God with fake worship - God knows your heart? He isn't looking for hypocrites. He's looking for disciples. He knows if you are giving Him your best (WHICH HE DESERVES.)
conclusion: Do you understand the BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD THIS MORNING or could you care less about what God desires?
1.) He desires a people who love Him.
2.) ....magnify Him.
3.) ....honour Him.
4.) ....fear Him.
5.) ....truly worship Him.
6.) .... repent towards Him.
7.) .... have pleasure in Him.
8.) .... right with Him.
9.) .... excited about Him.
10.) .... true to Him.
UNTIL THIS TAKES PLACE - GOD'S SERVANTS WILL BE CONTINUE TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD.
UNTIL THIS TAKES PLACE - GOD'S SERVANTS WILL BE CONTINUE TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD.
