God's Order for Husbands (Part III)

 

 “Adopting God’s Order for Husbands” 

1 PETER 3:7

SUBJECT: SUBMISSION AND MARRIAGE

THEME: Each believing husband is to submit to God’s order in his marriage.

RELEVANCE: the best husband first views his marriage as an expression of his submission to the Lord. Abandoning the ‘traditional,’ ‘romantic,’ and ‘institutional’ models of marriage he freely clings to God’s Order. He is not loyal to his wife primarily nor worldly models; the Christian husband is devoted to Christ first—above all. He fully submits to Christ’s authority in his life and seeks to guides his family accordingly.

INTRODUCTION:

Not only should you give your wife understanding but also respect—you give her this kind of thoughtfulness because of her limitations and uniqueness as a woman.

One lie of women’s liberation is the idea that women are biologically identical to men. Feminist ideology ignores the biological clock and the natural desire of many women to be wives and mothers who prioritize getting married and raising children over climbing the corporate ladder. For a young girl to desire being a good wife and mother is frowned upon and belittled as if choosing this route is living beneath her potential. Conversely, it is a Bible fact that the most valuable ‘thing’ on the entire planet is a human being. God commits babies (new humans) to young wives because they are best suited for this most important job! Allow the reality of that to soak in.

MESSAGE: HUSBANDS MUST ADOPT GOD’S ORDER IN MARRIAGE. 1 Pet 3:7, Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

II. RESPECT HER AS THE SOFTER GENDER, VS 7

In contrast the Bible immediately acknowledges a women’s differences, does not trap her in masculinity or a male role, does not encourage her to lose her identity as a woman or major on ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ duality. God calls on husbands to make provisions considering her limitations and these confinements rise out of the fact that she is a woman—the softer gender. Immediately, using this kind of language will infuriate some, but we believe God and not necessarily people. Test this reality based on biblical teaching. Let us begin with this idea of respect or honor.

                 1. Give Honor to Your Wife.

“Giving honor unto the wife”. “Honor” points to value, respect, esteem, and counting her as precious. A good husband is to count his wife as a beloved jewel, as a person of incredible worth.

This involves actively demonstrating high respect, and love through cherishing her, and protecting her well-being. Actions like active listening, speaking kindly, sharing household responsibilities, encouraging her passions, defending her reputation, and ultimately treating her as a spiritual equal before God. Honoring your wife is a proactive, daily, and conscious decision that strengthens marital closeness. This is not primarily based on what she deserves, but more of what a husband does for his wife according to the Word! A husband’s submission to the Lord results in his wife being treated delicately and treasured—honored. 

                 2. Honor Her Because of Natural Vulnerabilities.  

“As the weaker vessel” is the next phrase in 1 Peter 3:7. By nature a wife is frailer and more gentile. She is also usually more emotional than her husband. God wants husbands to honor their wives by recognizing them as physically or socially more vulnerable. God is not highlighting inferiority but rather calls a husband to protective and respectful treatment towards her. She needs tenderness due to physical, emotional, or societal differences.

She is the ‘weaker vessel’ which implies that the husband is ‘weak’ also. The weakness he senses in himself should help him gauge his consideration and treatment of his more vulnerable wife. This understanding should lead him to act with tenderness and wise consideration concerning her. Again, it takes a real man to be a godly husband.  

Additionally, a wife is not necessarily ‘weaker’ intellectually or spiritually, but she has less physical strength—she is weaker physically. She is usually softer, and generally more slenderly made. God instructs the husband to respect this difference about her and compensate for it. Therefore, the husband is to protect, provide, lead, and instruct her.

As a good husband you aim to be a solid protector. Any husband feeling responsible to the Lord for his wife will protect her and sometimes that feels a little like him controlling her. Simply stated if a wife is a ‘precious gift’ from God to him, then automatically he wants to show God thankfulness for her as a gift and then increase her value to the Lord and himself. Naturally you would want to protect a wife because she is more fragile and delicate. However, this ‘protection’ can be misunderstood as too controlling, limiting, restricting, or even answering to a man—accountability to the husband. To properly respect her demands protecting her from any dangers—no God-fearing woman wants a careless and carefree man. A wife will never feel ‘safe’ with such a husband. She may be aware of some of those threats and welcome your protection, but you are also aware of potential additional threats to your wife’s well being and you take measures to keep her safe and secure. Please do not mistake protection for meaningless or selfish controlling. Communicate this requirement and this feeling clearly to each other to achieve understanding and appreciation for each other’s very different roles.

Husbands are to honor their wives by loving and tenderly taking care of them. They are to look after and care for them with warmth and tenderness, esteeming them highly.—Unknown

According to God’s order, husbands are characterized as caring, giving, self-sacrificing, and extending love focusing on the highest welfare of a wife.

              3. Honor Her with Your Service.

Eph 5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;   

This “love” of a husband is a sincere appreciation, concern, affection, and a high estimation of your wife.

Husbands are commanded, Love your wives (cf. v. 33) just as Christ loved the church. The word “love” (agapaō) means seeking the highest good for another person (cf. 2:4). This is an unselfish love as seen in Christ’s sacrificial death in which He gave Himself up for the church (cf. 5:2; John 10:11, 15, 17–18; Gal. 1:4; Eph. 5:25; Heb. 9:14). A wife’s submission in no way hints that a husband may lord it over his spouse, as a despot commanding a slave. The “submit-love” relationship is a beautiful mixture of harmonious partnership in marriage.^[1]

Husbands are to love their wives as sacrificially as Christ loved the church! His love for her is primarily evidenced through his service to her! Any wife, like any husband, is not even close to perfection, but a man must choose a bride wisely. And contrary to the patterns of wanting, expecting, and demanding, a good husband lovingly serves and attends to the needs of his wife expending himself for Christ’s glory and her good. There is no room for a self-centered lazy man! The following is a glimpse of Christ’s love for the church.

When we feel incapable of showing our love or we have nothing left to give, we need to ask God to fill us with His Spirit and grace. During these fruitless and frustrating times, we must ask our heavenly Father to give us the strength and wisdom to love sacrificially. Our prayer should be, “Teach us how to love as you loved. May your mercy and compassion overflow from our hearts to our wives.”—Unknown

What Can Husbands Learn from Christ’s Love for the Church?    

                      a)  Christ Suffered and Died for the Church—We should labor unselfishly and sacrificially for her ultimate good. We are not consumed with our expectations but her NEEDS! Put your wife before yourself.   

                       b)  Christ Provided Grace for the Church—We should give honor to the wife even if she doesn’t deserve it.  Because of the grace of God in you be gracious in your dealings with her. She is not perfect and nor are you! Remember ‘grace’ is for the undeserving person, so learn to live with and tolerate a few things! Love, forgiveness, patience, kindness, listening and second chances are not earned, they are freely given by grace!

QUOTE: “The most impressive example of tolerance is a golden wedding anniversary.” —Grit

                      c)  Christ Provided Structure and Guidelines for the Church—We should lead our wives with God’s eternal truth, giving structure, guidelines, healthy limitation and household rules. The Word of God, not mere selfishness, should shape the values and responsibilities in any home. Read, study, and pray over Bible obligations of devotion to the Lord and each other. Entertainment venues may need to be paused for a while or even discontinued to avoid interference with the Word and it teachings. Be very careful with tradeoffs and exchanges…the relationship should result in becoming more consecrated to God and not accommodating selfish desires.

1 Cor 14:35, And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.  (Eph. 5: 25-27)

                      d)  Christ Gave Gifted Men to the Church to Build it Up—We should labor to build up our wives spiritually, intellectually, physically, ministerially, and emotionally. This is a major function of a God-fearing husband. So, we notice her famine charms, appreciate her contributions, praise her for her strengths, and value her opinion even if you don’t completely adopt it on this occasion. Use your position to increase her value to Christ…she should become more devoted to God through your influence.

Prov 31:28, Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

(Also SOS 7:1-9)

                      e)  Christ Gave Spiritual Gifts to the Church—Acknowledge she has God given strengths, gifts, and abilities, that would make a wonderful contribution to your home and the church. Also give her domestic opportunities to use these strengths. This is not the time to be jealous or fearful of her growth or become insecure about her development. Also occasionally give her a nice gift on birthdays or anniversaries to show your appreciation and celebrate her growth.

                      f)  Christ Provided Security for the Church—Husbands are to provide her with the safety and security of a Christlike love, a faithful heart and eyes, commitment to your vows, and daily devotion to her only. Let her know that you will not walk out on her and forsake her. Assure her you are not looking for her replacement. Remember, to abandon her is to forfeit God’s will in that important area.

This zone has been a tremendous area of failures since childhood for many girls. Many of them take these scars into their marriages with an apparent need to look out for themselves…a kind of survival strategy. Much assurance is necessary once this category has been violated.  

LIMITING LOVE FOR WIFE

“A young man once went to see Dr. Harry Ironside to confess a fault. “I’m loving my wife too much!” he told the well-known Bible teacher. “In fact, I’ve put her on such a high plane, I fear its sinful.”  “Do you think you love your wife more than Christ love the Church?” inquired Ironside. The husband didn’t dare say he did. “Well, that’s the limit to which we may go,” he continued (Eph. 5:25).”—H.G. Bosch

In a major way part of a marriage is showing Christ to the world. Shockingly, the husband or the wife are not the primary concerns. Christ is and He deserve such honor and distinction. Your home is to be a place where Christ is manifested, magnified, adored, and lived for in very concrete and daily matters! Proactively taking out the trash, cleaning up after yourself, caring for the yard, choosing the restaurant, managing the finances, and planning the vacation and short get aways aren’t too much to ask. It is true not every woman should be a wife, and not every man should be a husband, but when Christians believe it is God’s plan for them to marry, then they should subscribe to God’s order in marriage.  

 

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^[1] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 641.

Prepare Like a Faithful and Wise Servant (Part II)

 

Prepare Like a Faithful and Wise Servant

Matthew 24:44-51, Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. ⁴⁵ Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴⁷ Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. ⁴⁸ But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; ⁴⁹ And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; ⁵⁰ The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹ And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Theme: Bible predictions should not inspire selfish behavior, wicked associations, our reservation--fears, nor merely pique our interest, but encourage active service to accomplish God’s will until He comes for us in the Rapture.

Introduction: 

By application, we must live in constant readiness for the abrupt, surprising return of Jesus Christ in the Rapture by faithfully fulfilling our assigned spiritual duties. Using this comparison of the faithful and evil servants, we are warned that while diligent stewards will be rewarded, unfaithful ones, who also reveal their worldly and abusive character, will face severe judgment and exclusion from the kingdom. This passage gives us two more ideas to be mindful of. 

Message:

I. Respect The Dangers of Indifference (Matt. 24:48-49).

The “evil servant” believes the Lord is delayed and, as a result, choses worldliness, selfishness, and mishandlings his fellow servants. Loosing focus, abusing authority, mistreating others, self-serving, overindulgent, excessive force, godless associations, and sinful living are temptations we must always refuse.

• “Such behavior demonstrates that he is not ready for the kingdom.”^[1]
• Such a servant, concluding that his master was not returning for a long time, took advantage of others (he beat his fellow servants) and lived wickedly (eating and drinking with drunkards).^[2]

One thing we cannot afford to be indifferent about is the pain, tears, and suffering of others. There is not a person on earth today who is not hurting or needy in some way. Everyone you and I know has a burden—a heartfelt need. Behind every plastic smile there is a world of burdens that we struggle and strain to cover up. We don’t want anyone to know our pain…we want to appear strong so that we don’t cause others to stumble. Remember, every set of eyes you will ever gaze into have shed hundreds of tears in secret when no one else but God was watching. That lady who is always smiling at church will one day need a shoulder to cry on. That guy who loves to laugh, cut up, and tell jokes will need encouraging one day. Our world is in a state of emergency and the disease is “an overdose of hurts and burdens,” and the medicine they need is someone unselfish enough to help when they hurt. Someone to love them and reassure them of God’s great love for them!

  o   Trials and temptations are the universal lot of us all, and only Christ can give that measure of strength necessary to overcome them.

§  1 Cor. 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

§  Look to the Lord for that way of escape and the power to endure until the temptation passes. Be assured He will never lead you into a scenario that is more than you can deal with. His grace is sufficient for you and me.

  o   Christians desperately need to be sensitive to the needs of others and to help bear another’s burdens (Rom. 15:1). This is a repeated instruction in the Word.

§  Gal 6:2, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

§  1Thes 5:14, Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

§  Gal 5:13-14, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  o   Because we all face similar trials, we may be used of God to help another overcome a challenge we have previously experienced ourselves. That is one reason why God allows us to suffer hardships. We learn to accept His help, strength, and comfort and as a result we can be of aid to someone else. (See 2 Cor. 1:3, 4.)

§  2 Cor. 1:3-4, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; [4] Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

God Himself comforts us when life hurts, and He provides fellow comforters among the brethren as we receive His comfort through our personal trials. All of this says that God cares about what hurts you. Many of you know exactly what I mean when I say, “The pain can overwhelm us at times….” We can become confused, perplexed, and our souls ache beyond our ability to express…. We can become lost in our sorrows were it not for the sweet Savior, the Lord Jesus.

II. Take His Judgment Seriously (Matt. 24:50-51). 

The Master returns unexpectedly to punish the unfaithful servant. The phrase “cut him asunder” represents severe judgment, separating him from the righteous and placing him with hypocrites, where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in Hell. 

• When the King comes, He will punish him and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites….”^[3]
• Like the wicked people of Noah’s day (vv. 37–39), he was unaware of the sudden coming judgment (v. 50). But the judgment will come and he will be dealt with as one would deal with a hypocrite, which is precisely what an unfaithful servant is. His separation will result in eternal judgment (weeping and gnashing of teeth; cf. comments on 13:42) apart from his master. Likewise, the judgment of the wicked at the Lord’s second coming will separate them eternally from God.^[4]

Will you be ready when Jesus comes? He could come in the rapture at any moment now!

Rom 10:8-10, But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2 Cor 6:2, (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

           1. Acknowledge immediately that you cannot save yourself no matter how diligently you may try.

           2. Acknowledge that you deserve hell for your sin just like the rest of all humanity. We could never earn him dealing with us in mercy and grace.

           3. Acknowledge that you need the Lord Jesus to save you like the rest of us. It is Christ who died for our sin in our stead, was buried, and rose again the third day as he predicted and the scriptures foretold. Yes, Jesus is alive forevermore to save any one who calls on Him in faith.

Another question is, what would we change in our lives if we know He was coming in 10 minutes? As Believers we can rest assured that we will not go through the Great Tribulation, but we will have some tribulation in our lives as saints. John 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Beloved, don’t place your hope in the next administration, a person, nor a strong economy, put it Jesus!

Jesus will faithfully and fairly judge the world in the future! Matthew 16:26-27, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? [27] For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Jesus Christ has been given the authority to judge all the earth (Rom 14:9-11; Phil 2:9-11). Although his judgment is already working in our lives, there is a future, final judgment when Christ returns (Matt. 25:31-46) and everyone’s life from the Tribulation Period will be reviewed and evaluated. This will not be confined to unbelievers; Christians from the Tribulation Period too will face a judgment. Their eternal destiny is secure, but Jesus will look at how they handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities to determine their eternal rewards. At the time of judgment, God will deliver the righteous and condemn the wicked. We should not judge others' salvation; that is God’s work.

Conclusion:
This passage refers to Christ’s visible return to earth as Messiah-King, but the principle equally applies to us anticipating the Rapture. “Many who profess to be Christians show by their hostility toward God’s people and their fraternization with the ungodly that they are not looking for Christ’s Return. For them it will mean judgment and not blessing.”^[5]

Indeed, our Lord finishes his lessons on the end times (the Olivet Discourse), giving us practical insight on how to live during these last days—not in fear, but in active service to execute God’s purpose. It highlights that real preparation and readiness are the central conditions of loyal service, not just hypothetical and theoretical knowledge of end time events. 

In addition, this kind of divine activity truly magnifies the grace of God! Really, we have NO REAL comprehension of the MERCY and GRACE of God until we first understand something about His GREAT WRATH (Rom. 11:22). When we see God govern Himself in this capacity, we should shout the praises of God for His great mercy and grace toward us undeserving sinners. Secondly, we should walk before God in the fear of the Lord our entire life!

Beloved, God is not obligated to give anyone a second chance to be saved in any age or dispensation. It was not obligation that made God seek to save any sinner in the first place! It was all a matter of His undeserved favor toward all of us as sinners deserving of Hell. WO! Unto them that reject the Savior, because one day they will face the wrath of an angry Judge! Ephes. 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For the faithful witness and soul winner, we should ensure that our gospel presentation is clear, well organized, understandable, and Spirit lead. I am not trying to discourage you from witnessing I am trying to encourage you to be well prepared as you fervently endeavor to share Christ through the gospel.

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1297.

^[2] Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 79.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1297.

^[4] Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 79.

^[5] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1297.

A Case for Revival

 

A Case for Revival

Malachi 1:6-8

SUBJECT: NEGLECT OF WORSHIP

THEME: As We Serve God with Respect and Sincerity, Our Ministries Will Honor Him. This Must Be our Number One Priority in a Life of Worship.

RELEVANCE:  Have we succumbed to problems of neglect, expediency-convenience, and outright disobedience? Do we have a proper perspective of God, or do we doubt His faithfulness to His promises? Such opinions lead to widespread unfaithfulness, and it affects the worship of others. We need to renew our perspective, reestablish our hope, and promote a proper faithfulness to God.

INTRODUCTION:

1.  What sins were the priests committing as they carried on their duties in the restored temple? This showed in the way they kept up superficial religious behavior which insulted God.

2. Beloved, have we “despised” God by offering unacceptable worship in direct violation of the word? Are we treating God in a way that we would not dare treat our human or spiritual leaders, family members, or fellow church members (1:8). Perhaps it’s time for us to repent also (1:9)!  By our “polluted” worship, and meaningless church exercises we demonstrate our disrespect for God (1:12-14). Aren’t we making this same mistakes?

MESSAGE:

I.  Give God the Honor Worthy of His Name.   (Mal. 1:6-9)

God focuses on the priests, who should have been the spiritual leaders of the land. The priests were not giving honor to God’s name; they were taking the best for themselves.

A.  THE ALLEGATION (Mal. 1:6)

B.  THE VERIFICATION (Mal. 1:7-8)

They offered polluted bread and imperfect sacrifices and kept the best for themselves. We have in these words a case for genuine revival detailed that we would be wise to heed.

True revival is indicated by discovering again Bible truth, a returning to a sense that God Almighty is to be respected, reverenced, and the feared, and a recommitment to God through honest confession and complete repentance. There is a revived spiritual faithfulness on behalf of God’s people, and a commensurate restoration of authentic personal virtue and zeal for witnessing. Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Haggai, Josiah, and Nehemiah all experienced something quite similar connected with Bible revivals. Every revival in the Old Testament rested solidly on a new and powerful proclamation of the Word of God. The most obvious example is the revival under King Josiah (2 Chron. 34).

    1.  They Offered God Polluted Bread.  (Mal. 1:7)

       A.  The Offerings Were Supposed to be Holy.

            1.  Because They Belonged to God.

                  — What was consumed upon the altar was regarded as God's portion, and regarded as "the bread of God."

                  — Leviticus 21:6, They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy. 

                  — The "polluted bread" was maimed and blemished sacrifices.

            2.  But the priests did not Value the Worship of God.

They show how little they valued worship by the contemptuous way it was performed.

            3.  The Prophet Malachi deals with the unfaithfulness, and the disregard of the priests.

                  — This signified the sad spiritual conditions, morals, and religion when the priests failed in their duty.         

                  — The way to national repentance could not be realized, until the spiritual leaders realized and sensed their obligations.

APPLICATION: What causes real spiritual revival then? True revival rests on rediscovery of the word of God, a restored sense of the fear of God, a return to God through confession and repentance, a renewed spiritual commitment as God's people, and certainly a reformation of distinctively Christian devotion. A desire to reach the lost is one outcome of real revival. Preachers should lead the way in this regard. Those who are exposed to the Word and God regularly through prayer should be the first to repent, get right with God, and lead the way to real revival, worship, witnessing, and devotion to God!

       B.  The Priest Were Supposed to be Holy.

            1.  Often the condition of our culture reveals the unfaithfulness of God’s “priests.”          

            2.  It is generally true that our culture is reflected in the moral standard of the believers and spiritual leaders. This is embodied in the saying, "Like priest, like people;" and it is a broader and more unsettling truth than is usually recognized.

            3.  The Christians and pastors are the moral barometers by which the atmosphere of their time can be known. The priests of Malachi's time revealed the moral and spiritual decline of the people.

            4.  The saddest sign of all was the degeneracy of the priesthood which Malachi, though perhaps himself a priest, was specially commissioned to denounce.

            5.  It may be shown that priestly indifference and unfaithfulness are products and results of neglected personal devotional life. So long as priestly duties are associated with heart-felt spiritual devotion they will be correctly performed.

            6.  When personal godliness fails, these duties become perfunctory, and then if they are kept up, the service begins to deteriorate. It is in maintaining the personal spiritual life that priests lead the nations and influence others.

APPLICATION: Revival is needed when believers have strayed from God. 2 Chronicles 7:14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. It is vital that revivals take place periodically because they stir us and even cajole us to have an awakening and renewal to the Lord. Revival awakens us to the same joy that we had when we first trusted Jesus as our Savior and Lord. It helps us to desire to know God better and to grow in our relationship with Him. Such renewal should start with preachers…us who are exposed to the Most High often should live in the reality of revival! Historically, revivals share a common origin with anxious believers desperately seeking God in prayer.

          C.  The People Were Supposed to be Holy.

The culture is recovered by the recovery of the “priests.” Therefore, Malachi appeals to them.

            1.  It may be that the priests are the last to yield to the society evils; but they must always be the first recovered.

            2.  They must become forces on the side of Christ in the restoration of moral health to a nation.                               

            3.  Revivals are always hopeless things unless their first effect is the spiritual revival of the preachers.

APPLICATION:  God is worthy of great respect (Ex 3:5). Exodus 3:5, And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. At God's command, Moses removed his sandals and covered his face. Taking off his shoes was an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before God. God is our friend, but he is also our sovereign Lord. To approach him frivolously shows a lack of respect and sincerity. When you come to God in worship, do you approach him casually, or do you come as though you were an invited guest before a king? I know we are wanted at the “throne of Grace” and the Lord Jesus our great high priest gives us the right to be there (Heb. 4:14-16), but none of these facts encourages us to be casual…relaxed…and everyday-ish with Almighty God! If necessary, adjust your attitude so it is suitable for approaching a holy God.

APPLICATION: One of the first hindrances to true revival is a misunderstanding of the very nature of true revival. They are first for believers and not the lost unconverted. The goal is to reach believers through which the unsaved will be addressed with the Word. Additionally, we can have a scheduled meeting, but God must revive! Even when people think they can conjure up revival with fanaticism, or by diminishing the truth of the Bible, it hinders the Spirit of God and the work of true revival. Thirdly, worldliness, secularism, externalism, and materialism embraced by church members is a tremendous obstacle to revival! God can indeed revive a carnal believer, but a carnal believer will not sustain revival encouragements, appetites, and reinforcements without serious changes. Are we willing to change that God can sustain revival in our lives? Remember we were dead in trespasses and sins! Colossians 2:13-14, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (See also Eph. 2:1, 5)

APPLICATION: Without life sustaining sound doctrine, the revival meeting excitement will be nothing but noise. Acts 2:42, And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Sustaining a revival requires wholesome and healthy teaching, pinned, and focused on the word of God. After hearing Peter speak and being moved by his account, the people in Acts 2 continued with Peter's doctrine before anything else. Also to sustain revival, we need to identify what sparks it in the first place. While we cannot predict when the next great revival will happen in America or the world, we can take faithful steps to sustain it with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Again, the purpose of revival is to restore the presence of God in our lives and bring us back into right relationship with the Father. It awakens the hearts of God’s people. Remember revival is needed when believers have strayed from God.

    2.  They Ignored God’s Laws of Sacrifices.  (Mal. 1:8)

The Levitical system very rigorously demanded that only sound and clean animals be presented in sacrifices.

        A.  The Law of Acceptable Sacrifices. (Lev. 22:17-25; Deut. 15:21)

Such rejectable offerings signaled just how low the priesthood had fallen in that day! When people are not careful, thoughtful, biblical, or respectful of their offerings to God, they have lost great respect for who he is really!

The priests; however, dismissed Almighty God! They did not value him greatly at all (see Lev 22:22, etc.). This sin of offering the imperfect to God can be seen in the following two ways.

        B.  Offer an Imperfect Gift to Your Friend.

Is it even good enough for your friends? Such gifts dishonor a friend, and morally degrades you as the giver. Is God in Christ our Friend? Think about an outdoor barbeque or grill…. Is this good enough for friends?  

        C.  Offer an Imperfect Gift to Your Governor. (Mal. 1:8)

If a man wants to show his respect to a governor, or to indicate his gratitude he would ensure that no flaw is in it; he selects the best possible options for the governor; he is most anxious about its being the very best! Isn’t God our supreme Governor? Then how can we fail to offer the very best possible to him?

        D.  Offer an Imperfect Gift to Your God.

Doesn’t God have more claim than either friend or governor to the perfect offering? How should we respond to (1) his authority; (2) his holiness; (3) his redemption?

APPLICATION: Though it happens without our purview, God searchingly scrutinizes all our worship, praises, testimonies, gifts, offerings, and sacrifices…he even searches our motives (1Cor. 3:1-15). God will one day examine and inspect our services to and through the body of Christ! The all-seeing God can detect when we offer less than our best, the errors, flaws, and mistakes in (1) our conduct of worship; (2) our deeds of kindness; (3) our actions of ministry and service. He can also observe our sincerity, carefulness, responsibility, and attitudes! It behooves us then to be purposeful, biblical, dutiful, transparent, faithful, and honest with Him always.

CONCLUSION:

The priests had “despised” God by offering unacceptable sacrifices in direct violation of the law (Mal. 1:6-8; see Deut 15:21). They were treating God in a way that they would not dare treat a human leader (1:8). Malachi called on them to repent (Mal. 1:9)!  By their “polluted” sacrifices and empty formalism they demonstrated their “contempt” for God (1:12-14). The priests were listlessly going through the motions….