“When Your Hero Becomes a Zero” Malachi Series Pt. 4 July 7, 2013
Introduction
A In Malachi, the first group of offenders God addresses are the priests.
Malachi 1:6 (NASB) 6 " 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?'
Malachi 2:1 (NASB) 1 "And now this commandment is for you, O priests.
1 The priests in Israel had gone bad, became a part of the problem.
a They were allowing people to bring bad sacrifices.
b Not listening to God, not respecting God/God’s name.
Malachi 2:2 (NASB) 2 "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.
aa “Take to heart” is an attitude position of caring or understanding things of God.
bb Malachi 2:7-8 (NASB) 7 "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 "But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts.
Not just ill-prepared, incompetent, shepherds. (Bad enough) Worse to have schemer, wolf in sheep’s clothing for a leader.
2 Malachi is declaring how bad leadership causes “bad” fellowship. (The priesthood had spoilt and corrupted a nation.)
a Why did it happen & what results happened because of it?
b We’ll find out the answers with this nine verses.
c Malachi 2:1-9 (NASB) 1 "And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. 3 "Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. 4 "Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi," says the LORD of hosts. 5 "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 "True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. 7 "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 "But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. 9 "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.
B Pray.
I The covenant of the priesthood.
Malachi 2:4-7 (NASB) 4 "Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi," says the LORD of hosts. 5 "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 "True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. 7 "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
A “Covenant” in the ANE are “treaties/contracts” in our vernacular.
1 The agreement lists what each party can expect from one another.
a A covenant carried promises of blessing if kept & threat of curse if not kept.
b (IL) Jeep. (Pay: keep my jeep, credit score goes up / Don’t pay: lose my ride, won’t get anymore loans.)
2 In vs.5 God clearly states what He expected from Levi & his descendant’s ministries.
a Life & peace; “reverence” awed/feared God.
b Spoke truthfully (vs. 6) Life was a witness of righteousness. Studied & proclaimed God’s word.
c The acceptance of such responsibility was a serious matter to God.
B Spiritual leaders must accept the responsibility of the call to live holy lives.
1 Hebrews 13:17 (NASB) 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
James 3:1 (NASB) 1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
a The world has every right to expect leaders of God’s people to be walking the walk.
b The church deserves Pastors who walk in holiness, fear God, talk to God, preach with authority, held in favor.
2 Along with the demands God made on the priesthood. He also promised strength to meet these demands.
II The corruption of the priesthood.
Malachi 2:8-9 (NASB) 8 "But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. 9 "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.
A God says His expectations for His priests in vs. 4-7, yet in vs. 8 He exposes the corruption of Malachi’s generation of priests. “But as for you...”
1 This correction speaks to the heart of “burden.”
Malachi 1:1 (KJV) 1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
a These were serious aligations against the priests.
aa Not a difference of opinions at a business meeting, or leadership style.
bb BTW, Malachi had the decency to address his letter with his name!
b God calls these priests out as “swindlers.”
2 3 main areas of how the priests had corrupted the covenant of Levi.
a vs. 8 The priests had departed from God’s way.
aa Done so spiritually by no longer walking with Him, became selfish/insensitive to their sin.
bb Departed from God morally; low moral standard that led to corrupt moral values.
cc Leaders go bad when their personal behavior opens doors for Satanic attack.
dd Neglect word, question the authority of God, become insensitive to the will of God - what God wants to accomplish int their ministry; wandering like sheep.
ee We have a responsibility to pray for those in leadership. (Fire stays burning, devotion, purity.)
b The priests destroyed the fath of others. Vs. 8
aa The spiritual leadership is a covering for the flock under his/her authority.
bb If the covering has rips, holes, dirt on it, what is under the covering gets wet, bleached out, filthy.
cc The covering helps or hinders.
Romans 14:7 (NASB) 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
dd Leadership are doubly responsible. (For themselves and those under them.)
ee Corruption in the lives of leaders always begets corruption in the lives of those who succumb to the power of evil influence.
c The priests deviated for material gain. Vs. 9
aa Departing from God’s ways, these priests showed partiality.
bb The use of dishonest means to enhance their financial positions always a sign of corruption before Holy God.
III The curse of a bad priesthood.
Malachi 2:1-3 (NASB) 1 "And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. 3 "Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.
A The priests who should have operated under blessing had came to operate under a curse. (3 manifestations)
1 The removal of God’s blessing.
a According to scripture, whatever the priest chose to bless, God cursed.
b If God is cursing what you bless - No God given success!
c He lost favor/anointing of Almighty God.
2 Their relations were affected.
a Exodus 20:5 (NASB) 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
b Proverbs 3:33 (NASB) 33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
c Raised children who were lovers of the world!
3 The revelation of their corruption was exposed. Vs. 9
a God exposed the priests publically. Why? To show He didn’t condone the lives/activities of those who claimed to represent Him.
b Vs. 3, He would wipe their faces with the dookie/dung of the sick, lame, diseased offerings.
c Numbers 32:23 (NASB) 23 "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.
B What does the lesson teach us?
1 Sin takes away the blessings of God, sin affects our family, sin will be exposed & judgement is inevitable.
2 In order to maintain favor/blessing on our lives/ministries here are some things we need to give serious attention.
a Be hearers of the Word.
aa Psalm 143:8 (NASB) 8 Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
Psalm 119:133 (NASB) 133 Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
bb Understanding, direction, wisdom to follow His Word is found by being in His Word.
b Heartfelt commitment.
aa The first sign of spiritual deterioration is a heart cold/insensitive to God, Word, His people.
bb Keep your hearts aflame with love for ministry!
c Ministry that glorifies God.
aa As priests lets keep our covenant to him!
bb The great high priest, J.C. lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.
cc May His ministry flow through us - give no place to vanity.
dd John 12:28 (NASB) 28 "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
Jesus’s prayer should be our prayer.
d Accountability.
aa To often Pastors/Leaders put themselves in such a lofty, restricted place, that they have no one to confide in. (DANGEROUS)
bb Every leader should be accountable to someone.
cc Every Christian should have someone they can be transparent without fear or being betrayed/destruction.
Conclusion
A I want to finish well.
1 I’ve stumbled a time or two - I’ve comeback by His grace.
2 Is there anything questionable going on in the edges of your life, get rid of it now.
a God can take your life (all of it) to fullness & usefulness.
b Philippians 1:6 (NASB) 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
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