Embracing God's Love: A Call to Authentic Worship

 

Summary

In our journey through the book of Malachi, we are invited to explore the profound theme of having a living relationship with a loving God. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, speaks into a time when Israel had returned from exile and rebuilt their physical structures, yet remained in spiritual ruin. This book addresses the deep questions of God's love and the authenticity of our relationship with Him. It challenges us to confront our biblical illiteracy and to seek a genuine understanding of God's Word, which is essential for a vibrant faith.

Malachi begins by affirming God's unwavering love for His people, even when they question it due to their circumstances. The narrative of Jacob and Esau serves as a powerful illustration of God's sovereign choice and love, independent of human merit. Jacob, though flawed, was chosen by God, while Esau, who rejected God, represents the spiritual death that comes from turning away from Him. This divine election is a mystery, yet it assures us that our relationship with God is based on His grace, not our efforts.

The book also highlights the importance of authentic worship. The Israelites' corrupted sacrifices reflected their lack of love for God. They offered blemished animals, treating worship as a burden rather than a privilege. This serves as a warning against going through the motions of faith without genuine devotion. True worship is a response to God's love, characterized by giving our best to Him, not the leftovers.

Malachi calls us to examine our hearts and recognize the danger of spiritual indifference. Drifting from God leads to a coldness that can become imperceptible over time. Yet, God’s love remains steadfast, inviting us to draw near to Him. He reveals Himself as a Father, Master, and Great King, offering us a place in His family, direction for our lives, and peace through His victory.

Ultimately, Malachi reminds us that our faith is rooted in God's call and His commitment to us. We are saved not by our goodness, but by His grace. This assurance empowers us to live transformed lives, reflecting the love and devotion that God deserves. As we embrace this living relationship with our loving God, we find true life and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Unwavering Love: God's love for us is not based on our merit but on His sovereign choice. Like Jacob, we are chosen by grace, not because of our goodness. This assures us that our relationship with God is secure, rooted in His unwavering commitment. [12:24]

2. Authentic Worship: True worship is giving our best to God, not the leftovers. The Israelites' corrupted sacrifices reflected their lack of love for God. We are called to examine our hearts and offer genuine devotion, recognizing worship as a privilege, not a burden. [20:54]

3. Spiritual Indifference: Drifting from God leads to a coldness that can become imperceptible over time. We must be vigilant against spiritual indifference, ensuring that our relationship with God remains vibrant and passionate. [31:31]

4. God as Father, Master, and King: God reveals Himself as a Father, Master, and Great King, offering us a place in His family, direction for our lives, and peace through His victory. Embracing these roles deepens our relationship with Him and aligns us with His purpose. [35:58]

5. Grace-Filled Assurance: Our faith is rooted in God's call and His commitment to us. We are saved not by our goodness, but by His grace. This assurance empowers us to live transformed lives, reflecting the love and devotion that God deserves. [18:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [09:38] - Introduction to Malachi
- [11:54] - The Essence of a Living Relationship
- [12:24] - God's Love and Sovereign Choice
- [13:08] - Questioning God's Love
- [14:33] - Jacob and Esau: A Tale of Divine Election
- [16:21] - The Difference a Relationship Makes
- [17:19] - The Mystery of God's Choice
- [18:54] - Assurance in God's Call
- [20:54] - Authentic Worship and Its Challenges
- [21:27] - Corruption in Sacrificial Offerings
- [23:34] - The Gruesome Reality of Sacrifice
- [25:58] - The Tragic Sign of Indifference
- [28:59] - The Danger of Spiritual Drifting
- [31:31] - Recognizing Spiritual Coldness
- [35:58] - God as Father, Master, and King
- [38:18] - Embracing God's Love and Assurance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Malachi - A Living Relationship with a Loving God

Bible Reading:
1. Malachi 1:2-3
2. Genesis 25:23
3. James 4:8

---

Observation Questions:

1. What does Malachi 1:2-3 reveal about God's love for Jacob and His choice between Jacob and Esau? How does this illustrate God's sovereign choice? [12:24]

2. How did the Israelites' corrupted sacrifices reflect their spiritual condition, according to Malachi 1:6-8? What specific examples of blemished offerings are mentioned? [20:54]

3. In what ways does Malachi describe God as a Father, Master, and Great King? How do these roles reflect His relationship with His people? [35:58]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the consequences of spiritual indifference and drifting from God? How is this illustrated in the Israelites' behavior? [31:31]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the narrative of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25:23 help us understand the concept of divine election and God's grace? What does this mean for our understanding of God's love? [13:08]

2. In what ways does the sermon challenge the notion of worship as a burden rather than a privilege? How does this perspective affect one's relationship with God? [28:16]

3. How does the sermon explain the significance of God revealing Himself as a Father, Master, and Great King? What implications does this have for how believers should live their lives? [35:58]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of grace in our relationship with God? How does this understanding empower believers to live transformed lives? [18:54]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you questioned God's love for you. How can the story of Jacob and Esau reassure you of God's unwavering love and sovereign choice? [12:24]

2. Consider your current approach to worship. Are there areas where you might be offering God "leftovers" instead of your best? What changes can you make to offer genuine devotion? [20:54]

3. Have you noticed any signs of spiritual indifference in your life, such as a lack of passion for prayer or Bible study? What steps can you take to rekindle your relationship with God? [31:31]

4. How do you perceive God in your daily life—as a Father, Master, or Great King? How can embracing these roles deepen your relationship with Him and align you with His purpose? [35:58]

5. In what ways can you rely more on God's grace rather than your own efforts in your spiritual journey? How does this shift in perspective affect your daily walk with God? [18:54]

6. Think about a specific area in your life where you feel spiritually "cold." What practical steps can you take this week to draw near to God and experience His warmth and love? [32:42]

7. Identify one aspect of your life where you can better reflect the love and devotion that God deserves. What specific action will you take this week to live out this commitment? [42:02]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereign Love and Choice
God's love for His people is unwavering and not based on human merit. This is illustrated through the narrative of Jacob and Esau, where God chose Jacob despite his flaws, while Esau, who turned away from God, represents spiritual death. This divine election is a mystery, yet it assures believers that their relationship with God is grounded in His grace, not their efforts. This understanding provides a secure foundation for faith, knowing that God's commitment is steadfast and independent of circumstances. [12:24]

Malachi 1:2-3 (ESV): "I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert."

Reflection: Consider a time when you doubted God's love due to your circumstances. How can you remind yourself today that His love is based on His choice and grace, not your merit?


Day 2: Offering Our Best in Worship
Authentic worship is about giving our best to God, not the leftovers. The Israelites' corrupted sacrifices, offering blemished animals, reflected their lack of love and devotion. Worship should be seen as a privilege, not a burden, and it calls for genuine devotion. This involves examining one's heart and ensuring that worship is a true response to God's love, characterized by wholehearted dedication and reverence. [20:54]

Malachi 1:8 (ESV): "When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts."

Reflection: Reflect on your current approach to worship. Are there areas where you are offering God less than your best? What steps can you take to ensure your worship is a genuine expression of love and devotion?


Day 3: Guarding Against Spiritual Indifference
Spiritual indifference can lead to a coldness in one's relationship with God that becomes imperceptible over time. It is crucial to remain vigilant against this drift, ensuring that one's faith remains vibrant and passionate. God's love is steadfast, always inviting believers to draw near to Him. Recognizing and addressing spiritual indifference is essential for maintaining a living and dynamic relationship with God. [31:31]

Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV): "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Reflection: Identify an area in your spiritual life where you may have grown indifferent. What practical steps can you take today to rekindle your passion and draw closer to God?


Day 4: Embracing God as Father, Master, and King
God reveals Himself as a Father, Master, and Great King, offering believers a place in His family, direction for their lives, and peace through His victory. Embracing these roles deepens one's relationship with God and aligns them with His purpose. Understanding God in these multifaceted roles helps believers to experience His love, guidance, and sovereignty in their daily lives. [35:58]

Malachi 1:6 (ESV): "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’"

Reflection: Reflect on how you relate to God in these roles. Is there one aspect (Father, Master, King) that you struggle to embrace? How can you grow in understanding and living out this relationship today?


Day 5: Living in Grace-Filled Assurance
Faith is rooted in God's call and His commitment to His people. Believers are saved not by their goodness, but by His grace. This assurance empowers them to live transformed lives, reflecting the love and devotion that God deserves. Embracing this grace-filled assurance provides confidence and motivation to pursue a life that honors God and fulfills His purposes. [18:54]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: How does understanding that your salvation is a gift of grace, not based on your works, change the way you live your daily life? What is one way you can reflect this grace to others today?

Quotes


And I realize more and more, both for myself and for others, that the greatest danger to the church and to our lives is biblical illiteracy. Just not understanding the Bible. And so it's wonderful to be able to know what books to turn to. In time of need. You know, if you're going through a difficult time of suffering, you might know what Psalms to turn to or turn to the book of Job. But equally here in Malachi, there's this sense, wonderful sense of Malachi, and with a number of the minor prophets, of what it really means to worship God. [00:07:56]

The book's written about 100 years after the Jews have returned to Israel. So if you know about the Babylonian exile that took place, the temple was destroyed. The city was left in ruins. And the people were sent off into exile. And about 70 years after that, Jeremiah prophesied it will only be for 70 years. And exactly after 17 years, they returned from their exile to the land. They began rebuilding the temple. They rebuilt the walls. [00:09:38]

Equally, if you've ever wondered, how do I know if I've got a genuinely healthy, relationship with God? Then again, today's your morning because Malachi addresses that very issue throughout, but particularly also in chapter one. And he'll follow on that question of how do we know we've got a genuine, healthy relationship with God? And the thing I love about Christianity and the beauty of it is that almost all these questions we might have about faith, essentially the answer is always found in the same place, in realizing and living in right relationship with God. [00:10:59]

And what's so wonderful about Malachi and about the character of God it shows is the way that Malachi begins. Before God rebukes them, and there's going to be a number of chapters of rebuke coming out here, he reminds them of his love. That's a wonderful reality of the character of God, that he comes to us tenderly as well as comes to us fiercely. [00:12:17]

Malachi is aware that the people are looking at the poverty of their situation, and they're beginning to question God's love. But they never stop to question the poverty of their worship. You know, they're quick to look up, God, where are you? But they're so slow to look in at their own poverty of their worship. And God graciously reassures them, taking them back to the beginning. In Genesis, in the first book of the Bible, he shows God's love has always been present in his promise. [00:13:01]

The point is that neither of these people deserve God's love. Yet God chooses one to fulfill his covenant promise, which began with Abraham and from which God never wavered from his promise. Those children of promise are now the very people that Malachi are speaking to. And he's pointing out how God's love wasn't in question. It had been proven time and time again throughout scriptures, throughout history, throughout circumstances, God's commitment in love. [00:14:33]

The point of it is this. If being chosen by God was based on me and how good I am, then I would never be good enough to follow God. That's the reality. If at any point my salvation, my election, my following of God was dependent on me, failed. And I reckon you guys know me well enough to know that's true of me completely. And if you're willing just for a minute to let the truth out, it's true of every single one of us, not just Rab. [00:18:17]

But since that isn't how God calls us by our effort and our abilities, since it is purely by grace and God's willing commitment, then whatever we might have done in the past, however far from God we might find ourselves, God's call is enough. That's the basis of our faith. How can we know that God loves us? We know God loves us because God is a faithful God who has called us to him. [00:18:54]

God never leaves us where we are. The outward changing behavior is the evidence of the inward dwelling presence. We might say the health of the seen fruits, the way we live our lives, reveal the health of the hidden roots under the ground. And that's really the second major point that Malachi wants to make in this first chapter. [00:20:22]

There was tragically in Israel at this time. That Malachi speaks into a national corruption. In response to God's commitment that we've just seen about. The sense of God choosing them. The sense of God's commitment to them. Israel treated God like a joke. The sacrifice at the temple was at the very heart of the Jewish faith between them and God. [00:21:27]

And the situation that we created. Jesus lovingly and willingly laid down his own life in our place as the willing sacrifice once and for all, never to be repeated like these sacrifices were repeated regularly and annually. With Christ, it was complete. He declared on the cross, didn't he? It is finished once and for all. And when we look at the cross, we see the destruction of our sin, the misery of our situation. [00:24:40]

And the wonderful thing about the great king is that he has the power to lead the kingdom. We saw a little bit about the kingdom last week when Liam was preaching, but the great king brings protection to his people, and in victory he with God, an eternal peace in the midst of our utter turmoil today is the eternal peace of God that God has achieved for us in his son Jesus Christ that's the relationship that we're invited into by God through Malachi to realize that intimacy with God brings us into his family gives us direction of how to live in a way that's harmonious with his household and to bring peace only the king can bring because he's gone into the battle on our behalf and won our salvation [00:37:40]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Feb 09, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?