Honoring God: Giving Our Best in Worship
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. It's a blessing to gather in the house of the Lord today. We believe that if you're here, it's because God has sovereignly intended for you to be here, to hear every word and song, and to experience what He has in store for you. We have a few announcements: Dr. Deems and Ms. Liz are not with us due to health issues, so please keep them in your prayers. Tonight, we have Lamps and Champs night, where the ladies will hear a testimony from Alicia Andreessen, and the men will hear from Brother Ronnie Cash, followed by a time of prayer.
Our devotional focus this week is on the question: Since we are redeemed by grace alone through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God's word? The answer is yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Spirit, so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God, assure us of our faith by the fruits, and win others to Christ through our godly behavior. Good works and obedience are the natural outworking of the Holy Spirit within us, not a means to secure our salvation.
We then turned to Malachi 1:6-14, where God questions the Israelites about their lack of honor and reverence towards Him. He compares their relationship to that of a son to a father and a servant to a master, asking why they have not shown Him the honor and fear He deserves. The Israelites had been offering polluted sacrifices, giving God the blind, lame, and sick animals instead of their best. This reflects a deeper issue of their hearts being far from God, despite their outward religious activities.
God's message is clear: He deserves our best, not our leftovers. Our actions should reflect our love and reverence for Him. Just as a good son honors his father and a good servant reveres his master, we should honor and revere God in all that we do. This is not about works-based salvation but about living a life that reflects the transformation and gratitude that comes from being redeemed by Christ.
As we reflect on this passage, let's ask ourselves if we are giving God our best or merely our leftovers. Are we honoring Him as our Father and revering Him as our Master? Let's seek to live lives that truly reflect our love and gratitude for all that He has done for us.
### Key Takeaways
1. God Deserves Our Best: Just as a son honors his father and a servant reveres his master, we are called to honor and revere God. This means giving Him our best in all aspects of our lives, not just our leftovers. Our actions should reflect our deep love and gratitude for Him. [46:28]
2. Good Works as a Natural Outworking: Our good works and obedience to God's word are not means to secure our salvation but are the natural outworking of the Holy Spirit within us. They are evidence of our faith and a way to show our love and gratitude to God. [18:02]
3. Self-Examination and Repentance: We must regularly examine our lives to see if we are truly honoring and revering God. If we find areas where we are falling short, we should repent and seek to align our actions with our professed faith. [01:03:14]
4. The Importance of Genuine Worship: God is not pleased with half-hearted worship or polluted sacrifices. He desires genuine worship that comes from a heart fully devoted to Him. Our worship should be a reflection of our deep love and reverence for God. [01:05:14]
5. Living Out Our Faith: Our faith should be evident in our daily lives. This means living in a way that honors God, serves others, and reflects the transformation that has taken place within us. Our actions should be a testimony to the world of God's love and grace. [01:12:07]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[15:58] - Announcements and Prayer Requests
[16:56] - Lamps and Champs Night
[18:02] - Devotional Focus: Good Works and Obedience
[19:03] - Clarifying Good Works and Salvation
[20:13] - Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12
[20:52] - Prayer for the Service
[21:45] - Introduction to Malachi 1:6-14
[40:02] - Reading Malachi 1:6-14
[46:28] - Honoring God as Father and Master
[48:43] - Logical Expectations in Our Relationship with God
[50:41] - The Importance of Reverence and Honor
[54:53] - The Reasonable Expectation of Our Relationship with God
[56:13] - Analyzing Our Actions and Offerings
[01:03:14] - Self-Examination and Honest Reflection
[01:12:07] - Living Out Our Faith
[01:26:38] - Invitation and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Malachi 1:6-14
2. 1 Peter 2:9-12
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific actions did the Israelites take that showed their lack of honor and reverence towards God according to Malachi 1:6-14?
2. In 1 Peter 2:9-12, what are the believers called, and what are they instructed to do as a result of their identity?
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between good works and salvation? [18:02]
4. What analogy does God use in Malachi 1:6-14 to describe His relationship with the Israelites, and what is the significance of this analogy? [46:28]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God emphasize the importance of offering unblemished sacrifices in Malachi 1:6-14, and how does this relate to the condition of the Israelites' hearts?
2. How does the concept of being a "chosen generation" and a "royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9-12 impact the way believers should live their daily lives?
3. The sermon mentions that good works are a natural outworking of the Holy Spirit within us. How does this understanding affect the motivation behind our actions? [18:02]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the consequences of offering God our "leftovers" instead of our best? [56:13]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life: Are there areas where you are giving God your leftovers instead of your best? What specific changes can you make to honor God more fully? [56:13]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of self-examination and repentance. What practical steps can you take this week to examine your life and align your actions with your faith? [01:03:14]
3. How can you ensure that your worship is genuine and not half-hearted? Identify one specific way you can deepen your worship experience this week. [01:05:14]
4. Think about your interactions with others. How can you demonstrate the transformation that has taken place within you through your actions and behavior? Provide a specific example. [01:12:07]
5. The sermon discusses the importance of living out our faith in a way that honors God and serves others. What is one tangible way you can serve someone in your community this week to reflect God's love and grace? [01:12:07]
6. Consider the analogy of a son honoring his father and a servant revering his master. How can you apply this analogy to your relationship with God in a practical way? [46:28]
7. The sermon mentions the need for repentance and seeking God's grace. Is there a specific area in your life where you need to seek God's forgiveness and grace? How will you go about doing this? [01:15:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Honoring God with Our Best
Our relationship with God should be marked by giving Him our best in all aspects of our lives. Just as a son honors his father and a servant reveres his master, we are called to honor and revere God. This means not just going through the motions of religious activities but offering our best in everything we do. The Israelites in Malachi 1:6-14 were criticized for offering polluted sacrifices, giving God the blind, lame, and sick animals instead of their best. This reflected a deeper issue of their hearts being far from God. We must examine our own lives to ensure that we are not merely giving God our leftovers but are truly honoring Him with our best efforts, time, and resources. [46:28]
Malachi 1:6-8 (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?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised. 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: Are there areas in your life where you are giving God less than your best? What steps can you take today to ensure that you are honoring Him fully in those areas?
Day 2: Good Works as Evidence of Faith
Good works and obedience to God's word are not means to secure our salvation but are the natural outworking of the Holy Spirit within us. They serve as evidence of our faith and a way to show our love and gratitude to God. When we are redeemed by Christ, we are also renewed by His Spirit, which leads us to live lives that reflect His love and grace. Our good works are a testimony to the transformation that has taken place within us and can win others to Christ through our godly behavior. [18:02]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate your faith through your actions today? How can your good works serve as a testimony to others about the love and grace of God?
Day 3: Self-Examination and Repentance
Regular self-examination is crucial in our walk with God. We must honestly assess whether we are truly honoring and revering Him in our lives. If we find areas where we are falling short, we should repent and seek to align our actions with our professed faith. This process of self-examination and repentance helps us to stay on the right path and grow in our relationship with God. It is a way to ensure that our lives are a true reflection of our love and gratitude for all that He has done for us. [01:03:14]
2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on your life. Are there areas where you are not fully honoring God? What steps can you take to repent and realign your actions with your faith?
Day 4: The Importance of Genuine Worship
God desires genuine worship that comes from a heart fully devoted to Him. He is not pleased with half-hearted worship or polluted sacrifices. Our worship should be a reflection of our deep love and reverence for God. This means engaging in worship with sincerity and giving God the honor and glory He deserves. Genuine worship is not just about the outward actions but about the condition of our hearts. It is about truly connecting with God and expressing our love and gratitude for who He is and what He has done for us. [01:05:14]
John 4:23-24 (ESV): "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your worship is genuine and heartfelt? What changes can you make in your worship practices to better reflect your love and reverence for God?
Day 5: Living Out Our Faith
Our faith should be evident in our daily lives. This means living in a way that honors God, serves others, and reflects the transformation that has taken place within us. Our actions should be a testimony to the world of God's love and grace. Living out our faith involves being intentional about our choices and actions, ensuring that they align with God's word and reflect His character. It is about being a light in the world and showing others the difference that Christ has made in our lives. [01:12:07]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you live out your faith today? How can your actions serve as a testimony to others about the love and grace of God?
Quotes
1. "Since we are redeemed by grace alone through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God's word? And the answer is yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his spirit, so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God, so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits, and so that by our godly behavior, others may be won to Christ." [18:02] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When you are born again, you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. There is a seed there that will produce a fruit, and a part of that fruit is doing good works and obeying the words of God. And so as a born-again believer, should there be evidence of good works and obeying God's word? There should be. But it's not something that you are doing in order to firm up your salvation. Your salvation is a gift of God in Christ alone, by faith alone." [19:03] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "There is a positional and reasonable expectation in our relationship with God. This has been lost in the 21st century. It was probably lost actually in the 20th century. But there's a positional and reasonable expectation within our relationship with God. A son honors his father. And what do we call God? We call him our heavenly father. And so did they, by the way. And a servant reveres his master or fears is the word used in the King James. Respect, revere, it's all the same word, same concept." [46:28] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If I know that God did all of that for me, at what point do I begin to believe I need to do all of this for him? Not for my salvation, because of my salvation. Not for victory, from victory. Not to please him, but because I am a pleasure to him. That's the question. It's very, this passage is perplexing and it's convicting the aspect of the passage and it is that they argue with God. And it's a question. It's a coy argument, but it's still an argument." [01:01:36] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you stood accused before God, would you argue or would you acquiesce? We love to talk about that concept, don't we? They write songs about it, how we're going to respond when we see the Lord. We love to think about that, don't we? About that day that we're in glory and we stand face to face with him and all of our hopes will become reality and all of our faith, will become sight. Really flowery words. Will I dance for you, Jesus? Right?" [01:03:14] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The value and validity of a thing is defined by the deference and duty shown to it. Whatever you think is important, you are tending. And what you're not tending to, you don't really think it's that important. You may give it lip service. We would carry that on with this concept. Love is a verb. Love is an action. It requires action. To claim that we love the Lord and then to offer unto him less than our best, whether that is in self or in sacrifice, is a contradiction." [01:06:43] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If he died for me, the least I can do is truly, live for him. And then the remainder of the scriptures, you say, well, if that's the thesis of the Bible, why do I need the other, all of the 1189 chapters? Why do I need all of that other stuff? It is because the remainder of them teach us what that love looks like. They teach us how it looks to live for the Lord and to be faithful to God. They teach us what power is present that helps us to do it. They show us how to receive forgiveness when we fail." [01:12:07] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We will allow God access to our homes, to our marriage, and to our children as long as it does not interfere with our interpretation of the American dream, American reality, or the American life. We want our children to be believers, but we don't want them to be devout. We want them to be Christians, but not fanatics. We want them to be church folks, but not ministry folks. We want them to be workers, but not missionaries." [01:22:02] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "What we truly desire is a better society for our children and grandchildren, if we truly desire that, what we need is a spiritual revival. We don't need another presidential candidate. We don't need a third or fourth party. We don't need safer and better elections. We don't need more police protection. Those are all things that treat the symptom. But the sickness is sin. And the only cure for it is a spiritual revival. And that only occurs among faithful, devoted, dedicated people who honor their father and revere their master." [01:25:35] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Are you without fault in this matter? Is there any room for repentance due to God from you in relation to your service or your sacrifice or your surrender to him? I stand convicted. Maybe I'm alone. I don't know. Maybe all I did this morning was make you angry. That's not the goal. The goal is to see God move and work. And you can only do that with committed individuals who are giving the best as God requests." [01:26:38] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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