GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
June 20, 2019
Pastor Rick Bettez
Mal 1:11 “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.
These priests of Malachi’s day who were Unbels attempted to bring in their own form of glory similar to the coming Millennium using their flawed works, just as today in the Church Age we have social & political agendas claiming they have the answer for perfection.
Man’s efforts simply cannot produce perfect environment. The only perfect environment on this earth is our union with the Lord Jesus Christ, positional truth, and that begins at the cross.
In fact, many believe that by having this extreme liberal attitude, this wide-open standard of everything and anything goes as long as everyone is happy will be the answer for perfection…. but, in the end it achieves just the opposite.
2Co 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
2Co 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2Co 4:8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Any Unbel can think in terms of improved environment and to him this becomes achievable through works & implementing a human agenda. They have no other knowledge base or power source except Satan’s system.
You cannot have perfect environment without starting a new civilization and that means regeneration. You cannot have a perfect environment apart from the personal work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“My name great among the nations (Gentiles); and in every place,” Here is a reference to the Millennium. “Every place” means throughout the entire world. There will be no part of the earth that will be excluded.
“incense” — in the ancient world had a very sweet scent. Incense in the Bible, has a connection with the priests, always refers to the sweetest, most pleasant of odours. The incense here speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ and this is a wake-up call to these spiritual leaders!
Improved environment by human standards always fails. The only way to start again is go directly to the beginning and the core of the problem…the thoughts, what lies in the heart.
The prophet Ezekiel was around over a hundred years before Malachi came on the scene. Ezekiel chapter 40-47 details the future Millennium and the restored Jewish nation.
“You men are burning incense to speak of the person of Christ, you have offerings speaking of the work of Christ.” In other words, Malachi is starting to evangelize the priesthood.
Mal 1:12 “But you are profaning (chalal) it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’
Chalal- in the piel stem, it means to violate, to defile.
Mal 1:13 You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the LORD.
The first sacrifice was the burnt offering, the second one was the food offering. The burnt offering (Lev 1), refers to propitiation with emphasis on the work of Christ. The meal/grain offering (Lev 2), speaks of propitiation with emphasis on the person of Christ.
Mal 1:14 “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
Heb 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
The priests of the time of Malachi had a thinking (viewpoint) problem long before they had a discipline problem. Your station in life, be it wealth and wisdom or poverty and ignorance, has no power over your relationship with God.
Your decisions and actions today will have a ripple effect in the months and even years ahead that go beyond your personal periphery. Negative or positive, everyone’s life has an impact.
The Bel who grows up to maturity and begins to touch lives all around their family & community so that by the time they are face to face with the Lord they have brought hundreds to the saving ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those who really want to make positive changes in the world need to start with themselves first by becoming the man or woman God designed them to be. At that point, they can begin to effect the lives of others they come in contact with.
The pastor-leadership have an agenda to justify their own lifestyle or what they have come to believe (denominations) to be true so they alter the word of God to suit that agenda & personal desires.