1. Where is My Reverence? n God asks His people in the book of Malachi “Where is my reverence?” (Mal 1:6)

2. Where is My Reverence? n Malachi 1:6 6 " A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?‘

3. Where is My Reverence? n Sadly, after Israel had returned to the land “another generation” arose that did not know the Lord. This happens over and over in Israel’s history. (Judges 2:10)

4. Where is My Reverence? n Judges 2:10 10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.

5. Where is My Reverence? n It does not take one to be an eyewitness or to have experienced previous actions that God took to help His people build their faith. (Deut 30:11-14)

6. Where is My Reverence? n Deuteronomy 30:11-14 11 " For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 "It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'

7. Where is My Reverence? n 13 "Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' 14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

8. Where is My Reverence? n In the post-exilic prophet Malachi we see the cumulative attitudes that comes with a lack of reverence for God.

9. Where is My Reverence? n In the post-exilic prophet Malachi we see the cumulative attitudes that comes with a lack of reverence for God. n Remember how the exile did produce a humble remnant. (Zeph 3:11-13)

10. Where is My Reverence? n Zephaniah 3:11-13 11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain.

11. Where is My Reverence? n 12 I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no one shall make them afraid.“

12. Where is My Reverence? n How did these people lose a reverence for God?

13. Where is My Reverence? n How did these people lose a reverence for God? n These people had simply failed to know who God is.

14. Where is My Reverence? n How did these people lose a reverence for God? n These people had simply failed to know who God is. n Every avenue that God had provided to teach the children of the next generation about God had failed. This involved the home, their worship and their attitude towards the word of God.

15. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n fear -- 1. fear, terror. 2. reverence. 3. object of reverence, esp. God. 4. awe-inspiring spectacle or deed. – Whittaker’s Lexicon

16. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n fear -- 1. fear, terror. 2. reverence. 3. object of reverence, esp. God. 4. awe-inspiring spectacle or deed. – Whittaker’s Lexicon n God showed His people exactly what reverence means. (Deut 5:23-27)

17. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n Deuteronomy 5:23-27 23 " So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. 24 "And you said: 'Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.

18. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n 25 'Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. 26 'For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 'You go near and hear all that the LORD our God may say, and tell us all that the LORD our God says to you, and we will hear and do it.‘

19. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n They witnessed the power of God and knew that they were utterly nothing.

20. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n They witnessed the power of God and knew that they were utterly nothing. n They knew that the promises of God and the commands of God provided a way to have favor and security in God’s presence.

21. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n They witnessed the power of God and knew that they were utterly nothing. n They knew that the promises of God and the commands of God provided a way to have favor and security in God’s presence. n God was very pleased with this attitude and wanted them to always have it. (Deut 5:28-29)

22. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n Deuteronomy 5:28-29 28 "Then the LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me: 'I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 'Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

23. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n How does another generation keep this kind of respect?

24. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n How does another generation keep this kind of respect? n Each generation had to be taught to “know the Lord.” (Jer 31:34)

25. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n Jeremiah 31:34 34 "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.“

26. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n What did they need to know about the Lord? (Hosea 6:1-3)

27. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n Hosea 6:1-3 Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. 3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain

28. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n When God is real to a person and the real character of God is taught, then one will reverence God. (Psa 89:1-8)

29. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n Psalm 89:1-8 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens." 3 "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David:

30. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n 4 'Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.' " Selah 5 And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. 6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?

31. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. 8 O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

32. What does it mean to have a reverence for God? n This must involve substantial teaching at different levels. That teaching must be renewed throughout one’s life.

33. How Reverence is taught in the home. n You cannot pass down a faith that you do not have. (Micah 7:5-7)

34. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Micah 7:5-7 5 Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion; Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom. 6 For son dishonors father, Daughter rises against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A man's enemies are the men of his own household.

35. How Reverence is taught in the home. n 7 Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.

36. How Reverence is taught in the home. n The Pharisee’s had a “faith” that they effectively passed down. (Lk 12:1)

37. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Luke 12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

38. How Reverence is taught in the home. n How many of the untrustworthy father’s worshipped God?

39. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Even when a man has a strong faith in God, that does not mean he will successfully pass that to His children.

40. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Even when a man has a strong faith in God, that does not mean he will successfully pass that to His children. n As in our generation, the fathers had turned their hearts to other things. (Mal 4:6)

41. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Malachi 4:6 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.“

42. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Children can see what is really in our hearts. Consider what God wanted with future generations in teaching their children. (Josh 4:4-7)

43. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Joshua 4:4-7 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,

44. How Reverence is taught in the home. n 6 "that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7 "Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.“

45. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Divorce and dishonesty destroyed their hearts. (Mal 2:13-16)

46. How Reverence is taught in the home. n Malachi 2:13-16 - And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. 14 Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.

47. How Reverence is taught in the home. n 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. 16 "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.“

48. How Reverence is taught in the home. n How can one teach God’s ways in such a home?

49. How Reverence is taught in the home. n How can one teach God’s ways in such a home? n Sadly, it is much easier to give your children to Satan.