1. Part 3 I Want Leaders I Can Respect Malachi 1:6-2:9

5. It was a “time when people were weary in spiritual things, eager to embrace the easy way out, and careless and casual about the commandments of the Lord”.It was a “time when people were weary in spiritual things, eager to embrace the easy way out, and careless and casual about the commandments of the Lord”. They quit taking God seriously.They quit taking God seriously.

6. The church leaders are offensive to God “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD Almighty. “It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ (1:6)

7. They are offending God with their cheap gifts “You place defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the LORD’s table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong?

8. They are offending God with their cheap gifts When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty. ( 1:7-8) When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty. ( 1:7-8)

9. They are offending God with their cheap gifts There are three basic concepts underlying sacrifices or offerings: giving, substitution and coming closer.There are three basic concepts underlying sacrifices or offerings: giving, substitution and coming closer.

10. They are offending God with their attitude toward service “But you profane it by saying of the Lord’s table, ‘It is defiled,’ and of its food, ‘It is contemptible.’ And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the LORD Almighty.

11. They are offending God with their attitude toward service “When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the LORD. (1:12-13)

12. They are offending God with their attitude toward service The priests thought the whole church thing was annoying

13. They are offending God with their broken vows “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations. (1:14)

14. They are offending God with their self-serving messages And you will know that I have sent you this admonition so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD Almighty. “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.

15. They are offending God with their self-serving messages True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. (1:4-6)

16. They are offending God with their self-serving messages The priests only taught what came from God.The priests only taught what came from God. The priests were to make sure God’s people knew what He expected of them.The priests were to make sure God’s people knew what He expected of them. The priests were to instruct the people in “truth”The priests were to instruct the people in “truth”

17. They are offending God with their self-serving messages The priests were not only instruct – but model or “walk” in obedience and fairness.The priests were not only instruct – but model or “walk” in obedience and fairness. The priests were to turn people from sin.The priests were to turn people from sin.

18. They are offending God with their self-serving messages “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.

19. They are offending God with their self-serving messages But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty. (2:7-8) (2:7-8)

20. God warned the leaders their prayers would not be answered “Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the LORD Almighty.

21. God warned the leaders their prayers would not be answered “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

22. God warned the leaders their prayers would not be answered My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty. (1:9-11)

23. God warned the leaders their legacy would be cursed “And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.

24. God warned the leaders their legacy would be cursed “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will spread on your faces the offal from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. And you will know that I have sent you this admonition so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD Almighty.

25. God warned the leaders their legacy would be cursed “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. (2:1-6)

26. God warned the priests they would be humbled “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” (2:9)

27. Bottom Line: Take God seriously!

28. Bottom Line: Give God your very best.Give God your very best. Be a praise filled person!Be a praise filled person! Live with integrity.Live with integrity. Cultivate a hunger for God’s truth!Cultivate a hunger for God’s truth!