What God Expects Of You - Part 1

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. New Testament says while we were still New Testament also says that you are because of so to start this idea is nothing, that's an insult. I've always I put my eyesight for God so loved the world he sent the son son syllabus. He died on the cross and yet often what happens even in our lives we begin to doubt the love of God joining us today on this additional fellowship of the word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us God's word meets our work in finding out as we are talking that there's something bothering you when it's this that God is meeting your expectations you expected something else you expected something more. So often for us. We expect God to enter into our lives and do for us exactly what we want him to do and when he doesn't, we become disappointed with God. We want God to bless our lives but we wanted in a very particular way. We want him to bless us. According to the blessings it would already like to have for ourselves. And when it doesn't happen in our lives. What ends up happening was his. We become disappointed with God, but never thought of the other side of the coin, you meet God's expectations. He has expectations for you and me and you never really think about my meeting God's expectations in my life.

There is a book in the Bible that the total content of the book is God's expectations for you and for me it is the book the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, so I invite you to open your Bible to Malachi, and as you do. I'm going to do something today that I'm not ever done before going to preach the entire book of Malachi, so if you have reservations for lunch might be to just push those back a little bit. It's an interesting book Israel is been back in the land from the Babylonian captivity that will lead by Zerubbabel and Ezra and Nehemiah got involved for about 100 years and that things are not going very well for them. They have the second Temple built but it's a much smaller more discrete temple than the one Solomon built and so the people become very pessimistic very apathetic very spiritually lethargic and so Malachi is lifted up by God to be the prophet to the nation.

The word Malachi means messenger. So Malachi is the messenger of God this nation. If you look at the first verse it says the Oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi. The word Oracle is the Hebrew word matzoh in my sock can be translated. Oracle but actually I believe the better translation is the word burden. It's the same thing. If you find them a home and a back think of it that way.

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi God is extremely upset with them. They are not the people that they should be all and one of the things I noticed that in the book. This week the way through.

Is this when you are in apathetic, carnal, immature Christian, you don't know it. You don't really know what you think you're doing great you think everything's fine. I just read through the book. Just follow me on these verses. Look at these of them. The people of Israel speaking verse six but you say how we despised your name, your presenting defiled food on my altar. You say how lovely the following verse 13 you say. Also how tiresome this is and then if you move over to verse 17 you are really the Lord with your words that you say how we wary the Lord.

Verse seven you say how shall we return verse eight will a man rob God you are robbing me but you say how we reroute Rob do verse 13. Your words of been arrogant against me, says the Lord.

Yet you say what we spoken against you when you read this, no matter what God says that on the go that's an exact like there's nothing wrong with us. Everything is going fine with us were doing everything we need to do, but they're not mess with the books about God is going to review all of that and he's going to give seven different commandments to them and us. The first commandment you're seeing here is in verses two through five of chapter 1 and he says this don't doubt God's love. He doesn't like it when you do that don't doubt God's love by the way, I know for fact that many of you do at times.

I know you do that how do I know that if you ever said this to some of you said it to me. I never answered my prayers never. I don't think even hears me know if he notices me when you really saying be honest I think he loves me me that answer my prayers. I will that's what they were doing at this time. I mean look at how bad our situation is even there were back in the land.

I mean God doesn't love us so God speaks, he says I have loved you, says the Lord, but you say how he loved us.

Now his illustration here is interesting he said was not Esau Jacob's brother declares the Lord. Yet I love Jacob, but I've hated Esau and I have made his mountains desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness. He says though Edom says we have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins.

Thus says the Lord of host. They may build, but I will tear it down and men will call them the wicked territory and the people toward whom the Lord is indignant forever. Your eyes will see this and you will say the Lord be magnified beyond the borders of Israel hears his illustration in the world who gets the blessing firstborn that's Esau residing that the blessing Jacob did not know anything about the story, Jacob got the blessing because he was such a wonderful man right.

Jade was so good it everything devoted wasn't anything like that.

He was a scoundrel, but he said, Jacob. I love the knees. I hated that's a comparison. By the way the Jews do that often. Jesus even tells us you have to love them so much. It appears like you hate your parents and your siblings. In other words, it's a primary love that you have for him is a comparative thing. But remember this. First of all God's all-knowing so he knows the end in the beginning. So even though it says in Romans a God hated Esau from the woman love Jacob. God knew everything was going to happen one Esau sold his birthright. Remember that his birthright he sold it he was hungry that's tells you his spiritual depth.

Secondly, then his people became the Edomites Edomites are terrible people, God hating people. These are not good people at all and he said even if they say they're going to build themselves backup others turned on again them and judge by God, but a set of always love you in spite of yourself new Testaments as we love God because he first loved us. The New Testament says while we were still at enmity with God's enemy, Christ came and died for us.

New Testament also says that because you are in Christ.

We were foreknown to be in Christ before the foundation of the world. All because of one thing God loves us so if you start this idea. I do still think God loves me. Gotcha that's an insult. I've always loved you. I prove my love for you. I sent my son, for God so loved the world he sent the son son so loved us. He died on the cross and yet often what happens even in our lives we begin to doubt the love of God.

Got to don't doubt my love for you then secondly he says this don't offer me worthless. Worship whatever you do don't offer me worthless. Worship.

He says a son honors his father into serving as master and if I am a father, where is my honor and if I'm a master where's my respects as the Lord of hosts over priest to despise my name, but you say how we despised from God's point of view. When we worship God. It's a matter of honor God sister you honor me I should of all the people we honor. We honor all kinds of people with authority don't me. We offer honor elected officials.

We honor judges if you get pulled over by state trooper is a little moment of honor going on right. We honor them gotchas we don't honor me in my mean and I don't want to brag in any way but my me is God. If you don't honor God is he who would you honor when you worship you honor me, he goes on then he says this he says verse eight, but when you present the blind for sacrifice is not evil when when you present the lame and sick is not evil. Why not offer that your governor would he be pleased with you. He says, would he receive you kindly says the Lord of hosts got gets it.

Why do you honor people and you don't honor me and see what they did understand he talks about the sacrifice. If you're a Jew at that time there were certain offerings you made wherever you lived there grain offerings you make three of a meter you make a spring offering and the first thing you do in the spring, offering his offer God, the firstfruits of your barley, then there's a summer offering an offer. God, the firstfruits of your week.

Then there's a fall offering and that's from all the crops of glue during the summer, you offer the first of it. The God but if you go to Jerusalem, you have to honor God by offering him an animal you have to make an offering of an animal to God and the idea was not only have one condition. What you offered him it had to be your first root and had to be as perfect as it could be. I get the first one will notice what he did, he says, but when you present the blind for sacrifice is not evil and the lame and the sick, using a got a lot like we knew there were logical only if I bring this sheep to God's perfect statement. Good breeder. Maybe the priest is going to just kill it to burn it and that's that.

This is a make it because I got a blind one here wanted to walk and not just dead dead dead dead until that cheap and I'll keep the other for myself. God like you don't understand. I said you give the first to this and then he says we do not. He said he would do that offer to your governor. That's interesting though we don't do that will make offerings that would Christ finished all the offerings of God made it but isn't it interesting. I may think some application easy for us if you have an appointment at 9 o'clock in the morning tomorrow that has a serious accusation against the before judge when you showing up, answer me.

Be honest.

About 20 after are you be honest no I'm no I would do that. By the way, even with the doctor given her some of things they say no, you have to be there for the appointment. Yes, if you don't deserve price to pay. Yes no, you could be there nine.

One time he may not see the 940 but that's tough are you, because he's the doctor but we honor people that way. We come to worship God. Hey 20 after spine, enter he does dishonoring you stand before God and Satan.

I know I can go when you want me when you want that is just the way it is that dishonoring your supposed be worshiping me, he said do what we would never do that to someone in authority in your culture. He then goes on assist. But now we do not entreat God's favor, that he may be gracious to us with such an offering on your part will he receive any of you kindly says the Lord of hosts, actually not.

He says, and yet on the other hand, when something bad happens in your life where you go whole God help me. I'm praying for this. Maybe please make it be benign God, please when you are honoring before but when you have a need to run right tell me said, Lord, help me be gracious to me goes on and says oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates so that you might not use this weekend will fire my altar.

I am not pleased with you, says the Lord of hosts know why except offering from better to stay home is what that says you're better off not coming to stay home, don't come and offer me something worthless stay home is a some good shut the gates. He said from the rising of the sun even to its setting, my name will be great among the nations in every place incense is going to be offered to my name in the grain offering that is pure and my name will be great among the nations is a bit you are profaning it that you say the table. The Lord is defiled and he's an ass for its fruit, its food is to be despised and yet you see something else I'll say that a moment. Here's what he saying it's kind of interesting.

Don't you realize in the end everybody on this earth recognize me member New Testament said every knee will do what about every tongue will do what confess Jesus Christ as Lord is again why God that you don't even do that.

You see, you don't even do that I get mine in the end I'll be honored, but not through you. He goes on, and he says then verse 13. You also say my how tiresome his fellow that I just love that you can identify with this. You want worshiping God is for many of us boring it's just boring. I mean colleague to get what he said earlier he could go on and on today. Oh gosh, you see is what is going on on my goodness gracious. You see, that's what they're saying here. They are the people of God honor God and they see how tiresome it is and you disdainfully sniff at it, says the Lord, and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame and sick and so you bring an offering. Should I receive it from your hands is Lord is. Let me tell you something but accursed be the swimmer who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to Lord, for I am a great King says the Lord of host.

My name is to be feared among the nations don't offer me worthless.

Worship that another worship at all. Don't doubt God's love. The law firm that kind of worship kind of an interesting thought. When you think about it, and then he goes on and says this don't ignore God's word. You see how he says is in chapter 2, he says, I now this commandment is for you old priest. If you do not listen if you do not take it to heart and give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send a curse upon you I will curse your blessings, and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you're not taking it to heart will explain why he says behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring and I was spread refuge on their faces. The refuse of your feast and he says and you will be taken away with it is a clear picture of God's, the statement that I just take refuge in. :-) I'm saying he's upset to see. I think this is very serious to God from God's point of view from any goes on. Then he says, then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, my covenant may continue with Levi is in my covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence and so he revered me and he stood in my name.

True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness is not to be found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness and he turned many back from iniquity what the rebuy do you talk the truth, he taught the word of God, he taught the truth and he said he turned many people back to God. The next verse he says basically the same thing for the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is a messenger of the Lord of hosts. That's his job to speak the truth, but next verse. As for you, you have turned aside from the way you have caused many to stumble by the instruction you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts utilize good and speak the truth. That's kind of a fearful thought right now in our culture is an amazing thing to see among the church of Jesus Christ. The diminishing of the word of God in every way they can.

I see things all the time that if you want to continue to grow this way, you need to take the word and make it go that way because people won't like that too much while the largest evangelical church in a country 40,000 people on Sunday. The church he never speaks anything negative. I've heard him say publicly. I never talk about sin I don't talk about anything negative ever. I only tell people positive, wonderful things all them under the same message God exists so that he can.

You can realize your dreams.

That's why there is a God so that you he will help you realize all your dreams. 40,000 people. Pollen is at love that. I just love that message is that with the word of God says no no what Paul wrote in the last days. People will assemble for themselves the kind of teachers that would tickle their ears. In other words, it would tell people exactly what people want to hear concerts that will do it with me. You can ignore the truth of the word of God. He then says in verse 20, so I have also made you despised and abased before the people, just as he says you are not keeping my ways but showing partiality in the instruction don't doubt God's love don't offer him worthless worship. Don't ignore God's word and then this one, which was a little alarming for me at first everyone of these relates to how you and I relate to God except this one. This rebuke is different is how we relate to one another. He says this, do we not all have one father has not one God created us. Yes yes why do we deal treacherously, each against his brother Celeste profane the covenant of our fathers. This is part of the covenant relationship God made with Israel, Judah has dealt treacherously, an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem for Judah has profane the sanctuary of God. I want to see what those words are treacherously abomination profane that serious stuff in it. So what you think and they must've done something horrific. Just horrible to get God to say those things he says they are profane the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves and have married a daughter of a foreign God.

What if they marry a nonbeliever what what what is of the remaining an unbeliever. As for the man who does this. May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers or who presents an offering before the Lord God judge the nation for that WebQuest.

That seems awful important him. Bennett watch there's another thing that you do you cover the altar of the Lord, with tears and weeping with groaning because he no longer regard to ruffling subsequent favor from your hand. You know your lights going terrible because I'm judging it and you keep coming out from prying wife so bad, why is it so bad is that you say for what reason. Verse 14 is a so bad because the Lord is been witness between you and the wife of your youth against him.

You have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant only doing. Here's what they were doing they spent 70 years in the Babylonian captivity. Now when they went about Babylonian captivity. They were slaves so they can only marry among themselves. So all the Jewish men had to marry Jewish women in captivity just waiting another back in the land so the combat with all the Jewish mineral Jewish women in our back in the land and the men start noticing hey that pagan girl looks pretty good, like the way she looks.

And by the way, culturally Jewish men could divorce Jewish women for almost any reason, all the way to the time of Christ.

That was the culture in which Jesus they could divorce the wife or anything the wives could divorce him for anything except provable adultery. Nothing else.

So they decided they could just marry four girls. We can do this method got so upset about why is he so upset about that. He said they dealt treacherously with their lives.

He said verse 15 but no one has done so, who has a remnant of the spirit and what did that one. Do while he was seeking a godly offspring. God says there's couple things about marriage one marriage is a covenant is part of our covenant in the nation Israel to a marriage among believers by principle can produce more believers. A godly offspring is a that's a principal in a still today.

By the way, if you read the polls or anything to Christians who marry a more likely to have Christian children into adulthood than non-Christians. Each person makes a decision on their own, but by principle that seems to work godly offspring so he says take heed, he said, venting her spirit and that no window treacherously against the life of your youth incident.

The people make choices like this are putting it through a spiritual lens. All he said. Notice he said no, no one who has done so has a remnant of the spirit. Do not ask God. Things are just going to do it faster broke your heart. The radio ministry of fellowship, nor if you ever miss one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time.

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