Come back and test my generosity
Series: Malachi
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 17th November 2012
Passages:
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 Let's pray.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:06 Gracious Father, we thank you again for your word.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 And we know that this passage,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 the implications of this passage,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:17 strike fear into the hearts of your people.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 And so we ask that by your spirit,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 we might see the glory of this passage
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 and the glory of what you have called us to,
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 the glory of what the Lord Jesus called his disciples to.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 And I pray, Father, that we would make sure
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 that we would labour, in fact,
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 to have the covenant order in the right way
00:00:38 --> 00:00:44 and that we would obey and then you would bless.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 So help us now, we pray, as we look at your word
00:00:47 --> 00:00:52 and I pray that it would result in action from your people.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:53 Amen.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 Keep your Bibles open in Malachi 3
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 and also, if you've got a chance,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:09 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 and Luke 12.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 I'm going to go three fingers in there somewhere.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:15 It should work well.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 What has become clear as we've gone through Malachi
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 over the past three weeks
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 is that unless you have a clear grasp
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 of who God is and what he's like,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 you won't relate to him correctly.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 Or to put it another way,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 to have a true relation with God
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 requires a vivid understanding of the character of God.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 And we saw that in the very first chapter.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 God reveals himself in chapter 1, verse 2
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 with, I have loved you and Esau I have hated.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 We saw a vivid picture of the love of God there,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 that God's love is sovereign, elective, unconditional, free love.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 Unfortunately, the people of God in Malachi's time
00:01:58 --> 00:02:02 didn't see or feel the greatness of God's love so clearly.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 We also saw in chapter 1, verse 6,
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 that God is a father and a master.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 He is worthy to be honoured and revered.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 Malachi gives us a vivid picture of the greatness of God
00:02:14 --> 00:02:19 by consistently calling God Lord Almighty or Lord of hosts.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 He is the master, the king,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 over all the starry hosts
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 and the hosts of angels and everything.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:30 That is, Malachi wants us to get the sheer majesty of God
00:02:30 --> 00:02:35 and God's people didn't see or feel that so clearly either.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 They didn't see or feel the sheer greatness of God's love
00:02:39 --> 00:02:43 and they didn't see or feel the sheer greatness of God's majesty.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:48 And when you've got a small view of God's love and his majesty,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:52 what you do is you give him the leftover of your life.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:57 He fits in around your life, around other things in your life.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 Why would you give your all or your best
00:03:00 --> 00:03:04 to something or someone who you don't value?
00:03:04 --> 00:03:09 And the evidence of how little they valued their relationship with God
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 was their carelessness in their worship
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 by bringing the dodgy sheep
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 and unfaithfulness in their relationships
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 and the way they treated each other
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 and particularly the husband and wife relationship.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 The faithfulness of God to his covenant
00:03:26 --> 00:03:31 and the faithlessness of his people to that covenant.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 That is the picture so far.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 And yet, what chapter 3 verse 6 says
00:03:37 --> 00:03:41 is that that's the consistent picture of all ways of this relationship.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 I, the Lord, do not change
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 so you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 Ever since the time of your forefathers,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 you have turned away from my decrees
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 and have not kept them.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 Now, the title, Lord,
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 at the beginning of verse 6 is very significant.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 It is quite literally
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 God's special covenant name, Yahweh.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 I, Yahweh, the covenant God,
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 do not change.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 I have not failed to keep my promises.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 I am consistent.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 And it is because of God's consistency
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 to love his people
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 that they have not been destroyed.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 Interesting,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 his people have been consistent too.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 Ever since the time of your forefathers,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 you have turned away from my decrees
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 and have not kept them.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 And so, if consistency was a virtue,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 they'd be on top.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 But, unfortunately,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 it's not in this case.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 It's quite striking
00:04:47 --> 00:04:51 that God uses his covenant name, Yahweh,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 but he refers to his people
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 as the descendants of Jacob
00:04:57 --> 00:05:01 rather than using their covenant name, Israel.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 What God is doing here
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 is he's pointing out
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 what is the nature of the consistency
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 of his people
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 and that is not as a covenant people.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 Their consistency in their behaviour
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 is that of the scoundrel Jacob
00:05:16 --> 00:05:21 who often swindled and stole and robbed.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 That's not what you'd expect
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 from the people of God.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 They have consistently breached
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 the covenant relationship.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 And so, as many times in the past,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 Yahweh again calls his people
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 to come back to him
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 in the second part of verse 7.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 He's calling them to repent.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 But at the end of verse 7
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 reveals just how seared
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 their consciences were.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 But you ask,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:49 how are we to repent?
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 In other words,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 what they're saying is,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 us?
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 Who, us?
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 What do we need to repent of?
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 What have we done wrong?
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 You see, in their estimation,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 there was nothing wrong
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 with their conduct.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 Repentance wasn't needed.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 They weren't aware of any guilt
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 on their part whatsoever.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 And so, as the case
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 when someone is,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 their perception of reality
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 is so wrong,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 God kind of grabs
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 his people
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 by the scruff of their collar
00:06:27 --> 00:06:27 and goes,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:28 slap, slap,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 to try and, you know,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 smack them out of it,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 if you like,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 to help them to wake up
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 to reality.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 And their sin
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 is spelled out to them
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 in very practical
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 and personal terms
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 by God.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 Verse 8,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 will a man rob God?
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 In other words,
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 how is that possible?
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 And yet,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:49 you rob me.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 But you ask,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 how do we rob you?
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 In tithes and offerings,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 you are under a curse,
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 the whole nation of you,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 because you are robbing me.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 You see,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 what that's meant to do there
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 is it's meant to
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 quicken
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 a dull conscience.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 That's what God's doing here.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:09 It's like,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 poke in the eye.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:11 Wake up.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:15 It's meant to knock them
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 out of their apathy.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 It's meant to help them
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 to see the dire danger
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 that they are in.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 It is unthinkable
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 that any person
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 would rob God.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:26 And he says,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 but you rob me.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:28 You see,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 this is personal.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 The total gravity
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 of the offense
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 is clear.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 Rob God.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 How is that even possible?
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 How is it even possible
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 that a mere mortal
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 would somehow storm
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 into the throne room
00:07:43 --> 00:07:43 of God
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 and put a gun to God
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 and snatch his purse?
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 So to speak.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 How is that possible?
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 This is personal
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 because this is not
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 a sin primarily
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 against the priests
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 and the Levites
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 and the temple ministry
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 as bad as that would be.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 This is a crime
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 against God.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 They were robbing God.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 How were they robbing God?
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 And notice this bit
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 because this is very crucial.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 Verse 10.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 Bring the whole tithe
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 into the storehouse.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:35 They weren't robbing God
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 by not tithing.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 They were robbing God
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 by not tithing enough.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 Withholding the full tithe
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 was tantamount
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 to armed robbery
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 against God.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 And it's quite possible
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 that they were giving
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 two, six, seven, eight,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 nine percent
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 and yet God says,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 you're robbing me
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 by withholding
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 some of the tithe.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 And they were oblivious
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 to any wrongdoing.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 What do we need
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 to repent of?
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 I mean,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 we're giving something
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 to God.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 That should be okay.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 He should be happy.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 It is careless.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 It is apathetic.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 In the same way
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 they thought it was okay
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 to bring,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 oh, that sheep's nearly dead.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 Quick, get down
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 on the sacrifice.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:29 The same as they thought
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 it was okay
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 to bring God
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 the worst.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 That somehow
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 it would be okay
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 that they would
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 just give God
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 a bit of the tithe.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 He'll be okay
00:09:40 --> 00:09:40 with that.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 Something's better
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 than nothing.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 Beggars can't be choosers.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 What apathy.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 What carelessness.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 What faithlessness.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 It is casual.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 It's flippant.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 It's presumptuous.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 It is arrogant
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 and it is not obedient.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 Not only were they
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 not giving God
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 their best
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 but they weren't
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 giving God
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 their all.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 And the consequence
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 of withholding
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 the tithe
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 is the terrible
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 statement
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 in verse 9.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 You are under
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 a curse.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 The whole nation
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 of you
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 because you are
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 robbing me.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 Let me tell you
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 why that's so terrible
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 that statement.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 Back in Deuteronomy 28
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 God having
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 told the people
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 about the
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 covenant
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 then
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 says
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 he talks about
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 covenant blessings
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 and covenant cursings.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 At the beginning
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 of Deuteronomy 28
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 he says to them
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 covenant blessing
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 is this
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 you obey me
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and life
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 will be so good
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 that it will be
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 even better
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 than you could
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 possibly imagine.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 If however
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 you do not
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 obey me
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 you will wish
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 your mother
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 never met your father
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 it will be that bad
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 for you.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 You just wish
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 you were never born.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 And
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 the term
00:10:57 --> 00:10:57 he uses
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 is curse
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 and it's the term
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 he uses here.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 You are under
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 a curse.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 And the second
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 really bad thing
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 about this statement
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 this verse
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 is the term
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 nation.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 The covenant
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 God
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 Yahweh
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 uses the same
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 name
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 that is
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 nation
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 the same title
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 nation
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 that he does
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 with everyone
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 else
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 out there.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 It's the same
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 title he gives
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 to the people
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 who are not
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 his people.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 He doesn't
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 use the name
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 Jacob
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 he uses the same
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 names he gives
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 to the nations
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 who are not
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 in a covenant
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 relationship
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 with him.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 That is
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 the people
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 of God
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 in withholding
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 the full
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 tithe
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 are acting
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 like the
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 pagan nations
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 and not
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 giving God
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 his due.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 And in not
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 giving him
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 the full
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 tithe
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 they are no
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 different than
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 the nations.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 You cannot
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 tell them
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 apart from
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 the nations.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 So I think
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 it's really
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 unhelpful
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 when
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 some
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 Christians
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 set aside
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 the teaching
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 of this
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 text.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 What they
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 do is
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 they say
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 things like
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 true
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 statements.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Galatians
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 doesn't
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 tell us
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 we're no
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 longer under
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 the law
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 and that
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 Jesus
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 has
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 abolished
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 the
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 tithe.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 The first
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 thing I want
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 to say
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 in response
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 to that
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 is that
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 the tithe
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 wasn't
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 introduced
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 under the
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 law.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 That is
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 it's not
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 the first
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 time you
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 see it.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 God
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 didn't
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 just sort
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 of out
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 of the
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 blue
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 say to
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 his
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 people
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 at
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 Mount
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 Sinai
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 here's
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 a bunch
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 of
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 good
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 stuff
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 and
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 by
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 the
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 way
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 give a
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 tenth of
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 all you
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 got
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 slipping in
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 there
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 before they
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 realise
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 what's
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 going on.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 It's like
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 we didn't
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 expect to
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 sign up
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 for that
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00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 Melchizedek
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00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 tithe
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00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 Jacob
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00:22:21 --> 00:22:28 here is both practical and it is costly and it requires trusting God. One of the problems
00:22:28 --> 00:22:47 is that they, and I think us, we kind of want God to go first. That is, what we do is we
00:22:47 --> 00:22:57 invert the covenantal order. The order of the covenant is, in Deuteronomy 28, you obey,
00:22:57 --> 00:23:05 I will bless. What we want to do is you bless us and then I'll obey it. Give me the money
00:23:05 --> 00:23:16 then I'll give it away. And that's an inversion of the covenant. And my friends, it's actually
00:23:16 --> 00:23:28 idolatry. It's actually idolatry. They want fruitfulness before they will obey the law
00:23:28 --> 00:23:35 of tithing. And so what happens here in Malachi in calling the people of God to obey and to
00:23:35 --> 00:23:43 trust is simply the same as what Jesus calls his disciples to do in Luke chapter 12. It's
00:23:43 --> 00:23:53 very, very simple words. Seek first the kingdom of God and I'll take care of the details. I'll
00:23:53 --> 00:24:00 take care of the material details. Pursue the kingdom and you'll have everything that you
00:24:00 --> 00:24:12 need in order to pursue the kingdom. And that is a scary thought. I'll tell you a reason why
00:24:12 --> 00:24:17 I think it's a scary thought for Jesus' disciples. It's because the major thrust of Luke chapter 12,
00:24:17 --> 00:24:24 where those words are in the middle, is do not be afraid. So Jesus must have realized it was a scary
00:24:24 --> 00:24:31 thought for his disciples. I don't think it's a mistake that Jesus refers to God in verse 30 and
00:24:31 --> 00:24:39 verse 32 of Luke 12 as their father. And in verse 32, he refers to the disciples as the little flock.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:48 That is their father, their heavenly father is the infinite God of the universe. That's him. And down
00:24:48 --> 00:24:54 here is us. And we are little lambies in a paddock, all scared of foxes and wolves.
00:24:54 --> 00:25:05 There's a big difference between us and God. And so Jesus says, do not be afraid, little sheep.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:11 But did you notice specifically what the threat is that makes Jesus says, do not be afraid?
00:25:12 --> 00:25:17 In verse 32, you need to have your Bibles. If you're not at Luke 12, you've got to get there.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:22 I want you to see that this is God's word. It's not my word.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:31 What are they being tempted to fear in this context? You can find the answer by going back
00:25:31 --> 00:25:36 a couple of verses and by going forward a couple of verses. If you go back into verse 30,
00:25:36 --> 00:25:42 the thing that they were in danger of fearing is the call to no longer be like the nations
00:25:42 --> 00:25:53 who seek the accumulation of stuff. Jesus says, don't be like them. And his disciples
00:25:53 --> 00:25:58 go, oh my goodness, that's scary. I mean, all of a sudden the heart starts to pump and the
00:25:58 --> 00:26:04 adrenaline starts to rush. Will I be happy? Will I survive? Will I have enough? And Jesus
00:26:04 --> 00:26:12 says, do not be afraid, little flock. Do not be afraid to stop seeking things. Or if you go
00:26:12 --> 00:26:16 forward to verse 33, the things that they're in danger of fearing is giving things away.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:26 Oh my goodness. Generosity. Getting rid of my possessions. The heart starts to thump. Adrenaline.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:35 That's scary. Will I have enough? Will I be happy? How could I possibly enjoy life? And in verse 33,
00:26:35 --> 00:26:42 do not be afraid, little flock. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. You see, seeking the kingdom
00:26:42 --> 00:26:47 includes both of those things. We stop focusing on our quest on things and we start selling what we
00:26:47 --> 00:26:55 don't need and turning our stockpile of resources into ministries of kingdom bringing love. And Jesus
00:26:55 --> 00:27:01 knows that that message right there goes boom, straight in the hearts of his disciple and fear
00:27:01 --> 00:27:16 is what they feel. And there is fear in many of us when this word is brought to us because there's a
00:27:16 --> 00:27:21 possibility that we have consciously or subconsciously inverted the covenant order.
00:27:21 --> 00:27:33 And when we convert the covenant order, it is idolatry. I cannot be radically generous because God
00:27:33 --> 00:27:35 hasn't given me enough.
00:27:37 --> 00:27:49 And when he does, I will. That's an inversion of the covenant order and it's idolatry. It's a lack of trust.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:59 And these words are scary because it's possible that God's will for us is that we might live a lifestyle
00:27:59 --> 00:28:04 very different than the one that we are striving for and living right now. And Jesus knows that it's a
00:28:04 --> 00:28:14 fearful message and he says, do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the
00:28:14 --> 00:28:19 kingdom. You've got it already in Christ.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:23 You've got the kingdom. You know the outcome.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:31 He promises all the blessing of the kingdom and the pathway to the kingdom is the path of falling in love with
00:28:31 --> 00:28:34 King Jesus, treasuring Jesus and trusting Jesus.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:42 It means falling out of love with things and taking on a wartime lifestyle that maximizes all resources for the
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 cause of the kingdom that we are seeking.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:53 And the promise here is that the majestic God who we have looked at in Malachi is good for it.
00:28:55 --> 00:28:58 He never turns his back on any of his promises.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:03 We will be provided for.
00:29:04 --> 00:29:07 He is the covenant God who has never turned his back on his promise.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:12 He will graciously, mercifully, lovingly give us everything that you need to fulfill his purposes.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:19 We will never lack a single thing we need in order to seek the kingdom.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:26 And so, that's the word of God.
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 That's his word.
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 And does it settle it for you?
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35 That's the issue here for the people of Malachi.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:37 And it's the same issue for us.
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 Will you trust his word?
00:29:39 --> 00:29:49 I think there are two things from Luke 12 that would tell us where we are in trusting him.
00:29:49 --> 00:29:52 And the first is our heart and the second is our wallet.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:58 Verse 34, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
00:29:58 --> 00:30:02 Our heart tells us if we are anxious and our wallet tells us if we are generous.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:07 And both of us will tell us if we're trusting Jesus and treasuring Jesus.
00:30:09 --> 00:30:14 So, let's hear the warning of Malachi.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 Let's not cast this text aside.
00:30:18 --> 00:30:21 Malachi is written to people who claim to be the faithful people of God.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:28 And they faithfully, if you like, or consistently turn up to the temple for worship.
00:30:28 --> 00:30:31 And God says, I just wish someone would close the door.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:36 So that you would not again and again bring such an offense before me.
00:30:37 --> 00:30:39 Because their hearts were not right.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:43 They failed to see and to feel the greatness of God's love.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 And the greatness of his majesty.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:52 And so, they threw half dead sheep on the altar for sacrifice.
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 And thought, that would be good enough.
00:30:56 --> 00:30:59 They gave God, opened their wallets and went, five and a ten.
00:30:59 --> 00:31:01 I'll give God the five, because the ten.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:06 I've got to go out down to Jerusalem just after this.
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 Oh, he'll be happy with that.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:16 And he says, you've robbed me.
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 You've robbed me.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:29 It's tantrum out of the people of God sticking a gun in the face of the eternal, infinite God and saying, give it to me.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:37 Let's not cast this text aside.
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 We do not want to be a people of whom God says,
00:31:40 --> 00:31:46 St. Paul's, you are just like the rest of Chats would.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:53 You have the same priorities they have and I cannot tell you apart.
00:31:53 --> 00:32:01 The practice of our core value of radical generosity, I believe, radically sets us apart in a materialistic culture.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:05 It reads, our gifts, possessions, finances of time belong to God.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:08 We will therefore use them for his glory and not our comfort.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:18 We desire to be like the Macedonians whose joy in Christ through extremely difficult circumstances resulted in rich generosity towards others.
00:32:18 --> 00:32:21 We believe, and here's, I think, a crucial statement.
00:32:22 --> 00:32:30 We believe that in a world that loves money, a lifestyle of radical generosity proclaims that Jesus is our greatest treasure.
00:32:31 --> 00:32:39 That bit's essential because I think it lines up with the goal of God blessing his people in Malachi 3.12.
00:32:39 --> 00:32:44 You see, God will bless his people when they give the full tithe and here's the result.
00:32:44 --> 00:32:47 Then all the nations will call you blessed.
00:32:48 --> 00:32:58 When God blesses his people because of their obedience, the nations see it and they don't marvel at the people.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:02 They marvel at the God who has blessed his people.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:09 The bottom line here is the reason God wants to bless his people is for the nations.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:14 And that is the goal of radical generosity.
00:33:14 --> 00:33:40 We want our neighbours, the nations at our doorstep to see that Jesus is our greatest treasure and that he is more valuable than their bank accounts and their superannuation and their houses.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:53 Brothers and sisters, it is clear from Malachi that our worship of God not only requires us to give our best, it requires us to give our all.
00:33:53 --> 00:33:57 And worship is far more than singing some songs and memorising some verses.
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 Worship requires everything.
00:33:59 --> 00:34:06 Commitment Sunday is next Sunday.
00:34:07 --> 00:34:10 And you've got pledge packs.
00:34:11 --> 00:34:20 I want you to go away from tonight and in the course of this week, just commit to this.
00:34:20 --> 00:34:27 To earnestly, consistently and honestly bring this whole matter before God.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:32 Asking him specifically, God, am I robbing you?
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 Because I don't want to be like those people who had no clue whatsoever.
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 Am I robbing you?
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 Make it clear for me.
00:34:41 --> 00:34:44 Because I do not want it be said of me.
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 You're robbing me.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 Just like the nations.
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 Amen.