Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

092. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 8: The Covenant of Levi

Malachi 2:7-11
 
This rebuke is relevant for us because as New Testament believers, we are all priests. We have been dedicated to God just as the Levites and the firstborn of the Israelites before them. So when we read this indictment, we ought to read it from the viewpoint that it could be addressing us as priests. What are we doing with the covenant of Levi that we have inherited?

091. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 7: Will You Take It to Heart?

Malachi 2:1-7
 
I love that God’s Word is personal, its messages are directed to us individually. And it is also sufficient to meet our deepest needs and speak into our deepest problems. The question is, will we take His Word to heart? The Levites of this time failed that question, but it didn’t have to be that way. We can take God seriously. We can share Him with others and be a mouthpiece for truth in our communities. May we pray for strength to do just that.

090. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 6: A Great King

Malachi 1:12-14 
 
In the final verses of Malachi chapter one, God contrasts the sad condition of Israel with His own greatness. The people are described as defiling and destroying God’s name, calling the table of the Lord marred, and counting God a weariness, and God will not accept their offering. But then we get a glimpse of Him. Perfect, exalted, loving, holy, a great king. May we fix our thoughts on Him and shift our gaze to Him for the year ahead.

089. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 5: Exchanging God for Gain

Malachi 1:10-11
 
As we continue to unpack accusations two and three, God traces the root of their problem to covetousness. It is our love for other things that creep in and redirect our love for God that causes us to offer unworthy service to Him, profane His name, and ultimately question His love for us. God shows His people here that their greed and desire for gain is what caused contempt for the Lord to fester. And as a result, God had contempt for the people. In the end, the Lord will be glorified in the earth, the question is will He accept our worship?

088. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 4: Stop Justifying Yourself!

Malachi 1:6-9
 
We cover the next two questions against God today. The people’s offering showed what they really thought about God’s name. Their thoughts of God corrupted their service for God. Because they didn’t appreciate His love, they didn’t view Him as a loving Father, and therefore they did not offer Him their best. Are we offering God less than we would offer someone else? We need to stop justifying ourselves and humbly accept God’s assessment of our lives before Him.

087. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 3: Doubting God’s Love

Malachi 1:1-5
 
When God describes you as having a certain attitude, you do. It is so important that we realize it is only by being near to God that we can actually discover ourselves. We must spend time with Him, not only to know His thoughts towards us, but so that He can reveal our true thoughts towards Him. If you are struggling with knowing God loves you (and you might not have even realized it), just think on the cross of Calvary and let God’s love astonish you all over again. He does love you! And He proved it when Jesus died for your sin. 
 
If you would like to hear the poem “Let the Stable Still Astonish” by Leslie Leyland Fields, the Breckenhorst Singers have quite a nice version of it. You can listen at the link below:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RIDYrtvn6Y

086. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 2: On Questioning God

Outline of Malachi
 
There are eight rebuttals against the children of Israel in this short book, and God describes the people as having these views:
 
“Wherein hast thou loved us?” (1:2)
“Wherein have we despised thy name?” (1:6)
“Wherein have we polluted thee?” (1:7)
“Wherefore?” (2:14)
“Wherein have we wearied him?” (2:17)
“Wherein shall we return?” (3:7)
“Wherein have we robbed thee?” (3:8)
“What have we spoken so much against thee?” (3:13)
 
It is significant that there are eight of them since the number eight in the Bible symbolizes a new era, which certainly took place during the silence that was implemented after this book. We will get into the details more in our next episode as we dive into the first accusation.

085. Final Words | Studies in Malachi Part 1: My Messenger

Background to Malachi
 
Welcome to the last words of God before the coming of the Messiah to the world. These writings precede over four hundred years of silence from God before the He broke the silence with the glorious announcements that the promises of the Messiah (and of this prophecy) were being fulfilled. Today we lay the groundwork for this book and introduce the theme of these special words from God to mankind.