Church guide

Have you ever felt as though ungodly people are making your life miserable and God does not even seem to even notice? Have you ever wondered why God does not seem to be hearing your prayers? Are you in a situation like that right now? Then you don’t want to miss joining us Sunday morning at 10 as God through His Word will answer life’s hardest questions! Making Disciples; Building Community! The Harvester Center Church Diana, TX

You won’t want to miss Sunday morning as God answers... Rhetorical question #4: “How have we wearied Him?” (Malachi 2:17—3:5) See you then! The Harvester Center Church Diana, TX “Making Disciples; Building Community!”

God turns up the Heat in our lives for purification purposes. He does so with 7 Rhetorical Questions as He did through Malachi: Chapter 1 1. But you say, How hast Thou loved us? (1:2) 2. But you say, How have we despised Thy name? (1:6) 2a. But you say, How have we defiled Thee? (1:7) Chapter 2 3. Yet you say, For what reason? (2:14) 4. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him? (2:17) Chapter 3 5. But you say, How shall we return? (3:7) 6. But you say, How have we robbed Thee? (3:8) 7. Yet you say, What have we spoken against Thee? (3:13 Your response will lead your to a life that is either refined or rejected...it is your choice?

From this weeks message: Malachi starts by asking: Aren't we all one family? (Malachi 2:10-12) He is saying...God is our Father and so, we are all brothers and sisters. But, that's not the way we are acting. That's not the way we are relating to one another. In fact we have taken up a "me & mine" attitude. We live and talk as though we will do what’s best for me and mine! When the “me and mine” attitude is present there's no thought of family and we forget the connecting bond between God and God's people. When we forget who we are God Turns up the Heat!

Belief mixed with unbelief ends in unbelief.

Refined!Turning Up the Heat!

Refined! Turning Up The Heat. Worship

God wants to Refine our lives! And because He does He will Turn up the Heat in our life. In our study through Malachi we are learning to recognize the areas where God Turns up the Heat. God through Malachi uses Seven rhetorical questions to get His peoples attention. We hope you join us Sunday morning at 10 to discover how God is trying to get your attention! The Harvester Center Church “Making Disciples; Building Community!”

Refined:Turning up the Heat (Question 2) "How Have We Despised Your Name?" Malachi 1:6-2:9 What’s the big idea? An example in a Story Absalom the son of King David — Israel’s greatest king began to despise (look down on with contempt/scorn) his father and made plans to become king in his father’s place. He secretly sowed seeds of division and rebellion in his father’s kingdom. He won over the hearts of the Israelites and then openly led a rebellion against his father David in an attempt to take over his kingdom. When Absalom was killed, the Bible says, ‘The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"’ 2Sa 18:33 David’s heart was not to destroy his son, but to save his son, even if it meant dying in his place — that is what God did for us. David was not his enemy, he was his father. He loved him in spite of his rebellion. That pictures God’s relationship to us! What name have we despised? Yahweh,” The English language doesn’t have an exact translation of the word “Yahweh,” so in our Old Testament we see it written as “LORD” in all capital letters. In Jewish tradition, “Yahweh” is too sacred a name to utter out loud. Over time Jews started to substitute in “Adonai,” or “My Lord,” especially when speaking. Another common replacement is the name “Elohim,” which simply means “God.” What’s interesting is that these two replacement names are both used for other things as well, not just God, whereas Yahweh is reserved exclusively as a name for God alone. We see in Exodus 3:14 that God uses “I AM” and “Yahweh” interchangeably, which tells us that “I am” is one way for us to translate the name “Yahweh.” Malachi turns up the Heat by using 6 rhetorical questions meant to Refine God’s people. Last week God began turning up the heat with Question 1: How have you loved us? Today God is turning up the heat with Question 2: “How have we despised your name?” (1:6—2:9). Despise: to treat as insignificant, expendable, and of little value. Who’s was despising God’s name in Malachi? The priests Background: This question takes the priests to task. The book of Nehemiah indicates that there was a number of problems with getting the priests to perform their godly duties with justice and purity. Do you think we, the church, have any issues with God getting us to perform our godly duties with justice and purity? In Malachi... Yahweh reprimands the priests for despising his name which for them means that they are defiling the altar of the (Lord). You may be thinking...I don’t define the altar...I don’t even go to the altar. (That could prove to be more than defilement) In spite of the priests’ protestations of innocence, God says that they bring offerings that violate the aren’t worth giving. Have you ever said “God will be okay with what I am giving...at least I am giving something?” In fact God says...Their gifts and sacrifices aren’t even good enough for the governor . God goes on to say...There will come a time when His name will be glorified among the Gentiles (1:11), but in that time even His own people were polluting his name. Can you see a polluting of God’s name in our nation today? In our homes? In our personal lives? The criticism of the priesthood continues on to chapter 2. Yahweh promises that His judgment on them will take the form of reversal of their pronounced blessings (2:2) and the rebuking of their offspring (2:3). Does it sound like God is okay with whatever you give? God doesn’t take polluting or despising His name lightly! God is saying just keep on doing what you are doing and thinking “it’s okay God loves me He will let it slide...I am forgiven” BUT you won’t like the consequences! God’s love is an equal part justice and an equal part forgiveness. An equal part patience and an equal part wrath. An equal part grace and an equal part judgment. An equal part mercy and an equal part giving those who despise Him the wages that they earned! In contrast to Yahweh’s original plan for the priesthood, these priests have turned from the way and have corrupted the covenant made with their ancestor Levi (2:8-9). What does this have to do with us? I know many of you are thinking...”well I am not a priest...they are held to a higher standard.” A priest is exactly what you are! But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) We were created to honor God with our life! We ought to always honor and respect Him! -Irreverence always leads to a misconception of God. -Irreverence is despising God’s name and holding it in contempt. Malachi 1:1-5 was meant to correct our thinking (misconceptions) about God’s love. Malachi 1:6-2:17 reveals the posture of the people (Evidence of irreverence) before God.  Despising God’s name summarizes everything else in Malachi. How do you and I despise His name or (practice irreverence)? Through our actions! When our actions seek to thwart God’s universal plan. v. 11, 14 we are despising God’s name. Thwart – hinder, obstruct, frustrate, or defeat God will make His name great among the nations with or without you and me! A godly line is identified with the character of God as it was revealed in His names (Ge. 4:26) To keep from despising God’s name we must remember.... GOD'S CHARACTER IS CONSISTENT It is not dependent OF OUR RESPONSE TO IT! OUR VIEWPOINT OF WHO GOD IS... Is SIMPLY a respect/ reverence MATTER...He is God. HONOR AND RESPECT is GOD'S DEMAND OF US (vs 6-14). HONOR, AS RIGHTLY DUE is a proper response to God. RESPECT, AS RIGHTLY DUE is our proper sacrifice. HOW are THESE Inconsistently SHOWN . . . Giving Him less than what we should be giving Him (8) Would we treat someone less than God this way, even a Governor? (8) THINGS WOULD BE BETTER JUST TO honor God (10) THE CHOICE to give a polluted sacrifice is WITH US; HE'S NOT MOVING . . . Maybe there were choices that the priests behaved this way? THERE IS A CHANCE TO change the way we give (2:1-2) THINK ABOUT IT...BECAUSE THE consequence IS NOT GOOD (Our stuff will always come back to us . . .) To be despised and abased before the people (9) WHAT IS GOD calling for IN YOUR LIFE, AND MINE? A relationship characterized by life and peace. He is calling for: -Our reverence -Our standing in awe of His name -Truth coming from our mouths -No unrighteousness in what we say Walk with God in peace. -He is looking for uprightness! (Turns others away from iniquity) How will you respond today...in reverence or by despising His name?

Refined- How Have we Despised Your Name?

Refined-Worship

Have an amazing day!

Refined!Turning Up the Heat!

Refined! Turning Up The Heat. Worship

Refined- How Have we Despised Your Name?

Refined-Worship

Refined- Turning up the Heat

Refined- Worship

Congratulations.... You Made The Team (message)

Congratulations.......You made the team (Worship)

Own It!