WEBVTT

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 Malachi chapter 1. We're starting a new series. A friend of mine conducted a wedding recently and he showed me the wedding programme that he'd been given.

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! The groom was an actor and the service sheet went like this. Wedding St. Clemens starring Elizabeth and James and James and music by Pachelbel and William.

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 conducted by Mark Jones based on the text of the Book of Common Prayer. World premiere 4th of December 2023.

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 You opened it up and on the other side of the front page was the cast. Bride, the bride, the groom, the bridesmaids, the best man, the ushers.

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 It said in small print, understudies not required today.

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 Act 1, some songs and wedding vows. Act 2, Bible readings including some audience participation. Act 3, etc.

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 And the conclusion was the curtain call.

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 On the front of the service sheet for this wedding, it said, marriage, the ultimate theatre piece.

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 James and Elizabeth, the groom and the bride, were aware that weddings are a piece of theatre.

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 There's a ceremony. There's a ceremony. There's rings. There's dresses. There's the churches.

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 But none of those things make a marriage. They only make a wedding.

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 And a wedding is really, isn't it, only half a day in a lifetime of relationship.

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 Of course, in the context of that relationship, a wedding is a beautiful thing.

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 But it's the relationship is far more important, isn't it?

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 The relationship is more important than the wedding.

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 The same is true of our relationship with God.

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 Ceremonies, the outward actions, the vows we make with our lips.

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 Well, they're important.

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 But they're not the most important thing.

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 What counts most is the inner reality.

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 If you like, the inner reality of our relationship to God.

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 And that's the issue that is right at the heart of this little book at the end of the Old Testament, Malachi.

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 Malachi contains God's last words to his people in the Old Testament.

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 It's written about 430 BC.

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 Chapter 1, verse 1, if you look down, says,

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 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

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 The message is called an oracle.

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 It's a word of authority, a word that has come from God.

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 But it's not just any divine word.

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 It's a word from the Lord, capital letters, L-O-R-D.

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 It's God's special covenant name to his people.

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 That was the name by which God had given himself to his people.

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 And he'd marked himself off from any other so-called God.

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 The word Lord, L-O-R-D, in capital letters, speaks of his special relationship with his people.

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 So what we've got here is Yahweh, the Lord God's word to his special people.

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 The name of Malachi just means messenger.

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 And what follows is a record of the one true God, the God of the universe, speaking through his messenger to his people.

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 For the last time.

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 Under the Old Covenant.

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 After this prophecy, there's 400 years of silence until John the Baptist turns up.

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 And so look at verse 2.

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 I have loved you.

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 That seems simple enough.

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 But Israel's response to the question is, you say, how have you loved us?

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 And that introduces us to one of the major themes of Malachi.

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 How you can understand this book.

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 That it's structured behind a series of statements and then questions.

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 We're going to call them disputes.

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 There's six disputes in Malachi.

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 Six disputes where God and his people have this kind of argument.

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 The first dispute is that they dispute God's love.

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 They call God's love into question.

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 I think it's a pretty foolish thing to do.

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 It must have broken God's heart to hear the question.

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 Let me tell you why it's foolish.

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 If you know anything about the Bible and you know anything about the people of Israel,

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 you do not have to be Einstein to realise that God has loved them faithfully, patiently, generously, extravagantly.

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 From the very beginning.

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 And yet Israel questioned God's love.

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 I want you to listen to God's unexpected answer.

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 Look at the end of verse 2.

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 I have loved you, says the Lord.

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 But you say, how have you loved us?

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 Is not Esau Jacob's brother, declares the Lord?

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 Yet I've loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated.

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 I've laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to the jackals of the desert.

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 If Edom says, we are shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins.

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 The Lord of hosts says, they may build, but I will tear down.

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 And they will be called the wicked country and the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.

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 You might not be familiar with the Bible, but Esau and Jacob were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebecca.

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 And Isaac was the son of Abraham, who you probably have heard of.

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 And right back at the start of the Bible, in Genesis 25, we're introduced to these twins, Jacob and Esau.

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 Before they were even born.

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 And so I want to read you just a couple of verses from Genesis 25, 22.

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 The story of Jacob and Esau.

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 It says about before they were born, the children struggled within their mother.

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 And she said, if it is thus, why is this happening to me?

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 Why are they fighting in my womb?

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 So the mum went to inquire before the Lord and the Lord said to her, two nations are in your womb.

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 And two peoples from within you shall be divided.

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 The one shall be stronger than the other.

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 And the older shall serve the younger.

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 Jacob was the younger of the two.

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 And he became the founding father of the people of Israel.

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 Esau was the older of the two and he became the founding father of the nation of Edom.

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 You can see Edom is mentioned in verse 4.

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 The Israelites, do you remember?

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 In the Old Testament, they became the people of God, his treasured possession.

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 The Edomites didn't.

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 And that's what God is reminding the Israelites here at the start of Malachi.

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 When questioned about his love for Israel, he points to the fact that they found favour in his eyes.

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 Even though other nations like Edom didn't.

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 The descendants of Esau, they didn't share.

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 They didn't share the favour of God like Jacob's descendants did.

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 God appeals to their chosenness.

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 That's his answer to their question.

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 How have you loved us?

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 It's an unexpected answer, isn't it?

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 When Israel, the people of God, questioned God's love, I think I would have expected God to say,

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 Well, look at my rescue, how I rescued you in Israel, out of the wilderness of Egypt.

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 I would point to my patients when they grumbled and when they complained and when they went astray.

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 Maybe God would point to his willingness to be their king, to their military triumphs, to a promised land.

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 The list could go on and on, couldn't it?

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 But God doesn't point to any of those things.

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 He goes way further back and he says,

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 You can know I love you because I chose you.

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 I chose you out of all the nations of the earth to be my own.

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 And what is even more unexpected is the way that he talks about his choice of Israel.

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 I want you to imagine for a moment that I take my wife Claire,

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 I haven't got another wife,

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 I take my wife out for a very romantic dinner at a restaurant.

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 And I want you to imagine that she looks longingly at me over the dinner table and she says,

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 How do I know that you love me?

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 Imagine for a moment that I responded like this.

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 Claire, you see that woman at the table over there?

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 I let her tyres down and I threw a brick through her window on the way into the restaurant.

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 That's how I love you.

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 That would be a very odd response, wouldn't it?

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 I don't think that God is saying something as ridiculous as that.

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 But it is surprising what he says.

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 You see, he spoke about his love for Israel and his choice of Israel

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 by focusing on what life has been like for those he hasn't loved and he hasn't chosen.

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 Edom.

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 And he uses really stark language in verse 3 and 4 to make his point clear.

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 God's choice of Israel, the people of God, creates a significant distinction.

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 It's as if the chosen ones are loved and everyone else is hated.

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 And these verses spell out the implications of what those choices have been.

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 Their land is wasted.

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 Even if they try to rebuild, God will not allow them to.

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 Because of his wrath against them because of their sin.

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 And all of that is because of God's choice.

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 And the point that God is making is,

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 I chose you Israel and I chose you alone.

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 Why did God do that?

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 Well, even from the very beginning of God's relationship with his people,

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 God made the reason for his choice very, very clear.

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 Let me read to you this time from Deuteronomy 7, verse 6.

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 You don't have to turn to it.

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 But I'll read to you from Deuteronomy 7, verse 6.

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 And God said to Israel, and he addresses them, and he says,

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 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.

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 The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people

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 for his treasured possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.

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 It was not because you were more in number than any other people

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 that the Lord set his love upon you.

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 For you were the fewest of all peoples.

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 But it is because the Lord loves you

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 and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers

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 that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand

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 and redeemed you from the house of slavery,

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 from the hand of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

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 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God,

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 the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love

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 with those who love him to a thousand generations.

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 It's because of God's love and his faithfulness

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 that he chose Israel the way he did.

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 Which of course makes the logic of Malachi chapter 1 even clearer.

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 God's choice of Israel is evidence of his love for Israel.

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 In fact there's no other reason why he chose them.

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 There was nothing about the people of Israel

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 that made them inherently attractive to God.

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 It was simply because of his undeserved love for them.

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 And the whole question of God choosing some

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 and not choosing others is very troubling isn't it

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 for many Christians.

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 Maybe for you.

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 It can be hard to understand

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 and it can be very hard to accept.

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 And sometimes we ask why.

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 Why does God choose some and not others?

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 And people often say the Bible doesn't tell us why.

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 But that isn't quite right.

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 The Bible does tell us why.

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 God's choice is because of God's love.

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 It's the follow-up question

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 that the Bible chooses not to answer explicitly.

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 Why does God love some in this way

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 and not others?

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 And the Bible's response to that

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 is to encourage us to trust God.

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 Not to grasp at the depths of God's wisdom.

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 To recognize that he is God and we're not.

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 And we don't understand him fully.

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 And we'll never fully comprehend.

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 And that is a question isn't it

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 that requires real humility.

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 But we must remember

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 that the Bible's answer to the first question,

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 why does God choose,

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 is because he loves.

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 And that's not just about God's

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 Old Testament relationship

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 with the Jewish people.

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 It's also the way that the New Testament

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 talks about God's relationship

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 with us as Christians now.

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 Those, if you are a Christian this morning,

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 the Bible says

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 it's because God chose you.

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 And he called you to himself.

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 And why did he choose them?

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 Because he loves them.

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 Paul connects the two things

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 in Ephesians chapter one.

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 He says to the Christians in Ephesus,

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 in love,

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 he predestined them.

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 And it's always been that way with God.

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 And that is why God responded to Israel

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 in Malachi chapter one

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 in the way that he did.

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 How could Israel be sure

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 that God loved them?

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 Well, they only had to look

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 at the Edomites

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 to see what life was like

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 for those whom God did not love

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 and God did not choose.

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 And God is saying

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 that ought to be enough

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 to assure you once and for all

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 that you are his chosen people.

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 And therefore that they were loved.

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 Now before I move on from this,

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 I want to ask another question.

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 I want to ask the question,

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 is God's reply foolish?

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 And I want us to consider that

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 because it is unavoidable

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 when you put these two key elements

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 of the opening verses together.

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 God is giving evidence of his love.

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 Yes.

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 But he's giving evidence to people

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 who've called his love into question.

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 Why is he even answering

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 their challenge at all?

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 God is not answerable to you and I.

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 He doesn't need to defend

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 his love to his people.

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 The evidence is all there.

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 They don't need extra evidence.

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 What's more,

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 this isn't the first time, is it?

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 It isn't the first time

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 that Israel have called

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 God's love into question.

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 In fact,

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 the whole history of the people of God

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 is riddled with them

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 questioning

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 and rejecting

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 and disobeying.

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 They've run away from God

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 again and again and again.

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 When is God's patience

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 with his people going to run out?

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 When will he finally refuse

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 to answer that question?

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 When will he cease to love

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 such an ungrateful people

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 so persistently and so completely?

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 You can see

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 why God's love may seem foolish.

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 Because it's a love for fools.

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 Fools like you and me.

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 It's a love that continues

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 to take a beating.

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 It's a love that keeps

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 getting thrown back in his face.

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 A love that continues

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 to be rejected.

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 If I could say it reverently,

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 is God not a fool

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 to show love to those

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:03.720
 who show no love in return?

00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:07.220
 We need to be really careful,

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:07.500
 don't we,

00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.560
 how we answer that question.

00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:10.540
 But the Bible's answer is this.

00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.560
 What seems foolish

00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:14.080
 in the world's eyes

00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.780
 is often the wisdom of God.

00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:20.319
 But call it what you will,

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:20.759
 it is true,

00:16:20.839 --> 00:16:22.079
 it is true that

00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:23.779
 at the very heart

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:26.059
 of the God of the universe

00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:27.179
 is a God of love.

00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:30.339
 He is so deeply

00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:31.740
 and profoundly committed

00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:32.799
 to those he loves

00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:34.019
 that he will not give up on them.

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.899
 Human sin

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:38.620
 and rebellion

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:40.899
 can never overwhelm his love.

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.980
 His love overwhelms

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.019
 the worst that his people

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.659
 can throw at him.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.539
 And that's the story

00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.539
 that Malachi 1

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.500
 is attempting to tell.

00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:51.159
 It's a familiar story.

00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:51.899
 It's the story,

00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.120
 if you look through the Bible,

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:54.240
 of people like Abraham

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.039
 and Moses

00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:56.120
 and David.

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:58.620
 People who failed God

00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.500
 in big ways

00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.659
 and in small ways,

00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:01.879
 but who were still

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.659
 his chosen people.

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.039
 It's the story

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.559
 of Israel

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.319
 from the beginning

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.279
 to the end,

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.559
 despite their constant

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.680
 rebellion and sin.

00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:12.240
 And it's our story too,

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:12.619
 isn't it?

00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:15.119
 It's the story

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.700
 of the whole Bible.

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:18.579
 God's

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.099
 soft-hearted

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:20.960
 love

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.980
 for a hard-hearted

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:23.379
 people.

00:17:25.639 --> 00:17:26.619
 God's soft-hearted

00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:26.980
 love

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.720
 for a hard-hearted

00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.019
 people.

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.519
 Let's go to the

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.139
 second dispute.

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.220
 And that starts

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.779
 in verse 6.

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.500
 Because the faithful

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.139
 love of God

00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:37.579
 for his people

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.240
 means that

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.240
 he deserves

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.920
 better

00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.839
 than what they

00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:42.480
 were offering him.

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:44.460
 chapter 1

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:44.839
 verse 6.

00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.420
 Look down with me.

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:46.980
 A son

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.940
 honours his father

00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:50.000
 and a servant

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.220
 his master.

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:52.980
 If then I'm a father,

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:53.660
 where's my honour?

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.180
 And if I'm a master,

00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:57.539
 where is my fear?

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.160
 Says the Lord of hosts

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.580
 to you,

00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:00.860
 O priests

00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.900
 who despise my name.

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.100
 And here God

00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:03.840
 is suggesting

00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:04.400
 his need to the

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.120
 Israelite priests,

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.279
 to the religious

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:06.980
 leaders,

00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:09.640
 that they hadn't

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.380
 shown him the honour

00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:11.040
 and the respect

00:18:11.040 --> 00:18:11.700
 that he deserves.

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:15.080
 God is saying,

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.720
 I am your heavenly

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.220
 father,

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.240
 I am your master

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.660
 in heaven,

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.400
 yet you've shown

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.200
 me contempt.

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.680
 God has guided

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.120
 Israel,

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:22.960
 saved Israel,

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.559
 been patient

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.100
 with Israel,

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.019
 loved Israel,

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.120
 yet they've rejected

00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:26.380
 him,

00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.000
 they've been

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.059
 ungrateful to him,

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:28.980
 they've sinned

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.460
 against him,

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.519
 and God is saying,

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.940
 I deserve better.

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.400
 They've shown

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.340
 contempt for

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:35.860
 his name.

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.080
 But as we just

00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:40.960
 read in verse 5,

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.880
 as Malachi says

00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.779
 again and again,

00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.840
 God's name is great

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:45.019
 and worthy of praise

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.600
 and honour.

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:49.140
 So look at verse 11.

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.779
 For from the rising

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.279
 of the sun

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:52.799
 to its setting,

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.519
 my name will be

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.460
 great among the nations,

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.400
 and in every place

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:57.559
 incense will be

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.380
 offered to my name

00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.000
 in a pure offering,

00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.880
 for my name will be

00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:01.000
 great among the nations,

00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:01.740
 says the Lord of hosts.

00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:02.480
 Then look at the end

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.559
 of verse 14.

00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:05.140
 For I am a great king,

00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.279
 says the Lord of hosts,

00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:09.500
 and my name will be

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.360
 feared among the nations.

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:13.000
 He's saying,

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.819
 this is who I am,

00:19:13.840 --> 00:19:14.700
 and it's precisely

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:16.220
 that which the

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.340
 Israelite leaders

00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:18.960
 had failed to reckon with.

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.380
 The ones who

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.340
 should have been

00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:23.400
 representing

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:25.000
 the people before God

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.840
 and nurturing

00:19:25.840 --> 00:19:26.779
 their relationship

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.299
 with God

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.319
 were the very

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.319
 ones who were

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.120
 responsible for

00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.920
 not giving God

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.500
 the respect

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.019
 and honour

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.600
 that he's due.

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.100
 Instead,

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.460
 they showed

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:39.019
 contempt for his name.

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.099
 So look at the end

00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.740
 of verse 6

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.119
 and see the dispute,

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.420
 the second dispute.

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.639
 They say,

00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.299
 how?

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.940
 You say,

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.859
 how have we

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.619
 shown contempt

00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:50.240
 for your name?

00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:52.680
 Listen to how God

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.000
 puts it,

00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.700
 verse 7.

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:54.859
 He answers them

00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:55.160
 by saying,

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.019
 by offering polluted

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.960
 food on my altar.

00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:58.299
 But you say,

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.119
 how have we

00:19:59.119 --> 00:19:59.700
 polluted you?

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.519
 By saying that

00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.019
 the Lord's table

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.980
 may be despised.

00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.700
 When you offer

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.660
 a blind animal

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:05.259
 in sacrifice,

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.059
 is that not evil?

00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.899
 Or when you offer

00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:07.919
 the lame or the sick,

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.740
 is that not evil?

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:10.000
 Present that to your

00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.259
 governor,

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.179
 take it to your boss,

00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.279
 will he accept it?

00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:13.119
 Will he show you favour?

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.859
 They were offering,

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.359
 weren't they,

00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.399
 defective sacrifices.

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.299
 Animal sacrifices

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.539
 were a central part

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:24.139
 of Old Testament

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.539
 worship,

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.460
 of their relationship

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.940
 with God.

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:27.899
 They were the way

00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:28.839
 that God had provided

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.720
 for Israel's sin

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.379
 to be dealt with

00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.339
 and for Israel

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.319
 to express devotion.

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:35.559
 Way back when God

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.419
 introduced

00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:39.079
 sacrifices,

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.700
 he made it clear.

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.159
 He says,

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.240
 when you come to me

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:42.779
 to worship,

00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:44.200
 second class

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.939
 sacrifices won't do.

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.419
 Let me read you

00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:49.500
 from Leviticus chapter 1

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.039
 verse 10.

00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.019
 It says,

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.099
 if his gift

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.819
 or burnt offering

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.500
 is from the flock,

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.019
 from the sheep

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.460
 or the goats,

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.700
 he shall bring a male

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.419
 without blemish,

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.559
 the best of the sheep.

00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.639
 Offering

00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:01.099
 an animal to God

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:02.299
 without any defect

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.700
 was to be an expression

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.139
 of our love

00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:06.259
 and worship to God.

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.579
 That they'd show respect

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:11.279
 by an honouring him

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.279
 by bringing the best.

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.839
 The best animal

00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.419
 from their flock

00:21:14.419 --> 00:21:14.819
 or herd.

00:21:15.159 --> 00:21:15.940
 But a thousand years

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.779
 on from that,

00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:20.339
 when God had given

00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:20.919
 an instruction

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.819
 to these priests,

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.039
 we find that

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.500
 they were disobeying.

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.039
 They were bringing

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.259
 any old animal

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:28.559
 will do,

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.419
 anything will do

00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:29.919
 for God.

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:32.180
 And so Malachi

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.980
 brings God's

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.680
 word of rebuke

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.019
 to them

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.920
 and he says,

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:36.000
 you're cheating me.

00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.620
 Look at the end

00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.120
 of the chapter.

00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:41.259
 It says this,

00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.120
 when you bring

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:42.820
 what has been taken

00:21:42.820 --> 00:21:43.420
 by violence

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.320
 or is lame or sick

00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:45.019
 and this you bring

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.539
 as your offering,

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:46.259
 shall I accept that

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.840
 from your hand,

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.460
 says the Lord?

00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.940
 Cursed be the cheat

00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:52.080
 who is a male

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.539
 in his flock

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.220
 and vows it

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.039
 and yet sacrifices

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.440
 to the Lord

00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.120
 what is blemished.

00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:56.419
 For I'm a great king,

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.199
 says the Lord of hosts

00:21:57.199 --> 00:21:57.919
 and my name

00:21:57.919 --> 00:21:58.599
 is to be feared

00:21:58.599 --> 00:22:00.019
 among the nations.

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.519
 And what is even more,

00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.739
 just two verses before

00:22:03.739 --> 00:22:04.779
 in verses 12 and 13,

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.639
 they say the whole thing

00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.799
 is just a burden, God.

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.159
 You profane it

00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:09.579
 when you say

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.500
 that the Lord's table

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.139
 is polluted

00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:11.919
 and its fruit,

00:22:12.219 --> 00:22:12.859
 that its food

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.799
 may be despised

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.599
 but you say

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:16.099
 what a weariness

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.799
 is this?

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.859
 And you snort

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.379
 at it.

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:23.200
 Even offering

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.680
 bargain basement

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:26.500
 disabled animals

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:28.620
 was something

00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.320
 that they considered

00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:30.260
 a real drag.

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.560
 Israel were giving

00:22:32.560 --> 00:22:33.280
 second best

00:22:33.280 --> 00:22:34.320
 blemished sacrifices

00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:35.280
 to God

00:22:35.280 --> 00:22:36.420
 and they're even

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.560
 doing it begrudgingly.

00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:39.720
 And they're treating

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:41.080
 something very sacred,

00:22:41.300 --> 00:22:42.080
 very important

00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:42.880
 in their relationship

00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:43.660
 with God

00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.340
 with contempt.

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.440
 As if doing it

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.000
 the way that

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.900
 God wanted

00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:51.019
 didn't really matter

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:53.059
 despite what

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.680
 he deserved.

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.880
 And God responds

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.640
 verse 10 with anger.

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.220
 Can you see that?

00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.339
 He says this,

00:22:59.460 --> 00:22:59.660
 Oh,

00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:00.940
 that there was

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.799
 one among you

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.359
 who would shut

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:02.880
 the doors

00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.940
 that might not

00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:05.119
 kindle fire

00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:06.299
 on my altar in vain.

00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.220
 I've no pleasure

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.579
 in you,

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.339
 says the Lord of hosts

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.200
 and I will not

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.980
 accept an offering

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.740
 from your hand.

00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.619
 The word there

00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:14.920
 is useless fires.

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:18.119
 The animal sacrifices

00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:19.039
 they were usually

00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.619
 burned,

00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.479
 but God says

00:23:20.479 --> 00:23:21.139
 the fires

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:21.919
 that you Israelites

00:23:21.919 --> 00:23:22.659
 are lighting

00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:24.399
 to burn your sacrifices

00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.099
 are useless.

00:23:27.199 --> 00:23:28.179
 These sacrifices,

00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:30.359
 they make no difference

00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:30.839
 at all

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.459
 to your relationship

00:23:31.459 --> 00:23:31.879
 with me.

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:35.019
 There may be fires

00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.799
 but they're leaving

00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:36.639
 God cold.

00:23:37.979 --> 00:23:38.819
 And he's saying

00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.619
 I'd rather that

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.639
 someone came along

00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:41.699
 and shut and locked

00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:42.719
 the doors of the temple.

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.779
 I'd rather you

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.420
 didn't even come

00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.039
 into the temple

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.200
 than to have you

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.940
 continue with your

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.819
 half-hearted,

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.660
 ritualistic excuses

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.259
 for worship.

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:53.819
 Do you see,

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.519
 the Israelite leaders,

00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.019
 the priests,

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:57.120
 they are presiding

00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:58.360
 over a religion

00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:59.600
 that has got no heart

00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:00.460
 and no reality.

00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.380
 It's not a genuine

00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:05.400
 relationship with God.

00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.819
 They're going through

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.339
 the motions,

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.519
 through the outward show,

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:11.460
 but there's nothing

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.859
 of God in their hearts.

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.279
 And they might have

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.720
 thought,

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:17.039
 our coming to church

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.839
 were keeping God happy

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.980
 but they weren't.

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.539
 In fact,

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.700
 they were making him angry

00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:24.079
 because their relationship

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.460
 with God

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.700
 was just a theatre piece.

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:28.039
 It was all wedding,

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:28.819
 no marriage.

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.160
 And it wasn't just

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:32.059
 a one-off problem,

00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.379
 was it?

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:34.220
 Because 300 years earlier

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.220
 the prophet Isaiah

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.200
 had said about the people

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.579
 then,

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.259
 he says,

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.180
 they come

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.879
 and they draw near

00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.660
 to me with their mouth,

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.280
 they honour me

00:24:40.280 --> 00:24:40.920
 with their lips,

00:24:41.020 --> 00:24:41.620
 but their hearts

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.400
 are far from me.

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.980
 And their worship

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.400
 actually is made up

00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:47.440
 only of rules

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.460
 taught by men.

00:24:50.260 --> 00:24:51.180
 And 400 years

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.040
 after Malachi,

00:24:52.260 --> 00:24:53.220
 in the time of Jesus,

00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:54.080
 the Jewish leaders

00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:55.120
 were still at it.

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.020
 And Jesus' conflict

00:24:58.020 --> 00:24:59.360
 is about this very issue,

00:24:59.440 --> 00:24:59.580
 isn't it?

00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.360
 In Mark 7,

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:02.160
 remember all the Pharisees

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.720
 and the teachers

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.060
 of the law,

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.820
 they were upset

00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:05.320
 because Jesus' followers

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.180
 were eating food

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:07.640
 with unwashed hands.

00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:10.200
 And Jesus quotes

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:10.500
 to them,

00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:11.240
 Isaiah 29,

00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:11.740
 13,

00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:12.060
 he says,

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.740
 you people,

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.100
 you worship me

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.600
 with your lips

00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.160
 but your hearts

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.920
 far from me.

00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:19.040
 It's all outward forms,

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.360
 it's all rule keeping,

00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:21.580
 it's all rituals,

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:23.080
 it's all being seen,

00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:24.520
 but no heart.

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.560
 No inward reality,

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.440
 it's a theatre piece.

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.460
 And Jesus warns us,

00:25:30.540 --> 00:25:30.740
 doesn't he,

00:25:30.800 --> 00:25:31.740
 really clearly

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.320
 that we need

00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:34.040
 to be careful

00:25:34.040 --> 00:25:36.220
 of being hypocritical

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.620
 like them.

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.460
 To not be like

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.120
 the Pharisees

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:42.279
 in the days of Jesus' day

00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.019
 or the priests

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.620
 and the people

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.519
 in Malachi's day

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:46.799
 because the problem

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.539
 is still with us

00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.039
 right now,

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.420
 isn't it?

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.880
 Sometimes we get

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.380
 caught up

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:53.740
 in the outward displays

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.120
 of religion

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:57.539
 while inwardly

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.319
 we're really cold

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:58.980
 towards God.

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.180
 And we do

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.240
 all the right things

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:02.900
 but our hearts

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.660
 are far from him.

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:06.600
 And so you can wear

00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:07.400
 a cross

00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:09.200
 around your neck.

00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:11.480
 You can say

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.519
 on your CV

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:14.720
 that you are a Christian

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:16.200
 and you go to church.

00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:18.820
 You might carry

00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:20.440
 a well-worn Bible

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.720
 with you to church maybe.

00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:23.180
 Maybe you read your Bible

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.080
 on the tube.

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:26.980
 Are they signs

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.060
 of mere religion

00:26:28.060 --> 00:26:30.220
 or relationship with God?

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.320
 You might turn up

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:32.779
 to church

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.980
 and sing heartily.

00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:36.099
 You might

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:37.639
 take of the Lord's Supper

00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.700
 when it comes around

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.139
 but is it just

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:41.240
 outward observance?

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.279
 Or do those things

00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.139
 reflect a genuine

00:26:44.139 --> 00:26:44.899
 love for God?

00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:46.879
 You may have been

00:26:46.879 --> 00:26:47.819
 baptised in a church,

00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:49.039
 confirmed in a church.

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:49.919
 You may have been

00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:51.339
 in church all your life

00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:53.039
 but was that because

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:53.559
 you honoured

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.700
 and respected God

00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.319
 or because

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.099
 you're just going

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.740
 through the motions?

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.339
 You might read your Bible

00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.139
 and pray every day.

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:02.480
 You might lead Sunday school

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.080
 or youth group.

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.620
 You might even

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.420
 preach a sermon.

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.780
 But is it just

00:27:07.780 --> 00:27:08.700
 because of what you do?

00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:11.280
 Because it's possible

00:27:11.280 --> 00:27:12.480
 to do all those things

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.000
 with a heart

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.860
 that's far from God,

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.200
 isn't it?

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:21.340
 Is it just habit?

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.819
 What others expect

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.900
 or do you do them

00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:26.279
 out of a heart

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.519
 that burns

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:29.779
 a deep longing

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.700
 to please

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.660
 the God that you love?

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.120
 And that's the kind

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:34.920
 of hard question

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.900
 Malachi asks you

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.580
 and I this morning.

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.400
 He's asking us

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:39.980
 about our willingness.

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:42.220
 The Israelites

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.519
 sniffed at their

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.680
 or snorted

00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:45.640
 at their obligations.

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.640
 They said,

00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.640
 what a burden.

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.099
 Are we like that?

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.620
 Dragging ourselves

00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.279
 out of bed

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.819
 or off the sofa

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.700
 begrudgingly

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.440
 on Sundays

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.500
 for church.

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.620
 Or do we

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.860
 leap at the chance

00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.640
 to meet

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.440
 with the people of God?

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:04.160
 Do we transfer

00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.319
 our money

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.460
 to the church

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.039
 joyfully

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.899
 or are we thinking

00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.240
 oh,

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.639
 I could have bought

00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:10.299
 loads of that?

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.519
 Saving others

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.599
 with joy in our heart

00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:14.359
 or just wishing

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:15.700
 they'd get their act

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:15.960
 together

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.899
 and sort their lives out?

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.819
 There are many things.

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:21.200
 There are good things

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:24.619
 that we do

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.920
 but things

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.159
 which have no value

00:28:27.159 --> 00:28:27.940
 before God

00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:29.579
 if they're done

00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.240
 begrudgingly

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:32.399
 or if we do them

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.039
 just because we're

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.920
 going through the motions.

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.139
 God wants us

00:28:38.139 --> 00:28:38.980
 to give, doesn't he,

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.799
 to him cheerfully

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.639
 and wholeheartedly.

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.299
 And so Malachi 1

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.980
 is so challenging

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.259
 isn't it

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:44.960
 because it says to you

00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.879
 unless the things

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.779
 we do flow

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.740
 from our hearts

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.139
 that truly honour God

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:50.240
 they are what Malachi

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.579
 calls useless fires.

00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:55.079
 And God says to us

00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.480
 this morning

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.519
 rather than carry on

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.200
 with your rituals

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.599
 and your religious duties

00:28:58.599 --> 00:29:01.319
 God would rather

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.379
 that we built a wall

00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:02.920
 at the front

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.619
 of the entrance

00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:05.299
 and put a chain

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:05.960
 around the gates

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.720
 and boarded up

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.079
 the entrance

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.539
 of the church

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.079
 and carry on

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:10.680
 and closed down

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.279
 the youth group

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:13.079
 so that we'd

00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:13.960
 no longer insult him.

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.440
 It's not an issue

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.420
 of us doing good

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.460
 for bad reasons.

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.380
 It's not as if

00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.100
 they kind of cancel

00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:22.819
 each other out.

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.299
 It's not neutral.

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.240
 It is offensive

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.860
 to God.

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.880
 It's not what

00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.920
 our Father in Heaven

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.880
 or what our Master

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.640
 in Heaven deserves.

00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.820
 It's not what

00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:36.320
 our God

00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:37.000
 our Saviour

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.500
 our King

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.100
 deserved.

00:29:38.280 --> 00:29:38.780
 And if that is

00:29:38.780 --> 00:29:39.640
 what you're engaged

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.380
 in this morning

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:43.120
 God's word to you

00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:43.560
 is

00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:44.680
 I wish you

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.200
 wouldn't bother.

00:29:48.020 --> 00:29:49.140
 I'd rather receive

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.480
 nothing from you

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.840
 than be insulted

00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.300
 like this

00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:53.180
 by your sacrifices.

00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.300
 They don't move me

00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:56.640
 they actually show me

00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.040
 contempt

00:29:57.040 --> 00:29:58.080
 they're pieces of theatre

00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:59.040
 they're useless fires.

00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:02.000
 I meet

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.259
 lots of people

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.960
 who are not Christians

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.659
 and maybe you're not

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.500
 a Christian this morning

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:07.019
 and one of the things

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:08.500
 they really hate

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.119
 is they hate

00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.399
 the hypocrisy of Christians.

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.019
 And I want to say

00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.279
 to you

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.200
 if you're here

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.700
 this morning

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.480
 and that's you

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:16.099
 you don't hate it

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.619
 half as much

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.180
 as God does.

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.480
 He says to his people

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.559
 don't burn the sacrifices

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.059
 any longer.

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.680
 And Israel's problem

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.460
 the Pharisees problem

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.480
 is my problem too.

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:30.160
 And we maybe

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:30.880
 need to recognise

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.880
 how displeased

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.559
 God is with us

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.740
 how rude we've been to him.

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.620
 He seeks the fruit

00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.799
 of a genuine relationship

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.079
 with him

00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:37.880
 not mere religion.

00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.940
 He looks for a fire

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.440
 in the heart

00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:42.819
 not our useless fires

00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:43.299
 which are really

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.240
 no sacrifice at all.

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.180
 That's the challenge

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.960
 God's word has

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.500
 for us today.

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.940
 But what are the answers?

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.400
 Do I leave you in despair?

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.720
 Let me give you

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.140
 what I think are

00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:56.059
 God's two answers

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.640
 to this

00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.180
 this morning.

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.120
 The first one

00:30:59.120 --> 00:31:00.059
 is the word repentance

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.740
 which means

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:03.099
 stopping what you're doing

00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:04.299
 and expressing sorrow

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.900
 and turning

00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.880
 in another direction.

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.420
 For Israel

00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:09.960
 it meant

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.360
 didn't it

00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.000
 in this passage

00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.759
 stop offering

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.259
 the

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.460
 kind of

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.519
 blemish sacrifices.

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:15.660
 It meant

00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.779
 doing things

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.460
 with a heart

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.120
 to God

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:19.000
 with gladness.

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.920
 And we live

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:22.200
 a long time

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.819
 after Malachi

00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:24.079
 because Jesus came

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.700
 and he is

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.980
 the great sacrifice.

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:27.140
 we don't have to come

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.059
 with animal sacrifices

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:28.460
 thankfully.

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.160
 But the New Testament

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.220
 calls on us

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:34.000
 to offer our whole life

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:36.019
 that's our sacrifice.

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.740
 Listen to what

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.860
 the Apostle Paul says.

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.299
 He says

00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.519
 I appeal to you

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:40.839
 therefore

00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.200
 brothers

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.960
 by the mercies

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.460
 of God

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.279
 to present

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.960
 your bodies

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:45.039
 as a living

00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:46.200
 sacrifice.

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.859
 Holy and

00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.680
 acceptable to God

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.299
 which is your

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:50.039
 spiritual worship.

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.220
 All that I have

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:52.019
 all that I am.

00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:54.420
 and that's going

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.000
 to involve me

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.980
 trusting God

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.339
 isn't it?

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:59.079
 But as Malachi

00:31:59.079 --> 00:31:59.700
 reminds us

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.559
 we'd be really

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.139
 foolish

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:02.319
 not to trust

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:02.920
 God

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.460
 even with our

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:03.879
 lives.

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.799
 It's really

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.339
 what a Christian

00:32:07.339 --> 00:32:07.700
 is.

00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:09.319
 A Christian

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:09.799
 is someone

00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.720
 who trusts

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.139
 God

00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:11.900
 with their life.

00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.259
 And that is

00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.579
 what God

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.500
 wants of us.

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.119
 He wants

00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:16.579
 our all.

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.019
 He wants

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.700
 everything.

00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.160
 He wants

00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.119
 our whole life

00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:19.900
 to be an act

00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.519
 of worship

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.000
 to him.

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:23.099
 that we may

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.660
 live the way

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.019
 he wants

00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:24.480
 with hearts

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.180
 of gladness.

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.019
 And actually

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.720
 repenting

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.819
 means expressing

00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:30.279
 right sorrow

00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.039
 and turning

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.480
 away from

00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.039
 anything less

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.420
 than that.

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.619
 But the

00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.180
 second answer

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.460
 to the

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:36.940
 question is

00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.279
 this.

00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.819
 We can't

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.140
 do that

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:40.440
 can we?

00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.400
 I certainly

00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:42.740
 can't.

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.900
 You see

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:46.440
 God does

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:46.920
 want me

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.400
 and he

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:47.980
 wants you

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.500
 this morning

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.119
 to repent

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.799
 but ultimately

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.359
 that won't

00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:50.660
 do.

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:53.779
 he wanted

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.660
 Israel to

00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:55.039
 repent

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:56.019
 but even

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.279
 if they

00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:56.619
 did that

00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:56.859
 wouldn't

00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:57.500
 have made

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:57.799
 everything

00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:58.240
 right.

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:00.920
 Because

00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.660
 we're still

00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.220
 sinful human

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.640
 beings aren't

00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:02.799
 we?

00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.319
 And we

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:04.799
 will continue

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.119
 to fail

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.400
 and God

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:05.960
 knows that

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.460
 of course

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:06.819
 he knows

00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.160
 that and

00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:07.680
 we're so

00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.180
 foolish

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.599
 that we

00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.720
 hear a

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.180
 challenging

00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:10.819
 word like

00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.660
 we hear

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.160
 today from

00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.420
 Malachi

00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:12.920
 chapter 1

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.099
 and we

00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:13.259
 think

00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:13.400
 do you

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.480
 know

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:13.619
 what

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:13.740
 I'm

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.279
 going to

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:14.700
 try a

00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:14.799
 bit

00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.059
 harder

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.299
 I'm

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.460
 going to

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:15.700
 lift

00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:15.940
 my

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.380
 game

00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:16.700
 for a

00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:16.920
 while

00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:17.579
 but I

00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:17.740
 can

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.059
 promise

00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:18.240
 you

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.539
 what will

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:18.740
 happen

00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.079
 is you'll

00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.680
 fall back

00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:19.980
 into your

00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.500
 old habits

00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:22.700
 you'll be

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.019
 lighting

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:23.480
 useless

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:23.900
 fires

00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.120
 within

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:24.560
 days

00:33:24.560 --> 00:33:27.080
 because

00:33:27.080 --> 00:33:27.680
 my

00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:28.180
 sacrifice

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.519
 to God

00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:28.920
 and your

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.340
 sacrifice

00:33:29.340 --> 00:33:29.640
 to God

00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:29.980
 will never

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.539
 be perfect

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.160
 never be

00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:31.440
 without

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:31.900
 blemish

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:34.519
 so listen

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:34.740
 to me

00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:34.960
 for a

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.259
 moment

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.300
 what

00:33:36.300 --> 00:33:36.600
 Peter

00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:36.940
 says

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.080
 to

00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:37.240
 the

00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:37.759
 Christians

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.480
 in

00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:38.880
 1 Peter

00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.080
 1

00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:39.280
 and I

00:33:39.280 --> 00:33:39.500
 want you

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.060
 to soak

00:33:40.060 --> 00:33:40.420
 in this

00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:40.780
 today

00:33:40.780 --> 00:33:42.960
 knowing

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.400
 that you

00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.660
 were

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.440
 ransomed

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.780
 from

00:33:45.780 --> 00:33:46.380
 futile

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:46.720
 ways

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.160
 inherited

00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:47.380
 from

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:47.540
 your

00:33:47.540 --> 00:33:48.100
 forefathers

00:33:48.100 --> 00:33:48.680
 not

00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:48.880
 with

00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:49.420
 perishable

00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:49.800
 things

00:33:49.800 --> 00:33:50.140
 such

00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:50.340
 as

00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:50.980
 silver

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.200
 or

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.500
 gold

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:51.900
 but

00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.120
 you

00:33:52.120 --> 00:33:52.300
 were

00:33:52.300 --> 00:33:52.740
 ransomed

00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:52.980
 with

00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.200
 the

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.720
 precious

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.500
 blood

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:54.700
 of

00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.100
 Christ

00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:55.960
 like

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.200
 that

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:56.320
 of

00:33:56.320 --> 00:33:56.519
 a

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:56.820
 lamb

00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:57.420
 without

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:58.000
 spot

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.640
 or

00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:58.920
 without

00:33:58.920 --> 00:33:59.519
 blemish

00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:02.500
 the

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:02.700
 Lord

00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.019
 Jesus

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.000
 rescues

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.379
 us

00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:05.339
 from

00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:05.500
 an

00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:05.819
 empty

00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.059
 way

00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:06.200
 of

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.539
 life

00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:08.820
 he

00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:09.300
 rescues

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.519
 us

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:09.780
 from

00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:10.539
 empty

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.079
 fires

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.380
 kind

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.539
 of

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:11.780
 way

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:11.880
 of

00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.019
 life

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.119
 and

00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.219
 how

00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:12.380
 does

00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:12.480
 he

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:12.619
 do

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:12.800
 that

00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.000
 he

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.579
 does

00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:13.880
 that

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.139
 by

00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:14.699
 offering

00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.259
 himself

00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:16.179
 as

00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:16.420
 an

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.079
 unblemished

00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.639
 sacrifice

00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:17.840
 to

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.119
 God

00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.679
 he's

00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:19.800
 the

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:19.980
 only

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.280
 one

00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:20.500
 that

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:20.820
 ever

00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:21.320
 needed

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:21.860
 to

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:22.019
 be

00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:22.280
 offered

00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.000
 in

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.259
 fact

00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:24.559
 it

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:24.820
 is

00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.519
 only

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:25.980
 because

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.360
 Jesus

00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:26.780
 made

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.039
 that

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.599
 sacrifice

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:27.860
 that

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.099
 God

00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.259
 will

00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:28.480
 allow

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:28.780
 you

00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:29.000
 to

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.199
 make

00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:29.320
 a

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:29.780
 sacrifice

00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:29.960
 for

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:30.100
 him

00:34:30.100 --> 00:34:32.100
 our

00:34:32.100 --> 00:34:32.640
 feeble

00:34:32.640 --> 00:34:33.180
 attempts

00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:33.400
 at

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:33.840
 sacrifice

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.059
 are

00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.320
 only

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:34.900
 acceptable

00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.320
 because

00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:35.620
 of

00:34:35.620 --> 00:34:35.860
 his

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.260
 ultimate

00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:36.880
 sacrifice

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:39.840
 in that

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.039
 sense

00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:40.519
 even our

00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:40.960
 repentance

00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.340
 is a

00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:41.600
 waste

00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:41.980
 of time

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.220
 isn't it

00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:42.400
 without

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:42.780
 Jesus

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:45.080
 but because

00:34:45.080 --> 00:34:45.420
 of Jesus

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:45.920
 it's not

00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:47.780
 Jesus

00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:48.140
 did

00:34:48.140 --> 00:34:49.300
 what

00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:49.780
 Israel

00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:50.059
 could

00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:50.519
 never

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.760
 do

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:51.180
 perfectly

00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:52.480
 or

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:52.980
 consistently

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.740
 and

00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:54.080
 Jesus

00:34:54.080 --> 00:34:54.700
 did

00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:54.960
 what

00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.360
 you

00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:55.580
 and

00:34:55.580 --> 00:34:55.900
 I

00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:56.200
 can

00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:56.600
 never

00:34:56.600 --> 00:34:56.820
 do

00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.280
 consistently

00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:57.480
 or

00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:57.800
 perfectly

00:34:57.800 --> 00:34:59.420
 and

00:34:59.420 --> 00:34:59.720
 Jesus

00:34:59.720 --> 00:35:00.560
 sacrifice

00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:02.480
 today

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.260
 brings

00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:04.140
 forgiveness

00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:04.820
 to those

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.100
 who will

00:35:05.100 --> 00:35:05.420
 trust

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:05.720
 him

00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:07.460
 the

00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:08.039
 blemishes

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:08.640
 on all

00:35:08.640 --> 00:35:09.140
 our lives

00:35:09.140 --> 00:35:09.539
 are swept

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:09.940
 away

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:11.700
 Jesus

00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:12.080
 can put

00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:12.380
 out our

00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:12.700
 useless

00:35:12.700 --> 00:35:13.140
 fires

00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:13.400
 and he

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:13.519
 can

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:13.940
 ignite

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.420
 a fire

00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:14.680
 in our

00:35:14.680 --> 00:35:14.860
 heart

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.060
 that will

00:35:15.060 --> 00:35:15.280
 never

00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:15.480
 go

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:15.820
 away

00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:17.220
 that will

00:35:17.220 --> 00:35:17.420
 never

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:17.600
 go

00:35:17.600 --> 00:35:17.820
 out

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.440
 Israel's

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.680
 story

00:35:18.680 --> 00:35:19.039
 is my

00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.440
 story

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:19.980
 and yours

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:21.980
 love

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.240
 we

00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:22.579
 too

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.019
 call

00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:23.219
 don't

00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:23.360
 we

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:23.639
 God's

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:23.860
 love

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.039
 into

00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.500
 question

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.900
 and yet

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.079
 he

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.320
 can

00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:26.880
 say

00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:27.219
 to his

00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:27.579
 people

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.159
 with

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.619
 perfect

00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:29.179
 integrity

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:29.539
 I

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:29.719
 have

00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:30.000
 loved

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.240
 you

00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.719
 we

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:31.960
 too

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.179
 have

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.460
 found

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:32.679
 that

00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:33.179
 God

00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:33.780
 is

00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:34.059
 full

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.179
 of

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.400
 a

00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:34.800
 soft

00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:35.340
 hearted

00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:35.639
 love

00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:35.840
 for

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.000
 a

00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.280
 hard

00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:36.659
 hearted

00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:36.960
 people

00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:38.800
 his

00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:39.059
 love

00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:39.219
 is

00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.699
 ultimately

00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:40.719
 unquestionable

00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.440
 and his

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:41.699
 love

00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:42.119
 changes

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:42.400
 our

00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:42.699
 hearts

00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:43.099
 forever

00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:45.339
 in the

00:35:45.339 --> 00:35:45.659
 words

00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:47.380
 of our

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:47.739
 closing

00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:48.059
 hymn

00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:48.519
 love

00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.079
 so

00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:49.679
 amazing

00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:51.559
 so

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.199
 divine

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:53.759
 demands

00:35:53.759 --> 00:35:53.940
 my

00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.279
 soul

00:35:54.279 --> 00:35:54.599
 my

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:54.960
 life

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.460
 my

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:55.759
 all

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:58.159
 and so

00:35:58.159 --> 00:35:58.839
 the

00:35:58.839 --> 00:35:59.079
 apostle

00:35:59.079 --> 00:35:59.400
 Paul

00:35:59.400 --> 00:35:59.639
 says

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.000
 in view

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.139
 of

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.519
 God's

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:00.960
 mercy

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.279
 brothers

00:36:01.279 --> 00:36:01.480
 and

00:36:01.480 --> 00:36:01.759
 sisters

00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:03.579
 I

00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:03.880
 urge

00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:04.019
 you

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:04.199
 to

00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:04.539
 offer

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:04.819
 your

00:36:04.819 --> 00:36:05.239
 body

00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:06.619
 as

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:06.880
 a

00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.139
 living

00:36:07.139 --> 00:36:07.799
 sacrifice

00:36:07.799 --> 00:36:08.339
 holy

00:36:08.339 --> 00:36:08.799
 and

00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:09.279
 pleasing

00:36:09.279 --> 00:36:09.599
 to

00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:09.819
 God

00:36:09.819 --> 00:36:10.079
 that

00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:10.279
 is

00:36:10.279 --> 00:36:10.500
 your

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:10.960
 spiritual

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.500
 act

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.579
 of

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:12.880
 worship

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:15.059
 let's

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.240
 pray