Malachi A Call to Radical Reverence

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MalachiA Call to Radical Reverence

• Malachi 16-11

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Corruption of the Priesthood

• Priestly duties officiating (Lev 216),
  instructing (Lev 1011), judging (Deut 178-11)
• Faithful priests, a great help
• Consequences for the unfaithful
• Failures of example are serious
• A spiritual house, a holy priesthood (1 Pt 25)
• Privilege? Responsibility? Malachi 27,8

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Disregard for Gods Marriage Law

• Unlawful divorce unlawful remarriage
• Malachi 210-16
• Gods marriage law Matthew 193-12
• Only one exception to permanence of marriage
• In the absence of adultery, divorce itself is a
  sin
• Cover the altar . . . with tears (Malachi 213)
• Cant disregard marriage vows and continue to
  worship God without repentance
• Cant mistreat mates and worship God 1 Peter 37

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Degeneracy in Worship

• A mockery of worship Malachi 17,8,12-14
• Shut the doors . . . (Malachi 110)
• Three ways
• Mechanical routine
• Worship ungodly living
• Leftovers
• Worship, a right response to true nature of God
• True conception of God
• Only what God authorizes
• From the heart
• No worse insult to God than irreverence in worship

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Conclusion

• Dangerous to disregard the prophets
• Today, no more powerful prophet than Malachi
• Calls us to radical reverence
• Hear . . . take it to heart (Malachi 21,2)
• Are we willing to be warned?
• Spiritual priesthood
• Gods marriage law
• Worship
• A clear choice Malachi 41,2