All In
Malachi
Majoring on the Minors
August 20, 2023
1 This is the message the Lord gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi [my messenger]. —Malachi 1:1
MINISTRY
18 Now all [these new] things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. —2 Corinthians 5:18
7 “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. 8 “When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord. —Malachi 1:7-8
MINISTRY/MARRIAGE
You’ve broken your marriage vows; you have broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion. God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. Guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don’t cheat on your spouse. “I hate divorce,” says the God of Israel. God says, “I hate the violent dismembering of the ‘one flesh’ of marriage.” So, watch yourselves. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t cheat. —Malachi 2:14b-16
Your ultimate purpose for marriage is not happiness but Holiness. —Gary Thomas - Sacred Marriage
It’s the opportunity to experience a personal holy transformation in christ resulting in growing closer together with your spouse.
GOD’S GRACE REDEFINES OUR STATUS
MINISTRY
MINISTRY / MARRIAGE
MINISTRY / MARRIAGE / MONEY
“I the Lord do not change… You have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… Test me in this,” says the Lord, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord. —Malachi 3:6-12
The only way to live life open-handed, instead of tight-fisted, is by learning to be good stewards and managers of everything God has given us.
I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!” —Malachi 3:10
Begin honoring God with what you have, and he will make sure YOU HAVE ENOUGH!
Our tithe and offering are expressions of worship.
To condition the heart against greed and selfishness.
Your purpose cannot be fulfilled when your concern is solely the profit. The real test of riches is not having it but giving it away. —Thomas Dexter Jakes
Just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and love, see that you also excel in the grace of giving. —2 Corinthians 8:7
GOD’S GRACE REDEFINES OUR GIVING
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. —2 Corinthians 8:9
Is Christ the center of your MINSTRY?
Is Christ the center of your MARRIAGE?
Is Christ the center of your MONEY?
Is your giving CHRIST CENTERED?
Is Christ the center of your LIFE?
COMMUNION
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” —John 1:29, 35