2) What will happen to the “rest [or remnant] of the people”? (Zech. 14:2)

3) What will the Lord do regarding the nations that come against Jerusalem? (Zech. 14:3)

4) What will happen to the Mount of Olives in that day? What will apparently be created by this event? (Zech. 14:4)

5) How will the people flee? Who will come with them? (Zech. 14:5)

6) What is one of the things that will happen “in that day”? (Zech. 14:8)

7) What will not exist at that time for Jerusalem? (Zech. 14:11)

8. What will happen to those who have gone to war against Jerusalem? (Zech. 14:12)

9) What will those of the nations who are left do? (Zech. 14:16)

10) What will happen to those who do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King? (Zech. 14:17-19)

11) What will be inscribed on the bells of the horses and what will all the cooking pots in Judah and Jerusalem be? (Zech. 14:20)

12) What will there no longer be in the house of the Lord in that day? (Zech. 14:21)

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2)    What three things will be cut off from the land in that day? (Zech. 13:2)

3)    What will the parents say to the son who continues to prophesy?  What shall they do to him? (Zech. 13:3)

4)    What will be the prophet’s attitude toward his vision? (Zech.13:4)

5)    How will the prophet explain his wounds? (Zech. 13:6)

6)    Who is the shepherd of verse seven and to what does this prophesy refer? (Zech. 13:7; Mt. 26:31; Mk. 14:27)

7)    What appears to be the purpose of the “third part” being brought through the fire? (Zech. 13:9)

8)    What will be the end result of this refining? (Zech. 13:9)

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Outline:
III. Day of the Lord – Condemnation of religious indifference and skepticism,
2:17-4:6
C. New Defense of Jehovah’s justice, 3:13-4:3
1. 3:13-15 – Verse 13 – What charge does the LORD make at the beginning of this verse?

- What was the response of the people to this charge?

- Verses 14-15 – God describes how the people have spoken against Him. Put the thought of these verses into your own words.

2. 3:16-18 – Verse 16 – Who spoke to one another here?

- How did the LORD respond to those who spoke?

- Verse 17-18 – “In that day,” God would acknowledge the people as His own and He would spare them as a man spares his own ________ who serves him.

- What is the message of verse 18?

3. 4:1 – What is in store for the proud and wicked in the coming day of judgment?

4. 4:2-3 – In contrast to the punishment of the wicked, those who fear the LORD shall find blessing in “the day of the LORD” of this passage.

- Verse 2 – Who would arise with “healing in His wings?”
- What other promise is made here to those who fear the LORD

- Verse 3 – What would the righteous do, according to this verse?

D. Closing admonitions, 4:4-6
5. 4:4-6 – Verse 4 – What exhortation is given here?

- Verse 5 – Who would come before the “great and dreadful day of the LORD?”

- Who do you think is talking about?

- Verse 6 – What things would this one who was to come do?

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Outline:
III. Day of the Lord – Condemnation of religious indifference and skepticism,
Mal. 2:17-4:6
A. Jehovah’s approach in judgment, Mal. 2:17-3:6
1. Mal. 2:17 – What accusation does the prophet make here?

- How did the people reply?

- What kinds of things were they then accused of saying?

2. Mal. 3:1-2 – The LORD promises what things in verse 1?

- Mal. 3:2 – As what things does the LORD appear in this verse?

3. Mal. 3:3-5

– Mal. 3:3 – Who would be purified according to this verse?

- Mal. 3:4 – What would be a result of this purification?

- Mal. 3:5 – Describe the “coming near” of the Lord here.

4. Mal. 3:6 – What does the Lord declare about His nature here?

- What result of this is stated here?

B. Wrongful withholding of tithes and offerings, Mal. 3:7-12
5. Mal. 3:7-9

– Mal. 3:7 – What did the LORD require of the people in this verse?

- What was their reply?

- Mal. 3:8-9 – Describe the exchange between the LORD and the people here?

6. Mal. 3:10-12 – What kinds of things would result if the people carry out their responsibilities to God?

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Outline: (Adapted from Hailey and others) – Interspersed between questions, etc.
Title: Author and subject of prophecy: 1:1.
I. Condemnation of the priest’s faithlessness, 1:2-2:9.
C. Curse pronounced upon the faithless priests, 2:1-9

1. 2:1-4 – What details of the curse are given here?

- What results would come from the curse, according to verse 4?

2. 2:5-7 – Verse 5 – What was the nature of the covenant made with Levi?
- For what purpose?

- Verse 6 – What kinds of things marked the character and service of the priest described here?

- Verse 7 – What should the lips of the priest do?
- What should the people seek?
- Why?

3. 2:8-9 – Verse 8 – What the priests of Malachi’s day done?

- Verse 9 – What would the LORD do in return?

- What specific sin is mentioned at the end of verse 9?

II. Condemnation of divorce and mixed marriages, 2:10-16

4. Verse 10 – What had they profaned?
- Verse 11 – What specific part of God’s instructions had they profaned?

- Verse 12 – What is this verse saying , in your own words?

- Verse 13 – Of what are the people accused in this verse?
- How would the LORD respond?

- Verse 14 – When the people want to know why the LORD was reacting this way, what did He say?

- Verse 15 -16 – Sum up the teaching of these two verses.

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2)    In chapter nine, the “burden of the word of the Lord” is described as being “against” the nations surrounding Jerusalem (Zech. 9:1).  In chapter twelve, how is “the burden of the word of the Lord” described in regard to Israel? (Zech. 12:1)

3)    What two metaphors are used to describe what Jerusalem will be? (Zech. 12:2-3)

4)    What two metaphors are used to describe Judah? (Zech. 12:7)

5)    According to the text what will the Lord do “in that day” regarding the inhabitants of Jerusalem? (Zech. 12:8)

6)    How will the “one who is feeble” be “in that day”? How will the house of David be? (Zech. 12:8)

7)    What will the Lord set about to do “in that day”? (Zech. 12:9)

8)    What will be poured out upon the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem? (Zech. 12:10)

9)    Who will they look upon? To whom is this referring? (Zech. 12:10; Jn. 19:37)

10) To what event might the reference to Hadadrimmon be alluding? (Zech. 12:11; II Chr. 35:22-27)

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If some of these things have troubled you and you have felt a yearning to return to the simple, uncomplicated religion of Christ, stripping away all the nonessential elements of religion and simply abiding by the truths of Christ, truths which transform the soul and bind it to God, let us suggest that it can and has been done.

The Bible, God’s word to man, presents Jesus Christ as the Son of God. He was foreshadowed and predicted in the Old Testament which God used to govern His people until Christ should come and establish the New (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Galatians 3:19,23-24). That New Testament reveals the religion of Christ. By studying it we learn all there is to know of the way of Christ.

We learn that among the followers of Christ there existed no denominational organization whatever. All began at a later time. In the New Testament we see people hearing the gospel and obeying the conditions of God’s grace. Being thus saved, they were added to the Lord’s people, the church (Acts 2:36-47). As the gospel spread, we find them assembling together in congregations in various localities. Each congregation was under its own elders (Acts 14:23) and no one else on earth. These elders could not make laws and be masters. They were given the responsibility of tending and caring for the congregation as shepherds would a flock (Acts 20:17,28; I Peter 5:1-3). The only headquarters those disciples knew was heaven, where their head, Jesus Christ, was and is (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Their worship was something in which to participate, not something to watch. On the first day of the week, for instance, they would eat the Lord’s supper and hear preaching (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29), they would all sing (Ephesians 5:19), they would all pray with various ones leading (1 Corinthians 14:15-16), and they would share in their mutual responsibilities by sharing their prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). We find no contributions being collected on any other day than the first day of the week and no hierarchy taxing them or telling them how much to give. They had no organizations clamoring for their support. They gave as they individually purposed in their own hearts (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). In all this they were all necessarily involved for each saved person was a priest (Revelation 1:5-6). No one could perform his service or worship for another.

They lived godly lives. They cared for their poor. They taught others. They sent out preachers to teach others in far communities. With simplicity of faith and fervor there was no need of centralization. Without organized machinery, the gospel was preached to the whole of civilization in a short time (Colossians 1:23). These disciples of Christ were known as Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; I Peter 4:16). They wore no sectarian names. Their religion was not materialistic or sensual. They did not seek to impress men with pious ceremony, rather, they sought to impress God with the only thing that has ever impressed Him contrite obedience (2 Samuel 15:22). Their appeal was not social or recreational.  They offered the gospel, for they knew it was God’s power to save (Romans 1:16), and any other appeal was beneath them.

Many sigh, “Oh, if only such could be today.” But it is! Free men and women over the earth have despaired of denominationalism, seeing in it neither necessity nor relevance but only a cause of division. They desire the simplicity of what Christ authored, and their number is increasing. How many have taken such a stand? Who knows! They are related and connected only in Christ and not in some organization with machinery to keep a tally. We will not try to number them. What is important, though, is that a group of such people meet within minutes of where you live.

They are just Christians. They worship and serve God in the same way the early disciples did. Christ is their only creed and the Scriptures their only guide. They are not members of any human organization, they are simply a congregation, or church, of Christ. They, in turn, would like to share Christ with you and with all the world.

You too can be just a Christian and serve God without belonging to any denomination, bound by demoninational laws or obligations. If such freedom appeals to you, please contact us.

How we answer this question ultimately depends upon our view of God.  Many believe God will be pleased with anything we offer to Him in worship, just as long as it’s sincere and from the heart.  But is this what the Bible teaches?

Throughout our lifetimes, we each develop notions and ideas of who God is and what He requires of us.  I would suggest that in many cases those notions have nothing to do with the God we read about in the Bible.  In Gen 1:27 we are told. “God created man in His own image.”  I would challenge each of us to evaluate our view of God and make sure we haven’t turned this passage around and created God in our own image, and serve a God of our own making and likeness.

Qualifying Scripture

2 Tim. 3:16-17

The question is, “Does God care how we worship Him?”  This scripture tells us that we have a means of determining the answer to this question.

The Bible strongly cautions us about making assumptions regarding worship offered to God.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

There is an attitude toward worship that is foolish.

To indiscriminately offer a sacrifice (worship) to God without first listening to (and determining) what God has to say may result in unknowingly doing evil.

Eph. 5:15-17

If we approach God, without first understanding what His will is, we are being foolish. We need to be wise and listen to what He has to tell us before we simply assume what we’re offering to Him in worship is what He desires.

The Bible gives us numerous Old Testament examples regarding worship to God.

Qualifying Passages: Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11

That which was written in earlier times (Clearly speaking of God’s dealings with man throughout the Old Testament) was written for our learning and instruction.  In other words, by reading about God’s interaction with man in the Old Testament, we can be instructed how to more perfectly serve God today.

Three Biblical Principles Regarding Worship:

I.     What we offer to God in worship must be by faith

A.   Cain & Abel (Gen. 4:3-5)

1.    We’re not told here specifically why God rejected Cain’s sacrifice, but one thing we can clearly determine from this passage is that God does not indiscriminately accept all worship.

2.    Heb. 11:4 tells us why God accepted Abel’s sacrifice.

a. Abel’s sacrifice was by faith, and was therefore considered righteous.

b. The clear implication seems to be that Cain’s sacrifice was not offered by faith.

3.    Rom. 10:17 teaches us that faith comes through hearing the word of God.

a.   It seems reasonable to infer that God gave both Cain and Abel some kind of verbal instruction regarding what He wanted them to offer Him.

1)    Apparently, Abel (by faith) followed that instruction while Cain did not.  For that reason, Cain’s sacrifice was not acceptable to God.

4.    Note what the passage in Hebrews goes on to say: (Heb. 11:6)

a.   The only way we can truly come to God and worship Him by faith is if we do it according to what His word reveals.

B.    Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2)

1.    Assuming that something is acceptable to God simply because He hasn’t specifically said not to do it, cannot be by faith.

a.   God did not have to tell these two priests what not to offer Him.  He had already instructed them which fire to use (apparently from a specific source).  That, by its nature, excluded any other fire.

b.   It’s ludicrous to suggest that God would have to list everything He does not want us to do in worship for it to be specifically forbidden.

c.   It should be more than sufficient for God to tell us what to do.

1)    No reasonable person would suggest we substitute pizza and root beer for the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper.  Why not? God clearly tells us what to use.

d.   Note what Moses also says to Aaron here (Lev. 10:3).

1)    When we’re presumptuous in offering worship to God, we are not honoring Him or treating Him as holy.

e.   Obeying the Lord in our worship is far more important to Him than our sincere intent (1 Sam. 15:21-23).

II.   What we offer to God in worship must be of the right quality.

A.   In the book of Malachi we find God rebuking the priests of that day (Mal. 1:6-8).

1.    What we find here is that these individuals seem to be doing the right thing.  They’re no longer involved in idolatry.  They’re worshiping Jehovah God in the approved location.  They’re offering sacrifices as they were commanded to do, but they’re simply going through the motions.  It seems to me that what they’re trying to do is get by with offering God the bare minimum.

2.    I need to look into my heart and ask some serious questions.  What am I offering to God?  Am I giving Him my best or am I simply giving Him my leftovers, the things that don’t really matter to me?

a.   Does He get the bare minimum of my time and energy?  Is my service to Him confined to what takes place within the walls of a church building, or do I even have trouble with that?  Do I daily devote myself to serving Him?

b.   Is my contribution simply what I have left after I’ve spent the rest on myself?

c.   Is His word of little significance in my life, or does it sustain me and direct me daily.

d.   Do I love the Lord God with all my heart and with all my mind and with all my strength and all my soul, or am I simply going through the motions.

e.   Note what God goes on to say in Malachi (Mal. 1:10).

3.    What we offer to God in worship must be by faith, according to His word, and it must be the best we have to offer Him.

a.   Perhaps I recognize times in my life where God is not getting the best I have to offer.  The question I have to ask is, am I satisfied with that?  It should be my heart’s desire to improve myself on a daily basis?  Jesus Christ tells us to be perfect, but thankfully, He doesn’t demand it.

III.  What we offer to God in worship must be sincere.

A.   John 4:20-24

B.    What does it mean to worship God “in spirit and in truth”?

1.    Certainly some of the things we’ve been discussing already this morning fall under this heading:

a.    Worshiping God by faith is worshiping Him according to His word, according to truth.

b.    Offering God our best is certainly part of worshiping Him in spirit.

2.    It also means it must be sincere.

a.    We mentioned in the introduction the person who says, it doesn’t matter to God what I offer to Him as long as it’s sincere and from the heart.

b.    I believe we’ve clearly established that it does matter to God what we offer Him.  That seems to be unequivocal from a Biblical perspective.

c.    It is possible to offer God specifically what He requires and to offer Him something of the right quality, but if it’s not done in sincerity, we’re no better off than the person who doesn’t even question whether what they’re offering to God is what He asks for, or the person who simply offers his leftovers.

d.    My understanding is that the Latin word for sincere is actually made of two roots:

1)   Sin – which means “without”

2)   Cere – which means “wax”

a)   It has been suggested that the word derived from the practice of repairing or hiding cracks and blemishes in pottery by filling them with wax.

b)   If you had a “sincere” piece of pottery, you had a piece without flaws or blemishes – it was pure and could withstand the test of fire.

3)   For our worship to be sincere, it must be free from flaws or blemishes.  It must be pure and from the heart.

a)   That means there are no hidden agendas or motives behind what we’re offering to God.

f.     We need to be examining the purity of our hearts and our motives in everything we offer to God.  (Ps. 139:23-24)

1)   Why am I a member of the church where I attend?   Is it simply because that’s where my family has always attended, and it would create too many waves for me to change now?  Is it because they have a wonderful music program, the best in WNC?  Is it simply because I like the preacher or pastor?  Is it because that’s where everyone is going these days (“Wide is the way and broad is the gate…”)?     Is it because they have more college students or more attractive members of the opposite sex than anywhere else?  People have all kinds of different reasons for doing what they do.  What I need to do, and what I would encourage each of us to do, is make sure that what I’m offering to God worship that is according to spirit and truth.

3.    In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:8), Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

a.    I believe this passage goes hand in hand with how we approach God in worship.

1)   It’s not talking about those who are free from sin, or none of us would be seeing God.

2)   I believe what Jesus is saying is that it is only when your heart is pure (sincere, pure in motive and free from agenda), it is only then that you can see God for who He is and what He requires.

a)   We must get all those other impurities out of the way before we can do that.  “Those who worship God MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Concluding Comments:

Does God care how we worship Him?  From a Biblical point of view, I don’t see how we can come to any other conclusion that this is the case.  It is of extreme importance to Him.  For that reason, it should be of extreme importance to each of us.

This is not the type of lesson I prefer to teach from the Bible.  I would much rather spend our time speaking of the grace and mercy and forgiveness we have in Jesus Christ.  And it’s there and available to each of us if we simply come to Him in humble obedience.  But that grace and mercy never gives us license to treat our God with anything less than respect and reverence, and approach Him as anything less than Holy!

By Rick Harrington

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Does God Care How We Worship Him? (Power Point)