GateWay Church of Visalia
GateWay Visalia
Thursday, April 27, 2023 Nathaniel Serrato Malachi 1
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. 2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.”
Hated - God elected Jacob over Esau to carry the Abrahamic Covenant
4 Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.” 5 Your eyes will see this and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel!” 6 “ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
7 “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised.’ 8 “But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.
9 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts. 10 “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. 11 “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts. 12 “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 “You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the LORD. 14 “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
7 “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised.’ 8 “But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.
9 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts. 10 “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. 11 “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts. 12 “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 “You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the LORD. 14 “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”
So What?!
#1) God desires you, more than you will ever understand, because He has already chosen you. (v.2)
· To the degree that God’s heart yearns for you when you turn from Him.
· To the degree that God’s heart yearns for you when you turn from Him.
#2) God deserves the best that you have to offer. Have you given that to Him? (v.7-14)
· If not, are you willing to start today?
· If not, are you willing to start today?
#3) Are you thankful for the ways God has blessed you? Have you shown God how thankful you are?
· How have you shown God your thankfulness recently?
· How have you shown God your thankfulness recently?
Malachi 1
April 27th, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What has brought you the most joy in the past two weeks?
God’s desire is to be with you, provide for you, and for you to keep His commandments (knowing they will lead you to a fulfilling life). How does that make you feel? How does it impact the way you navigate life?
Let’s practice thankfulness in two ways this week!
First, let’s all say one way God has blessed us today and how thankful we are for it? Remember that you don’t just have to be thankful for a new car, a new job, a bigger home, or even a successful surgery. What about that one person who smiled at you and said hello while you were having a terrible day? What about being able to eat three square meals today or simply just waking up to experience the day that the Lord has made?
“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 NASB
Lastly, how can you use one of the giftings God has given you to serve Him and His people this week? Whether it’s the gift of serving, music, teaching, building things, or encouraging others we can show God how thankful we are for these gifts by using them to bring honor to His name.
Family Time: I encourage you to just have a good old fashioned family dinner this week (Whether it’s your immediate family or your close friends). No phones. No TV on in the background. No distractions. Just experience one another with good conversations and thank God for blessing you with that time.
April 27th, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What has brought you the most joy in the past two weeks?
God’s desire is to be with you, provide for you, and for you to keep His commandments (knowing they will lead you to a fulfilling life). How does that make you feel? How does it impact the way you navigate life?
Let’s practice thankfulness in two ways this week!
First, let’s all say one way God has blessed us today and how thankful we are for it? Remember that you don’t just have to be thankful for a new car, a new job, a bigger home, or even a successful surgery. What about that one person who smiled at you and said hello while you were having a terrible day? What about being able to eat three square meals today or simply just waking up to experience the day that the Lord has made?
“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 NASB
Lastly, how can you use one of the giftings God has given you to serve Him and His people this week? Whether it’s the gift of serving, music, teaching, building things, or encouraging others we can show God how thankful we are for these gifts by using them to bring honor to His name.
Family Time: I encourage you to just have a good old fashioned family dinner this week (Whether it’s your immediate family or your close friends). No phones. No TV on in the background. No distractions. Just experience one another with good conversations and thank God for blessing you with that time.