We will watch a video on Bishop speaking about Malachi and dung on disobedient people’s faces. Let us brush up on Malachi.
Malachi 3:6-9 NLT “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.
7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
9 “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.“
How can they return to God? Turning can be different degrees, for example, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, or a full 180 degrees. So, in this context, what does God expect His people to do?
Today, it is no different. God’s people have turned away from Him by no longer properly tithing and offering. On special holidays, they may throw some crumbs His way, which is like offering a defective, worthless animal. But the people of God do not think they have left Him since they still acknowledge Him in their minds and go to Him when they need help. But God is saying they have broken a level of important fellowship with Him because they no longer worship Him through tithing and offerings.
Why would they stop tithing and offering? The context of Malachi is they are offended because all the serving and following of God is not turning out to be what they expected, and so they ask,
“Are you sure you love us, God? How?”
When you tithe and offer based on how much you like or are offended at the pastor, or even based on your mood, you are so deceived. All that belongs to Him and how you worship through your finances is based on your gratitude of Him Saving you!
Pastor Steve Kim