Living in the Spirit: The Excellence of the Holy Spirits Work Danny W.

Davis March 9, 2014 Introduction When you see this picture what do you think about? Beauty Strength Vacation Creation More When I see this picture my mind thinks of one word: EXCELLENCE. When I consider the work of God and how this picture represents Him I cannot help but join with the Psalmist who sang: READ PSALM 8 As we conclude our series on Living in the Spirit I want us to remember that the work of the Holy Spirit is always done with excellence. The song says, He makes all things good! Dr. Wood offers us 10 things the Holy Spirit does: 1. Exalts Jesus 2. Convicts us of sin. 3. Regenerates the sinner 4. Lives in us 5. Seals believers 6. Guides us 7. Prompts us to worship 8. Empowers us to witness 9. Enables us to understand and apply the word of God 10. Gives life to our mortal bodies. I would suggest that when the Holy Spirit does these things, He does them with excellence. There is nothing mediocre about the work of the Holy Spirit. AND because He does things with excellence we too should strive to do everything we do in His name to be excellent as well. (TRANSITION) I want us to look at the book of Malachi this morning, specifically chapter 1 verse 6-14

The Context Malachi is one of those books that most of us forget about. It is a part of what are called The Minor Prophets. That does not mean the prophets are lesser minor only refers to the volume of writing. Malachi was charged to preach to the people of Israels Northern kingdom. These were a rebellious bunch that had turned their backs on God. But God was not giving up on them and sends them Malachi to call them away from their rebellion and back to the worship of God. Now dont get me wrong. These people were going to church ever y time the doors were opened. God had called them to more than just attendance. He had called them (and freed them from exile in Babylon) to rebuild the Temple of God. They were called of God to make His name famous they were called to excellence. Why? So that the name of God would exalted and the nations would come into the light of Gods love. Unfortunately, the attitude of the people did not reflect the excellence they had been called to present. The Text Malachi has an interesting style. Reading this book is like getting access into a conversation with God. When we get to Malachi 1:6-14 God is having a conversation with the priests of Israel. Lets listen into this conversation READ MALACHI 1:6-14 The Story Gods priests had been specific instructions in Leviticus 22 about offerings. The offerings to the Lord were to be pure and unblemished. When the priests brought an offering to God it was to be the VERY BEST. But look at what offerings were being brought: 8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? The people and priests were supposed to be giving God their best. Instead they are bringing in the sick and diseased offerings. They are bringing the worst of their flocks. Its like they are saying, If we give our best we will not be able to have a future. We need to keep the best animals for breeding so we can have the best later. That means we will have more security! Look at how God challenges their attitude:

8b Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased? Would he accept you? Says the Lord Almighty. The picture is obvious. If you gave to the governor the garbage you are giving to God not even the government would take it! But, somehow, because you think God is so kind and so loving and so merciful then I can just give God me LEFTOVERS and He should just be happy with what I am giving Him. The people just want God to be gracious (v. 9). God tells them in verse 10 that He would rather they just stop having church. He tells them to close the Temple doors and quit lighting the fires of sacrifice. Sure, they were gathering for worship and they were bringing their half-hearted offerings to God. But God was sick of their mediocrity! He was tired of just getting what was LEFTOVER from the people He had delivered and called. Here me! These people were busy about the business of church. They were coming and they were going through the motions. But they lacked any intentionality or intenseness. It was just another thing to do in the week to soothe the religious conscience. I like the way one man put it, In Gods system, something is NOT BETTER than nothing!1 In their lack of zealousness for the things of God they were actually BRINGING SHAME to Gods name. Their attitude of going through the religious motions spoke volumes to people about what they thought about God(vv. 12-13) The Lords table is defiled The Lords table is contemptible This is all such a burden and you sniff at it contemptuously The end result was horrible. Look at v. 14 14 Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable make in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. Now please understand the rebuke God is giving is directly to the priests. They had allowed this to go on. They had not followed the instruction of God. And because they did not do what they had been called to do, then, the people were led astray.

Rainer, Thom. Simple Church, p 234.

(TRANSITION) This is all so very sad. Gods priests had traded their calling for comfort. And because of this the people were not challenged to a life of excellence. Instead they were allowed to offer offerings of expedience (the cheapest thing possible). They were allowed to neglect how they offered their sacrifices to God. They were permitted to live in outright disobedience to the commands of God.2 APPLICATION The working of the Holy Spirit is a marvelous thing. God works on us to challenge, convict and correct us so that our lives become a herald to the world that Christ is King. The work He does in us is an excellent work not mediocre. When you place your faith in Christ you become a new creation. Not a mediocre remodeling of your old self YOU ARE MADE NEW! God does all things with excellence. He makes all things NEW. But somehow through time we can fall into the trap of mediocrity of just going through the motions of a religious life. Church becomes a duty and not a joy. Prayer becomes an obligation not a conversation with the Almighty. Giving is no longer cheerful but we begin to see it as God taking from us (just another bill). Worship becomes a matter of endurance instead of a time to engage with God. Inviting others to church never happens because we are just fulfilling a duty and dont want the hassle of someone knowing whether or not we came to church. In other words our offering to God has become just what is LEFTOVER. What would happen if you went to work and only gave your LEFTOVER? You wouldnt have to go to work much longer. No, if we have any respect at all for our own reputation we give our very best to our employer. So, what is the cure? Paul wrote to the church at Rome and said, Romans 12:1 I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Godthis is your true and proper worship. First, offer to God your whole person: body, soul and spirit. Make Him the actual Lord of your life.
2

Life Application Bible NIV, p. 1512

Second, ask the Lord to restore you. After David had been confronted by Nathan the prophet for his sin David wrote Psalm 51. He had grown cold in his relationship with God. He was offering the leftovers to God but after David had repented he ask God to renew something in his life. Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. David wanted to be restored how? - by the salvation of God. And he asked God to grant him a willing spirit. In other words, give me the will to have a sustaining excellent love for pleasing God. Moving away from the mediocre is not easy but it is worth the effort. You have to make a decision to become WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED to move away from mediocrity and toward excellence. Here is the GREAT NEWS! The person of the Holy Spirit will take your willingness and empower you to move forward. He will guide and guard; comfort and challenge; spur and sustain because He has done an excellent work in your life now He wants to help you live an excellent life for Christ. RESPONSE This morning lets gather at the altar and pray for 2 things. 1) A prayer of surrender to the will of God. 2) A restoration of our love and zeal for the work of God