TEXT: MAL 1:6-13, 2 CHR 5:13(FULL)

TEXT: MAL 1:6-13, 2 CHR 5:13(FULL)

TOPIC: OFFERING ACCEPTABLE PRAISE

                                                                                                                                      

The message will be discussed under the following subheadings:

1. Background.

2. Forewords

3. Definition of terms

4. Characters/qualities/features of acceptable praise.

Background

The text reveals God speaking through prophet Malachi to the people of Judah around 450 BC after their return from exile.

The book is firstly to reiterate Gods unfailing love which wasn’t appreciated, bring the people (priest (majorly) and non-priest) to the point where they abandon their sins and evil.

The book has a whole lot against the first recipients and by extension to everyone particularly as regards the quality of offerings to God viz:

Offering:

Polluted offering                                                          vs 7

Blind offerings                                                             vs 8

Lame and sick offering                                                 vs 8

Torn offering                                                                 vs 13 

The era of animal sacrifices ended with God offering His son once for all Eph 5:2c (KJV) which says and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour also Gal 1:4.

There are New Testament offerings however some of which are prayer praises among others. Psalm 50:23 says whoso offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

Foreword

God is worthy of all our praise Rev 4:11 says Thou art worthy o Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created. That we are alive and have all that we have is enough reason to give real praises to God. James 1:17 says every good and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.

That something is given doesn’t mean it is gladly accepted , Gen 4:3-4 says And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel he also bought of the firstling of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord has respect unto Abel and his offering. But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect and Cain was very wroth.  Cain presented an offering and this wasn’t accepted.

Definition of Terms:

Offering can be rephrased as to offer, to offer means to put something forward, to give something to someone.

Acceptable praise is the kind of praise that God accepts, that meets the standard of God.

Qualities of acceptable praise:

Praise by the redeemed: Psalm 22:3 says but thou art holy o thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Praises by the sincerely redeemed commands the attention of the redeemer, God dwells and accepts praises of his people, it is sweet smelling savour unto him. Praise by the redeemed calls the presence of God Himself not any of His emissaries, little wonder signs and wonders are a common place when praise is done by the redeemed.

Praise in the spirit: John 4:24 God is spirit and they that must worship must worship in spirit and in truth for the father seeketh such to worship Him. The connecting channel to God is through His spirit.

Praise that is God centered: praises shouldn’t be focused on our new clothes, shoes, vocals sagacity, Crips sound or ambience (this are very good, it however has a negative correlation to God’s acceptance of our praise), not even focused on what he should do, he hasn’t done but focused on God for who he is.Ex 15:11 who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Praises not done in hypocrisy: it is hyprocritic when we only praise God as directed/instructed or if the only time you do it is in church and probably on Sundays.it in a way shows that there is a distance between you and God Matt 15:8 says this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from.it also hypocrisy when the only time a Christian or any preacher takes his/her bible is towards a ministration.

Praise that is done with our life style: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. The renowned worship leader Don Moen sang a song way back then that praise looks good on you not only from you. Our lives should give praise to God, we will spend less time energy and resources on evangelism if our lives sings His praise.

 

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