Stephen Bailey - Sunday, 11 June 2023
Half-hearted
Scripture References: Malachi 1:6-14, Malachi 2:1-9, Psalms 22:1-31, Leviticus 1:1-10
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CloseHave you ever been half-hearted about something? Have you ever had the attitude of near enough is good enough? Do you ever think like this about your relationship with God? Today, we see God rebuking his people, in particular the priests, for their half-hearted attitude to their worship of Him. God had proved His love for His people. He had chosen Abraham and the line of Jacob to be His people. He made a covenant with them at Mt Sinai. He continued to show grace and mercy to His people. God loved His people. But they were not showing love back. The people’s half-heartedness was demonstrated through their poor, blemished, shoddy, second rate, dodgy offerings for the sacrifices. They didn’t think God loved them, and so didn’t give God their best. The consequences as we will see are quite staggering and shocking, but God’s grace is even greater!!
Scripture References: Malachi 1:6-14, Malachi 2:1-9, Psalms 22:1-31, Leviticus 1:1-10
From Series: Service - Sunday Morning, Malachi | More Messages from Stephen Bailey | Download Audio
As dawn breaks on Sunday morning, women go to view the tomb…but what they see is far greater. An angel announces.. “He is not here. For he has risen..” What wonderful, good news! Some in our passage are gripped with fear, still others are shocked, displaying unexpected joy. But should we be surprised? Isn’t this what Jesus was saying all along? As we come to Easter, as we come to Jesus, be expectant that Jesus will do all he says. We can have complete confidence that what Jesus says.. Jesus does! “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come see the place where he lay”. Death is defeated, the tomb is empty, and for those who trust in Jesus we have the promise of life after death because Jesus has gone before us. Celebrate today that God is faithful and that Jesus now reigns!
The events of Good Friday have significant impact. Jesus, the outsider deals with sin in the only way possible. It involves an excruciating death, burial and is final. There are insults and mockery, confusion and speculation abound. Jesus, the outsider has left His mark.
In today’s passage it’s Good Friday, the saddest day in human history. But hidden amongst the lies and deception and betrayal are glimmers of hope. The great African American preacher S.M. Lockridge wrote a reflection on this time in Holy week. Here’s what he has to say in part, “It’s Thursday, and Jesus is praying. Peter is sleeping, Judas is betraying, but Sunday’s coming. It’s Friday, Pilate’s struggling. The council is conspiring, the crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know that Sunday’s coming. It’s Friday, the disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. Peter is denying, Mary is crying, but they don’t know that Sunday’s a coming. It’s Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe him in Scarlet, they crown him with thorns, but they don’t know that Sunday’s coming. It’s Friday, see Jesus walking to Calvary, his blood dripping, his body stumbling and his spirit burdened. It’s Friday, only Friday, but let me tell you something: Sunday’s a coming!” The Son of Man is more ‘outside’ than ever before. Betrayed, rejected, beaten and handed over to be crucified. Majestically silent, confident in his father’s plans. So much more than just a king of the Jews, he’s King of all Kings.
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