Subject: Shut the Doors - Continued
by Rick Welborne
Isaiah 45:1-3 (NKJV)
1 "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:
2 'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.
1 "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:
2 'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.
Malachi 1:10 (NKJV)
10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
-We have talked about verses that speak about shutting the doors and why God would tell a church or individual believers to shut their doors…last week “worship in the waiting”
--We want God to open double doors so it is imperative that we not give Him reasons to tell us to shut our doors. Sometimes I think we have no clue what it is God expects of us as followers of Christ .
--So what does He want, expect, or most of all, deserve?
1. God deserves our honor.
2. God deserves honor when it comes to complete obedience.
Malachi 1:8 (NKJV)
8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil?
8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil?
--When the people brought their lamb or sacrifice to the Lord as an offering, it was supposed to be the best they had to offer…it was in the law and commands.
A. Partial obedience is disobedience…Saul.
B. Temporary obedience is disobedience…Demas.
C. Delayed obedience is disobedience…Jesus said follow Me…Follow Me now!
D. Careless obedience is disobedience…Prodigal son’s older brother.
3. God says shut the doors.
--Shut the doors if you are unwilling to bring your best, your first, and your all!
Week 2 of Shutting the Doors
1. God says, “Honor My Name and give Me glory!”
Mark 12:29-30 (NKJV)
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
2. God says, “You must fear My Name!”
Psalm 111:10 (NIV)
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
3. God said, “You must honor your spouse!”
Malachi 2:13-14 (NKJV)
13 And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
13 And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
--Last week we spoke about worshiping God while we wait on our miracle.
--Tonight we will look again at why God would tell us to close or shut our doors.
Malachi 3:7-12 (NIV)
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.
9 You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.
12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.
9 You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.
12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
1. God said, “Stop robbing Me!”
--I love when people say…all those preachers and churches want is money…really? Maybe we should check and see before we make an accusation…some give sacrificially because it is their passion.
--Most of the time people who say such things are the very ones who do not give to the Lord or to charity. Just maybe they should read the Word and notice Who is saying…Stop robbing Me! Says the Lord Almighty!
--Now I know there are ministries that are trying to take advantage of poor widows and church folks who are looking for hope. I have been in these widows homes as they cried because they couldn’t give more.
--One widow (who had already given to a certain telethon 3 times) wanted a certain book they were promoting but you had to give $75 before you could get it. I told her to turn off the TV. Got her the book for $5.
--When God says to bring the whole tithe to the church, does He mean it? When God says stop robbing Me of tithes and offerings, does He mean it? This is God, not a preacher!
--This from our General Council World Missions Director Greg Mundis about the people in Cuba:
Greg Mundis - “Thank you for challenging your congregation to pray for those who have suffered so much in the Caribbean and especially for our brothers and sisters in Cuba, a nation of great poverty where families live on about $20 per month. I have personally been there to speak at their General Council and participated in the launch of their mission’s program, in which they are asking these poor people to each give $1 of their $20 monthly income to support Cuban missionaries they will send throughout the world.”
--They already bring two dollars of their twenty dollars to God’s house as their tithe and then, on top of that, they give one dollar a month to support missions. They live on $17 a month…how is that possible?
--It is not possible! They do not live on $17 a month…they live by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that He will bless them when they are obedient to bring the tithe and to give offerings besides.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
--God even goes so far to say…Test Me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
--We are talking about double doors…we are talking about floodgates being opened so much that we do not have the capacity to handle what He wants to give us…if we do not take Him up on this…Forest Gump - stupid is as stupid does.
Malachi 3:11 (NLT)
11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
--What you do will be bountifully blessed by God…who would not want God’s blessings?
Malachi 3:18 (NIV)
18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
2. God said, “Fear My Name!”
Malachi 4:2 (NKJV)
2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
--To you who fear My Name…I like to investigate and see if the scriptures we are reading define themselves. Who are those who fear His Name? Who are the ones in Malachi who fear His Name?
Malachi 3:1 (NLT)
1 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
1 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
--Did you see it…did you see those who fear the Lord in this verse? Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming.
--The ones who fear the Lord are the ones who are seeking God in His temple and those who are eagerly looking and waiting for His return. Look at what else He says:
Malachi 3:2-3 (NKJV)
2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.
2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.
--So those who fear the Lord are those who are looking for His coming and those who allow the fires (tests) that come to purify them…not make them fall away…He comes with healing in His wings…get under His wings!
1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 Peter 1:6-9 (NKJV)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
--I guess fearing the Lord really comes back to giving God the glory dues His Name!
3. God says to fathers and to children, “Love each other!”
Malachi 4:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
--Verse 5 is a direct reference to John the Baptist…Luke 1:17. Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!
--Matthew Henry was saying of verse 6 that when Christ shows up The Sun of Righteousness comes with healing in His wings…He heals relationships between parents and kids…let Him show up!
--Thus, He heals relationships between God and His people…and therefore He heals societal issues that have gone awry. The point is when God shows up, everything changes. Our nation needs families to be healed!
--So what is our job…we must allow Him to show up…we must beg Him to show up at home, at church, at school, at work, at city hall, at our capitol buildings and at the White House.
--When Jesus comes earth and everything else changes!
Psalm 24:1-10 (NLT)
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.
3 Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
5 They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.
6 Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
7 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.
8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.
9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.
10 Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory.
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.
3 Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
5 They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.
6 Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
7 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.
8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.
9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.
10 Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory.
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