Malachi 1:6-14
To recapture – the period was post-exilic – Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity – the temple and the city walls were rebuilt - once again animal sacrifices at the temple altar were resumed.
Outwardly everything seemed normal but Malachi noticed something was not right.
He observed all ritual but no reverence.
In these few verses Malachi addresses a major problem – priests and people have no reverence and honor for God – they offered lack luster approach to worship.
GOD’S PEOPLE LOST REVERENCE (6-9)
A. No Real Relationship (6a)
Our God is a relational being – HE is our Heavenly Father – HE is also a Sovereign King.
One important aspect of worship the Jews forgot that God is Holy.
Holy God demands love, honor and respect from His children like the earthly parents.
Holy God also demands obedience of a servant.
John Piper describes this relationship saying that “we must hold these truths in tension. 
We should have a childlike security in His care for us and we should have a childlike reverence for His authority. God deserves to be honored because He is holy”
Malachi encourages us to re-examine our relationship with the Lord Almighty.
Lord Almighty means God who created everything – He is eternal – an unchanging God - He is the One who always was and who always will be.
B. Meaningless Worship (6b-9)
Contempt is opposite of reverence, respect and admiration.
Here Malachi putting the priests on the spot for their contempt for God’s Name.
‘My Name’ represents God’s reputation and character.
Their contempt was shown in offering defiled food on God’s altar.
In Leviticus, Moses clearly instructs Israel to offer acceptable animals without blemish.
The priests were accepting not only the second best but also defective sheep and goats. 
They were offering such animals worth nothing and even not for selling in the market.
The priests never objected such animals but accepted for sacrifice.
That showed their disdain or contempt for God and His worship.
In their eyes a holy and awesome God is just ordinary and nothing.
Simply they were taking God for granted.
Many people are not giving God their best but bring the left overs. 
The offering reflected their casual approach to worship and it became just a meaningless ritual.
HOLY GOD DEMANDS TRUE WORSHIP (10-14)
In Verse 10 the Lord says He would shut the temple doors to prevent useless fires on the altar and pathetic animals for sacrifice.
Priests and people never counted it a privilege to worship God but felt burdensome.
It felt like a monotonous ritual rather than an opportunity to meet God.
Today the Lord is reminding us once again how we worship Him on Sunday morning.
Worship becomes boring and dis-interesting if our hearts are not in the worship.
Then worship turns out to be a meaningless ritual and meaningless worship.
Are we giving God our best with our time, talents, and our treasures? 
Or are we giving God what is left instead of what is right? 
We must grasp His greatness in order to offer our best in worship.
We will never play church if we really acknowledge that our God is Holy and great.
We will give our best always for what the Lord Jesus has done for us on the cross.

Malachi 1:1-5
We are going to embark on a journey through the Book of Malachi.
David was the first king to plan a temple to worship God in Jerusalem. 
His son Solomon later fulfilled this plan and oversaw construction of the temple.
Tabernacle became a Temple.
First Temple in Jerusalem was built in 960 BC by Solomon
But people of Israel drifted away from the Living God – priests offered unworthy sacrifices – Their kings did everything evil in the sight of God.
God was no longer present in His House (Ezra 8-10)
God used a pagan King to destroy HIS Temple and made the people slaves again.
King Nebuchadnezzar took many Jews captive and exiled them to Babylon (2 Chro 36)
First Temple was destroyed in 586 BC – Nebuchadnezzar
During his regime Cyrus decreed and initiated the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1-6).
Only during Darius rule the construction was completed in 515 under Zerubbabel’s leadership.
The Second Temple during 536 BC-516 – Zerubbabel
3 times the exiles returned to their homeland in different time periods: 539-29 – 458-57 – 445-44.
During the last 2 phases we see two Minor Prophets ministered Israel – Ezra & Nehemiah.
Scholars of the opinion that Prophet Malachi was a contemporary of Ezra & Nehemiah
Things were falling apart in Jerusalem during Nehemiah time as Governor – had to take very serious steps to reform the nation and build its walls.
Ezra challenged the people to revive their fear of God and separate themselves from foreign influences (Neh 9-10)
Around the time of Nehemiah, God’s people divorced their wives and re-married pagans – priests failed to teach the people to reverence God – many stopped honoring God and wondered was there any use to believe in God.
Malachi challenged them to revere and fear God.
I. GOD’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL (2)
God clearly declares that HE loved the people of Israel surely and definitely.
God’s electing grace is in display – HE loved some more than others – no one can understand.
In Deuteronomy 7:6-9 we can how God loved Israel more than others.
II. GOD’S DISLIKE FOR ESAU (3 & 4)
God’s love for Jacob was so great in comparison to Esau it looks like hate.
Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah and it looked like hate.
Lord Jesus demanded the disciple to love Him more than their own families and it looked like hate.
Our love for Christ also looks like we hate our own families.
Esau missed God’s blessings because he lost his birth right to his younger brother Jacob.
Not only missed father’s blessings, Esau lost the covenant relationship with God.
So also all his descendants lost God’s covenant relationship and blessings.. 
During Babylonian invasion Edomites also suffered greatly in the hands of Babylonians.
Edomites thought that they can re-build their nation by their own strength.
Their belief system and faith practices put Edomites under constant wrath of God.
God declared their land as waste and Wicked Land.
III. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (5)
Malachi says that all nations witnessed the mighty power of God of Israel inside the territory.
God exercised His Sovereign power not only on Israel territory but also other nations.
God is great because He is God over all creation and in control of all nations.
Malachi is simply reminding the people of Israel that HE is not just your God but He is God over all nations beyond their borders.  

Acts 2:5-14
I. REACTION OF THE CROWDS (5-7)
First reaction is confusion
A typical reaction to an extra-ordinary occurrence – “bewilderment” (NIV) – “confounded” (KJV)
Second reaction is utter amazement 
Honest reaction to some astonishing miracle.
This type of reaction explains the power of the miracle unfolding before their eyes.
Third reaction is ‘how is it possible?’
8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 
Pastor Wiersbe says that speaking in tongues always refers to a known language somewhere in the world. 
Believers are praising God in a language not known to the speaker.
II. WHO ARE THE LISTENERS? (9-11a)
Jews from all nations – mostly men – came to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost.
III. WHAT DID THEY HEAR?
11b - We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 
They were able to hear the wonders of God in their native tongue.
Pastor Wiersbe describes a stunning contrast between ‘Tower of Babel’ and the Day of Pentecost.
At Tower Babel God confused the languages – intentionally scattered the people - designed to praise men – it was an act of rebellion.
At Day of Pentecost Holy Spirit enabled speaker and hearer to understand each other - united the believers in Lord Jesus Christ – designed to praise God –the humble beginning of birth of the CHURCH.
Major intention of God the Father is to proclaim the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ to the entire world in every language.
The sound of wind drew them to the place but the believers speaking the praises captured their imagination.
IV. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Many were amazed and perplexed – they were unable to comprehend - disbelief and doubt set in their minds.
They began to find some explanation to this strange and incredible phenomenon.
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Some did not understand what just happened - they thought that the Apostles were drunk. 
Some carried the message in their hearts – pondering over the supernatural event - some never believed the miracle.
Today some do not believe even the Lord Jesus speaks to them.
CONCLUSION
It is amazing that one group was marveling at a great miracle while another writes off the entire experience as drunkenness.
Today not everyone will look at a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit and responds in a positive way. 
Such people never change their life and they stay the same unchanged.
But some people do change and will yield to the Power of the Holy Spirit.
We can see that in this chapter as some of these people might have joined the 3000 that were added to the believer’s group.
We also see in the same chapter those who rejected it, laughed at it, and made fun of it.
Most important event happened in Acts 2 - birth of the church is born - the Holy Spirit has come to stay with every believer. 
Today, every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ impacts the world with the love and power of Holy Spirit.

Matt 15:21-28
This event was built around the conversation between Lord Jesus and a gentile woman.
Notice here that Lord Jesus traveled all the way to the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. 
This was a Canaanite territory where the Lord met this Canaanite woman.
I. THE LOCATION (v.21)
Lord Jesus referred to both the places in Matt 11:21-22 criticizing the people of Bethsaida who never repented in spite of HIS miracles performed there.
Matthew says Lord was leaving or withdrawing from the previous place which was Gennesaret.
In the Old Testament times this region was called Phoenicia where Canaanites lived.
They were thoroughly pagans and seeped in all cultic practices. 
This is the only time HE went to a Gentile territory during HIS ministry.
So Why the Lord was going to a totally gentile region?
Lord needed some time off as HE was physically & emotionally tired, and wanted to rest alone with His disciples. 
Lord Jesus also wanted to spend time with His disciples alone to teach them.
Unfortunately even in a gentile region it was not possible for the Lord.
II. THE CONVERSATION (22-27)
She believed that HE is the promised Messiah and to her a Jewish king, “Son of David.” 
She was desperate for her daughter’s deliverance from demon possession.
Two things are clear here: She knew who HE is and HE has the power to deliver her daughter from the demon.
Being a Canaanite she is also well aware of the ancient rivalry with the Jews.
It appeared that Lord was mean to her – a woman with a great need.
But the gospels reveal that Lord Jesus is always compassionate to those who are hurting.
Lord sometimes causes the faith of His people to be tested.
This woman’s faith was tested by ignoring of her request - but she passed the test.
Verses 24&25: His response reflects His primary mission in the world was to reach out to the people of Israel.
The “lost sheep of the house of Israel” does not mean in the literal sense.
All Israel was lost without salvation thru Lord Jesus Christ.
His own mission was primarily to Israel but HIS great commission was to the entire world.
Verse 26: In one sense the Lord was saying that I came to the Jews exclusively and you have no part in their blessings.
In other sense Lord Jesus pushed her a little further, reminding her of the historic distinction between the cursed Canaanites and the blessed Israelites.
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
This woman knew how to get to impress the Lord Jesus and grant her request.  
First she is a mother and her prime objective is to deliver her daughter from the demon.
She humbled herself and even calling herself a dog looking for scraps under the table.
She will take what the Jews do not want.
III. PERSISTENT FAITH REWARDED (28) 
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
She had no resentment, no anger about her situation; she only knew that HE was the Jewish Messiah who came to heal people, and for some reason He was in her town.
It is significant that the two times in the Gospel accounts Lord Jesus commended someone having “great faith”.
Both were gentiles – one was Roman Centurion and other was this Syrophoenician woman. Interestingly HE healed both at a distance – not touching the person.
Lord Jesus is making it clear that the grace of God will be given to all who believe.
This Gentile woman had greater faith than the Jews and was rewarded accordingly.
On this Mother’s Day, we can learn some important lessons from her story.
Most importantly we know that she never gave up – humbled herself for the sake of her daughter – she was rewarded for her persistent faith.
The Lord may not respond immediately but HE will honor the faith of a mother and her persistent prayers.

Acts 2:1-6
In Israelites life, festivals played a major role because they signified God’s involvement.
So the Temple worship revolved around these festivals year round.
In Exodus 23:14-17 God gave them specific instructions to observe 3 festivals.
One among them was Festival of Harvest also called Pentecost.
Today’s scripture relate to Pentecost which signifies the birth of the Church.
Many people have no idea what is Pentecost - Even within the Church there is genuine ignorance concerning Pentecost.
A. Coming of The Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is active much before Pentecost Day.
In the Old Testament HIS involvement was temporary but for a specific purpose only.
Exodus 33:14; Judges 6:34; & 1 Samuel 16:13b
In the New Testament Lord Jesus Himself declared that God will send the Holy Spirit after HE goes back to heaven. (John 14:16-17 & 16:7b)
Lord must ascend to heaven in order to send the Holy Spirit back to earth.
On that Pentecost Day we see the coming of the Holy Spirit to stay permanently in the hearts of all believers who accepted Lord Jesus as their personal Savior.
HE will continue to indwell all believers till the rapture of the Church.
B. The Signs of HIS coming
1. Like SOUND
The Spirit at Pentecost came like a Wind much like the blast equal to a hurricane or tornado.
This is an undeniable power from above.
The Holy Spirit blows away the old life and the old nature.
HE makes life new for those who receive the Lord Jesus into their lives.
Holy Spirit is activated in our life when we surrender our hearts to Lord Jesus.
2. Like TONGUES of FIRE
Physical tongues of fire can consume and burns any object. 
In Exodus 3: 2 the fire did not consume the bush physically - The very presence of God spoke to Moses from the midst of the bush.
What we see here is not the physical fire but SPIRITUAL fire in the shape of tongues of flames on Pentecost Day.
It was the presence of God came from heaven to the earth to cleanse and consecrate every believer. 
He burns away the old self and cleanses and creates a new clean heart and life in us.
3. Enables to Articulate
People from many nations came to celebrate Pentecost at Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak other than their own mother tongue.
The speech was a sign of the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Today Holy Spirit enables us to articulate using precise words to share the message.
4. People heard the SOUND
All people who were present outside of the upper room were hearing their own language.
The Spirit marks the permanence of God’s Promises and His faithfulness.
The indwelling Holy Spirit unites every believer with all other believers in the body of Christ.
Because of the Holy Spirit every believer in Christ is united as one body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit changed the disciples’ fear to courage.
The Spirit of God is the power in us guiding and leading us in our faith walk.
The Holy Spirit working through our lives compels us to love other believers and serve them. 
Because of Holy Spirit we want to witness to a non-believer.
HE motivates us to pray even for our enemies. 
HE inculcates in our hearts a desire to pray, read HIS Word and worship with fellow believers.
Holy Spirit is our present help, partner, companion, Counselor and power to guide us throughout our lives till our death.