Film Study

Malachi 2:1-2 “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.”

Our church continued last Sunday in the sermon series through the book of Malachi with Pastor Obie giving a message for the second chapter. He stated that in all professional sports, the manager, coaches and athletes take a great amount of time in studying films of their opponents plays and behaviors in different situation in order to discover and learn their strengths to defend against  and weaknesses to exploit for victory. They also study the great players of their sport in the past in order to reproduce the abilities for personal and team success in the future. It is said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. The record of the past allows them to be successful today. This is true for Christians today also. It is not just about “reinventing the wheel” and preventing failure, but setting standards and boundaries  “inside the lines” of God’s best for us.

Giving our “second best” and our leftovers in anything shows what God is really worth to us. It’s sinful behavior that causes people to stumble in their walk with the Lord. It is as if saying” God, let me get the things that I want and I’ll give you whatever is left after. In the book of Malachi, we study the priests of the past, those who came that served the Lord before us in order to do a F.I.L.M. study because they were not putting God first and the Lord sent His prophet to tell those fallen into corrupt lives (and ultimately us who are looking and learning); when off God’s track and messing up, get back on track and start walking the “straight and narrow” ways of the Lord. Our Lord God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and all that lives and breathes rejects and rebukes corruption.

Romans 12:1-2  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Jesus Christ is our High Priest. Our bodies are a temple and we are living stones; a royal priesthood. The word “priesthood” means a body of priests consisting of all believers, the whole church; a royal priesthood with the dignity of showing forth the Lord’s excellences. Our being and life is a spiritual sacrifice  of worship as the chief end of mankind is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Offering our time, talents and treasures means the first of our time, abilities, and finances. To fulfill our priestly role, Pastor Obie instructs us to study the original F.I.L.M. - Let’s breakdown and unpack Pastor Obie’s F.I.L.M study in the next post.

In Christ, Brian