By: Elder James Groce

“Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of Hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept
this of your hand? saith the Lord. “Malachi 1:13

Malachi was called to speak to a very difficult congregation. It was a congregation that was not excited with worship. Instead, it was bored, fed up, and proclaiming that all things religious were “wearisome.”

These were the “kill-joys” of the house of God. Church to them had become as thrilling as a dusty tomb. They refused to entertain or to be entertained. “What a weariness it is.” How had these people got that
way?

They had cheapened their religion. These people had not asked how much they could do, but how little. They had offered the least and the  insignificant, keeping the most and best for themselves. When they
offered a lamb in sacrifice, they chose one that was sick and useless. They also refused to tithe correctly. They were commanded to tithe, but that seemed altogether too much. Therefore, they held back on God. It
was this lifestyle that shut the windows of heaven over their heads. They changed their worship into a weariness.

It was weary worship because theirs was a religion of self-pleasing. Once a church becomes self-pleasing then the thrill and excitement of worship is lost. Real saints are never weary with worship. They are
like the participants of Pentecost who were filled with new wine. This was the wine of prophecy. Its intoxication lasts! It never leaves us with a headache or sickness. It is “joy unspeakable!” The problem with
some folk is that its been too long since they allowed themselves to become inebriated on the Holy Ghost.

Those that are weary with worship are the same ones (strangely?) that are perpetually late for service, constantly absent from the prayer room and are hardened pew warmers, that refused to be budged by
anointed preaching. They cry, “What weariness it is” to clap their hands, or shout “amen!” Only God knows how long its been since they last visited the altar. These are the people that complain and discourage others until the “grasshopper becomes a burden.”

A church that is alive and well has resounding prayer rooms, aisles full of worship, and sermons punctuated with glorious ejaculations. They are not “weary” of worship. They earnestly seek others that they also may enjoy the presence of the Lord. They are abuzz with the excitement of revival. They hungrily devour the Bible teaching on the mid-week service. They seek avenues to be AT church rather than bring
lame excuses for their absence. These are the folk that remember the commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, body, soul and strength,” –and obey it!

This information was supplied by a subscriber to the Apostolic Information Service.