2. We’ve heard from the first one already back in Malachi 1:1.
Today, we are going to be introduced to three “messengers” that have specific roles within God’s Story.
We’ve heard from the first one already back in Malachi 1:1.
The name Malachi means “messenger”.

3. Malachi 2:17a You have wearied the Lord with your words.
“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

4. Malachi 2:17b By saying, “All who do evil
are good in the eyes of the Lord,
and He is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”

5. We have all likely been in the position where we have asked God “Why
We have all likely been in the position where we have asked God “Why?” about various issues in our lives or the world. But when we consistently drift from questions for Him to accusations at Him, we will likely “weary” the God of Justice.

6. Malachi 3:1a Messenger #2:
John the Baptist
Malachi 3:1a
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.”
[Jesus’ 1st coming]

7. Jesus Christ’s 2nd Coming
Messenger #3:
Jesus Christ’s 2nd Coming
Malachi 3:1b
“Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the Messenger of the Covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

8. Throughout the Old Testament, three elements were used for cleansing and purification rituals:
Blood
Fire
Water

9. Malachi 3:2 “But who can endure
the day of his coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire or
a launderer’s soap.”

10. Malachi 3: 3-4
3  “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.”

11. that destroys randomly.
God is not like
a forest fire
that destroys randomly.
God is not like
an incinerator fire
that destroys completely.
God is like
a refiner’s fire
that purifies purposefully.

12. Matthew 5:8

13. Malachi 3:5
“So I will come to put you on trial I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and liars, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear Me,” says the Lord Almighty.

14. Our devotion and obedience to God
Malachi 3:6
Because of God’s faithfulness to His people, they will not be “consumed” by the fires of judgment.
Our devotion and obedience to God
is erratic, but His faithfulness is eternal.

15. 1 John 3: 2-3
2  “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 All who have this hope in Him
purify themselves, just as He is pure.”