1. UNEXPECT ED THE STORY OF JESUS IN THE PROPHETS

2. UNEXPECTED HOLINESS MALACHI 3:1-4

3. Q&A WITH GOD GOD: “I have loved you.” “How have you loved us?” (1:2) “How have you loved us?” (1:2) “Why does he not accept our offerings?” (2:14) “Why does he not accept our offerings?” (2:14) “How have we wearied him?” (2:17) “How have we wearied him?” (2:17)

4. THE QUESTION “How have we wearied him?” (2:17) By pretending that evil is good By pretending that evil is good By challenging the justice of God By challenging the justice of God

5. THE ANSWER Malachi 3:1 God will make his people ready. God will make his people ready. The Lord will then come unexpectedly. The Lord will then come unexpectedly. But is that good news? But is that good news?

6. THE ANSWER Malachi 3:2 “Who can endure?” “Who can endure?” Refiner’s fire, burning out impurities Refiner’s fire, burning out impurities Soft Soap vs. Fuller’s Lye/Nitre The process involved cleaning, bleaching, and beating the fibers to a consistent and desirable condition. The process involved cleaning, bleaching, and beating the fibers to a consistent and desirable condition.

7. THE ANSWER Malachi 3:3-4 Who needs to be purified? Who needs to be purified? Christ comes with comfort for the weak, and fire for the religious. Christ comes with comfort for the weak, and fire for the religious. The unexpected holiness of God targets those who think they are already holy. The unexpected holiness of God targets those who think they are already holy.

8. THE RESULT Jesus did come unexpectedly. The religious insiders did not fare very well. Jesus will come unexpectedly again. What might we expect? Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

9. Q&A WITH GOD “How shall we return?” (3:7) Stop robbing God. Stop robbing God. “How have we robbed him?” (3:8) Keeping instead of giving Keeping instead of giving Doubting his unexpected holiness Doubting his unexpected holiness