Malachi 3:1-6

INTRO: (Mal 2: 17) “Where is the God of Justice?”

Have you ever heard someone say, “If there was a God, why does He put up with evil, or why do these people profit from committing evil?

The people wearied God by mocking him in the sense of saying God rewards evil with good or there is no justice for the evil commited

Why is God slow to bring justice or why does it seem like people get away with evil?

A) One day is like a thousand years to the Lord and He is patient so all people will repent

2 PET 3:8-9 “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

2. (V1) Sending My messenger and he will prepare the way before Me

A) The messenger is John the baptist

Mark 1:2 “just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.”

John the messenger was prophesied about my multiple prophets

Prophesied over 400 years prior to the fulfillment

B) Me is Jesus. God, no longer sending just anyone, but He Himself is coming

3. (V2) Speaks of the second coming of Christ

A) The second coming is a time of judgement

B) No one will be able to stand and face Him

4.(V3) He will purify the Levites, so they may offer acceptable sacrifice to the Lord

A) They had to be disciplined and purified before the Lord would accept their offering

B) Dross is often used a metaphor for a spiritual contamination