The Refiner's Fire
Notes
Transcript
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Welcome & Opening Prayer
**Turn to Malachi 2:17...
!! Open in Prayer !!
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I. Introduction: The Reality of Delay ⏳
I. Introduction: The Reality of Delay ⏳
· I’m sure ALL of US here today have at 1 POINT or ANOTHER....
PROMISED SOMEONE… we’d DO SOMETHING… for them and LEFT IT HANGING… for a while.
DOING a FAVOR— HAVEN’T GOTTEN AROUND to IT
BORROWED SOMETHING—HAVEN’T RETURNED IT
TUPPERWARE?
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Ill.: LARGE FAN in OUR BASEMENT
HUGE—USED for AIRING OUT
Agreed: PUT NEW CORD on IT
EASY—COLOR CODED
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Problem: CAN’T OPEN MOTOR HOUSING!!
MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS
UNSURE WHAT to DO...
Confession: I BORROWED THIS THREE YEARS AGO....
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PROBABLY RETURN W/ TAIL BETWEEN MY LEGS
I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN
=> SOMETIMES OUR DESIRES DON’T LINE UP W/ ABILITY…
SOMEDAY I’LL RETURN IT.
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Focus: SOMETIMES WE VIEW GOD’S ACTIONS as DELAYED… 📷
Encourage: TAKE HEART— GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD—IN HIS TIMING.
2 Peter 3:8 (ESV)
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
GOD’S TIMETABLE ISN’T OURS!
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Transition: THIS in MIND— TURN & LOOK @ MALACHI…
… TODAY’S PASSAGE WILL UNVEIL a FUTURE PROMISE from GOD…
READ: 2:17— 3:5
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II. Passage Reading
II. Passage Reading
Malachi 2:17–3:5 (ESV)
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Church…this is God’s Word for us this morning.
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III. Context: Faithlessness Condemned ⚠️
III. Context: Faithlessness Condemned ⚠️
Last Week: ADDRESS @ PEOPLE
Problems:
INTERMARRIAGE W/ OTHER PEOPLES— OTHER FAITHS
RAMPANT DIVORCE
FAITHLESS to GOD & ONE ANOTHER…
Response: CALLED to GUARD THEMSELVES & BE FAITHFUL..
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Marriage: COVENANT B4 GOD—MAN & WOMAN for LIFE…
Idea: Faithlessness in human covenants is faithlessness before God. 💔
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Transition: THIS WEEK —ANOTHER CHARGE AGAINST PEOPLE
— REALLY STEMMING from THEIR CHARGE AGAINST HIM!
LOOK W/ ME @ 2:17...
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IV. Passage Exposition:
IV. Passage Exposition:
Thought 1: A Wearied God (2:17) 🥱
Thought 1: A Wearied God (2:17) 🥱
Malachi 2:17 (ESV)
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
Recap, Malachi’s Approach: Claim, Response, Rebuttal.
Claim: PEOPLE = WEARISOME to GOD.
Startling! — GOD is PATIENT…
Psalm 103:8 (ESV)
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Ill.: I CAN BE IMPATIENT—BUT I’M NOT GOD…
GOD’S HAD IT… w/ THEM....
👉👉SLOW to ANGER DOESN’T MEAN HE DOESN’T GET ANGRY
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People Respond: HOW???
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Rebuttal: W/ THEIR WORDS.
EVERYONE WHO DOES EVIL = GOOD in GOD’S SIGHT.
**ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS FALSE-TEACHING**
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Problem: PROSPERITY of WICKED.
Problem: PROSPERITY of WICKED.
TEACHER, ECCLESIASTES STRUGGLED W/ THIS
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (ESV)
11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
HABAKKUK STRUGGLED W/ THIS
JEREMIAH STRUGGLED W/ THIS
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Addressing Theodicy:
Addressing Theodicy:
Goodness: Tension,, Many Claim: HOW a GOOD & ALL-POWERFUL GOD ALLOW SO MUCH SUFFERING — CHARGE @ GOD’S GOODNESS
Justice: Others Claim: HOW COULD a JUST GOD—ALLOW SO MUCH WICKEDNESS in the WORLD—CHARGE @ GOD’S JUSTICE
2. MALACHI’S DAY: “WHERE is the GOD of JUSTICE (2:17)??
JUDGE of ALL the EARTH = ASLEEP @ WHEEL!
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Asaph, Psalmist, had SIMILAR ISSUE:
Psalm 73:1–3 (ESV)
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
ENVIOUS—WICKED PROSPER!
Psalm 73:4–5 (ESV)
4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
Harsh Conclusion: IN VAIN—I HAVE KEPT MY HEART CLEAN! (V. 13)....
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Psalm 73:16–17 (ESV)
16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
Psalmist ends—REJOICING in GOD— PS. 73:25-26..
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Psalm 73:25–26 (ESV)
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
WICKED MIGHT HAVE GOOD THINGS—
— BUT is NOT GOD BETTER THAN STUFF?!
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Love & Circumstances:
Love & Circumstances:
Exhort: MUST BE CAREFUL— NOT to TIE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES to GOD’S LOVE…
MSG 1: GOD LOVES YOU—DESPITE HARDSHIP
MSG 5: DESPITE PROSPERITY of WICKED—GOD ISN’T OKAY W/ SIN!
NEED to LOOK @ the END of STORY— WHAT MATTERS MOST!
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DESIRING JUSTICE = OKAY— REV. MARTYRS DO…
Exhort: LET US BE CAREFUL to NEVER CHARGE GOD W/ MALPRACTICE as GOD.
AS JOB—WHERE WERE YOU?!
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GOD’S PRESENT DELAY = ACT of MERCY....
Quote, L. Ravenhill: “Isn’t it amazing that God gives breath to man who is going to blaspheme Him all day?”
Conclusion 1: GOD is MERCIFUL—GIVING PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY TOWARDS REPENTANCE
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Transition: JUSTICE,, DELAYED,, WILL COME!
LOOK W/ ME @ CH.3… VS. 1
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Thought 2: The Coming Messenger (3:1) 👣
Thought 2: The Coming Messenger (3:1) 👣
Malachi 3:1 (ESV)
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
FUTURE TIME of JUDGMENT INAUGURATED BY COMING MESSENGER
N.T.: JOHN the BAPTIST
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Considering God’s Delay: NO PROPHETIC VOICE from MALACHI to JOHN!! (400+ YEARS “SILENCE!”)
WHAT is GOD DOING???
**DURING TIME ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES DESECRATES the TEMPLE…**
WHERE is GOD?
✨WAITING for “FULLNESS of TIME” — GAL. 4:4...
GOD ORCHESTRATING BEHIND the SCENES!!🌍✨
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SILENCE BROKEN BY JOHN,, ISAIAH PREDICTED:
Isaiah 40:3–4 (ESV)
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
JOHN PREPARED WAY for MESSENGER of COVENANT from (3:1B)
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Matthew 3:8–10 (ESV)
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.🍎
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People in Malachi’s Day: DESIRED JUSTICE
3:1 PROMISES—HE WILL COME SUDDENLY
LORD CAME to TEMPLE & CLEANSED IT…
SILENCE BROKEN in a MOMENT
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Transition: THAT DAY = FEARFUL THING…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 2-4
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Thought 3: The Refiner’s Fire & Fuller’s Soap (3:2-4) 🔥🧼
Thought 3: The Refiner’s Fire & Fuller’s Soap (3:2-4) 🔥🧼
Malachi 3:2–4 (ESV)
2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Hard Conclusion: WHO CAN ENDURE THAT DAY??😨
Exhort: TO PEOPLE DESIRING JUSTICE— WE SHOULD REJOICE in MERCY… 🙌
WE DESERVE to BE on the WRONG END of GOD’S JUSTICE...😬😬
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COMING as a CLEANSING AGENT…
COMING as a CLEANSING AGENT…
Refiner’s Fire:
Refiner’s Fire:
Background: PRECIOUS METALS, SILVER = HEATED & IMPURITIES “DROSS” COME to SURFACE — DISCARDED 🔥
Problem: NONE of US ARE PURE SILVER😬
HEAT of LIFE’S STRUGGLES BRINGS “DROSS” to the SURFACE
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2nd Metaphor: A FULLER’S SOAP— LAUNDERER— CLEANSING STAINS…
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(V3-4) THERE’S a PROMISE FOR FUTURE WORSHIP that WOULD BE WITHOUT BLEMISH
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Transition: IN MEANTIME—WE CAN REST ASSURED— JUSTICE is COMING…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 5…
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Thought 4: Coming Judgment (3:5) ⚖️
Thought 4: Coming Judgment (3:5) ⚖️
Malachi 3:5 (ESV)
5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
A DAY of JUDGMENT is COMING...
COME SUDDENLY
SWIFT WITNESS
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Notice the Variety of Categories:
SORCERER— MAGIC in BIBLE = FORBIDDEN
ADULTERER
FALSE-WITNESS/LIAR
OPPRESSORS of WEAK:
EMPLOYEE
WIDOW
ORPHAN
SOJOURNER
THOSE WHO DON’T FEAR GOD…
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Transition: LOOKING OVER THIS LIST— FRIGHTFUL THING…
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V. Gospel Connection: The Substitute ✝️
V. Gospel Connection: The Substitute ✝️
Reminder: GOD DOESN’T MEASURE US AGAINST OTHERS—BUT AGAINST HIS LAW. 📏
SIN is SIN
LIAR & OPPRESSOR = SAME LIST as ADULTERER…
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James 2:10 (ESV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
99% ISN’T ENOUGH — IT’S PASS or FAIL!!
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WE LONG for JUSTICE—BUT WE’RE TRANSGRESSORS!
=> WHO CAN ENDURE???
Answer: ONLY the ONE WASHED WHITE…
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APPEARING NOT ONLY as REFINER’S FIRE—BUT as the FULLER’S SOAP…
Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
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OUR ONLY HOPE = MERCY
GRACE = GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
MERCY = NOT GETTING WHAT WE DO DESERVE…
THIS = ACCOMPLISHED BY a SUBSTITUTE…
Romans 3:21–26 (ESV)
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Powerful: GOD = JUST & JUSTIFIER
JUST—SIN = PUNISHED
JUSTIFIER—WE ARE LET-GO—NOT GUILTY!
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Takeaway: GOD’S DELAY in JUSTICE = ACT of “DIVINE FORBEARANCE”
PATIENT, SELF-CONTROLLED TOLERANCE…
PASSING OVER FORMER SINS—
OFFERING DELAY—
— UNTIL APPOINTED TIME of MERCY…
Hope = NOW— EXTENDED an OFFER of GRACE
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OUR ONLY HOPE = BE WASHED WHITE in the BLOOD of the LAMB
✝️TURNING to CHRIST in REPENTANT-FAITH— FINDING FORGIVENESS✝️
THAT DAY of FINAL RECKONING is COMING…
Invitation: HERE WITHOUT ASSURANCE/FAITH— TALK to ME AFTER the SERVICE TODAY…
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Transition: NOW—ALL in ALL—WHAT’S the SCRIPTURE SAYING to US THIS MORNING:
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VI. Application 🚩
VI. Application 🚩
Passage Idea:
Passage Idea:
God’s delay is not negligence... for the judge of all the earth will act justly. 🤝
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RESPONSES:
WE SHOULD DESIRE JUSTICE HUMBLY
GOD’S JUSTICE = PART of HIS NATURE
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2. WE SHOULD REJOICE in MERCY…
APART from MERCY—WE’D BE in CROSS-HAIRS STILL…
GOD’S DELAY = DIVINE FORBEARANCE
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3. WE SHOULD SUBMIT OURSELVES to the REFINER’S WORK…
TRIALS/HARDSHIPS of LIFE = LIKENED to FURNACE
Challenge: DON’T ENVY PROSPERITY of WICKED—
—BUT SUBMIT to GOD’S REFINING WORK…
GROW in the FURNACE…
Exhort: GOAL of CHRISTIAN LIFE ISN’T SIMPLY HEAVEN AFTER YOU DIE...
…BUT GROWING to BE LIKE JESUS TODAY—
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VII. Conclusion
VII. Conclusion
For all of us—
Let us YEARN for JUSTICE,, HUMBLY
LET US REJOICE @ MERCY,, GLADLY
& SUBMIT to the REFINER’S WORK,, WILLFULLY…AMEN?
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Closing Prayer 🙏
