Longing for Purification

Malachi 4:2

Introduction

The book of Malachi is saturated with rebuke.

But all of this leads to a message of hope for those who would receive that rebuke well.

The Faded Restoration

Malachi’s message comes on the heels of several encouraging messages.

The people seemed to have responded even to rebuke with zeal.

Now they are falling into typical patterns of apathy and apostasy (Mal. 1:10).

The epistles of the New Testament reveal this pattern still at work (Gal. 1:6).

When we consider the history of those who have been devoted to God, where is our devotion in comparison?

Have we maintained the zeal of our calling?

Human & Divine Relationships

Human relationships offer comparisons for considering God’s kindness (Mal. 1:2-4).

They offer a measure for our commitment to God (Mal. 1:6-8).

Human relationships affect divine relationships (Mal. 2:13-14).

Divine relationship affects human relationships (Mal. 3:8-12).

The Purifying Messiah

The Messiah is someone everyone longs for (Mal. 3:1).

But His coming is not what most expect (Mal. 3:2).

This fire works in two directions (Mal. 3:3; 4:1).

Repentance is the key theme of Kingdom preaching (Mal. 4:6; Matt. 3:2; 4:7).

The result is a confident freedom for those who accept it (Mal. 4:2).

Conclusion

We live in a time where it is increasingly easy to think of God’s primary message as one of permissive love.

But His love is not an indulgent one, rather it is a rescuing one.

Rescuing us from our own thoughts and actions.

He’s bringing the fire that would rescue us.

Welcome it, and be purified, reject it and be consumed.