unexpect ed the story of jesus in the prophets. unexpected holiness malachi 3:1-4
DESCRIPTION
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)TRANSCRIPT
UNEXPECTED
THE STORY OF JESUS IN THE PROPHETS
UNEXPECTED HOLINESS
MALACHI 3:1-4
Q&A WITH GODGOD: “I have loved you.”• “How have you loved us?” (1:2)• “Why does he not accept our
offerings?” (2:14)• “How have we wearied him?”
(2:17)
THE QUESTION“How have we wearied him?” (2:17)•By pretending that evil is good•By challenging the justice of God
THE ANSWERMalachi 3:1•God will make his people ready.• The Lord will then come
unexpectedly.•But is that good news?
THE ANSWERMalachi 3:2• “Who can endure?”• Refiner’s fire, burning out
impuritiesSoft Soap vs. Fuller’s Lye/Nitre• The process involved cleaning,
bleaching, and beating the fibers to a consistent and desirable condition.
THE ANSWERMalachi 3:3-4•Who needs to be purified?• 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 RESULTJesus 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.”
Q&A WITH GOD“How shall we return?” (3:7)• Stop robbing God.“How have we robbed him?” (3:8)•Keeping instead of giving•Doubting his unexpected holiness