Key Scriptures: Malachi 3:1-6
“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. 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. 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. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
“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.
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While we wait on the coming of the Lord; God is working to refine us.
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Lesson one: God works to refine us so that we will fully surrender to him.
• God sends us both joy and sorrow—to draw us closer to him and to pull us away from our idols
James 1:3-4, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 5:3-5, Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
“And still God seeks the fellowship of his people and will send them—as gifts—both joy and sorrow to detach their hands from the things of this world and to attach those hands to himself.” J.I. Packer
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Lesson Two: The refining fire of the Lord restores proper worship.
• The refining fire of God creates whole hearted, integrated people—whose minds, hearts, and lives are fully in pursuit of Jesus Christ
Romans 12:1-2, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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Lesson Three: Our response to the refining work of God.
Wait on the Lord
Acknowledge our need and be honest in community
Surrender