Prepare for His Coming

Prepare for His Coming

Malachi 3:1-20 

    Suddenly it is the holidays. Suddenly it is Advent and Christmas is on the way. Right about now some of us are wondering what ever happened to November? What do you mean Christmas is 3 weeks away?  Even with the four weeks of Advent, even with a holiday like Thanksgiving to kick-off the shopping season and get us out to the malls, Christmas has a knack for coming upon us suddenly doesn’t it?

    Suddenly.  That’s how seasons of expectation come to a close.  I wonder if Christmas could ever come upon us in any other way than suddenly.  For, how could we ever describe the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom into our normal world other than as “sudden?”  One moment things are status quo, elections are being decided, people are getting married, jobs are being created and liquidated, money is being made and lost – and then over and against and above all that God’s Word suddenly comes.  Suddenly the fact that things are happening in God’s world eclipses all the concerns of the world as we know it, or as we think we know it. 

    Of course, things are always happening in God’s world.  God the everlasting is always faithful to his promises, always looking over his creation and directing it to its conclusion.  He is ever at work, assuring that all things are indeed working for the good to those who believe in him and are called to his purpose.  But we are not so watchful. Like we need an alarm clock to wake us from the night, so we need Advent to rouse us to awareness of God’s action all around us.  The message of Advent is that the concerns of this world have distracted us for long enough!   God is speaking even now.

    But let us be clear.  The sudden-ness of Christmas does not mean it was unexpected.  On the contrary, though the Christmas Angel's voice cried out suddenly, it's message had been long expected.  The entire prophetic message of the Old Testament is focused on the coming of God’s anointed One, with a strong urging to prepare for His coming.

    As we look at today's text in Malachi, chapter 3, we discover that God is answering a question the people ask in chapter 2.  They want to know, "Where is the God of Justice?"  To which, God says He is coming, and we had better all get ready.  In today's text we see ....

The Coming Messenger  (vv. 1-4)  

The People's Unbelief  (vv. 5-15) , and...

The Book of Remembrance  (vv. 16-20)  

1. Body
1. The Coming Messenger  (vv. 1-4) 
1. Prepares the way for the Lord's coming
1. Two comings in view here
1. the one they delight in 
2. the one few can endure
2. Warns of the coming cleansing / judgment
1. Luke 21:36 -- Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
2. the very sons of Levi - ministers of God needed cleansing
3. The process of refining silver is a delicate process. One writer described the process this way. “When the silver becomes molten it gives off some twenty times its own volume of oxygen with a noticeable hissing and bubbling. This phenomenon is known as ‘spitting’. But the task is not yet finished. Unless the molten silver is treated with carbon (charcoal was used by the ancients), the silver re-absorbs oxygen from the air and loses its sheen and purity.” The refiner knows that his metal is pure when he can see his own reflection in the mirror-like surface of the metal. In the same way, God will know that His work in us has been effective when He sees reflected in the Christ-follower HIS own image.
4. 1 Cor. 3:13 -- each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
5. 1 John 2:28 -- And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
3. Testifies of God
1. John the Baptist, Mat. 3:10-12 -- And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.The People's Unbelief  (vv. 5 - 15)
4. Historical
1. sorcery -- those seeking God's wisdom apart from God
2. adultery -- both physical and spiritual
3. fearing not -- 
1. the source of all sins
2. irreverence of God and His Word
4. God gets in Israel’s face, and ours, about unfaithfulness,  but let’s keep something important in mind.  The fact that God responds this way makes this a story of love and hope. God doesn't simply give up and say, "Oh well."  You see, God wants His people to be in an obedient relationship with Him and when they are not He takes action.   God addresses unfaithfulness because He loves us too much to allow gaps to remain in our relationship with Him. 
5. Out of fellowship
1. God would restore fellowship, v. 7b
2. Offerings as an indication of worship
6. Atheistic
1. No reward for serving God
2. Nothing gained through worship
3. God doesn't care... isn't there. The Book of Remembrance  (vv. 16-20)
7. Those the Lord hears
1. Those who fear -- reverential and loving
2. They came together
8. Those the Lord remembers
1. Those who fear and worship and glorify His name
2. As Eastern kings kept records, chronicles, as memorials of matters of importance.
3. Think about it for a moment.
   Kings were making edicts,
   Generals were giving orders,
   Judges were speaking in court,
   Politicians were making speeches,
   
   But God was paying them no mind. His ears were tuned to a handful of faithful followers.
9. Those the Lord values
1. as jewels, or particular treasures
2. as His own, obedient, Son
2. Conclusion 
1. I am a part of the Body of Messengers, the Church, called to testify for the Lord.
2. I need to check my heart for signs of unbelief.
3. I desire to be one whom the Lord hears, remembers and values.
4. Advent is a time for preparation. The voice of the prophets is calling to us – The Christ is coming. Whether their word is good news or bad news will depend on how we respond.
   
   When we look back to the Bethlehem manger, we are given a promise. For in its crib we see the Christ Child, proof of the fundamental message, that God really does love the world that he gave his One and only Son, that any who would believe in him will not perish but will have eternal life.  We are right to sing out during this season, “Joy to the world!” The Lord has come as Savior and has brought forgiveness of sins for all who will believe and repent.
   
   But we also look forward these days to the Second Advent, the coming of the Lord as Judge. And this coming will not be gentle like the first. Jesus himself warns us of it in Luke 21,
   vv. 26 - 27 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. vv. 34 - 36 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly,  like a trap.  Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.”
   
   The Refiner’s fire will suddenly be kindled. It will leap into our world as surely as John the Baptist appeared from out of nowhere. The only doubt is whether we will respond to the message.  Now is the season to believe.  Now is the time to put your life in order.
   
   Make no mistake, Advent is a time to think on the meaning and purpose of life and death.  For what is the entire point of John’s message if it is not v.6, “that all flesh shall see the salvation of God?”