Reference: Malachi 3:1-3
Did you know my friend that the aboveverses of scriptures are prophecies concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus andthese prophecies were fulfilled when Christ was born in Bethlehem hundreds ofyears ago? Actually there are two men that are mentioned in the abovescriptures. One is John the Baptist who first came preaching the baptism ofrepentance. John told the people about Christ who was very soon to appear onthe scene and he would be the one that would purify the sons of Levi. Have youever taken into consideration as to what the above scriptures are referring to?The prophet Malachi said that he (Christ) would sit as a refiner and purifierof silver and he would purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold andsilver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Whatthis actually means is that Christ would purge man from all his impurities justlike a refinery will remove all impurities from crude oil before it can beused. You should know what a refinery is because this is where the crude oilthat is taken from the earth must go to be purified of it's contents so that itcan be used for many different purposes. A refinery is the place where the oilis taken to so that each and every different ingredient can be seperated. Oilhas many different liquid elements within it that can be seperated by the processof heating it with fire. As the oil is being heated to a certain temperature,each different element contained within it will be seperated from the rest ofthe elements by a process know as evaporation.
The heat will evaporate each andevery element until all of the different elements have been seperated one fromthe other. The oil must go through the process or else it could not be used fora very useful product. There are many different types of refineries in theworld today that are used to purify different kinds of products that are soldeveryday and used by the people in many different ways. Reguardless of what isbeing refined, the process of refining makes the product pure enough to be usedby the public. The prophet Malachi described the coming of Christ and the workthat he would do in the same manner as how a refinery will purge a certainproduct in such a state that it can be used for the benifit of mankind. Malachisaid that he (Christ) would sit as a refiners fire and like fullers soap and hewould purge the sons of Levi like unto gold and silver. Most people do notrealize exactly why Christ was described as being a refiner and like fullerssoap. He was described in this manner because of the fact that his word isexactly like a refiners fire and like fullers soap that will throughly purge anindividual from all sin of the flesh. My friend you must go through God'srefinery before you can be purged from your sins in order that you can be whatthe Lord wants you to be. God's refinery is like the refinery that purifies thecrude oil making it a useful product for mankind today. God's word is thepurifier that will purge you from all your sin if you receive and obey it. Thefire of the word of God will purge the wheat and at the same time it will burnup the chaff with fire unquenchable. When John the Baptist began his ministryhe told the people that he baptizes with water unto repentance, but Christwould baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire. In Matthew3:11-12 we are toldthese words, "I indeedbaptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightierthan I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the HolyGhost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor,and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff withunquenchable fire." I want you tonotice very close where it says that the fan is in his hand and he willthroughly purge the wheat and place it into the garner. A fan is something thatis used to make a fire get hotter. Christ is described as having a fan in hishand that will throughly purge the wheat but will burn the chaff withunquenchable fire. The chaff are those who refuse to receive the truth of God'sword. The true word of God is like a consuming fire that will bruise the headof the serpent seed children. The serpent seed children are those who obey theword of error instead of the word of truth. The truth will utterly burn you ifyou are one that has rejected truth. Your failing to receive truth will causeGod to turn you over to a reprobate mind and you will receive and believe liesto be damned forever. The truth will bruise your head like a hammer if you areone that has rejected the truth of the gospel of Christ. Those who receive andobey truth will be what is called the wheat that Christ gathers into thegarner. Christ is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire. The fire is thetest that the word will put you through if you receive and obey it. Some peopleget the silly idea that the fire is the power of the Holy Ghost in their livesdoing great signs and wonders. The fire is God's refinery that you must gothrough in order to be purified. God's holy word will throughly purge you fromall sin if you receive it and obey what it says. To receive God's word willpurge you from sin as you walk in the light of it. Most people will not receivethe truth because it reveals sin in their lives and they are not about tochange the way that they are going. Jesus said men love darkness more thanlight. They fail to come to the light because they are not willing to live theway God's word reveals. This is why Christ said that few there be that will besaved. The way is too strait and narrow for most people to accept and obey. Thereceiving of the truth will crucify the flesh of its lusts and desires. This iswhy truth will not be accepted by people today. Are you willing to quitsmoking, watching television, dancing, resign from lodges, or any other worldlyamusements that are keeping you from the knowledge of the truth of God's word?What is your reaction when you are told that you should not watch television orallow your children to do so? What is your reaction when you are told to bebaptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ? What do you think of thedoctrinal truth of the oneness of the Godhead all being in Christ? My frienddid you know that if you receive the word of truth that it will kill you? Yes,it will kill your lusts and desires of your flesh. This is why you fail toreceive it isn't it? Are you willing to go through the mill of God's refineryor are you one that his word will burn with unquenchable fire? Are youconcerned with what your friends will think of you if you receive truth andobey it? Would you lose all your cronies if you receive the word of God withmeekness which is able to save your soul? Are you afraid that your family willcast you out as evil if you receive truth? Pastor friend, are you afraid thatyour congregation will leave your church empty if you receive truth? Friend ifthis article seems to burn you a little; why does it???