Refined by Fire | Trials, Transformation, and Grace | Malachi 3:1-5

Show Notes

Episode 703: 
In this episode, Wesley and Chris examine the verses from Malachi 3:1-5, which speak of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord. They discuss the implications of this messenger, identifying John the Baptist as a precursor to Jesus, the ultimate messenger of the new covenant. The conversation highlights the significance of Jesus' arrival and the transformative power of His message.

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You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in practical ways. Good morning, good morning, we talk oh not through good mooning. Good morning to you and you and you. You got to trademark that. Hey, that's right, Well it's already been traded by it. It's called Singing in the Rain. But it's not Chris's version. Oh I see, yeah, I definitely have modified it. So hey, good morning everybody. We are the Bible Guys. It's Wesley and I today, and it's because Jeff's out of pocket again, this time for a voice thing, and we're at the Heritage Church stage. In case you're watching online as opposed to listening and you're wondering about that, Well, today we are diving into Malachi chapter three, and today is going to be a pretty big promise about what's to come from God. It's a pretty short but strong promise that we're going to be looking at. But before we do that, Desiree once again, our Desiree has given us a segment and it's called two Truths and a Lie. Okay, so it says Wesley has become a regular Bible guy. But there are still things about him we don't know. So for today's segment, Wesley's going to share two truths and one lie and Chris can see if you can figure out which one the lie is. Okay, are you ready for this? I am ready by two truths. And one lie. This is gonna be good. I'm looking forward to this. Here we go. Okay, Yes, number one, Yes, I don't eat seafood O number two. Wow, Wow, that's a statement. Okay. I was born in Brooklyn, New York. Wow. Number three? Yeah, I have never been up north. Oh, come on, two truths and a lie. I don't eat seafood. For non Michiganders, I was born in Brooklyn, yep, I have never been up north. For a non people who if people don't live in Michigan, up north refers to northern Michigan. Yes, okay, so. Uh yeah, anywhere in northern Michigan up there. I think I've heard you say before that you don't need seafood, because that is such a shocking statement. So I'm going to say that's the truth. Is that correct? That is correct, and there's a backstory to that. I'm allergic to seafood, yeah, which is why. That would do it? That would do it? And then and then you were born in Brooklyn, New York, and you've never been up north. Okay, uh, You've lived in this area forever, ever since you were a kid, So there. Is no born here. Well I was thinking of that. I was. I was analyzing the up north statement. I'm thinking, there is no way that you're that you've not been up north. So I'm going to say the lie is you were not born in New York? Is that correct? I was not born in New York? Yes, So I got it right. Yeah, okay, okay, yeah, so I. Have to even look at it again and make sure. Yeah, where were you born? I was born here? Okaya, which city? But I alloy in Detroit. But I got to say this, I always mess up the two truths and a lie, like every single time because I'm trying to think of the lie part, and I'm like, I mess that up. That's so funny. You know. We were doing we were doing a Bible Guys in Bible Gals for our Heritage Church for our study, and my wife was on there with me, and we were playing two truths in a lie. Yeah. I messing up every time. My wife gave me three truths. Yeah, I do the same thing every single time. I was trying to guess which when the lie was, and she goes, oh, she was. I was just trying to think of three things you didn't know. And I was like, Liz, the name of the game is actually called and a lie. That is good. But anyway, Hey, so yesterday we made a promise to the to the listeners and watchers. I feel like suspense is building around the country right now. Around the world. I feel around the world. I can almost like subtle earthquakes are taken place right now. Because we said that yesterday to tune back in and you would finally be able to meet the the not the famous, but the infamous. The the the most incredible, yes, unimaginable adjectives. I don't know, Yes, desiree. So ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Desiree. Oh look look we get a balirl. Wow, very good, it's hilarious. He told me to come dancing, so I wasn't going to disappoint. Yes, yes, So for those of you who are listening, you can hear your voice. For those of you who are watching, you can see the lovely Desiree dancing as a ballerina. So so describe to people. We always reference you. What is your job description here at Heritage. That's a lot a lot of things, yes, So mainly I work with the Bible Guys with Jeff and Chris, preparing your everything behind the scenes, as well as in the executive office. I do admin work. So yeah, okay, very good. And what do you enjoy well, I should say I don't want to say most, but what is one thing that you and that you really enjoy about the Bible Guys portion of your job? Honestly getting work to work with you and Jeff. Oh, that's very nice. It's it's a very fun opportunity and they never disappoint in making me laugh. So okay, and we always mentioned your first name. What is your last name? Fifer? Fifer, Desiree Fifer. Like Michelle Pfiffer. So yeah, any relation. There is unfortunately not any relationship. Okay you said, unfortunately not Yeah, but you know, is she a nice person? Yeah? Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah. Claim to fame yeah exactly, all right. Well, our claim to fame, Desiree, is that we now know you and our listeners now know you. Here I am all right, very good. Hey, Desiree. Everybody. It's so funny how many people didn't think she was real. Oh yeah, you know how we would make references to Desire and they're like, is it really a desert ate Like, yeah, she's a real person. Yeah, yeah, Desiree. She's the one that comes up with every segment and she basically tells us what to do. Yes, like, we come in and this is the honest, the goodness truth. Yeah, most days, what I mean most I mean ninety nine percent of the days. Yeah. I will literally walk in, I will sit down and I'll say what are we reading today? Yeah, and desire will be like, oh you're in Malachai. Oh okay, cool. Yeah. And because and that, by the way, that's not that's not a disrespect of your time. That is actually designed that way, because Jeff and I a long time ago said. It's got authentic. Yeah. The Bible Guys podcast is designed to encourage every person to open the Bible, read it, and then just talk about it. Yeah. Right, And the only way that we can do that is we can do that with no preparation. So you know the idea that we you know, Jeff and I and you and Kyle have a plethora of reservoir because we have a history of preaching and reading the Bible. So yeah, there's certainly a lot of that. But also it is possible to open the Bible and just to read a passage and then say, you know, hey, let's ask some questions. You know, what does this say about God? What does this say about people? Is there a promise to claim? Is there a sin to avoid? Is you know? Is there is there something that I should do about this? You know? And all the other questions that come with the soap's method, right, which I think I hit most of them there, right, So anyway, all right, well, hey, that is our segment and and we actually managed to do that in a pretty good amount of time. So and by the way, I would say, speaking of meeting. New people, this is the bad transition. There is a promise from God that one day new people will come on the scene, that that people will meet. I like that. That was like a four year old circle. Horrible, But I mean it is true. What I said is true. That's good. And today, Wesley, how many verses. Do we have? We have just five Malachi three. Wow, that's amazing. So you better make him good. Yeah, here we go, Verse one, chapter three. Look, I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord, then the Lord you are seeking, will suddenly come to his temple. The Messenger of the Covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely comings, says the Lord of Heaven's armies. But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears, For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past. At that time, I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people, do not fear me, says the Lord of Heaven's armies. Yeah. Wow, So this is the coming day of judgment. Yeah, that's what this is. And it's really interesting how it starts off. Malachi starts off by saying, look, I'm sending a messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. So this is in quotes, which means this is a direct word from the Lord. Yeah, which is really important to recognize. Right. So this isn't This isn't Malachi saying that there's a messenger coming before him. This is Malachi quoting God, which which often happens, yes, right, Like Isaiah would often quote God in quotes, saying this is what the Lord God says. Right. And so God is giving a warning in chapter two he's giving a call to faithfulness, and then in chapter three there is a coming gay of judgment where it's also involving somebody who God is going to send, which is why I said eventually people will meet them. Right now, is what is your understanding of who the messenger one day will be? Well, we know that the messenger. So there were types of messengers that we saw in the New Testament, like John the Baptist. He was a type of messenger paving the way for Jesus. But ultimately the messenger is Christ, that who appears in the New Testament. Yeah, and so a lot of people think that verse one is referring to John the Baptist because John the Baptist was technically the first voice is going to be in this timeline, is going to be the first voice in after four hundred years of silence, and and and God is going to appear to Zechariah in the temple and uh, and is going to appear to him and say, or the Angel will actually rather on God's behalf and say that they're going to bear a son, and that his name is going to be John, right, and then John is going to be born six months before Jesus. And John's message is going to be I have come to prepare the way who is going to come after me? You know? And and and the one he's the Messiah, He's the Christ, He's the one who's going to take away the sins of the world. And so John the Baptist's whole existence, this whole mission in life, is to be the prepare of the way of Jesus. Which is why the same verbiage is used in Malachai, which is why people think. You know, he's saying, Hey, the first messenger that's going to come is John the Baptist. He says, look, I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me, and me refers to God, right, and so you know, Jesus himself said, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father. Jesus said, I am the Father or one so God the Father can claim such things, right. And then it says, then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, the Messenger of the Covenant, which we believe is referring to his second messenger, right. And Jesus says that he has come to bring a new covenant. Yes, right when he established communion. He says, I bring a new covenant to you. And he's referring to doing away with the entire system of the Old Testament and referring to the sacrifice of himself as being the new promise for salvation of sins. Right, yeah, And so. The Messenger of the Covenant is referred to as Jesus, whom you look for so eagerly and by the way, that also fits because that's referring to all of the prophecies. Yeah, right, the hundreds of prophecies, someone of three hundred to four hundred prophecies. So he says, whom you so eagerly is sure coming? Says the Lord of Heaven's armies, And then he goes on to say, but who will be able to endure it when he comes? And then he goes on to talk about standing in God's presence? Yeah, yeah, which is you know, a pretty pretty tall order right there. Yeah. In verse two when it talks about for he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, I just want to kind of park right there for a minute in that when you refine metal, or let's say, if you were trying to refine gold, Yeah, one of the main objectives of refining the gold is to remove any impurities, right, So that's what you're trying to. Do in impurities meaning like in the earth. Yes, yeah, so you're trying to get it to its purest form. Well, the thing about that is God wants to have that same refinement in our lives, to remove any impurities or anything not like him in our lives and to work on us and to prune us and to shape us. And I remember an incident in my life. I was going to Eastern Michigan University and I applied for an internship that did not exist at the company that I used to work for. So I came up with a great idea. Don't know if this idea will work today, Chris, but it was a good idea at the time. I sent my resume in. A cover letter directly to the head of the HR department. Wow, because I figured, just send it to the head guy of this multi million, probably a billion dollar corporation. He got it. And just to show you how things are coincidental, his assistant went to Eastern Michigan University. That's where she graduated from. She knew she didn't know me, but that was kind of like my shoe in there because I was going to Eastern Michigan. She graduated from there. That's how I kind of got in there. So I had an interview with her and they brought me on for an internship program they didn't even have, so God kind of worked that all out. But after being there, so I moved up in the rink. So I was an intern. Then I went to Inside sales. Then I went to the accounting department. As time went on, I really felt a calling on my life to do ministry full time. That's what I really wanted to do. God, I want to do ministry full time. Well, Chris, let me say, be careful about what you ask for. Ye. So I was. Already in ministry, but I wanted to do it full time. That was my. Prayer, vocation. Yes, that was my prayer, and I kind of. Felt like God said, Okay, this is what you're asking for, this is what you want, I'll make it happen. Now here's the funny thing about God. God doesn't necessarily do things like how we think he should do them, or in the timeline we wished he would do them. In so, I'm at that company and that company ended up downsizing and my job was let go. Now I'm thinking, God, my prayer to you was I want to do ministry full time. My prayer was not God, I want to be jobless. That was not my prayer. But I ended up losing that job and then very humbling experience. I'm collecting unemployment. This is not how I pictured all of this panning out. And then one. Day we're at a fair in the parking lot outside of this church, and this kid walks up to me with a card that says Heritage Church, and he just says here and almost shoves the card at me. It wasn't like, sir, would you like a card from my church? It was here, and I kind of felt like that was the Holy Spirit saying. Hey, I'm over here. Yeah. Took the card, put it into my back pocket. Fast forward Heritage, and this is before I was coming to Heritage. I heard about this church having a Super Bowl party. It sounded really cool. The kids could play flag football, the adults would watch the game. I go to that event and I meet this guy named Jeff, who ended up being the pastor of the church. Jeff's like, hey, you know, if you want to know like how a larger church operates and different things like that. As I'm talking to him, he says, hey, why don't you just start coming to our staff meetings. I'm like, Okay, this is crazy. You don't even know me. You don't know, like know anything about me, and you'll let me come to your staff meetings. So I started coming to the staff. Meetings and just for our listener's sake, Jeff has a very strong heart. Yes, for younger pastors who to develop them. Yes, yeah, yeah he does. He gave me a ton of books. You need to read this, this, this, come to our staff meetings. So I was here all the time, coming to all the staff meetings. And at a certain point we launched another campus and Jeff said, okay, Wesley, you're here all the time, You're at all the staff meetings. Do you just want to come on staff? And I said, yes, Now I want to stop right there and then back up. What was my prayer to God? My prayer was I want to do full time ministry. I would not have scripted the story the way that it unfolded, but that was God refining me, humbling me, and going through the entire process to get to the blessing that I asked him for in the first place. So the refinement was not pretty, it was not nice. I did not like it. No, I don't want to go through that again, but it was very necessary to get me to the spot that I prayed to God for, which was full time ministry. Yeah. I remember one time I did a series. This reminds me of this topic. I did a series one time called clay in the potter's hands. And since then I have sort of refined it and used it at different retreats and things like that. But it's really about a theme that exists all throughout the Bible, and really there's only certain themes. There's only certain themes that sort of have the tapestry from Old Testament all the way through the New Testament. Like, for instance, like you know the shepherd and sheep, right, you can find that in the Old Testament, you can find that in New Testament. Another one is how God is the potter wor the clay. You can find that in the Old Testament and the New Testament. So it's just it's this theme that goes along that says, hey, we're just clay in the potter's hands, and so you know, using verses in Jeremiah Versus in Romans and things like this, I came up with these four ideas that parallel how a potter makes some to be used right, And the first one is getting they have to get the potter, They have to get the lump of clay, and they have to put it in the center of the wheel, which is equivalent to us being in God's the center of God's will. Yeah, because it can't be on the side, It'll fly off. Yeah, it can't be on the side, will fly off. Yeah. So you have to be in a position for God to work on you. And the only way to be in a position for God to work on you is to be in the center of the wheel, right, or in the center of his will. Right. So that I mean, if you think about it, that's that's really a great parallel, which, by the way, is the reason why God uses you know that In Jeremiah, he says, hey, I went down to the potter's house. I watched the potter make the clay, and he realized that this was us, you know. And that's the same thing with sheep in Shepherds. I mean, if you really want to dive deep into Psalm chapter twenty three, that the parallels run very, very very deep with shepherd and sheep. Right, there's one hundred comparisons that seems like between shepherd and sheep, and same thing with the potter and the clay. And then the second thing that I talked about is removing unwanted debris or refining the process right to remove the all the impurities, because today we have refined clay. We can go to Michael's and buy refined clay. But back then, you know, you'd have to pick out sticks from scratch dirt, right, you have to pull it out of the earth. And what I love about it it was messy, right, which is a perfect reflection of how the process. That is, that's right, that's right and so and so therefore God wants to remove any unwanted sin in our in our lives in order to mold us and shape us and make us into who he wants us to be. Right. And then the third one is uh, you know, to being being crushed and remaked right, right, So in other words, like sometimes you know, you'll see a potter, you know, shape something and all of a sudden they'll have to collapse it and then remake it, and and uh, and sometimes that's what happens. We get crushed and remade through through uh, you know, through the through the pressure of the potter's hands. Sometimes that happens in our lives. And it doesn't destroy the. Clay, No, it doesn't destroy it. Its just if you talk to the clay. The clay may feel destroyed, but it doesn't destroy the. Play will say why and ow why and how? And then uh and then uh, then the fourth message that I did was from the kiln to the shelf, right, from the killing to the shelf. And the kiln, of course is the fire right, and so it's it's it's it's another another image of fire, uh, you know, committing, committing to a purpose and uh and in this case the fire and the trials, uh you know of of ministry, the trials of mission for the for the Christian. And then of course then after that being used for for the intended purposes. Right, if you performed as a plate or a fork or a pitcher or a vase, uh, you know, then then you serve, you know, your intended purpose of how God made you, how God wired you, and how God wants to use you. And and and it's the same thing the imagery of of what you said of refining gold and removing the impurities. It is it is. It seems uh harsh, it seems uncomfortable. There's an ow, there's a y, you know, but yet God says there's a purpose. And so God is literally saying, this is exactly what's going to happen when I send my my savior Jesus Christ. He's going to come into the world as the new covenant maker, and he is going to refine the process. He's going to refine my people. And then once again you'll be in a position to serve me. You'll be in a position to love me, and and and once again you'll be able to obey my covenant, obey my decrees, and and and it's because his covenant is better. It's it's more, it's more lasting, it's it's it's finalized. It is it is is, it is once and for all. Jesus Christ. Thank God that you and I are post the cross, right, we are on on this side of the cross. And so Jesus Christ died for our sins, and so we are under the covenant of his sacrifice for our sins. And so you know, we don't have to you know, you know, jump through the six hundred and thirteen laws and precepts that God is so upset about, right, that the laws that they've forgotten, the laws that they you know, have just ignored, even the priests. And God says, I'm sending a brand new one, right, and it's love God and love others. Right, that's what it is. That's what it is. So well, hey, that's great, that's a great promise. That's a great place you go. There you go. It's a great place for us to end. And so hopefully we'll see you tomorrow on the Bible guys,