“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.”
There is the sense of many nations and systems in the world being in need of metaphorically being soaped and scrubbed clean and hung out to be bleached white in the fire of the sun’s rays.
Jesus came to wash us clean and make us beautiful. For us to be refined and polished pure enough to see a reflection in.
Judgement starts within the house of the Lord not for punishment but in readiness to move on mature and prepared in motives to serve Him. Be stripped of all that would weigh us down.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Those who are prepared and sensitive to what the Spirit is doing will be equipped to withstand and be the testimony for others to find their hope.
“This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”
He will clothe us in garments washed in crimson blood to come out white and pure as snow. We bring all to the Lord to deal with as we cannot hide it from Him. He alone rids us of our rubbish.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.”
We are called to live lives of joy not be stuck in mud mires. To be brought from death to life. Our salvation is revelatory that Jesus is real.
He is our strength and way. His Spirit testifies from within us.
“the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.”
Our peace does not come from the removal of the hazardousness of what surrounds us but from being made steadfast and able to remain upright and at peace within the circumstances that the world fear.
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Christ is the prince of peace.
The illustration shows us washed in blood to come out as white and pure in Christ. Emanating light that pushes back the darkness.
Six Scriptures that come to mind:
““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.” Malachi 3:1-3 ESV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 ESV
“This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” Luke 21:13-15 ESV
““Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 AMP
“the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:32-36 ESV
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 ESV
Communion. Bayside Worship
Lessisgreater 