19/08/2014 - WHEN OUR OFFERINGS ARE A BLESSING

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Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years.  Malachi 3.4

Malachi was used to show the need for spiritual preparation. Now, if we do not prepare ourselves, our offering will not be accepted by the Lord. If we are living with the divine presence, we will feel what God wants from us. Sometimes, He asks us to consecrate ourselves for His work. Other times, He asks us to consecrates ourselves in someone’s benefit, our even for our own sake. However, if we are not clean, we will not remain before Him.

The devil works in many ways, even in the lives of the members of the Body of Christ. Thus, there are many people falling in adultery, acting dishonestly, and in such a way, excluding themselves from salvation. These people do not see the danger they are going through. After all, only those who persevere until the end will be saved. The irresponsible ones teach that the Lord will not be too demanding at His return, but that is not what the Word says.

In the first verse, the prophet starts talking about the Lord, whom we seek, and the Messenger of the covenant, in whom we delight. He will come to His temple. When the Messenger has prepared the way, the One who we seek and desire will come. But at the same time, he warns that nobody will be able to endure the day of His coming. Only those who have their clothes cleansed, with oil in their lamp stands, will be saved.

Without the robes of salvation, nobody will be able to remain in His presence. He is like the refiner’s fire, who heats the gold and silver until it removes all their impurity. He is also like the launderers’ soap, who cleans all the contaminated clothes (Ml 3.2). The saved need to wear the robes of justice, so that they might be able to support the trials that will come. The battle is serious, and those who are not well prepared will perish.

We cannot only go to church on Sundays, and afterwards, live as the wicked. We must be constantly in communion with our God so that we may purify ourselves from all sin, whether it is the intention of our heart, our thoughts, or the works we practice. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hb 12.14) as Redeemer. We are being prepared, and every day we must carry our cross – our mission – and follow Him.

Then, the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be accepted. It does not matter the church you attend. If its place is in the territory of Judah – the Kingdom of God –, or of Jerusalem – the Capital –, where the churches are more active, what matters is if you have been purified by the Messenger of the Alliance. Those who desire the coming of the Lord must purify themselves.

God desires His people not to give space to the enemy, but to treat him with the necessary rigor. Every person who dialogues with the devil will be contaminated, for he is highly pernicious and harmful. If you have not felt the divine presence any longer, it is time to seek your complete sanctification.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares