“SACRIFICE AND OFFERINGS” DAY OF THE LORD MARCH 29, 2023

MALACHI 3:2-3

2. 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;

3. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He will purify the priests, the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness. Amp.

This is telling us that when He returns, we will not be able to be raptured away because we still need refining. We are to offer to Him our life and not just our tithes. Many think of offerings as only monetary. He is talking about what is offered to the Lord in righteousness.

When they offered their sacrifices before Jesus came, what did they do? They put the animal on the altar and killed it. It died. When we come to the altar of sacrifice what do we give? Most just say they are sorry for their sins. But it should not stop there.

Many ask for forgiveness and keep living the same way. I think there is a mind set in the church that if you do not smoke, drink, do drugs or have illicit sex that the Lord does not require anything else from you. Many people do not do those things and never did. So, they are good citizens and are not in need of refining. Is that true?

We all have a fleshly nature that needs to die. We must learn to live and walk habitually in the Holy Spirit, responsive to and controlled by Him so we do not gratify the cravings of the flesh, (Gal. 5:16-17). His ways are not our ways. We must change.

We are to learn how to be a living sacrifice. That means it will cost you. We are to give a sacrifice of praise. That means He is watching over us, looking at what we give to Him. Do we just sit back and sing a few words on Sunday?

Psalms says to shout for joy, to dance, to sing and to sing some more. If a football player does a victory dance after a touchdown, how much more should we do a victory dance after we have been set free and forgiven for our sins. How thankful are we?

MALACHI 3:8 Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? You have withheld your tithes and offerings.

9. You are cursed with the curse; for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. Amp.

If we bring Him the right offering our nation will be blessed. He will pour out a blessing we cannot handle it will be so large (vs. 10) If not He will hold us accountable for robbing Him.

MALACHI 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer (insect and plagues) for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

🎶 SONGS – CAST THY BURDEN – THERE’S GLORY ALL AROUND – THIS IS MY HOLY PLACE – DON MOEN