3. A clear understanding of God’s righteous judgment will come forth. God’s judgments are always redemptive in nature. They do not condemn or accuse. They confront sin in humility and love, seeking to bring people to repentance for the sake of salvation and restoration to God.
As God raises up preachers of righteousness, sin will be confronted and dealt with. There will be a strong conviction of sin. An understanding of true grace will come forth. People will begin to understand that grace is more than just mercy when they miss it. It is the power of God in the life of the believer to overcome sin in all its forms and manifestations. True grace will be preached, and power to overcome sin will be given (see John 8:3-11; 1 Cor. 5:9-13; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Acts 13:8-12; Acts 5:1-11).
4. A deep call for consecration will be given by the Holy Spirit as God prepares and calls vessels to be set apart for His power and end-time purposes. God will come with a suddenly to His people. His presence will be accompanied by deep refinement and purification and will cause us to offer our lives in righteousness.
“Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], Whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger or Angel of the covenant, Whom you desire, behold, He shall come, 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 priests, the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness” (Mal. 3:1-3).
“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1).
5. God will strengthen the covenant of marriage within the church. Believers will need to make a choice to live in a way that pleases God, not in a way that is convenient for their flesh. Protecting and standing for the marriage covenant is very strong on God’s heart. A plumbline will be set that upholds the truth of God’s word in this area.
God is calling the church to stand for moral purity. His grace and power will be there to help believers truly live for God.
“Yet you ask, Why does He reject it? Because the Lord was witness [to the covenant made at your marriage] between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously and to whom you were faithless. Yet she is your companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your marriage vows].
“And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God make you two] one? Because He sought a godly offspring [from your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth.
“For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and marital separation and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate]” (Mal. 2:14-16; see also Matt. 5:31-32; Matt. 19:3; Matt. 19:11-12; Mark 10:2-12; 1 Cor. 7:8-39; John 8: 3-11).
6. For those who desire to walk pure before the Lord, a strong gift of discernment will be given to keep them from evil. Those who choose compromise will give way to a spirit of deception.
“Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him” (Mal. 3:18).
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