Welcome to the ninth day of our study designed to walk you through the Scriptures, helping you intentionally focus on pursuing the power of Pentecost in your life. Take time today to read and reflect on each of the verses and answer the questions that follow.

Matthew 3.11-12
¹¹ “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

How does John (the author) describe this cleansing work?

Malachi 3.1-3
“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. 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 coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
² “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. ³ 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.

How does the prophet Malachi (the author) speak of these cleansing fires and purifying work of Pentecost?

This cleansing and purifying work does not take place overnight. It is a process like that of a smelter. A refiner of silver heats the silver over a burning fire. As the silver becomes hot, all the dross and impurities rise to the top. He then skims them off. He continues heating and skimming off the dross again and again until he can see his image reflected clearly in the silver. So also the Holy Spirit through the trials and tests skims all the dross and impurities from our lives that the image of Jesus may be seen in us.

2 Corinthians 3.18
¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

What does Paul say the Spirit of the Lord has come to do?