Tesimony: Refiner

The Refiner

Isaiah 48:10–11 ESV

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

Context: Isaiah wrote during the stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire and the decline of Israel. Under King Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 b.c.) the Assyrians swept westward into Aram (Syria) and Canaan. About 733 the kings of Aram and Israel tried to pressure Ahaz king of Judah into joining a coalition against Assyria. Ahaz chose instead to ask Tiglath-Pileser for help, a decision condemned by Isaiah (see note on 7:1). Assyria did assist Judah and conquered the northern kingdom in 722–721. This made Judah even more vulnerable, and in 701 King Sennacherib of Assyria threatened Jerusalem itself (see 36:1 and note). The godly King Hezekiah prayed earnestly, and Isaiah predicted that God would force the Assyrians to withdraw from the city (37:6–7).

Nevertheless Isaiah warned Judah that her sin would bring captivity at the hands of Babylon. Israel, the northern kingdom had already been brought into exile

They had been stubborn, had not obeyed the Lord…this judgement had been foretold, and the people were suffering and going to continue to suffer. But Chapter 48 vrs. 6, points to hope. That although they had been wicked, although it appeared that they were going to be wiped out by a greater and stronger people..God tells them this..I have refined you. He says, I have tested you but will not, and have not destroyed you completely.

You have to imagine..not only had it been rough for God’s people..but it was going to get worse. They would not listen, and ther was great suffering. and you read in Ezekiel..there is a point where they are brought in Baylon Exile..and they look at themselves like dry bones. Isaiah warns the people of the judgement that would come..it was a call to repentance. But even in spite of thier wickedness..in spite of thier sin, God points to a hope, and says “I am a refiner”…I will not destroy you completely.

Isaiah 48-through the end of the book point to this coming savior Jesus. Even in Ezekiel when they would be in captivity there is still hope. Even in Malachi, the last prophet of the OT, last book of the OT, we see this same theme of refining. God not completely destroying.

A refiners fire is different from a forest fire, or an incinerary fire. A forest fire and an incenerary burn everything. All is destroyed..a refiners fire is different. A refiner heats a metal up to remove the impurities in it. Not to destroy it completely but to reveal that which is of value. God says I am the refiner…and this perspective should give us insight and chagne the way we look at our present and future suffering. It teaches us, as God intended to teach them…about Himself..and about suffering.

“Behold”- Pay attention, See, Can you perceive it? We must look at our affliction through the right lense. Obviously the people could see the trial, the judgment, and even would see the future suffering and exile..but God tells them to “Behold”. Look again. Even thought they are afflicted because of thier own sin..He says keep your eyes on me.

Who Refines Us?

“I have refined you, I have tested you”

To make it through their affliction, God reminds them something about Himself

God is the Refiner: What does this tell us about Him?

God is Intentional

Their affliction was not a surprise to God. God was not, and is not the author of evil, He was not the author of thier affliction or thier suffering but he was soverign over it, and allowed it..to accomplish his purpose in it.

James 1:13–17 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Job- A righteous man suffers, not because of his sin, but because God chose to allow it to accomplish his purpose. The devil was the one who caused his suffering, God allowed it..but to accomplish HIs purpose through it.

Joseph- afflicted to accomplish God’s purpose.

David- Afflicted to accomplish his purpose.

There is nothing which happens to you, which does not pass through God’s hand. God is not the author of evil..but he is soverign and works through it all. So even in allowing suffering, when the devil intends to destroy you..God will keep you.

Being refined hurts..but it is intentional. God is intentional.

Job 2:9–10 ESV

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Even though God wasn’t the author of His suffering…Job knew, that God is still good, and He is still sovereign. The devil can do nothing which God does not allow.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–9 ESV

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What gain has the worker from his toil?

God has every season, every moment in His hand. And while we live in this world that is broken, we will suffer. But God is intentional..and He can be trusted! We may not know why He allows it..but we know who! Job never knew why he suffered..but he knew who..and that was enough!

A refining is an intentional process! It is a purposed process!

Whether your suffering is just from the brokenness of the world like Job, or from your own sin like the Israelites, or trying to live right like David or the Apostles..God is intentional..and He is working through it.

God is Powerful

Think about it, what were the people afraid of? What were they concerned about? Captivity, exile, death…Assyrians, Baylonians.

But for God to be the refiner over their affliction, it also means that He is greater than their affliction. He uses it to accomplish HIs purpose. Suffering does not catch God off guard. Suffering does not undo God’s purpose or remove God’s purpose..it is intended to reveal it! God is greater than the armies and the peoples..Isaiah is telling them don’t be afraid of them..it is God we should tremble before!

The army can only go as far s God allows. God already has the seasons of king and lifes in his hand..He is not worried about how great your problem or affliction is. He is greater.

In every gospel, Luke 8, Matthew 8, Mark 4, John 6..there is this recording of what happens when the disciples are on the boat.

If Jesus is sleeping during the storm..why am I worried?

What we are afraid of, is afraid of Him. What we are worried about, will have to worry about Him.

Even death, the greatest of satan’s weapons..which had been undefeated…God proves He is more powerful than satan by defeating him with his own weapon. Defeating death through death..proving he is more powerful than death.

Deuteronomy 9:3 ESV

3 Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

Hebrews 12:28–29 ESV

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

God is powerful. He is a refiner, and his refining proves that he is more powerful than those things which we are afflicted by.

God is Good

Refining means that for whatever the suffering or affliction or pain was…it was not intended to destroy them! It is not the end..but if you let it..it can make way for something new. The refiner is not trying to destroy the metal..though it may look like it. The key is that He knows right when to take it out, not a moment too long or a moment too soon.

It is easy to destroy…it is harder to refine. A child can burn something up..but it takes care, and intention to refine. For God to refine Israel, rather than destroy them..is a mercy.

For God to say, you are a wicked people, but I will not give up on you..I will refine you..I will do what I have to do..even if that means pain for myself..I will do it.

When we make it through suffering..when we come through with God holding us and teaching us..and shaping us…all it does it prove that God is good!!

Because I was so close to death, but I’m still here. I was so close to losing my mind, but I am still here. I was so close to Hell but I am still here..and not bitter, but better.

When you refine something, you know whats crazy, it looks better coming out than it did when it went in. God is so good, that not only does he bring us through suffering, and pain, and sickness, and loss…we don’t look what we came through. We look better.

Moses burning bush

God is good! He isn’t giving up on me..it hurts, but God is working. God had not given up on the Israelite people..He was going to do what He needed to do, to bring them back. To make them whole…Destroying is easy..but to refine..thats hard! God is good!

How Does He Refine Us?

God’s Method of Refining us is through affliction.

Testing and refined are used in parallel in this verse.

As our faith is tested through affliction we are refined and made into His image.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

There are some lessons you can only learn through experience.

Israelites turn to God when things are bad..and then things are good..they abandon Him.

Its the nature of the human heart. We pray when things are falling apart, and we are less intentional when things are good.

But God intends to teach you through affliction and suffering. There is no getting around it. And you may say, but God I can serve you and I don’t have to have trials and pain!

Two Problems:

Natural Suffereing: The world is broken and suffering comes! Theres no way around it. Sickness, death, loss, emotional, physical, spiritual pain will be present. As long as we are in this world and in these fallen bodies there will be suffering. Even if God were to fix everything else, and everybody else in the world but you..there would still be suffering because we are in the world. We could cause arguments. Theres brokenness in us!

Suffering is Promised for Followers of Jesus

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

John 15:20 ESV

20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Eternal Suffering

1 Corinthians 3:11–13 ESV

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

Affliction will come, will you allow God to refine you? Will you trust Him in it?

We can’t pray for spiritual growth without growing pains.

If God intends to teach you patience, he will test you by allowing more things which get on your nerves.

If God intends to teach you boldness, God will put you in more positions that scare you, to teach you to trust Him!

If you are asking for peace, God doesn’t remove your problems, he will allow your problems to teach you that He is enough.

How do you know God is a provider, if you always know when and where your next meal is coming from. “Give us this day our daily bread!”

How do we know God is sufficient unless you are in positions where you see that you are not.

How do you know God is strong unless you are in positions of weakness!

God is a refiner, and he will refine us through suffering…but why does he refine us?

Why Does God Refine Us?

Isaiah 48:11 ESV

11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

For HIs Own Glory.

Gods first priority is not you getting the job, the house, dream you have.

Romans 8:28–29 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God does indeed work all things out for your good. But not in the way we’ve been taught. Not in physical or material things primarily! But to conform you to the image of HIs son..for your good, and His glory!!

When the refiner purifies that metal..it makes it more valuable, but the value gives glory to the one who made it! God is working for HIs glory…not your comfort!

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: ‘He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.’ (Malachi 3:3) She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, ‘How do you know when the silver is fully refined?’ He smiled at her and answered, ‘Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it.’

God will refine you until He sees His image is more clearly seen!

How do we know that we will be refined and not be destroyed?

The Old Testament proves something though…that people are so hardheaded..our hearts are so hard..that affliction alone will not fix us.

Malachi 2:17–3:6 ESV

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” 1 “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. 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 sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Truthfully, if God said I will afflict you untill you look like me..we would all die. Because we are too hard headed, and too wicked.

Malachi..the last book of the Old Testament, God says..you have wearied me…You say, where is the God of Justice. You continue in sin. So..God says I am going to send someone to prepare the way.

John the Baptist. And it points to this one greater..coming to His temple..who is Jesus.

Affliction could not make us like God and remove our sin....it couldn’t change our heart. We would be destroyed. So instead God made himself like man to be afflicted and cover our sin, by taking our place.

Affliction could change our action..but not the sin in our heart.

No amount of fire could make us righteous…if God kept us in suffering untill we were make righteous, none of us would be made righteous. So God put something righteous in us so that we could endure the suffering.

God says suffering is apart of this life but I will give you something to endure the suffering.

God himself is the only one that could endure God’s judgement..so God came and took the own fire of his own judgement..so that we could stand.

1 Corinthians 3:11–13 ESV

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

You may be able to make in through the suffering of this life without Jesus…but you can not make it through the suffering after your life is over.

Suffering is endured now to point us to Jesus ( the answer for all eternal judement)…so that we don’t have to face the fulness of his judement later.

Daniel 3:23–27 ESV

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

We are still here because Jesus is still here. We can endure and will endure because Jesus endures. But without Jesus..you will not pass through the fire. Maybe in this life, but not in the life to come.

King who catches his mother as the thief....lashed for us.

You can endure..because Jesus endured. You know that you will not be consumed because Jesus was not consumed. Jesus is with you.