Fire that Makes us Faithful

Introduction

Picture a goldsmith at work. The fire is blazing hot—intentionally so. In front of him is a crucible filled with solid gold ore. But it’s not pure yet. Inside that lump are impurities—dross. So he turns up the heat. As the metal melts, the impurities begin to rise to the surface. He carefully skims them off. Then he heats it again. And again. And again. Until finally, the gold is so pure that the goldsmith can see his own reflection in it.

This is not destruction. It’s precision. Purpose. Purification.

That’s what Zechariah 13 is about. It's not just about destruction—it’s about refinement. God, the Master Refiner, applies the fire of judgment not to destroy His people completely, but to remove what’s unclean and preserve a remnant who are truly His.

God’s judgment is not pointless wrath. It is the fire that purifies. It removes what is false, and it refines what is true. God cuts off the unclean, but He refines the remnant—so they will know Him, call on Him, and belong to Him.

Today, we’re going to walk through this chapter and see how God’s judgment purifies, not just punishes. It’s the fire that makes us faithful.

We’ll see this is two parts. First we’ll see the source of cleaning and second we’ll see the refined relationship.

Point 1: Source of Cleansing (1-6)

Explain

Chapter 13 builds off the work that God declares in chapter 12. As Doug mentioned to us last week, we have a God who has promised to fight for his people. The paragraph that closes chapter 12 points out that God’s people will mourn the death of the Messiah because they will mourn their sin that he took that he was pierced for.

V. 1 Fountain as a source for immersion

The chapter opens up with good news for those who have been mourning the loss of the Messiah. The sin and impurity of the people will be washed away by God. What’s described as a fountain, is actually the Hebrew word for “Source” pointing to God as the source of cleansing. It evokes imagery of full immersion, not just a sprinkle of forgiveness, but a deep, identity-shaping purification.

v. 2 Cleansing of the land (judgement of the unclean)

This cleansing isn’t limited to individuals. It extends to the entire land. Idols will be forgotten. False prophets silenced. Unclean spirits removed. The Day of the Lord is filled with multiple descriptions of what it includes. It brings the renewal of God’s people, God purging evil from the world, the Messiah’s suffering, and looks ahead to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s complete restoration at the end of days. It’s a day of both judgement and renewal, purging evil and restoring holiness.

V. 3-5 False Prophet’s pierced

But what the second half of this paragraph spends it’s time on is the false prophets. The language of the punishment for false prophets in Deuteronomy 13 are brought in to demonstrate how they are to be dealt with. The description given instructs the people that if a false prophet leads them to follow other gods they are to be put to death. If someone entices you to worship other gods, you are to kill them and strike them and stone them. The description is pretty graphic to picture but demonstrates that the lies spoken to lead people astray are so serious that even family members are to follow God and pierce the false prophet.

Pay attention to how the prophet responds when he is discovered. In verse 4 he’s ashamed of his lies, he will no longer dress as a prophet, but he’ll hide and lie saying he’s been working as a farmer for his whole life. V. 6 if it’s connected with the false prophet paints a picture of how these false prophets would do self harm as worship to false gods as the wounds would reveal their true identity.

But the picture given to us in the false prophet is actually an example for us to learn from.

In his deceit, he does the easier thing. He’s ashamed—but not repentant. He hides, lies, and avoids the consequences of truth. He’d rather be banished than be forgiven.

And yet, God makes away for those who are impure to be cleansed.

Argument - God is our source of cleansing

But if the false prophet would have been repentant to mourn over his sin rather than hide in it, he too could have looked upon the Messiah who was pierced on the cross to receive the fountain of God’s grace and be washed clean.

In God’s judgement God will bring about purity. It will either be through removal or the washing of sin.

Apply

I wonder how much we do the same as the false prophet though. Here’s a question for you this morning - what are you hiding?

I think it’s safe to say that there is unconfessed sin in the hearts of people this morning. We probably all have something we haven’t confessed or shared or asked for forgiveness with. But what I mean is what is there that you’ve been wrestling with, or habitual in, or shame filled with that you’ve played it off like the prophet claiming you’re not a liar, adulterer, murderer, bitter with, but deep down you know it’s festering in your heart.

The power of God’s grace is bigger than you think. If you’re worried, concerned, afraid of, doubt God’s work in your over this remember the source of our cleansing. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin. The waters that cleansed your heart at the moment God gave you a new one is the same fountain of grace that God is not blind to your hiding, lying, deception, and hiding of your sin.

Would you run to the source of life, the fountain of water that cleanses you and offer it up to God.

Transition

The cleansing isn’t the end of God’s work—it’s the beginning. His people aren’t just washed; they’re refined. The fire continues—not to destroy, but to shape.

Point 2: Refined Relationship (7-9)

v. 7 The Struck Shepherd

This section of the text always feels so different in the conversation. From the cleansing of the land and the response of the false prophet, we’re brought to a poetic structure that swings to God speaking about a sword against his shepherd. It feels a little confusing to try and sort through who this shepherd is, but God’s words are clear. It’s His shepherd, the shepherd is his associate. We’re being brought back to see the Messiah once more as God’s shepherd. The emphasis is repeated once more as God gives the prophecy that the messiah shepherd is going to suffer and lose his life.

V. 7 The Scattered sheep (Matt. 26:31)

But even more, he shares of the response to the sheep who are his followers. Jesus actually quotes this right after the Last Supper as he tells them all that the disciples are going to scatter as he is taken. They run in fear because they cower for their own lives as their teacher is taken.

V. 8 What is the two thirds

But after the prophecy we’re brought back to the description of the land and what God will do. V. 8 gives a difficult sentence to understand in some ways because he describes that two-thirds of the people will be cut off and die but the other third is going to be left as a remnant, a people who remain with God because of their true adoration for him.

There are a couple of different views of what this means. Some would say that this is in reference to the judgement on Israel during the exile or judgement upon them as Rome destroys the temple in AD 70. The two thirds represent the people who reject the Messiah.

A second view says that this is fulfilled in the reference to Jesus and his crucifixion. Here the two thirds are the people who reject Christ and the third being the people that trust in Him. And the third view is that this is in reference to a future tribulation at the end of days where the faithful third are Israelites that turn to God.

But regardless of what the timeline of the interpretation is, what is consistent is that there is a group of people who reject God and those who trust in him. Its those who trust in the Messiah.

V. 9 the refined relationship

But even the remnant, those who trust God and are redeemed by him still go through refinement. This whole passage is about what God’s judgement of the world will look like as he makes it new. His judgement either cleanses and purifies those who follow him or it cleanses and removes those who are against him.

But the refinement is described as though Christians are put through fire and tested as gold. But this only happens because the second half of verses one and nine are true. God washes away our impurity and takes away our sin when we give our lives to him and trust in him. That is our true identity, that we are holy, righteous, transformed, redeemed through the piercing of the Son, we are covered in his blood to have the forgiveness of our sin and eternal life with God.

But God does not just desire to execute justice and punish the wicked. He also desires to refine his people. Pay attention to how the last 4 lines are set up. This relationship with God is not just one sided. The people call on God. He answers them. He claims them and they claim him. This cleansing is actually about our relationship with God and these last lines are actually a picture of redemption that are repeated frequently through the scripture.

They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ That’s not just restoration—it’s relationship.

But what God does in our relationship is also refinement.

Application

What does that mean? How does that look like? It happens in many different ways and here is just a few of them that I think are actually helpful for us to know how to have some understanding, but also growth in and through them.

Suffering and Trials

The first way that God refines us is through suffering and trials in life. 1 Peter 1:6–7 “you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Through loss, disappointment, illness, or persecution believers will persevere not because of who they are and what they have done, but they will through the power of the Spirit and dependance on God lean to depend more deeply on him in life.

God’s Word & Conviction

Second is through God’s Word and Conviction

Scripture is like a mirror that shows us our sin and opens our hearts to repent and give it over to the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword… It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The scriptures help us see God and his desire for us and we can see how good he is that it moves us to repent, confess, and be changed by God’s grace.

Waiting and Silence

Third is through seasons of waiting and silence. God sometimes seems distant to refine us and help us see that we need to look to him for trust in our waiting. In seasons of spiritual dryness Christians lean to seek God first, not blessings from him.

Refinement is not punishment - it’s transformation. It’s the process where God lovingly removes what doesn’t belong so that Christ’s image can shine more clearly in us.

And it always comes with purpose: “They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’”

Think of the goldsmith at work again to refine and cleanse the metal. It’s through the heat that impurities rise to the surface where they can be wiped away. And then through the cleansing of the gold, it becomes so clear and pure that the goldsmith can actually see his own reflection in it. As God himself is the one to redeem us and make us new, Romans tells us that he is conforming us into his image to look more like Jesus.

Refinement being difficult

Here is the hard piece about it. While we know that one day God will come and make all things new, he’s doing that work in you today. The hard work is the Spirits work in your heart and your response to God to continue to do this in a mutual relationship with him because if you’re not seeking him, those impurities won’t surface for conviction. But when in relationship with God he reveals them to you and as you beg him to make you more like Jesus you depend on him for your life to reflect his image all the more.

Think back to the false prophet or more specifically maybe that thing that came to your mind that you might be hiding. The easy thing would be to keep it hidden. But the reason you feel the anxiety in your heart over it is because the Spirit is probably calling you to confess that sin and repent of it. Refinement turns the heat up, but God is so gracious and faithful to forgive us of our sin. We can be reminded that he was piereced for our transgressions and believe that he does forgive us. Now it’s our response to him to confess it and bring it to the surface for him to do away of it.

I know there are probably some of you in the room right now that are afraid of the repercussions of confessing whatever it is that you’re hiding. Your spouse might be very angry, you’re worried of how it effects your job, you think people will think differently of you, you fear you’ll be judged.

God promised us that he would always be with us. Even in the difficult consequences of our sin, we bring it to the light and we give it over to him to cary the weight and burden of it. He’s also granted us people to walk alongside. The consequences of confession may be painful. You may face anger, judgment, or loss. But the cleansing and nearness of God are worth infinitely more. Don’t stay hidden in shame. Step into the fire—and let the Refiner do His work.

Conclusion

This prophetic word given to us today paints a picture of God’s work in the land and in people. But that’s not just for his return. It’s for today. When God says that he will answer you and you are his he means it. He will stick to his promise and you can with boldness rely on the Lord through the refinement of your soul. Don’t hide and feel shame, but let the work of God bring that to the surface and his fountain of grace be at work in you to bring you nearer to him and reflect his image all the more. His refinement is not punishment, it’s a fire that makes us faithful.