From Chaff to Wheat: Transformed by the Fire and Hammer of God’s Word
Notes
Transcript
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Introduce
Imagine a threshing floor:
Chaff blows away in the wind, worthless and forgotten, but wheat is gathered, precious and useful.
Now picture a fire purifying metal or a hammer shattering stone. That’s God’s Word—separating chaff from wheat, burning sin, and breaking strongholds to make you His!
In Jeremiah 23:28-29, God speaks through Jeremiah, condemning false prophets whose lies are like chaff:
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
God’s Word is true wheat, unlike the chaff of false dreams. It’s a fire that purifies and a hammer that breaks, transforming us through His love.
Today, we’ll see how the God’s Word, as wheat, fire, and hammer, transforms us:
First as Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1);
Then as the Holy Ghost, filling us with power (Acts 2);
And finally as the ongoing Word that makes us His valuable wheat, no longer chaff.
Let’s explore three ways God’s Word—wheat, fire, and hammer—changes us forever.
1: The Word Became Flesh—Wheat, Fire, and Hammer of Redemption
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
God’s Love:
God sent His Word as Jesus, the true wheat of Jeremiah 23:28, unlike the chaff of human lies.
John 1:1-14 declares the Word was God and became flesh to dwell among us, showing the Father’s love to redeem us.
Wheat, Fire, and Hammer in Action:
Wheat:
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Jesus is the valuable wheat, the bread of life, nourishing us with truth.
Unlike the chaff of false prophets, His Word endures, giving eternal life.
Fire:
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was a fire that burned away our sin, purifying us as a refiner’s fire.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming?
And who shall stand when he appeareth?
For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
His truth exposed darkness, setting hearts ablaze with conviction.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Hammer:
His death and resurrection were a hammer, breaking the power of sin, death, and Satan.
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
He shattered the barriers separating us from God.
From Chaff to Wheat: Jeremiah 23:28 asks, “What is the chaff to the wheat?”
Without Christ, we’re chaff—worthless, destined to be blown away (Matthew 3:12).
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Through Jesus, we’re transformed into wheat, valuable to Him.
Illustration:
Picture a farmer separating chaff from wheat, tossing the chaff to the wind but treasuring the grain.
Or see a blacksmith’s fire purifying iron and hammer shaping it. Jesus burns your sin and breaks your chains, making you His treasure.
Jesus, the Word, is the fire purifying us, the hammer delivering us. (Psalm 12:6)
6 The words of the Lord are pure words:
As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
If you’re weighed down by sin, feeling like chaff, let Jesus, the Word, be the wheat that feeds you, the fire that cleanses you, and the hammer that frees you. Trust Him today to make you new.
2: The Word Empowers Us—Wheat, Fire, and Hammer of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4, 38-39)
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
The Promise of Power:
In Acts 2, God’s Word comes as the Holy Ghost, the true wheat of Jeremiah 23:28, fulfilling the fire and hammer imagery.
The Spirit appears as “cloven tongues like as of fire,” empowering believers to speak God’s truth.
Wheat, Fire, and Hammer in Action:
Wheat:
The Holy Ghost is the nourishing wheat, God’s Word in us, producing fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Unlike the chaff of fear or doubt, the Spirit makes us bold witnesses.
Fire:
The tongues of fire on Pentecost purified the disciples’ hearts, burning away timidity and igniting zeal.
The Spirit sets us ablaze to live for God (Romans 12:11).
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Hammer:
The Holy Ghost broke the disciples’ fear and language barriers, like a hammer shattering rock.
They preached to thousands, and 3,000 were saved (Acts 2:41).
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
From Chaff to Wheat:
Before Pentecost, the disciples were scattered, like chaff.
The Holy Ghost made them wheat—valuable, unified, and fruitful.
Acts 2:38-39 promises this infilling, with speaking in tongues, to all who repent, transforming us into God’s vessels.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Imagine chaff caught in the wind, worthless.
Now see wheat standing firm, or a fire kindling a cold hearth, or a hammer cracking a boulder to reveal a gem.
The Holy Ghost makes you wheat, sets you on fire, and breaks your limitations.
The Spirit is the fire of Jeremiah 23:29, purifying and empowering us as God’s wheat.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Have you received the Holy Ghost as in Acts 2, with tongues as evidence?
Seek this wheat, fire, and hammer today! If you’re filled, let the Spirit keep burning and breaking to make you a wwitness.
Point 3: The Word Transforms Us—Wheat, Fire, and Hammer of God’s Children
Jeremiah 23:28-29 (KJV)—“What is the chaff to the wheat? … Is not my word like as a fire? … and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
God’s Ongoing Love:
Through Jesus (the Word incarnate) and the Holy Ghost (the Word empowering), God’s Word continues as wheat, fire, and hammer, transforming us into His sons and daughters, no longer chaff.
Wheat, Fire, and Hammer in Action:
Wheat:
God’s Word in Scripture and the Spirit is our daily bread (Matthew 4:4), nourishing us to grow as His children.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
It’s the wheat that sustains, unlike chaff that fades.
Fire:
The Word purifies us, burning away sin, pride, and worldly desires as we read Scripture or pray in the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16).
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
It refines us like silver (Psalm 66:10).
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us:
Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Hammer:
The Word breaks our stubborn hearts, smashing doubt, fear, or rebellion.
It shapes us into “lively stones” for God’s house (1 Peter 2:5).
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
From Chaff to Wheat:
Jeremiah 23:28 contrasts chaff with wheat.
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 3:12 says Christ’s “fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff…” Through His Word, we’re gathered as wheat, not burned as chaff
Illustration:
Picture a farmer treasuring wheat but discarding chaff, or a fire purifying gold, or a hammer chiseling a statue from rough stone.
God’s Word makes you His wheat, burns your impurities, and breaks your old self to reveal His child.
Isaiah 55:11 The Word, as wheat, fire, and hammer, fulfills God’s purpose to make you His (Philippians 1:6).
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
It shall not return unto me void,
But it shall accomplish that which I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Let God’s Word be your wheat to feed you, fire to purify you, and hammer to shape you.
Read the Bible daily, pray in the Spirit, and grow as God’s valuable child.
Conclusion and Altar Call
God’s Word is wheat, fire, and hammer, transforming us through the Father’s love. As Jesus, it redeemed us (John 1); as the Holy Ghost, it empowered us (Acts 2); and as the ongoing Word, it makes us His wheat, not chaff (1 John 3:1). The fire purifies, the hammer breaks, and the wheat endures.
Don’t live as chaff, blown away by the world. Embrace the wheat, fire, and hammer of God’s Word. The Holy Ghost in Acts 2 is your promise—claim it! Let God’s Word keep transforming you into His child.
Altar Call:
For those seeking the Holy Ghost: If you want the fire and hammer of the Spirit, as in Acts 2 with tongues, come pray, repenting, for the infilling.
For believers: If you need God’s Word to burn sin or break a stronghold—doubt, fear, or pride—come let the fire and hammer work anew.
