I'm Being Refined In The Fire

Introduction

Look as someone in your vicinity and tell them “I’m Being Refined In The Fire.”

“I’m Being Refined In The Fire.”

If you are a child of God, you are being refined in the fire.

You’ve been wondering why is it that you are going through time after time. One trial after another, one struggle after another and it seems like each situation is getting hotter and hotter.

What you going through is not always about what you’ve done wrong as much as it is about what God is doing in you.

As we walk through the trials of life, God often uses those times to refine us.

You can’t be what God wants you to be without being refined in the fire!

The text tells us Malachi is speaking the words of God to the people of Israel, yet he reveals that:

one was coming soon who would embody the fullness of God to humanity (v. 1).

one was coming soon who would embody the fullness of God to humanity (v. 1).

This was the great hope and expectation of God’s people. They were longing for

This was the great hope and expectation of God’s people.

They were longing for the Lord and for a messenger who would reveal the fulfillment of God’s covenant to his people (v. 1).

the Lord and for a messenger who would reveal the fulfillment of God’s covenant

They wanted someone to lead them and to clarify God’s word for them.

to his people (v. 1). They wanted someone to lead them and to clarify God’s word

This is the work of the Messiah, the one that God had promised.

for them. This is the work of the Messiah, the one that God had promised.

Even though the history of God’s people had been filled with faithlessness, sinful wanderings, and outright rebellion, God’s covenant to bless his people and to make them a blessing to all nations was still intact.

wanderings, and outright rebellion, God’s covenant to bless his people and to

The work of the Lord would be purifying, like fire that refines precious metals (v.3).

make them a blessing to all nations was still intact. The promise of God’s

3). He would be the embodiment of all that God desired for his people in the

He would be the embodiment of all that God desired for his people in the flesh, with them, revealing the sin of humanity, and offering cleansing and purity through his work (vv. 3–4).

salvation had endured throughout every season of judgment and exile that his

flesh, with them, revealing the sin of humanity, and offering cleansing and purity

people had experienced.

While this process would undoubtedly be difficult and painful (v. 2), the trial is nothing less than the loving hand of God producing his heart in the lives of his children.

through his work (vv. 3–4). While this process would undoubtedly be difficult and

painful (v. 2), the trial is nothing less than the loving hand of God producing his

No longer would God’s people languish in doubt and despair, unassured of their standing before him.

heart in the lives of his children. No longer would God’s people languish in doubt

But his messenger would secure their standing, returning them to the place of acceptance that brings delight to the heart of the Father.

and despair, unassured of their standing before him. But his messenger would

Everyone knows that you don’t eat bananas until they turn yellow. The internal transformation of the fruit inside the peel is what causes the yellowing effect indicating when the fruit is ripe.

secure their standing, returning them to the place of acceptance that brings

Because we are God’s people, the work of Jesus changes our lives from the inside out.

transformation of the fruit inside the peel is what causes the yellowing effect

Jesus changes our lives from the inside out. His grace transforms our hearts and

delight to the heart of the Father.

His grace transforms our hearts and minds, overflowing to our actions.

minds, overflowing to our actions.

indicating when the fruit is ripe

The Refiner’s Fire paints such a beautiful picture for us.

We often talk about the process of refining silver.

But this morning let’s talk about the Silversmith...

The Silversmith holds a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.

When refining silver, one need to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

God holding us in such a hot spot;

Malachi 3:3 KJV 1900

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

) 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,

He sits there and holds us in front of the fire the whole time the silver is being refined.

Isaiah 41:10 KJV 1900

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah

He not only sits there holding the precious silver

He not only sits there holding the precious silver

The Silversmith keeps his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.

I’m glad that He watches over me.

He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

He watches over us because if the silver is left a moment too long in the flames, it will be destroyed.

Jeremiah 28:11 KJV 1900

11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV 1900

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jere

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How does the Silversmith know when the silver is fully refined?

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.’

When He can see His image in the silver.

Can I ask you a question today?

When God looks at you can He see his image in you?

Well I have Good News for You!

We cannot come to God on our own merit.

We must be escorted by His Son. No amount of self-cleansing can make us pure enough to warrant the attention of Perfection.

The Bible says that in our natural, sinful state we are enemies of God ().

But, escorted by the Son, we are welcomed into His presence.

Through repentance and acceptance of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we are even called His children (; ).

God no longer sees our imperfections; He sees the righteousness of His own Son instead (; ).

Because we are in Christ, God sees Christ’s righteousness covering us.

Only "in Christ" is our sin debt cancelled, our relationship with God restored, and our eternity secured (; ).