Process of Refinment

We are nothing but a tool.

Jesus says in John 15:18-27

John 15:18–27 ESV

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 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. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

How is a sword made?

The Fire

Lives trails and tribulations

These situations are the catalyst for us to be molded

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”

The pounding

This is the process in which He “flattens” us out.

We come out of the fire just to be pounded so that we become smooth, with no indent or notch(Happens over a period of time; lifetime to be exact)

This is the process of God removing sin, correcting, and/or rebuking you to mature you in regards to Christ being evident in your life.

Hebrews 12:11 “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Quenching

This is a cool down stage/strengthening stage for the sword.

It is dipped into water or oil but for the sake of conversation we will say oil.

It strengthens the spine of the word making it near impossible to break.

NOTES: AN ANALOGY WILL NEVER BE PERfECT! They can only be referenced to a certain extent. The main point of this message is that we, as Christians, will always be be tested by the “flames” (referenced in 1 Corinthians 3:10-13 in which Paul discusses how He laid a foundation of Jesus, by the grace of God, and how someone else (the believer) is building upon it. Whatever the individual decided to use to build will be tested by a fire) in which we realize 0ur desperate need for him because life is too much for us mere and mortal humans to handle.

EMPHASIS: WE DO NOT NEED TO STARVE OUR SELVES TO SUFFER IN CHRIST. IT IS A DAILY PRAYER THAT WE ASK FOR GREATER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN WHICH TRAILS AND TRIBULATIONS WILL COME.