Thank God For The Fire

In spite of building our lives on Jesus Christ, there will be times we go through the fire. But we will be purified, coming out cleaner, brighter, and tested.

Introduction: As much as I enjoy contemporary worship, some of the old hymns are being forgotten. Others are reserved just for special seasons. Do "We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing" in May? Certainly! Do "Good Christian men rejoice" in July? You bet! Some songs are sung all year long. Songs like, "Have thine own way, Lord, Have thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will; While I am waiting, yielded and still." Inspired by the story of the potter’s house in Jeremiah chapter 18, this song celebrates the fact that God removes imperfections and helps us meet our potential. Yet one thought is left out of that song: The clay needs to be fired in order to be strong. Proposition: We need to thank God for the fire!

Malachi 3:1-5 ““Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear 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. “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. “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord…”

Background: After the Israelites returned from captivity, their hearts were not in tune with worship; they thought their motions were acceptable to God. Malachi came to tell them they needed to go through the cleansing and renewal of a refiner’s fire.

I Believe for many of us we have been going through the motions and we have thought little about it. Then came covid, Now war and Fire. God is shaking His church by the shoulder and saying wake up from your slumber least you likewise shall perish

Romans 13:11 NKJV

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

Ephesians 5:8–21 NASB95

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Thank God for the Fire! The Fire That has awakened us all

As I look back over the last few weeks as Wild fires raged across and may even continue to rage across Texas I remember a prayer that I had with a lady in Carbon who had lost everything but was selflessly serving others during their time of need. I prayed that day Lord use these fires to bring the fire back into the church

I have to say I am encouraged as I looked around Carbon I saw a unity that stood out all for one one for all, As I look over the events of this last week I am taken back by the outpouring of love and support from the church the community and our fellow churches, I got word from Carbon that the have begun to rebuild that the people are working and helping one another to rebuild one another’s homes. This is the example of loving God and loving our neighbor.

you know

1. Following Jesus is a process of sifting, saving, and burning (Matthew 3:11-12).

While Socrates refined the thinking of Athens, Jesus performs a more valuable service: He tests hearts over heads and character over opinions.

Nicodemus was one who was tested ; convicted ; and ultimately refined .

The purity and brightness of Jesus’ life continues to refine the lives of those who encounter Him.

Light either attracts (The people heard him gladly) or repels ("Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man").

2. Fire destroys what is evil. Through purification.

To save the body from gangrene, a festering limb must be cut off. War amputees and victims of severe cases of diabetes know this far too well.

A testing of fire will remove what endangers our faith. If there were no trials and difficulties, there would be no means of testing our faith

1 Peter 1:6–7 NASB95

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Another old hymn, not heard much these days, is "God Leads us Along." The chorus declares: "Some through the waters, some through the flood; Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives the song; In the night season and all the day long."

3. Fire purifies what is good. By removing the impurities

Jesus knows what is inside us and what is worth saving. If we laying up treasures for ourselves? If we making an idol of someone or something? If we are in danger of Becoming spiritually arrogant?

Luke 18:9–14 NASB95

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

we ought to hear those words and be very careful

God may think it wise to separate us from the stuff; the junk. Remember: the only thing we take out of this life is the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

In spite of building our lives on Jesus Christ, there will be times we go through the fire. But we will be purified, coming out cleaner, brighter, healthier and tested. We will "shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). Brothers and sisters, thank God for the fire!

I am so encouraged and thank God for this Fire I believe it brought us together in a spirit of unity we have been preaching about last few weeks I believe it helped us to love God and Love people through our service to others, God used these Fires to bring the fire back into the church

as a recap

1. Following Jesus is a process of sifting, saving, and burning Light either attracts (The people heard him gladly) or repels ("Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man"). Are you one ready to hear him gladly come to him as you are?

2. Fire destroys what is evil.

Fire helps us to see what is stuff what is in the way and Focus on the good and Focus on God 3. Fire purifies what is good. Are we laying up treasures for ourselves?Are we making an idol of someone or something? . Becoming spiritually arrogant?

God may use trials and fire to help us to let go of distractions that keep us from him