MHCC - God’s unchangeable love for his people
E Huffman - A group studying Malachi. chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
That week a woman, from that group called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.
He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
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 yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.
If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "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."
-If today you are feeling the heat of this world’s fire, just remember
that God has His eyes on you.
Isa 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Isa 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Isa 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
1. Divine Assurance is needed by Progressive People
2. Divine Assurance is based on a right relationship with God.
3. Divine Assurance produces an enduring faith.
1. Divine Assurance is needed by Progressive People
a. Kenneth Trent - No one is immune from trials, tribulations, troubles and distresses in this life. These things affect us all.
b. Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
c. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
When we are on the move, we will cross rivers, we will go through valleys, we will have trials and struggles, but don’t fear….God is with us.
Paul Fritz – “Progressive pilgrims are directed to the higher principles and practices Christ. Unlike some religious pilgrims that try to fulfill their religious duty by making a once in a lifetime pilgrimage, the Christians pilgrimage is a life long experience of growing in all aspects into Christ.”
d. The question was asked? What is the difference between involvement and commitment?
Perhaps I can best explain this by way of analogy with bacon and eggs
In bacon and egg, the hen is involved but the pig is committed.
e. It is the same within the church, you can be involved but not committed, no matter what happens though if you’re totally committed, through the waters, though everything seems to start to overflow….he will be with us. People who progress are moving forward, People who digress are those who lose focus on the big picture.
f. (BBE) Isa 43:2 When you go through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not go over you: when you go through the fire, you will not be burned; and the flame will have no power over you.
g. (NKJV) Nor shall the flame scorch you.
We can have the assurance, when we are progressively working for God, He will be with us.
2. Divine Assurance is based on a right relationship with God.
a. In Orlando, a 48-year-old man was shot to death by his wife after a fight over the satellite TV controls.
In California, a man was stabbed to death by his girlfriend because he brought home a McDonalds ham, egg, and cheese bagel instead of the two Egg Mcmuffins that she’d asked for.
b. In Dallas, a 37-year-old man was beaten to death by his roommate after a fight over the thermostat setting in their house.
We can have the assurance with keeping a right relationship with God, we don’t have to worry as Heb 13:5 I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
h. Isa 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
i. Pr 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
ii. GBN - God values one of his faithful more than all the wicked in the world..
iii. Easton’s Bible Dictionary - "Genuine assurance naturally leads to a legitimate and abiding peace and joy and to love and thankfulness to God; and these from the very laws of our being to greater buoyancy, strength, and cheerfulness in the practice of obedience in every department of duty."
Divine Assurance is based on a right relationship with God.
With knowing we are assured of God always being there for us, it will increase our faith and strengthen us to be faithful to our faith.
3. Divine Assurance produces an enduring faith.
i. Easton’s Bible Dictionary - Faith in Christ secures for the believer freedom from condemnation, or justification before God; a participation in the life that is in Christ, the divine life
An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. “Pastor,” said the man, “something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There’s been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he’s just a boy.” The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. “I feel it all,” he replied, “but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.” On that day the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign.
After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, “Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher—perhaps a missionary?” Again tears welled up in the minister’s eyes. “Ah, this heals the ache I feel,” he said. “Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher.”
Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa’s most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old Scottish church.
help us to be faithful, to endure through the hard times. Then give us the grace to leave the results to you.
Source unknown
j. Isa 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
k. Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
l. Since God has promised he will be with us, we can have a faith to endure through all hardships. Take your frustration and turn it to fascination for God.
m. The Oyster
There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
Who found that sand had got under his shell;
Just one little grain, but it gave him much pain,
For oysters have feelings although they’re so plain.
Now, did he berate the working of Fate
Which had led him to such a deplorable state?
Did he curse out the Government, call for an election?
No; as he lay on the shelf, he said to himself,
“If I cannot remove it, I’ll try to improve it.”
So the years rolled by as the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate destiny—stew.
And this small grain of sand which had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl, all richly aglow.
Now this tale has a moral—for isn’t it grand
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand;
What couldn’t we do if we’d only begin
With all of the things that get under our skin.
Author Unknown
Allen Ross – Vss 1-7 in a Nutshell
1 Do not fear—you are mine, I created you
2 you will be protected
3 I will ransom you because I am your Savior
4 I will exchange you because I love you
5 Do not fear—I am with you, I will gather you
6 I will call for the regathering of my people
7 gather my people whom I created for my glory
God has his eye on us…when we struggle he knows it, he will not put more on us than we can bear, it is up to us to keep the relationship correct, God is there waiting for us to communicate with him.
