“The Refiner’s Fire”
August 26, 2007
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness…” Malachi 3:3-4
I read recently about a group of women who were studying the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3) This verse kind of puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith 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 silver smith, 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 as 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 silver smith 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, 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 silver smith, "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."
This morning I want to talk a little bit about the refiners fire. It is a biblical concept and it involves each one of our lives. We all are going through that process - or we soon will. I’ve broken it up into four thoughts:
God’s Purpose
God’s Plan
God’s Provision
Man’s response
You may not realize it - but God has a plan for you. He wants you to become just like Jesus. In our Church statement we say that one of our purposes is to teach Christ-likeness. As a church, we are to preach and teach people how to become Christ -like. The bible says,
“And we … are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29 TNIV
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4 TNIV
It is important for you to realize, first of all, that God wants you to become Christ-like. C.S. Lewis said that once we give God permission, by surrendering our lives to Him, He will not stop that process of purifying us no matter how painful or unpleasant it may be. It results in our great beauty - but it involves going through the fire to become pure. But we have this promise:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 TNIV
The purifying process will result in glory and honor and praise for us. It will result in us obtaining eternal life in a heaven so glorious we can imagine it. Understand that it is God’s purpose to purify us.
Second, we need to understand that God has a plan to purify us. It is a two fold plan. There is God’s part and there is OUR part. God’s part was Jesus. The bible says,
“now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation”
Ephesians 1:22
“…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. “
Titus 2:14 TNIV
Jesus died on the cross to, not only provide us with salvation, but also to purify us. Because of the cross and because of the Holy Spirit, God has done and is doing His part in purifying us and making us Christ-like. But that is only one part of the purifying process. Jesus never does anything without our permission. He invites - but never forces. He illuminates - but never compels.
In other words, it is His will that we become pure - but it won’t happen unless and until we do our part. That’s why the Bible says,
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7 TNIV
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 TNIV
God has a purpose for us. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to be pure. He wants us to be Christ-like. He has a plan to make us holy. His plan involves us and Himself. We have a part and HE has a part. It involves God’s will and OUR will.
Then, Third God has a provision to purify us. It is a three fold provision on His part. It involves the cross, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We are purified by the blood Jesus shed on the cross; we are purified by the Holy Spirit; and we are purified by the Word of God - the bible. The Scriptures says,
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10 TNIV
“…(Jesus) gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:14 TNIV
Jesus did His part in purifying us.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
Romans 8:9 NIV
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Romans 8:26 NIV
The Spirit is doing His part in purifying us. Then the Scriptures also have a part:
“…from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:15-16
Do you see God’s Purpose; God’s Plan, and God’s Provision? But there is more. In the story I told you earlier of the woman and the silver smith, the silver has no will - no say about being stuck in the fire and purified. But we do. We can hop out of the fire. We can refuse to melt. We can refuse to be purified. We can resist God. And some people are bewildered and confused when they go through the refiners fire. The bible says,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 TNIV
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
Don’t be surprised. Don’t think it is strange when these trials come your way. Understand that God would only allow them for your good. Oh, they may not FEEL good. But it is part of the purifying process. Don’t resist it. Allow the impurity in your life to be burned out. How do we do that?
First, Confess it. The bible says,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 TNIV
One of our problems is that we refuse to see our impurities. If we avoid them or are willfully blinded to them - we can’t or won’t do anything about them. So we need to pray that our eyes would be opened to our faults and failing and sins. When the Holy Spirit reveals them to us - we are to confess them. When we confess them -forgiveness and cleansing comes. But we are to do OUR part. The Bible says,
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
Do you have the hope or expectation of seeing Jesus and getting a glorified body like His? If you do; if you expect to go to heaven one day then you need to purify yourself - or do your part in the purifying process. Your part is to desire to become pure and to submit to the process. Your part is exercising your will to live a holy life. The bible says,
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ...” Romans 12:1-2
God wants you to grow into Christlikeness. God wants you to live a pure and holy life. His Word is clear about that. Are you living up to His will or are you falling short? Are there impurities in your life? Are there areas of rebellion in your life? Is there something in your life that has taken you captive and you are a slave to it? It may be a habit or an attitude or an act that you know is wrong - and yet you find yourself do it again and again. God wants to purify you. God wants to set you free. Here’s how. 1. Confess it. 2. Pray. Pray for deliverance and then 3. Resist. Resist the devil when he comes back with it. Confess. Pray. Resist.
There will be a reward. It will be worth it. The Bible says,
“Blessed are those who persevere under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 TNIV
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
It will be worth it. No one likes to go through trials and testing and temptation. No one likes to suffer. No one likes the painful purifying process- but understand this. God wants you to be pure. That’s His aim. That’s His goal. And whatever impurity is in your life - He is going to work on it until you surrender to Him. He is going to turn the heat up until that imperfection is burned away. Seems like a smart thing to let it go right away. Some people suffer for years when - if they would just stop the sin or purify the imperfection- God could go on to something else. Maybe rewards and blessing. But He can’t until we are purified in that area. This week, let’s allow God to purify us. Let’s surrender to His purifying process and become the Christ-like people He wants us to become.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for loving me so much. That you for what you see in me. I pray you would purify me. Give me the grace I need to become pure. I confess that you need to purify this in me _______________. I confess it. I pray for your help. Make me Christ-like I pray.
