THE FIRE! THE CRUCIBLE? REFINEMENT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Check out: YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Two parts)
HOW DOES A CRUCIBLE FEEL IN THE HOT FIRE? KNEAD? UNITY! AGREEMENT! KNEAD!
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
KNEAD: TO BRING THE INGREDIENTS OF DOUGH TOGETHER… TO BRING TOGETHER.
HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED A COOK PREPARE BREAD? There is a process called “KNEADING.” Why do we take dough and knead it? It makes the dough elastic and the bread is much more tender. Push? Pull? Fold it over again and again? The lumps will leave and the dough will get smooth. KNEADING IS A PROCESS.
HAVE WE EVER HAD FELLOWSHIP WHERE WE USED FIRE AND STICKS TO ROAST HOTDOGS AND MAKE A BLACK CRUST OF MARSHMALLOWS? WAS THAT BAD? The fire!
GOD HAS A TOOL WE RARELY LIKE. IT IS CALLED THE CRUCIBLE. WHY DOES GOD USE THE TOOL OF THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION?
TEXT: Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
WE MISUNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE… AFFLICTION AND TRIALS ARE NOT PUNISHMENT… GOD HAS A FIRE TO REFINE AND TRAIN US FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD…
Psalm 119:71 (KJV) It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psalm 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH AFFLICTION...UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BURYING AND PLANTING… EVERYTHING HAS TO BE BROKEN… IT IS GOOD FOR ME… The Bible says: IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I WAS AFFLICTED… It was good for me that I got in trouble… It was good for me that no one helped me… It was good for me that I had to go to battle by myself… It was good for me that I was put in a position that THERE WAS ONLY ONE SOLUTION. I had to call on the Lord as never before. We have been going through long dark nights when it seems everything is wrong, this is an opportunity for God to show His power and His stuff…
THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS TEACH US THAT GOD REFINES HIS PEOPLE BY USING HOT, FIERY TRIALS… THIS FURNACE WILL TEST YOU BY AFFLICTIONS AND TRIALS TO STRETCH OUR FAITH TO NEW HEIGHTS.
GOD IS SETTING US ON FIRE TO REFINE AND PURIFY. We need a lot of us to do a little, instead of a few of us doing a lot…
IT WAS GOOD FOR ME THAT GOD PUT ME in the valley of affliction… Can we find comfort in this trial? Affliction can be good… AFFLICTION CAN PUSH US… Troubles teach me I can’t handle this because I am limited… but God has no limits.
THERE ARE TIMES WE HAVE TO BE BROKEN AND SPILLED OUT TO BE EFFECTIVE… LIKE MARY’S ALABASTER BOX… WHEN A SILVERSMITH SEES HIS REFLECTION IS LIKE IN A MIRROR. THE DROSS IS GONE…
3 TIMES the alabaster box (jar) is mentioned in the New Testament. To release the wonderful fragrance the alabaster box had to be broken and spilled out.
Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
SOMETIMES IN THE REFINING PROCESS A HAMMER AND ANVIL MUST BE USED TO GET US READY FOR GOD’S WORK…
Proverbs 17:3 (KJV) The firing pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
We know that fire will test and purify silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart. God is much more concerned about your attitudes, your words, your deeds and your love.
THE HOTTER THE FLAME THE MORE PURE THE GOLD AND SILVER…
Malachi 3:3 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.
TO HAVE PURE SILVER OR GOLD IT OFTEN REQUIRES THE CRUCIBLE AND THE FIRE TO BE USED MORE THAN ONCE…
We learn some deep lessons of the nature and character of God from His word.
Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalm 12:6 (NLT2) The LORD’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
Often in Biblical times silver was refined 7 times… this is a lesson to becoming completely pure, to finish the process to be totally pure. 7 IS A TYPE IN THE Bible: to finish or complete.
THE SILVERSMITH BURNS OFF THE DROSS… HOW DOES HE KNOW WHEN IT GETS PURE? The silversmith looks at his reflection in the molten silver. If his reflection is distorted the silver must return to the fire. When the silver is pure there is a mirror like reflection of the master in the silver…
WHEN THE SILVERSMITH SEES HIS REFLECTION LIKE IN A MIRROR THERE IS NO MORE DROSS…IT IS PURE.
Isaiah 1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
THERE WAS A ROCK BURIED DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH… OFTEN THE ROCK KNEW THERE IS MORE TO MY PURPOSE THAN TO LAY IN THIS MUD…
A rock was laying beneath the ground. Somehow the rock knew there was more than just being a dumb rock. The rock felt stupid and useless. For years this rock lay in the same old place with the knowledge that there has to be more than this. The rock felt trapped with much pressure and great heat. One day there was a loud noise and a great shaking around the rock, maybe there was more. The first time ever the rock was near the surface, maybe there is more than laying under the ground. Now the rock was a cold and wet on this windy day. The pressure was off the rock but the cold damp did not feel good on the rock.The rock ask itself, do you recon there is really more than being a rock in the mud? After a few days the rock felt a new experience, the sun came up and the rock felt the warmth of the sunshine. It felt so good. The slimy mud covered the rock so it had lost sight of more? Day after day there was sunshine then rain, rain then sunshine, no change? The rock could not understand the explosion and the shaking and there was no change.
One day the rock felt footsteps around it. Ouch that hurt? The rock heard a human voice. Then of all things there was a big mattock that almost hit the rock in the head. Now the rock in the mud had given up all hope, he was trapped. The human reached down his hand and picked up the rock and rubbed it real hard. The human put the rock in his pocket and carried it around. That night the human got a pan of water and washed the mud off the rock. The human saw the light reflect on the rock. Then he wrapped the rock up in a soft cloth and carried the rock around. From time to time the human would take the rock out of his pocket and admire it.
On Saturday the human rode a bus into town. The human carried the defeated rock into a fancy office. The human unwrapped the soft rag and showed another human all dressed up in a suit… look at this rock. The business man said yes I will buy that rock from you. The business man exchanged a large sum of money for the rock.
Now the rock had new hope, maybe there was more? The man wrapped the rock up in a large soft rag and placed the rock in a large safe and locked the door. Several weeks went by with the rock laying in the dark safe.
One day the safe door opened and the new owner looked at the rock and placed it in a suitcase. They traveled to the airport and loaded on a big jet. The rock heard the owner say they were flying to Israel? Why Israel? When the jet landed the rock was screaming in the briefcase: WHY? WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?
The rock was still in the briefcase as the taxi took them to a large office. The rock was in the brief case, his owner opened the soft cloth and a big bright light exposed the rock. The two men bickered back and forth and the rock heard a large offer of money. The two agreed and to the rock’s surprised he was placed back in a dark safe. One day the master pulled the rock out of the safe and started grinding and polishing the rock.Wow, that hurt bad. More and more the rock shed the dirt and the excessive stone from around the rock. WHY? WHAT’S GOING ON… ? After many hours the rock was placed back in the safe. He was sparkling and he felt more positive that there was more.
The rock then was given to a goldsmith. The goldsmith fashioned a bed of 24 carat gold bed and he laid the rock in the gold and placed it back in the secure safe. He laid there for several months. One day the master laid the rock in a secure box and they got on a jet and flew to New York. The master carried the rock and the bed of gold into the brightest light the rock had ever seen. The master craftsman sold the rock and on the bed of gold and the jeweler placed the rock in a bright display case. Several men came in and finally one man said: YES, THIS SHALL BE MY LOVE GIFT. The rock was placed in a fancy box. Then one day the rock and its gold bed traveled to a huge cathedral and the man pulled the rock on the gold bed and placed it on his love’s finger. This rock that laid under all the pressure and heat. The rock that was in the cold damp mud, the rock that traveled half way around the world finally realized: THERE WAS MORE, THERE IS MORE, I AM NOT A DUMB ROCK, I AM A BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND THAT REFLECTS LOVE AND LIGHT. FOR THIS DAY I WAS CREATED.
BE STILL, DROP THE SWORD… TRUST THE PLAN…
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Spiritual life is a process that requires THE CRUCIBLE AND THE FIRE… troubles can be opportunities.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:2 (NLT2) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
A BAD ATTITUDE IS KIND OF LIKE A FLAT TIRE. YOU CAN’T GO VERY FAR UNTIL YOU CHANGE IT.
Proverbs 17:3 The firing pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Proverbs 17:3 (NLT2) Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
GOD MUST USE THE CRUCIBLE AND HEAT TO MOLD US… THE CRUCIBLE--- I HAVE HOPE
When I was 17, I worked at Kay Jewelers in Springfield Illinois. The store was on the first floor. Abraham Lincoln’s Law Office had been on the second floor. I worked there through the Christmas season. My main job was to keep the finger prints off the display cases. A middle aged woman came in and was talking to me. She had a fancy soft cloth pouch. She started crying. She explained to me that their fancy house had burned to the ground. Everything was lost. As she unwrapped the pouch she pulled out a shiny lump and held it in her hand. She explained after the fire was totally out the firemen allowed her to search the rubble. She was a wealthy lady and she had a very expensive diamond ring. She remembered her ring had been sitting in the window above the kitchen sink. So she combed through the area and she found the big lump of gold. She thought the gold had melted around her diamonds. Her ring was a present from her deceased husband and the ring was very valuable to her heart.
We had a goldsmith that worked in the back of the store. I went into his office and explained the valuable ring had several large diamonds. While the ring was worth thousands of dollars the lump was priceless to her. He came out and visited with the lady. He explained to her that fire could not hurt the value of the gold nor the value of the diamonds. She described the setting and they drew a picture. The goldsmith assured the lady, the diamonds and the gold had lost no value. He could restore the ring to its previous condition. She left the store that day in great hope and confidence she would again wear her love ring.
The goldsmith worked many days. He heated it up the melting point. THE JEWELER HAD A CRUCIBLE, of ceramic that could withstand the great temperatures. The jeweler had pliers, a little saw, several files, brushes and goggles he wore. I LEARNED THAT GOLD MELTS AT 1948 DEGREES and turns into a liquid. HE EXPLAINED TO ME A FACT I NEVER KNEW… HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT ISRAEL BECAME A NATION IN 1948. I was amazed with that fact.
AFTER MANY HOURS OF TEDIOUS WORK THE GOLDSMITH HAD USED A CRUCIBLE AND THE REFINING FIRE TO RESTORE THE LOVE RING TO ITS PREVIOUS BEAUTY.
THE CRUCIBLE SPEAKS OF OUR INSECURITIES AND THE NEED TO TAKE A NEW FORM… CHANGE THE MOLD… TO REVEAL THE DESIRE TO CHANGE…
THE CRUCIBLE SPEAKS OF SEVERE TRIALS THAT CONCENTRATE FORCES AND CHANGE OUR DEVELOPMENT. DURING THE PROCESS ALL THE IMPURITIES RISE TO THE TOP AND THE MASTER SCRAPES AWAY THE DROSS. Our challenge is to accept and MATURE to get rid of the dross and grow more refined and purer.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
DO I HAVE TUNNEL VISION AND BLIND SPOTS? DO I STRAIN AT PROBLEMS AND REFUSE TO REALIZE IT IS MY CHOICE S AND MY REACTIONS? THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THE ADVERSITY OF THE CRUCIBLE IN THE BIBLE OFTEN REFERS TO SITUATIONS OF EXTREME HARDSHIPS AND TRIALS FOR PEOPLE. ADVERSITY WILL ALWAYS BRING CHANGE… AND CAUSE US TO RE-FOCUS EITHER TO THE BETTER OR TO THE WORSE.
Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:24 (MSG) Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?
This predicament, this burden, this fire, this cross, this affliction, this test or this difficult challenge does more than just affect your emotions and feelings… It can search your thinking patterns and mental habits. WE WILL EITHER YIELD TO STRESS, PROBLEMS, ANXIETY AND FEAR BECAUSE WE THINK “I CAN’T” or we can trust God’s plan.
Instead of searching for REAL SOLUTIONS… We can throw in the towel. SEEMS WE CAN TRAIN OUR BALANCE, OUR KIDNEYS, OUR BOWELS AND REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE I CAN CONTROL MY REACTIONS BY POSITIVE ACTIONS NOT JUST REACTIONS.
WHY? WHY? WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? WE OFTEN MISUNDERSTAND AND EXPECT LIFE TO BE EASY AND COMFORTABLE. NOTHING CAUSES A MORE DEEP SEATED ANXIETY THAN TO THINK WE SHOULD BE ANXIETY FREE.
WE LIVE IN A MEAN HOSTILE WORLD… We must know the crucible is INEVITABLE.
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
AFFLICTAION CAN REVEAL AND SHOW US THE VANITY OF THE TEMPORAL WORLD, ASAPH WAS THE MUSICIAN IN DAVID’S DAY. HE HAD BEEN IN THE CRUCIBLE.
Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
This affliction, this trial must bring us to the church.
Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
CONCLUSION: WILL I SUBMIT TO THE LIFE LESSONS OF SUBMISSION? GOD DOES NOT GIVE US A SPIRIT OF FEAR…
THIS SHOULD NOT SURPRISE ME! I AM READY FOR THE FIRE --- I HAVE EXPECTED THIS AND PREPARED FOR THIS.
I WILL BE FORGIVING… I WILL ENDURE AND BE PRESERVED.
Isaiah 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.
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
The crucible and the heat will REFINE YOU TO KNOW THE VERY HEART OF GOD… This trial does not have to defeat you… YOU CAN BE A BETTER PERSON. 3 HEBREW BOYS STILL WITNESS OF THE FURNACE BEING HEATED 7 TIMES HOTTER THAN EVER… THE MEN THAT THREW THEM IN THE FIRE BURNED TO DEATH… GOD CAN.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Two part lesson.)
