Refiners Fire

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture Readings prior to the message. Today's readings are: Malachi 3:1-5; Psalm 126; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21 and Luke 3:1-6

Let us pray... O' Heavenly Father. You are the refiner of our souls. May we have confidence in your love ... and be open to your transforming power in our lives. Help us to yield as you refine us and conform us more and more into the image of your Christ. And it is in his name that we pray. Amen!

A Christian article ... shared a story about a group of women ... who were studying the book of ... Malachi.

As they were reading chapter three, ... they came across verse three which states: BIBLE "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." END (Malachi 3:3)

This verse intrigued the women .... and they wondered what this statement meant about the character ....and the nature of God.

One of the women .... offered to look into the process of refining silver ....and get back to the group ....at their next Bible study.

That week .... she contacted an elderly silver smith ....and made an appointment.... to meet with him ....and to watch him ... at work.

She did not 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 the hottest ... so to burn away.... all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a way over the fire ...then she thought again about the verse, ......... (Slow) " He sits ... as a refiner and purifier ... of silver."

She asked the silversmith... if it was true ...that he had to continually sit ... 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 also had to keep his eyes on the silver ... for the entire time ... it was ... in the flame.

If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flame, .... 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.... (Slow) ... when I see my image in it." (Pause)

Beloved ... I want to speak of ......the refiner's fire.

It is a biblical concept ...... (Slow) and it involves each one of us.

We are all going through the process ... we are all going through .... the refiner's ...fire.

We are each called .... to be transformed .... into the image of Christ.

And Beloved ... This I promise you .... (Slow) ... God has a plan for your life.

He has a plan for you ... (Slow) each one of you.

We are called to go through the refiner's fire and to be ... transformed .... To be ...Christ-like.

The Scriptures are clear: Hear God's Word. BIBLE "And we ... are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." END 2 Corinthians 3:18

Paul told the believers gathered in Rome ... that "We are to be conformed (REPEAT) to the image of his Son, ..." Romans 8:29

(Slow) It is a Command. We Are ...... We are to be conformed ... to the image of His Son.

God is calling us to be Christ-like....to reflect Christ in our lives ... and to ... the world.

The great writer and theologian C.S. Lewis put it this way: ...... "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."

Paul understood this truth ... this process.

Remember his words to the Believers ... to the Believers gathered in Rome: BIBLE "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing ...with the glory (REPEAT) .... that will be revealed in us." END Romans 8:18

The process of being purified ... will result in ... glory.... and honor ... and praise ... flowing from our lives.

It is God's purpose .... To refine us ... to purify us.

And God's plan to purify us. ... It is a twofold plan.

God's part ... was sending his son... Jesus.

Hear God's word: BIBLE "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