Posted on 12/31/2008 6:10:17 PM PST by WhatNot
Malachi 3:2
For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.
The Lord has a specific manner of preparing His people for useful service. God desires to turn His children from rough, hard-edged stones into gems of gold and silver.
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, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years
(Malachi 3:3-4).
The refiner's fire can only accomplish its purposes when the heat is turned up to extraordinary temperatures. It breaks down the metal in order for it to become moldable and shapeable. Only when the temperatures reach this level can the work be fully accomplished. So it is in our lives.
Until the Lord completes His refining process, the offerings we make are not made in righteousness and cannot be acceptable. Thank God that Jesus is our righteousness and that there is no righteousness apart from Him. Still, the Lord continues to purge all that is not of His righteousness out of our lives. This comes through trials that bring each of us to the end of ourselves in order that He may only reflect that which is Himself.
When God takes you through the refiner's fire, be encouraged because it is His overriding commitment to turn you from a rough, hard-edged stone to a precious metal. He will do this through certain events in your marketplace, your relationships, and other circumstances in your life. Our job is to avoid trying to blow out the fire.
Pride says, "I can do it alone. I can get myself out of this mess without God's help."
Oh, no you can't! We absolutely need God, and we desperately need each other.
Paul wrote, "We are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh"
(Philippians 3:3).
Humility is confidence properly placed. Examine the instructions on pride and humility in
(James 4:6-10 and 1 Peter 5:1-10.)
The context reveals that spiritual conflict follows the expression of pride. Pride is what caused Lucifer to be thrown out of heaven.
Jesus said, "Simon, Simon [Peter], behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat"
(Luke 22:31).
On what basis could Satan make that demand? The context reveals the answer: "There arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest"
(Luke 22:24).
Pride was Peter's downfall, and it opened the door to the devil's opposition.
(Proverbs 16:18)
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling
Pride is also ( Self Righteousness ) ... righteousness apart from Jesus Christ.... and there are a lot of people in church pews who rely on their own ( Self Righteousness ) to get to heaven.
Amen!! All right up there with the potters wheel. None of us like this part of our beliefs...the wake up call.
I can only hope the Christians in this country will wake up and repent UNLESS they are so steeped in deception they do not know what to repent of. “My people perish for lack of knowledge.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God forgive us of our arrogance, rebellion, lukewarmness and pride!!
There are many who grew up in church and are no more saved than the heathens who go to the bar every night. Sadly growing up the worst kids I knew were the preachers kids.
Just an added note, the refiner’s fire is not necessarily to mold and shape, it is to remove impurities. The heat allows the non-gold or non-silver material to rise to the top of the crucible, where the refiner then removes the dross.
We thank You Lord, for health and strength, we praise Your name O Lord. Have a blessed New Year!
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