A refiner’s fire does not destroy like a forest fire.  As we’ve seen this summer and most summers they are fighting forest fires in California.  This type of fire is all consuming.  A refiner’s fire on the other hand is not designed to consume you, but to remove the trash in order to gain the treasure. 

 

Refinement’s Messenger  v.1

Three people in this verse that are critical to refinement: 1) God is (I), 2) The Messenger is John the Baptist (Prophet), 3) Lord is Jesus Christ

 

How do we know the messenger is John?

Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”

Luke 7:27 “This is he of whom it is written,” ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’”

Jesus is the refiner’s fire.  Why?  We need refinement- we are not pure.

 

Two things Jesus will do:

1) Purify His Children

2) Judge Others

If you are a Christian, you live in the refiner’s fire.  For correction, perfect, but not destruction. 

 

Refinement’s Methods vv.2-4

Fullers washed clothes with a very strong lye soap.  The clothes were put on a rock and beaten with sticks to remove the dirt.  Dross is the impurity in the metal.  The refiner’s fire is to remove the trash from the treasure.  You cannot get rid of your sin on your own.  The fire has to do it!

Hebrews 12:5-10 “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?  My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.  6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”  7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 

Refinement’s Majesty vv.5-6

Trust in God, “…O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”  The others outside of Christ will be consumed by fire, but His children of the Kingdom will be refined.  It’s for refinement, not destruction!