God’s Refining Shop

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”

'Why me, Lord?' We have all asked it. Why does it always have to rain on my parade? Why did this have to happen to me? Why my child? Why my marriage? Why my job? Why? Why? Why? Allen Webster

'I have to keep my eye on the crucible. If it gets too hot, the silver is injured. I know the process of purifying is completed when I see my own image reflected in the silver.‘ Allen Webster

Psa 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

Isaiah 43:4 “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life”

God wants the best for us and demands the best of us. Just as the refiner's job is to increase the value of his product by removing impurities.

God sees His job as removing the impurities – sin.

2 Cor 12:7-8 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me…

2 Cor 12:7-8 …lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me”

What kind of furnace does the Refiner use?

He uses the furnace of affliction, physical injury, disease, prolonged sickness, difficulty in rearing our children, problems with parents, financial reverses, or other overwhelming cares of life. Allen Webster

1 Cor 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”

God is not wasting our time. He is educating us; He is improving us; He is molding us.

God's purpose is to prepare us for heaven.

2 Cor 4:16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

2 Cor 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Phil 1:21-23 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

Heb 11:10 “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Col 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

James 1:1-4 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this…

James 1:1-4 …that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

1 Pet 1:7-9 “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:…

1 Pet 1:7-9 …Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

1 Cor 3:12-19 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire…

1 Cor 3:12-19 …and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer…

1 Cor 3:12-19 …loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall…

1 Cor 3:12-19 …God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise…

1 Cor 3:12-19 …For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness”

The worthiness of the ship is not determined while it rides at ease in the harbor, but when it rides the waves of a storm.

Our faith is worthless if it cannot get us through life's storms.

Luke 17:17 “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”

Col 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

1 Cor 1:3-6 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing…

1 Cor 1:3-6 …ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:”

Luke 14:11 “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Prov 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

2 Cor 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Col 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”

Rom 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”

Phil 2:11 “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”

Gal 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”

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