Through The Refinder’s Fire
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver.” Ezekiel 22:17-18
The house of Israel had become impure in the sight of God. They used to be like silver, but had become like the dross from silver. Dross signifies the filth, dirt, and worthless stuff that are separated from silver during the washing, melting, and refining of it. Therefore, God’s fire shall once again come upon Israel to refine her from all impurities.
There are four things that will happen in the Refiner’s fire:
1) The fire of God’s wrath will burn fiercely and strongly in the furnace.
2) The different types of metal gathered in it shall be melted by a raging fire. The various material compositions will be dissolved; they will lose all their former shape and strength, and will not be able to stand before the fire. Similarly, sinners will be melted down together by the wrath of God and united in a common overthrow, just as bronze, tin, iron and lead are placed in the same furnace.
3) God will leave them in the furnace. When God brings His own people into the furnace, He sits by them, as the Refiner, to see that they do not stay there any longer than is fitting and needed.
4) The impurities shall be removed and the good metal purified. The unrepentant will be destroyed and the repentant will be reformed into a desirable vessel. When the impurities are taken away from the silver, a vessel of honor will come forth. God will allow us to go through the Refiner’s fire. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Our faith is purified when we are “tested by fire.” Although it may not be pleasant for the moment, it is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17). Therefore, let us allow God to place us in the Refiner’s fire to purify us, so that we can be rid of all impurities in our lives and come forth as the desirable vessel for His use (2 Tim. 2:20-21).
It’s refiner’s fire right? *looks at title*
Who is considered anointed ? Any Christine ?
We must always obey an elder place over us ? Who is this elder ? Are all elders place over us consider anointed (whether Christine or not) ? Is our boss consider as someone place over us ?
Will you employ someone who is unethical ? A wolf in sheep clothing ?
If we are place to work for ” a wolf in sheep clothing, do we still consider it a God’s arrangement ?
If an ethical employer will not employ an unethical employee, then why must an ethical employee work for an unethical employer (Is this still a God’s arrangement? Because the employer will make the innocent employee the scrap goat in times of trouble.
Daniel work in a position of power. But the employee is only rank and file.
Is it better to work (feeling sucidal) and be assured of being able to pay the bills when your sense tells us that the way the company is run is not God’s way ? Is it better to quit and go hungry ? One lead to a spiritual death and the other to a physical death. What if you can only choose one – which is it ? Jesus die physically but never spiritually.
I like to know because this is an issue that many faces and yet are not able to make the correct decision.
Rgds
JJ