Day 6 Refined by fire (1 Peter 1:7)

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:7 NIV

As you journey through this fast you will experience various afflictions that will challenge your faith. Your flesh , mind, will and emotions will be afflicted with temptations that may make you desire to cease participating in this fast. Yet, don’t give up! Place your hope in Jesus, because it is he who will anchor you into the love of God, causing you to remain in the refining fire of his presence until all your sinful impurities are purged away.
It is for this reason, we must remember the purpose of being refined by fire. In the book of Malachi we see God use an analogy through the prophet Malachi to describe the heart undergoing a process of refinement by fire.

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. Malachi 3:3

The purpose for this type of refinement is to draw us into a relationship with God where he will draw us away from the sinfulness of life and lead us down a path of righteous living. God wants us to stand righteously before him. As God refines us from the dross ( sinfulness) in our lives, he will also:
1. Reveal to us our true identity found in the image and likeness of God. ( Genesis 1:27)
2. Deliver us from living in generational sin and iniquity. ( Psalm 51:5, 1 John 3:4, Ezekiel 18:20)
3. Reveal Christ in us, for the purpose of sonship and priesthood. ( John 12:20-24
4. Make us a people called in his name. ( 1 Timothy 2:4)
5. Remove the dross of the sin of rebellion, unbelief and disobedience from our lives.

6. Cause us to praise, honour and glorify him because of the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7)

When metals are placed into a refiner’s fire for purification purposes. The fire does not destroy or consume the metal. Instead the junk within the metal rises up for removal. When the dross is removed from the metal, the condition of the metal improves and value is added. Similar to a refiner’s fire process for purification, our experience with God’s redemptive work in our lives, will see our relationship with him, draw us to his righteousness by leading us further away from sin. God does not consume us as we enter the fire of his presence, instead he refines us. He uses our shortcomings ( personal sins and afflictions) to refine our hearts just as if we were in a refiner’s fire. All the dross ( our sins ) within our hearts will be exposed as they come up to the surface, for removal. God cares about the state of your heart, this is why he wants to purify it by making it pure and undefiled.

Can you recall a time where you were overwhelmed by a profound sense of your sinfulness as you acknowledged the presence and majesty of God? What was your response? was your response similar to the prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 6:5?

Today, in day 6 of this fast, why don’t you allow God to reveal to you the dross in your life (the sins that you need to confess and repent from)? Speak to him and ask him to create in you a clean heart by purifying you in the fire of his presence.


Let us meditate upon the following scriptures:

1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Isaiah 48:10 - Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction

Psalm 147:5 (NIV) Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

Let us pray
Father you are the Lord who answers by fire. As I lift up my eyes to you and cry out your holy name, refine me in the fire of your presence. Purge me with holiness, so that Christ will be seen in me. And deliver me from the sins that defile my soul, in Jesus name.

Amen

For further studies during this fast: Read Matthew Chapter 16-18