Isaiah 43:1-10
New Living Translation
(Video ‘Consuming Fire”)
(Reading of the Scripture from Isaiah New Living Translation)
Prayer:
Holy, Loving, Compassionate, Almighty God…We thank you for Your word. We pray that your Spirit would fall down upon us. We ask for the Spirit of discernment…of knowledge…of wisdom. We pray that we would have ears to hear, eyes to see and a willing spirit as we listen for what you would say to us today. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you O Lord, our Rock and Redeemer. May your message be heard through me or in spite of me. Speak Lord for your servants are listening. Amen.
Have you ever seen the movie “Fire Starter” with Jodie Foster and Kurt Douglas? Boy that was such an action packed movie. It’s a story of a little girl who has this gift…she can start fires with her mind. Everyone wanted to capture her so they could harness her gift for themselves. In one scene…she starts this fire…all you can see is fire all over the place…everything is all ablaze. Then…out of the fire…you see her coming out of the fire. She is not getting burned as she walks through. It’s almost as if the fire itself gave way for her walking through.
This scene in the movie reminds me of the scripture from Isaiah 43 this morning. Walking through fire and not getting burned…walking through the waters and not being overcome by them. I don’t know about you but I have had my share of walking through situations that feel like I am walking through fire. It seemed like every situation around me was a test to see what I would do. And if you are like me…I would rather not have to go through these times in my life. Some have been caused by what I have done and some are caused by what others have done…either way…you feel lost and alone as you go through the fire. You feel as if you will be consumed by the fire from below. You stand there…looking up to heaven…and say, “God…where are you? Why can’t I feel you? I need you! Save me!” But what you hear is silence…hopelessness.
But in the Isaiah passage (and many others) there is hope. In verse five God says, “Do not be afraid…I am with you…” I…am…with you…and not only is God with us but in verse ten God says, “But you are my witnesses…You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God.” We are witnesses, servants and chosen…we have hope! We are precious, honored and loved! Our God is the God of comfort, of compassion, of peace and of hope and joy. There is hope and strength in the Lord our God.
Ok…so may ask…why do we have to go through these trials…why do we have to go through this “Fire Walking 101” any way? What good is it any way? What do these times hope to produce? Well I think I may have figured out a piece of this mystery. We go through this fire so that the things in us that need to be consumed…the things that need to be changed in our lives in order to live it to the fullest…what God had intended for us. This fire also brings us closer to God. We have to rely on God grace and love in order to “make it through to the other side. But when we make it through to the other side…we are not the same…we are closer to the image that God intends for us…what God planned for us since the beginning of time.
Uh…OK…it’s like this…Ray gave me a copy of what he found on the internet about the “Refiners Fire”. There was a story on the web site therefinersfire.org. The story goes something like this,
“Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.
She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....”
God uses these times…this refining fire of our lives. Through these times our rough edges are smoothed. God allows these times so that we can be made into the image of Christ from glory to glory until God sees His reflection in us…but..not just for His viewing…oh no…others will also see His refection in us. The fire doesn’t consume the masterpiece but the impurities that lay within…below the surface. We are not consumed but this consuming fire brings us closer to our God and creator, and fills us with the Spirit of strength and enables us to withstand even the hottest oven.
Beloved…are you feeling as if you are going through a “Walk in the Fire”? Has life gotten you to the point that you just can’t take the fire anymore? Have the situations in your life got you on the “hot seat”? Take heart in knowing that the Eternal source of Peace is there with you…sitting by the furnace to be sure His masterpiece is not injured or destroyed. Beloved daughter and son…the source of deliverance and help is not far…even when you don’t feel Him there…waiting for the right time so that you may shine as the purest refined silver…to Him be the glory both now and forever.
Let us pray:
Creative source of all being, Almighty God, You who are the creator of all that is good and pleasing…help us, we pray, as we go through the Fires of life. Give us strength and endurance through these times so that we may shine with your image for all the world to see. May we be consumed with a passion for you and your will for our lives. Pour out your Pentecost fire upon us gathered here so that we may be ignited again and able to withstand the fires of this world. Revive us again. We pray this in the name of the perfector of our faith, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. All honor and glory is yours now and forever.
Amen
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