FIRE – Part 3
“EMPOWERED: The Fire That Thrives”
FIRE EXPOSES POWERLESS SUBSTITUTES
1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 12 “Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”
Paul shares this example in his letter to the church at Corinth, of how God’s refining fire is used to expose the kind of work each builder has done. Just like the original audience, this is a time for us to pause and reflect upon what foundation we are building upon as well as what materials we are using. Will the work of our hands survive or be burned up in the fire?
Jeremiah 6:27-30 MSG, 27-30 God gave me this task:
“I have made you the examiner of my people,
to examine and weigh their lives.
They’re a thickheaded, hard-nosed bunch,
rotten to the core, the lot of them.
Refining fires are cranked up to white heat,
but the ore stays a lump, unchanged.
It’s useless to keep trying any longer.
Nothing can refine evil out of them.
Men will give up and call them ‘slag,’
thrown on the slag heap by me, their God.”
God tells Jeremiah that he had the task of examining the people of Israel and weighing the merit of each person according to their faith. Jeremiah was called to test them in the refining fire where they would be exposed as the ‘slag’ that they were, so filled with the evil of the world that God threw them on the slag heap. They were so corrupt that there was nothing good that could be found in them.
1 Timothy 4:7-10, 7 “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle,[d] for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.”
Our focus as believers needs to be on things that build our faith and stand the test of time through eternity. Timothy is encouraged by Paul to share this hope that is in the living God and to work hard, through hardship, because godly training will not be burned away in the fire.
ONE PURPOSE OF FIRE IS TO EXPOSE. AS WE ARE REFINED, THE THINGS THAT CANNOT WITHSTAND GOD’S FIRE ARE BURNED OFF AND THE TRUTH OF WHAT WE HAVE PUT OUR TRUST IN IS REVEALED. CONSIDER TODAY WHAT THE REFINING WILL REVEAL IN YOUR LIFE AND FAITH WALK.
1 Timothy 6:20-21, 20 “Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. 21 Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God’s grace be with you all.”
Are you guarding what God has entrusted to you, leaning on your knowledge of Him to build upon a firm foundation? Paul shared this warning with Timothy, knowing that it was imperative to stay true to his faith in God and avoid foolish and fruitless discussions.
Isaiah 44:18-20, 18 “Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. 19 The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” 20 The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”
Are there idols in your life that you are attributing power to that are powerless to help you at all, as in the passage above? God’s refining fire will not argue with idols, it will simply show itself superior by prevailing over them. Examine your heart and your life today to see if there might be some misplaced worship on a “block of wood.” Our trust needs to be in God alone.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
God has given us everything we need to be able to discern the truth from the lies that will be consumed in the fire. Whatever we hear, we are called to test against the truth of Scripture, which itself is a fire that tests what anyone says about God.
Read Jeremiah 23:9-40. Now, read it again in a different translation.
What is the Lord telling Jeremiah to tell the people of Israel in this passage? Why is the Lord giving these examples and instructions?
How well are you able to discern the difference between truth and prophecies about God that are spoken in the world today? Is your faith built upon a firm foundation and able to withstand the refining of Scripture? What steps can you take to strengthen your foundation of faith?
Look up the definition of idolatry.
Have you considered if you have idols in your life? Were you aware that idolatry is putting anything in front of God? Can you identify things that could be idols in today’s world?
Read Isaiah 44:6-20. Through Isaiah the Lord shares quite emphatically how senseless it is to trust in idols. What thoughts about the foolishness of idols come to mind after reading this passage? Share them with your small group.
If you did not identify any idols in your own life, take time to write out a prayer to God and ask Him if there is something that you might not recognize as being an idol.
Paul encourages Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 to train for godliness. As we train for godliness, we can use and develop the gifts that God has given to each of us. It is important to realize that God gave us good gifts so that we can share them with others in the body of Christ.
Read 1 Peter 4:10-11. Share with your small group at least one gift that God has given you.
As you reflect on your gift(s), think on this question, “Have you taken time to really consider what your place is in the body of Christ?” Are you developing and sharing God’s good gifts?
This next week, take some time to journal and ask God about your gifts. Ask Him if you are using them according to His purposes, and if He might be calling you to step out in greater capacity to develop and possibly even discover additional giftings that are just waiting inside of you. If He is calling you to step out or step into something new, walk in obedience and do it!!
