The Refiner's Fire

For He will be like a refiner's fire...Malachi 3:2b

How does the Holy Spirit purify? He purifies by separation.
That is how the refiner purifies his metal. In Malachi 3, the
refiner is sitting before the crucible in which is the precious
silver.  

How does the refiner know that his metal is ready for him
to use? Well, he sits there; he tempers the fire and then as
the hard silver is made liquid and the fire operates, and the
dross gradually comes to the surface, he keeps on separating 
the dross from the silver; skims the surface as the dross is 
forced out of the metal through the action of the fire. He 
skims the surface, removes the dross, and when ultimately 
he sees his face reflected in the molten metal, he knows that 
it is ready.

The Holy Spirit sits alongside the crucible of your life and 
mine, and as the fire, He keeps separating  the dross from 
the metal, and He will keep on with holy work until He can 
see his face of the Lord He loves to magnify and glorify. 
Fire purifies. 

Take the illustration of the great plague in London. In 1665 
they walked through he streets and cried, "Bring out your 
dead; bring out your dead." And through the plague multi-
tudes died. The plague was followed by the great fire of 
1666, and as the result of the great fire, something happened.
The whole city was purged of the dread disease. But some-
thing els happened. The fire not only destroyed germs bring-
ing death to myriads, but it penetrated the soil. It warmed
the soil and after a while, unknown flowers sprang up from 
long, deeply buried seeds. The warming of the soil made 
possible the wonderful fertility of the seeds. That is the great
work of the Holy Spirit. 

There are some who have within them the long-buried seeds
of divine truth, and then the Holy Spirit operates, and as the
Spirit of Fire He destroys the plague of sin. Then He pene-
trates and warms the soil causing the life to bear fruit to the
glory of God. Henry Lockyer

Reader, I came across this reading many years ago when my
life was falling apart. It encouraged me so greatly that I real-
ized that my life was not falling apart, but falling together.

Human Nature Fails Us

Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:17

On this planet earth, since the cross, and not before, God is 
pleased to make His people to be His habitation. He came 
down in the person of Christ, but  Christ abode alone as far 
as the dwelling-place of God was concerned.

It is not because the New Testament saints are more worthy 
in themselves than those of old. He that knows himself and
redemption knows that such an idea is a fallacy and a false-
hood; he knows that human nature is good for nothing as be-
fore God; he knows that, in His presence, there is no question
of flesh, or what flesh can glory in. 

But this is not all; not only is there a Lord to glory in, but now 
we have actual redemption in Christ through His blood. How
does God estimate the precious blood of His Son? What does
He feel about those on whom that blood is put by faith--those
who are washed in it? Does He not as it were say, "I can come
now and take my place in their midst?" This is indeed one of
the precious characteristics of the church. William Kelly

Reader, human nature which is called "flesh" in the Bible, can-
not be redeemed, but we constantly look at how we are doing
to see if we are getting better. We, in ourselves, will never get
any better, but our redemption is never dependent on our ef-
forts but upon the redeeming blood of Christ, and the work of
the cross. Because of this I have become His dwelling place.
I can creep close into the down of His wings. He becomes my
place of rest. (Why do I wait until I am at my wits end?)

Not Overwork, But Overflow

He saw the disciples straining at the oars. Mark 6:48

Straining and striving does not accomplish the work God
gives us to do. Only God Himself, who always works 
without stress and strain and who never overworks, can 
do the work He assigns to His children. When we rest-
fully trust Him to do it, the work will be completed and 
will be done well. And the way to let Him do His work
through us is to so fully abide in Christ by faith that He
fills us to overflowing.

A man who learned this secret once said, "I came to Je-
sus and drank, and I believe I will never be thirsty again. 
My life's motto has become "Not overwork, but overflow,"
and it has already made the difference in my life."

There is no straining effort in an overflowing life, and it
is quietly irresistible. It is the normal life of omnipotent
and ceaseless accomplishment into which Christ invites
each of us to enter--today and always.
from Sunday School Times

Reader, I can tell now when I am not at rest, for it drains
me dry and I shrivel up into an exhausted ball. I used to
be able to push through, but now, unless the Holy Spirit
is working through me, all is dust and ashes. 

Grace Triumphs Death

I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; 
no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28

The way to heaven is as free as the way to hell. In hell
there is an accuser, but in heaven there is no one to con-
demn. The only being in the universe of God who has
a right to judge the sinner is now exalted to be a Savior.
Amid the wonders and terrors of that throne, He is a
Savior, and He is sitting there in grace.

The Savior shall yet become the Judge, but judgement
waits on grace. Sin has reigned, and death can boast its
victories, but shall grace not have its triumphs too?

As surely as the sin of man brought forth death, the grace
of God shall bring eternal life to every sinner who be-
lieves. One sin brought death, but grace masters all sin.
If sin abounded, grace abounds far more. Grace is con-
queror. GRACE REIGNS.

Not at the expense of righteousness, but in virtue of it.
Righteousness requires the sinner's death, and yet grace
has intervened to give him life. Righteousness itself has
set grace upon the throne in order that the sinner may
have life: "That as sin has reigned unto death, even so
might grace reign, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Sir Robert Anderson

Reader, what a glorious day of thanksgiving when a
sinner, who recognizes his condition, repents and
receives the grace that gives him eternal life!

Those Who Have Not Seen

Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed.
John 20:29

How important it is for God to keep us focused on things
that are unseen, for we are so easily snared by the things
we can see! If Peter was ever going to walk on the water, 
he had to walk, but if he was going to swim to Jesus, he
had to swim. He could not do both. If a bird is going to
fly, it must stay away from fences and trees, trusting the
buoyancy of its wings. And if it tries to stay within easy
reach of the ground, it will never fly very well.

God had to bring Abraham to the end of his own strength
and let him see that with his own body he could do noth-
ing. He had to consider his body "as good as dead" 
(Heb 11:12) and then trust God to do all the work. When
he looked away from himself and trusted only God, he
became "fully persuaded that God had power to do what
he had promised." (Rom 4:21)

This is what God is teaching us, and He has to keep results 
that are encouraging away from us until we learn to trust 
Him without them. Then He loves to make His Word as real 
to us in actuality as it is in our faith.
AB Simpson 1844-1919

Reader, these days we have visuals of just about every-
thing at our fingertips. I have been in very few churches
that cast themselves on God for a thing. Most of the patri-
archs suffered for years as they awaited the promise.
Those in the first century who stopped waiting, stopped
watching, missed their Messiah. God will fulfill all of
His promises--without our help. That is the kicker!

The Way of the Cross

It has been granted to you...to suffer for him.
Phil 1:29

The world's finest china is fired in ovens at least three
times, and some many more. Dresden china is always
fired three times. Why is it forced to endure such in-
tense heat? Shouldn't once or twice be enough? No, it
is necessary to fire the china three times so the gold,
crimson, and other colors are brighter, more beautiful,
and permanently attached.

We are fashioned after the same principle. The human
trials of life are burned into us numerous times, and 
through God's grace, beautiful colors are formed in us
and made to shine forever. Cortland Myers

Reader, Oh, dear reader, all of what you are suffering
will be permanently etched into you and bring glory
to God through all of eternity.

Happening Now

Jesus said, "When you see these things beginning
to happen, you can know that my return is near,
even at the doors...So be prepared, for you don't
know what day your Lord is coming.
Matt 24:33, 42

Reader, I just watched a duo who, on November 13th,
laid out all the things that have taken place in the last
eight days that have prophetic implication. They are
both from California and shared some incredible things
related to the two big fires. Some of you may be snow
bound this weekend, but others may have an hour free
to watch the video. It is definitely worth your while!

Jack Hibbs and Don Stewart teaching on current events
and how things going on now, line up with prophecy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjQ91QHERqk

His Wonderful Deeds

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were mer-
chants on the mighty waters. They saw the works
of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.
Psalm 107:23, 24

Remember, our faith is always at its greatest point when 
we are in the middle of the trial, and confidence in the
flesh will never endure testing. Fair-weather faith is not
faith at all. Charles Spurgeon

May our prayer be that of an old Englishman: "O Lord,
send us into deep water of the the sea, for we are so close
to shore that even a small breeze from the Devil could
break our ship to pieces on the rocks. Again, Lord, send
us into the deep water of the sea, where there will be
plenty of room to win a glorious victory."
Mark Guy Pearse

Reader, every day now I wake up to storm clouds on the
horizon. It is indeed difficult these days to know the truth
in any given situation depicted by the media--any media!
I would rather be out to sea where God controls the wind
and the waves, than to be cruising just off shore. So, take
courage, dear heart, and trust your heavenly Father who
still controls the events on earth. And, look up, for your
redemption draws near.
Come, Lord Jesus.

By Faith Abraham Obeyed

By faith Abraham...obeyed and went, even though
he did not know where he was going.  Heb 11:8

This is faith without sight. Seeing is not faith but rea-
soning. When crossing the Atlantic by ship, I once
observed this very principle of faith. I saw no path
marked out in the sea, nor could I even see the shore.
Yet each day, we marked our progress on a chart as
if we had been following a giant chalk line across the
water. And when we came within sight of land on the
other side of the Atlantic, we knew exactly where we
were, as if we had been able to see it from 3,000 miles
away.

How had our course been so precisely plotted? Every
day our captain had taken his instruments, looked to
the sky, and determined his course by the sun. He was
sailing using heavenly lights, not earthly ones.

Genuine faith also looks up and sails, by using God's
great Son. It never travels by seeing the shoreline,
earthly lighthouses, or paths along the way. And the
steps of faith often lead to total uncertainty or even
makes the darkest of midnight hours as bright as the
dawning of the day.

Let us move forth today, not knowing or seeing, but
trusting.   From Days of Heaven upon Earth

Jesus wondered that at His coming would He find
faith on the earth? Sometimes I wonder if we are
at that point. "Seeing is believing" in our culture.

A Narrow Winding Path

The Lord alone led him. Deuteronomy 32:12

The hill was steep, but cheered along the way
By conversation sweet, climbing with the thought
That it might be so till the height was reached;
But suddenly a narrow winding path
Appeared, and then the Master said, "My child,
Here you will walk safest with Me alone."

I trembled, yet my heart's deep trust replied,
"So be it, Lord." He took my feeble hand
In His, accepting thus my will to yield Him
All, and to find all in Him.
One long, dark moment,
And no friend I saw, save Jesus only.

But oh! so tenderly He led me on
And up, and spoke to me such works of cheer,
Such secret whisperings of His wondrous love,
That soon I told Him all my grief and fear,
And leaned on His strong arm confidingly.

And then I found my footsteps quickened,
And light unspeakable, the rugged way
Illumined, such light as only can be seen
In close companionship with God.

A little while, and we will meet again
The loved and lost; but in the rapturous joy
Of greetings, such as here we cannot know,
And happy song, and heavenly embraces,
And tender recollections rushing back
Of life now passed, I think one memory
More dear and sacred than the rest, will rise,
And we who gather in the golden streets,
Will oft be stirred to speak with grateful love
Of that dark day Jesus called us to climb
Some narrow steep, leaning on Him alone.
LB Cowman

Reader, I dedicate this poem to all who have
lost loved ones, who weep in the night. But,
especially to one dear friend who lost the
love of her life in recent days. 

Outrageous Faith

I have faith in God that it will happen just as he 
told me. Acts 27:25

A number of years ago I went to America with a steam-
ship captain who was a very devoted Christian. When
we were off the coast of Newfoundland, he said to me,
"The last time I sailed here, which was five weeks ago,
something happened that revolutionized my entire 
Christian life. I had been on the bridge for 24 hours
straight when George Mueller of Bristol, England, 
who was a passenger on board, came to me and said, 
'Captain I need to tell youth I must be in Quebec on
Saturday afternoon.' I replied, 'That is impossible.'
'Very well,' Mueller responded, 'If your ship cannot
take me, God will find some other way, for I have
never missed an engagement in fifty-seven years. Let's
go down to the chartroom to pray.'

"I looked at this man of God and thought to myself,
'What a lunatic asylum did he escape from?' I had never
encountered someone like this. 'Mr Mueller,' I said,
'Do you not realize how dense the fog is?' He replied,
'No. My eye is not on the dense fog, but on the living
God, who controls every circumstance of my life.'

"He then knelt down and prayed one of the most simple
prayers I have ever heard. When he had finished, I 
started to pray but he put his hand on my shoulder and
told me not to pray. He said, 'First, you do not believe
God will answer, and second, I BELIEVE HE HAS.
Consequently, there is no need whatsoever for you to
pray about it.

"As I looked at him, he said, 'Captain, I have known my
Lord for 57 years, and there has never been even a single
day that I have failed to get an audience with the King.
Get up, Captain, and open the door and you will see that
the fog is gone.' I got up, and indeed the fog was gone. 
And on Saturday afternoon George Mueller was at the
afternoon meeting in Quebec. 

Reader, this is one of the most encouraging things I
have read in a long time. I have a promise from God
but have wondered, as the years went on, if I needed
to fast and pray more to see it answered, but the verse
above has answered that burning question: "I have
faith in God that it will happen just as He told me."
God has spoken and He will do it. Hallelujah!

lacking Wisdom

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask of God...
James 1:5-8

An open door in service is from the Lord and not from 
man. We may therefore, be independent of man alto-
gether, and we shall be if we keep our eyes wholly 
upon the Lord, remembering He always gets an open 
door before us if we keep His word and do not deny 
His Name.  Edward Dennett 1831-1914

I know your works and what you are doing. See! I 
have set before you an open door, which no one is
able to shut. Revelation 3:8

Reader, our lives are crazy these days because we
don't stop and ask God about the thing. We just
keep adding to our schedule. One of the indications
of the lateness of the hour is that the "Enemy is 
wearing out the Saints."

Peace

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

I hear the words of love,
I gaze upon the blood,
I see the mighty sacrifice,
And I have peace with God.

'Tis everlasting peace!
Sure as Jehovah's name;
'Tis stable as His steadfast throne,
For evermore the same.

The clouds may come and go,
And storms may sweep my sky--
This blood-sealed friendship changes
     not:
The cross is ever nigh.

My love is oft times low,
My joy still ebbs and flows;
But peace with Him remains the same--
No change Jehovah knows.

I change, He changes not,
The Christ can never die;
His love, not mine, the resting place,
His truth, not mine, the tie.
Horatius Bona 1808-89

Reader, I LOVE the old hymns because they contain
so many truths from the pens of Godly men and wo-
men. They fill my heart with hope and a re-assurance
of where I stand with God. May this hymn give you
peace today.

What is Needed

It is not in me. Job 28:14

I remember saying one summer, "What I really need
is a trip to the ocean." So I went to the beach, but the
ocean seemed to say, "It is not in me!" The ocean did
not do for me what I thought it would. Then I said,
"Perhaps the mountains will provide the rest I need."
I went to the mountains, and when I awoke the first
morning, I gazed at the magnificent mountain I had
longed to see. But the sight did not satisfy, and the
mountain said, "It is not in me!"

What I really needed was the deep ocean of God's
love, and the high mountain of His truth within me.
His wisdom had depths and heights that neither the
ocean nor the mountains could contain and that could
not be compared with jewels, gold, or precious stones.
Christ is wisdom and He is our deepest need. Our
inner restlessness can only be pacified by the revela-
tion of His eternal friendship and love for us.
Margaret Bottome

Reader, how often we look forward to some wonder-
ful event, and when it happens, it leaves us flat. As
a child I soon realized that the anticipation often out-
weighted the doing of it. True satisfaction is knowing
that "Christ is our deepest need."

Patiently

I waited patiently for the Lord. Psalm 40:1

Once we learn to wait for the Lord's leading in
everything, we will know the strength that finds
its highest point in an even and steady walk. 
Many are lacking strength we so desire, but God
gives complete power for every task. He calls us
to perform. Waiting--keeping yourself faithful to
His leading--this is the secret of strength. And 
anything that does not align with obedience to
Him is a waste of time and energy. Watch and
wait for His leading. Samuel Dickey Gordon

The rest of the verse at the top goes on to say:
And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. I
have found that my life has been lived in many
vestibules--waiting. Right now I am eagerly wait-
ing for His coming, but walking the path that He
has laid out for me--while rejoicing!

Victorious Living

Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in Him
and he shall bring it to pass.  Ps 37:5

Victorious living is the heritage of every believer. It 
is supernatural. It is the life that Christ came to give.
The same Lord who lived in his sinless humanity on
earth over 1900 years ago now dwells in the heart of
everyone who has received him as Savior.

Are you thanking the Father that Jesus Christ came
and clothed himself with your humanity the moment
you believed in him? Are you counting on the fact
that because you put your trust in Christ, he, in you,
is equal to every situation and every circumstance as
it arises? Are you now meeting every circumstance,
every temptation by saying, "Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for your all-sufficiency?

God says your whole life is to be abandoned to him.
How simple it is to put God in charge to live his life
in and through you, so he can bring to pass that which
is his perfect will for you. Then you will live positive-
ly and productively. Then he will bring it to pass.
Ethel Jones Wilcox--I can't find the dates but since
she said we were 1900 years from the birth of Christ,
she probably lived in the early 20th century. She was
the author of Power for Christian Living.

Reader, I need to be reminded of where I come from,
on a regular basis and that, "He is equal to every situa-
tion and every circumstance as it arises..." which even
includes the training of a puppy!

Yielded

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,
"We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29

Has the Spirit borne witness that you are to do a cer-
tain work for God? As you heed that impression and
pray over it, does it become deeper and more indelible
on your heart? As you yield toward the carrying out
of that impression does there come a deep and settled
peace to your soul? If so, it is the leading of the Holy
Spirit.

...Has there been a time in your life when you came
to the place where it became your fixed intention to
surrender everything to the will of God and working
of the Spirit? Is it right to expect God to lead you to
the field of His choice if you have already determined
in your own heart where you want to go? If you really
want His guidance, you have to be ready to put your-
self in His hands and gladly follow His directions,
wherever they may lead. Does selfish ambition enter
into your plans, the desire for recognition and praise
from other Christians? It is better, and infinitely more
satisfying to please God than men.
G Christian Weiss
G. CHRISTIAN WEISS was director of the 
Gospel Missionary Union as well as director of 
missions for the Back to the Bible broadcast. 
Dr. Weiss also served as a missionary in 
North Africa and was well known for his clear and 
simple explanation of the Bible's message in nu-
merous books and booklets.

Reader, surrender to God, not to the situation, is
the beginning of freedom.