GOD THE REFINER

Throughout the Bible God uses many analogies to help us better understand His thoughts and desires. Today I would like to examine in a little more detail one of the analogies God uses in the Old Testament. If you would, please turn with me to Malalchi chapter 3 verse 3. Malalchi here is talking in particularly about the end time, however it still applies to what God is doing with us today.                                                 We see here that God describes Himself as a refiner and purifier of silver and gold, 

Mal 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.

These words refine, purify and purge all express the same concept of cleansing and removing of imperfections by a process, a process that we as Christians must under go if we are to become perfect like Christ. The concept of being perfect or pure is a vast topic and I won't assume to even broach it today, however I would like to look at the actual process by which silver and gold are refined and try to show some spiritual parallels that may be of assistance in our struggle to live God's way.

To give a bit of a background silver, up until 500 BC was regarded as the most valuable metal on earth, indeed. it was during Solomon's rain that gold replaced silver as the most precious metal. Gold and silver share some important properties that  explain why they were viewed so highly by the ancients and even by people today. 

Silver is the second most ductile and malleable metal next to gold making them both very easy to fashion and mold. Both have a brilliant metallic luster or shine that does not tarnish or corrode making them beautiful to look at and ideal for jewelry  The reason gold and silver do not tarnish or corrode is because they do not react with the atmosphere, even at high temperatures gold and silver still remain inert. In a minute you will see why this is so important. 

Let me now briefly explain the actual process by which silver and gold was refined in Old Testament times. The refining of gold and silver follow the same process which is in fact quite simple. The impure or natural occurring gold or silver is placed along with pieces of lead, into a crucible type vessel. It is then placed into a furnace.where the metal melts and mixes with the lead forming a molten liquid mass of metal. Air, under force is then blown onto the surface of the molten metal while still in the furnace. 

As I mentioned previously gold and silver do not react with the air whereas the lead and any impurities like tin, copper and iron do react. The lead, once it comes in contact with the blowing air reacts then circulates throughout the molten metal. This circulating reacted lead then absorbs all the other metal impurities to form a mixture called dross, which vaporizes or floats to the surface. The floating dross is then subsequently blown over the edge of the crucible by the blasting air and is consumed by the furnace.The gold or silver is then left behind in the crucible free of all impurities. 

Now that I have explained how silver is refined let us look at what it says in Jeremiah 6:27-30. Here God sends Jeremiah to test and refine the Israelites but they refuse to be purified and God subsequently rejects them, but notice what God likens the Israelites to.

Jer 6:27-30 "I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people, That you may know and test their way. {28} They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers. They are bronze and iron, They are all corrupter s  {29} The bellows blow fiercely, The lead is consumed by the fire; The smelter refines in vain, For the wicked are not drawn off. {30} People will call them rejected silver, Because the LORD has rejected them."

So here the bronze and iron, which we know are impurities in silver are likened to the impure Israelite s  However in this particular refining process even though the air blows fiercely and the lead is consumed, the dross is still not drawn off and the wicked still remain. Again in Ezekiel 22:18 we see that God likens the Israelite s to the dross that is to be consumed instead of the pure precious silver that God desires them to be. 

Ezek 22:18 "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. 

We know that in the silver refining process the dross is separated and burnt up, so also God does to the wicked. This is confirmed in many scriptures, there's no need to turn there but let me quickly read you a couple in Psalms.

Psa 119:119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies.

Psa 37:20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

These scriptures and others show the importance of making sure that we are not counted among st the wicked.

So then it remains for us to be like pure silver or gold and not like the dross, full of impurities. If we are to be pure then we must put away sin and live a way of life defined by God's word, which is its self pure. To be pure we must repent and be baptized accepting Christ's awesome sacrifice. But let us now turn to 2 Tim 2:22 were we see that part of being pure is having a personal commitment to God's way of life and His church.

2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

So what then am I saying, that through our own efforts we can become pure? 

If we look once again at the analogy of refining silver we see that this is definitely not the case, the silver does not refine itself nor separate itself from the dross. It is the heat of the furnace and the blowing air that removes the dross. Christ's sacrifice is what purifying is really all about as it shows in Heb 9:13-14

Heb 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, {14} how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

We have heard many times and rightly so that it is through our baptism that we partake in Christ's sacrifice. The idea of being washed or purified is an integral part of baptism. It uses the symbol of water to express the aspect of cleansing our life from sin, but this is not the only concept attached to baptism as we see in Matt 3:11. John the Baptist is telling the Pharisees about the difference between his baptism and the one that will come with Christ. 

Mat 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

So what is this baptism of fire that John the Baptist is talking about when referring to the baptism of Christ? 

This idea of baptism by fire can very easily be related to the furnace that is involved with the refining of gold and silver. It is interesting to note that the ultimate test that gold and silver undergo to check their purity is to be assayed by fire. If you remember we read in Jeremiah that he was sent to assay and test the Israelite s. 

Now to assay something is chiefly used in the reference to metals, meaning to test the metals purity. The gold or silver is tested by taking a sample, weighing it then refining it, and then reweighing the now known pure gold. If there is no change in weight then all the gold is pure, if a loss of weight then the gold is impure. 

Therefore this idea of a test that also purifies is a very important concept that matches, as you will see, very closely to the idea of being baptized with fire. In 1 Cor 3:13 we see that this very same idea is used to explain what will happen in the end time.

1 Cor 3:13-15 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. {14} If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. {15} If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Here we have a concept of fire used to test and at the same time used to save. Again in Zec 13:9 this idea is confirmed.

Zec 13:9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; An one will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

So then when we are baptized by fire we are tested to show our impurities but at the same time as we are tested we also are refined. Doesn't this idea ring true with the many trials or temptations that we suffer as we strive to follow God's way of life. The trials reveal our weaknesses but as we persevere through the trials we grow and overcome and therefore become more pure. indeed only with the hot temperature of the furnace can silver be refined, don't we also need to experience some heat for us to change. In Isa 48:10 God testifies to the fact that He has tested us with this very necessary heat.

Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

When we think of examples of affliction or trials we tend to think of major examples like Christ dieing for us, or of Job and his great personnel and emotional loss and suffering. indeed we can read in the Bible of many people who have been afflicted in many traumatic ways. It is, however, I believe important to note when we think of trials and tribulations that God looks at all trials, great and small as a means to refine and test us. 

Some years ago during my first three years of high school I was verbally and physically abused by a group of peers, sometimes because of my beliefs other times just because of whom I was. It was not a life-threatening situation, however to me it was still a tough period and therefore still regarded as a trial in God's eyes. Some of you maybe experiencing this kind of thing at the moment at school or work, however we can take comfort in knowing that God is watching closely. James tells us that we should be glad when we experience these types of trials because it means we are being perfected.

That may all be well and good but what about when we experience trials that we think we can't handle, that are simply to tough to bear. I believe we can draw more encouragement if we once again look at the analogy of the refining of silver and gold.

During the refining process the heat of the furnace is critical, if too severe then the silver or gold will be vaporized and lost, if too cold then some of the lead will remain and the metal will not be pure. The smith watches very closely the temperature making sure that it stays exactly right. In other words the severity of our trials is extremely important to God for He wants us to be pure but never to be lost. In 1 Cor 10:13 no need to go there, our God, who can not lie promises that He will not tempt or test us beyond what we are able to cope with.

As we draw to a close please turn with me to 1 Pet 5:10 we see that we can draw comfort from the fact that our suffering is only for a short time.

1 Pet 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

We know that it is God's plan for us and that we be made perfect spirit beings dwelling with Him for the rest of eternity.


In conclusion let me briefly summarize the main points I have tried to show today successfully or otherwise by using the analogy of the refining of silver and gold:1] If we continue in the way of the wicked then God will remove us from His plan of salvation like dross is separated from the silver and consumed.
2] God requires us to be like precious pure silver, to have a pure heart free of all dross and impurities
3] When silver or gold are assayed they are tested by fire and therefore are refined, so to when God test's us He is also refining us
4] Silver and gold to be purified must experience the heat of the furnace, we also must be baptised with fire and experience trials and tribulations in the furnace of affliction. However we are never consumed or tested beyond our capabilities, just like the smith who closely watches the furnace temperature so God watches and cares for us.

Let's now turn to a final scripture Psa 66:10 that really encapsulates all these thoughts

Psa 66:10-12 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. {11} You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. {12} You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

As the silver or gold nears the final stage of refining it experiences an action known as “brightening”, at the time that the last of the impurities are consumed the now pure molten metal suddenly emits a bright flash of light and immediately solidifies. I eagerly look forward to the time when God sees this happen to His people.By Russell Barnett

The Principle of Eternity | Paul David Tripp

Accountability and Budgeting | Paul David Tripp

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the founder of salvation

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10 ESV)

Adherents to any man-focused religion that call themselves Christian place the onus of salvation on the person and make God a passive entity who will not or cannot interfere with Man’s free will. This is not Biblical. It is philosophical. When we debate those who elevate free will above God and His sovereignty using Sacred Scripture their response is never in kind. That is because we are actually contending against a philosophy that is based on Man’s conceptions and understandings not on Biblical exegesis. Let us look at the founder of our salvation from the source our God gave us. Through this, He will make His truth apparent to our hearts by the working of the Holy Spirit as we study His Word.

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in  subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:5-9 ESV)

The writer of the book of Hebrews is unknown to all except God. Notice that the Kingdom of God is not in the hands of angels nor will they inherit it. Then the writer quotes Psalm 8:4-6. He is actually questioning why God would go to such great lengths to provide a way of salvation for Man. It is obvious that no son or daughter of Adam is worthy of this. The “him” in vv7-9 is referring to Christ.

Jesus Christ  is the Son, the second person in the Holy Trinity. He is the one through whom God created the Universe (John 1:1). He is far above the angels yet in order to accomplish the salvation of people God made Him a little lower than the angels. This is referring to His incarnation as a man. He was not sent as an angel, but a man. God originally gave dominion over the Earth to Man at creation. However, the fall in Genesis 3 made Man incapable of fulfilling that mission. However, our Lord Jesus Christ, since He became a man and fulfilled His redemptive work on the Cross has fulfilled all that is required in order that He became the supreme representative of our race (Romans 6:23; 1 John 4:10).

During the short period of His incarnation, our Lord was lower than the angels, but He is no longer. This is a point that many today overlook. When Jesus returns He will do so in all His glory. He will return to separate the Sheep from the Goats. He will tread down all who oppose Him. However, at the Cross He tasted death for everyone who believes, not everyone who has ever lived. This is a true statement because the death of Christ can only be applied in its efficacy to those who come to God in repentance and faith. This God given faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) causes all whom God draws to Christ (John 6:44) to ask God for saving grace and forgiveness of sins.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” (Hebrews 2:10-13 ESV)

While we view our Lord’s suffering and death on the Cross as horrible, it was fitting that God used this to bring His elect to glory (Ephesians 1:3-14).  The Greek word translated in v10 as “fitting” is πρέπω or prepō. This verb literally means, “to tower up” or become conspicuous in the context of becoming suitable or proper. Since this is describing a work of God then we understand that sending the Son to the cross to become the propitiation for the elect lined up perfectly with His character and by no means violated His sovereign righteousness.  In Christ’s victory through suffering on the Cross He became the founder of the elect’s salvation. He is the author of our salvation. He is the forerunner of all who follow Him in salvation and into eternal glory.

Our Lord calls all who believe “brother.” He loves His elect and even speaks of them to those who have preceded them into eternity. Notice that all who come to Christ are “given” to Christ by God.

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-18 ESV)

The Greek word for “share” in v14 is κοινωνέω or koinōneō. In this context it means “fellowship, communion, or partnership.” What could this mean? Believers have “shared” in what they are in flesh and blood with one who is not by nature flesh and blood. We see this in the verb “partook ,” μετέχω or metecho. This word means “to take hold of something that is not related to one’s own kind.” Our Lord Jesus Christ was not flesh and blood by nature, however, He “fellowshipped” in flesh and blood with those who were given to Him by God thereby providing redemption for them.

Never forget my brethren that Jesus was incarnated as a man so that He could die. He came to die. Why? He had to die in order to be resurrected. It was through His resurrection that the power of death, Satan, was defeated. This rendered our enemy powerless. At salvation, a believer is regenerated. This changes them forever. Formerly they walked through life in the fear of death and this made them slaves to our enemy. However, as God does His miraculous work in the heart by giving the new believer saving faith they soon realize that there is no need to fear death. Why? The power of death is broken for the believer. To live is Christ; to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)!

The Greek word translated as “help” in v16 means “to take hold of in order to rescue.” Who does our Lord “help?” It isn’t angels. No, it is the offspring of Abraham. Who is this? Who are the real children of Abraham? It is all who have faith as had Abraham.

Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross was the work of the High Priest on behalf of all given to Him by God. This sacrificial work made Him the propitiation for their sins. In other words, He atoned for their sins by taking on their sins and incurring the wrath of God in their place. Therefore, their sins are atoned for. Not some of their sins, but all of them.

What a blessing it is to know that our Lord was tempted in every way just like us! He understands and sympathizes with us because of this. He felt the full force of temptation, but never sinned.

It is a common-place thought, and yet it tastes like nectar to the weary heart–Jesus was tempted as I am. You have heard that truth many times: have you grasped it? He was tempted to the very same sins into which we fall. Do not dissociate Jesus from our common manhood. It is a dark room which you are going through, but Jesus went through it before. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer, Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour. There is something sweeter yet-Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned. Then, my soul, it is not needful for thee to sin, for Jesus was a man, and if one man endured these temptations and sinned not, then in His power His members may also cease from sin. Some beginners in the divine life think that they cannot be tempted without sinning, but they mistake there!

It is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation. Herein is comfort for the sorely tempted ones. There is still more to encourage them if they reflect that the Lord Jesus, though tempted, gloriously triumphed, and as He overcame, so surely shall His followers also, for Jesus is the representative man for His people; the Head has triumphed, and the members share in the victory. Fears are needless, for Christ is with us, armed for our defense. Our place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted just now, in order to drive us nearer to Him. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Saviour’s love! Happy wounds, which make us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Saviour, for He can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and will succor every tried and tempted one. – C.H. Spurgeon

My brethren, we are saved because of what God has done. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the founder of salvation. We are saved because God gave us to the Son. He is the one who draws us to Him. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to regenerate and indwell us. We are saved from first to last by God’s work. We do not become a Christian because we decide to, but because God opens the heart and causes us to believe. Praise Him, Oh Praise Him!

Soli Deo Gloria!

And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! — 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV)

The writers of the New Testament had no concept of a Christian whom many today would call a “Carnal Christian.” All believers still sin in this life and there will be times when they struggle with certain sins as if in a deadly battle, which they perceive as one they are losing. However, God will not leave His children this way. There will be no peace in the heart of a genuine Christian who is actively indulging his or her flesh. Instead, there will be heartache, self-loathing, and a deep desire to get the victory and draw closer to the Saviour much as David did when finally confronted about his horrible sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. There is no true peace in the heart of Christian who is hiding his or her sin. Those around them may not know what is going on, but God does  and so do those hiding their sin. It is not a spiritually healthy situation.

The proper walk before the face of God for the Christian is one of repentance. This walk consists of self-denial, prayer, and dying to the desires of the flesh. We often make the mistake of thinking that the way to do this is through will power or asceticism, but the best way to walk according to the spirit is to actively pursue God as His living sacrifice.

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

Here is this passage in Koine Greek from the NA28:

1 Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν· 2 καὶ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοὸς εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον. (Romans 12:1-2 NA28)

The following is my own translation from the NA28:

1 Therefore, I urge you brothers through the compassions of God to present your bodies as living, holy sacrifices, well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 translated from the NA28 Greek text)

The transformation we are commanded to go through takes place as we obediently embark on continual mind renewal. This is a way of life. This is to walk through each day with our minds on Christ and His Word. It is not about “experience” per se, but about knowing God through the means of grace He has given us such as Bible Study, Prayer, service, worship, and partaking of the Lord’s Supper, et cetera. It is not about making the mind go into neutral and fellowshipping with “familiar spirits.” Nor is it about interpreting God’s word via experience. No, it is about knowing God’s Word and applying it to our obedient lives. As we know God more and more the more we will be changed. We will begin to become more and more indentified as having a nature like our Lord’s, a “divine nature.”

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

Please notice that we take on this divine nature by God’s power. Our efforts could never produce this. Instead, it is by His divine power as we obey Him and partake of His promises. This increases the level of the divine nature in us. The more we obey God this way the more we partake of the divine nature, which is opposed entirely to the corruption and flesh orientation of this lost and dying world. This is how we become transformed (Romans 12:2) because this is how our minds are continually renewed. We must remain in this growth process. When we slack off and pursue the things of the flesh, we are going nowhere. We are not growing in Christian maturity. We are not having our minds renewed, so we are not being transformed. Instead, we are being fleshly-minded and this only leads to darkness and despair because we are off the narrow path and have taken the easy way, which only leads to Doubting Castle and imprisonment by Giant Despair. The only way out of there my brethren is to get back to the narrow path by believing and submitting to the promises of God made to all His children by and through the Cross of Christ. These promises will unlock all the doors in Doubting Castle and then we can escape Giant Despair’s clutches as we get back on the narrow path that is the only way of continual mind renewal in obedience to our Lord.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

This passage is a picture of how we must stay in continual mind renewal. We lay aside the weight and sin that clings so close so we can run with endurance the race God has set before us. The writer of Hebrews compares sin to a weight that keeps us from running with endurance. Laying it aside is a picture of repentance. We turn from it and move on. We refuse to pick it up again. We pray for the fortitude and courage to do this. Then we get into the race and run it by looking unto our Lord Jesus Christ for His direction and promised joy and strength to serve Him (John 15). Christ went to the Cross to save His people and the picture for us is that we must also be willing to lay down our own wants and desires so that we may obey God with our entire lives.

Those who  are being continually transformed by mind renewal as part of running the race set before them by God stay in the Word of God, prayer, worship, and obedience. This is how it is done. It requires submission to those around them. It calls for humility. Both of these are necessities in this as well as products of it. The more we run the race the more humble we become and it requires humility and self-denial to stay in the race. Do you see it my brethren?

We all blow it at times. We sin, we become self-focused and do and say stupid things that are bound up in the ways of the flesh. This is the taking up again of those weights that keep us from running the race. This is self-focused and rooted in pride. It ends our spiritual growth. It puts us out of the race. The only way back in is confession, repentance, and obedience.

When we are in the race our focus is eternal. Even those temporal things that seem to make up the boundaries and consistency of our lives in the temporal are seen for what they are and they have no hold on us. We are able to deny ourselves and move on with God. However, if our focus is temporal then our circumstances run our lives. Our possessions actually own us. We are self-focused and submit to no one. While in the race we grow spiritually, but while living and operating in the temporal as our focus then we stop growing spiritually until we repent and get back into the race.

My brethren, do an inventory of your spiritual walk and how it intersects with your temporal existence. Which controls which? Which defines how you live, worship, and serve? If we are controlled by the temporal, we can often look very much like active Christians. We can be deeply involved in Church and do all sorts of religious “works.” However, that is not the same thing as walking in repentance and living ones life as God’s living sacrifice. Those who are in the race will serve God in all they do. They will be involved in our Lord’s Church, but their daily walk with Him is what defines them, not simply their religiosity. On the other hand, those who have many religious “works,” but who live for self the rest of the time are not in the race. They may very well be in a huge battle here. I know this because I was there for many years.

I was a Deacon and Bible teacher in a church for many years, but my daily walk could best be described as a disaster. I indulged the flesh. I rebelled against putting parts of my life under the Lordship of Christ. I would teach on Sunday and live for myself the rest of the time. Oh, I had periods of repentance in which I would serve God as well as I could with my whole life, but eventually I would devolve back into self-focused spiritual mediocrity. The OKC Federal Center bombing sent me down a new self-destructive path. I was in the blast zone when Timothy McVie set off his truck bomb. I became depressed. I was angry, bitter, and resentful about nearly anything having to do with me not getting my way. It was an awful time. However, God had mercy on me.

In late 2003 I had been on a 6 month sabbatical from teaching in Church. At our Church Christmas party, I was asked to teach a new class for young adults. God made sure I knew that I was incapable of doing the legwork to get this going because of my lack of focus and obedience. This drove me to my knees. For the next 8 months or so God drew me to Himself. By the time August rolled around, I was in the Word, prayer, or worship all day nearly every day. It was amazing. The closer I drew to God the more grace He gave me. Increasing obedience marked my life. God transformed me continually through this. He changed my value system. He put me in position to run the race as it should be run. I was amazed and still am. I have grown quite a bit since then. God has not got tired of me pursuing Him. He has used me in the battle for the truth in ways that still amaze me. He has revealed His ways to me. This has brought His Word to life for me.

In any case my brethren, if you are struggling with the desires of the flesh then you are where I was before God drew me to Himself. I pray for you to turn from this as you draw near unto God. Pray that God will not allow you to become distracted from this pursuit. Go hard after God my brethren and He will come hard after you.

By Mike Ratliff Soli Deo Gloria!

How Vital Is It that We Have Full, Precise, Thorough, And Correct Knowledge Of God?

15 Διὰ τοῦτο κἀγὼ ἀκούσας τὴν καθʼ ὑμᾶς πίστιν ἐν τῷ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους 16 οὐ παύομαι εὐχαριστῶν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν μνείαν ποιούμενος ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου, 17 ἵνα ὁ θεὸς τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ πατὴρ τῆς δόξης, δώῃ ὑμῖν πνεῦμα σοφίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεως ἐν ἐπιγνώσει αὐτοῦ, (Ephesians 1:15-17 NA28)

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, (Ephesians 1:15-17 ESV)

Post-modernism has as one of its tenets “relativism” that, of course, leads to ambiguity not revelation nor precision in our understanding of the truth. In fact, I have been rebuked more times than I can count by those who hold to that false religion called the “Emergent Church” that I was full of pride and not humble because I declared that I knew truth revealed to us by God in His Word as absolute truth, authoritative and without error. The liberal insists that to be humble we must declare that we do not know the truth nor are able to know God or understand His Word.

However, the Apostle Paul reveals to the Ephesians in the first chapter of his letter to them that he does not cease to give thanks for them, and that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. In v17 the word “knowledge” translates the Greek noun ἐπιγνώσει or epignōsei, which is the Dative, Singular, Feminine case of ἐπίγνωσις or epignōsis. This is a compound word made up of γνῶσις or gnōsis, “experiential knowledge” and ἐπὶ or epi, “motion upon or toward” thereby coming up with ἐπίγνωσις meaning “an experiential, personal knowledge that is full and thorough.” This would also speak of “precise and correct knowledge.”

Is it vital that we have full, precise, thorough, and correct knowledge of God? Our enemy and his agents work continually to confuse the truth, to make pursuing the truth look like a waste of time or even something that is prideful while exalting those who say it is best to stay ignorant of God and His truth. These same people relish is a religion that is vague and relative while being focused on each person’s experience. The modern philosophies of “open-mindedness” and “tolerance” were foreign to the Apostle Paul’s thinking and they should be expunged from the thinking of Christians today. Many today have “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (ἐπίγνωσις, Romans 10:2).

We are not infinite like God so we shall never know everything, but our knowledge is full in the sense that we know what is right and necessary for Christian living. And, of course, our knowledge continues to grow with more involvement with God’s Word. The more we are transformed through the renewing of our minds by immersing ourselves in God’s Word our knowledge continues to grow. In other words, our knowledge can be full from moment to moment; we can right now know what God wants us to know, but tomorrow we will know more; so, each moment we are living in the full potential of our present knowledge.

Every pastor should pray for his flock the way Paul prayed for the Colossians believers:

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you , asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria!

"How should a believer respond to the characteristics of God?"
God reveals Himself to believers through His Word (the Bible) and through His Son (Christ Jesus). 
The more we study the Bible,God's written absolute Truth, the more we come to understand God’s characteristics, the qualities He possesses. 
As mortals, we struggle to grasp the power and majesty of the God who has created time, space, matter, and all life. 
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8).

For the purpose of this article, we will focus on three key characteristics of God and the believer’s response to each.

Perhaps the most important characteristic of God is the moral attribute of His holiness.
Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8 describe the triple force of God’s holiness: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Only when a person glimpses the holiness of God in comparison to human sinfulness is there any hope for true repentance. When we realize the dreadful consequence of sin and consider that the sinless Son of God suffered our punishment, it brings us to our knees. We are silent before the face of God’s holiness, struck dumb by the reverence such holiness demands. Like Job, we say, 
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? 
I put my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4). Understanding God’s holiness causes us to exalt His compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3), mercy (Romans 9:15), grace, and forgiveness (Romans 5:17) toward us. “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared” (Psalm 130:3–4).

God’s most endearing characteristic is His Love. 
Love requires relationship, and throughout eternity the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have existed together in relationship. God created us in His image, and we were created to be in relationship with Him (Genesis 3:17–18;Romans 1:19–20). 
Such is the extent of God’s love that He sent his only Son to redeem us from our sins.     “This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. God is love. . . .     We love because he first loved us” (1 John 3:16–19). God provided the solution to sin in the person of Christ Jesus. Jesus came to take our punishment for sin and to satisfy God’s justice (John 1:1–5,14,29). 
At Calvary, God’s perfect love and perfect justice met. When we begin to grasp the great love of God, our responses are humility, repentance, and reciprocal love. 
Like King David we pray that God will create in us a pure heart and a steadfast spirit 
(Psalm 34:18;51:10,17). 
God lives in a high and holy place, but with Him are believers who are contrite and lowly in spirit (Isaiah 57:15).

Finally, we will consider the sovereignty of God (Psalm 71:16;Isaiah 40:10). 
God is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). He is the source of all life (Romans 11:33–36). He is independent of His creation (Acts 17:24–28). Abraham, Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel, and David all acknowledged God as their Sovereign Lord: “Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. 
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. 
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” 
(David’s words in 1 Chronicles 29:10–13). The believer honors the Sovereign Lord who has bought us and gladly submits to Him (2 Peter 2:1;James 4:7;Jude 1:4).

King David eloquently summed up the characteristics of God: 
“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. . . . The Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord” 
(Psalm 93:1–2,4–5).

A few men of faith have been privileged to experience God’s presence, to have God speak directly to them. This is how some of them responded:

Moses asked to see the glory of the Lord, and the Lord agreed to cause all of His goodness to pass in front of Moses. “I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen” (Exodus 33:21–22). Moses’ response was to bow down and worship. Like Moses, the believer will bow down and worship the Lord, filled with awe as we contemplate the glory that is our God.

Job never lost his faith in God, even under the most heartbreaking circumstances that tested him to his core. “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face” (Job 13:15). Job was utterly silenced by God when He spoke to him out of the storm. Job confessed that he spoke of things he did not understand, things too wonderful for him to know. “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1–6). Like Job, our response to God should be one of humble obedience and trust, submission to His will, whether we understand it or not.

Isaiah had a vision of the Lord seated on his throne and of seraphs who cried out, 
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). 
So overwhelming was this vision that Isaiah cried out, 
“Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:1–5). 
Isaiah realized he was a sinner in the presence of the Holy God, and his response was repentance. John’s vision of the throne of God in heaven inspired in him great awe. 
John fell down as if dead at the feet of the glorified Lord (Revelation 1:17–18). 
Like Isaiah and John, we are humbled in the presence of God’s majesty.

There are many other characteristics of God revealed in the Bible. 
God’s faithfulness leads us to trust Him. His grace prompts gratitude in us. His power incites awe. His knowledge causes us to ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5). 
Those who know God will conduct themselves in holiness and honor 
(1 Thessalonians 4:4–5).
His Kindness leads us to repentance-------Romans 2:4