Text:
Isaiah 48:10:
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Theme:
All The Better For It
Introduction:
- The Book of Isaiah is the first of the books of major prophecy in the Old Testament and are written, of course, by the prophet Isaiah, sometimes referred to as “Esaias” in the New Testament.
- The book is divided into three sections:
- The first section (35 chapters) is purely prophetic and written during the Assyrian threat.
- The second section (4 chapters) is historical and reflective of the life and times of King Hezekiah.
- The third section (27 chapters) is once again prophetic and written during the Babylonian threat.
- The book has 66 chapters, the same number of chapter as books in the Biblical canon.
- 39 chapters in the first two sections — the same number of books in the Old Testament.
- 27 chapters in the third section — the same number of book in the New Testament.
- The book is divided into three sections:
- This chapter and passage in Isaiah reflect Israel’s reproval or warning for their idolatry. They have to be punished!
- God sees our sin!
- Psalms 139:16, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
- God can forgive us of our sin
- 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
- God’s forgiveness does not erase the consequences of our sin
- Jeremiah 46:28, “Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.”
- God sees our sin!
- Even though the children of Israel have to endure punishment, they are ALL THE BETTER FOR IT!
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
- In the face of affliction, we also have the assurance that regardless of the experience, we can be ALL THE BETTER FOR IT!!
Body:
- “I have refined thee” – God REFINES us!
- We are REFINED, SANCTIFIED through God’s Word, Will, and Way!
- Psalms 18:30, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”
- John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
- We just have to LET God do it! HE WILL!!!!
- 1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But He doesn’t stop there….
- Romans 8:15, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” But He doesn’t stop there….
- Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
- We are REFINED, SANCTIFIED through God’s Word, Will, and Way!
- “but not with silver” – God refines us through UNCOMFORTABLE means!
- It ain’t supposed to be easy!
- But don’t worry…Luke 12:22, “And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”
- We have to SUFFER — The Theology of Suffering
- 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
- The suffering of this world is not OF GOD but for the Christian is FOR GOD.
- The Bible teaches that we must be IN the world but NOT OF the world.
- As it says in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- And in 1John 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
- Jesus promises that we will suffer.
- As he warns in Luke 12:59, “I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.”
- There is no reward until the price of suffering has been paid.
- Suffering for Christ is as essential as believing on Him.
- Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”
- Suffering is the Christian’s means of identifying with Christ and being joint-heirs with Him
- Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
- Suffering now is nothing compared to the Glory attained later
- Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
- As David said in Psalm 119:50, “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”
- God is present in the midst of suffering to help us through
- 1Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
- It ain’t supposed to be easy!
- “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” – God has chosen us to suffer!
- We are chosen to SUFFER!
- Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
- Our suffering will make us ALL THE BETTER FOR IT!
- 1Peter 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.”
- In Jesus we have an advocate whose POWER is manifested in us during our weakness
- 2Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
- We are chosen to SUFFER!
Conclusion:
- I have JOY through my affliction!
- 2Corinthians 12:10, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
- Nehemiah 8:10, “…neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
- I can have JOY! In spite of…
- Enemies
- Take advantage of the Christian, non-violent, stance
- Save all “good deeds” to be done by the Christians
- Taking frustration/anger/malice/resentment out on the innocent Christian who happens to be present
- Friends
- Always come to Christian for resources (help)
- Take the feelings of the Christian for granted
- “They’ll be alright!”
- “They can take it!”
- “They’ll understand!”
- Taking frustration/anger/malice/resentment out on the innocent Christian who happens to be present
- Family
- Expectations of the Christian unfairly higher than others (resources)
- Christian expected to be the “priest” for the rest of the family
- Represent them before God 🙂
- Allow them to have “confession” with you whenever you see them
- Criticism for being a “Jesus-Freak”
- Taking frustration/anger/malice/resentment out on the innocent Christian who happens to be present
- Church-folk
- If you are too cooperative with Church-folk, you will be confronted with every task that comes along.
- Will talk about your business to avoid conversation going to their business
- Taking frustration/anger/malice/resentment out on the innocent Christian who happens to be present
- Enemies
- I can have JOY! In spite of…
- I ain’t worried ‘cause as the hymn says:
You can talk about me
as much as you please,
but I am gonna talk about you
down on my knees!
- The more you try to tear me down, the more He lifts me up!!!
- As Jesus said in John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
I am ALL THE BETTER FOR IT!!!
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