OH JOY: BEING REFINED!!!

*GOD'S* people are being refined. We are being transformed. We are being made whole. We are being awakened to our reality. We are being formed into worthy instruments for HIS HOLY use---

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

We have nothing ourselves to plead with God, why he should have mercy upon us. It is for his praise, to the honour of his mercy, to spare. His bringing men into trouble was to do them good. It was to refine them, but not as silver; not so thoroughly as men refine silver. If God should take that course, they are all dross, and, as such, might justly be put away. He takes them as refined in part only. Many have been brought home to God as chosen vessels, and a good work of grace begun in them, in the furnace of affliction. It is comfort to God's people, that God will secure his own honour, therefore work deliverance for them. And if God delivers his people, he cannot be at a loss for instruments to be employed. God has formed a plan, in which, for his own sake, and the glory of his grace, he saves all that come to Him.

1 PETER 1: 7...
so that the authenticity of your faith — more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. 

Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it.

FAITH opens to FAITHFULNESS, in which is found awe, respect, regard, and obedience to THE LORD *GOD*, along with much more, of which LOVE FOR HIM inspires us TO exist according to HIS WILL! We are reared in ways of the world, we are stubborn in these ways, we have a difficult time parting with them, and we just don't readily accept what is good for us, especially if it means changing our ways! Since we are SO stuck in the world, *GOD* IN HIS MIGHTY WAYS, HAS means to CAUSE us to reconsider what we THINK, HOW we act, and react, which means we learn the hard way, for we ARE NOT easy to reach, EVEN when we imagine we know THE TRUTH; and however HE reaches, or teaches us, IS the result of HIS DEEP LOVE for us, and HIS HOPE that we WILL, once, and for all, 'get it', and forever share in HIS GLORY...

We ARE inhabitants of a very troubled realm, and we ARE thrashed about by endless enemies, including our own egocentric pride, and self-inclination, which ALLOW for the rest of the enemies to do their deeds on us! THE LORD IS A FATHER to us, and therefore, HIS AUTHORITY SHALL be known, and exemplified, AS HE forms us INTO OUR REALITY, AS Children of THE MOST HIGH *GOD*! What sense does it make to fantasize that we be left to ourselves when it is obvious without HIS GUIDANCE, we WILL endanger ourselves, and perhaps to the point of no return???

Dysfunctional, we surely are; but THANKS BE TO *GOD*, HE SHALL make us functional, bit by bit, lesson by lesson, and with HIS HOLY SPIRIT, we WILL be refined, transformed, and made whole! HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD WHOSE LOVE IS THAT POWERFUL, THAT SINCERE, and THAT AMAZING!!!

Tests, trials, and tribulations ARE part of our existence on this Earth, and our GROWTH IS TO HIS GLORY, IF we have so aligned to HIM with our heart, mind, and spirit! Suffering TEACHES us, as do all things which work against us, or HIM! This plane IS filled with danger, obstacles, treachery, and anything which MIGHT trip, and trap us, BECAUSE *GOD'S* enemy IS determined to steal every soul, if possible, and he ain't relenting for even a nano-second in his quest! And so, THE LORD WILL employ EVERY means TO safeguard us, instruct us, and strengthen us, THAT we REMAIN IN HIM, and ARE brought home out of the valley of the shadow of death! Remember, death is derived of the carnal, of the flesh; while LIFE is found in the spirit!!!

JEREMIAH 11: 4...
which I commanded your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to My voice, and do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God,' 

God never promised to bestow blessings on his rational creatures, while they persist in willful disobedience. Pardon and acceptance are promised freely to all believers; but no man can be saved who does not obey the command of God to repent, to believe in Christ, to separate from sin and the world, to choose self-denial and newness of life. In general, men will hearken to those who speak of doctrines, promises, and privileges; but when duties are mentioned, they will not bend their ear.

DUTIES TO THE COVENANT, and TO SERVITUDE ARE intrinsic TO BEING Christian! How anyone can deny that we have responsibility TO SALVATION is beyond me! Granted, we CANNOT earn it, but when we proclaim CHRIST JESUS as our LORD, and SAVIOUR, we HAVE given UP the old FOR the new, and we ARE in transition TO becoming whom we REALLY are, according TO THE LORD *GOD*! The distractions, falsehoods, and confusions of this world ARE intended to dissuade us FROM OUR TRUTH, and to shake us loose from FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS! EVERY Christian WILL BE HUMBLED BY *GOD* HIMSELF, it IS one WITH Consecration, and Sanctification! EACH of us WILL be INFORMED of our DUTIES TO HIM AS we become vessels for HIS LOFTY use(s)! We WILL be changed, and we WILL be glad, for we KNOW THE TRUTH, and it DOES set us FREE!!!

1 PETER 4: 12-19..
12+++Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 
13+++But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 
14+++If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 
15+++If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 
16+++However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 
17+++For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 
18+++And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19+++So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

By patience and fortitude in suffering, by dependence on the promises of God, and keeping to the word the Holy Spirit hath revealed, the Holy Spirit is glorified; but by the contempt and reproaches cast upon believers, he is evil spoken of, and is blasphemed. One would think such cautions as these were needless to Christians. But their enemies falsely charged them with foul crimes. And even the best of men need to be warned against the worst of sins. There is no comfort in sufferings, when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. A time of universal calamity was at hand, as foretold by our Saviour, Mt 24:9,10. And if such things befall in this life, how awful will the day of judgment be!  

It is true that the righteous are scarcely saved; even those who endeavour to walk uprightly in the ways of God. This does not mean that the purpose and performance of God are uncertain, but only the great difficulties and hard encounters in the way; that they go through so many temptations and tribulations, so many fightings without and fears within. Yet all outward difficulties would be as nothing, were it not for lusts and corruptions within. These are the worst clogs and troubles.  

And if the way of the righteous be so hard, then how hard shall be the end of the ungodly sinner, who walks in sin with delight, and thinks the righteous is a fool for all his pains! The only way to keep the soul well, is, to commit it to God by prayer, and patient perseverance in well-doing. He will overrule all to the final advantage of the believer.

No doubt about it, we HAVE lots to learn and adhere to, but it is NOT drudgery as many suppose, instead, it IS the JOY, and PEACE of the soul, FOR THE GLORY OF *GOD*, and the sake of TRUTH, which IS eternal, and all provisional, totally opposite of what is worldly; temporal, and negligent, withholding, and empty! PRAISE THE LORD for HIS LOVE, and this time HE HAS GIVEN us TO FIND TRUTH, and TO SHARE IN HIS GLORY FOREVERMORE!!!

LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS