“But who can bear the day of his coming? Who can resist when he appears? Because he will be like a purifying fire or laundry soap.” Malachi 3:2
Experiencing God’s refining fire is very difficult, but it is a necessary part of life. As we grow in our prayer life, God subdues our carnal life in a deeper way. Stripping the soul of its power is not easy, but we need it if God wants to bring resurrection life through us. He must allow brokenness to remove our fleshly strength and our selfish ways of handling life. We all know how difficult this can be. Our hearts may not give up in certain areas, and difficulties will lead us to a deeper surrender to God’s ways.
What is refining fire?
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Malachi teaches us that “Christ by his gospel will purify and reform his church, and by his Spirit working in it he will regenerate and cleanse particular souls; for to this end he gave himself up for the church, to sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26) and to purify for himself a people of his own, Titus 2:14 Christ is the great purifier.
He will purify you with fire, as gold and silver are purified, because he baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Mt. 3:11), with the Holy Spirit acting as fire. He will purify you in afflictions and in sorrows. multiple temptations, so that you will find the test of your faith. to praise and honor. He will purify them to make them a precious people to himself. (Matthew Henry’s Complete Bible Commentary)
Suffering is perhaps the fastest way to grow spiritually. Most of us would testify that our moments of greatest spiritual growth have been when we were in the heat of trials and difficulties. The key to suffering is to handle it correctly when it comes.
I remember being sick for two weeks with the flu. Like all of you, I hate the disease. But God used it to take me to a deeper level of brokenness. I wanted to grow in my understanding of God, so during that time I asked him, “What do you want to teach me? How can I grow in this time of suffering?”
For God to instruct us in His ways, He allows His fire to consume us. This fire makes us more dead to ourselves so that He can live more fully through us. The disease was hard for me, but I believe that in the end God used it for my benefit. The difficult circumstances he faces, if he handles them well, will make him a winner in the end.
It is never easy to go through difficulties because we have to fight to achieve a different understanding of God. I had been reading the book of Job. He was upright and upright, and terrible trials struck his life and that of his family. Imagine losing almost everything! Job survived this ordeal and never gave up his faith or trust in God.
If we follow his example, we too can persevere until our deliverance comes. God did not immediately answer Job’s prayers. He was in the refining fire of difficulty for a long time. But in the end, God blessed Job in a way greater than anyone could imagine. Sometimes we are faced with unanswered prayers and persistent trials when God chooses to refine our character. He wants to take us higher in resurrection power, faith, and fruitfulness. These are the ways of God.
Why does God allow purifying fire?
“Count it all joy, my brethren, when you find yourself in various trials, knowing that the trial of your faith produces patience. But have patience with his complete work, so that you may be perfect and complete, without lacking anything. (James 1:2-4).
You may be in a trying time right now. You have unanswered questions. You can’t see your way through. The trial may seem like it will never end. You ask, “Why does God let me go through this fire?” Let’s look at some reasons why:
- God lets us go through the fire to prepare us for His plan and purposes for our lives – We are now in a process of growth because God knows what He will do through our lives. Many times God allows trials to produce in us greater maturity and fruitfulness. Suffering is a necessary part of life. We cannot become like Christ without it. God’s first priority is to make us fruitful, not comfortable. Whatever you are going through has a positive purpose in your life if you handle it correctly. God is personalizing your problems to help you move forward in his design for your life. He wants to take you to a place of abundance.
“He came down from above and grabbed me; she brought me up out of deep water… she brought me up into a spacious place; she rescued me because she took pleasure in me” (Psalm 18:16, 19).
- God is holy, and nothing sinful can survive the fire of His presence – He burns what is unholy in our lives so that we may be purified in His presence. This fire includes pain, loss of control, intense pressure, and change. God is jealous of our hearts and he wants us for himself. If you feel the purifying fire from him, count it all joy because God is developing your life with a purpose. You are being taken to a place of greater intimacy and knowledge of Him.
“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24).
- God is producing a character in our lives that is worth more than gold – The gold that God is developing in our lives is a refined character. It is a purified faith. Gold refers to the nature of Christ and not to great ministries or any of man’s ideas of success. In times of crisis, God wants us to fix our focus on Him and meet Him in adversity. Take this opportunity to develop a godly character. Let his faith be tested and stretched. He perseveres and endures tribulation. Embrace the refining fire of God with expectation. Hold on to the truth that you will come out like gold.
“When he has tested us, I will come out like gold” (Job 23:20).
- Bigger than my ordeal with the flu was my ordeal with breast cancer many years ago. Over the course of two years, I had six operations. Four of these surgeries did not go well. At one point, one of my surgeons thought the cancer had returned and required another surgery only to find out it was a small hernia. At another time, tests showed that he might have another type of cancer. I learned over time to be grateful, but the whole ordeal was a long ordeal. I had at least seven different doctors and numerous office visits! At certain points along this journey, I asked myself, “Why am I going through all these unnecessary surgeries? It seems so useless.”
But as time went on, I realized very clearly that God was doing something deep inside of me. He was refining my character and developing my faith. He needed to handle the test correctly and respond well.
Now I thank God for this experience with a grateful heart. I thank God for how brokenness has taught me. I have received gold. God has used this in my spiritual development and in the depth of my ministry.
If you are personally experiencing the cleansing fire, do not give up. God has a purpose in everything you are going through. He is developing your faith and your character. He is worth much more than gold. He will bring you forward in his time and make you an overcomer.
“In this you rejoice much, although now, for a little while, you may have had to suffer sadness in all kinds of trials. . These have come so that your faith, which is more valuable than gold, which perishes even if refined by fire, may be true and result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:6-7).
Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC)
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org