Malachi 3:2-4 (NLT) 2 “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. 3 He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD.
Romans 8:29 (NIV) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…
How are we refined?
1- The Gospel
2- The Presence of the Holy Spirit(Jn 16)
3- Trails/Tests(Jam 1:2-4, 1 Pet 1:6-7)
4- Judgement.
2 Judgements
1st Judgment: Great White Throne Judgement (Rev 20:11-15 )
Based on Righteousness.
Romans 8:1 No condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2nd Judgment- The Judgement seat of Christ.
Judgement: (Krima) A decision resulting from an investigation.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Matthew 12:36 (NLT) And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 (NLT) 13 On the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
The purpose is not punishment, the purpose is reward.
Mindsets that Enlarge in our Eternal perspective
“Heaven is not the finish line it's the starting line!”
1-He Is a Rewarder
(Genesis 15:1)
Revelation 22:12 (NLT) “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.
Full Reward /Partial reward
2 John 1:8 (NLT) Watch out that you do not lose what we(You) have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
“Our prayer is on earth as it is in heaven our reward will be in heaven how it was on the earth.”
2. He sees.
Matthew 6:4 (NIV) Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Ephesians 6:7-8 (NLT) 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do.
“Stop measuring success by the temporary”
3. Invest now.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT) 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
________
1 Peter 1:17-20 (NLT)
17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.
Exodus 13:21-22 (NLT) 21 The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 22 And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
A. The Could: The Glory of God.
B. The Pillar of Fire:
Psalm 105:39 (NLT) The LORD spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
“The Holy Spirit is the pillar of God’s leadership in our life.”
John 16:5-16 (NIV) 5I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. 16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
Parakletos: Advocate, Counselor. Comforter, Helper.
The Holy Spirit’s Leadership
1. Calms us down
Comforter: During the cold desert nights.
2. Confirms our identity
Romans 8:14-16 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
3. Confronts our sin
God fathers us with correction.
Hebrews 12:8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
“Correction does not condemn our identity it confirms it.”
Proverbs 12:1 To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire.
4. Counsels us
John 14:26 The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind* you of everything I have said to you.
(hü-po-mēm-nā’-skō) Quietly remind: remnant residue(a substance) being brought to remembrance
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth
4. Closeness
Exodus 13:22 And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
John 14:17-18 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.