The Furnace | Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx | Notes
Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx
Overflow Church

Sermon
Toolkit

The Furnace- Refine Reward

edge

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.

The Furnace- Moldable

edge

Moldable

Staying Moldable:
1. Keep moving

2. Keep learning
James 1:2-5 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (ESV)

Psalms 25:4-5 Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. (NLT)

“When you are through learning, you are through.” - John Maxwell

3. Recover Quickly

4. Stay Hot (in his hands).
Revelation 3:5-6 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

John 10:22-30
22At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, a is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

1 Peter 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


The Furnace- The Pillar of Fire

edgeExodus 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.


The Furnace- The Fire of Calling

edgeExodus 3:1-10 (NLT) 1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4 When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. 5 “Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”


GOD’S CALLING
1. God calls us in:
Relationship
John 6:44 (NIV) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.
Draws:
(gk. Helkyo) To drag literally and figuratively
You can
respond or resist but the tension of that process is up to you.
John 16:8 (NLT) When he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
Mark 3:14 (NKJV) Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.
2. God calls us up. Consecration
The old covenant says you can’t come closer because of your sin, the new covenant says you must come closer because of Christ’s love.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV) 13 Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”

3. God calls us to. Assignment.

4 ways to recognizing your calling.
Often times we don't find a calling the calling finds us.
1. What do you think that is?
2. What is in your heart?
3. What is your motivation?
4. Is it bigger than you?

Just like us, Moses Argues with God
1. We make it about us.(Exodus 3:11-12)
We say “Who am I? God says who do you say “I AM.”

2. We make it about the opinions of others.(Exodus 4:1)
3.
We make it about our skills.(Exodus 4:10)
Our calling has nothing to do with ability but our availability.

God simply wants our yes.
Romans 11:29 (NIV) God's gifts and his call are irrevocable
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NLT) 4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant.

The Furnace- Baptism of Fire


edge
Matthew 3:11 (NIV) "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Acts 1:4-8 (NIV) 4 "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:14 (NIV) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.

Pentecost speaks of a second experience in the journey of God’s people.
Acts 19:2 (NIV) "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

MORE

1. More tangibles
2. More fervency & passion
3. More courage & boldness Acts 4:31 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (See also Acts 4:12)

4. More Power

  • “The baptism of fire is not to simply enhance our experience to but to maximize our effectiveness.”

2 Greek words for Power.(as many as 9)
1.
Exouisia- Authority-rights

John 1:12 (NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
2. Dynamis: Ability: demonstration.
Acts 1:8
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power
-
Power to BE A witness.
-
Power to overcome.
-
Power to function like Jesus.
John 14:12 (NIV)
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Acts 10:38 (NIV) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit
and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.


How to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit 1- Open your heart
2- Ask, Seek & Knock!
Luke 11:13 Your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
3- Receive
Psalms 81:10 Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it…

Close:
Acts 19:2 (NIV)
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

The Furnace- Incubators


edge


1 Samuel 1:7-20 7 Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. 8 “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” 9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.” 12 As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” 15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” 17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” 18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. 19 The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the LORD once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD remembered her plea, 20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.”

1 Samuel 3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.


There is always “Mother” in the midst OF Gods plan.

Mothering/Nurturing God’s Desires

John 3:3-6 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.


1. Fertilization
Despise not small moments.
Matthew 13:31-32 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

2. Cultivation
“Our job is not to produce the seed . Our Job is to stay in & incubate the process.”

A. Maturity
B. Flexibility
You can bend or you can bust.
He is not just growing his desire, he is growing you!

C. Expectantly & actively getting ready!


3. Fruition
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

The Furnace- Zeal For The House


edge


“God is a consuming fire. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of fire. Jesus said, "I've come to bring fire on earth." There is no escaping fire” -Leonard Ravenhill


John 2:13-17 (NIV) 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Matthew 21:13 (NLT)
“My Temple/House will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

Zeal FOR the House
John 2:17
(NIV) His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Zeal: gk: zhlo" (zelos): excitement of mind | fervor of spirit.

“God burns with deep desire for what is his!”

Zechariah 8:2 (NIV)This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

He wants us to reflect his desires.

Matthew 22:37 (NLT)“‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
Proverbs 20:27(NIV) The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD.

Leviticus 6:12-13 (NIV) 12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

Keep the fire burning
1. Obedience: Serving the Lord
Romans 12:11 (NIV) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

2. Fellowship: Spending time with Him.
Fellowship with God ministers to God.
Our heart is fueled when we fuel his.”