GOD, The Divine Refiner
God wants to refine us.
Rev 3:18-21
18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
1. To what strange experience of the righteous does the psalmist draw attention?
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Psalm 34:19.
2. For what valuable purpose are trials permitted?
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48: 10.
3. By what other illustration does Jesus reveal the purpose of trials?
“Every branch in Me that bears not fruit, He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2.
4. For what reason was Paul given a “thorn in the flesh”?
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.” 2 Corinthians 12: 7.
5. Until he understood this how earnestly did he plead for release from his affliction?
“For this thing I besought the Lord ‘thrice, that it might depart from me.” 2 Corinthians 12: 8.
6. What reply did Paul receive from the Lord?
“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9.
7. When he saw that it was for his good, how resigned was he to his affliction?
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
8. What other salutary effect do trials have upon the heart?
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works Patience.” James 1:3.
9. In whose experience is this strikingly illustrated?
“You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11.
10. How resigned was Job to his affliction?
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Job 13: 15.
11. What confidence had he as to the outcome?
“But He knows the way that I take when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job
23:10,12.
12. What did Jesus learn through suffering?
“Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8.
13. What will trials also produce in the believer’s experience?
“Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:11.
14. To what exalted experience was Jesus raised through suffering?
“For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation Perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 2:10.
15. What will be the effect in us of trials patiently borne?
“But the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10. .
16. How then should we relate ourselves to the testing of our faith?
a. Not question. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21.
b. Endure in patience. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12.
17. Of whose sympathy may we be assured in trial?
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.
18. What does Jesus also extend to the afflicted?
a. Understanding sympathy. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.
b. Loving aid. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” Luke 22:31,32.
19. What control does God exercise over the trials which He permits us to pass through?
“When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walked through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2.
20. Of what, therefore may we be confident?
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
21. What will be their glorious outcome?
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7.
22. By what were Christ’s sufferings crowned?
“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” Luke 24:26.
23. How will the patient endurance of the saints be rewarded when Jesus comes?
“Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.” James 1:12.
Rev 3:18-21
18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
1. To what strange experience of the righteous does the psalmist draw attention?
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Psalm 34:19.
2. For what valuable purpose are trials permitted?
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48: 10.
3. By what other illustration does Jesus reveal the purpose of trials?
“Every branch in Me that bears not fruit, He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2.
4. For what reason was Paul given a “thorn in the flesh”?
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.” 2 Corinthians 12: 7.
5. Until he understood this how earnestly did he plead for release from his affliction?
“For this thing I besought the Lord ‘thrice, that it might depart from me.” 2 Corinthians 12: 8.
6. What reply did Paul receive from the Lord?
“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9.
7. When he saw that it was for his good, how resigned was he to his affliction?
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
8. What other salutary effect do trials have upon the heart?
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works Patience.” James 1:3.
9. In whose experience is this strikingly illustrated?
“You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11.
10. How resigned was Job to his affliction?
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Job 13: 15.
11. What confidence had he as to the outcome?
“But He knows the way that I take when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job
23:10,12.
12. What did Jesus learn through suffering?
“Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8.
13. What will trials also produce in the believer’s experience?
“Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:11.
14. To what exalted experience was Jesus raised through suffering?
“For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation Perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 2:10.
15. What will be the effect in us of trials patiently borne?
“But the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10. .
16. How then should we relate ourselves to the testing of our faith?
a. Not question. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21.
b. Endure in patience. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12.
17. Of whose sympathy may we be assured in trial?
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.
18. What does Jesus also extend to the afflicted?
a. Understanding sympathy. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.
b. Loving aid. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” Luke 22:31,32.
19. What control does God exercise over the trials which He permits us to pass through?
“When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walked through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2.
20. Of what, therefore may we be confident?
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
21. What will be their glorious outcome?
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7.
22. By what were Christ’s sufferings crowned?
“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” Luke 24:26.
23. How will the patient endurance of the saints be rewarded when Jesus comes?
“Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.” James 1:12.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Tuesday, May 24, 2005
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