There is a Blessing In the Refining Fire

Messing delivered at Fervent Prayer Church, Indianapolis.

Mark 9:49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

In our text, Jesus said that everyone will be seasoned by fire. Then he said that every offering will be seasoned with salt. The last thing he said in the text was, “Have salt in ourselves and peace with one another.” Let’s understand these words in context before we proceed. Let’s look at first Peter

1 Peter 1:6, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7] that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8] whom having not seen you love.

In the Bible, there are basically three types of fire:
1, There is the fire of adverse circumstances
2. There is consuming fire
3. There is refining fire

We need to resist the fire of adverse circumstances,
We need to avoid God's consuming fire,
We need to embrace God's refining fire.

Notice in this text what is most important. Many times we are only focused on the heat and pressure of our trials and tests, but we are not looking at God’s intended outcome.

Verse 7: that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

We know Peter is not talking about a consuming fire because the text says, “Tested by fire.” God’s consuming fire does not come to test, but to judge, consume and destroy. Our focus needs to be on the quality of our faith which is more valuable to you than money and gold. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Too many of us are consumed with fear, doubt, and constant conflict in our relationships. Sometime people are speaking everything other than faith over our relationships

I suggest in our text that Jesus is talking about refining fire. What happens when you put fire on different types of items? as Paul said, would he and stubble or burned up. Precious stones, gold, are refined and made better.