Refining by Fire

Rolling Stone

Refining by Fire

April 7, 2013

What does it mean to be refined by fire?

• Psalm 12:6

• Prov. 17:3

• Prov. 25:4-5

Purpose: To discover how to become sanctified/purified for the purpose of glorifying God through corporate methods

Goal: That each couple would spiritually mature through knowing what spiritual leadership in marriage looks like and how to implement it in our marriages daily.

Motivation: Why would we want to obey God?/ What could motivate us to become like Christ?

1. John 14:15,21 (desire to please God and express our love)

2. Rom. 13:5, 1 Tim. 1:5,19, 2 Tim. 1:3, 1 Peter 3:16 (to keep a clear conscience before God)

3. 2 Tim 2:20-21 (increased effectiveness as a vessel for God’s use)

4. 1 Peter 3:1-2,15-16 (bring unbelievers to Christ)

5. 1 Peter 3:9-12 (present blessings)

6. Acts 5:11, 9:31; 2 Cor. 5:11, 7:1; Eph. 4:30; Phil. 2:12; 1Tim 5:20; Heb. 12:3-11; 1 Peter 1:17,2:17 (to avoid God’s displeasure and discipline on our lives/fear of God)

7. Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 19:17-19; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:9-10 (heavenly reward)

8. Matt. 5:8; John 14:21; 1 John 1:6, 3:21-22; Ps. 66:18; Isa. 59:2 (deeper walk with God)

9. 1 Tim. 5:21; 1 Peter 1:12 (angels will glorify God for our obedience)

10. Phil. 4:9, Heb. 12:1-2 (peace and joy in our lives)

11. Phil. 4:8, Ps. 40:8 (do what God commands, simply because his commands are right and we delight in doing what is right)

(Derived from Grudem’s Systematic Theology)

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.” – C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (quoted in Desiring God by John Piper)

Sanctification can be a Corporate Process

• Heb. 10:24-26

• 1 Peter 2:5

• 1 Thess. 5:11

• Eph. 4:1-3, 16

• Gal. 5:19-23, 6:1-2

What are some ways that married couples can join together to be refined into the image of Christ to the glory of God the Father?

Anwswer: this will be the topic for the next 6-8 weeks as we look at ways we can become refined into Christ’s image through our marriages.