Refiner's Fire
Revelation 19:4-9 [NASB], And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And a voice came from the throne, saying “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 19:7 [NASB], “…and His bride has PREPARED herself.”
Ephesians 5:25-27 [ESV], …Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Malachi 3:2-3 [NKJV], “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launders’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver…”
Psalm 77:6 [NKJV], My spirit makes diligent search.
Psalm 139:23-24 [NLT], Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
1. The Searching Process
Matthew 5:23-24 [NLT], “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”
2. The Process of Repentance
“I am not thinking of repenting from sins like lying, fornication, stealing, cursing, pornography, hatred, drunkenness, or not tithing. Those sins are so obvious that you don’t even need the conviction of the Holy Spirit to know you’re in disobedience. God’s word regarding those sins is blatantly clear. Sincerity and a clear conscience doesn’t even begin until we deal with these kinds of outward sins. No, I am not talking about obvious sins…I am talking about repenting from our iniquities. Iniquities are the hidden faults that we don’t see, the wicked residue of our fallen nature that discolors the fabric of our thoughts, motives, feelings, responses, and desires. Iniquities are wrapped up in much more subtle areas of sinfulness, such as pride, rebellion, unbelief, envy, selfishness, ambition, and covetousness. We all have hidden pockets of iniquity, and we need God’s help to see them. You can’t repent of something you don’t see, so God will help you to see them.” —Bob Sorge
2 Corinthians 11:2 [TPT], You need to know that God’s passion [godly jealousy] is burning inside me for you, because, like a loving father, I have pledged your hand in marriage to Christ, your true bridegroom. I’ve also promised that I would present His fiancee to Him as a pure virgin bride.