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.
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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.