“I’m Going Fishing”
We are a creature that has been given the ability to make decisions based upon choices and not just a reaction or impulse that is solely based upon instinct and because of this ability when we finally figure out what it is we want, we set out to achieve that which we desire. Often times no matter how hard we try, no matter if we pour every fiber of our being into it all we find are obstacles, skeptism, doubt, discouragement, and disappointment. However we must realize that these are essential moments in our lives and without them our purpose would be empty and insufficient. We must understand that in order to achieve that which we have purposed in our lives, that these obstacles are not a hindrance or determent but are in fact part of the process to bring us to the completed results that is desired.
John 21:1-7 & 14
I’m going fishing. It doesn’t matter if you are a fishing master or if you have never gone fishing before in your life, it doesn’t matter if you are trying for bass, catfish, or that big marlin, before you are able to catch any fish there is a process that you must first go through. It doesn’t matter how bad you think you are, if you don’t go through the process you will never catch a fish, you may tell fish stories, but unless you go through the process you’ll never catch the fish. You must first have a rod & reel, it is the necessary equipment in order to catch the fish, after you have the rod and reel you must have the proper bait, I have never been deep sea fishing, but I know that in order to catch different types of fish you use different types of bait, for bass they will go after something shinny and a cat fish will go after something that smells bad, to catch a marlin I’m sure you would need something other that a night crawler on the end of your line, so depending on the type of fish you are trying to catch you must have the proper bait. After you have your rod & reel and the proper bait you must cast you line into the water, unless you cast into the water you are not going to catch a fish. All of this is done in preparation in order to catch a fish this is the process that you must do in order to catch a fish. Life in general is a process we go to school to get an education in order that we may have a good job to make a decent amount of money to bring us to the point that we will be able to enjoy our lives, it’s a process.
A process is something that is marked by gradual changes that leads to a particular result, a series of actions or operations directed toward a particular outcome, it is the steps in doing something that will bring you to a completed result. The instruction on the side of a cake box tell you the process you must go through that will bring you to a completed result the cake. The instruction in the box for that bookcase or for that bike are the steps or the process you must do in order to come to the completed result. Many of us are like the commercial on television, it’s a beer commercial with the bear, the guys are putting something together the one guy says were are the instructions the bear says who needs instruction I know what I am doing and he does it his way, he finally finishes and is sitting in a chair that has a lever on it that when he pushes the lever a bottle of beer rolls from a cooler over his head down a ramp until it is right in his reach, pretty soon the guys wife comes home and the man says well honey what do you think, she says o.k. but where is the bookcase, because they did it their way and not the way the instructions said it should be done they came up with something other than what it was purposed for. WHY because they did it their way, I’m going fishing.
It’s the same way in the spiritual, in order to catch what God has for you, in order to become what God has purposed for you to be you must go through a divine process a process of spiritual preparation, in other words you must follow the instructions. You must become prepared to handle what God is getting ready to do. The divine process of spiritual preparation is to bring you to the completed result. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which will bring you to the completed result everlasting life. It’s a process. Before you can truly take communion there is a process that you must go through; you must examine yourself and make sure there is nothing ungodly that is hindering you from partaking in communion, if you find something or even if you think your brother has something against you, you must correct that first in order to get to the completed result of communion with God and not bring damnation to your soul. We sing a song sometimes that says “When I see Jesus Amen all my trials will be over when I see Jesus Amen”. No more heartaches, no more disappointments, no more sadness, no more sickness when I see Jesus Amen. We sing that song with such tenacity and vigor, because we know that when it’s all over I’m going to see Jesus Amen, but before we get to that point were we see Jesus and are able to say Amen, there is a process that we first must go through.
A boxer doesn’t get into the ring without first preparing for the fight. There is a process he must go through to prepare himself for what is to come. In the spiritual we must go through the divine process of spiritual preparation in order to handle what is about to come. That thing that you have been praying for Prepare yourself for it.
Many people are not prepared for what is to come and because of their unprepared ness miss out on catching what God has for them. Often times God gives a gallon blessing but we are standing there with a tea cup trying to receive what God is giving, we are not prepared to receive what God is giving, sure we get some of the blessing but we let all the rest of the blessings get away because we are not prepared, then we find ourselves telling spiritual fish stories about the ones that got away because we were unprepared to catch what God had to give. Look at somebody and say, “I’m going fishing”
The disciples had to go through a divine process of spiritual preparation in order to become fishers of men.
We find in our text in verse #1 the Bible says “After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias and on this wise showed he himself.”
Understand this is after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus had already appeared to the disciple once in 20:19-23 the Bible says “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”
But Thomas was not there with them when Jesus came. Then in verse 26 of the 20th chapter the Bible says “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.” The number 8 means a new beginning. After 8 days Jesus appeared before them again or the 2nd time the number 2 represents division, the number 8 represents new beginning. When Jesus appeared the 2nd time on the 8th day it represents dividing the old things from the new things, the Old Testament from the New Testament, the Law from the Promise, Jesus was showing them a new beginning, all the things that they had seen, experienced, gone through and learned up to this point was all part of the process to get them to a new beginning and Thomas was with them and Jesus said unto Thomas “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side and be not faithless, but believing and Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God and Jesus said unto him Thomas because thou hast seen me thou believed, blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed”. And Jesus performed many signs in the presence of his disciples after he did these things he manifested himself at the sea of Tiberias, but all the disciples were not there with him at the sea of Tiberias.
Verse #2 says “There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples”. This totals 7, we know that 7 is God’s number it represents “spiritual completeness and spiritual perfection.” it is the most mentioned number in the Bible. So we see we have here 7 disciples.
There is something that you need to understand about the order of theses disciples mentioned here in verse #2. Understand that God always operates in a Divine Order. We are familiar with the mentioning of Peter, James, and John the Bible often speaks about Peter, James, and John. Jesus took Peter, James, and John, on the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, when Jarisus daughter died he took Peter, James and John. Why is it that at one point there are 70, then 12 are chosen, but mostly only 3 are able to go different places, yet there is only one that is said to be the disciple that Jesus loved, it’s a Divine Order. Many people would try to argue that Peter, James, and John were Jesus favorites and say I thought God doesn’t have respecter of person because they fail to understand exactly what Peter, James, and John represented they fail to understand the purpose and the process, because they fail to understand the Divine Order. I’m going fishing.
WATCH THIS: Peter represents FAITH. We often talk about Peter and say he sank in the sea of Galilee, he denied Jesus 3 times, he was quick tempered, yet in still he is the representation of FAITH because he was the only one to get out of the boat and walked on the water, even though he sank it took FAITH to get out of the boat in the first place. When Jesus asked whom do men say that I the son of man am, the popular belief according to society was that he was the reincarnation of John the Baptist, Isaiah or one of the prophets, but Peter said “Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God”, that took FAITH because he had to go contrary to what was popular. Many people will be on the bandwagon when things are popular but TRUE FAITH is being able to stand when it’s not popular anymore. That’s what Jesus was talking about when he said upon this rock I build my Church, not on Peter, but upon the solid foundation of faith. We know what the Bible says in Hebrews 11: 1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”; I like this description of faith. Faith is standing at the break of darkness and you don’t know if the next step you take will through you off a cliff or not, faith is believing that at that precise moment that God will give you something solid to stand on or give you the ability to fly. Faith recognizes our limitations and releases us to walk into the limitless resources of God. Peter represents faith WHY because he realized his limitations and began to walk in the limitless resources of God.
James and John, they were brothers, the sons of Zebedee. Whenever you read of them in the Bible it always mentions both of them. You never read about just John or just James, even when it talks about their deaths it mentions them together. The reason they are mentioned together is because of what they represented. In the Bible there are two things that always go together, you have one because of the other and that is goodness and mercy.
WATCH THIS: Wherever faith goes goodness and mercy follows, for the Bible says in Psalm 23 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, WHY, because I had faith to believe that the Lord is my shepherd, I have faith to believe that I don’t have to want for anything because I have faith in the Lord my shepherd and because I have faith goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. That’s why you hear so much about Peter, James, and John, because to be with Jesus requires faith, to be in his presence requires faith and when you have faith goodness and mercy automatically will follow. When Jarius’ daughter died he suffered no man to follow him save Peter, James, and John, Why because Jesus was about to do a great miracle, but it was going to take faith on the part of Jarius and his wife and because of their faith they were going to receive God’s goodness and mercy. That’s why we hear so much about Peter, James, and John. FAITH GOODNESS & MERCY 3, 3 is the second most mentioned number in the Bible, 3 speaks of solidity it is the symbol of fullness. It denotes Divine testimony. It represents the 3 manifestations of God. REMEMBER THAT. Faith, Goodness, & Mercy.
So that’s why we read so much about Peter, James, and John because of what they represented. But in 21:2 it’s different it is Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. We have established that there were 7 and that 7 is God’s number it represents “spiritual completeness and spiritual perfection” so we know by that, that there is going to be a perfect completeness with these 7 at the sea of Tiberias, because of the number 7, but they had to go through the process, because unless they went through the process they would not have come to the completed result, so lets look at the line up.
We know Peter means faith, but he is called here Simon Peter, this is for a reason, he is getting ready to go through a process of divine preparation. God was about to impart to him and the other disciple something that would literally catapult them into another spiritual level, it would bring them into a new beginning, but they had to be prepared to be able to handle what was about to come.
Simon Peter, Simon was his given name or his carnal name for he was Simon the son of Jonah, that is what is meant by Simon bar Jonah, Simon son of Jonah. Peter is his spiritual name, it is the name he is called after his transformation, his experience with Christ. He is called here Simon Peter because he is literally struggling with the human nature Simon and the spiritual nature Peter, he is living out Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”.
Jesus had been crucified; Peter denied him 3 times, the number 3 means fullness and solidity, so it was a complete and solid denial of Jesus on Peter’s part. Yet here is the risen Jesus now in a glorified body manifesting himself in his presence. Peter, who represents faith, is struggling with the concept that he has failed. He was at a point were he had to reconcile his faith with his current circumstances. No doubt in his mind he is remembering when Jesus said that the devil desires to have you that he may sift you as wheat, he is probably saying boy I really messed up now, he no doubt felt that he was not worthy to be in the presence of the Lord after all that he had done, his foot didn’t almost slipped, he fell in and made a big splash, but he failed to understand that a just man falleth 7 times and riseth up again, no doubt he was remembering the cross and the crucified savor and all the things that Jesus suffered, he probably felt like the scum of the earth and in his mind said what would Jesus have to do with me. That is the fight of every child of God in here; we all must reconcile, at some point in our Christian life, our circumstances with our faith. Regardless of what level you are in God, when you walk with God you have to reconcile what I’m seeing with what I believe. If I didn’t at some point reconcile what I am seeing with what I believe I would literally go out of my mind cause I would have no hope, my current circumstances would literally overwhelm and I wouldn’t be able to realize that a change has to come or that I was going through a process and I would loose my natural mind. Anybody ever felt like that. Let me tell you something the cross didn’t happen to make you feel bad the cross happened to make you feel good.
Then we have Thomas not a lot is spoken about Thomas other than how he doubted the resurrection of Jesus and said unless he could see for himself he would not believe. Thomas is called Didymus, which is the Greek word for twin. There is something about twins and it not so much what they do but what society makes them feel. When you have twins one is mostly always called by their name, they are the more out going and assertive one so they are called by their name the other is just often times called twin. They are made to feel as though they don’t have their own identity, they are made to feel inferior and incomplete without the other one. They are compared to the other one because they possess the looks as their twin, but their personality is different, that’s why psychologist and psychiatrist say if you have twins don’t always dress them alike, don’t always get them the same gifts because they are different people with different personalities, but Thomas is called Didymus (TWIN) he is made to feel less important and incomplete and in 20:25 “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” It was his way of getting the respect for himself, although he is known as doubting Thomas it was his way of getting some much needed respect and acknowledgement. Anybody ever wanted just a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Then we have Nathanael. Nathanael represents the rest of the world, he was the man that said “Can anything good come out of Nazareth”. He was full of skepticism, because what he saw wasn’t all glitz and glitter, it didn’t have flash and pizzazz, because it didn’t fit into the so-called norm of society he didn’t really want anything to do with it. How many times have you heard someone say how can you have fun being saved you can’t do anything, you can’t go anywhere that is just boring, baby that’s a Nathanael spirit
Then you have the sons of Zebedee that represented goodness and mercy and two other disciples, which made 7.
In verse 3 Simon Peter said, “I go a fishing”. In the Greek this literally means I’m going back to what I used to do. He is struggling with the spirit and the flesh and in his mind says I can’t go on, the battle is to strong, I’m giving up, and I’m going back to what was comfortable. He was in that place between realizing what God has promised and apprehending that that He has promised.
Many times in this Christian walk we want to go to another level, but when we get out there to get to that level we find that in order to get there that there is a process and that process is not always a comfortable place and we revert back to what we used to do because it is comfortable. That’s why so many times you see church folk for a month or two months be on fire for God then it’s like out of no where they just stop WHY because they went back to what was comfortable. Baby let me tell you that the divine process of God will stretch you in every different way at the same time, it will cause you to become uncomfortable because it is going against what is considered normal to your flesh, but yet in still its getting you ready for what is to come. I remember in the Army we had what is called MRE’s meal ready to eat and you would have to do what is called kneed it and you would smash it, twist it, roll your Kevlar helmet over just to get it ready to be used. It was the process that we had to do in order to be able to eat what was given to us. The Divine Process of Spiritual Preparation is getting you ready to eat what God has given you, but you must go through the process.
WATCH THIS:You use to come to church just on Sunday morning, but one day you said you wanted to be a vessel God could use, you stood up and gave that preachamony and said Lord if you can use anything you can use me then you seen that it required you to become faithful, you now had to come to Bible Class, come to Sunday school, come to Friday night service, come to Tuesday prayer band, come to Saturday soup kitchen and it wasn’t comfortable anymore so you reverted back to what was comfortable and now we only see you on Sunday morning, why because you didn’t want or you were not prepared to go through the process.
Peter said I go a fishing, I’m going back to what is comfortable. Because Peter represents faith where your faith goes everything else follows, for the Bible says they say unto him we also go with thee. Because faith went back, doubt, insecurity, skepticism are also there, saying yeah I told you that it wouldn’t work, I told you that God has respecter of persons, yeah I didn’t think that there could be any good in that thing, but God said I will never leave you or forsake you, so goodness and mercy come also not because it is comfortable but to remind us just how good and merciful God is.
The Bible says they went forth and entered into a ship immediately and that night caught nothing. They went back to what was comfortable only to find that it didn’t work anymore. You’ve been struggling for such a long time, you cried and cried battling between the flesh and spirit, you’ve said Lord those simple things that I once knew the memories are drawing me, you’re crying and crying Lord have mercy on me, but I am reminded of a scripture that says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.
WATCH THIS: verse 4 says “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus” He was standing right were they left him on the shore, it represents the place from where they were to where they were going and the only way to get to where they were going was to get to Jesus, they had gone back to the so-called comfortable things only to find that Jesus wasn’t there, but when morning came he was standing there on the shore, not in their past, but in their future, they had gone back to their past, they had gone back to what was comfortable searching for something all night long and didn’t find what they were looking, WHY because they did it their way. You might have been look for something for a very long time and have not been able to find it, you have searched your past and often wondered why you were not able to find happiness, joy, peace, it’s because its in your future and Jesus is standing there trying to get you into your future, but you got to do it God’s way. He was standing there but the disciple didn’t know that it was Jesus.
He says in verse 5 “have ye any meat”, in other word have you found what you’ve been looking for, they answer him no. I ask you the question have you found what you’ve been looking for, then maybe it’s time you do it God’s way.
In verse 6 Jesus said unto them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.” In other words you’ve been doing it your way long enough and you didn’t find what you were looking for now do it Gods’ way, they still didn’t know that this was Jesus, but they did it anyhow, this is faith in action. They cast therefore and were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Because they did it God’s way he blessed them HOW exceedingly abundantly above all they could ask or think. Tell somebody I’m going fishing.
In verse 7, remember 7 is Gods’ number, the Bible says that disciple that Jesus loved talking about John, who represents mercy, because Jesus had just showed his mercy on them even though they didn’t deserve it, John said it’s the Lord, no doubt someone said how do you know it’s the Lord you can’t see him I believe John said can’t no body do me like Jesus I know his work, we searched all night long and didn’t find a thing but because of his mercy he did it, he didn’t have to do it but he did.
Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fishers coat unto him for he was naked, someone might say what was he doing naked, he wasn’t naked as you may think he was, but that he didn’t have on the full garment, look at the spiritual significance, it means he wrapped himself in the full armor of God, before he didn’t have on the full armor he had to go through a process, he had to come to the end of himself, he had to be properly seasoned in order to be able to understand the fullness of God. The reason you are going through the things that you are going through is all part of the process to get you to the point that you are able to understand the fullness of God. I’m going fishing.
Verse 14 says “This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead” Remember we are talking about a process. The 1st time Jesus appeared was to let the disciples know that He was still alive, in other words He was letting them know see God’s not dead He’s still alive. The 2nd time was after 8 days, 8 means a new beginning, He was letting the disciples know that this is a new beginning since the Lord up above saved my soul one day. This now is the 3rd time. The number 3 represents fullness. Fullness is not lacking in any essentials it is being at the highest or greatest degree. It is the completeness of the process. 3 is the fullness of His power, 3 represents the 3 manifestations of God. Fullness: Father, Son, & Holy Ghost Fullness, Death, Burial, & Resurrection Fullness Body, Soul, & Spirit Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent Faith, Goodness, Mercy, Tabernacle, Temple, Pentecost, Outer court, inner court, Holy of Holies 30, 60, 100 fold, fruit, more fruit, much fruit, Peter, James, & John Fullness. There were 3 temptations that satan tempted Jesus with after He fasted 40 days, there were 3 crosses on Calvary, 3 men and 3 deaths, 1 died in sin, 1 died to sin, and the 1 died for sin. It was on the 3rd day of creation that everything was different, the waters under the firmament gathered together, dry land appeared the earth brought forth grass, the herbs yielded seed and the fruit tree its fruit WHEN on the 3rd day.
They had gone through a process, God had completed His work in them now they were about to have a new beginning, they were going to another level, they were becoming fishers of men and in order to be fishers of men they had to do it God’s way they couldn’t just do what they wanted to do but had to do it God’s way. Many church folk today are trying to do it there, they say I’m 3x7 and you can’t tell me what to do, but God is saying either do it my way or get out of the way. Because many people are trying to do it their way they are missing out on a lot of blessing. WHY because they have not come into the fullness of understanding their purpose.
Purpose: – advice, counsel, determination. Greek word “Boule” translated means: God’s fixed intentions. That which is his purpose stands utterly fixed and cannot be changed by any action of others. What God has for you is for you; however, in order to obtain those things you must do it Gods’ way. I’m going fishing.
Proverbs 20:5 says “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water: but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Counsel means purpose, it’s in the heart of man like deep water. If we look at the oceans they are extremely deep, there are depths of the ocean that has yet to be explored. Man for years had only been able to venture so deep into the water, then came people like Jacque Custo that developed pieces of equipment that was able to handle the pressure of the deep water and in so doing have discovered new forms of aquatic life to man that had never before been made known because they were so far under the water. Some of theses newly discovered species are some of the most beautiful creatures God created, but they are so far down under the water that many people will never get to experience the beauty of them because they are so far under the water, unless somebody would be able to fish them out of the depths and bring them to the surface for all to enjoy.
The purpose that is in you that God desires for you is like deep waters, its down so deep in you that many people will not ever get to experience what God has placed in you unless you fish it out Gods way. I’m going fishing. Many people believe that their purpose is to sing in the choir, or to be a member of a church, just to fill a pew, or pay their tithes, but baby it’s deeper than that.
God has a divine purpose for your life that is far greater than just signing in the choir, the purpose He has for your life is greater than being a member at the 1st Glorious Church of the hell razing tongue talking believers assemble of God, the big daddy almighty, but in order to be able to fish out that purpose you must do it Gods’ way. I’m going fishing.
Let me tell you something when you begin to do it Gods way you begin to do things differently. You use to go to lunch everyday with the people on your job, but now you find yourself instead of going out to lunch you are studying Gods word, you are praying, someone ask what are you doing for lunch you look at them and say I’m going fishing.
WATCH THIS: When you begin to do things Gods way, people, church folk begin to talk about you. They begin to say look at them acting like they are so high and mighty, look at them, jealousy begins to creep in they say things like who do they think they are, acting like they are the boss of something, I’ve been saved longer then them, I should be doing that, who in God’s name do they think they are. Baby just look at them and tell them I’m going fishing, I’m not doing it my way, I’m not doing it mans way, but I’m doing it God’s way. I’m going fishing.
Someone may say well preacher what you fishing for I’m fishing for the deep things of God. I’m not fishing for prosperity, I’m not fishing for popularity, I’m not fishing for fortune or fame, I’m not fishing for man to know my name, but I’m fishing for revelation, illumination, and inspiration. 3 THE FULLNESS
Revelation: the Bible says Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that Love Him, but God hath revealed them unto us. I’m fishing for revelation, Lord reveal yourself unto me. I’m going fishing.
Illumination: is light or enlightenment, the Bible says as you come into the light walk therein. Light is knowledge of God. In other words I’m fishing for the Lord to open up my human understanding to His Divine Truth. I’m going fishing.
Inspiration: not that I may be seen of men, but that I can be the channel that God can use to communicate His Truth to His people.
I’m not fishing for a name, I’m not fishing for prosperity, I’m not fishing for position because the Bible says seek ye first the kingdom of God and all its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. I’m fishing because God has placed His purpose in me and that which he has utterly fixed in me cannot be changed.
Somebody might say preacher what is that purpose, well your specific purpose will be different than mine, but I tell you this we are all commissioned to seek and save those that are lost and tell them the good news of Jesus Christ. However, before you can effectively do that you got to go through the process, baby you will cry sometimes, you may want to throw in the towel and say I quite, you may feel that you are not worthy, but understand its all part of the process. Tell somebody I’m going fishing.
My mind goes back to the Garden of Gethsemane, in the garden of Gethsemane, which means the place of press, Jesus said “Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me.” He was going through the divine process of spiritual preparation, His flesh didn’t want to suffer. Mentally, physically, and emotionally he was being pulled in every direction, it became so uncomfortable that His sweat became as great drops of blood but He said not my will but thine be done, in others not my way, but your way and because He did it Gods way you and I now have salvation. WHY because, He had to go fishing deep within Himself and bring to the surface His purpose. His purpose was redemption of our souls, if he had not done it Gods way you and I would be lost. Tell somebody I’m going fishing.
When I think about the Divine Process of Spiritual Preparation I think about Malachi 3:3 “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”
To refine silver or gold is to hold a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. In refining silver or gold, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. God is holding us in the middle of the hot spots in life to season us. The whole time the silver or gold is in the fire the refiner has to sit in front of the fire the whole time the silver or gold is being refined. The refiner, he not only has to sit there holding the silver, but he has to keep his eyes on the silver or gold the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver or gold were left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. No matter how long it seems you have been in the fire, God knows and will not leave you in there to long. He is refining and seasoning you. The question is, "How do you know when the silver or gold is fully refined?" The answer is when I see my image in it." God will send us through the seasoning and refining fires until he is able to see His image in us.
The trials, tribulations, storms, and hard-times in your life are just part of the seasoning process. God is trying to develop your character. Character is: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual, it is a feature used to separate distinguishable things into categories; a group or kind so separated, the detectable expression of the action of a gene or group of genes, the aggregate of distinctive qualities. 1st Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
We are to be Christ like that is the meaning of the word Christian. The Divine purpose for us is not just a mere external imitation of Christ but an internal transformation. Because you can look Holy on the outside and be pure hell on the inside, but an internal transformation is Holy on the inside and causes the outside to be Holy also.
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Boanerge Ministries
The Qohelet
