Forged in Fire

Devotional

Day 1: Christ Calls the Church to Be Holy and Radiant

Jesus gave Himself for the church not only to save us, but to make us holy—set apart from the world, cleansed from sin, and radiant in a dark world. His desire is for His people to be purified, shining brightly as a testimony of His love and power, distinct from the culture around us. When we allow Him to cleanse us, we become a radiant church that reflects His glory and draws others to Him. [36:49]

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV)
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 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.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most feel tempted to blend in with the world, and how can you invite Jesus to set you apart and make you radiant in that area today?

Day 2: God Purifies Us Through the Fires of Life

God uses the fiery trials and hardships of life to refine and purify us, just as a refiner purifies silver and gold. Though our instinct is to run from pain or discomfort, God is present with us in the fire, watching over us, and using these moments to remove impurities so that our lives reflect Christ more clearly. Rather than escaping or numbing ourselves, we are called to press into His presence, trusting that He is molding us for His purpose. [49:50]

Malachi 3:3-4 (ESV)
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Reflection: What trial or hardship are you currently facing, and how can you choose to press into God’s presence and ask Him to use this season to purify and shape you?

Day 3: True Repentance Begins Within the Church

It is easy to focus on the sin and brokenness in the world, but God calls His people to first examine their own hearts and repent. When the church humbles itself, seeks God, and turns from its own sin, God promises to forgive and bring healing. Revival in the world always begins with repentance and transformation inside the church, as we allow God to cleanse us from within. [58:28]

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Reflection: Is there a “clutter pile” or area of sin in your heart that you’ve ignored? What step can you take today to humbly bring it before God in repentance?

Day 4: Rekindling Our First Love and Passion for Jesus

It is possible to do all the right things outwardly and yet lose our first love and passion for Jesus. God desires more than religious activity; He wants a church that is motivated by a deep, pure love for Him and a passion to reach the lost. When we repent of apathy and return to our first love, our lives and our church become a true light in the world. [01:04:14]

Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV)
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Reflection: What is one way you can rekindle your love and passion for Jesus today—perhaps through prayer, worship, or reaching out to someone in need?

Day 5: Repentance Is an Act of Love and Surrender

Repentance is not about condemnation, but about returning to the God who loves us and desires to make us whole. When we surrender our sin and brokenness to Him, He purifies us and shapes us into vessels that shine His light. God is inviting you to surrender, to let go of what holds you back, and to trust that His refining fire is for your good and His glory. [01:07:42]

Romans 2:4 (ESV)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Reflection: Is there something you’ve been holding back from God—an area you need to surrender? What would it look like to trust His love and take a step of repentance today?

Sermon Summary

In a world that is constantly shifting and filled with challenges, God calls His people to be set apart, holy, and radiant. Jesus gave Himself for the church, not just to forgive sins, but to cleanse, purify, and present a people who shine brightly in a dark world. Holiness is not about blending in, but about being distinct—reflecting the character and love of Christ. Just as metal is forged and shaped in fire, so too are our lives molded through the trials and hardships we face. These fiery seasons are not meant to destroy us, but to refine us, drawing out impurities so that the image of Christ becomes visible in us.

Trials are inevitable; they are part of life in a fallen world. Yet, God is not absent in our suffering. Like a refiner who sits attentively over silver, God watches over us in the fire, knowing exactly how long to keep us there so that we are not destroyed, but transformed. The goal is not comfort, but Christlikeness—so that our lives reflect His glory and love to those around us.

It is easy to focus on the brokenness and sin outside the church, but God’s refining work begins within. We are called to examine our own hearts, to deal with the “clutter” and hidden sins that we may have ignored or justified. True revival and transformation in the world always begin with repentance and renewal among God’s people. When the church humbles itself, seeks God’s face, and turns from its own sin, God promises to heal and move in power.

Apathy and loveless religious activity can creep in, even when outwardly things look good. The call is to return to our first love—a passionate, wholehearted devotion to Jesus. Repentance is not a word of condemnation, but an invitation to come home, to be changed by the God who loves us deeply. As we surrender in the fire, God forges us into vessels that can carry His light and hope to a world in need.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Purpose in the Fire: God allows us to walk through fiery trials not to harm us, but to refine and purify us. Just as a refiner watches over silver, God is intimately present in our suffering, using it to draw out impurities and shape us into His image. The goal is that our lives would reflect Christ so clearly that others see Him in us. [49:06]
2. The Danger of Spiritual Comparison: It is tempting to compare ourselves to the world and feel justified, but our standard is Christ, not culture. Focusing on the sins of others blinds us to the work God wants to do in our own hearts. True transformation begins when we humbly acknowledge our own need for grace and allow God to cleanse us from within. [54:42]
3. Repentance Precedes Revival: Throughout history, every genuine move of God has started with repentance among His people. When the church turns from apathy, confesses its sin, and seeks God wholeheartedly, revival follows. The world’s brokenness does not hinder God’s work; it is the church’s willingness to be purified that unleashes His power. [57:47]
4. The Peril of Loveless Religion: Outward deeds, perseverance, and even doctrinal purity are not enough if we lose our first love for Jesus. Religious activity without passionate devotion becomes empty and powerless. God calls us to return to a place of love, zeal, and intimacy with Him, making that the foundation of all we do. [64:59]
5. Surrender in the Fire: The refining process requires our surrender. Running from pain or numbing ourselves only delays God’s work. When we choose to stay in His presence during trials, inviting Him to purify and change us, we emerge transformed—never the same, but more like Christ, ready to shine His light in the world. [46:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:35] - The Importance of Community
[34:03] - Why Jesus Gave Himself for the Church
[35:21] - Called to Holiness and Radiance
[38:04] - Bonfire Stories and the Nature of Fire
[41:03] - Forged in Fire: The Process of Change
[42:13] - Trials as a Normal Part of Life
[44:42] - God’s Purpose in Fiery Trials
[47:16] - The Refiner’s Fire: God’s Attentive Presence
[49:06] - Reflecting Christ Through Refinement
[51:04] - Surrendering in the Fire
[54:04] - Focusing on Our Own Hearts
[57:47] - Repentance and Revival
[62:01] - The Call to Passion and Zeal
[64:59] - The Danger of Loveless Religion
[66:58] - Repentance as an Act of Love
[69:31] - Invitation to Surrender and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV) — > Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 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.

1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV) — > Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV) — > I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 5:25-27, what are the reasons Jesus gave Himself for the church? What is the end goal for the church in this passage? ([36:06])
In 1 Peter 4:12-13, what attitude does Peter encourage believers to have toward trials and suffering? ([42:13])
In Revelation 2:2-5, what does Jesus commend the church in Ephesus for, and what does He have against them? What is the warning if they do not repent? ([01:03:33])
The sermon compared the process of refining silver to God’s work in our lives. What is the sign that the silver is ready, according to the story shared? ([49:06])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that God’s goal is not our comfort, but that our lives would reflect Christ. Why might God allow us to go through “fiery trials” instead of just making life easy for us? ([49:06])
The church in Ephesus was doing many good things, but Jesus said they had lost their first love. What does it look like to do the right things for the wrong reasons? ([01:04:59])
The sermon warns about focusing on the sins of the world instead of our own hearts. Why is it easier to point out the faults of others than to deal with our own “clutter”? ([54:04])
Repentance is described as an invitation to come home, not a word of condemnation. How does this understanding of repentance change the way we respond to God when we realize we’ve messed up? ([01:06:58])

Application Questions

The sermon asked, “If you knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow, would there be anything in your life you’d want to clean up?” What is one area of “clutter” or hidden sin in your life that you sense God wants to address? What’s stopping you from dealing with it now? ([52:56])
When you face trials or hard seasons, is your first instinct to run, distract yourself, or numb the pain? What would it look like for you to “stay in the fire” and invite God to work in you during those times? ([46:41])
The sermon said that true revival starts with repentance in the church, not just in the world. What is one step you can take this week to humble yourself before God and seek His cleansing? ([57:47])
Have you ever found yourself comparing your spiritual life to others or to the world, instead of to Christ? How does this affect your growth and your relationship with God? ([54:42])
The church in Ephesus lost their first love even though they were doing good things. Is there any area in your life where you’re just “going through the motions” spiritually? What would it look like to return to a passionate, wholehearted devotion to Jesus? ([01:04:59])
The refining process requires surrender. Is there a specific area where you sense God asking you to surrender control, but you’ve been resisting? What would it look like to trust Him with that area this week? ([46:41])
The sermon described repentance as coming home to a God who loves us. How can you remind yourself this week that repentance is not about shame, but about returning to God’s love and letting Him change you? ([01:06:58])

Sermon Clips

Church, we have to come to a place where we recognize that God is actually waiting for us back in the fire. He's actually waiting to mold us, to shape us, to bring us through the fire, to purify us, and we need to come to a place when we are walking through the trials of life that we actually don't run, but we press in to his presence, and we say, Lord, here I am. I'm in this. I'm in this place, and I know that you're here with me, and I pray that your will would be done in my life, that you would purify me and shape me and mold me to be the person you've called me to be, and when we do that, when we allow ourselves to walk through that fire with Jesus, our life will not come out the same. He'll change us. [00:46:31] (48 seconds) #EmbraceTheRefiner

God's goal for our life is not an easy life. People would see the reflection of Christ in our lives. It's that our character, it's that our heart, the words that we speak, the things that we do would reflect Christ. And so, in the same way, when we walk through trials, when God allows the world to happen around us, God is sitting there watching over us. He hasn't lost sight of you. You've all probably been there when you're walking through a trial, and you're just like, God, where are you? In this. See, did you catch that it says he will sit as a refiner? Because here's the thing, if you let the silver stay in there for too long, it'll actually damage the silver. So they would have to sit over it, and they would have to watch intently at it, and they would have to scoop it out, and they would know just at the right time it's time to come out. [00:49:32] (59 seconds) #DivineTimingRefinement

If you guys knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was coming back tomorrow. Now don't go out there and say, oh our pastor prophesied that somebody was, you know, I'm just saying if he was, would there be anything in your life you'd want to clean up? Any clutter piles that you've just, you know, you've maybe known they've been there, but you've just kind of ignored. Any rooms that have been neglected, that you would, in your heart you would say, I need to deal with this because Jesus is coming tomorrow. If the answer is yes, then why wait till tomorrow? Because here's the reality. If we put our faith in Christ, his Holy Spirit lives inside of us and he's living with all that clutter, with all that dirt, and his goal is to help us clean it up. His goal is to purify us, to cleanse us, to mold us, and he does it so gently, but we have to surrender. [00:52:46] (65 seconds) #PrepareForHisReturn

The church can be so focused on the sin in the world that we become blind to the sin in our own hearts. Have you guys ever caught yourself just like looking at the world and just being like, man, the world is just so evil. It's so sinful. I can't believe they would do fill in the blanks. Anyone ever been there before? See, we've all been there from time to time. The challenge is sometimes we live there and then we actually compare ourselves to the world and we think we're doing pretty good. But the reality is we're not supposed to compare ourselves to the world. We're supposed to compare ourselves to Jesus who is perfect in every way. [00:54:08] (44 seconds) #ReflectChristNotWorld

My prayer is that wouldn't be said about the church today, but that we would say, Lord, change me. Because when you change me, every time I go outside these four walls, you're going to change the people that I'm around. Because you're working in my life and you're cleaning my life, you're purifying my life. See, God is saying, it's time for the church to focus on the sin inside the four walls, to deal with the sin inside the four walls, because then he can use the church to be radiant and change those outside these four walls. [00:57:22] (34 seconds) #ChangeStartsWithin

Repentance in the church precedes revival outside the church. If you study the revivals that have happened throughout history, it always starts with repentance in the church. And I'm not saying that the church is going to change the people that I'm and the Holy Spirit moves and pours out upon those people. And then the Lord draws people because it's a radiant church. [00:57:58] (24 seconds) #RevivalBeginsWithRepentance

There seems to be in the church of America such an apathy at times. You talk to other pastors and the lowest attended service is always the prayer service. And it's not a condemnation for those that can't make it, but there should be this passion and this desire to say, Lord, we need you to move. We need you to, to move in us. We need you to move in our nation. It starts with prayer. It starts with this passion and this love for the Lord. [01:02:33] (28 seconds) #PrayerIgnitesRevival

What a lot of theologians believe that means is it became religious activity. Maybe they were even doing these things to protect themselves from the culture. But they lost a pure, passionate love for Jesus and a pure, passionate love to reach the world around them. It was all loveless labor. And I think about the church in America, and I think so many churches in America could probably fit this mold. It's like, we don't tolerate wickedness, we're going to persevere. But why, who are we doing it for? Are we doing it for ourselves because we don't like what we see in the world? Or are we doing it because we love Jesus? Is our love and passion for him, and to see the lost coming in with Jesus. Is that our first priority? Is that our motivation? Or have we lost that pure love for him? Have we lost sight of him, and we're just doing loveless religious activity? [01:04:59] (62 seconds) #RepentanceIsLove

Where is the Lord trying to purify you? Where's the clutter piles in your life that you've just ignored because the Lord sees them, the Holy Spirit lives in your heart, he sees them, and he's saying I want to remove it, I want to wipe it away. Scripture says that God is a consuming fire, he wants to burn up and consume the things that don't reflect him. [01:10:39] (30 seconds) #HolySpiritCleanses

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the purpose of Jesus' sacrifice for the church?

How do trials shape and mold a believer’s character?

Why is repentance essential for spiritual revival?