“7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7 KJV
The Vision
The vision that God gave me for Brewing Ground was actually a combination of ideas. It combines life’s battleground (trials) with the actual processes of refining and brewing. It’s about the very intentional and detailed work that God pours into each of us. So, our Brewing Ground is about how God uses our life’s trials for good to refine, change, and cleanse each individual like precious metals into their very own unique, beautiful,
Next, my vision also adds the idea of brewing. Think about the process of making coffee or tea for a minute. You start with clear, clean, fresh water. You turn on the fire to heat things up; when you reach the right temperature the coffee or tea is added. Once you add the coffee or tea, the brewing process has begun. The coffee begins to spread through the water changing every last drop – Permanently. After you begin this process, the coffee or tea can not be removed from the water. This is what we want to happen with God on our battleground. Through the process of refinement and brewing with His refining fire, we want it to have a Godly permanent change in our heart – a change that can not be undone.
The Refining Fire
God’s refining fire is the very essence of life as a child of God. It explains so much about life and why it can be so hard at times. Also, it explains a lot about our relationship with our creator. Let’s change our perspective and view our Brewing Ground through the biblical lens of God’s refining fire. The Bible references God and His refining fire multiple times throughout the scriptures. Through this series we will take a look at the actual process of refining silver and how it’s used in the Bible to illustrate how we are refined by God.
The Work Begins
Before any silver can be refined it must first be found and mined or taken from the earth. The book of Job talks about the process of finding and mining ore, the particular rock which contains various precious metals.
“28 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. 3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. 4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men. 5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. 6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. 7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen: 8 The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. 9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. 10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. 11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.” Job 28:1-11 KJV
Just getting the ore is quite an undertaking. Can you imagine “taking your hand to the rock and overturning the mountains by their roots” piece by piece! That is quite a picture to paint and quite a lot of work! Once you have overturned the mountains and finally have the ore, it must now begin the process of refinement.
Step 1
The first step in the refining process is to take the ore and crush it up. You must reduce the ore to a workable state to be able to remove the precious metals.
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29 KJV
So, just getting the raw material and getting it to a workable state is an extremely hard, time consuming job. Plus, you have done nothing to actually refine it and remove the impurities to allow you to get the gold and silver. So, you may be asking, “why go to all that trouble?” Well, because it holds value! The ore contains valuable precious metals which hold an unlimited amount of potential for creating beautifully, unique, priceless masterpieces. Just like you!
Crushed
Life, at times, can be so hard! Are you feeling beat up by life? Do you feel like you have been broken into a million pieces? Are you feeling crushed?
“10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” Psalms 66:10-12 KJV
Like it or not, the reality is that we live in a sinful, broken world. As a result, bad things happen in life. But, take heart sweet friends! There is hope! Psalms 66:12 tells us there is a glorious ending. Know that God is at work in your life and trust Him. Allow Him to use the terrible things that happen in life for your good. THIS is your Brewing Ground. Allow Him to mine and chip away the excess to get to your vein of silver; to reveal the true value in you! He is turning you into your own beautiful, unique, priceless masterpiece. God KNOWS that you are worth all the work, time, and effort. He created you and knows the potential that you hold. While He is working and pounding away, find your rest in Him. Let Him renew you. Let Him give you the strength to endure.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 KJV
And they shall mine and have strength to continue on. Your unique masterpiece is one worth mining and Waiting for.
Let’s Brew!
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