cravemore

The Heat is on

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 17:01:56 GMT

The Heat is on

The Heat is On

Dross. Dross is not a word commonly used unless a person is into metalsmithing. Webster’s Dictionary defines dross as: scum or unwanted material; waste or foreign matter. In figurative terms, dross is described as trivial or inferior. As defined, dross is undesirable and if we are honest, it exists within all of us.

Proverbs 25:4 states: “ take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. ” Intuitively, we understand the interpretation here as God is the “Smith” and we are the vessel. God refines us, removing the impurities so that He can form us and shape us as He desires. Seems simple. Wrong! It is simple until you understand the process used to refine silver in biblical times. That process is known as cupellation.

Cupellation worked by heating the metal mixture in a porous bowl called a cupel. The refiner would place the impure metal into the cupel and heat it to approximately 1,000° C (1,832° F). During this process, many impurities would drain through holes in the cupel, while others would either burn off or be scraped off the surface. The result would be that a small amount of silver, called a ‘button’, would remain at the bottom of the cupel which would be removed after cooling. This is the useable product the smith is looking for.

While many applications from cupellation are obvious to our Christian walk, there are others less obvious. The use of intense heat for purification certainly applies to periods of our life where God will apply heat or pressure to draw out elements within us that are not from Him. This type of purification often feels like it is more than we can bear but if we dial in to the heart of God, we can tell He is in the middle of our circumstances. We recognize that through the refining process, it is God removing the impurities from us, just as the refiner scrapes the dross from the top of the molten metal.

There are differences, though. A refiner will apply the intense heat until he is satisfied that what he has left is the purest of silver. While a refiner works with inanimate material, God works with his beloved creation. A chief difference is that an inanimate material remains in the fire until removed; humans often try to temper the process by removing themselves from the fire as to minimize the pain. And unlike metal, once removed from the fire we may resist another refining moment as we think that it should be a ‘one and done’ process. Often that is not the case. A quick glance through Scripture will confirm this to be true. Consider the lives of Moses, David, Paul and Peter, just to name a few. Each of them went through several seasons of refinement. You see, unlike metal, once removed from the fire we have free will to choose for ourselves to further invite impurities by what we entertain…by what we see, hear, do or say.

So, while Holy Spirit sanctifies us, we can choose to continually pollute ourselves by being both in the world and of the world. It’s a choice we make moment by moment, day by day. And when we choose to be of the world, we fail to understand why God cannot do all that we had hoped He would do in and through us for the Kingdom.

There is something very important to understand when comparing the cupellation process with sanctification: Cupellation does not “make” silver. The silver already exists in the mixed metal. The work of the refiner is to draw it out through the removal of impurities. Though we were born in sin through the fall of Adam, we have God’s image in us. Holy Spirit does not need to form that or create that- it already exists inside of us! We simply need to let Him take us through the cupellation process and remain there until He removes us. It is this time consuming, yet purposeful process that the impurities drain out from inside us and the foreign matter removed from the surface. This is the process God uses to make us more like Him. It is with each choice we make that we either choose to be holy or to be part of a world opposed to God. It is God’s good desire to conform us to be more like Him!

While I am not eager to experience a temperature of 1,800° F, I know that it is His desire for me to fully surrender to the will of the Master Craftsman. I can impact my time spent in the fire by adding impurities to my life through my own choices. You and I have pure silver inside of us. Let us press on towards holiness and willingly allow God to bring forth that pure silver for His desires and for His own glory.

“ I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well-pleasing and perfect. ” Romans 12:1,2

The Devil Does Math

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:14 GMT

The Devil does Math

No doubt, one of the greatest challenges of a church is to know and understand its mission and purpose amid a diverse culture such as ours. In pursuit of this, it is not uncommon for a pastor or congregant to describe their church as an “Acts 2” church or say that they model their church after the 1st Century church. But what exactly does that mean?

Looking at Scripture, the answer is math. It is about multiplication. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus commissioned the disciples to “ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit …” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus told them to go and make more disciples- to multiply themselves. And where were they to do this? In Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and even the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8). This is noteworthy not simply due to geography, but also because of the cultural diversity of the people that Jesus set before the disciples. It would have been easier for the disciples to reach only the people like themselves. We like to congregate with people who look like us, walk like us and talk like us. But that isn’t the way of the King. Think about the diversity of His disciples: There were fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot and a traitor. There were two sets of brothers and some were former disciples of John the Baptist- not exactly a homogenous group! Once filled by Holy Spirit though, this diverse group who had argued with each other over who was greater became united; they became one. In Acts 2:14, we see Peter standing with the eleven. Not apart from them or in front of them, but with them as one. He then preaches the gospel, and three thousand people are saved! The 12 became 3,000. That is multiplication!

Our enemy also knows math. Satan knows that the way to counter multiplication is through division. We see division in the Old Testament when, because of sin and idolatry, Israel is split into two kingdoms, north and south. This division led both kingdoms into bondage, then dissolution. God had taken the 70 people of the family of Jacob into Egypt, multiplied them into a nation and 400 years later, brought them to the Promised Land. Five hundred years later and again through sin, Satan was able to divide what God had multiplied.

But what does this have to do with the Church? Everything! Israel was one people group, the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who allowed themselves to become separate and divided. The 1st Century church consisted of Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people coming from Judaism or paganism, who became one people group in Christ. According to Luke, the “Acts 2 Church” quickly became of one mind and had all things in common (Acts 2:42-46). Imagine that! And what was God able to do with such unity? Math. He multiplied their number day by day! Yet just a few years later, Paul had to admonish the church in Corinth about becoming divided based on who had baptized them (1 Cor 1:10-13). In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses numerous challenges and questions, the first and foremost being division! Through pride, division crept into elements of spiritual gifts and ministerial callings such that Paul used the human body to illustrate how the church will be comprised of parts that look different but must operate as one body.

The 21st Century Church carries similarities to the 1st Century Church. It is a blend of people from many cultures and nationalities. Jesus is professed to be the head of the Church and His Great Commission is its primary objective. Yet, like the Corinthian church, we remain divided. We are divided by the dozen or so main denominations across the Protestant church, and within those denominations there are sub-groups, along with independent and non-denominational churches leading to further separation or division. We divide ourselves based on style of worship, liturgical or casual services, and we categorized churches (and people) as being Pentecostal, charismatic or fundamental. These groupings can work to divide, sub-divide and categorize the Church such that we move not as different members of one unified body, but instead as many members operating independent of one another. Paul instructs the Corinthians “…that there should be no division (schism) in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another”, and that “they are Christ’s body, and individually members of it” (1 Cor 12:25, 27). Not divided but unified in and through Christ so that through the power of Holy Spirit, we can multiply!

Brothers and Sisters, the clock is ticking. Can you hear it? Each day, we draw closer to the Lord’s return and each day, people leave this world and enter eternity without their names being written in the Lamb’s book of life. We have been commissioned to make disciples, to multiply. Satan knows this and has worked these past centuries to offset multiplication through division. We can spend our time dividing ourselves and debating with one another other about style of worship, use of spiritual gifts or how often to serve communion. Or we can yield to Holy Spirit and seek to remain unified as one body in Christ. Together as one body, we are called to glorify the name of Jesus and to “go therefore and make disciples….”

When The Untouchable Touches Us

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:35:26 GMT

One of the most difficult things to grasp is the idea or concept of holiness and a holy God. Too often, we associate the words ‘holy’ or ‘holiness’ with something or someone who is distant or remote. Some, like me, may have grown up in a faith or religion that promotes a God so holy that He is unattainable, unreachable, untouchable.

Without full understanding of early passages in Scripture, we can find that perceived distance is difficult to move past. Take for example Moses. God chose Moses to deliver His people from slavery. In chapter 33 of the book of Exodus, Moses speaks to God, “Then show me your glorious presence.” Moses has been in such close contact and communication with God that he desires to see Him in His glory. God responds by saying that He will make His goodness pass before Moses and proclaim His name, but then He tells Moses this: “You cannot see My face, for no man can see me and live!” Imagine for a moment being told that. The God whom you serve cannot be seen by you, or you will die.

In 2 Samuel chapter six, King David instructs the priests to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Ark was where God’s presence resided. It was holy. Hundreds of years earlier, God had instructed how the Ark was to be moved: With poles inserted through rings and carried on the shoulders of priests. The priests who were moving the Ark failed to move it in the manner instructed. Instead, they placed the Ark on a cart, pulled by oxen. During the move, the Ark began to fall and Uzzah reached out to stabilize it. This was against God’s instructions, for no one was to touch the Ark. What a costly mistake as Uzzah was struck down by God and died.

Unseeable. Untouchable. Holy.

Moses asked to see God’s glory. In chapter 14 of John’s gospel, Philip makes a similar request of Jesus and asks Him to “show us the Father”, to which Jesus replies “He who has seen Me, has seen the Father.”

Uzzah died because he touched the Ark of the Covenant, the very presence of God. We read in chapter nine of Matthew’s gospel the account of a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. She had spent her resources seeking healing, and in desperation and in faith, believed that if she could touch just the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. She touched Jesus and instead of death, she received life. (Mathew 9:20-22)

In Mark’s gospel, we see a blind man being brought to Jesus, God made flesh, and Jesus spits on his eyes, lays hands on him, and brings him sight (Mark 8:22-25). This man doesn’t touch Jesus, but is touched by Jesus, and now he sees because Jesus, God in the flesh touched him.

The Pharisees and religious leaders could not see Jesus for who He was, because they had been blinded by religion. They rejected the concept of how a Holy God could simply walk amongst them, touching, healing, loving and restoring people. Many of us today still cannot see God for who He truly is as we are blinded by religion or bound up in wrong thinking. Yes, God is holy. God is infinite and we are finite beings. This side of heaven His holiness is beyond our full comprehension. But we have Jesus! Jesus walked this Earth as fully God and fully man to reveal to us the full nature of God; a holiness that not only can be seen and touched, but one that sees us and touches us.

God became flesh because He desired to be with us and have us be with Him. Much as the woman with the bleeding in the story in Matthew, some of us may have been suffering with pain or a need for years and years. Like her, we need to come to the end of ourselves and find the boldness and faith to reach out and simply grab hold of Jesus. He will not reject you. Or perhaps as with the Pharisees, our flesh and our past have blinded us such that we cannot see Jesus for who He is. If that is you, let God touch you to help you see Him clearly in His fulness and His holiness. No matter where you find yourself, know for certain that God not only sees you, but He desires for you to see Him.

What’s In a Name?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:56:07 GMT

Those who read the Bible (and even those who don’t) are familiar with the names of the more prominent people found in Scripture. Most people are familiar with Adam & Eve, Noah, Joseph and his coat of many colors. We know of King David along with Mary & Joseph, Peter, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul. And while each of those mentioned play significant roles in the Bible and in history, there are others whose names hardly recognized and yet play critical roles in God’s plan for Israel, the Church and His Kingdom.

Take for example Barnabas. The name ‘Barnabas’ is not a common name and when you do a name search on the internet, very little comes up. Readers of the Bible likely associate Barnabas as a man who was a companion to the Apostle Paul but may know little more about him beyond that one fact. In actuality, Barnabas was a hero of the Bible and was instrumental in the start of the New Testament Church. But the key thing to know about Barnabas is the meaning of his name: Son of exhortation or encouragement .

Most of us know the story of Paul, and how he persecuted the Church (Acts 8). We know also that Paul experienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus, for he no longer persecuted the Church. Instead, he began to preach the gospel wherever he could, at first in the synagogue to other Jews. Initially many Jews, including the disciples, remained afraid of Paul because of his past persecution of followers of Jesus. This is where Barnabas steps into view.

Barnabas’ true name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas due to his encouraging nature (Acts 4:36). Barnabas hears Paul preach in the synagogue in Damascus after his conversion and personally vouches for him before the apostles (Acts 9:27). This personal validation launches Paul into his ministry, but not all goes well for Paul as he creates an uproar among the people and receives death threats. This is disruptive to the work of building the Church so eventually the apostles pull Paul out of ministry and send him away to his home in Tarsus, for nearly 14 years (Acts 9:29-30). How significant was this? Just read verse 31, after Paul is sent away: “So the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace…and continued to increase.” (Acts 9:31). So once Paul was sent away, peace reigned in the Church, and it began to grow. Imagine what that did to Paul and his reputation amongst the apostles and Church leaders. But what does all this have to do with Barnabas? Remember his name: Son of exhortation and encouragement.

By chapter 11 of Acts, we see that despite persecution, the Church continues to grow, notably in Antioch. When the apostles hear of this growth, who do they send? Barnabas the encourager, of course! (Acts 11:19-22). And what does Barnabas do? He goes to Tarsus to search for Paul. He brings Paul to Antioch to teach these new believers, where they stayed for a year, teaching a multitude of people. It was there that the disciples were first called Christians (Acts11:26). This was the beginning of the Gentile Church! Paul would travel far and wide, preaching the gospel, planting churches and writing the majority of the New Testament, but were it not for Barnabas risking his reputation by taking a second chance on Paul, Paul might never have left Tarsus.

True to his nature, Barnabas doesn’t focus only on Paul. Barnabas had a younger cousin named John-Mark whom he brought along on their early missionary journeys (Acts 12:25). Later we read that John-Mark left them, much to the displeasure of Paul. This creates a split between Paul and Barnabas, but true to his name, Barnabas retrieves John-Mark and brings his cousin on his own journey to Cypress (Acts 15:36-39). While we read that Paul later sees a more mature John-Mark and requests him to accompany him (2 Tim 4:11), it was Barnabas who believed in and restored John-Mark. And it is this John-Mark, known also as Mark, who eventually writes the first gospel, the Gospel of Mark.

So, what is our take-away here? It is that at some point we all need a Barnabas in our life. Someone willing to take a risk on us, to vouch for us, to come find us when others have given up on us. Or perhaps we need to become a Barnabas ourselves: One who reaches out to encourage and exhort others. One who sees in others what only God sees at first: A life worth taking a risk on. So, while many of us wish we were a David or a Paul, or maybe even a Peter, imagine what the Church would look like and what influence we would have on the world if we tried to be more like Barnabas?

Consider The Source

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:56:07 GMT

Throughout our lifetime we will have numerous words, thoughts and opinions spoken to us, about us and over us. Words and thoughts that come from family and friends, teachers and peers, society, media and even ourselves. And whether we recognize it at the time, those words will play an influential role in shaping both our identity and shape our self-value.

I recall from my early childhood that my teachers, year after year, would make the same comment on my report card: “ Mark does not work up to his full potential .” School was easy for me then. I never felt challenged and it was more important to me to enjoy the fun side of school, rather than the scholastic side. I’d gladly do minimal work, have more fun time and settle for a ‘B’ than to take extra time to study and do homework to pursue an ‘A’. With each report card, my parents would read those same comments and laugh, so I laughed too. Words that should have challenged me to pursue excellence, instead gave me permission to be content with average. What I did not realize then was those written comments, and my parents’ response, became a mantle which I wore throughout much of my life. This mantle soon permeated other aspects of my life beyond school. We read of another young man who had things spoken over him that greatly impacted his life. His name was Gideon.

In chapter six of the book of Judges, we read of Gideon as he is threshing wheat in a wine press. Now if you are not familiar with the background of the story, wheat was to be threshed on a threshing floor, not in a wine press. The threshing floor was outside, in open air so that the wind would blow and separate the wheat from the chaff. Gideon was in a wine press as Israel at this time was in disobedience to God, and neighboring countries would come and raid Israel during harvest time to steal their food. Thus, Gideon was hiding in a wine press out of fear . Suddenly, Gideon is surprised by a divine visitor- the Angel of the Lord, who most scholars agree is the pre-incarnate Jesus. The Angel of the Lord greets Gideon by using the Hebrew word ‘Hayil’, meaning a man of valor or of great stature. That is quite a greeting to someone who is hiding, right? But Gideon, so wrapped up in fear and shame, does not hear it or receive it. In fact, he complains to the Lord! What is most noteworthy is Gideon’s response in verse 15. Gideon questions the Lord “How can he be this man of valor, a deliverer of Israel, when his family is the least of the tribe of Manasseh, and he is the least of the family?” Now where do you think he learned this? Most certainly, this was something ingrained into Gideon from his youth. Whether this came from his father, his extended family, the community, we do not know. But for Gideon to immediately speak this out tells me that not only has he heard this for so long, but he has replayed the words in his mind over and over, such that it was his first response to the greeting from the Lord. “I am the lowest of the least” truly became the mantle which Gideon wore, causing him to reject the declaration of valor spoken by the Lord because he had embraced what was spoken over him by others. While Gideon goes on to accomplish great things for the Lord, we continue to see evidence of his timidity, uncertainty and fearfulness throughout his time as a Judge over Israel. Mantles are hard things to shed.

Perhaps you can recall things spoken over you that not only shaped your self-image and identity but became something you carried with you- something that was not of the Lord. I know from my own experience that Satan and the world will want to use their words to define you and to hold you back from all that God has for you. Don’t let that happen! Consider the source! Shed those mantles! Spend time in God’s Word to read repeatedly that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), that you are “the apple of His eye” (Psalm 17:8) and that “you have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16). Those words are life-giving mantles that God has for you to wear daily. Afterall- consider the source!

A New Identity

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:56:07 GMT

Throughout Scripture, we see where God reveals new identities to His people. One of the most powerful identity changes occurs early in the Old Testament, in the book of Ruth. In the book of Ruth, we read of a woman who fully surrenders to the Lord as she chooses to turn from her culture to follow God and in doing so, she adopted her new identity.

In the first chapter of the book of Ruth, we are introduced to a handful of characters, none more important than Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi, a Jew, is living in Moab, a place that God has declared as being off limits to Israelites. While there, tragedy strikes Naomi through the loss of her husband Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon & Chilion. This leaves Naomi, Ruth and Orpah, Naomi’s other daughter-in-law, as widows. Naomi declares her intention to return to the land of Israel, and Ruth insists that she go with her. Naomi tries to discourage Ruth from coming with her on the dangerous journey, but Ruth is determined to remain with Naomi and makes a most incredible declaration: “Where you will go, I will go and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.”

WOW!

Ruth makes a declaration of conversion. She converts from a life of paganism to one of Judaism. To fully appreciate what transpired, one must understand the true paganistic culture of Moab and Moabites. Making Ruth’s conversion more incredible is her paganistic culture is all that Ruth had ever known since birth. She likely has heard of Israel and of their ways, but given the disdain that Israel held towards Moab, she would have felt their disgust. In addition, Ruth declares her separation not just from a paganistic lifestyle, but also from her very own people and family by stating that Naomi’s people (Israelites) would now be her people. Ruth has determined that she will no longer be part of the Moabite culture and no longer be part of her family. She belongs now to Naomi and her people. The most amazing declaration is when Ruth declares that Naomi’s God, the God of heaven, the One true God, will now be her God. Ruth had to be willing to walk away from all that she knew, to be positioned to receive something entirely new. This is an amazing conversion: A conversion of life, of culture, of family and of great faith.

I recall that when I surrendered my life to Jesus, I too had to make some declarations. From the age of 19 to 26 years old, “my people” used and abused drugs and alcohol. I lived in addiction. This was my culture and those were “my people” and like Ruth, the things we did were part of our custom and our ways - it was all that I knew as a young adult. Just as Ruth declared that God would be her God and that the ways of God’s people would now be her ways, I too had to declare those same things. I would now follow Jesus, not my people. His ways would now be my ways. I had to make a conversion of my lifestyle, my culture, my family and my faith. I did not know it then, but my destiny awaited me in the new identity that God had for me !

Perhaps your story is like mine, or like Ruth’s story. Perhaps you have been in a culture and lifestyle that was not or is not Jesus centered. Ruth could not remain in Moab and still be part of Naomi’s people. She could not remain in Moab and have the God of Israel be her God as the culture would drown out God’s truth. When we choose to follow Jesus and be baptized as a public declaration of our faith and obedience to Him, we will have to say ‘no’ to some things of the past. I had to leave the culture of my past as my old friends did not support my new life. I had to remain committed even when I was questioned by family members about my new life and faith. Though they did not understand my conversion and, in some cases, refused to receive it, I remained determined to keep walking forward in faith.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we have become new creations in Jesus. It is nearly impossible to become new when you choose to remain part of the old. The old wants to grip you; it wants to keep you from being new. The familiar voices of the old want to convince you that you don’t have to walk away entirely- that you can walk with one foot in the old while keeping one in the new. That is a lie! Ruth could not have received all that God had for her had she remained in Moab, or had she kept part of her paganistic background- she had to walk away from it all. Was it hard? From my personal experience, I know that it was hard. But through her declaration of faith and her perseverance to come underneath God’s wings, she became someone new. She was no longer a poor widow known as “Ruth, the Moabitess”. She married a great man and became the great-grandmother of King David and is named in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). A new identity indeed!

What lure is pulling you back into the past? What of your old identity seeks to keep you from the new things God has for you? I encourage you, make the declaration that Ruth made and then start the journey out of old and into the new. Your destiny awaits you there.