THE CRUCIBLE

THE CRUCIBLE

Jeremiah 23:29

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Jesus said, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matthew 21:24). God dwells with those who are of a contrite heart; (easily broken) consequently, the presence of Jesus (the anointing) is in the breaking, the crushing. It is not until the olive is crushed that the precious oil is released.

The fire burns the steal until the fire and the steal becomes as one, then the steal can submit to the hammer. Once the hammer has shaped it's torso it is dipped in the water (the Word). The steal screams as it is permanently set to hold the edge it is destined to take. The prophet said it was like fire shut up in his bones: "...But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones..." (Jeremiah 20:9).

The precious oil in the alabaster could not be spent on the savior until the alabaster was broken. The very object that houses the anointing is the very object that must be broken. The anointing that is in us can only be released as we either, fall on the rock and be broken, or until the rock falls on us and crushes us to powder.

The crucible is Him, the "mercy-smith" placing us in the fire, the "mercy-smith" who swings the hammer, the "mercy-smith" who thrust us into the water with perfect timing. The "mercy-smith" serves us the "Sure Mercies of David:" "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David" (Isaiah 55:3). "And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David" (Acts 13:34).