Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit,
they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.
Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:
“Behold, I will refine them and test them,
for what else can I do, because of my people?
Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
it speaks deceitfully;
with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor,
but in his heart he plans an ambush for him. Jeremiah 9:6-8
These people the Lord was talking about were His people. We are subject to His refinement when we need our iniquities and flaws removed from our character. When our hypocrisy becomes a habit because of our pride. Refinement from the Lord isn’t easy. Tests from the Lord aren’t easy. They will expose the very core of your soul. They will show you and everyone around you what really lies in your essence. Why would God do this to us?
Jesus says…
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:18
How do we avoid the harsh refinement and difficult tests from the Lord? Only by staying ‘close to His side’ daily and receiving His daily correction with gladness. One of the main ministries the Holy Spirit will do with you once He resides in you is the ministry of conviction. He convicts you of VERY specific acts or words which you need to repent of before Him. Sometimes He will require you to go ask forgiveness from someone you have wronged. If one is truly working hard to listen and walk daily with the Holy Spirit daily then they will be very aware of His conviction on their heart. Are you aware when you hurt His heart? Are you close enough to Him to feel His emotions? One of the easiest things to do is to ‘dismiss’ His ‘still small Voice’ within us. That will constantly push us farther and farther away from Him with each ‘brush off’. Then the refinement that will be required will be that much more intense.
Walking with the Holy Spirit will require His holiness, and righteousness, …IN YOU. You will have to work it all out with Him … hopefully .. daily.