PURIFIED
BY FIRE
BREAD
6 In this you
greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of
greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be
proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is
revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
8 “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. 9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. 10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:8-10 (NIV)
8 “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. 9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. 10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:8-10 (NIV)
8 Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise
be heard; 9 he has preserved
our lives and kept our feet from slipping. 10 For
you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. Psalm
66:8-10 (NIV)
3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. Proverbs
17:3 (NIV)
10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested
you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, 3 because you know
that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James
1:2-4 (NIV)
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that
this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being
given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our
mortal body. 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (NIV)
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial
you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in
the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is
revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)
“Everyone will be salted with
fire.” Mark 9:49 (NIV)
“If
you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah
7:9 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Somehow in the wonder-working providence
of God, our worst problems become our best pulpits. God turns our tragedies
into testimonies and our emergencies into evangelism. Our testimonies are
forged and crafted in the trials of life, our pain has an evangelistic purpose,
our problems become His pulpits, and the things that happen to us turn out for
the furtherance of the gospel.” Robert J.
Morgan
“To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” George Mueller
“These trials are just ‘tools’ in God’s hands,” said the Iranian believer. “Who am I to criticize the tools that God uses to make me more holy?”
“The gospel is a
powerful Word, but it cannot do its work without trials. No one will discover its power unless he
experiences it. The gospel can only show
its Power where there is a cross and where there is suffering. Because it’s a Word of life, it must exercise
all its power in death. If death and
dying are absent, then it can do nothing.
No one would discover that it’s stronger than sin or death.” Martin
Luther
“On Him then reckon, to Him look, on Him depend: and be assured that if you walk with Him, look
to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. An older brother, who has known the Lord for
forty-four years, who writes this, says for your encouragement that He has
never failed him. In the greatest
difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities,
He has never failed me; but because I was enabled by His grace to trust in Him,
He has always appeared for my help. I
delight in speaking well of His Name.” George
Mueller
“We
should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which He
leads us all end in glory and immortality.
It is true they may not be smooth paths – they may be covered with sharp
flinty trials, but they lead to the ‘city with foundations, whose architect and
builder is God.’ ‘All the ways of the
Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His
covenant.’ Let’s put full trust in our
Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health,
popularity or contempt, His purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall
be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy…..His dear love will make us far
more blessed than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world’s
fire.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“Lean hard upon Me, for I bring you
through to new victories, and restoration shall follow what seems now to be a
wind of destruction. Hold fast to My
hand, and rest in My love, for of this you may be very certain: My love is unaltered; yes, I have you in My
own intensive care. My concern for you
is deeper now than when things are normal.
Draw upon the resources of My grace, and so shall you be equipped to
communicate peace and confidence to your dear ones. Heaven rejoices when you go through trials
with a singing spirit. Your Father’s
heart is cheered when you endure the test and do not question His mercy. Be like a beacon light. His own glorious radiance shall shine through
you, and Christ Himself will be revealed.”
Frances J. Roberts
“We
should have faith enough to believe that the present trouble, about which we
are praying, is sent to us in love by God.
We should pray concerning our trials in this way: ‘Lord, I have this
thorn in the flesh. I beseech You,
deliver me from it, but meanwhile I bless you for it; for though I do not
understand the why or the wherefore of it, I am persuaded there is love within
it. Therefore, while I ask You to remove
it, so far as it seems evil to me, yet wherein it may to Your better knowledge
work for my good, I bless You for it, and I am content to endure it so long as
You see fit.’ Is not that a sweet way of
praying? This is a royal way of
praying. Such an amalgam of prayer and
thanksgiving is more precious than the gold of Ophir.” Charles H. Spurgeon
HEART
SAVOR
·
Faith must be tested to be proved.
·
Strong faith comes from enduring great trials.
·
What God allows is purposeful – always for our ultimate
good.
