Thank God for the Fire

THANK GOD FOR THE FIRE

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have

been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8

whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see [Him], yet believing, you rejoice

with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of

[your] souls.

FIRE?A. Is fire good or bad?B. Like many things it can be good or it can be bad depending on

how it is used.C. The truth is, the text read a few moments ago tells us that we

will be tried by fire.D. What does that mean?E. Following Jesus is a process of sifting, saving, and burning F. Fire destroys what is evil. And brings out the best in us.G. To save the body from gangrene, a festering limb must be cut

off. War amputees and victims of severe cases of diabetes know this far too well.

H. A testing of fire will remove what endangers our faith. If there were no trials and difficulties, there would be no means of testing our faith;

I. GOD USES FIRE TO REFINE HIS PEOPLEA. Malachi 3:1-5 "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will

prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. 2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. 4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years. 5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien-- Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD of hosts.

I. GOD USES FIRE TO REFINE HIS PEOPLE

B. After the Israelites returned from captivity, their hearts were not in tune with worship; they thought their motions were acceptable to God. Malachi came to tell them they needed to go through the cleansing and renewal of a refiner’s fire.

C. He does the same today as we will see.

II. WE WILL GO THROUGH THE FIRE

A. Matthew 3:11-12 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

B. Mark 9:49 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

C. All who live godly lives will suffer persecution – 2 Tim 3:12

III. GOD REFINES US THROUGH THE FIRE OF AFFLICTION

A. Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

B. Psalm 66:10-12 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. 11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. 12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.


C. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

D. Christ was afflicted and we should expect no less. - John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.


E. Sometimes God allows affliction to remain with us so we will depend on His grace. - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

IV. GOD REFINES US THROUGH THE FIRE OF TRIALS

A. Tried by fire - the test looking for authenticity which therefore exposes that which is imitation. It exposes our hypocrisy, our inconsistency.

B. Jeremiah 9:7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will refine them and try them; For how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?

C. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

IV. GOD REFINES US THROUGH THE FIRE OF TRIALS

D. James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

E. Trials produce patience which brings praise, honor and glory to Christ and God.

V. GOD REFINES US THROUGH THE FIRE OF TESTING

A. Tested by fire - to see what you got in you! To see what you are made of. To see what you are afraid of.

B. Zechariah 13:9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.' "

V. GOD REFINES US THROUGH THE FIRE OF TESTING

C. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

D. Sometimes God tests us to see what is inside of us and to bring out the best in us.

VII. GOD’S REFINING MAY NOT PRODUCE A DESIRABLE EFFECT

A. Jeremiah 6:27-30 "I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people, That you may know and test their way. 28

They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers. They are bronze and iron, They are all corrupters; 29 The bellows blow fiercely, The lead is consumed by the fire; The smelter refines in vain, For the wicked are not drawn off. 30 People will call them rejected silver, Because the LORD has rejected them."

B. Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

C. Sometime people reject the purifying of God’s refining fire. Saint and sinner alike.

VIII. GOD IS WITH US DURING OUR TESTING OF FIRE

A. Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

B. Andrae Crouch said it well when he wrote, “Through It All.” "I’ve had many tears and sorrows, I’ve had questions for tomorrow, There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong; But is every situation God gave blessed consolation That my trials come to only make me strong."

C. God will never allow us to go through the fire without Him being with us to comfort and strengthen us.

IX. WE CAN HELP SINNERS TO GO THROUGH THE PURIFYING FIRE

A. Romans 12:19-21 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

B. Our doing good to our enemy can be refined and become our friend by our doing good to them.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?A. What is inside a sponge only comes out under pressure.B. When Cain was put under pressure, his anger came out. -

Genesis 4:3-8 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?C. When Abraham was put under pressure to sacrifice

Isaac, his faith came out. - Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

D. When Job was put under pressure, his perseverance came out. - James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

E. What comes out of you when you are under pressure by trials and testing?

WHAT ABOUT YOU?F. In spite of our following Jesus Christ, there will

be times we go through the fire. G. But we will be purified, coming out cleaner,

brighter, and tested. H. We will "shine like the sun in the kingdom of our

Father" - Matthew 13:43 I. Thank God for the fire!

TONIGHT’S SERMONDO YOU NOT KNOW?

Spiritual

Thank God for the Fire