THROUGH THE FIRE AND THROUGH THE FURNACE, GOD WORKS

Greetings! Hope you are having a splendid 2018 so far! Remember to stand on His word! It is settled. Going with our theme for the 2018- The Year of God and Me, it’s key that we deepen our relationship with God this year. This week let’s look at one of the ways our relationship (driven by faith, love and trust) with God can be deepened; through Trials. Yes you heard me right!

I am here today to encourage you to go through the fire, it’s for your good. It builds your relationship with God. I have penned down two reasons why you should go through the Fire;

The first is for growth;

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

James 1:2 -4 (NKJV)

There must have been a reason why James wrote the words above. Why should I be happy when I am faced by diverse trials?, it could be a terminal illness, a very sick loved one, bills unpaid, debts unpaid, loss of money, jobs, a spouse etc , nevertheless, James says be joyful when these things come up? Why? Trials are a means to an end (see verse 4). To build trust in our relationship with God, knowing that He loves you and is working out the best end to that trial. God is in complete control!

The second is that God has made you fireproof and waterproof!! So what are you afraid of? In Isaiah 43:2 God says “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (NLT)

The fire is for refining and to burn away every impurity that has held you bound. Look at the three young Hebrew boys that were thrown into the furnace, first, the fire didn’t burn them , instead the only things that were melted in the fire were the ropes that held them bound, secondly, Christ was in the fire with them (Daniel 3:25). I use this episode as an analogy to the verse in Isaiah and the fact that no trial is required to sink you! You sink every trial through Christ in you and for you.

Today welcome every trial with Joy, know that God is refining and making you perfect so that you are complete lacking nothing. Be joyful, knowing that He is allowing it because He wants you to become all He has planned for you. He loves you deeply

Prayer

Prayer for this week

Father, I give You thanks for every trial of yesterday, today and tomorrow. I thank You because You are working a good work in me. Thank You Father as You give me grace to bear up. Open my eyes to see as You see, open my ears to hear You and Lord please give me a heart to obey every instruction given by the Holy Spirit in this time. Amen