Test of Fire

[John Halsell]

All of the great people in the Bible have been through the tests of fire; Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, Abraham and his only son and the sacrifice of him on the altar; Paul many times and he even got stoned and left for dead. Paul was blessed to have Luke the doctor with him with all of his wounds. Do you think you are invulnerable? We are only flesh and blood not all of us walk through the fiery furnace unharmed. Some have had to pay the ultimate price. It is also a serious business sometimes for the Lord and not always a bed of roses; today's heroes certainly understand that. Sometimes there's a price to pay but not often thank God! Who ever said Christians were weak cowards? Ask the martyrs. Never discount their suffering. I have been in two auto accidents on my bicycle, while out sharing The Gospel of Grace and am still suffering for it from multiple injuries to by whole body 10 years later. I have had two dislocated hips, neck, back, shoulders and so on. I have been under doctor’s care for years. That is why when people believe in “name it and claim it or healing on demand”, it makes me laugh. They have lost touch with reality. Sure, they will make it to be with the Lord, but I don't think the martyrs or Paul would appreciate it very much, do you? Well, he did shake a snake off of his hand and that gave the impression that it was easy but that was not always the case. Life is not a Bruce Willis movie where nobody dies, Life Happens!

 

[for_his_glory]

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

What many are missing is the word "shall" in Matthew 24:13 as it's expressed as a future tense that indicates a promise.

For by grace, as it's only Gods favor extended to all who will receive it by faith, is a free gift as we become His workmanship created in Christ unto good works that God ordained that we should continue walking in the good works of Christ, Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 25:31-40. We can not earn our salvation by our own works nor do we even deserve Gods grace, Genesis 6:6-8. Only by a mustard seed of faith do we come to Christ and repent of our sins are we then only washed clean by the blood of Christ and become Spiritually reborn again (not saved) through the Spiritual rebirth of John 3:3-6 by that of Romans 10:9,10.

Matthew 24:13 says that those who endure until the end shall be saved. This means enduring all the trials and tribulations that this world will bring against us for the sake of our witness and testimony of Christ, Acts 14:22, Rev 2:10. The end means the end of our days here on this present earth when those in the grave and we who are still alive at His coming will then be caught up to Christ and are saved at that time as we have endured all things and never gave up our faith in Christ.

God's word never said we would not go through trials or tribulations, but through many trials and tribulations, if we endure until the end, then we will see the Kingdom of God, Acts 14:22, as we are all called into discipleship as we share our witness and testimony with those who have not yet repented and turned back to God. Below are twenty reasons why God allows us to go through trials and tribulations so that we will always remain in His will.


Why God allows us to go through trials and tribulations:
1. Training as God prepares us for the future
2. Patience as we rely and trust in God's timing
3. Perseverance through trials that we remain in Gods will
4. Trust as God's ways are not our ways and He has a better plan for us
5. To learn from our mistakes
6. To humble ourselves before Him
7. To discipline us
8. Teach us to be dependent on Him alone
9. To spend quiet time with God so He can speak to us
10. To teach us of His protection
11. That we also share in the sufferings of Christ that we be not ashamed
12. Strengthen us to become more like Christ
13. To develop character
14. Build up our faith in the Lord
15. For a testimony and witness to help others
16. To show us sin in our lives that we need to own up to having
17. To remind us that God is in control
18. Helps us gain knowledge and understanding God's word
19. Teaches us to be thankful
20. To take our mind off the things of the world and and put them back on God

 

[gordon777]

Everything is about purification, in the furnace of affliction.




Psalm 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

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




1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

[gordon777]

Sin is neither believing in Christ risen, nor is it a purification by fire ( no baptism of fire) it is an impurity.


The unbelieving profess they know God( but still deny Him) they are not pure in all things, they are REPROBATE SILVER, the Lord has rejected them.



Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Jeremiah 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.




A man must be purged( by belief in Christs spotless blood given for us) from the dishonourable, ( wood and earth) to be a vessel unto honour (Gold.) to God in Heaven.

They do so by departing from iniquity( not declaring they cant stop sinning and believing in impurity) to be sanctified and meet for Gods use...




2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: