Faith Tested By Fire – Special Replay

We all want faith, but our faith must be tested. Faith tested by fire withstands as we have seen through the many examples of the goldy mean and women who have gone before us. In this episode, Felice discusses that trials do make us stronger and what we should pray instead of, “Lord take this cross away.”

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Faith is not faith until it is tested. 1 Corinthians 13:12

I head a sermon this weekend that changed the course of today’s podcast. I wanted to talk about faith as we are in a season of our Lenten journey as I record this we are walking toward the time of celebration and Easter, but most of us do not feel like celebrating because we can’t help to focus on the day to day goings on in our world. We have faith, and yet for many, our faith withstands but by the grace of God. It is often tested and we are in a sense of working within the will of God. It is amazing to think that faith well freely given is something we have to work through. For anything worthwhile in this life takes work. Jesus reminded us that faith is not faith until it is tested. Jesus reminded his apostles of A time when he would be sacrificed for us the disciples did not want to hear this and Jesus this response was frightening to us get behind me Satan. Why is this? Because the enemy does not want us to have faith because true faith cannot be broken.

I think one of the things that really has an impact on me the most is when I think about the disciples who walked with our Lord, who experienced the miracles of Jesus, who saw in him neon The Almighty. And yet during the time of his passion, they deserted him! If those who had experience Jesus fully did not know God, how can we? The only way is through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Unless God opens in aluminates our minds we cannot experience true faith. We are tested every day there are obstacles in our life there are tragedies in our life we have disappointments in our life and we often ask where is God?

But what we always see in the Scriptures is that God transforms evil into God. Even in the worst evil, we can see the greater good. Jesus talks about refining us just as the finest gold must be fired so that the impurities can be taken out. – Zechariah 13:9

1 Corinthians 15 reminds us without the cross and crucifixion there could be no resurrection. Verse 50-52 states… 

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

I think one of the greatest things that we as Christians have the help of the Almighty and the Hope that is in Christ, and without hope we would be despondent. If we know that God and only in Him and His infinite wisdom and mercy knows what is best for us–and remember, He knows every hair on our head … if this is that same God then, of course, we have the confidence to believe that He knows what we need in our lives. We think we know better. We don’t.

I often find myself in situations that are of my own doing. I often find myself saying yes before really thinking things through and when things fall apart, I always wonder, Where is God? But God hasn’t left, He is at the same address, he is there waiting for me, expecting me to go to him in prayer, and truthfully maybe I did, but I’m not even sure.

And, in the quiet, in the silence of our heart, we hear Him and He says, “Did you?” No condemnation just a simple question. That dear friend only we can answer ourselves. Today our focus as our faith is tested by fire is that instead of asking that our cross be removed, we what our Lord for the grace to face the difficulties in our lives so that we too may be winners and survive the trial. We should pray that while we believe in faith that God is there and always hears our prayers, that we pray that we can feel the hand of Almighty God around us, holding us up when we are too weak to do it on our own. In this way, our faith will be purified through trial and fire but God, while allowing these tests also allows us to have a deeper understanding of faith!

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord Jesus, I praise you and I think you and I ask my God did you send me the tools I need to withstand the evil one that you help me in my every day to focus on you on the greater good and eternity instead of the here and now. I know God you are here and today not asking my God to be with me in every step on me to shine a light before me so I know which steps to take. And I ask for a blessing on the following people that I pray for in my life and I pray this in Jesus precious name amen!