1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
[7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
God wants us to know that there will be times when we will have battles; our faith will be tried.
Peter calls these times "manifold temptations". This means they hit us from every side often with devastating consequences.
Peter speaks of the refining process that gold goes through. When it’s put to the flame the impurities come to the top. The result is far purer gold than before.
When Jesus allows us to go through the furnace of affliction, it serves to remove from our lives things that were not needed and it brings us into a closer and purer relationship with the Lord.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Through It All
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I've had many tears and sorrows, — I've had questions for tomorrow, — there's been times I didn't know right from wrong. — But in every situation, — God gave me blessed consolation, — that my trials come to only make me strong.
CHORUS:
Through it all, — through it all, — I've learned to trust in Jesus, — I've learned to trust in God. — Through it all, — through it all, — I've learned to depend upon His Word.
I've been to lots of places, — I've seen a lot of faces, — There's been times I felt so all alone. — But in my lonely hours, — yes, those precious lonely hours, — Jesus let me know that I was His own.
I thank God for the mountains, — and I thank Him for the valleys, — I thank Him for the storms He brought me through. — For if I'd never had a problem, — I wouldn't know God could solve them, — I'd never know what faith in God could do.
Andrae Crouch
Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. Also, “Then Sings My Soul”.
