The LORD's Day March 2, 2008

Fiery Trials

Proverbs 17.3

Pure Gold and Silver are produced at extremely high temperatures.

I went to Bible College at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I loved driving up into that front range of the Rockies and taking in the mountain air and the breath taking sights. The mountains were snow capped all but in the summer.

Way up near the town of Cripple Creek there was an old gold mine. It was called the Molly Catherine Gold Mine. It is no longer in operation but they do give tours of it. I have been down on the bottom of that mine, where years ago miners took out gold ore which produced pure gold. It is roasted in a kiln to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, burning off the sulfide and carbon. I have some here this morning.

The silversmith used a refining pot or crucible. He sat by it as the silver boiled. If it got too hot it could be damaged. He knew it was done when he could see His image reflected in the silver.

Malachi 3.3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness...


1. The testing of human hearts by the LORD is compared to the process of getting pure gold or silver.

Tests that the LORD design for us are to burn off the dross- evil in us and to bring out the good that God has placed in our hearts by His Spirit.

Let me give you an example. Suppose your spiritual gift is that of giving. God has blessed you and you have this desire to help others. All good. But within your heart is this desire to be recognized for your giving so you tell others about it- not good, rather wrong. God allows tests to come to burn away that desire to be seen and congratulated by man and replaces it with a desire to be seen by Him and rewarded by Him.

The testing that comes to your life may be just simply so that you will reflect His Image more. Tests and trials have a way of doing that we are not aware of. It only is seen by the LORD and others because we are growing in humility and see how far we still have to go.

Certain suffering produces greater capacity for compassion and understanding in us for others as they go through the same things. We have walked where they are walking. We can feel what they are going through. We have been wounded and healed and now we can bring healing. So often this is done, not by giving answers to questions, but by remembering those who simply listened to us in our time of need and how much of a blessing they were. We in turn do the same for others. Brother Hazard did that. People have told me about going to him and talking for half an hour or so and he would just listen and then ask, “How do you feel now?”

Job said, He knows the way I take and when He has tried me I shall come forth as gold.

2. There will be times when we as believers and followers of Jesus go through fiery trials.

Do not think something strange is happening to you. I Peter 4.12-13
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

God is treating us as His children. Hebrews 12.7-8
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons

Remember the Three Hebrew Young Men who went through the furnace. Daniel 3

God was in the fire with them and He delivered them.

Walk with Him in the fire and wait for the LORD to deliver you.


3. Jesus spoke of His death as a baptism of fire. Luke 12.50
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed (Luke 12.50)

Jesus suffered beyond words. It is not something we can understand completely. We do know this, whatever we go through is not worth comparing what He went through for us to be saved.

However since He suffered He is able to sympathize with us. He knows what we are going through when we go through fiery trials.

Be careful how you use those words, “I know what you are going through.” In fact don’t use them unless you are absolutely sure Don’t use, “I don’t know what you are going through either.” Neither bring comfort to the soul who is suffering. No one’s suffering is the same but Jesus’ suffering includes all of us.

4. Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble John 16.33

*We will have trouble.
Pressure, distress, in straits


*We don’t need to be troubled. 14.1
Jesus’ words to His disciples were just hours before He would be arrested, Do not let your hearts be troubled. We see the examples of God’s people walking through the fire but at the same time realizing He is walking with them. He will keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast because He trusts in Him.

Don’t be agitated, don’t have commotion inside. Don’t be restless. Don’t allow your calmness of mind to slip away. Don’t have allow your spirit to be struck with fear and dread


*He has overcome the world.
Jesus has conquered the world.
He has carried off the victory.

We can unwillingly give the enemy what he is seeking for when we dwell on our problems and allow the peace of God to replaced with fretting and worry.

5. Jesus sets the example in His death as to what we are to aim for when trials come to us.

Submit to God’s Will I Peter 4.19
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Sometimes this is easy.
We have this idea that submitting to God’s will is always a struggle. There are certainly times it is but not always. Sometimes where He is calling us to and where He is leading us to is joyful. It was when 25 years ago He began to draw my heart back to the Island.

Sometimes it is difficult.
Abraham was called to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.

At other times is can be very hard.

Jesus offered Himself up at that same place- Mount Moriah, The Temple Mount, Mount Calvary are all part of the same mountain range in Jerusalem.

Humility Hebrews 2.5-13

Look to heaven Mark 6.41

Rest In the Father’s Hands Deuteronomy 33.27
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

In this world you are going to have trouble! There will be times that through fiery trials our pathway will lie. The LORD is purifying our hearts and lives. He wants us to reflect Him.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12.2-3

God is working in us, even when we go through fiery trials. There are no shortcuts to spiritual growth. Life is not a game of Chutes & Ladders or Candy Land. It is a walk o faith and holiness. He is with us and will be with us til the end.

Let Him work His will out in your life. Trust in Him with all your heart.
It will be worth it all!