Tried by fire Part II

"Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hottern than ususal and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace." Daniel 3:19-20

So you see sometimes God DOES allow us to be tried and tested by fire. Sometimes...the heat is turned up in our lives! Although it is difficult to be tried and tested by fire, the Bible teaches us there is a purpose for our experience. There is two points I want to make on why God allows us to be tested by fire.

1. To test our faith.
2. To test our works.

1. To test our faith-God wants to not only test our faith but to strengthen it. The only way faith is strengthened is to be tested. You can't get stronger in the gym if you aren't "testing" or allowing your muscles to experience resistence. That's how they grow!
The Bible says in I Peter "though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved geniune and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

2. To test our works.-God will allow our "works" or ministry to be tested by fire to reveal whether it is of man or of God. It will reveal not only our character but the character of the ministry we have established.
"...his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work." (I Cor.3:13)

Bottom line- Although yes God will allow us to be tested by fire we must understand one thing...He is right there in the fire with us!

"Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"...He said, "Look!" I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." (Daniel 3:25)

That verse gives me chills everytime I read it! Although these three men were tried by fire (literally) they walked in it! But they didn't walk in it alone, Jesus was with them and Jesus will be with you! The fire should have burned them! The fire should have killed them! It should have destroyed them but it didn't because they were walking with Jesus!

I don't know what you are going through today and I don't know how your faith is being tested but one thing I do know and that is Jesus is walking with you through the fire! Just like Nebuchadnezzar could see that, can people see the Jesus in you as you face your trials? Do they see you endure or do they see you complain? Does it witness to them? Do they wonder how come you are able to endure trials like no one else?

Jesus eventually delivered them out of the fire!
"So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire..."
Once Jesus delivers you out of your trial was his purpose accomplished? Did your faith prove genuine? Are you stronger? Are you refined?

I encourage you to take the time to read Daniel 3 and allow God to personally minister to you. It really blessed me! Thank God for his word!