REFINING

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

1 Peter 1:7

These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.

That is what he shared.

Who you ask?

S.N. last night at FREEDOM CHURCH in Xenia.

S.N. was speaking from EXPERIENCE when he shared that passage. He had and continues to face MANY trials. S.N.’s life has been littered with sad circumstances and poor decision making. Hit past dotted with moments of incarceration, accusation and difficulty. Lost loved ones, long patches of despondence, black outs and trouble had done their best to define him.

But there was S.N. last night wearing an ear to ear smile through a less than managed goatee. There was a fella who had “seen and done” a lot; drugs, alcohol, you name it and now the only thing he was interested in doing was “JESUS”.

All that mattered now was “coming glory” and not a checkered past!

S.N. tells a remarkable story.

It is one of perseverance, redemption, grace and power!

It is validation that GOD can take the worst of us, redeem it and free us!

Ephesians 1:7

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!

We all will be faced with trials in this life; some circumstantial, some by our own doing and deciding. But one thing is perfectly and crystal clear. No trial, no difficulty will be wasted if we see them as S.N. sees them; as refinement from our FATHER.

A wise man has said that GOD loves us the way we are, he just doesn’t want to leave us that way. And the truth is that the trials we face are just the pathway to a more amazing hope and future possibility!

So let’s be like S.N. Let’s not cower in the face of trial rather we should like he does and EMBRACE them! We should let those difficult times refine us and define us.

The WORD says we are to even REJOICE in them!

Romans 5:3-5

We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Perhaps in the last days or weeks you too have been “tried”.

Don’t run!

Rejoice!

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

You are being refined for glory!

Have a blessed day…

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney