Faith Tested by Fire
Pastor Chang Kim
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Introduction: After beginning his letter with hope and encouragement, Peter proceeds with loving counsel for those who are facing trials and suffering.
Song: Refiner’s Fire
Malachi 3:2-3
For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
Proverbs 17:3
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.
Rejoicing v6
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials
The prospect of our inheritance and finishing our Christian journey should encourage us to greatly rejoice.
Faith’s Value v7
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of trials is to enrich and develop our faith which is more precious than gold.
Trials prove the genuineness of one’s faith.
Trials demonstrate our faith, trials develop our faith.
Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Our Salvation vv8-9
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Certainly, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found this to be true. Inside a furnace seven times hotter than it had ever been heated, these guys were literally in a fiery trial, yet, the Son of God, was in the fire with them.
Daniel 3:24-26 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
Conclusion After winning his third SUPER BOWL, Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots was on “60 Minutes” and he said this in his interview:
“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me?”
In contrast to this we have Dungy’s testimony in his book, Quiet Strength. For those who may not know Tony Dungy was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts who won the Super Bowl in 2007. He’s a strong Christian and in retrospect to his Super Bowl appearance he wrote this:
“The Super Bowl is great, but it’s not the greatest thing. My focus over the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl was Matthew 16:26 in which Jesus asks, ‘And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul?’ Our guys could gain all the accolades and success of this world yet lose touch with their priorities, their principles, and the God who loves them.”