Rooted In Christ – Storms Of Life
The wind is oftentimes the mechanism that God uses to build us up.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
“It is not the experience of trials that is important, but our reaction to them” -Warren Wiersbe
1 Peter 1:6-7 “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
The fire was the only thing that could separate the precious from the worthless.
The refiner would never walk away
The fires of life isn’t evidence that God has left you. It is evidence that he is sitting right there with his eyes directly on you the whole time.
1 Peter 4:12-14 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
Malachi 3: 1-3 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 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.”
Three pictures of perfecting:
- Wind for trees
- Fire for metal
- Pounding for wool
These are not aimed at punishment, but perfection.
God’s goal – To remove from you what isn’t really you.
