Tried by fire--I PETER I: 6

Tried by fire--I PETER 1: 6 -10

Look at the phrase "for a season." Seasons are a space of time.

Lu 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Until we get to eternity, we must go through seasons.

Now notice that phrase "if need be"

There will be some "need be's" that come as we journey through our seasons.

Sometimes it will seem like a swarm of need be's stinging us.

About the time you think the battle is over and the victory is won and everything is all right, here comes some more need be's.

I am glad that God knows just what I need. I don't always know,

I- YOUR FAITH WILL BE TRIED--verse 7--"trial of your faith"

More precious than Gold.

1-How will faith be tried?--same verse--"with fire"

Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

-notice two things in this verse

(1) God is--not was

(2) It is faith that pleases God. (Not how great we work)

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

2-The kind of faith that pleases God:

A-Comes in the fire--Daniel 3:20-21

-not many will take the fire, just want the glory

B-Cools the fire--Daniel 3:25--"they have no hurt'

C-Conquers the foe--Daniel 3:22--"slew those men"

D-Commissions the faithful--Daniel 3:30 "promoted"

3-We wouldn't know if our faith were any good, if it wasn't tried

ILL> A-Companies give warranties and guarantees with their products, they know it is good.

When you buy it, you will never know whether it is any good or not until you try it.

B-God knows that faith is good, he has no problem with it, but we will never know if our faith is any good until we try it or go through a trial.

4-NOW--back to the "need be's"--

These 3 hebrew men

Loved God,

Lived for God.

Did they need the furnace?

How many times have you and I said, "I don't need this"?

Nobody else was in the fire, just 3 hebrew men!!!

They did not need the furnace and the furnace was not for them but,

FOR THAT CROWD LOOKING ON!

5-Sometimes those things that God lets come our way--the "Need Be's"

Are for somebody else to see how we take the fire.

Ps 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

II. Your Home will be tried.

III. Your Church will be tried.

IV. The word of God has been tried.

Ps 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.