Introduction: How is our faith in Jesus being refined? Can you tell? Check out the following progression. 

1. Faith Defined! (Heb 11:1)

“Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is based on believing God’s Word. Simply put, it is taking our Lord at His Word. There is saving faith, living faith, and dying faith. Do we really exercise trust in the Lord? Even through the fires of affliction, is our dependence upon Him?

2. Faith Refined! (1Pet 1:6,7)

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

In order for our Faith in Jesus to grow, it must be refined on a continuous basis….from glory to glory. Is your faith in Jesus being tested right now? What should you do? 

Answer: Let the Master Potter….mold and make you after His will. 

In the crucible, our faith is being purified. That is what Peter is teaching. So now, is your faith being purified?

3. Faith Designed! (Rom 4:19-21)

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

In God’s economy, the element of faith is the key that unlocks heaven’s blessings. Will you unlock the door?

Conclusion: While this is simple, yet it is profound – Faith is the victory – from root to fruit. So is your faith in Jesus growing or shrinking through the fires? It is meant to be enlarged.

Once we step back and see the big picture, then we can cooperate as our faith is being refined through the furnace of affliction.