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. 

Introduction: Where is our mission field? It is wherever we are located. That means Walmart, the gas station, the neighborhood, or our home.

Don’t forget, we are witnesses.

1. A Christian Witness is someone who testifies to what Jesus Christ has done! (2Cor 5:20)

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

The word “ambassador” is πρεσβεύω which means a representative. That is a great responsibility to represent Jesus Christ! How are you doing?

2. A Christian Witness is someone who demonstrates a Changed life! (2Cor 5:17)

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Jesus makes the difference. Can others see Jesus in you?

3. A Christian Witness is someone who is motivated by the love of Christ! (2Cor 5:14,15)

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”

2Co 5:15 – “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto them selves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

What a motivation? The love of Christ!

Conclusion: Are you a witness? What kind? We represent the One & Only Jesus Christ! Therefore, we are on missions.

Introduction: Did we choose Jesus or did Jesus choose us? The latter is ultimately true. What does that mean? How should we respond?

1. We should respond with a good attitude! (John 15:16)

“You’ve not Chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

What a statement! Jesus reminds His disciples as well as those who are followers today that He chose us, not the opposite. Now granted, by His grace we receive Him (John 1:12). But ultimately, He sought us out, saved us by His previous redeeming blood, and has promised to return for us some day. 

This should cause us to watch and wait for His coming. Are you?

2. We should respond with gratitude! (Luke 17:15 -19)

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

As gratitude was found in this one and only leper, may it be said of those of us who name the name of Jesus that we are thankful!

3. We should respond in flying higher in Altitude! (1Cor 1:26-31)

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Are you glorying in the flesh or in the Lord?

Conclusion: Bottom line: We are debtors as Paul wrote….to live for the glory of our Lord since He chose us and purchased our redemption.

CHOSEN and KEPT by JESUS!

Introduction: Do you ever feel stressed? Have you ever been abandoned by a friend or family? What should you do? Take note how our Lord handled stress. Even though He was fully God, He was fully man at the same time. But His plate was full! People were clinging to Him desperately needing healing and help. He faced challenges on every hand but He OVERCAME them!

The Disciples left Him at the most crucial moment of His life! (Mark 14:43-50)

“43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. 50 And they all forsook him, and fled.”

Have you ever been betrayed? Abandoned? Did you feel helpless?

Conclusion: Jesus gives us His life through His Spirit to be able to OVERCOME. When we feel stressed and lonely, He’s with us. We are never alone. 

Introduction: Your attitude will either “Make you” or “Break you”! It is true. Our ATTITUDE controls our ALTITUDE! How is your ATTITUDE these days? 

This writer needs an ATTITUDE adjustment daily! 

This devotion is not built upon pop psychology, or just mere positive thinking; instead, it is TRUTH that TRANSFORMS.

Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired prescription for a GOOD ATTITUDE! (Phil 4:8)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Keep in mind, Paul was a man who constantly faced adversity. Remember his testimony.

“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Cor 11:23-28).

Can anybody relate? Doubtful. Jesus Christ could. But do you recall what our Lord had told Ananias about Paul. 

“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16).

Conclusion: Developing a good attitude of gratitude is made in the crucibles of life; i.e. suffering hardships. 

But it is in the oven of affliction that God refines His servants. The dross is removed. Grace is put in place. And character is formed. Consequently, our ATTITUDE changes our perspective about life.

Are you going through something right now? Could it be that the Spirit of God is up to changing some things, like our ATTITUDE?

Then, bring it on.

Introduction: Do the tongue and temper go hand in hand? Yes. How do we know? The book of James along with Solomon’s writings in Proverbs tells us. 

1. Two ears and one tongue! (James 1:19)

“19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift  to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

A Christian lady once asked me this question: “Preacher, why do you think God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth?” She continued, “To do TWICE as much LISTENING than TALKING”!

Needless to say, we had a big laugh!!

Secondly, she asked, “Preacher, have you ever seen cow manure?” To which I replied, of course. Then she said, “If you leave it alone, it will dry out fast, but if you stir it up, it will STINK more”!

I got it!! Do you get it?

The word “wrath” is ὀργή, (or-gay’), which is defined by impulse, anger, passion; punishment, vengeance. In other words, our Lord is instructing His children through the pen of James to not “fly off the handle”! Instead, let the fruit of the Spirit – self control – kick in!

Nine times out of ten, if that is practiced, it will end well, or at least better. 

2. Slow down to anger! (Prov 16:32)

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

The nature of anger speeds us up; i.e. jump to conclusions. But rather than that, we should allow the Holy Spirit to work in our thoughts and reactions. It always ends better when we give room to the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion: There we have it…..the tongue and the temper. One can control the other if gone unchecked. As we’ve seen, it is best to let the Holy Spirit take control.

Introduction: How can we be angry and not sin? Inspired by the Holy Spirit, in one of his letters to a Church, Paul reminds us today as well as then that letting anger linger is not good. In fact, it can lead to giving place to the devil. But wait a minute. Someone asked the question, wasn’t Jesus angry? True. However, Jesus never sinned. If He had committed even one sin then He could not have died for our sins. 

So how do we explain this subject about sin?

1. Unchecked Anger is BAD! (Eph 4:26,27)

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”

Unchecked anger means it has gone unchecked….unresolved. Is your anger unchecked?

2. Checked Out Anger is O.K! (Eph 4:31,32)

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Checked Out anger means it’s been checked out! Thrown out! Dealt with! Nipped in bud!

Has your anger been Checked Out?

Conclusion: Why not have a “Check Up” today? See if your anger is Unchecked or Checked Out?

Introduction: Years ago, just before flying overseas on a mission trip and while standing and praying in an elderly Christian lady’s home, a sign on the wall said the following:

“The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God cannot keep you.”

Paul learned that truth in the nineteenth chapter of the book of Acts.

1. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus! (Acts 19:1-8)

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples…. And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”

It appears that the Holy Spirit led Paul to Ephesus. Are we being led by the Spirit?

2. Paul faced demonic activity in Ephesus! (Acts 19:14-20)

“14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

This was a good sign that God was up to a work in Ephesus. Are you facing opposition?

3. Paul faced hostility! (Acts 19:24-27)

“And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.”

Satanically driven people hated the work of the Holy Spirit; it intrudes on their domain. 

4. Paul was brought to safety! (Acts 19:35-37)

“35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.”

Did you notice how God can even use anyone to accomplish His will, in this case the town clerk?

Conclusion: When you are facing opposition, know this, that you must be in the will of God. Also be assured where the Lord guides, He provides. 

Introduction: Are you prepared for the storms of life? How can we get ready? What do we need to do? Storms are inevitable. Storms come in different seasons of life. But regardless, we can get Storm Ready.

Here’s how:

1. Build on the Right Foundation! (Matt 7:24-27)

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

Jesus taught His disciples about the two different foundations which one could build upon. One is SAND. The other is ROCK. When obeyed His Word becomes a ROCK solid foundation. Are you building upon the ROCK or SAND?

2. Build with the Right Materials! (1Cor 3:11-16)

“10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

This is a description of what will take place futuristically at the Judgment Seat of Christ. We are building with the materials – whether Right or Wrong – at the present time. 

Are you making it FIREPROOF?

3. Build with the Right Forecast in mind! (Matt 24:27)

“27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

At this event, the Storm will be over!

Jesus is coming like He said!

Conclusion: Get ready for the Storms of life. They’re coming! But we can be STORM READY!

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:” (Rev 22:3).

1. The Curse! (Rev 22:3)

“And there shall be no more curse.”

The word “curse” is κατάθεμα,(kat-an-ath’-em-ah), which literally means a curse, an accursed thing.

Death and disease started with the fall of man in the garden. Because of the devil’s deception and man’s disobedience, the curse came. But God had a plan from eternity past. God the Son would come to earth, live a life without sin and consequently be willing to pay the penalty for our sins.

2. The Cure! (Rev 22:3)

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.”

The “throne” speaks of authority and majesty. Because of the Conquering King, the curse has been overcome. Jesus rules! Satan, sickness and sin loses.

3. The Conqueror! (Rev 22:4-21)