Gold Tried By Fire

Hebrews 12:11-17  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

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Perspective has a lot to do with how we think, and how we face our challenges in walk the of faith. Now, we could go through hard things in life and complain (like the children of Israel going through the wilderness) or we could look at it the way God sees it and declares it in His Word.

In a majority of Hebrew 12 it speaks of God disciplining his children. A good father will discipline His children, because he want's what is best for the child, else the child continues in foolishness.
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Proverbs 13:24  He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

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It's strange that contrary to the scriptures, it's now passed off that it is wrong to beat our children for the sake of discipline. Now it seems only necessary to "ground" them. But my observation of society tells me that method is not working, as effectively as what God shows here. Any righteous loving parent will do what it takes to set their child on the path of righteousness, even if some tears are shed.

God does the same. Consider all that Job went through. He lost his property, servants, livestock, and children; even his health.
Was it because of sin? No but because God wanted to prove Job.

God will prove us too. He will discipline us so that we cease from evil, learn patience, bare the fruits of righteousness and be more dependent on Him.

Consider the trials you have been through, how, if you waited patiently and endured through it, you became stronger with faith in the power that Jesus Christ has to keep you. However if you didn't learn your lesson, you may have faced another problem quite similar.

If you fail a test you'll have to take it again. It is to test to see if you have learned to endure.
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James 5:7-11  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.  8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.  10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

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Jesus came and also went through trials, even to death because our sins put Him on that tree.
I really want others who believe in the health, wealth and prosperity gospel to get this one thing:

Salvation isn't about having your best life now with all that the world can give you. It's about living for Jesus Christ in holiness whether in abundance or in lack. In John 15, before His betrayal, Jesus Christ said this to his disciples:
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John 15:7-11  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Christ said many things of the wickedness of this world and the trial and the temptation, the importance of abiding in Him and the blessings His Father has in store for those that love Him, so that their joy might be full. There is joy in serving Jesus Christ.

Patiently wait on the Lord. Consider what Christ had to go through for us, look at all the prophets of old who suffered for the sake of God and were willing.
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James 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Romans 8:28-39  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Job 13:15  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

God loves you. He knows what's best.

No respecter of persons

"God is no respecter of persons."

It is a profound statement that really need to understand (I speak for myself also).
Now in our day and age position and prestige are revered and preferred above the regular man.
The kings and the queens, prince and princesses; all the royalties will be given the high esteem.

The same for our education and governments goes. Well of course the scriptures do tell us to respect and give honour those that are in power over the land. The three Hebrew boys in the land of Babylon had respect unto king Nebuchadnezzar, even though he was in the wrong. This is how it is in the world.

The church is to be different. Do we give preference over certain brethren? Do we prefer the well off one's that God has bless financially, or do have an equal love for the brethren?

James 2:1-9 KJV

1  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.2  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;3  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:4  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?6  But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?7  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?8  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

We can easily fall into this mess. The scriptures say it is  SIN to do this. This shows we in heart love one brethren and hate the other. 

1 John 3:14-18 KJV

14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Originally I wanted to point out something brother Paul had said, and I'm going to.

Paul we know was a faithful apostle, and great preacher, and man willing to suffer all manner of persecution for the church's sake so that they would be spotless at the coming of Christ.

Here's one thing that Paul did not do. He did not exempt himself from the possible wrath of God. He always encouraged that those who are faithful will inherit the Kingdom of God, but those that live in sin will be destroyed in God's wrath.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 KJV

24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

It's a sobering conclusion he makes. Paul could preach all he wanted, healed and evangelized, don't might miracles for thousands and started dozens of churches in his ministry, and all these are good things, but, if he lived a life of sin hidden from everyone else, his efforts to please the Lord, would be in vain.

Are we living in sin? Is it a secret to everyone else, yet we allow it to overtake us. Be forewarned. If we don't overcome it through the grace that has been given to us and justify until we don't see it as a sin, will be cast into the lake of fire, because we didn't wholeheartedly serve God.

2 Peter 2:20-22 KJV

20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Jesus Christ pointed it out in the sermon of the mount.

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV

21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The Lord Jesus Christ, he will never through a righteous man into destruction only the wicked will go there.
These people did miracles and preached and in the end they won't inherit the righteous's reward. It says MANY. No doubt some of them will be well known and highly esteemed. They could be in your church too or you could be one of them with positions in the church. 

I urge you to examine your heart, your soul, your intentions, everything. Plead for mercy and grace to overcome. The time is short and wickedness abounds.

It may sound harsh to some but it's a hard truth I've accepted. You should too. God uses two methods I realize to save people. He will encourage you as you follow Him and He will chastise you if you seem to veer off the path to turn from Him.

Consider my words as I do the same. May Jesus Christ truly help us.

Chastisement

Do you ever get that feeling, while watching a fellow Christian with the wrong habit, to give them correction to let them grow more Christ-like but tend to draw back from it because he or she may take offence to it.
You probably have it in your head that they'll end up say something like: "Why are you judging me?" or
"You know it was just a joke, lighten up."

I was conversing online with a friend of mine earlier today. I've known her for a few years now and we talk from time to time. Today she shared with me something about a bad habit she had, something I had noticed when we first met. I'm glad to say that she now realizes that it was wrong of her and has made it up in her heart to repent of it.

But it got me thinking of something...
Are we willing correct those who need correcting regardless of what their justification? (I speak of those who are in the faith). Do we shy away from being an offence to others for the sake of friendliness?
An even more interesting question is, when was the last time you received correction from someone more mature in the faith and how did you take to it?

Receiving Correction

Scripture points to two types of person when it comes to correction:

Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

The wise and foolish are quite contrary, one to another and the book of Proverbs are really shows what they are.

For a foolish person, receiving correction is a problem since more than not, they are "wise in their own eyes" and "it's fine... don't worry about it".
The person correcting us isn't trying to embarrass us or humiliate us. Their first priority is to build us up spiritually. They see something wrong and they want to help. Now God will send correction anyway he sees fit, whether by brethren, through His Word, your God-given conscience (keep it sharp) or maybe even in a circumstance.
Nevertheless, it is for our own good.

Hebrews 12:5 -11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

I'll give an example of myself. While in my 4th year of University and acquiring for skills in animation, I started to brag to one of my classmates about what I could do. My Christian friend, Garwin, came over to me afterwards while I was standing by myself and told me what I did was wrong, and I shouldn't be trying to exalt myself like that. How did I take it? I told him "Thank you", because I understood what he wanted for me.
It's like what most parents will probably do for their rebellious teenagers, but as teens (for those of us who are here) we've see it another way. It's strange too not only when they tell us not to do what we want to, but they usually end up being right in the long run.

In all honesty, correction is good for us to receive. It shows that God is caring for us, and it is better to receive it willingly.

Giving Correction

Giving correction isn't something for a person who thinks they are better of when they aren't:

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

It's really good when we can care enough to correct someone, however sometimes we may get angry for what our brethren may have done and say it in such a way that rather than them being more encouraged to continue in the Lord or even to do the right thing, they get offended and feel degraded.

Listen, none of us are perfect but the aim is to strive to perfection.
There is something my wife and I discuss sometimes and it's about how to talk to people.

"You can be right in what you say, but wrong in how you say it," she'd say sometimes, and I agree.

We have to consider for a moment, how would we want to the situation to be handled with us? Are we so "over-righteous" (holier than thou attitude) that we cannot care for them. It's possible to be like a Pharisee in how we reason with people.

Ecclesiastes 7:16  Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 

Paul spoke about how he would have come to the brethren in Corinth and basically asked them "Which would you prefer, A or B, A or B?"

1 Corinthians 4:18-21
18  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21  What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

So let's really consider how we give and receive correction from our brethren okay, and remember, we don't belittle the sin but we pull out brethren out of it with love.

Jude 1:20-2520  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 See also: James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8

Bless God and God bless.