1 Peter 1:7
Joy’s Notes:
1 Peter 1:7
“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. (Whoa)
It is being tested as fire TESTS & PURIFIES gold—(though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.)
So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
————
(Godly) FAITH= “faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.”
Heb 11:1
111 & my daughter…
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Trials REVEAL where our faith actually IS!
2020
Everyone has faith— but where have you placed it?
• We place it in: myself, someone else , something else some place else
Wisdom
Knowledge
Horoscope/psychics
Stocks/bank acct.
Charm
Manipulation
Deceit
Control
Isaiah 47:10-11 “ but your wisdom and knowledge have lead you astray… & you won’t be able to CHARM this away… or BUY your way out.”
We may think it’s in God until I:
Lose my job
Lose my marriage
Lose my health
Lose my money
Lose reputation
What we thought was faith was actually me controlling my life— & now that a trial has hit I realize I’m POWERLESS-
👉The root of control (misplace faith) is FEAR! (Empathy for controllers)
“For God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love & sound mind!” 2 Tim 1:7
👉And most of us are left realizing we had very little Faith (in God)—
• TREADMILL STORY(misplaced remote)
We don’t lack faith— we misplace it!
The enemy KNOWS the Bible verse that says,
“without faith (in God) it is impossible to pleaseGod.” (Heb 11:6)
👇
So he Convinces us to MISPLACE our faith & place it in FAULTY people- things- places that WILL eventually fail us!
“Miracles WILL BE part of my story.”
👇
THIS CAN ONLY BE TRUE WHEN WE HAVE FAITH IN GOD!
Psalm 20:7
“some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Isaiah 31: 1&3
“What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their horses, chariots and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking to the LORD, the Holy One of Israel…these Egyptians are MERE humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits!”
———
FAITH TESTED BY FIRE:
“people ripped others off by taking gold & MIXING it w/ other metals - to “look like” gold.
👇
before gold was purchased, it needed to be tested to be genuine.
We can “LOOK” the part; until a trial comes our way—
👉REAL gold that was tested by fire, came out of furnace weighing the same as it went in proving it genuine.
👉FAKE gold had impurities, false gods, idols, etc on it & weighed LESS after being put thru the fire!
what am I CLINGING to?
THE WILDERNESS (Israelites in wilderness 40 years)
(Taken from Bible teacher: Kristi McLelland)
👇
“God does some of His best work in the wilderness.”
Western christian culture in WILDERNESS=
1. How long God?
2. What’s the exit plan?
3. What did I do wrong?
4. Are you punishing me?
5. What do I need to do to get out?
6. Get me OUT OF HERE!
The Israelite (Hebrew)people/
Middle East)=
Viewed wilderness as the “place” to get a Word from the Lord!
Hebrew word for ‘WORD’ = “dabar”
Hebrew word for ‘wilderness’ = “midbar”
Israelites ASK In wilderness =
• “what is my dabar in my midbar?
👇
(What is my WORD in my WILDERNESS)
The wilderness becomes a place of UNION & COMMUNION W/ God! (Tabernacle hovering)
🔥Moses - burning bush in MIDBAR (wilderness)
🔥Elijah- flees to MIDBAR (& hears still small voice/ A dabar!
🔥Jesus- 40 days in MIDBAR fasting — his ministry began because of his time in midbar!
🔥Paul went to Arabia for 3 yrs after Damascus (Arabia is IN the MIDBAR)
“Sometimes We want the WARMTH of Jesus , but we don’t want the FIRE of Jesus!
We want the COMFORT, but not the WRECKING
• FIRE in the hands of God isnt going to burn you up, it’s going to burn things out!” -Kristi McLelland
Are you willing to receive your dabar in your midbar?
Because: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”
⁃ Joseph Campbell
Anita’s Notes:
