This sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God through trials and challenges, highlighting how God refines and purifies us like gold through the fires of life. It discusses the concept of brokenness and how God lifts us up by His grace alone, transforming us to bring glory only to Him. The speaker shares a personal testimony of experiencing God's perfect work in his life, leading to a deeper understanding of God's ways and the manifestation of Christ-likeness.

In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a group of British men who were supposed to protect people from a man-eating lion but failed because one of them fell asleep. The speaker then emphasizes that things are happening rapidly in the world and urges the audience to be vigilant because the devil is like a roaring lion seeking to harm them. The speaker encourages the audience to believe in the existence of the devil and warns against complacency. The sermon also highlights the importance of drawing near to God through worship and waiting upon Him. The speaker shares a testimony of a family who initially had no time for worship but eventually realized its importance and experienced a transformation. The sermon concludes with the reminder that God is working in the lives of those who have a heart that is perfect toward Him and that His power is able to exceed all expectations. The audience is encouraged to remain watchful, prayerful, and ready for the coming of the Lord.

Thomas Reade preaches on the topic of affliction, emphasizing that God afflicts His people out of love, with the purpose of correcting, healing, and ultimately doing them good. Affliction serves to draw believers closer to God, revealing their need for Him and leading them to a deeper level of sanctification. Through affliction, believers learn to value their relationship with Jesus above all earthly possessions, find comfort in God's promises, and experience the sweetness of His love even in the midst of trials. Reade highlights that affliction, when sanctified by God's grace, transforms natural evils into spiritual blessings, fostering humility, gratitude, and a deeper dependence on God.

C.H. Spurgeon warns against the dangers of prosperity, emphasizing that even the most devout Christians can fall into presumption when surrounded by success and comfort. He reflects on the biblical example of David, who declared, 'I shall never be moved,' and cautions that such confidence can lead to spiritual complacency. Spurgeon encourages believers to recognize the value of afflictions and challenges, as they keep us grounded and reliant on God. He asserts that without trials, we risk becoming intoxicated by pleasure and losing our awareness of spiritual dangers. Ultimately, he praises God for the lessons learned through hardship, reminding us that afflictions are often sent in mercy.

Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about unwavering trust in God even in the midst of afflictions and suffering, drawing inspiration from Job 13:15 and Isaiah 48:10. She emphasizes the refining process through afflictions, highlighting the assurance that God's love is constantly at work for our salvation. Tileston encourages surrendering all troubles and afflictions to the Lord, trusting in His wisdom to use them for our good and growth.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God's severe judgments serve as a wake-up call for individuals and nations to cease from sin and return to Him. He illustrates that God's corrections are meant to instruct and purify us, revealing the hidden sins in our hearts during times of prosperity. Just as rust is removed from iron through fire, so too are we awakened to our true selves through fiery trials. Brooks notes that in moments of affliction, our sins become evident, allowing us to confront our pride, unbelief, and discontent. Ultimately, he asserts that afflictions act as a mirror, reflecting both the greatness of God and the vileness of sin.

J.R. Miller emphasizes the beauty and significance of the commonplace in Christian life, illustrating how ordinary acts of kindness and service can reflect God's glory. He encourages believers to find joy in daily tasks and to cultivate a heart of love and service, reminding them that true Christian living is not just about grand gestures but also about the small, loving actions that impact others. Miller highlights the importance of maintaining a close relationship with God, suggesting that our works should stem from a place of love and devotion rather than mere duty. He also reflects on the transformative power of suffering and how it can lead to spiritual growth and deeper faith.

Octavius Winslow emphasizes that the Lord serves as our Refiner and Purifier, shaping our trials and afflictions to sanctify us and prepare us for glory. He reassures us that Jesus, who endured suffering for us, is intimately involved in our refining process, patiently watching over us as we undergo trials. Winslow highlights the necessity of this refining to remove our inward corruption and make us partakers of divine holiness. He encourages believers to trust in the Lord's loving control over their lives, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles. Ultimately, the refining process is a testament to God's love and commitment to transforming us into His image.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God uses severe providences and fiery trials to refine and purify His people from sin, much like how gold and silver are refined in fire. He illustrates that all believers, despite their best efforts, carry corruption and dross that need to be purged through trials. These challenges serve as a medicinal process to cleanse the soul and help believers overcome their strong lusts, ultimately leading to a more virtuous life. Brooks encourages the faithful to bless God for these trials, as they lead to spiritual victory and growth. The sermon highlights the transformative power of God's refining process in the lives of His people.

A.T. Robertson preaches about the importance of living a life focused on intrinsic, eternal values rather than superficial or comparative ones. He emphasizes that the essence of the gospel is to bring to light life and incorruption through Jesus Christ, who abolished death. Robertson explains that incorruption is the standard measure of heaven and should be applied to every aspect of believers' lives, including their knowledge, Christian work, and personal growth. He challenges listeners to evaluate their lives based on the incorruptible nature of their actions, teachings, and emotions, emphasizing that God values depth, solidity, and intensity in building eternal value.

Charles E. Cowman preaches on the comforting truth that God has chosen His people even in the midst of afflictions, assuring believers that His presence is their comfort and safety in fiery trials. Regardless of the challenges faced, whether poverty or sickness, knowing that God has chosen them brings hope and strength to endure. The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's sovereign will and holding still in the midst of pain and suffering, believing that He is shaping and refining His chosen ones for a greater purpose.

Octavius Winslow emphasizes the profound sympathy of Christ for believers, illustrating that their afflictions are part of God's sovereign plan to refine and discipline them. He explains that believers are often chosen in the furnace of affliction, which serves to deepen their faith and reliance on God. Winslow encourages believers to view their trials as opportunities for spiritual growth and to recognize that Christ, having shared in human suffering, intimately understands their pain. He reassures that through these experiences, believers can find comfort in the unwavering love and sympathy of Jesus, who bears their burdens alongside them. Ultimately, Winslow calls for a response of trust and submission to God's will in the midst of trials.

A.W. Tozer emphasizes that God’s process of transforming us into extraordinary Christians often involves painful and challenging experiences, akin to a sculptor using harsh tools to shape marble. He explains that God may remove our most cherished possessions and trusts, leaving us with emptiness, but this is not about promoting poverty; rather, it is about spiritual refinement. God allows us to have these things but restricts our ability to find joy in them, ensuring they do not harm our spiritual growth. The ultimate goal is to create beauty and holiness within us through this dross removal process.

In this sermon, the preacher delves into the concept of fiery ordeal as depicted in the Bible, particularly focusing on the refining process likened to a smelting furnace where impurities are removed. The fiery trials symbolize the challenges and sufferings believers face, aiming to purify their character to be more Christ-like. The preacher emphasizes the importance of enduring these trials with faith and trust in God's refining work, drawing parallels to the meticulous process of refining silver and gold. Through various biblical examples and insights, the sermon highlights the purpose of afflictions as tests that ultimately lead to spiritual growth and the manifestation of God's image in believers.

Charles Mchatton preaches about how God refines and chooses His children in the furnace of affliction, using trials, oppression, and humiliating experiences to purify their hearts and prepare them for higher ministry. Just like how automobiles are tested before being put on the market, God tests His children to reveal weaknesses and refine them. Through the examples of Moses, Joseph, and the three Hebrew children, it is evident that God chooses and refines His workers in times of distress and difficulty, enlarging them for effective ministry when they remain faithful in the midst of trials.

J.R. Miller emphasizes the transformative power of prayer, illustrating how Jesus was transfigured while praying, and how this transfiguration can manifest in the lives of believers. He explains that prayer not only brings us closer to God but also changes our hearts, faces, and circumstances, allowing us to reflect Christ's glory. Miller highlights that through prayer, cares, sorrows, and duties are transfigured into blessings, teaching us valuable lessons and deepening our character. He encourages believers to embrace prayer as a means of surrendering to God's will, which ultimately leads to spiritual transformation. The sermon concludes with the assurance that prayer brings divine grace and blessings into our lives, changing our weaknesses into strengths.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes the importance of reflecting on past troubles and afflictions as a means to find peace during current adversities. He encourages believers to consider how previous hardships have revealed sin, humbled their hearts, and deepened their relationship with God. By remembering the benefits gained from past sufferings, one can cultivate a spirit of silence and trust in God's continued faithfulness and goodness. Brooks urges the faithful to recognize that God uses afflictions to prepare their hearts for greater spiritual enjoyment and to foster compassion towards others. Ultimately, he calls for a quiet trust in God's ability to work good through present trials, just as He has in the past.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes that trials serve as a divine mirror, revealing the hidden sins and flaws within Christians. Just as scum rises to the surface when a pot is heated, the pressures of life expose pride, impatience, and worldliness in our hearts. These challenges are opportunities for self-reflection and growth, allowing believers to confront their sinful nature and seek God's cleansing. Brooks encourages Christians to embrace trials as a means of understanding their true selves and drawing closer to God.

Charles E. Cowman preaches about the mystery of prayer, emphasizing that many of our struggles and trials are actually answers to our prayers. Through various challenges, God molds us into the image of Christ, teaching us patience, submission, unselfishness, strength, humility, and other virtues we pray for. The key to finding peace and victory is to accept every circumstance as coming from a loving Father, dwelling in His presence, and trusting His divine plan for our lives.

Charles E. Cowman shares a powerful message about finding purpose and praise in the midst of suffering, using the analogy of a log on fire releasing a beautiful melody hidden within. Through the story of a dark and gloomy day, Mrs. Charles Spurgeon reflects on the questions of why God allows pain and weakness in our lives, only to discover that it is through the fire of affliction that our true songs of praise and trust in God are released. Like the old oak log, we may feel cold and hardened by life's trials, but it is in the midst of the fire that our hearts can be softened and purified, offering melodies of faith and surrender to God.

J.C. Philpot preaches about the refining fire that tests every man's work, not just as God's wrath in the last day, but also as the fiery trials experienced in this life. These trials, sent by God through afflictions and temptations, burn up the superficial and reveal the genuineness of one's faith. The fiery trial exposes the inadequacy of worldly refuges and highlights the enduring nature of God's work in the soul, like gold refined in a furnace.

James Bourne preaches about the journey of being found by the Lord, feeling lost and condemned, but ultimately experiencing deliverance and enlightenment through God's mercy and grace. He emphasizes the importance of humbling oneself, acknowledging one's faults, and surrendering to God's will, even in the face of trials and misunderstandings from others. Bourne encourages leaning on God's wisdom rather than relying on human understanding, and highlights the refining process God takes us through to purify our hearts and bring us closer to Him.

James Smith preaches about the importance of being zealous for the truth of the gospel, living in earnest, and adorning the teaching of God with a consistent and holy walk. He emphasizes the need to be faithful stewards of God's blessings, to be diligent in using our resources for His glory, and to avoid the bad companions of poverty, pain, and procrastination. Smith also reflects on the wondrous grace of God, the necessity of drawing near to Jesus in times of trial, and the danger of living at a distance from the Lord. He warns against the folly of murmuring at God's ways and the arrogance of questioning His wisdom, while urging believers to be well pleased with all that God appoints for them.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes that under fiery trials, God's promise in Romans 8:28 holds true: all things work together for the good of those who love Him. He asserts that our sufferings are not merely conjectured to work for our benefit, but they actively do so, much like a skilled apothecary mixes ingredients to create a healing medicine. Brooks illustrates that even the most painful experiences can be divinely tempered to yield positive outcomes, transforming afflicted Christians into 'golden Christians' through their trials. He encourages believers to trust in God's sovereign plan, recognizing that their hardships are part of a greater good.

James Smith preaches on the astonishing grace of God in choosing sinners to be holy and blameless in His sight before the foundation of the world. He marvels at the fact that God's attention was fixed on unworthy individuals like us from eternity past, choosing us in Christ to be separated, united, and delivered through Him. Smith emphasizes that God's election leads to our choice of Him, resulting in a deep love for God, a pursuit of holiness, and a desire to glorify Him in all aspects of our lives.