The Burn Test - 1 Peter 4:12
Posted by Calvary Chapel Fremont at 1/3/2010 11:24 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Burn Test Peter
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Pastor Tim Brown Calvary Chapel Fremont Burn Test Peter
Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday January 3, 2010
The Burn Test
1 Peter 4:12
Like you, I was very glad to graduate from school and be done w/ tests. Little did I realize that the most crucial exams/testings lay in the future. In school I learned that 2+2=4. In life I learned that trouble + endurance = maturity/integrity/dependability. In school I learned that the D of I was signed on July 4, 1776. In Christ’s school I have learned that trouble + trust = Christlikeness. When you get out of school, class isn’t over! UR constantly being tested, but often you don’t recognize it as a test.
B4 we see what will be happening 2u/explore the why/purpose. We are so caught up in the what that we miss the why. To live in the what is to live in the shallow end of life. 2C the why/embrace it, is to live in the deep end. OWHATAGOOSEIAM. If you never get past the ‘what’ of life, you’ll remain in the shallow end of life.
why god tests you
purpose #1: to measure your knowledge of and trust in God/do you know God? How frustrating for a teacher to have a student in class for six months who then turns in an “F” paper. “Haven’t you learned anything in all this time?” Apply to believers.
Genesis 22:9-12. What God knew, Abraham now knew. It sounds like God didn’t know, but this is written from a human perspective. It’s like a teacher would say to a class, “Let’s find out the square root of 16.” The teacher knew all along. What the teacher she wants them to know so they can navigate through life. purpose #2: to reveal u2u so that you can grow further n2 Christ.
There are many reasons for suffering: persecution for Christ/ prosecution for crime/consequence of a bad decision or an ungodly deed/poor health – many reasons, but one purpose: test. What this verse is telling us is that God is not going to allow your suffering to go to waste. Wind farms – if the wind is going to blow, let’s take its energy and harness it for productive purposes. An earthly reason has a heavenly purpose. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Test into testimony.
how god tests you
Fiery ordeal = burning. God tests by fire/burn test. Fire-rated drywall – 5/8” thick. Type “X” fire-code drywall is more fire resistant due to the makeup of it. It has fire resistant paper on it and contains glass fiber material in it to help it hold up longer to fire.
Daniel 3:19-28 Meshach/Shadrach/Abednego underwent the burn test. Where Neb. had a reason for this, but God had another purpose.
* The fire had no effect on their bodies - full range of motion. There was nothing that became useless because scorched by the flame. What was meant to destroy, did not destroy. They were not diminished in any capacity.
o Speed/motion/flexibility/looks – apply to believers/ Some rejoice/some never fully recover.
o What is burned is sensitive to sunlight/tender to touch.
+ They could still stand in the light! Many become critical of God/Word.
+ What is burned is– stand-offish/wary
o Insensitive – can’t feel as they did. Kierkegaard – lose joy at sacrifice of Isaac
* The hair of their head wasn't singed - hair signifies strength.
o Samson - lose battles he used to win. Strength diminished – can’t resist what once you could.
o Faith that overcame the world is now overcome by the world.
o “How ru doing?” “Uh, OK, I guess.” Wind knocked out of them.
o Self talk: I’ll never stop drinking/drugs/porn/anger…
* Their Trousers weren’t damaged. The flesh wasn't exposed - nothing to embarrass them for having been in the fire.
* The smell of fire hadn't come upon them. No griping/whining/ evidence of a severe trial. There was nothing hanging in the air about them - no self pity/no posturing for attention/sympathy.
* Why? V25 –Jesus was walking w/ them in the fire! The only thing they lost was what bound them. If you will believe, God’s purposes will override man’s reasonings.
Do not be surprised when god tests you
Do not doubt the love of God or the truth of Scripture.
People in the East collect honey without being stung by the bees. They are not protected by their clothing for they hardly wear any. And yet, although surrounded by clouds of angry bees, they rarely suffer. These honey gatherers are quite passive/deliberate in their movements/making no effort to protect themselves/not attempting to drive the swarm away. If a bee settles upon them, it does not sting them any more than it would attempt to sting a piece of wood. The Westerner, on the other hand, is nervous/restless/combative; he attempts to frighten the bees/makes noises/gesticulates/runs away/ends by being badly stung. Our troubles in life can swarm us like bees. If we fret/fume, we shall feel the sting/miss the honey. But if we live in quietness/confidence, we shall taste the sweetness/ escape the sting. (Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc.)
Don’t panic/become agitated. Realize: this is what the Lord said. God is doing something great in your life. Don’t think sting, think honey! Think of the eternal weight of glory. “But you don’t understand, Pastor Tim, things are really heavy right now.”
Dr. Thomas Lambie was a medical missionary in Africa and he learned something very significant from the natives. They often had to cross swift streams which posed the danger of sweeping them off their feet/carrying downstream to great depths/beat to death against the hidden rocks. He learned from the Africans the best way to make such a dangerous crossing. The man about to cross found a large stone/heavier the better/lifted it to his shoulder/carried it across the stream as ballast. The extra weight of the stone kept his feet solidly on the bed of the stream so that he could cross safely without being swept away. Ur2 regard the burdens you have to carry in life, not as curses but as steadying influences, as God's provisions enabling u2 cross safely through the stream of life. (Illustrations of Bible Truths © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc.)
Don’t reject your sufferings, rejoice in them! V13. You’re so busy swatting at your troubles/trials/tribulations and you’re getting stung left/right. You’re so busy trying to lighten your load that you’re losing you footing/being swept downstream. You’re in the fire/the fire is disfiguring you/singeing your hair/burning your clothes/smell of smoke. Peter says: Keep on rejoicing. Don’t look at the things that are seen, but at the things that are unseen.
Just like 2009, 2010 will hold some surprises 4u. May you come thru like the 3 Hebrew children as they emerged from the fire.
The cross was the ultimate burn test. Things were hot/heavy for Jesus. The heat of suffering/heaviness of sin – He endured 4u/me. Heb. 12:1-3.
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The Burn Test
1 Peter 4:12
Like you, I was very glad to graduate from school and be done w/ tests. Little did I realize that the most crucial exams/testings lay in the future. In school I learned that 2+2=4. In life I learned that trouble + endurance = maturity/integrity/dependability. In school I learned that the D of I was signed on July 4, 1776. In Christ’s school I have learned that trouble + trust = Christlikeness. When you get out of school, class isn’t over! UR constantly being tested, but often you don’t recognize it as a test.
B4 we see what will be happening 2u/explore the why/purpose. We are so caught up in the what that we miss the why. To live in the what is to live in the shallow end of life. 2C the why/embrace it, is to live in the deep end. OWHATAGOOSEIAM. If you never get past the ‘what’ of life, you’ll remain in the shallow end of life.
why god tests you
purpose #1: to measure your knowledge of and trust in God/do you know God? How frustrating for a teacher to have a student in class for six months who then turns in an “F” paper. “Haven’t you learned anything in all this time?” Apply to believers.
Genesis 22:9-12. What God knew, Abraham now knew. It sounds like God didn’t know, but this is written from a human perspective. It’s like a teacher would say to a class, “Let’s find out the square root of 16.” The teacher knew all along. What the teacher she wants them to know so they can navigate through life. purpose #2: to reveal u2u so that you can grow further n2 Christ.
There are many reasons for suffering: persecution for Christ/ prosecution for crime/consequence of a bad decision or an ungodly deed/poor health – many reasons, but one purpose: test. What this verse is telling us is that God is not going to allow your suffering to go to waste. Wind farms – if the wind is going to blow, let’s take its energy and harness it for productive purposes. An earthly reason has a heavenly purpose. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Test into testimony.
how god tests you
Fiery ordeal = burning. God tests by fire/burn test. Fire-rated drywall – 5/8” thick. Type “X” fire-code drywall is more fire resistant due to the makeup of it. It has fire resistant paper on it and contains glass fiber material in it to help it hold up longer to fire.
Daniel 3:19-28 Meshach/Shadrach/Abednego underwent the burn test. Where Neb. had a reason for this, but God had another purpose.
* The fire had no effect on their bodies - full range of motion. There was nothing that became useless because scorched by the flame. What was meant to destroy, did not destroy. They were not diminished in any capacity.
o Speed/motion/flexibility/looks – apply to believers/ Some rejoice/some never fully recover.
o What is burned is sensitive to sunlight/tender to touch.
+ They could still stand in the light! Many become critical of God/Word.
+ What is burned is– stand-offish/wary
o Insensitive – can’t feel as they did. Kierkegaard – lose joy at sacrifice of Isaac
* The hair of their head wasn't singed - hair signifies strength.
o Samson - lose battles he used to win. Strength diminished – can’t resist what once you could.
o Faith that overcame the world is now overcome by the world.
o “How ru doing?” “Uh, OK, I guess.” Wind knocked out of them.
o Self talk: I’ll never stop drinking/drugs/porn/anger…
* Their Trousers weren’t damaged. The flesh wasn't exposed - nothing to embarrass them for having been in the fire.
* The smell of fire hadn't come upon them. No griping/whining/ evidence of a severe trial. There was nothing hanging in the air about them - no self pity/no posturing for attention/sympathy.
* Why? V25 –Jesus was walking w/ them in the fire! The only thing they lost was what bound them. If you will believe, God’s purposes will override man’s reasonings.
Do not be surprised when god tests you
Do not doubt the love of God or the truth of Scripture.
People in the East collect honey without being stung by the bees. They are not protected by their clothing for they hardly wear any. And yet, although surrounded by clouds of angry bees, they rarely suffer. These honey gatherers are quite passive/deliberate in their movements/making no effort to protect themselves/not attempting to drive the swarm away. If a bee settles upon them, it does not sting them any more than it would attempt to sting a piece of wood. The Westerner, on the other hand, is nervous/restless/combative; he attempts to frighten the bees/makes noises/gesticulates/runs away/ends by being badly stung. Our troubles in life can swarm us like bees. If we fret/fume, we shall feel the sting/miss the honey. But if we live in quietness/confidence, we shall taste the sweetness/ escape the sting. (Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc.)
Don’t panic/become agitated. Realize: this is what the Lord said. God is doing something great in your life. Don’t think sting, think honey! Think of the eternal weight of glory. “But you don’t understand, Pastor Tim, things are really heavy right now.”
Dr. Thomas Lambie was a medical missionary in Africa and he learned something very significant from the natives. They often had to cross swift streams which posed the danger of sweeping them off their feet/carrying downstream to great depths/beat to death against the hidden rocks. He learned from the Africans the best way to make such a dangerous crossing. The man about to cross found a large stone/heavier the better/lifted it to his shoulder/carried it across the stream as ballast. The extra weight of the stone kept his feet solidly on the bed of the stream so that he could cross safely without being swept away. Ur2 regard the burdens you have to carry in life, not as curses but as steadying influences, as God's provisions enabling u2 cross safely through the stream of life. (Illustrations of Bible Truths © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc.)
Don’t reject your sufferings, rejoice in them! V13. You’re so busy swatting at your troubles/trials/tribulations and you’re getting stung left/right. You’re so busy trying to lighten your load that you’re losing you footing/being swept downstream. You’re in the fire/the fire is disfiguring you/singeing your hair/burning your clothes/smell of smoke. Peter says: Keep on rejoicing. Don’t look at the things that are seen, but at the things that are unseen.
Just like 2009, 2010 will hold some surprises 4u. May you come thru like the 3 Hebrew children as they emerged from the fire.
The cross was the ultimate burn test. Things were hot/heavy for Jesus. The heat of suffering/heaviness of sin – He endured 4u/me. Heb. 12:1-3.
Being a teacher this is something I keep telling my student when they crib about school. I tell them I wouldn’t mind giving an arm and leg to go back to those days when we were so free and happy. I tell them that you would crave to be on those very seats rather than in the big bad world where you are faced with a zillion challenges, sometimes too big for our boots. But this is a vicious circle that we have to go through and having a heavy stone to help us cross over is perfect!
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