
The More I Suffer, the Freer I Become: Joy in the Fire! [podcast]
Forged in the Fire!
Liberty and Blessing
through Suffering
“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.” 1 Peter 1:7
You have saving faith – and it’s on trial!!!! That alone is cause for celebration!!
“Adversity is the companion to every Christian on his way to paradise. The more difficult the path, the more joy for him who follows the LORD.” AW Tozer
Have you found more freedom through seasons of testing and trials?
“Your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest wounds.” unknown
Are you always seeking and in “the house of mourning” … or “feasting”?
Kingdom perspective: Ecclesiastes 7:2-5 What’s “better”?
“It is BETTER to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is BETTER than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is BETTER to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:2-5
Should the LORD’s children view suffering a curse or a blessing? Though God doesn’t author evil, He sure uses every trial, attack, and suffering to conform us to Christ’s holy image:
“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.” Romans 8:28-29
The LORD has predestinated that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” He didn’t say that He causes all these things but He does tell us that He works them all “together for good” to those who love Him – and those who truly love Him obey His command to deny self, take up the daily cross, and “be conformed to the image of his Son.“
“How much more crushing can you take? Until we know and truly understand, beyond head knowledge that we are less than nothing, we will not know that He is more than everything.” M.
Suffering for Christ’s disciples gives way to God’s blessings.
With this biblical truth in mind, that trusting and following Christ through suffering ultimately causes liberty in our lives, consider:
“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
“He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.” 1 Peter 4:1
“The pressure in your life right now has a purpose. It’s not crushing you, it’s pushing what’s on the inside of you out. It shows you who you are.” unknown
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
As we walk the narrow road with our LORD Jesus, suffering for righteousness sake, He will do 4 things in our lives – “perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
Have you ever prayed that the LORD would more deeply ground your life in Him? – Suffering will be included in His answer…. and so will PSSS… 1 Peter 5:10
WHAT is needed to be perfected, established, strengthened, and settled in the LORD? Answer: Suffering and continuing to worship, to trust, and serve God in it! (1 Peter 5:10)
The LORD is the Potter and we are His clay (Jeremiah 18:6). The purging, the stripping must occur in each of our lives. Even men like Joseph and Job had to be stripped.
“Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. 7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. 9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.” Job 19:6-10
In the divine economy, the dead and burial always happen in order to bring about the resurrection (Isaiah 37:31; John 12:23). Such a phenomenon can be observed throughout the Bible, God’s people, and into the future glorious kingdom reign of Christ (Revelation 21, etc.).
In Psalm 105 we see a recounting of the work of God beginning with Abraham and into the life of Joseph and the captivity of His people in Egypt. In verse 37 of this chapter we see the season of resurrection beginning, unfolding
Ps 105:37—- “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.”
This was the beginning of the season of resurrection for God’s people after their death and buried in the land of Egypt.
Paul’s thorn was a blessing…..
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
On Paul’s thorn, FB Meyer writes:
“We do not know what this thorn, or stake, was-whether eye trouble, or imperfect utterance, or some deformity in appearance-but it was the source of much suffering and many temptations. At first Paul prayed for its removal, but as soon as he learned that its continuance was the condition of receiving additional grace, he not only accepted it, but even gloried in its presence.”
The more we suffer, the freer we become! With this in mind, perhaps we will cease shunning and despising the sufferings we endure in this brief life and cry out to our Father in Heaven to use them to conform us to Christ’s image.
Idolatry will Damn the Soul
Are you bowing to the idols of our day? Is the LORD truly first place in your life – your time and treasure (money)? Are the affections of your heart set upon the LORD and Savior today or upon your own needs, desires, and life?
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me … Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 20:3; 34:12-14
Dancing in the Fire with the Fourth Man!
Remember in Daniel 3 when the three Hebrew children were thrown into the fire for refusing to bow to any other but the Most High God?
“And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.” Daniel 3:20-27
Notice that this passage reveals that “fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” (v 23) For those looking on, this was bad news, right? It looked like these three men were done – dead! Remember, those who merely threw these three men into this raging fire died by just getting close to it!
Do you see the Gospel – death, burial, and resurrection – in this ordeal? After these three children of God were thrown in this violent fire to suffer (death), they “fell down” (burial), and then they were “loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt.” (resurrection) – “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.” (Daniel 3:25-26)
Did you notice that “these men were bound” and “were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace“? The people witnessed the resurrection power of Christ, the fourth man – the Son of God! – “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?… Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
These 3 men were bound going in and free coming out of that fiery trial! At the cost of their own lives, they trusted the LORD who joined them in the fire and set them free. The only thing the trying fire did was to loose their bands and make them free!
The Three “Yielded their Bodies”
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
Laying down our lives always causes fruit that glorifies God – the fruit that only the LORD can produce. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego laid down their lives long before they were hurled into the limelight to be killed. They were already dead. – “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)
“Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:28-30
As was the case with king Nebuchadnezzar and the whole kingdom of Babylon (the world), so has it been and is it when God brings victory in the lives of those who truly trust Him. It is a great witness when others – both saved and lost – see God bring you through sufferings with great joy! This is when people begin to say in their hearts, “Wow, I want what they have!” The supernatural work and grace of our God is clearly seen in His people when they are blessed to endure sufferings with great joy – a great smile – as they continue “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” In fact, following Christ, which includes suffering, helps us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and” to “run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The 3 Hebrew children of God were kidnapped and forsaken by their ruthless captors, but there was a fourth man in the midst of that trial, even the Son of God! Though all those around your forsake you, the LORD will stand with you, keep you, and “preserve” you to the end:
“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:16-18
Our LORD has a plan to settle us, to mature, to establish, to bring His strength into our lives.
Notice that the breakthrough for these 3 Hebrew children of God came AFTER they suffered, not before. – “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, AFTER that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
4 Benefits of Suffering for Christ in 1 Peter 5:10:
- perfect (mature, equip),
- stablish,
- strengthen,
- settle you
I call this the PSSS “secret” – like when someone says to you: “pssss, hey. Come here, I have a secret to share with you.” PSSS = Perfect, Stablish, Strengthen, Settle you!
Joy in the Fire
“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.” James 1:2-4
Suffering is the occasion for the LORD to purify and bring you “forth as gold.”
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
The Gospel key for you to ever remember and employ, is to continue to die down deep – to be dead and buried with Christ – and raised up by His divine power to please Him in abundant fruitfulness as you look for His soon return!
Learn to be grateful and verbalize your thanksgiving to the LORD! Get those hands up today and praise and thank the LORD for blessing you to suffer and for all that you have in Him who is your “exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1) Praise Him today for the great mercy He has shown you! Ask Him to give you joy in the fire!
Remember that your Savior suffered immensely and yet is identified as the One who had more joy and gladness than any other (John 15:11; Hebrews 1:9). The Son of God came and lived sinlessly, suffered at the hands of wicked men, was crucified, buried, and raised again! He’s now reigning at the right hand of His Father in Heaven, making intercession for you to overcome all and to reign victoriously with Him forever!
All suffering and trials and tears will be for ever gone very soon, so enjoy them while you can! (Revelation 21:4; Hebrews 13:14).
The Blessing of Opposition | Persecution
For more on the blessing of suffering with Christ, study the life of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. | The Great Benefit of Suffering by F.B. Meyer | Bring it on Devil!
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Abiding
Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).
“For MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:7-11
Modern church wolves refuse to preach the original Gospel of Jesus Christ from the pages of Holy Scripture and in the power of the Holy Ghost. No, instead they preach sermonettes that cater to the self-worshiping idolaters they entertain and collect money from (2 Timothy 3:1-7). They don’t even use the King James Bible but rather some cheap counterfeit. Their ear-tickling topics range from healing damaged emotions, 5 love languages, best life now, recovery, learning to love yourSELF, coping platitudes, loneliness, psychobabble band aids, law of attraction, being a successful single, purpose driven delusionment, etc.
LOTS of lying going on when we have counterfeits peddling affirmation without salvation, the “promise” of things “getting better” when their prey are heading straight to hell. Especially certain social media platforms are flooded with this false gospel coming out of “Christians.” There is no sin or repentance in their message which alone identifies it as a false gospel. You see, the things that are happening to the sinners around us are allowed by God in order to lead them to repentance and yet, the counterfeits among us are assuring those sinners it’s all going to get better and never giving them the 10 Commandments to show them they are sinners (Galatians 3:24) and then, leading them to Jesus (Romans 10:9-10, 13, etc.). 10 Commandments Evangelism
In the modern church world, there is …..
No cross. No Jesus. No blood. No judgment. No sin. No repentance. No hell. No readiness for the soon return of Jesus. No Heaven. No equipping preparation for ministry. No Scripture memory. No holiness. No Messianic prophecies and their fulfillment. No Christology. No fear of God. No repentance. etc., all of which are Bible doctrines essential to salvation and/or essential to sound foundation in Christ and are missing in the modern church world.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
THE TOP ESSENTIAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINES NEVER HEARD IN THE APOSTATE MODERN CHURCH WORLD!
- The divinity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-4, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16). | Jesus Christ is God
- The virgin birth of the only begotten Son of God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). | The Virgin Birth of Jesus
- The essential precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19). | The Blood
- The inherent fallen nature of mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18). | Fallen, Sinful Man
- Worshipping God not idols (Exodus 20:3-5). | Idolatry
- The essential doctrine and necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3). | Repentance
- The Return of Christ and being ready for it (Luke 12:40; 21:34-36). | The Return
- Who Jesus is returning for and who will be shut out of His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27). | Ready for Christ’s Return
- The essential of enduring to the end to be with Christ eternally, initial and final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-30; Revelation 2:26). | Enduring to the End
- The essential daily cross, the crucified life, which Jesus required in following Him (Luke 9:23-24). | Living the Crucified Life
- Forgiving all others from the heart (Matthew 18:21-35). | Forgiveness
- Walking in God’s love (Ephesians 5:1). | The Love Walk
- Holiness – including the necessity of personal holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). | Holiness
- Judgment (Psalms 9:15-17). | Judgment
- Hell (Matthew 8:12; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:19-31). | Hell
- Fearing God (Psalms 2:11; Luke 12:4-5). | Fearing God
When’s the last time you heard verses like this in the modern church?
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33
The modern church is going down in flames into the flames of hell. It cannot be reformed. Come out from it.
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
In 2 Timothy 4:3 to “endure sound doctrine” means to hold oneself accountable to it. WHAT’s at the root of those who refuse to “endure sound doctrine”? – They simply do not love Jesus like He commanded them to (Matthew 22:37-39). They profess Christ as Savior and yet love self supremely and therefore serve the god of self. The Holy Ghost through Paul told us this of those who have a mere “form of godliness” in the last day resumé found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.
Notice by divine design the very first thing he reveals is that “men shall be lovers of their own selves.” All the following evil comes out of self love, refusal to love God supremely and therefore repent, deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7
God is toppling all the heart idols (Ezekiel 14:3)… because He’s Jealous and wants us looking to Him and not these mere men, these vile wolves, these celebrity sinners posing as His representatives (Exodus 34:14).
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14
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Abiding
Fulfilling Your Calling [podcast]

“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17
MINISTRY which pleases God is simply helping people know and grow in Christ for themselves – by the cross life and getting into HIS Word for themselves so they can follow HIM, not you! True ministry fosters in the hearers faith in God, not the preacher or local church organization! Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 4:5.
Your communications and ministry are fed and fueled by your personal daily study and knowledge of God’s Word (Proverbs 22:17-21; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Ephesians 4:1-14
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:1-14
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Abiding
Swept Away in the “Strong Delusion” [podcast]

Recorded at a fellowship in Houston, Texas
God Himself personally sends a “strong delusion” to all who do not love His truth so that they WILL believe lies. He greases their pole to hell. That’s how personally He takes it when people call Him a liar by not believing His Word.
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8
Notice “of God” and “NOT of God”
“He that is OF GOD heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are NOT OF GOD.” John 8:47
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