REFINING - 4 AREAS OF TESTING

Isaiah 48:10 (New International Version)

10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 1:25 (New International Version)

25 I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.

(1) TEST OF LOVE

♥ Trials and tribulations can be a test of our love. They can reveal whom or what we love most in our lives. They reveal our priorities and desires. The Lord wants us to love Him more than anybody else or anything else.

Romans 8:38-41 (New International Version)

38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(2) TEST OF FAITH

♥ Do we believe in God even in the midst of pain and suffering? Do we believe in the promises of God even when everything looks impossible?

1 Peter 1:6 (New International Version)

6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

(3) TEST OF OBEDIENCE

♥ Are we willing to obey god even when He commands you is to do what we do not like or what we wish to avoid?

Hebrews 5:8 (New International Version)

8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

(4) TEST OF SACRIFICE

♥ He tests the level of our willingness to sacrifice for Him.

John 12:24-26 (New International Version)

24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me

Galatians 2:20 (New International Version)

20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 6:14 (New International Version)

14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG YOUR WHOLE LIFE

(1) KEEP LEARNING FROM GOD

♥ Keep on gaining knowledge
♥ Keep on growing spiritually



(2) KEEP ON LEANING TO GOD

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New American Standard Bible)

5^(A)Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And ^(B)do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways ^(C)acknowledge Him,
And He will ^(D)make your paths straight.

♥ Keep on talking & listening to God
♥ Keep believing that He can & He will

(3) KEEP ON LONGING FOR BETTER THINGS

Psalm 42:1 (New American Standard Bible)

Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile.

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

BOOK 2

1As the deer ^[a]pants for the water brooks,
So my soul ^(A)pants for You, O God.


♥ Keep in mind that God has a wonderful plan

Psalm 37:4 (New American Standard Bible)

4^(A)Delight yourself in the LORD;

And He will ^(B)give you the desires of your heart.

♥ Keep in mind that He fulfill His promises

1 Corinthians 15:58 (New International Version)

58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

(4) KEEP ON LABORING

Psalm 92:14 (New International Version)

14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,

CONCLUSION:

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

PRAISE & WORSHIP:

Dakilang Katapatan

Sadyang kay buti ng ating Panginoon
Nagtatapat sa habang panahon
Maging sa kabila ng ating pagkukulang
Biyaya Niya’y patuloy na laan

Katulad ng pagsikat ng gintong araw
Patuloy Siyang nagbibigay tanglaw
Kaya sa puso ko’t damdamin
Katapatan Niya’y aking pupurihin

KORO:

Dakila ka oh Dios tapat Ka ngang tunay
Magmula pa sa ugat ng aming lahi
Mundo’y magunaw man
Maaasahan Kang lagi
Maging hanggang wakas nitong buhay

Kaya o Dios Ika’y aking pupurihin
Sa buong mundo’y aking aawitin
Dakila ang Iyong katapatan
Pag-ibig Mo’y walang hanggan

TULAY:
Dakila ka o Dios sa habang panahon
Katapatan Mo’y matibay na sandigan
Sa bawat pighati tagumpay man ay naroon
Daluyan ng pag-asa kung
Kailanga’y hinahon
Pag-ibig Mong alay sa’kin
Noon hanggang ngayon
Dakila ka O Dios!

LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER

Matthew 22:39 (New International Version)

39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'



(1) LOVE ONE ANOTHER

John 13:34-35 (New International Version)

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

(2) RESTORE ONE ANOTHER AND CARRY EACH OTHER'S BURDEN

Galatians 6:1-2 (New International Version)

1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.



(3) BEAR WITH AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER

Colossians 3:13 (New International Version)

13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

(4) BUILD UP ONE ANOTHER

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (New International Version)

11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

(5) ENCOURAGE AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER FROM SIN

Hebrews 3:12-14 (New International Version)

12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

(6) SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TO LOVE AND GOOD WORK

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New International Version)

24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

(7) CONFESSION TO AND PRAY TO ONE ANOTHER

James 5:16 (New International Version)

16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

PRAISE and WORSHIP:

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God
(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God


CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God