My Precious

1 Peter 1:3–9 CSB

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1. Authentic believers are joyful in all occasions

Romans 12:12 NIV84

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Understand that God will never leave you

Your future has been cemented

Your inheritance can’t be taken away

2. God’s got you covered

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 CSB

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Go will never forsake you

There will be trials

There will be distress

There will be disappointment

But God is still God

His power through faith

Your faith is what counts

3. Keep the faith in the midst of hardships

Covid is a hardship

The hardship can destroy your faith if you are weak

We must remember the promises of God to be encouraged

Preach to yourself

Lay hands on yourself

By faith people were healed

4. Your faith is being refined by fire

Time to dance in the fire

God allowed these trials to prove your faith

God allowed these trials just like he allowed the enemy to attack Job

Your faith must remain steadfast

Let the fire refine you

Your faith is growing in the midst of trials

5. Your precious faith will receive the goal

Matthew 24:12–13 CSB

12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The current circumstances do not surprise God

Many are staying home for fear of catching Covid

If you stay home, don’t let your faith grow cold

If you stay home, don’t let your love for Him grow cold

Faith heals you

Faith give you courage

Faith gives you support

Faith pleases God

Faith is precious

If you stay in the faith (continue to obey God in the midsts of trials) then the goal can’t be taken from you

You will cross the finish line

You may crawl to the finish line but get there

You may be broken and you continue but get there

You may have many haters because you keep going to church, get there

You may lose friends and family, many will unfriend you, many will exclude you, many will talk about you because you choose to obey God rather than man, get there

The goal is not to avoid Covid

The goal is not to please man

The goal of your faith is the Salvation of your soul

My faith, My precious, better than gold