WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.179 Welcome back to Pamoja Ministry. Today, we have 00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:08.400 reached the final conversation of refined for 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:12.580 a purpose and before we go anywhere. I want you 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:15.519 to remember where we have been. We have talked 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.800 about the fire. We have talked about character, 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:23.760 integrity, compromise, the crack before the collapse, 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:28.940 correction, failure, mercy, preparation. the 00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:32.500 weight of what we prayed for. And in our last 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:35.979 conversation, don't waste the fire, we ask one 00:00:35.979 --> 00:00:39.200 final question before moving forward. What must 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:42.460 not follow me into the next season? We said, 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:46.320 take the lesson, leave the bitterness, take the 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:50.119 wisdom, leave the shame, take the discernment, 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:54.060 leave the paranoia, take the humility, leave 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:58.280 the humiliation, take the correction. Leave the 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:02.600 condemnation take the testimony and leave behind 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:06.840 what the fire was meant to remove but now We 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:09.379 have reached the other side of that question 00:01:09.379 --> 00:01:12.359 Because after asking what the fire was meant 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:16.299 to remove Perhaps we should ask what was the 00:01:16.299 --> 00:01:19.620 fire producing? What if the season you thought 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:23.159 was only breaking you was also building something? 00:01:23.530 --> 00:01:27.010 What if the season you thought was only delaying 00:01:27.010 --> 00:01:31.310 you was developing you? What if the season you 00:01:31.310 --> 00:01:35.310 thought was only exposing your weakness was teaching 00:01:35.310 --> 00:01:38.590 you where your strength actually comes from? 00:01:39.170 --> 00:01:42.230 What if God was doing something in you while 00:01:42.230 --> 00:01:45.629 you were asking him to do something around you? 00:01:45.829 --> 00:01:49.170 Maybe now we are ready to understand the name 00:01:49.170 --> 00:01:52.840 of this entire journey You are not simply going 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:57.379 through the fire. You are being refined for a 00:01:57.379 --> 00:02:01.780 purpose. Maybe you couldn't see it while you 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:05.099 were in it. There is something about difficult 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:08.699 seasons. When you are inside them, your vision 00:02:08.699 --> 00:02:12.560 becomes limited. You see today's pain, today's 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:16.060 pressure, today's unanswered question, today's 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:19.780 disappointment, today's battle. You pray, God, 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:24.629 get me out. God, change this. God, open the door. 00:02:24.969 --> 00:02:29.930 God, remove this pressure. God, defend me. God, 00:02:30.569 --> 00:02:33.629 restore me. And those prayers are understandable. 00:02:34.310 --> 00:02:38.110 But sometimes, providence becomes clearer, looking 00:02:38.110 --> 00:02:41.389 backward than living forward. Joseph could not 00:02:41.389 --> 00:02:44.969 see Egypt from the pit. David could not see the 00:02:44.969 --> 00:02:48.389 throne from the cave. Moses could not see the 00:02:48.389 --> 00:02:51.930 Red Sea opening while tending sheep in Midian. 00:02:52.189 --> 00:02:55.389 Peter could not see Pentecost while crying after 00:02:55.389 --> 00:02:58.990 denying Jesus. Paul could not see his future 00:02:58.990 --> 00:03:02.210 ministry while blinded on the road to Damascus. 00:03:02.889 --> 00:03:05.629 Sometimes you understand what God was producing. 00:03:06.330 --> 00:03:11.150 Later, James says, consider it pure joy, my brothers 00:03:11.150 --> 00:03:14.169 and sisters, whenever you face trials of many 00:03:14.169 --> 00:03:18.849 kinds. Why? Not because pain is enjoyable. Not 00:03:18.849 --> 00:03:22.349 because injustice is good. Not because betrayal 00:03:22.349 --> 00:03:26.789 is good. Not because loss is good. James continues, 00:03:27.349 --> 00:03:30.150 because you know that the testing of your faith 00:03:30.150 --> 00:03:34.650 produces perseverance. There is the word produces. 00:03:35.210 --> 00:03:39.009 The trial is doing something. The testing is 00:03:39.009 --> 00:03:41.969 producing something. The pressure is revealing 00:03:41.969 --> 00:03:45.370 something. The process is developing something. 00:03:45.629 --> 00:03:49.550 and sometimes you cannot see what is being produced 00:03:49.550 --> 00:03:54.629 until later. The fire was not the purpose. This 00:03:54.629 --> 00:03:58.030 distinction matters. We should never become so 00:03:58.030 --> 00:04:01.009 fascinated with suffering that we begin treating 00:04:01.009 --> 00:04:05.830 pain itself as holy. Pain is not automatically 00:04:05.830 --> 00:04:09.449 purpose. Suffering is not automatically spiritual 00:04:09.449 --> 00:04:12.770 maturity. Some suffering comes from living in 00:04:12.770 --> 00:04:16.449 a broken world. Some comes from other people's 00:04:16.449 --> 00:04:19.410 decisions. Some comes from our own decisions. 00:04:19.889 --> 00:04:23.870 Some comes through persecution. Some circumstances 00:04:23.870 --> 00:04:27.790 remain mysterious. And scripture does not require 00:04:27.790 --> 00:04:32.449 us to call evil good. Romans 8 28 does not say 00:04:32.449 --> 00:04:35.589 everything that happens is good. It tells us 00:04:35.589 --> 00:04:38.949 that God works in all things for the good of 00:04:38.949 --> 00:04:41.730 those who love him and are called according to 00:04:41.730 --> 00:04:45.899 his purpose. That means the fire does not have 00:04:45.899 --> 00:04:48.399 to be good for God to bring good through it. 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:53.160 The betrayal was not necessarily good. The disappointment 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:56.959 was not necessarily good. The failure was not 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:01.040 good. The injustice was not good. The loss was 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:04.899 painful. But God is not limited by what happened. 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:09.019 He can take what should have destroyed you and 00:05:09.019 --> 00:05:12.350 weave it into something that develops you. The 00:05:12.350 --> 00:05:17.290 fire was not the purpose. Refinement was. Peter 00:05:17.290 --> 00:05:19.990 says your faith can come through the fire like 00:05:19.990 --> 00:05:24.410 gold. 1 Peter 1 says that trials come so that 00:05:24.410 --> 00:05:28.129 the proven genuineness of your faith, of greater 00:05:28.129 --> 00:05:31.910 worth than gold, which perishes even though refined 00:05:31.910 --> 00:05:36.290 by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor 00:05:36.290 --> 00:05:40.399 when Jesus Christ is revealed. Peter compares 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:44.300 tested faith to gold. Gold enters the fire containing 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:47.839 impurities. The heat reveals what doesn't belong. 00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:51.759 The refiner removes it. And what remains becomes 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:55.879 purer. Think about our entire season. Maybe the 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.360 fire revealed something in you. Anger, pride, 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:03.360 fear, insecurity, the need for approval, weak 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:07.240 boundaries, undisciplined words, unforgiveness, 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:11.000 poor stewardship. self -confidence without dependence 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.279 upon God. Maybe you didn't know it was there. 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:19.120 Maybe you knew but underestimated it. Maybe you 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:22.220 defended it. Maybe you called it personality. 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:26.699 Maybe you blamed everybody else. Then pressure 00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:31.500 came and suddenly there it was. But what if God 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:34.319 allowed you to see it because he wanted to deal 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:38.100 with it? Maybe exposure wasn't always destruction. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:41.779 Maybe exposure was an invitation to refinement. 00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:46.759 The fire revealed you to you. There are things 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:50.060 God already knows about us that we have not yet 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:54.079 discovered about ourselves. Peter believed he 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:58.040 was ready to die with Jesus. Jesus knew Peter 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:01.879 was about to deny him. Peter's confidence was 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:05.259 sincere, but it wasn't complete self -knowledge. 00:07:06.100 --> 00:07:09.399 Then pressure came. and Peter discovered Peter. 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:13.399 Have you ever experienced that? You thought you 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:17.560 were patient until you had to wait. You thought 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:21.180 you had forgiven until you saw the person again. 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.620 You thought you were humble until somebody corrected 00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:29.839 you. You thought money didn't matter until you 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:34.279 lost some. You thought you trusted God until 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:37.879 the answer didn't come. You thought you had self 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:41.819 -control. Until temptation came at the right 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:44.639 moment. You thought you didn't need approval. 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:48.379 Until people stopped applauding. The fire didn't 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:52.420 necessarily create everything it exposed. Sometimes 00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:56.519 the fire revealed what was already there. And 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:59.920 that revelation can be painful. But you cannot 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:04.019 surrender what you refuse to see. You cannot 00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:07.879 strengthen a boundary. you refuse to admit is 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:11.839 weak. You cannot repent of something you continue 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:15.980 defending. You cannot ask God to transform a 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:18.899 version of yourself you keep pretending doesn't 00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:22.399 exist. Sometimes the beginning of transformation 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.180 is the moment you finally say, God, I see it 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:32.379 now. But God didn't show you the impurity to 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:35.610 throw away the gold. This may be one of the most 00:08:35.610 --> 00:08:39.149 important things we have learned. When God reveals 00:08:39.149 --> 00:08:42.250 something in you, don't immediately conclude, 00:08:42.570 --> 00:08:45.769 I'm finished. The refiner doesn't throw away 00:08:45.769 --> 00:08:49.570 gold because he discovers impurities. The impurities 00:08:49.570 --> 00:08:53.529 are why refining exists. David failed terribly. 00:08:53.889 --> 00:08:57.590 God corrected him. Peter failed publicly. Jesus 00:08:57.590 --> 00:09:00.730 restored him. Jacob carried deception in his 00:09:00.730 --> 00:09:03.929 history. God wrestled with him and changed him. 00:09:03.950 --> 00:09:07.629 Moses had weaknesses. God dealt with him. Paul 00:09:07.629 --> 00:09:10.909 had a past that could have buried him in shame. 00:09:11.289 --> 00:09:15.309 Yet he said, by the grace of God, I am what I 00:09:15.309 --> 00:09:18.389 am. Grace does not tell you impurity doesn't 00:09:18.389 --> 00:09:22.350 matter. Grace says, bring it to God. Let him 00:09:22.350 --> 00:09:25.750 deal with it. Correction is not always rejection. 00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:29.679 Conviction is not condemnation. Failure does 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:32.879 not automatically cancel purpose. And the crack 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:36.100 does not necessarily mean the structure is worthless. 00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:39.659 Sometimes God shows you the crack because he 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:44.759 intends to preserve the structure. Look at who 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:48.120 you are becoming. This is where I want us to 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:51.600 slow down. Because maybe you have spent this 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:55.049 entire season looking at what you lost. But have 00:09:55.049 --> 00:09:58.570 you looked at what you gained? Not materially, 00:09:59.129 --> 00:10:02.769 internally. Maybe you pray differently now. Maybe 00:10:02.769 --> 00:10:06.429 you listen more carefully. Maybe you are slower 00:10:06.429 --> 00:10:10.389 to react. Maybe you recognize certain temptations 00:10:10.389 --> 00:10:13.610 sooner. Maybe you understand your boundaries 00:10:13.610 --> 00:10:16.970 better. Maybe you don't need everybody's approval 00:10:16.970 --> 00:10:21.470 anymore. Maybe you apologize faster. Maybe you 00:10:21.470 --> 00:10:24.970 know when to remain silent. Maybe you are more 00:10:24.970 --> 00:10:28.129 careful with your words. Maybe you have become 00:10:28.129 --> 00:10:31.870 more compassionate toward people who fail. Maybe 00:10:31.870 --> 00:10:35.409 you understand grace differently. Maybe you have 00:10:35.409 --> 00:10:38.210 learned that being strong does not mean pretending 00:10:38.210 --> 00:10:41.950 you never get tired. Maybe you ask for help sooner. 00:10:42.389 --> 00:10:46.100 Maybe you recognize pride faster. Maybe you know 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:49.019 that your gift cannot replace your character. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.840 Maybe you understand that integrity must be protected. 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:57.159 Maybe you have learned to pray before responding. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.600 Maybe you have learned that not every battle 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:05.240 requires your participation. Maybe your circumstances 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:10.059 have not completely changed. But you have. And 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:13.000 perhaps that is one of the miracles you almost 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:17.000 missed. You were waiting for God to change everything 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:21.139 around you, and somewhere along the way, God 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:26.019 began changing something within you. You asked 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:29.559 God to change the season, but God was also changing 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:33.480 you. This is the revelation. Sometimes we enter 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:37.200 prayer focused on circumstances. Change my job. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:41.480 Change my finances. Change my marriage. Change 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:45.519 this person. change the situation, change the 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:49.100 environment, change the outcome. But then God 00:11:49.100 --> 00:11:53.000 begins asking, what about your reaction? What 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:56.159 about your pride? What about your discipline? 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:00.000 What about your words? What about your boundaries? 00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:04.259 What about your unforgiveness? What about your 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:07.679 stewardship? What about your dependence upon 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.559 me? And suddenly, The prayer changes. Instead 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:17.799 of only, God, change this. It becomes, God, change 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:21.519 me while I walk through this. That is a different 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:25.340 level of prayer. Because now the fire is no longer 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:28.740 simply something you are trying to escape. It 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:33.879 becomes something you refuse to waste. God doesn't 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:37.580 waste the fire. This has become one of the central 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:41.100 declarations of our journey. God doesn't waste 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:45.299 the fire. Again, that does not mean God authored 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:48.639 every painful thing that happened. It means nothing 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:52.139 is beyond his ability to redeem, teach through, 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:55.700 transform through, or incorporate into his purposes. 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:59.740 Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50 20, 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:03.340 you intended to harm me, but God intended it 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:07.360 for good. The intentions were different. Their 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:11.580 intention was harm. God's purpose was preservation. 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:17.019 Joseph did not call their evil good. He recognized 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:19.840 that their evil did not have final authority 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.820 over his story. What they intended was not what 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:27.559 ultimately defined the outcome. And perhaps there 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:30.259 are things in your story that you still cannot 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:34.259 explain. Don't force an explanation. where God 00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:37.700 has not given one. But you can still believe 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:40.840 what happened does not have greater authority 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:45.039 than God. The fire does not get to decide who 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:48.580 you become. The betrayal doesn't. The failure 00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:52.200 doesn't. The rejection doesn't. The disappointment 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:56.259 doesn't. The delay doesn't. The accusation doesn't. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:00.299 The loss doesn't. The wilderness doesn't. God 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:04.309 can still work. God can still redeem. God can 00:14:04.309 --> 00:14:08.129 still teach. God can still restore. God can still 00:14:08.129 --> 00:14:14.389 redirect. God can still refine. What they meant 00:14:14.389 --> 00:14:17.070 for evil may have pushed you towards something 00:14:17.070 --> 00:14:20.690 they never intended. Joseph's brothers wanted 00:14:20.690 --> 00:14:24.210 him gone. They helped move him toward Egypt. 00:14:24.850 --> 00:14:28.649 Potiphar's wife wanted him punished. Prison eventually 00:14:28.649 --> 00:14:32.149 connected him with Pharaoh's officials. The chain 00:14:32.149 --> 00:14:35.070 did not make sense while Joseph was living it. 00:14:35.309 --> 00:14:38.929 But later, purpose gave perspective to pain. 00:14:39.730 --> 00:14:42.029 Sometimes people think they are removing you 00:14:42.029 --> 00:14:45.649 from something, and God uses the movement to 00:14:45.649 --> 00:14:49.389 reposition you. Sometimes rejection forces you 00:14:49.389 --> 00:14:52.330 to discover something you never would have pursued. 00:14:52.889 --> 00:14:56.070 Sometimes a closed door redirects your attention. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:00.940 Sometimes disappointment reveals misplaced dependence. 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:05.019 Sometimes losing people's approval teaches you 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:09.059 to live without it. Sometimes the battle drives 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:13.220 you deeper into prayer. Sometimes the thing that 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:16.019 shook your confidence teaches you to depend upon 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:20.460 God instead of yourself. Again, we don't have 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:24.240 to call the painful thing good, but we can say, 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:28.100 God, if it happened, Don't let it be wasted. 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:32.799 Even your failure can become part of your formation. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:36.659 This may be difficult to hear correctly, so listen 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:40.399 carefully. Sin is not necessary for spiritual 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:44.179 growth. We do not need to fail in order for God 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:47.639 to teach us. We should never deliberately choose 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:51.519 wrong because we think God will use it. But when 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:56.549 we genuinely fail and genuinely repent, God's 00:15:56.549 --> 00:16:00.110 mercy can teach us through what happened. Peter's 00:16:00.110 --> 00:16:02.990 denial taught him something about self -confidence. 00:16:03.710 --> 00:16:07.450 David's failure revealed the devastating consequences 00:16:07.450 --> 00:16:11.350 of uncontrolled desire and misuse of authority. 00:16:12.570 --> 00:16:15.750 John Mark's early departure did not prevent him 00:16:15.750 --> 00:16:19.169 from later becoming useful. Paul never forgot 00:16:19.169 --> 00:16:22.870 the kind of man grace had rescued. Your failure 00:16:22.870 --> 00:16:26.470 can teach you boundaries. Humility, dependence, 00:16:26.950 --> 00:16:30.429 accountability, compassion, watchfulness, the 00:16:30.429 --> 00:16:33.789 danger of pride, the necessity of prayer, the 00:16:33.789 --> 00:16:36.889 value of correction. So don't glorify the failure. 00:16:37.149 --> 00:16:40.429 Glorify the God whose mercy refused to let failure 00:16:40.429 --> 00:16:46.629 have the final word. Your scars may become part 00:16:46.629 --> 00:16:50.870 of how you serve somebody else. Jesus told Peter, 00:16:51.629 --> 00:16:54.389 when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. 00:16:54.649 --> 00:16:58.070 That is extraordinary. Peter's restored life 00:16:58.070 --> 00:17:01.009 would eventually become useful to other people. 00:17:01.669 --> 00:17:04.710 The thing that humbled him would influence how 00:17:04.710 --> 00:17:08.250 he strengthened others. There are lessons you 00:17:08.250 --> 00:17:10.930 understand differently after living through them. 00:17:11.849 --> 00:17:15.170 You speak differently about failure after mercy 00:17:15.170 --> 00:17:18.769 finds you. You speak differently about grief 00:17:18.769 --> 00:17:22.309 after you have cried. You speak differently. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:26.039 about waiting after you have waited. You speak 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:29.420 differently about temptation after you have discovered 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:33.440 your vulnerability. You speak differently about 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:37.880 restoration after you have needed it. Your scars 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:42.259 do not make you superior, but healed scars can 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:46.000 make you compassionate. Maybe somebody will survive 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.259 because you are willing to say, I know what that 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:53.410 valley feels like. I know what shame feels like. 00:17:53.710 --> 00:17:57.450 I know what waiting feels like. I know what it 00:17:57.450 --> 00:18:02.069 means to need mercy. And I also know God can 00:18:02.069 --> 00:18:06.750 meet you there. The fire was preparing your capacity. 00:18:07.309 --> 00:18:11.650 Remember our last conversations, integrity, discipline, 00:18:12.170 --> 00:18:15.990 self -control, correction, mercy, stewardship, 00:18:16.569 --> 00:18:19.130 the weight of blessing. These are connected. 00:18:19.289 --> 00:18:23.190 Character develops. Discipline strengthens. Self 00:18:23.190 --> 00:18:26.890 -control protects. Integrity makes you trustworthy. 00:18:27.569 --> 00:18:30.890 Trustworthiness increases your capacity to carry 00:18:30.890 --> 00:18:34.529 responsibility. Maybe you were asking God for 00:18:34.529 --> 00:18:38.210 greater responsibility while God was developing 00:18:38.210 --> 00:18:41.470 greater character. Maybe you were asking for 00:18:41.470 --> 00:18:45.170 influence while God was strengthening integrity. 00:18:46.349 --> 00:18:49.769 Maybe you were asking for abundance. While God 00:18:49.769 --> 00:18:53.069 was teaching stewardship. Maybe you were asking 00:18:53.069 --> 00:18:57.009 for leadership. While God was teaching humility. 00:18:58.410 --> 00:19:02.029 Maybe you were asking for a platform. While God 00:19:02.029 --> 00:19:05.470 was teaching you how to live when nobody applauds. 00:19:06.910 --> 00:19:10.470 Maybe you were asking for the palace. While God 00:19:10.470 --> 00:19:13.029 was developing something in Potiphar's house 00:19:13.029 --> 00:19:16.869 and the prison. Preparation is also progress. 00:19:17.289 --> 00:19:20.430 And now perhaps you understand why some lessons 00:19:20.430 --> 00:19:23.809 matter. The blessing carries weight and God cares 00:19:23.809 --> 00:19:28.509 about who you become while carrying it. But don't 00:19:28.509 --> 00:19:32.109 turn this into a formula. We have to preserve 00:19:32.109 --> 00:19:35.650 this truth. Not every difficult season means 00:19:35.650 --> 00:19:39.549 a promotion is coming. Not every loss means God 00:19:39.549 --> 00:19:42.069 is about to replace it with something bigger. 00:19:42.849 --> 00:19:45.690 Not every waiting season ends with the exact 00:19:45.690 --> 00:19:49.349 thing you requested. Not every faithful person 00:19:49.349 --> 00:19:54.049 receives earthly success Christianity is not 00:19:54.049 --> 00:19:57.470 Endure enough pain and God will reward you with 00:19:57.470 --> 00:20:02.650 money promotion or influence Jesus himself suffered 00:20:02.650 --> 00:20:06.529 the Apostles suffered Some faithful believers 00:20:06.529 --> 00:20:09.569 have walked through enormous hardship without 00:20:09.569 --> 00:20:13.049 receiving the earthly outcome. They hoped for 00:20:13.049 --> 00:20:17.000 Our ultimate hope is not success Our ultimate 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:20.839 hope is Christ. So when we say refined for a 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:25.339 purpose, purpose is bigger than promotion. Purpose 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:29.000 may mean becoming more like Christ, more faithful, 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:33.240 more loving, more disciplined, more courageous, 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:37.579 more compassionate, more useful, more surrendered. 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:41.119 Sometimes the greatest thing produced by the 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:44.960 fire is not a new position. It is a transformed 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:50.299 person. Maybe the purpose was bigger than the 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:54.220 thing you lost. Sometimes we become so focused 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:57.640 on recovering what was lost that we cannot imagine 00:20:57.640 --> 00:21:01.240 God doing something beyond it. We want the old 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:04.759 door reopened, the old relationship restored, 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:09.160 the old position returned, the old opportunity 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:13.440 recreated. And sometimes God does restore those 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:17.900 things, but sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes restoration 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:20.960 is not going backward. Sometimes restoration 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:24.500 is discovering that God still has a future, even 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:27.619 when yesterday cannot be reconstructed. Purpose 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:30.619 is bigger than position. Purpose is bigger than 00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:33.440 a title. Purpose is bigger than one opportunity. 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:36.400 Purpose is bigger than one person's approval. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:40.480 Purpose is bigger than one closed door. God is 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:43.559 not limited to the version of your future you 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:46.789 originally imagined. Sometimes the fire burns 00:21:46.789 --> 00:21:51.369 away not only impurities, but also our insistence 00:21:51.369 --> 00:21:54.089 that God must fulfill purpose exactly the way 00:21:54.089 --> 00:21:57.829 we expect it. Faith eventually learns to pray, 00:21:58.430 --> 00:22:02.589 God, I surrender not only my life to you, I surrender 00:22:02.589 --> 00:22:08.450 my version of how my life must unfold. Now you 00:22:08.450 --> 00:22:11.190 understand why you couldn't take everything with 00:22:11.190 --> 00:22:14.650 you. This is why our last conversation mattered. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:17.880 Some things could not follow you. The bitterness 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:21.579 had to go. The pride had to go. The need for 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:24.980 revenge had to go. The uncontrolled reactions 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:28.480 had to go. The weak boundaries had to change. 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:32.180 The unhealthy dependence had to change. The need 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:35.920 to prove yourself had to go. The comparison had 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:40.119 to go. The old compromise had to go. Because 00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:43.799 sometimes God is preparing a future that requires 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:47.700 you to travel lighter. You cannot carry every 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:51.339 wound forever. You cannot carry every offense 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:55.299 forever. You cannot carry every old identity 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:58.980 forever. You cannot carry every old relationship 00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:02.900 in the same way forever. You cannot carry every 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:06.900 habit forever. At some point, you take the lesson 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:11.349 and leave the weight. The person coming out should 00:23:11.349 --> 00:23:14.970 not be identical to the person who went in. If 00:23:14.970 --> 00:23:17.670 you walk through the fire and learn nothing, 00:23:18.150 --> 00:23:21.650 something was wasted. But if you come out praying 00:23:21.650 --> 00:23:25.470 differently, something happened. If you come 00:23:25.470 --> 00:23:29.430 out humbler, something happened. If you come 00:23:29.430 --> 00:23:33.730 out wiser, something happened. If you come out 00:23:33.730 --> 00:23:37.150 with stronger boundaries, something happened. 00:23:37.369 --> 00:23:41.190 If you come out more disciplined, something happened. 00:23:41.589 --> 00:23:44.710 If you come out less dependent upon applause, 00:23:45.390 --> 00:23:49.150 something happened. If you come out more compassionate, 00:23:50.009 --> 00:23:53.269 something happened. If you come out knowing how 00:23:53.269 --> 00:23:57.450 much you need God, something happened. If you 00:23:57.450 --> 00:24:00.890 come out able to forgive, something happened. 00:24:01.549 --> 00:24:03.930 If you come out with integrity strengthened, 00:24:05.029 --> 00:24:08.170 something happened. Maybe the miracle wasn't 00:24:08.170 --> 00:24:11.450 only that you came out, maybe the miracle is 00:24:11.450 --> 00:24:16.089 who came out. There are fires you should never 00:24:16.089 --> 00:24:19.710 have to repeat, not because God mechanically 00:24:19.710 --> 00:24:23.690 gives you the same test until you pass, but because 00:24:23.690 --> 00:24:27.390 wisdom should remember. If God showed you the 00:24:27.390 --> 00:24:32.150 danger of poor boundaries, remember. If you learned 00:24:32.150 --> 00:24:35.740 what pride can cost, remember. If uncontrolled 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:39.480 anger damaged something, remember If exhaustion 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:43.440 made you vulnerable, remember If isolation weakened 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:47.119 you, remember If ignoring conviction led somewhere 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:51.619 painful, remember If prayer carried you, remember 00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:56.000 If accountability protected you, remember If 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:00.119 scripture anchored you, remember If God carried 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:04.279 you when you had nothing left, remember The lesson 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:08.519 becomes part of the refinement. Don't waste it. 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:12.900 And now, look at the fire differently. Maybe 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:15.640 you once looked at this season and only saw what 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:19.420 it took. Now look again. What did it teach? What 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:23.359 did it expose? What did it remove? What did it 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:26.299 strengthen? What did it redirect? What did it 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:30.240 clarify? Who disappeared? Who remained? What 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:33.839 became less important? What became more important? 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:37.380 What did you discover about God? What did you 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:40.960 discover about yourself? What prayer became deeper? 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:44.279 What boundary became clearer? What conviction 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:48.880 became stronger? What illusion died? What faith 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:52.799 survived? Maybe you still don't understand everything. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:56.960 That's okay. You don't need to force meaning 00:25:56.960 --> 00:26:00.420 onto every detail. But perhaps you understand 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:04.559 enough to say, I am not the same person. And 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:08.039 maybe that is where purpose begins becoming visible. 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:14.539 Refine doesn't mean perfect. Let me make this 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:17.740 clear before we finish. You are not leaving this 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:21.400 season perfect. I am not leaving this conversation 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:24.720 suggesting that mature Christians reach a place 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:28.119 where weakness disappears. We remain dependent 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:32.089 upon grace. We continue growing. We continue 00:26:32.089 --> 00:26:35.450 learning. We continue needing correction. We 00:26:35.450 --> 00:26:38.490 continue needing the Holy Spirit. We continue 00:26:38.490 --> 00:26:42.670 practicing discipline. We continue guarding integrity. 00:26:43.210 --> 00:26:47.369 Refinement is not perfection. Refinement is transformation. 00:26:47.789 --> 00:26:51.519 It is becoming more responsive to God. more aware 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:54.880 of your weaknesses, quicker to repent, slower 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:58.599 to justify compromise, more willing to receive 00:26:58.599 --> 00:27:01.759 correction, more intentional about boundaries, 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:05.720 more dependent upon grace, more committed to 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:09.220 integrity, more faithful with what God places 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:12.980 in your hands. The refiner is still working. 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:19.630 And maybe that is the purpose. Romans 8, 29 follows 00:27:19.630 --> 00:27:24.569 the verse we love to quote in Romans 8, 28. After 00:27:24.569 --> 00:27:27.970 telling us that God works in all things for good 00:27:27.970 --> 00:27:31.650 according to His purpose, Paul speaks about being 00:27:31.650 --> 00:27:34.829 conformed to the image of His Son that gives 00:27:34.829 --> 00:27:38.130 us something profound. Maybe the deepest good 00:27:38.130 --> 00:27:42.450 God is producing is not simply comfortable circumstances. 00:27:42.990 --> 00:27:46.359 Maybe He is forming Christ in us. a character 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:49.839 that looks more like Jesus, integrity, love, 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:54.259 patience, courage, humility, obedience, self 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:58.480 -control, compassion, faithfulness. Jesus endured 00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:02.220 temptation without compromise, popularity without 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:06.099 pride, rejection without losing identity, power 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:09.440 without corruption, false accusation, Without 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:12.980 surrendering truth, suffering without abandoning 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:17.119 obedience, if refinement makes us more like Christ, 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:20.460 then the purpose goes far beyond the temporary 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:24.279 season. This is what the fire was producing. 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:28.460 Maybe now we can finally say it. The fire was 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:32.700 producing endurance. The fire was producing wisdom. 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:36.630 The fire was producing discernment. The fire 00:28:36.630 --> 00:28:40.309 was producing humility. The fire was producing 00:28:40.309 --> 00:28:44.210 discipline. The fire was producing stronger boundaries. 00:28:44.789 --> 00:28:48.410 The fire was producing deeper prayer. The fire 00:28:48.410 --> 00:28:52.089 was producing compassion. The fire was producing 00:28:52.089 --> 00:28:56.509 dependence upon God. The fire was producing integrity. 00:28:57.029 --> 00:29:00.549 The fire was producing faith that had been tested. 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:04.559 The fire was producing someone capable of carrying 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:08.420 responsibility differently, and perhaps the fire 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:12.619 was producing a testimony. Not, look how strong 00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:16.960 I am, but look how faithful God has been. Not, 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:20.240 I survived because I had everything under control. 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:25.440 But, God carried me when I didn't. Not, I never 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:29.880 failed. But, mercy found me when I did. Not. 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:34.299 Nothing hurt me, but what hurt me did not get 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:37.660 to determine who I became. So what do you do 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:41.900 now? You move forward, but differently. You don't 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:45.440 return to Egypt. You don't rebuild what conviction 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:48.819 tore down. You don't resurrect what repentance 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:51.720 buried. You don't abandon the boundaries that 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:54.799 protected you. You don't forget the God you needed 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:57.440 in the wilderness when you arrive in the place 00:29:57.440 --> 00:30:00.599 you prayed for. You don't let blessing replace 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:04.500 dependence. You don't let promotion replace humility. 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:07.799 You don't let influence replace integrity. You 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:11.319 don't let success silence prayer. You don't let 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:14.420 yesterday's failure become tomorrow's identity. 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:18.779 You don't let yesterday's betrayal become tomorrow's 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:22.099 bitterness. You take the lesson. You take the 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:25.799 wisdom. You take the humility. You take the discipline. 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:29.539 You take the testimony. You take the deeper faith 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:34.299 and you keep walking. And now I want to speak 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:37.809 directly to you. Maybe you are listening to this 00:30:37.809 --> 00:30:40.890 while still in the fire. Then perhaps this finale 00:30:40.890 --> 00:30:43.930 is not yet describing your past. Maybe it is 00:30:43.930 --> 00:30:46.650 describing what you are hoping to see. You may 00:30:46.650 --> 00:30:49.569 still be waiting, still hurting, still asking 00:30:49.569 --> 00:30:52.589 questions, still trying to understand, still 00:30:52.589 --> 00:30:55.490 praying for the door to open, still asking God 00:30:55.490 --> 00:30:58.130 for intervention. Then don't force yourself to 00:30:58.130 --> 00:31:00.849 pretend everything makes sense. Faith does not 00:31:00.849 --> 00:31:04.140 require pretending. But hold on to this. Your 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:07.140 current chapter is not necessarily your final 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:09.980 conclusion. You may not yet know what God is 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:13.099 doing behind the scenes. You may not yet understand 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:15.940 what this season is producing. But stay close 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:19.519 to God. Stay teachable. Stay prayerful. Stay 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:22.640 accountable. Stay in His Word. Guard your heart. 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:25.839 Guard your integrity. Receive correction. Practice 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:28.660 discipline. Refuse bitterness. And when the fire 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:31.930 reveals something, give it to the refiner. Don't 00:31:31.930 --> 00:31:36.990 waste the fire. One day you may look back differently. 00:31:37.509 --> 00:31:39.890 Maybe one day you will look at the season that 00:31:39.890 --> 00:31:43.009 almost broke you and recognize the place where 00:31:43.009 --> 00:31:45.990 you learned to pray. Maybe you will look at the 00:31:45.990 --> 00:31:49.289 rejection and recognize where you stopped living 00:31:49.289 --> 00:31:52.670 for approval. Maybe you will look at the failure 00:31:52.670 --> 00:31:56.630 and recognize where pride finally broke. Maybe 00:31:56.630 --> 00:31:59.609 you will look at the waiting and recognize where 00:31:59.609 --> 00:32:03.039 endurance grew. Maybe you will look at the correction 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:07.059 and recognize where your character changed. Maybe 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:09.940 you will look at the closed door and recognize 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:12.759 where your direction changed. Maybe you will 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:15.920 look at the wilderness and recognize where you 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:19.099 discovered God could sustain you. And perhaps 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:22.039 you will say, I would never choose everything 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:24.819 that happened to me, but I can see that God did 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:27.500 not waste it. That is different from calling 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:31.809 pain good. That is testimony. The fire didn't 00:32:31.809 --> 00:32:35.990 get the final word. So as we close this season, 00:32:36.809 --> 00:32:39.829 I want to leave you with this declaration. The 00:32:39.829 --> 00:32:42.970 fire did not get the final word. The betrayal 00:32:42.970 --> 00:32:46.670 did not get the final word. The accusation did 00:32:46.670 --> 00:32:50.430 not get the final word. The rejection did not 00:32:50.430 --> 00:32:53.660 get the final word. The disappointment did not 00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:56.660 get the final word. The failure did not get the 00:32:56.660 --> 00:33:00.099 final word. The shame did not get the final word. 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:03.859 The delay did not get the final word. The wilderness 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:06.980 did not get the final word. Even the version 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:09.859 of you who entered the fire does not get the 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:13.279 final word. God is still working. Grace is still 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:16.119 working. The Holy Spirit is still transforming. 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:22.730 And the refiner is still refining. This was never 00:33:22.730 --> 00:33:26.250 just about surviving. Maybe at the beginning 00:33:26.250 --> 00:33:30.990 you prayed, God, just get me through this. And 00:33:30.990 --> 00:33:34.529 God did carry you. But now you realize there 00:33:34.529 --> 00:33:37.589 was more happening. You were learning. You were 00:33:37.589 --> 00:33:40.910 changing. You were surrendering. You were being 00:33:40.910 --> 00:33:44.410 corrected. You were discovering weaknesses. You 00:33:44.410 --> 00:33:47.670 were building discipline. You were learning integrity. 00:33:48.089 --> 00:33:50.920 You were receiving mercy. You were developing 00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:54.259 capacity. You were learning stewardship. You 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:58.440 were releasing what could not follow you. And 00:33:58.440 --> 00:34:01.660 perhaps now, you can finally look at the journey 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:06.000 and say, I understand. Not everything. Maybe 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:10.059 never everything. But enough. Enough to know 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:13.619 that God was present. Enough to know that grace 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:17.139 was working. Enough to know that the fire did 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:20.679 not destroy everything. Enough to know that something 00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:24.320 came out stronger. Enough to know that your story 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:28.019 is still being written. Enough to know that purpose 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:32.900 is still alive. And enough to declare, I was 00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:37.000 refined for a purpose. I will not waste the pain. 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:41.059 I will not waste the correction. I will not waste 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:45.019 the lesson. I will not waste the mercy. I will 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:48.199 not waste the second chance. I will not waste 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:52.199 the wisdom. I will not waste the testimony. I 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:56.239 will not waste the fire. What God removed, I 00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:59.360 will not keep rebuilding. What God taught me, 00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:03.139 I will not intentionally forget. What God entrusted 00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:06.980 to me, I will steward. Where God corrected me, 00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:11.079 I will remain teachable. Where God restored me, 00:35:11.219 --> 00:35:14.300 I will remain grateful. Where God strengthened 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:17.619 me, I will remain humble. and whatever comes 00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:21.360 next I will enter it differently not perfect 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:27.119 but refined not without scars but wiser not without 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:31.260 a past but no longer imprisoned by it not depending 00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:35.400 upon myself but depending upon God because now 00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:39.400 I know the fire was not my destination the fire 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:42.739 was part of my preparation and the God who was 00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:45.690 with me before the fire The God who was with 00:35:45.690 --> 00:35:48.889 me in the fire will still be God when I walk 00:35:48.889 --> 00:35:51.969 out of it. So I move forward with deeper faith, 00:35:52.289 --> 00:35:54.769 with greater wisdom, with stronger integrity, 00:35:55.070 --> 00:35:58.030 with humility, with discipline, with gratitude, 00:35:58.329 --> 00:36:02.010 with mercy, with purpose. And with this testimony, 00:36:02.389 --> 00:36:06.050 God did not waste the fire. I was, I am, and 00:36:06.050 --> 00:36:09.329 I will continue to be refined for a purpose. 00:36:09.849 --> 00:36:13.260 This is Pamoja Ministry. And wherever you are 00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:16.980 in your journey today, remember, the refiner 00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:20.900 is not finished with you. Keep walking. Keep 00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:24.099 believing. Keep becoming. And may everything 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:27.559 God has taught you in the fire prepare you to 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:31.179 faithfully carry whatever he places in your hands 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:36.739 next. Always remember, you are not alone.