Summary
George Whitefield expounds on sanctification through affliction, arguing that God uses trials as a refining fire to purge believers of sin and produce spiritual fruit, drawing from John 15:2 and Isaiah 48:10. He contends that the path to heaven necessarily involves suffering and that Christians glorify God in affliction by accepting chastisement patiently, acknowledging their deserved punishment, trusting God's good purposes, submitting humbly to His will, and even rejoicing in their trials. Whitefield emphasizes that believers should welcome God's purifying fire, recognizing that He allows no unnecessary suffering and that such refinement produces greater fruitfulness and conformity to Christ.
Questions Answered in This Article
What does the Bible say about enduring trials?
The Bible teaches that enduring trials is essential for spiritual growth and purification, as seen in James 1:2-4.
James 1:2-4, John 15:2
Why is glorifying God in trials important for Christians?
Glorifying God in trials is crucial because it reflects our trust in His sovereignty and goodness, even in suffering.
Romans 8:28, John 15:2
How do we know that God uses suffering for our good?
We know God uses suffering for our good through Scripture, particularly Romans 8:28, which affirms His purpose in all circumstances.
Romans 8:28, John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. - John 15:2
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. - Isaiah 48:10
Fire not only burns and purges, but it separates one thing from another.
God Almighty knows that we are often purged more in one hour by a good sound trial — than by a thousand manifestations of His love. It is a fine thing to come purified, to come pardoned out of the furnace of affliction. The furnace is intended to purge us to separate the precious from the vile, the chaff from the wheat. And God, in order to do this, is pleased to put us into one fire after another.
There are some roads which are finely paved and smooth — but the King's road to Heaven is strewed with crosses and afflictions!
My brethren, we need to be purged! How apt are we to want to go to Heaven upon a featherbed. But many go lying upon beds of pain and languishing, which is the King's highway there.
God will not put us into the fire — if there was not something to be purged away. The grand thing, is to learn to glorify God in the fire.
We glorify God in the fire, when we quietly endure it as a chastisement, and when we bear it patiently. It is a dreadful thing when we are saying with Cain, "My punishment is greater than I can bear!" But the language of a soul that glorifies God in the fire is this, "Shall I, Lord, shall I a sinful man, complain for the punishment of my sins?"
We glorify God in the fire, when, though we feel pain and anguish, we at the same time say, "Lord, we deserve this and ten thousands times more!"
We glorify God in the fire also, when we are really and fully persuaded that God will put us in the furnace only for our good, and His own glory.
We glorify God in the fire when we say, "Lord don't let the fire go out until it has purged away all my dross!"
We glorify God in the fire when the soul can say, "Here I am, my God, do with me as seems good in Your sight! I know that I shall not have one unnecessary stroke!"
We glorify God in the fire when we are not grumbling, but humbly submitting to His will. When that awful message was brought to Eli, what does he say? "It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him." Let my children be killed, whatever is done, it is the Lord's doing!
We glorify God in the fire when we rejoice in Him — when we can thank God for striking us — when we can thank Him for whipping us!
Happy are you who have got into Christ's fire!
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