“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 4:29 ESV)

Your faith is tested by fire

“So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7 ESV)

Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with Fire

“John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16 ESV)

His word is like fire

“Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29 ESV)

The foundation of your work will be tested through fire

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:11-15 ESV)

 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matt. 6:34 NIV).

There was a scientific study on worry that discovered the following

• 40% of our worries never happen
• 30% of our worries concern the past
• 12% of our worries are needless worries about our health
• 10% of our worries are insignificant or petty concerns
• 8% of our worries are really legitimate concerns

Worry can’t change the past or control the future, don’t do it!

“Don't worry about anything.” (Phil. 4:6 NLT)

Here is the answer 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:25-34 ESV)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV)

It was in the beginning

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NIV)

It is alive and active

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (John 4:12 NIV)

It is God breathed and useful

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Cor. 3:16-17 NIV)

It is right and true

“For the word of the Lord is right and true;

he is faithful in all he does.” (Psalm 33:4 NIV)

Therefore…

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV)

 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 NIV)

He saves us because of His mercy

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6 NIV)

He died on the cross to save us

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:6-8 NIV)

Our salvation is paid for by the precious blood of Christ

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)

Therefore…

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Heb. 7:25 NIV)

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Cor. 6:19 NIV)

You are His and He calls you by name

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isa. 43:1 ESV)

He made you and you are His

“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3 ESV)

Whether you live or die, you are the Lord’s

“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” (Rom. 14:8 ESV)

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” (1 Cor. 6:19 ESV)

 Therefore...

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:8 NIV)

“It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” (Deut. 13:4 NIV)

Whoever follows Jesus will never walk in darkness

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

Take up the cross and follow Jesus

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 19:38 NIV)

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark. 8:34 NIV)

Follow God’s example as dearly loved children

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.” (Eph. 5:1 NIV)

Therefore

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John. 12:26 NIV)

“The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.” (Isa. 43:21 NASB)

Enter His courts with praise

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4 ESV)

Praise Him with dancing and music

“Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!” (Psalm 149:3 ESV)

All nations praise Him

“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalms 117:1-2 ESV)

Let everything with breath praise Him

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6 ESV)

Continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to Him

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” (Heb. 13:15 ESV)

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV)

We are commanded to love one another

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34 ESV)

You cannot hate others and love God

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20 ESV)

Love covers a multitude of sins

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Love with brotherly affection

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Rom. 12:10 ESV)

Love in deed and in truth

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 ESV)

Love one another to show your love for God

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV)

 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)

Call out to the Lord when stressed

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalms 118:5-6 ESV)

God provides a way of escape

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV)

God’s divine power will destroy strongholds

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:3-5 ESV)

In this you rejoice

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV)