Before God spoke the universe into existence….

Before Hehung the earth in space…

Before God Revealed the 1st Before God Revealed the 1st Word of Divine Word of Divine Scripture… Scripture…

Before God formed each Before God formed each person in the womb…person in the womb…

““According to His eternal purpose”According to His eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:11)

God knew what we would need to face the trials of life

God equipped us with help, strength, tools, guidance, plan of salvation

When eachtrialhits…

you have a choice

“Choose for yourselves this day” (Josh 24:15)

“I CAN” “I CAN’T”

Choices Will I attend every service? Will I give more? Will I have a Bible class in my

home? Will I invite my neighbor Will I teach a children’s class? Will I be a better spouse? Will I forgive? Will I take more time with my

children Will I practice hospitality? Will I read my Bible? Will I repent and start over?

Not today, not this week I don’t feel good I don’t have enough money It’s been a rough week My family is too sick I just lost a loved one I don’t know enough My house is not big enough But they don’t deserve it It’s not fair I don’t have enough time I’ve already done much I’ve failed too many times I’m too old – I’m too young

“the genuinenessof your faith, being

much more precious

than GOLD that perishes, though it

is tested by FIRE”

1 Peter 1:6-7

“I will try them as Gold” Israel (Zech. 13:9)

“When He has tried me, I shall come out as gold” Job (Job 23:10)

“Buy from Me gold refined in the fire” Laodiceans (Rev. 3:18)

Scripture References to Gold

Life is filled with

GOLDEN moments

that test your faith

Numerous references

to GOLD in Scripture

Why is Gold so Valuable?

483 References

Ornament for Kings Temple Decoration Standard for

Global Currency Electronic & Medical Applications

Symbol of Athletic Victory

Why so Precious?

108 Dinar Gold coins found in buried pot in Israel from the time of the Crusades

Gold is the Most Malleable and

Ductile of all metals

GOLD

Malleable “capable of being shaped

& formed by pounding &

pressure”

GOLD

Ductile ability to be pulled, hammered thin, stretched into wire without breaking1 oz of gold can be:Stretched into a wire 50 miles long!500 times thinner than human hair

Beat into a 29.5 sqft sheet 5.4ft x 5.4ft sheet

Pounded PressuredHammered StretchedPulled Fired

Gives new meaning to your faith is “more precious than gold”

Without Breaking!

Gold has the Highest Corosion Resistance

Gold does not Oxidize (rust)

Gold buried for 1000 years would still look the same

Gold is

Inert (cannot be dissolved by a single chemical)

“Resist him, steadfast in the faith”

Stable and Resistant to Attack

“unshakeable when faced with resolute opposition”

1 Pet. 5:9Eph. 6:16

Gold stops

Bacteria In its tracks by suffocationIt blocks tiny holes in the cell walls

“Believes and is Baptized will be saved” (Mk 16:16)

True faith protects you from sinful deterioration

Gives new meaning to your faith is “more precious than gold”

Gold is Refined by Fire

GOLD

Melting point1,948 deg F

Boiling point5,173 deg F

“do not think it strange concerning the

Fiery trial which is to try you”

1 Pet. 4:12

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego

literally wentinto a

Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3

The fire, heat, and pressure reveals strength of the material

1 Cor. 3:12-13

How you behave under heat of trial reveals

your character

The fire, not only reveals but also purifies Gold

Your current trial gives you strength for the future

1 Peter 1:7

Gold is the Most

ValuableMetal throughout

Ancient History

How Much is Gold Worth?

1 ounce$12691 gold bar $558,360 7 x 3 5/8 x 1 ¾ inches

147.2 million ounces of gold$1269 per oz = $187 Billion

FORT FORT KNOXKNOX

108,002 Talents of silver (1 talent = 75 lbs) 8.1 mil lbs, or 129 mil oz = $164.5 bill Ft Knox 9.2 mil lbs, or 147 mil oz = $187 bill Add Silver = $216.6 bill, not incl. other costs

Solomon’s TempleSolomon’s Temple

The man who had more total wealth than Fort Knox says something is more valuable than Gold:

God’s Word, Wisdom Pro. 16:16Knowledge Pro. 8:10

Good Name Pro. 22:1 Loving Favor Pro. 22:1

Better Than Gold

Gold is theMost

DesirableSought After Metal

GOLD RUSH

“more to be desired are they than gold” (Psa. 19:10)

Largest Mass Migration in US History

What are today’s

fierytrials revealing about your character?

Will you shrink back? Will you go

forward?

SMA: Proven as Gold in Neb.’s Fiery Furnace (Dan. 3)

Joseph: Refined thru trials (Psa. 105:19)

Job: Was tried & came out as gold (23:10; 42:5)They chose faith in these golden

moments of trialEach trial made them stronger

Choices Will I attend every service? Will I give more? Will I have a Bible class in my

home? Will I invite my neighbor Will I teach a children’s class? Will I be a better spouse? Will I forgive? Will I take more time with my

children Will I practice hospitality? Will I read my Bible? Will I repent and start over?

Not today, not this week I don’t feel good I don’t have enough money It’s been a rough week My family is too sick I just lost a loved one I don’t know enough My house is not big enough But they don’t deserve it It’s not fair I don’t have enough time I’ve already done much I’ve failed too many times I’m too old – I’m too young

““You, have You, have refined refined us…you have us…you have brought us out to brought us out to a place of rich a place of rich abundance”abundance”(Psa. 66:8-12)(Psa. 66:8-12)