Exceptional Promotions That Come Through Fiery Trials

The world may look at promotions as a result of hard work. But for a child of God, every good gift and every promotion comes from God.

When God exalts or promotes His children, He allows us to go through tests or trials (James 1:1-11). Sometimes these trials are like a fiery furnace. But the promotions are exceptional. Daniel 3:1-30 gives us the picture of various trials and promotions enjoyed by the four Jewish men, who were taken as captives to Babylon.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced a fiery furnace. Their trust in God was tested in those crucial moments. They had to face their tests alone. God allowed private tests so as to prove that they trusted in the Word of God even in the most difficult times.

All those of those who experienced promotions in the Bible have gone through lonely battles or trials. The Word of God that was sown in their hearts in happy times yielded fruit in the difficult times.

The more intense the fire, the better the promotion. This is the principle of the Word of God.

Promotions should first be viewed in the spiritual sense. Material promotions automatically follow spiritual promotions based on the Word of God (Matt 6:33).

Based on Daniel chapter three, there are three spiritual benefits through fiery trials:

1. The blazing fire will burn down all the seen or unseen bondages in life (Dan 3:25).
2. Fiery trials produce an exceptional faith to counter the most difficult questions in life (Dan 3:16-18; 1 Pet 1:6-7).
3. We enjoy the intimate presence of the One who allowed the trials (Dan 3:25).

So, don’t give up hope while going through the fiery trials in your family, work place or even your personal life. May you experience exceptional promotions in your life.

Adapted from the sermon, "Exceptional Promotions That Come Through Fiery Trials" by Pastor Thomas Cherian (April 15, 2018).