Infinite Fellowship Ministries

Salted With Fire: Sermon By Deaconess Sarah Mukuhi

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.

Mark 9:42-50. (NKJV)

‘No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire. As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma. And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

Leviticus 2:11-13 (NKJV)

Everyone will be salted with fire.

As you ascend up the Mountain of Worship, at its peak, the acceptable sacrifice will be your life.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 

Romans 12:1 (AMP)

Salt is used to preserve, disinfect and season.

In the same way that salt is used as a preservative, the trials in our lives come to birth in us perseverance. The trial is only supposed to make your faith stronger.

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. 

James 1:2-4 (AMP)

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12 (AMP)

Often when you are going through something, you think it is because of something that you have done, but consider that it comes to make you stronger.

God says that if your faith is not the kind that you hold onto in times of trouble, then it is of no use to you.

Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego were bound and thrown into the fire. The fire severed the binds but they were unharmed.

Then these [three] men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics or undergarments, their turbans, and their other clothing, and they were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame and sparks from the fire killed those men who handled Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king [saw and] was astounded, and he jumped up and said to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?

They answered, True, O king. He answered, Behold, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt! And the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods! Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, the deputies, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered around together and saw these men—that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed; neither were their garments scorched or changed in color or condition, nor had even the smell of smoke clung to them. 

Daniel 3:21-27 (AMP)

The fire that God is taking us through, is there to break chains. As you go through the affliction, some of the chains that have been holding you back will fall away.

The fire of affliction breaks wrong perceptions that we have of ourselves and also God.

It is at the place of affliction that we amass strength.

Sometimes, that fire of affliction may come to humble you. And to be humbled is not to be made small but to be made to have the right estimation of yourself.

The fire of affliction may also help you see that the perception of yourself which is good could be better.

The fire of affliction comes for every man; the one who has built his house on the sand as well as the one who has built on solid rock.

God is always with us. Even in the fire of affliction. 

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Daniel 3:23-25 (NKJV)

If the fire of affliction does not come, how will you know whether or not the house that you have built will actually stand?

How you receive the storm of affliction will determine how you enter into your destiny and how far you go in your walk with God.

Don’t let this make you see God as one who delights in our suffering or distort your perception of Him. Or even of yourself.

Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay. But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him. But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul.

Hebrews 10:35-39 (AMP)

Where will you be when the things that He has spoken about have come to pass? How and where will be your heart?

God is more concerned for us to go through the testing and trial with the right attitude. He wants us to be honest with Him.

The trial may be hard, but He is still God. All, in All.

God would have us exalt Him above every circumstance and situation, no matter how bad or good.

Praise Him through the storm. Thank Him through the storm. Acknowledge His goodness, mercy, kindness, love and sovereignty.

God would have us have all the sacrifices that we offer Him be salted. God desires that every promise that He has given to us be tested, be salted, to mean something to us.

Suffering deprograms excess baggage in us – mindsets, strongholds, etc – so that we may be able to perceive ourselves rightly to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.