Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job said this as a man of full age, with decades of experience with the Lord. Those of you that are just now beginning to walk with the Lord might not understand what this means.

Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Men of God are here to assist you with understanding, to foster your growth in Christ. We will help you understand what you are going through but we cannot go through it for you. You will find yourselves going through the refiner’s fire. Dross in your life will be sin, separated from you, through the process of sanctification. It is removed a little more each time but purity is difficult to obtain without intense heat.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

You will need the character of patience walking in the spirit, growing in Christ. Patience is not a gift that can be given, it is a character trait of Christ which must be developed. Yes, God gives good gifts but the gifts given do not develop character. The ultimate object in growing in Christ is to develop His character in you. That means you have to understand His character without defect less you strive for the wrong thing.

Zechariah 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The great secret that was withheld from the Jewish faithful was the true nature of the dwelling place of God. It was always a building, occupied and controlled by a priesthood. They never saw the temple as man, and that God would take up residence in man. They fight that image even today. They are not alone in that denial.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

The temple priest played out that role perfectly but failed to recognize the temple as a man. We who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior is occupied and servant to our holy priest.

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

This temple, this spiritual house you are, is built up to be something special.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

As with any great cathedral, it takes time and effort to produce a finished work.

Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: