BUILDING STRONG CHARACTER IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION
Isaiah is described as a major prophet but he also suffered setbacks in the furnace of affliction; he was refined for him to taste success in his prophetic mission to Israel. In one of his prophecies to the nation of Israel, he declared God’s mind: For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another, (Isaiah 48:9-11 KJV).
Reflecting on the importance of passing through the furnace of affliction for character development, Pastor Jim Sole observed that, “No one likes to suffer. We are resistant to pain and affliction of any kind. Whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual, we simply don’t want any part of being hurt. “But he added that we must pass through it for one important purpose refinement of character.
Bishop Peter Jumbo Udokang has put in 46 years of impactful service in the kingdom. Today, he is full of smiles because God has given him rest on every side. However, he also had some encounters with discouraging moments for many years. Days were when to feed was a herculean task for Udokang and his family but he refused to quit. Like Pastor Jim Sole, he opted for pains and hurts in order to make himself approved unto God as his choice workmanship. Udokang describes those struggling years as “the furnace of affliction.”
If you are a new member visiting his church, the ushers will courteously sit you in one of the exotic pews, finished with the finest mahogany in the expansive Cathedral of Mount Zion Lighthouse Gospel Church, Uyo district headquarters, Mbiabong Etoi, Uyo admiring the Udokang’s perspective is anchored on his experiences in Katsina State, where he was sent in 1987 to pastor a church that had only two members. Armed with only faith in God’s word, he began to pray for breakthrough in soulwinning, because the place was heavily populated with a different brand of Moslems who were, and are still, ardently averse to the Gospel preaching. He had to soothe his anxiety with Paul’s word to his son in 2 Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. “Bishop Udokang shares his stories to inspire many in the furnace of affliction to inspire and strengthen them to endure, while pushing through the quagmire of the environment.
His words: “When you say God has called you into the vineyard as a minister, there’s no doubt about that, but then you will have to proof it through hardship, what I call “furnace of affliction.”
Stressing further, he said that hardship is also a process that refines you, producing in you a strong moral and spiritual character that honours God. Hardship helps to shape your character as a true soldier of Christ. “Hardship is the process that tries and purifies your calling. If you persevere through hardship, God who called you will note it that you have been tested and processed and that’s when you come out pure as silver.” Why some ministers who have accepted the call but do not accept to go through the furnace of affliction for processing of their character, Udokang explained, is the reason many seek some ungodly methods to apply in the ministry for quick results. “But God does not need any assistance from Satan to do his work, because he is a self – sufficient one,” He added.
The furnace of affliction, aside from reshaping your character, prepares you as leader to bear burdens with ease. Said he: “As a pastor, you carry three different burdens – the burdens of members, your own burden and the burdens of the kingdom. For God to do something to prove his worth in your life and calling, he must pass you through your own sacrifice; you have to labour, endure hardship before you are equipped enough to sufficiently carry these burdens.
Another benefit of passing through the furnace of affliction is building strength for your next level in ministry. God cannot use you if he has not seen some abilities in you. God cannot use a lazy person, that’s why God said to Gideon, “Go in this your strength.” God saw strength in Gideon and decided to use him against the Midianites. Like Gideon who built strength in the furnace of affliction, utilize the difficult times you are going through to develop more strength for the journey.
