Lessons Learned For Job Part 3 Series

Lessons Learned From Job 3

Scriptures: Job 1:12; 2:6; Luke 4:5-6; James 1:17; 2 Tim. 3:10-11

Introduction

In my message last week, I shared with you three additional lessons from the story of Job pertaining to Satan’s tactics in his war against us. The Lessons I discussed last week focused on how to minimize Satan’s impact in your life; how Satan will never give up; and how Satan will use those closest to you to get you to doubt God. I shared with you how Satan used Job’s wife and best friends, all of whom loved him dearly and hated to see him suffering. In this final message of this series, I want to focus on two false teachings that have come from the story of Job. I hope you will find this message helpful as you continue your own personal walk and growth in Christ.

I. God Allows Bad Things To Happen

I have shared with you before that Job did not understand what was happening in his situations, so the comments he made in reference to God being responsible for his situation was based on his understanding of what was happening. The same thing applies to his wife and friends. But when we step back and look at the situation and the comments being made, we can see that God was not responsible for nor did He give permission for Job to be tested. This morning we will examine the belief held by many that Satan can do nothing to us without first getting God’s permission. Let me tell you up front that this is not true and let me explain why. In the first chapter of Job when Satan goes before God and talks with Him about Job’s situation, Satan did not go to God to ask His permission. We know that God is good all the time and He cannot do evil. But we also know that sometimes bad things happen to good people. When bad things happen, God is not "testing" us person as some believe. Sometimes our adversary – the devil – is behind the attack and sometimes what we experience is because of things we instigate ourselves. But back to my point, Satan did not need God’s permission. In chapter one of Job, the twelfth verse reads "Then the Lord said to Satan, ’Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.’ So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord." In verse six of chapter two, we find these words: "So the Lord said to Satan, ’Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life."

When you read those verses it appears that God is giving Satan permission to do whatever he wanted to Job. It also seems that Satan could not touch Job without going through God so therefore it was God’s fault. This is believed by many people today, but let me remind you of history. Back in Genesis 1:26-28, we see where God made man in His image and gave him authority over all the earth. Everything was put under man’s authority and God was the guarantor of whatever man wanted to do. Man was in a perfect relationship with God and therefore walked in the authority over everything on the earth. That was in the beginning. However, Satan, understanding this relationship that man had with God and the authority that God had given man over the earth, wanted to ruin this in his effort to be like God. When Satan influenced man to sin, he did not make man sin but presented man with the opportunity and a believable story and man chose to sin. He knew if man sin he would transfer his authority, which God had given to man, to him. When Adam and Eve sinned, they gave Satan authority in this world. Satan had the ability to do whatever he chose to do on earth. How do we know this to be fact? I shared with you previously what was recorded in Luke the forth chapter. When Satan tempted Jesus, he offered Jesus kingdoms. How could he do that? He could do this because he had the authority. They belonged to him and he could do with them what he wanted. Look at Luke 4:5-6. It records "And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ’I will give you this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish." What stands out in these verses is Satan’s remark that what he was offering Christ had been "handed over to him." Who gave it to him? Man did when he sinned. So we know that Satan received authority from man in the Garden of Eden. He could do whatever he wanted and he did not need God’s permission.