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.
When you re-evaluate the verses we read in Job chapter one and two after considering the fact that Satan already had the authority, we can see that God was not giving Satan permission, but God was restraining him. If Satan had been given the authority over the earth in the Garden of Eden and did not lose it until Christ stripped him of it when He rose from the dead, then Satan held this authority when he was talking with God about Job. Satan could have killed Job as easily as he killed Job’s children, but that is not what he wanted. He wanted to torment Job so that Job would curse God to His face. That is the pleasure that he wanted to receive, he wanted to see one of God’s prized possessions curse Him. He wanted to prove to God that His faith in man was misplaced. When God told Satan not to take Job’s life, He was restraining him. How do you think Satan would have responded to Job after Job refused to curse God? I believe he would have been angry enough to kill him, but God restrained him. If Satan needed God’s permission to torment us, then he would never be able to do anything because God would deny him that opportunity. No good parent would give an enemy the right to torment their child and neither would God. In truth, man gave Satan the permission, not God. So when you hear that nothing can happen to you without God’s approval, understand that is not the truth. The truth is that nothing can happen to you without God knowing about it and being there to help you work through it. One final thought, when Jesus rose from the dead, He said "….All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Matthew 28:18b Satan control over us has been broken. Satan cares nothing about your material things, he wants your soul. That is the one thing He cannot take from you which he desires most. Because you are a child of God, you have been give authority over Satan. You can bind him and cast him out. Although he will continue to try and come back, you just need to stand firm because God truly has your back. The war we are in is not about material things, it is about spiritual things.
II. Suffering Does Not Equal Godliness.
There have been those who have read the story of Job and walked away thinking that if they were suffering, they were suffering for the Lord. There are others who read the story of Job and focuses in on what Job’s friends said and believe that whatever is happening in a person’s life is because they deserve it based on how they have lived. I will tell you that I firmly believe that we all reap what we sow, but I do not base it on what happened to Job. Job had done nothing wrong, yet he suffered. He truly suffered because he was a God fearing and righteous man. There are many of us who are suffering because of things we have done to cause it. Some of these things we are suffering from God did not place on us, we placed them there ourselves. Many people honestly believe that suffering is a good measurement of their spiritual state. It is important that we all understand that suffering, in and of itself, is not a valid barometer of our sinfulness or our goodness, nor is it an indicator of God’s judgment on our lives. Contrary to what some believe, God is not just sitting on His throne thinking of ways to make our lives a living hell so that we can appreciate Him more. James 1:17 tells us that "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow." God is good and He is good all the time. Good things come from God. Your suffering is not coming from God. If you are going through some difficult times, first consider the role you played in the situation and second consider if you believe that God is more than able to bring you through.
If you have been wearing your suffering around like a crown of glory, think about what you are doing. Our suffering gives God no glory unless we are suffering because of our testimony. If our profession of faith lands us in prison and we do not recant and keep professing our faith in Christ even when facing death, that suffering brings God glory. If we cannot pay our bills because we cannot balance our budget, even though we save some money to give in Church; our car being repossessed and our lights being turned off does not give God glory. If you abuse your body and you get sick, your sickness does not give God glory for He does not want you sick. He will allow you to abuse your body as much as you want, but you being sick because of it will not bring Him glory. Again, the day will come when we may suffer because of our testimony and that is when we can look at the story of Job and know that we are in good company – if we continue to stand by that testimony.
The last thing I want to share with you in this series is this, whatever situation is holding your prisoner, if you will put your faith and trust in God, He will deliver you from your captivity.
III. Put Your Faith In God, Not Your Situation
When Job friend’s came to see him and they saw his suffering, they tried to get him to confess whatever it was he had done against God so that God would forgive him and restore him. Job stood still and remained firm that he had not done anything against God. Job’s friends were looking at Job’s situation, not God. All they could see was Job’s suffering and believing that he had done something to warrant his suffering. There are many times when we are going through situations and are so focused on the situation that we failed to see God working on our behalf or how He is providing answers for our deliverance. We put our faith in our own ability to handle the situation versus allowing God to work in, through and around us to bring us through. Our deliverance does not always require that we "do something." We need to understand that as we have a very capable adversary plotting our demise, but we also have an even great Savior planning our deliverance and ultimate victory.
Paul tells Timothy in Second Timothy 3:10-11 says "But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me!" If you read carefully what Paul said, being a Christian and doing what God has called us to do does not mean that we will not ever go through some hard times. However, no matter what you may face, if you endure, God will deliver you. In Hebrews the 11th chapter we find a whole list of individuals who walked in faith although they did not live to see their deliverer. They held their faith till death, but while they lived, they accomplished things for God because they knew this life was only temporary, our real lives are eternal. After recording the list of all those who walked by faith, Hebrews 11:39-40 says "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect." In other words, the promise was not fulfilled during their lives so that at the right time, the promise would be made for everyone. It was not by mistake that Christ was born during the time He was, that was by design. Having said all of that Paul gives direction to us. Hebrews 12:1-2 records the following "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
We have been surrounded by many who have suffered more than we ever will and Paul reminds us of what they experienced. Through their suffering, they never turned back. They may have had times when their faith was shaken, but they never lost it. If you are experiencing some difficult times this morning; if your world has been shaken and you do not know where to turn; if those you counted on for support have long since turned their backs on you, try Jesus. He will never leave nor forsake you. There is nothing that you can experience that He has not already covered with His blood. Yes there will be days when we hurt, but remember, your life here on earth is temporary. When you leave this place and enter into God’s glory because you have not swayed from your faith, what we have experienced here on earth will be meaningless. If you have not tried Jesus, make the decision today. If you already accepted Him, but your faith has been shaken, we can help you. It is never too late to fully commit your life to Christ.
May God bless and keep you.
