The Truest Test Of Trust

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!" John answered, "I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ’O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.’"

“The Truest Test of Trust”

Job 13:15

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:

Introduction:

I. The Testing We Face

a. The permission for testing

As you study the life of Job there is one thing that is absolutely certain and that is all testing that comes into our lives is ordered and ordained by God. Someone said, “There are no accidents in life, only appointments.” Satan is very powerful and the earth is his sphere of influence and He is very active but he can’t do anything without God’s permission. This is obvious from the narrative between God and Satan in the first two chapters of the book.

Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

In quick succession Job suffered the loss of all his domestic animals (0xen & donkeys) in verse (15), herds of sheep (16), his camels (17), his 10 precious children (19) with all but a few servants spared to bring the bad news. In chapter 2 verse (7) Job loses his health (boils) and verse (9) even his wife turns on him. To summarize he loses his possessions, his posterity, and the support of his partner in life.

b. The purpose of testing

God’s plan for Job’s life included His permissive will. What is the difference between His perfect will for Job and His permissive will for Job? 4) One thing to remember is that our English word permission suggests sanction but this is not true with God. There are many things that He permits that He does not sanction (sin). Just because God lets something happen doesn’t mean that He sanctions it! God permits evil but He doesn’t sanction it!

When you think about God’s will you need to understand that it is a multi-faceted teaching. One Bible scholar described the permissive will of God in the following way;

“There is what we might call God's "permissive will." This is what God allows, even though it is sin. God allowed Joseph's brothers to betray him, and to deceive their father, so that He might bring the Israelites (few in number) to Egypt, where God would spare them, and they would greatly multiply (Genesis 50:20). God allows man to reject the gospel, to willfully disobey His laws, to persecute the righteous, and so on. But in all of this, God is still in control, and His purposes are being accomplished. His "decretive will" often allows or permits (His permissive will) men to violate His preferential will (what gives Him pleasure) and His prescriptive will (His Word). God's permissive will is never outside His decretive will. God "permits" those things which will lead to the accomplishment of His decretive will. We also know that testing is for a reason.” Bible.Org

It can be for conversion, correction or construction. Let me give you three quick examples from Scripture:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

His perfect will is repentance for all but we do know that some choose to perish in spite of His perfect will.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

God’s prescriptive will (which is part of His perfect will) is found in His Word and when applied we receive His correction but the truth is that He permits us to disobey and reject correction.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;