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Wednesday, August
20, 2008
Hold Your Position
Job 1:6-9 Now there was a day when the
sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also
among them. (7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then
Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and
from walking up and down in it. (8) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou
considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a
perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (9) Then
Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? (KJV)
We talked yesterday about our place in
heaven and the opportunity to go before the throne of grace to find what we
need, that first and foremost being the spiritual need. As we also
discussed, there is an enemy that patrols the heavenly realm seeking whom
he can devour. A wolf, or to use another example, a lion in the physical
realm will seek its prey by sight and sound looking for a weakness or weak
area to prey on and then take advantage of that. Our enemy to the Christian
works in a similar way; while the Lord says we are seated in the heavenly
places and able to operate in a realm above and beyond this fallen realm of
the world, the enemy is listening in from time to time to find a weakness
in God’s flock and to see if he can take advantage of it. While many have
wondered at times what happened to Job and why would God test him that way,
or so they think God tests His people, remember the scriptures are given
for our advantage to learn from and not make the same mistakes; and as we
read on further we will see that what happened to Job happens to others who
don’t hold their position in the Lord, holding fast their profession of
faith without wavering.
2 Timothy 2:12-13 If we suffer, we shall
also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (13) If we
believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (KJV)
Know this also, that the enemy is
described in Revelation 12:10 as the accuser of the brethren, basically
running a smear campaign before the Lord to see if the mud he is slinging
at them sticks. If it turns out that a believer has fallen and entered back
into the fallen realm of the flesh and the enemy challenges their position,
God cannot lie, even when it involves one of His people. It is vital that
we keep a watch over our mouth making sure the words we speak are Spirit
and life, not words that will separate us from our right standing with God.
This is why it is so important that you as a believer in Christ know your
rights and authority in the word of God so that you can continue strong in
the Lord and not become easy prey for the wicked one.
Job 1:10-12 Hast not thou made an hedge
about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?
thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in
the land. (11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath,
and he will curse thee to thy face. (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. (KJV)
Did Job fear God for nought or nothing?
Well obviously there was a fracture in the relationship because God could
not lie and deny the fact that Job had put himself in the enemy’s realm and
was no longer holding to a position of faith. God does not randomly pick
His people to go through trials like this just to teach them a lesson,
that’s nonsense, but rather it was Job that put himself in this position.
Job 1:4-5 And his sons went and feasted
in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three
sisters to eat and to drink with them. (5) And it was so, when the days of
their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose
up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the
number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and
cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. (KJV)
So right before Job’s trouble, obviously
there was an area of concern in his life, one that involved his own
children, one he continually claimed involved sin and cursing. If we read
the rest of this chapter we see the enemy had a field day against Job and
even his grown children, which is what the enemy preyed on, his weakness
and fear. Why would the word fear have anything to do with this?
Job 3:24-26 For my sighing cometh before
I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. (25) For the thing
which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is
come unto me. (26) I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I
quiet; yet trouble came. (KJV)
Ahh hah, all that roaring and sighing
that had been pouring out of him; the end result of his calamities then was
not God trying to teach him a lesson but rather the fear and doubt he
allowed into his life which resulted in the enemy hearing the prey and then
pouncing on it like a wounded animal. Are there things in your life that are
entering the heart and coming forth in the form of words, words that are
not building up but rather tearing down? Do you know how to pray
effectively, or have you become an ineffective prey of the wicked one?
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the
same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (KJV)
The Word says we should be resisting
steadfast in the faith, not giving the enemy an open door or a clear shot
with his fiery darts. The enemy walks about seeking and listening,
especially to God’s people to see and hear where they are at in their walk
and if there is any weakness that can be used against them. The devil
doesn’t have any power to pull you out of the kingdom of God, however if he
can introduce doubt and get the believer to fall for a lie and then their
own words will put them on his turf, that which is the artificial turf of
this fallen world. Like a lion, as described in the book of Peter, a
toothless one to those that know their rights in the Word, while others
will be off and running to and fro at the roars of a loud mouth lying
beast.
Ephesians 3:10-12 To the intent that now
unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the
church the manifold wisdom of God, (11) According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (12) In whom we have boldness
and access with confidence by the faith of him. (KJV)
This confidence, boldness, and access we
have is located in the heavenly realm and is available now to those that
choose to operate in it and realize that God has not given us the spirit of
fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. The more you hold your heavenly
position the less likely you will be entangled in the affairs of this life.
Will you resist steadfast in the faith, or will you be running to and fro
with every wind and roaring doctrine of the enemy?
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