Faithful Job

Job was a man of faith who never turned against the LORD in spite of his afflictions from the devil. Afflictions can remove feelings of being right with God; it takes more than feelings when the body is plagued by boils and suffering great pain and distress. You must have conviction based on true faith in the living God and be a person who has lived a life doing the good work that is pleasing to God. Job was being tested and I believe all those of faith will have their faith tested. From his sufferings Job spoke gems of spiritual truth. I have selected three of his statements from one on the oldest books of the Bible. The first statement is an encouragement for the new year.

Job 17:9 The righteous will move onward and forward, and those with pure hearts will become stronger and stronger.

This emphasizes the importance of holiness and purity in a believers heart and life. The world is sinking deeper in evil lusts and demonic sins. If we are to move forward we must by faith move onward and forward in the will of God and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Read the word, the water of the word cleanses our hearts and we become stronger and stronger in our soul and spirit.

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Job understood that his redeemer lived even back before Abraham. Did he know the story from Genesis of a righteous seed, a redeemer?

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Now we know the seed, the redeemer as the Lord Jesus Christ who redeemed us from the serpent, the devil, by his shed blood on the cross. The redeemer lived in Jobs time and the eternal Redeemer lives today to intercede for the Children of God. We shall see him.

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

True wisdom starts with the fear of the LORD who made us and decides our eternal future. David repeated these words in the Psalms and Solomon in Proverbs.

Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It was through sufferings that Job brought to us wisdom from God, tried in the fire. It was the sufferings of King David that the LORD used to bring forth the comforting Psalms. Paul encouraged us as he approached his execution with these words. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

2Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 

Thank God for these men who did not give up but who overcame by faith. Their words are given to us to strengthen us as we move onward and forward, and those with pure hearts will become stronger and stronger.

I have heard the Lord say to preach the word and this is why I send these messages to you. We do not preach in a closet, but for people to see or hear the word. To God be the glory in all that is said and done.