Facing Affliction With God's Word

Date: Saturday, June 06, 2015
Chapters: Job 36-38
Message Title: Facing Affliction With God's Word

Hello My Friend,

As we grow and mature in our Christianity we become wiser to the Word of God as He reveals His mysteries to us through the Holy Spirit in us. It is amazing how God only reveals a little bit at a time so we do not get overwhelmed, He teaches us how to comprehend it all, not just parts of it, and I think we will never truly learn everything God wants us to know. Some of us comprehend God's Word quicker than others, but that does not mean one is smarter than another, it just means that we all are called to know certain things of God at certain times in our lives, yet there are just some things too powerful for us to know. We have to be careful not to get to the point that we think we know everything we need to know about God, no matter how many times you read the Bible there is always more to know. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” - Hebrews 5:12-14.

Elihu continues his speech, calling Job a hypocrite, and telling him that the affliction he was facing was judgment from God. He was convinced that God prolonged the affliction because he knew God, but would not humble himself before Him to admit his sin. He did, however, admit one truth, he did not get any of his reasoning from God Himself. “Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.” - Job 36:2-5,29-31.

A hypocrite is someone who says they live by the Word of God and appears to be, but truly are not. It takes time to grow in God's Word, and since we all grow at different levels it is not right to assume that people are not by the affliction in their lives. There is always more to know about God, you can be sure that the devil will twist the Scriptures to try to mislead us, but that is just one more reason why we must study His Word for ourselves and do what we learn. “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:14-16.

Job continues speaking, this time He actually praises God, calling attention to the weather, forces that only He can control. “At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.” - Job 37:1-7.

We talk about the changes of the weather all the time, there are heated debates over things like climate change and global warming, but how seldom do we think and speak of these things with regard to God, the Creator and director of them all! We must notice the glory of God, not only in the thunder and lightning, but in the more common changes of the weather; as the snow and rain, and summer like weather in the winter. God directs all the forces of the weather, all you have to do is look at the amazing structure and force of a tornado or hurricane and see the spender and quite spectacular power of God. He uses every storm to bring us and others to Him. “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” - Isaiah 54:11-13.

As Job sat there while one friend after another condemned him, his only question was, “Where is God and why doesn't He help me?” Little did he realize that God was listening, He was listening to all of them. As Elihu was continuing his speech a storm was brewing, a tornado to be exact. “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” - Job 38:1-7.

God knew that Jobs friends played a part in his discouragement, to gird up thy loins means to get ready for battle, God wants Job to be ready for battle and wants a direct answer to His questions. Of course, God knew that there was no way that Job could answer any of these questions. It's ridiculous what all these scientists come up with to try and figure out how God made the earth and everything in between. God will never reveal such information because He knows they will distort it even more than they already have. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” - Romans 1:22-25.

The is always more to know about God, you can be sure that the devil will twist the Scriptures to try to mislead us, but that is just one more reason why we must read all of the Bible for ourselves. It is great to have help, but we need to make sure that who we are getting advice from lines up with the Word of God. Professors may have all the degrees and qualifications the world can give, but unless their advice is in harmony with God's Word, it is false and good for no one. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalm 1:1-3. Praise God!

Today's Prayer: God, You want us to live a life that is abundant and prosperous, but we often forfeit that when we are faced with affliction. We cannot always control the situations we have handed to us, but we can control how we handle them by getting in Your Word and letting You show us how. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power to endure affliction, and give us the wisdom we need to know how to handle it. Keep us in Your Word so that we can know Your will for our lives and how to handle those who try to condemn us by their own reasoning and not Yours, and give us the strength to stand by and follow Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Criticized By Other Christians

Date: Friday, June 05, 2015
Chapters: Job 33-35
Message Title: Criticized By Other Christians

Hello My Friend,

As Christians we face all kinds of criticism, from those who reject the existence of God to those who make up their own version of who they believe Him to be. And, it's one thing to be criticized by those who do not know God or think they know Him, and another to be criticized by those who are just like us. So, what do we do when our very own kind tries to point out every fault we have or what they perceive to be a fault, and tries to put us in our place, even saying it was from God? Give it all over to God. He will tell us how to handle them and make them take care of their own sin. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” - Matthew 7:1-5.

It was bad enough that Job had three of his friends calling him a hypocrite and liar, here comes Elihu, for someone who just sat there for days observing everything the four men said to each other, he didn't hear much. The best and most accurate thing he said was that God formed him and gave him life. “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,” - Job 33:4-9,14-16.

We dream all night long, but very rarely do we remember what is buried in our subconscious, except once in a while when we are about to wake up. Even then we only remember bits and pieces of what the dream was about. Every once in a while we get vivid dreams, as though they truly happened, and wonder where they even came from. God does form each and every one of us, and it is God that gives every one of us the breath of life. However, to be truly without transgression, we need a Saviour, someone who truly is righteous and without transgression, that Saviour is Jesus Christ. Once we accept Him and take Him into our lives the Spirit of God moves in us and warns us of transgressions and iniquity that we need to confess in order for God to hear our prayers and answer us. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - 1 John 1:7-10.

At first Elihu made a little bit of sense, then it all went down hill from there, he began accusing Job of things he thought he comprehended by his response to his friends accusations. “Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.” - Job 34:2-7,23-25.

His accusations against Job were, at best, half-truths and misinterpretations. When I was reading this chapter I had to reread a couple of verses because I thought I was reading something wrong, I knew Job did not say, “It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.” What he said was, speaking about the wicked who prosper and do not think they need anything from God, “Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” - Job 21:14,15.

Have you ever had someone completely twist what you said around? Imagine how God feels about those who twist His Word around? People get into huge debates over God's Word, they quote verses after verses to back up their claim. Sometimes I wonder what Bible they are reading because that is not what I read. The truth is, until Jesus gets here people will not stop using God in a way to convince others, who really have no idea what He is all about to believe their lies. If we are truly reading God's Word, cover to cover, on a normal basis, we will learn who is truly speaking the truth from the Word of God and someone who is not. Keep in mind that a saved and baptized person studing and living in God's Word will hear the truth more than one who is not. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9,10,14.

Elihu continues to judge Job, this time, trying to get the other three friends to side with him. “Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.” - Job 35:2-9.

Job really did not say that he was sinless, he just said that he did not do anything that caused the affliction he was under. Perhaps Job did say some things out of discouragement, but there is not one Christian that does not get discouraged once in a while when there is no explained answer for the affliction. When we become afflicted and everyone seems to be judging us in every direction, that is when we need to get under the wings of Christ. He truly is the only one who can lift us up when everyone is trying to keep us down. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” - Hebrews 12:1-3,11.

Today's Prayer: God, I want to live my life according to Your Word, the things that I go through are not always about Your judgment or tests, but about trusting You and believing that You can do anything You say You can do. When I am being persecuted, afflicted, or judged by others, help me to respond with the knowledge that You have given me, and let me not be taken by their half truths. Keep me around people who know Your Word truthfully and keep me in Your Word to let the Holy Spirit be my guide as I study to be approved by You. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Enduring Trials And Tribulations

Date: Thursday, June 04, 2015
Chapters: Job 30-32
Message Title: Enduring Trials And Tribulations

Hello My Friend,

Trials and tribulations, whether we know Jesus Christ as our Saviour or not, take a huge toll on our spiritual, mental, and even physical wellbeing. The sufferings of this world are no respecter of persons, the same things can happen to Christians as those of the world, it's who we have with us during these trials and tribulations that distinguishes us from the world. “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” - 1 Peter 2:19-21.

Job was just about out of words, there was not one thing he could say that would convince his friends that he was not hiding some wicked sin that caused all the tribulation he was facing. He gets a little depressed that his friends are treating him so badly. “But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face. Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.” - Job 30:1-3,9-12,26.

As we walk with Christi, He will teach us that sometimes God allows trials and tribulations for no wrong that we have done. Going through these things teaches us that during times like these we do not have to lose our morals to get through them, we have the Spirit of God in us and He will help us through them as long as we look to Him. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:26-28.

There seemed to be no end to the cruelty of the people who made his suffering even more painful and miserable, but, the most troubling to Job was that it seemed that God did not care or was not hearing him. He starts questioning his own faithfulness to God, wondering if there was some hidden sin in his life that was causing all this. “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.” - Job 31:1-6,33-35.

There comes a time when every faithful Christian questions why they are struggling and wonder if there is some hidden sin they forgot about so they can get right with God and end it all. The more we try to find relief the more afflicted we become because we wreck our brains trying to figure out what we did wrong. Can I tell you that not all suffering comes from something that we have done. God knows what is going on, He knows what we are doing and does not want us to behave that way, He doesn't want us wallowing in our sorrows and beating ourselves up trying to figure things out either. He wants us to live, trusting Him, knowing that our faithfulness to Him will reveal His blessings in the end. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” - 1 Peter 4:12-14.

Job had no more to say, he was exhausted spiritually, mentally, and physically, he just wanted rest. The whole time a young man named Elihu, a forefather or Samuel who would be a prophet and judge in Israel year later, sat there observing all that was being said between the four men. He begins to speak acting as the moderator between them and God, expressing his anger toward them all. “So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.” - Job 32:1,4-9.

Elihu was angry at Job because he claimed that he was justified by his actions and did not commit sin against God. This was false, Job knew that he was not sinless, but he had a right to defend himself against their claims because they were not true. Many times we are going to be subject to persecution over things we have not done, people are going to accuse us and try to get us to admit to something we did not do. We do have a right to defend ourselves, in fact, we have a mediator that already stands in our defense, that mediator is Jesus Christ. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” - Hebrews 9:14,15.

Today's Prayer: God, I long to be faithful and true, but trials and tribulations are always competing with my ability to be true to You. Lord, give me Your power and the strength to keep going no matter who or what tries to knock me down. No matter how many times I fall, pull me up and get me going again. Give me wisdom, guidance, and the courage to remain true to You at all times. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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The Source Of Our Strength

Date: Wednesday, June 03, 2015
Chapters: Job 27-29
Message Title: The Source Of Our Strength

Hello My Friend,

God has placed me in a position the past few years to where I only acquire the exact funds and things that I need when they are needed. Now, recently I have been struggling with some health issues, nothing major, just trying to adjust and keep the symptoms at bay is the issue. I am telling you all this because we all go through struggles, sometimes one, other times many, but then there are the times when all is well and we sit back and wonder how we ever got through all the chaos. Our source of strength, Jesus Christ, and only He can give us the strength to endure so many things that would send us to our grave earlier than we imagine. “Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.” - Psalms 28:6-8.

When we are faced with struggles it seems as though everyone wants to give us advice, and it's not always the nice, kind words we long to hear. As Job is laying there in pain, he tires of responding to his three friends and their horrible accusations. Instead he speaks a parable. “As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.” - Job 27:2-7.

While Job did not understand why he was being afflicted, he knew that he would be justified before God. No, he did not think that he was perfect and never sinned, but he did think that his God knew the steps that he took, and was done trying to justify himself before his friends. We have no one to justify ourselves to except to God, and He definitely knows the way that we take, each and every one of us. “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” - Galatians 3:8-14.

The world looks at the things we see everyday as the pattern for the paths they choose to take, if it looks good they want it, and go for it, if struggles come, they run. There are many things in the world that science or own logic can explain, things that God will never reveal to us because it would be too much for us to comprehend. Job, speaks of some of these things, “There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.” - Job 28:7-13.

Did you ever stop to think about how a child is formed in a mothers womb? People argue everyday that a life is not a life until it is birthed out of the mother. Life truly does begin at conception, and this is something miraculous, something no amount of science can explain. We cannot always explain God, but we can explain how God got us through each struggle. God loves us and wants to see us blessed through the struggles He allows in our lives, and that is why He allows them. We really cannot choose the hand that God deals us, but we can choose how to play the hand with confidence in the only one who can truly give us the victory. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 5:1-5.

When we are in the struggles that we are in, it's often necessary to remind ourselves of all the blessings that God has given us. Job recalls his says of prosperity, giving God the credit for all of them. “Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.” - Job 29:2-5,10-14.

It is the devil who gets us thinking that everything is hopeless and that there is no end in sight to the struggles, but we must recount every blessing, even the struggles we are in. Everything we go through has a purpose and a message behind it, sometimes we may never know the reason until we see Jesus, but we cannot give up. God is with us, always, He is our strength to keep going when we just want to lay in bed and hope that our dreams will somehow become the reality. And guess what? If we looking to Him, things will look up, and the reality will be better than any dream we could ever dream of. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:5-7,11-13.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for the life that You have given me and the path You have chosen for me. I do not always understand the steps You have me take, but I do know that You are with me in all of them. I know that I mess up and make some wrong decisions because I just don't understand or are too impatient to wait for You to show me the correct answers. I'm sorry for going over Your head, and not waiting for You. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me the strength I need to endure the struggles You allow in my life, let me not look to the right or left, but straight toward You. I know that as long as I do that You will always lead me back to the path I need to be on. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Wisdom To Handle Affliction

Date: Tuesday, June 02, 2015
Chapters: Job 24-26
Message Title: Wisdom To Handle Affliction

Hello My Friend,

Knowledge is power and God trusts only His people with His power, as long as we fear Him we receive that power and the ability to overcome every situation we are faced with. Pure wisdom teaches us that if we know God He will shine through us by the good works we do as we fear Him. “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,” - 2 Corinthians 6:1,4-7.

Job has proved by examples that the righteous are often oppressed; that the wicked often triumph over the just, that the impious are always wretched even in the midst of their greatest prosperity; and he defies his friends to show one flaw in his argument, or an error in his illustration of it; and that existing facts are farther proofs of what he has advanced. “Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?” - Job 24:1-5,24,25.

Though the wicked seem to be under special protection, even dying without disgrace, God keeps an account of all their wickedness and will some day make it appear that their most secret sins, which they thought no eye could see, were under His eye the whole time. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” - Romans 14:11-13.

I do not know how long Job's friends sat with him, but I imagine it seemed like a lifetime to Job as Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad constantly criticized every word he spoke to defend himself. Bildad continues, questioning Job when he said that he would be justified before God. “Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise? How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?” - Job 25:2-6.

Pure wisdom will teach a person that because of the sin nature we are born with no one can be justified by God, no matter how good we try to be we can never measure up to the goodness of God. One little sin means we would have to start all over again in hopes that we could earn our way to heaven before it is too late. That is why God had a plan to make people right with Him before it was too late, not by any good that we do, but by one good man, that man is Jesus Christ. Those that were around before Jesus came to earth looked to Him as their Saviour as well as those who look to Him now as their Saviour. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” - Romans 3:10-12,23,24,28.

Although Job felt like God had taken away his understanding of what was going on and that his soul was being tormented he knew that the Spirit of God was in him. Job was not about to let any of these men cause him to lose his integrity. “How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee? The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” - Job 26:2-4,11-14.

Job was never as concerned about knowing the answer to why he was struggling as he was about knowing that God was in His life. The word wise means having the power of discerning and judging correctly. The word wisdom means the right use of that knowledge. You do not have to be a scholar to know that some people do not need to know certain things because if they did they would abuse it in the worst way. This kind of wisdom is evil and does not come from God, pure wisdom is worth more than gold, it is of God and everyone prospers from it. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” - James 3:13-17.

Nothing lasts forever except eternal life, but as the saying goes, “When one door closes another opens.” We will not face affliction forever, it does not last, that is unless we want it to last. Only we have the power to let our affliction control us or to take control of our affliction. Remember, God cannot help us unless we are willing to help ourselves. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” - Revelation 3:20,21.

Today's Prayer: God, When I am facing affliction it feels like I am all alone and everyone is on my case about something. It's a big challenge to find You in the midst of all this, but I know You are there and that Your hand never leaves me. Lord, give me Your power to endure my affliction, give me the wisdom to know how to handle the situations that pop up, and fill me Your mercy and grace so that I never lose hope of an end to all this, with Your glory shining through. I ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Why Do The Wicked Prosper

Date: Monday, June 01, 2015
Chapters: Job 20-23
Message Title: Why Do The Wicked Prosper

Hello My Friend,

Faithful Christians love living their lives with Christ in it, no matter what they are facing, they still do their best to walk with Jesus and live their lives by His example. So, what happens when we keep doing everything right, but seem to always suffer while others, even unfaithful Christians, seem to get away with everything. There comes a time that every faithful Christian wonders why it seems as though those living in sin prosper when they have to work so hard to get a fraction of what they have. When it seems God will never give us a break from all the suffering, that is when we need to remember God's promise. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalms 1:1-3.

Job was living a very prosperous life, in fact, he was one of the most richest men alive during his time. People respected him, and they knew his life was great because he gave God the glory for all his success. Even God acknowledged that he was an upright man, yet here he is, laying there in pain with three friends constantly, going on and on about how wicked he is. Perhaps the most critical of the three was Zophar, he didn't hold anything back, convinced that Job was being judged because he refused to admit that he was a sinner. “Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.” - Job 20:4-9,29.

Now, Zophar is correct in saying that the wicked only prosper for a time, in the end they will suffer more than we ever did, he was wrong in his accusations of Job. We cannot judge a person based on the circumstances they are facing, and no one has a right to judge us. We can condemn a person for having gotten away from going to church or praying in public, but we do not know their circumstances nor do we see what's going on as to why it appears they are not right with God. Perhaps what they need is a little guidance and encouragement from us, they are struggling and need to know that everything is going to be okay, and that God loves them and is still with them. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” - Romans 15:1-4.

Now, Job wonders why the wicked do prosper, when they want nothing to do with God. “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.” - Job 21:7-9,17-22.

While we cannot always understand why God allows those who care less about Him to have so much while those who are faithful to Him struggle from day to day, we can understand that our faithfulness is not return void. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:7,13,16.

Eliphaz, perhaps the most knowledgeable of God between the three, has hope that things will get better for Job, if he just acknowledge his sin to God and seek forgiveness. “Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.” - Job 22:2-7,12-14.

Eliphaz was way off in his judgment here, he was being sarcastic as if Job was saying that God does not see and know everything that he has done. God sees and knows everything that is going on with us, even the things we think, but He does not base our prosperity on our works, but in who we are trusting while doing those works. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.

Job responds to this crazy accusation, “Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.” - Job 23:6-11.

Gold is quite rough looking when it is found in the ground, in order to get that shiny hue it needs to be heated up. Since we are more precious than gold, we can be sure that God is going to put the heat on us a little more than the gold to make us shine. Yeah, we may have to suffer a little more, and to be honest, they suffer too, they just do not admit it. The key to prospering from the suffering is Jesus Christ, even if we lose everything we ever have or posses we still have more than ever, and will shine before God as gold. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. Praise God!

Today's Prayer: God, As much as I believe that all things You allow in my life work together for good, I still struggle with communicating with You through my afflictions. I read my Bible and pray, find a moment of hope then lose my desire to keep going when I walk out that door. Lord, I know You do not want me to live like this, I know You want me to lift my head up high, positive that You will see me through. I need Your power to do this, I need Your power to help me get through the day looking to You and having confidence that my faithfulness to You never returns void. One day, after You are done trying me, I will come forth as gold. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Worth The Disappointments

Date: Sunday, May 31, 2015
Chapters: Job 16-19
Message Title: Worth The Disappointments

Hello My Friend,

I've always been the type of person that when disappointment comes I shrug it off and move on, but once in a while all those disappointments come crashing down on me and I find myself asking God why nothing ever goes the way I would like. Let me tell you, sometimes the things that God puts in our lives make no sense at all, and it's easy to want to just throw in the towel and give up the fight. However, during that time, God is really doing something wonderful in our lives, we might be hanging by a thread, but He's doing something great, and all those disappointments will be worth it when He reveals what He really wants for us. “Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” - 2 Timothy 2:10-13.

Job is in such despair, he lays there all bound up like a mummy in pain, and still grieving over the loss of his children. His wife, grieving also, has given up, and the three people that decide to hang around him do nothing, but criticize him and make him feel worse than he is. He's about had it, and wonders if God is even near. “I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.” - Job 16:2-6,20-22.

The word asswage means to ease the pain, what Job is saying is that friends are supposed to be there to help ease the pain, not bring more. Even the words that he had to speak did not ease his comfort because he had to defend himself of something he did not do.“Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.” - Job 17:7-11,15,16.

It's easy to lose hope when it seems like we have no relief from the pain no matter which way we turn. That is when we need to turn our hope on God, we may not be able to see Him sometimes, but hope in Him will bring us comfort. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:24-28.

Sometimes no matter how man times we speak or try to convince people that they are incorrect, there is still no relief. Bildad speaks again, convinced that Job is sinning still, and until he stops and repents he will not see God. “How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak. Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight? He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.” - Job 18:2-6,21.

There are some people in this world that appear that they know more about God, and that He somehow reveals to them their sin to expose it to others. That's not how God works, yeah, if we sin in secret, God will be sure to expose it in public, and God does give us the ability to give righteous judgment when it is needed. However, God in no way puts it in our heads to judge a person as if we are sinless, none of us are without sin, and to accuse by assumption will do nothing, but get our sins exposed. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” - 1 Corinthians 11:26-31.

Job, defends himself once again, reminding them all that he has a Redeemer, and will be justified. “If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” - Job 19:6-9,21-26.

Job knew who his Redeemer was and that through Him he would be saved from any judgment. We are not redeemed by any righteousness of our own, but through the righteousness of Christ. Salvation or eternal life is the gift of God through His mercy and grace in our acceptance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It cannot be earned, bought, or paid for on our own. We need a Redeemer to be saved from death and hell, and that Redeemer is only Jesus Christ. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” - Romans 3:10,11,23-25.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem me, I know I am not saved by anything that I do of my own, but by my faith and trust in what He did for me. Because I am redeemed I know that You are always with me, but sometimes I feel like You are no where to be found. I catch myself trying to handle my troubles on my own instead of asking You for help and I know that is why I lose all hope that things will change for me. Lord, give me Your power to see past my troubles and look to You, as I do my part, by faith, I know You will do Your part and I will see the amazing blessings that You have waiting for me as I endure the pain with You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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