Where Does Your Strength Come From?

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Chapters: Job 20-23
Message: Where Does Your Strength Come From?

Hello My Friend,

Every year I look forward to reading the Book of Job, while most people have a verse they can relate to that reminds them of what God has done in their lives, I have the Book of Job, it is my testimony. Of all the years that I have read it through, this year is by far the most trying on my faith. I see people being blessed all around me, people who are not living for God, and yet I struggle each day to know how God will provide for me the next day. You see, as much as I want to give up living like this, I know where I would be if I did things my way, little is much when God is in it. I do not know what will happen tomorrow, but I do know that God is there and in the end I will be blessed for not giving up. “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 4:12,13.

There is a lot to be said of strength, in fact, quite often, a person is as strong as they allow themselves to be. For instance, a person capable or lifting a hundred pounds factors all sorts of things that enable them to lift it, more importantly, if they have it in their minds that they are not able they will not. You see, several factors play a part in our strength, these are the mind, body, and spirit. In Job’s present state his physical strength was weakened by his illness, but his mental and spiritual strength was also weakened by his friends, weakening him all together. One after another they weakened him by their constant criticism of him. Zophar speaks again, this time bluntly calling him a hypocrite. “Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. 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? When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.” - Job 20:1-5,23.

“and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?” Hypocrite, one one who has the form of godliness, but is not. People will call you a hypocrite for one of two reasons, they either want you to do something that is not godly, or they have a false perception of you, they just knew in the back of their head you are not true. All these guys saw through Job’s affliction was that he was not the godly man he appeared to be. Words are stronger than they appear, and they will zap the strength out of you quicker than anything else. It is not the people around us that we have to please, it is God. As long as we do what He wants us to do He will give us the strength to endure the worst critics, even when it seems everyone is against us. “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.” - Psalms 18:32,35,39.

As Job lays there hearing their accusations he begins to wonder why the wicked do prosper, while those who do fear God suffer. “Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 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. Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.” - Job 21:2-9,27-30.

“That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction?” As much as we do not understand why the wicked prosper and the godly suffer, in the end they will suffer more than we ever did. I am a firm believer that those who reject God do suffer well before they die. Those who choose worldly riches and glory find it easy to ignore God because they feel they have everything they want. But look deep inside and there is no true happiness, they suffer with more problems than we do. But the wicked are not only those who reject God, they also include those who use God to get their wealth, and those who follow false religion as there way to heaven. We will all stand before Christ one day and will give an account for the things we have done, but being good has nothing to do with our salvation, we must believe in Christ for that. “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 7:22,23.

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. “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 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? Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.” - Job 22:1-3,21-23.

“If thou return to the Almighty,” God indeed is rich in mercy, even if we turn from Him. However, 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 we do, even the things we think, but He does not base our prosperity on our works, but in the one who we are trusting while doing those works. False religion, including those who make up their own religion, draw the wrong conclusion about God, they view Him as this vengeful and mean God who will strike you with every little thing you do. Let me tell you, if that were true, none of us would be here right now, cause we have all done something to sin against God. God truly is merciful and graceful, even when the first sin was committed. And yes, if people mock Him and turn His faithful away from Him, He will show His wrath, but make no mistake, God is the same now as He was we He created the earth. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” - Galatians 6:7-9.

Job responds by reminding himself that God knows what he has done and even though he does not see Him, He will exalt him in due time. “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.

“but he would put strength in me.” God is our strength, He strengthens our spirit through our tribulations, He strengthens our mind through His reminders, He strengthens our body through His Son. We may not be able to get out of bed, but we can be strong knowing that Christ is always with us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” - Romans 8:35-37.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through the judge. Jesus is judge of all. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” - John 12:48.

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. You are my strength to keep going, and one day, after You have tried me, I will come forth as gold. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.