(Readers, we hope you enjoyed Part One of Power Truths from Job! Here is Part 2:)
Have you noticed, Job’s life and loss is one of those stories that never fade? There are power truths we can glean from Job’s life to definitely help us navigate this often messy life.
Question: Did Job’s kids had any responsibility in their downfall?
Job’s well-off kids left home to do what they wanted, not knowing the grace they enjoyed in Papa’s house, wouldn’t transfer. Just like Job’s kids, if the enemy can get us to enjoy the world, entertain selfish mindsets and indulge our appetites, he can fight us from within, until time runs out. How can we escape a similar pattern?
1. Be Aware of the Enemy’s Schemes
Have you ever wondered how, right now, Satan is monitoring us to figure out how he can get the world into us? Satan works to dim our light, and will tailor-make temptations to seduce us to the world. Don’t let him!
As a matter of fact, Peter, who fell not once, but three times, urged, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Right now, the Lord is studying to see if our hearts are turned to Him with only one desire: to bless His Children!
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. (2 Chron. 16:9).
The state of our heart can be the determinant of blessing or downfall! As we stay in His Presence, keeping our lives surrendered to the Lord, our reward is certain!
Power Truth: Right now, God is seeking whom He can bless.
2. Don’t be Familiar with Grace
Question: Do we really understand the impact of our choices?
Grace is like a blanket, a wonderful covering. Yet when we fail to recognize the gift of this blessing, as we grow familiar with grace, over time, the blanket thins. Habitual unrepentant sin dulls our light, clogs our heart, lulls us away from God and into the world. When we don’t repent, Satan enters to destroy our lives.
In fact, the Bible records “Job’s sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.” (1:4) These wealthy heirs feasted for days and would often call their sisters to join their parties. Papa Job, being spiritually wise, would call his boys home, to sanctify his children.
“And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.Thus Job did continually”. (1:5)
As Job’s children rode on Papa’s grace, they failed to realize their period of grace could collapse.
Power Truth: Our lives can be interrupted by Satan if we open wide the door to our own destruction by our sin.
3. We belong in God our Father’s House
Question: Where can we be most secure from the enemy?
In their Papa’s house, Job’s children’s safety was assured. Job lived in covenant with Almighty God every day! In their father’s house, his children were covered by Job’s righteousness.
Power Truth: Our location directly impacts our destiny. (For more on location, enjoy this powerful sermon.)
Psalm 128:1,4 says, Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways…your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. (To pray for a deeper fear of the Lord, enjoy this hour of power here.)
Locate yourself in the House of the Father God. Stay rooted besides the streams of God. Your life begins here.
Certainly, Job’s manna was their manna! When his children left Job for their own houses, their own ways, they perished.
Satan knew if he removed Job’s children from the place of God’s nearness, he could make them do what they would otherwise not have done in their father’s house. He incited their partying, removed their father’s lifestyle and then waited, until finally, unrepentant, the grace of their father’s house expired. Death came suddenly.
BUT NOT YOU! You can always repent and come home. Spiritual children belong at their father’s table, graciously eating their father’s spiritual bread.
4. Good News: We can always come Home.
Power Truth: There is no one who is sinless, except JESUS.
Psalm 32:1-2 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Apostle John wrote, If we say 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. (1John 1:8-9)
Question: Why is the grace to repent so essential?
Friend, don’t be foolish like Job’s children, partying life away with unquenched appetite. Don’t give the enemy a single opportunity through sin. If you have been wandering, there is still time because you are receiving this Word!
As we turn from sin and repent to your Heavenly Father, we come Home!
May the grace to repent be ours daily! As we confess our sins, may we unlock the freedom Jesus Christ offers! When we live in fear of the Lord and refuse to excuse any sin, every area of our life will be blessed as we stay in our Father’s House as the mercy and love of God our Father captivate our hearts today!
Shalom,
Shyju