And Then There Were Three……

We have been walking in Job’s shoes for the past couple of weeks.  We looked at several scriptures that I would like to pull together today:

In Jeremiah 6:16 and God made a request that we stand aside and ask for him to show us the good way so that we could find rest for our souls.  Job may be sitting but he is still desperately seeking God’s wise counsel.

We looked at the scriptures on satan's job description verses Jesus’s": kill steal and destroy – unity, harmony, life. 

I would like to tie them together as we conclude scene 2 of Job’s adventure, with Luke chapter 11.  One of the disciples had requested that Jesus teach them how to pray.  Jesus gave them the knowledge and followed it with some practical theory in regards to speaking up and making the request known as well as trusting.  Right after that it seems they had the battle field.  When God has the victory, satan steps up right away to take all the glory.  He uses the lips of the spectators to denounce God’s reputation.

Luke 11:15 (NAS)

But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. And the others to test Him were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.  But He knew their thoughts and said to them, Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and a house divided against itself falls.  And if satan also is divided against himself how shall his kingdom stand?  For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.  And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons by whom do your sons cast them out?  Consequently they shall be your judges. But if I cast out by the finger of God then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

We already discussed the strong mans house will not be disturbed, that a curse with out a cause does not come, putting on our armor and standing firm till the promises of God show up and the importance of having a true understanding of what we believe. Because we need to know the truth so that the truth can set up free, let’s look at the rest of the story here in Luke 11 starting in verse 22, going through to 28.

but when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied, and distributes his plunder.  He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.  When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any it says, I will return to my house from which I came.  And when it comes it finds it swept and put in order.  Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself and they go in and live there; and the last state of the man becomes worse than the first.

We discussed how Satan must have been attempting to take over Job’s house.  So let’s look at the battle field of his posse:

The 3 messengers who consecutively came stating all is lost and only I escaped so that you could be told.

There was the wife who spoke when Job needed some encouragement and prayer to strengthen him, but instead he was told to curse God and die.

Satan is pulling out all the stops by sending in the 3 amigos, right on the heals of Job’s wife and pain sores doing their best to force the man to defer his hope in God:

Job 2:11-13 Now when Job’s three friend heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him.  And when they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept.  And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky.  Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

Tomorrow we will pick back up here – but for today I ask you to take notice that God created the heavens, the earth, living being and had a day of rest all within 7 days.  He used his mind, his energy and his voice to do good. 

I pray that we look around at those we allow to cross into our personal space, look with discernment at the voice exiting their being, the intent of their words and be aware of those posing as friends.  We do not judge them, but we are to discern and allow God’s separation of darkness and light to protect us in all ways.

Especially this 4th of July I ask that each of us cry out to God our father for justice to prevail.  He tells us that if we do not, the stones, walls, rafters, beams and ground will.  Know that even when you might feel as though you are alone in the wilderness there are many of us…..hopefully using our voice, words and faith joining together calling out to Him who is faithful to save.

In the all powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord who liberates us all, Amen, Hallelujah, Shalom,

Kisses,

Candace