Faithful on Fridays Blog

As we come to the close of this drama it’s evident that it hasn’t been about suffering but about righteousness. Now at the end God takes His turn to interrogate Job with over fifty questions. Job isn’t given a chance to answer since God raised the bar higher than anyone’s efforts to be self-righteous. No one compares to Him and His creation; He makes that crystal clear.

The last four chapters (38-41) are focused on God’s self-disclosure of His greatness. Interestingly, God instructed Job to prepare for His questions like a warrior getting ready for battle:

Dress for action like a man … 38:2

He needed the equipping of courage and strength to stand up under the intense questioning of the Almighty. God recounted creation and used it as His measure of power and authority expecting an explanation from Job.

“Tell me, if you have understanding. Declare, if you know all this.” 38:4, 18

Of course, Job has no answer, therefore, in chapter forty God continued his indictment:

Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it. Job 40:2

The Hebrew word for ‘faultfinder’ can also be translated critic or instructor and ‘contend’ means to strive in opposition; will Job continue to criticize and oppose God?

The breaking process had begun by the comparison of God’s greatness to his smallness and Job decided to be quiet. However, God’s not finished with him yet; He continued to pummel Job with questions.

Will you even put Me in the wrong? Will you condemn Me that you may be in the right? Vs. 8

Let’s remember this drama began with a conversation between Satan and God, now God uses a sea creature, Leviathan, to remind us of that beginning. Leviathan is like a dragon; God dedicated an entire chapter to describing him: why? Undoubtedly because we can never forget our enemy that draws us away from our Maker. The temptation to become self-righteous and self-justified is magnetic, therefore, we must stand in His righteousness opposed to Satan.

Jesus is returning in force:

In that day the Lord with His hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea. Isaiah 27:1

Until that final day of Christ (Rev. 20:2) we stand positioned in His righteousness as we find Job; he finally arrived at repentance (42:6) and received forgiveness. God instructed Job, now called My Servant, to pray for mercy for his friends as forgiveness could also be granted to them, and He restored to Job a family and double his wealth. That’s true grace.

The daunting length of this book is an analogy of the hard-heartedness of mankind and our need for mercy. May we come to repentance and humility, recognizing God’s greatness and the forces of Satan opposing us, much sooner than Job.

Trench Warfare

I’ve written in the past that we who are followers of Christ are in a battle with our minds. On one hand, we want to choose life because we know God’s ways are always the best choice. On the other hand, we have this inward desire to lean toward our old, sinful ways: anger, jealousy, bitterness, slander, pride, manipulation; can you identify?

This battle is pictured in the book of Galatians as trench warfare.

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:17 NLT

There are two opposing sides in each one of us that are constantly fighting each other: the sinful nature and new nature. The new, Holy Spirit-controlled nature deeply desires to do what’s right but it’s constantly in battle with our old, sinful nature, trying to keep us from doing what’s right. This illustration uses military language, two trenches or ditches dug by the opposing sides. You choose to be in one side or the other but you can’t remain in the middle without being shot.

What strategy do we use to stay in the right trench and win our battles? Paul gives us the answer:

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Galatians 5:16 NLT

Paul encourages us to be in constant communion with the Spirit of God, consequently, when confronted with choices, we choose God’s way. The Holy Spirit is our commanding officer given by the Father to guide us in those decisions. In other words, talk to God about it. He’ll help you stay on the side of your new nature that wants to do what’s right and pleasing to God. It’s the side that’s safe, protected and filled with attributes like forgiveness, mercy (withholding from someone what they deserve), grace (giving to someone what they don’t deserve), or simply acts of love.

How do you know which side is winning within you in these battles of the flesh and the Spirit? Read on in Gal. 5:22-26. The Holy Spirit will produce fruit in your life as you stay on the right side. Instead of anger, jealousy, or bitterness you’ll see love, joy, and peace. Instead of slander, pride, or manipulation you’ll see patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. Your life will begin to change; you’ll recognize it and so will others.

God is faithful to His children. He loves us and desires for us to walk in the freedom of good choices. As opportunities arise today for choices to be made regarding your trenches, anger or joy, bitterness or forgiveness, pride or humility, which side sounds better to you? Dig in and have a great week!

Everybody’s mad; that’s how we begin the monologue of Elihu in Job 32-37. Job’s mad at his friends and God, the friends are mad at Job, and Elihu is mad at all four of them! Why?

Self-justification.

We all do it, we all act badly, and then justify our behavior defending ourselves with rational reasons why we acted that way. We have a burning necessity to convince ourselves and then others that we’re right. We use excessive reasons, explanations, and excuses to justify ourselves. Sound familiar?

The Book of Job isn’t about a man who suffered unjustly but about mankind who lives in self-righteousness and pride. That’s the root; it always has been.

Reading Elihu’s words are thought-provoking. He doesn’t mention Job’s suffering but discusses the heart and soul of mankind. I think he was a prophet of God using the lower story of Job’s reactions to suffering to display the heart of humanity.

In Job’s final appeal he blamed God (33:9-11) for all of his circumstances and Elihu called him out on it with one phrase: God is greater than man (33:12). However, Elihu doesn’t leave it there but qualifies his reasoning with a message of hope.

If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom; let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness. Job 33:23-26

Hmmmm, sure sounds like Jesus, doesn’t it? The Hebrew word for angel is also ‘messenger’ so let’s compare the promised Messiah to this description.

* Mal. 3:1 calls Messiah the Messenger of the Covenant (same word as angel).

* Heb. 8:6, 9:15, and 12:24 describe Jesus as the Mediator between God and man.

* Song of Songs 5:10 calls Him the Chief among ten thousand.

* Believers are declared righteous by faith (Rom. 5:1).

*In Luke 4:18 Jesus proclaimed Himself as Deliverer.

*Lastly, in Mark 10:25 Jesus heralded His mission: to give His life as a ransom for many.

Elihu had nailed it:

… then man prays to God, and He accepts him; He sees his face with a shout of joy, and He restores to man his righteousness. Job 33:26

The remaining words of Elihu declare God’s majesty and His miraculous works which Job had lost sight of and he closed his message with this statement of truth:

Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. Job 37:24

This is a great time to consider your own views of yourself. Are they self-justification or repentance? Your choice.

Preaching the Gospel

What do you think of when I say “preach the gospel”, sounds ‘churchy’ right? Can you picture a pastor standing behind a pulpit quoting words of scripture? Maybe telling the sacred story of the life of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection? Yet when you read the New Testament you’ll find that phrase used in many references, over 30 times, and often it’s Christ Himself preaching and He hadn’t died yet! If He hadn’t died, what was He saying to the people as He was ‘preaching the gospel of the kingdom’? That’s significant enough to look at a little closer.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 ESV

The gospel is good news, so good in fact, it’s almost too good to be true. Of course it’s what Jesus accomplished for you on the cross but the bigger picture is what He’s doing for you right now. Notice that Jesus, in the scripture above, was doing more than speaking; he was giving evidence in support of those words.

Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. Matthew 11:4-5 NLT

The poor in these two passages are not financially poor; it’s referring to those who are poor in spirit. Spiritually poor are those who have reached a point in their life where they’ve been humbled by circumstances and realize they need God. People in your life who are depressed, discouraged, and maybe even hopeless could very well be in a place where they will hear the Good News. Preaching the gospel isn’t limited to the pulpit or center stage; it’s a simple word of hope. God loves you and if He’ll help me, then He’ll help you. Plain and simple. I like that, don’t you?

But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15 NLT

These verses speak of being beautiful when you share the good news. Be beautiful to someone this week and watch your own evidence appear.

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes Romans 1:16a NLT

Last week I wrote about the true meaning of righteousness and how we easily slip into Job’s friend’s perspective: its about what you do or don’t do. However, Job didn’t have it right either. Read some of his comments:

Though I am in the right, I cannot answer Him; I must appeal for mercy to my Accuser. Job 9:15

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. Job 29:14

Job, being his own attorney in this drama, brought his legal case before the Judge and expected a verdict of not guilty. He had a good defense prepared and, therefore, the indictment could not stand; he thought.

Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. Job 13:18

I would lay my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. There an upright man could argue with Him, and I would be acquitted forever by my Judge. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Job 23:4, 7, 10

He’s pretty confident.

I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. Job 27:6

Job’s closing arguments before the Judge and his friends were conditional. Ok everybody, ‘if’ I’ve done this and ‘if’’ I’ve done that, then I’d deserve what I’m experiencing … but I haven’t. What have I done wrong to deserve this treatment?

Oh, that I had One to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my Adversary! Job 31:35

How often do we sound just like Job? We defend ourselves to friends and, therefore, to God by offering our solid case of innocence. I didn’t do anything wrong to deserve this! We find ourselves in circumstances that may or may not be consequences of sin but the truth is that we DO deserve punishment. We have sinned, we ARE sinners. Job needed to state his case, his final appeal before God needed to be heard, and all those many words of defense needed to be destroyed. Job had to be humbled.

In chapter thirty-two the words of Job had ended, the words of the three friends were finished, and one last man entered into this story: Elihu. A prophet? Maybe, he certainly spoke the words of God to Job, but he’s fiery mad at all four men and will set the record straight. Next week.

The Cross

When we talk about the cross of Jesus Christ it brings many images into our mind. The agony, the torment, or the injustice is actually pictured there on that execution stake. However, before we look ahead to the cross let’s look behind to the beginning of time to understand it better.

In Gen. 3:15 Adam and Eve sinned for the first time, recognized their guilt and shame, and covered themselves with fig leaves. Only then was God ready to deal with their enemy, Satan. He told Satan that One is coming Who (referring to Christ) will crush his head yet he, Satan, will bruise His heel. Did you catch that? What on earth is God talking about?

In a nutshell, God is saying that He has taken care of everything, sin and Satan, and it will be dealt with in the future when Christ, the Messiah will appear. Our fall into sin didn’t surprise God; He had a plan from the beginning of time and it would unfold throughout history until that divine moment when He sent His Son to the cross in our place. Blood, declared by God, would be the payment for sin. The blood that God first shed when He killed animals to cover Adam and Eve (vs. 21) would be a foreshadow or picture beforehand of the final blood that His Son would shed on the cross on our behalf. He was our substitute: we belonged there.

The Cross

Scripture says that the cross is the ‘power of God’, that peace or wholeness comes to us through the cross, that we are reunited to God at the cross, and our sins are forgiven at the cross. What promises! The best part for me is in Col. 3:13-15 where we are reassured that Jesus took the charges against us and nailed them to the tree indicating the cross. By that one act of love He transferred spiritual power from Satan to us. Satan is now disarmed, neutralized, paralyzed, and defenseless against us. That’s not figurative, that’s reality.

Doesn’t that knowledge of who you are in Him make you want to throw your shoulders back and stand a little straighter knowing that the cross has given you all the power you need to defeat the devil in your life? The cross has given you the opportunity to become a brand new person with a brand new life in Him. The cross restored fellowship between you and God. This week, let the cross be on your mind. Remember these few promises that I’ve listed and be thankful that He’s chosen you to receive His rescue, His deliverance, and His restoration. Let’s live like we believe it!

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 NLT

You may remember the TV series Friends where BFF’s, male and female, traveled the rocky road of relationships; that’s where we find ourselves in the Book of Job when two more friends counsel him. It’s still true today; we walk through frustrations, disappointments, successes, and failures with our friends even adding our own opinions to the mix … so the story continues with Bildad and Zophar.

When you consider the words of Job’s three friends as a whole you’ll find a common perspective: Job is guilty. They come to this conclusion from different angles but they all agree on that aspect; Job deserved what he got.

This fascinating book asks numerous times and in various ways the age-old question:

How can a man be right before God?

What’s your answer? Are you like these friends who believe in the conditional approach? If you do things right then you’ll be blessed, consequently, when you do things wrong God punishes you. Job’s friends believed he was getting what he deserved because he was a dirty, rotten sinner. Is that true?

Well, let’s first consider Abraham’s righteousness from God’s perspective.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3

It seems that Abraham’s righteousness wasn’t based on what he did right but on his faith; would that hold true for Job? I think it does. Job had good character and strong values, God declared that twice, however, did that make him righteous?

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
Jeremiah 17:9-10

Every person is born into sin and needs forgiveness but the requirement is humility and recognition that you need God but Job wasn’t there yet, as we’ll soon see, and his friends didn’t understand righteousness based on faith.

God graciously gave us this Book of Job to show that He sovereignly searches our hearts and tests our minds to see if our ways and deeds spring out of our faith.

… and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:24 ESV

It seems like a logical conclusion, you live with integrity, good works, and strong morals, therefore, God is happy with you. True? No, the Bible proclaims that we are justified or declared righteous before God because of our faith in Jesus.

… and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—” Philippians 3:9

Job’s friends were wrong but many Christians today view their righteousness the same way. Can you, dear believer, agree that you are righteous before God because of your faith alone? That’s the truth.

Beatitudes: Part Nine Persecuted

Many of you know the song The Twelve Days of Christmas but do you know it’s history? I researched it’s origin and realized it fit beautifully with the last two beatitudes which speak of another reason people call you blessed: persecution.

What does persecution have to do with the song? Let me explain. In the 16th century Roman Catholics were persecuted in England for their faith. Surprisingly, the persecution wasn’t from non-Christians, it was from other Christians. Yes, in our bleak past, believers have always suffered but not always from outside the faith. Shamefully, we have tormented one another in the name of Christ.

This song was written as a memory device for learning Christian doctrine. Here how it goes:

My true love is Jesus Christ, our returning King.

A partridge in a pear tree is the Savior, pictured as a mother who serves as a decoy to protect her young.

Two turtle doves– Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens– faith, hope, and love.

Four calling birds– four gospels.

Five golden rings– Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament.

Six geese-a-laying– six days of creation.

Seven swans-a-swimming– seven gifts of the Spirit.

Eight maids-a-milking– eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing– nine fruits of the Spirit.

Ten lords-a-leaping– Ten Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping– eleven faithful disciples.

Twelve drummers drumming- twelve articles of the Apostles Creed.

Jesus taught that there will always be persecution for believers. In fact, He said that if you live a godly life you can expect persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). What could possibly have sustained believers through the ages as they took their stand under threat of torture, imprisonment, loss of income and family? Could it be that their belief in the gospel was reality to them? It wasn’t some cosmic belief system but faith that was experienced and intimate. The Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs tells the stories of over 200,000 Christians from over 50 nations who lost their lives rather than deny their faith. This beatitude tells us they have a great reward waiting for them.

Read Hebrews 11 this week, consider what others have gone as they stood in the power of the Spirit under extreme treatment. Google some other martyrs and read their stories: Ignatius of Antioch or Polykarp from the first century, the Waldenses, the Inquisitions, Bishops Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer later on. Down through history men and women alike have endured suffering for the sake of the gospel. For us in America it’s a part of faith that we haven’t yet experienced but that’s all the more reason to read their stories and stay current with what’s happening today to Christians around the world. The Voice of the Martyrs is a free publication and website you can read to stay informed in order to pray for these brothers and sisters. What a great New Years resolution this could be, definitely of more value than losing 10 lbs.

If you’ve ever witnessed the last stages of a devastating disease then you’ll understand the grief and sorrow Job’s three friends felt when they saw the suffering he was enduring and they were powerless.

Job’s friends gave him the gift of their presence; they showed up. Sometimes that’s the best gift you can give someone who’s in pain: physically or emotionally. Go to them, physically be there, don’t rely on text, email, or a call: be there.

The friends didn’t give their opinions … at first, they were good listeners without giving their perspective or advice. Oh my, what a gift that is! In their silence Job finally opened up with words, not of worship as before, but of deep sorrow.

The poetry of Job begins in Chapter Three as he digs himself into a pit of depression; he was sorry that Eloah (God) had created him. He was hoping for death to come quickly but instead had to endure his suffering; some believe it was many months.

We find the question ‘why’ many times in this chapter and yet Job received no answer; have you ever been there? “Why me? Why my kid or my husband?” and you hear nothing.

After a week of sitting silently and listening to Job, Eliphaz, who seems to be the ringleader, speaks up first. In 48 verses, two chapters, he tells Job, paraphrased, “This is your fault. You’re reaping what you sowed.” Eliphaz also gave his prediction (5:8-27) of what he’d do under the same circumstances, how ridiculous if you’ve never experienced them. Don’t be an Eliphaz, don’t give your opinions if you’re not asked, and practice nonjudgmental listening.

After two more dialogues with Job, Eliphaz’s counsel turns into accusation. He got on a roll and in chapters 15 and 22, 63 verses later, determined that Job is to blame. His character was not enough for God and now he’s being punished.

Is it because you’re so pious that He accuses you and brings judgment against you? No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins. Job 22:4-5

The more Eliphaz talked, the deeper he dug his hole. That’s what too many words will do; they get you in trouble. To better understand the book of Job we have to read the end of the book. God spoke to him (42:7) about his counsel and He’s fiery mad. Eliphaz and the other two friends had misrepresented Him.

I challenge you to read the first seven chapters of Job, concentrating on the invisible, spiritual realm (ch. 1&2), and the result of depression (ch. 3) and wrong judgments (ch. 4-5). Thankfully, Eliphaz closes with words of encouragement but Job can’t receive them. He spends chapters 6 & 7 a hopeless man. Don’t get lost in the poetry but feel Job’s pain and know that God had a purpose for us in this story whether you’re enduring the pain or a friend on the sidelines.