Month: January 2013

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.  Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
Acts 17:24-25

In our last post, we considered the suffering of Job and how God was intimately involved in that experience.  Some have a hard time swallowing the fact that adversity ultimately comes from God’s hand, but Job never wavered on this point.  He rebuked his wife’s foolishness by asking, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”  Immediately after this question, the word of God declares, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10) He was right to attribute all of these things as being ultimately from the hand of God.  I would like us to take a journey through the scriptures to see that we must come to the same conclusion as Job in this area if we truly believe God is the almighty Creator and Ruler over all.  The first point in this series is that God gives life, breath, strength–as our text today says “all things”–to ALL of His creation.  We can only continue each day because of His sustaining power.

It goes without saying that, in order to survive, all living creatures must eat, but from where does that sustenance come?  In Mt 6:11, the Lord Jesus taught us to pray to our heavenly Father to give us this day our daily bread!  Ps 136:25 says it is the Lord “Who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy endures forever.”  It is of God’s mercy that His creation is sustained!  He pours His rain upon the just and the unjust. (Mt 5:45) Whether saved or lost, believing or unbelieving, the reason you had food to eat this week was because God provided it.  “The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season.  You open Your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Ps 145:15-16)

Perhaps you’re in the habit of thanking the Lord for your food, but what about your breath?  That’s right, air is flowing in and out of your lungs right now because God granted you your next breath.  “Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it…” (Is 42:5) Job instructs us that the creation often has greater understanding than mankind in this area.  Man in his pride forgets his absolute dependence upon God, but if we could ask the creation, they would cry out that He is our only hope of life:

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?
Job 12:7-10

In speaking of the Son of God, Col 1:16-17 reveals “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”  I like that word “consist”!  Many translations render it “hold together”.  That’s exactly what the original Greek suggests.  Without Christ, the world would simply come apart!  He holds all things together by His mighty power, sustaining daily all of His creation.  It was a lack of recognition and thanksgiving for God’s daily, sustaining grace that brought judgment upon the Babylonian king Belshazzar.  God’s accusation against him was, “you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.”  May we not be guilty of such a heinous crime and instead give our great God the glory that is due Him, daily thanking Him for His provision.

Jamie

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job 2:10

We considered last week God’s use of suffering in the lives of believers to work for their eternal good.  I suppose the lengthiest text on this topic is the book of Job.  There is no doubt that the pain and suffering that entered this dear saint’s life was under God’s careful control.  For the post today, I’d like you to simply read Job 1:1-2:10.  I’m sure you already have, but take the time to read it again with the following thoughts in mind.  You’ll find that God was not simply a bystander in Job’s experience, but He was intimately involved, ruling and reigning over the evil that entered Job’s life.  Try to really consider how hard this trial was–what it must have felt like to have so much taken from you so quickly–while also understanding that the will of God was being accomplished in Job’s life.

Note that first of all, God brought Job to Satan’s attention both times prior to Satan’s attack upon him.  That fact tells us God had a purpose in Job’s affliction.  This trial was ultimately from God’s hand!  Job confesses that understanding twice when he says in 1:21, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away,” and then in 2:10, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity.”  He was oblivious to the converstation between God and Satan, but the one thing He knew was that God was ultimately in control of these circumstances in his life.  Some mistakingly claim that suffering in our lives is always the direct result of sin.  You’ll see just the opposite in this text.  Rather than accusing him of sin, God’s record of Job is that he is “blameless and upright”.

As you read, you’ll also see that God set limits on the evil Satan could do.  Evil can only proceed as far as God will allow!  How comforting it is to know that evil is not out of control but is only allowed to progress as far as it will serve God’s eternal purpose and plan.  That plan always includes the good of the Lord’s people, and if we read to the end of the book, we find that Job was no exception.  As hard as this experience was for him, he grew greatly in his relationship with God.  Job described his before and after state as follows: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (Job 42:5) He thought he was close to God before, but what a difference adversity had made!  Jam 5:11 reiterates that God had great blessing prepared for Job that could only be enjoyed after the enduring of his trial: “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”  I hope you’ll take the time to carefully read the text below and be able to embrace the truth of God’s absolute control over your suffering, dear saint.  May it comfort you to know that God has a glorious end in mind for you as He did for Job for we read “the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning”. (Job 42:12)

Job 1:1-2:10
Chapter 1
(1)  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
(2)  And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
(3)  Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
(4)  And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
(5)  So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify 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 sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
(6)  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
(7)  And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
(8)  Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
(9)  So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
(10)  Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
(11)  But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
(12)  And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
(13)  Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
(14)  and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
(15)  when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
(16)  While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
(17)  While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
(18)  While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
(19)  and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
(20)  Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
(21)  And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
(22)  In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Chapter 2
(1)  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
(2)  And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
(3)  Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
(4)  So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.
(5)  But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
(6)  And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”
(7)  So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
(8)  And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
(9)  Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
(10)  But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Jamie

But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Acts 3:18

Why did the prophets tell us Christ would suffer long before He did?  Was it so God could reveal to us that He could see the future?  Certainly, He knows the future and is not limited by time the way we are for one day to Him is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. (2 Pet 3:8) He doesn’t exist in time, but rather, time exists in Him!  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Heb 13:8) But our text says much more than that He simply knows the future.  God is in fact the author of the future.  Christ suffered because God planned it that way from the beginning for He was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”! (Rev 13:8)

Suffering is needful in our lives and serves many purposes.  It was needful in Christ’s life.  The fullness of his humanity is seen in Heb 5:8 as we read “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”  The Lord was taught by sufferings!  Further, in Heb 2:10 it says “it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”  Wow!  He was made a perfect captain of our salvation by sufferings!  If the holy, harmless Lamb of God needed to suffer, certainly all of those being conformed to His image do as well.  In fact, the next verse says, “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified ARE ALL OF ONE, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren…”  Yes, our pattern is the same.

As we saw in our main text, Christ’s suffering was part of God’s eternal plan, but what about ours?  Is our suffering also under God’s careful direction?  Beloved, EVERYTHING is under God’s careful direction, and our suffering is no exception!  Eph 1:11: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…”  If God’s so intimately involved with you that the very hairs of your head are numbered (Mt 10:30), do you think He will leave the suffering you go through to chance?  Suffering is part of the plan for God’s people.  “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you…” (1 Pet 4:12) Don’t think it strange because it’s all transpiring according to God’s eternal purpose!

So, what’s the point in understanding that blessing AND trials ultimately come from our heavenly Father’s hand?  Without that understanding, we cannot live as we are called to live!  Have you ever asked to know God’s will?  I’ve got great news!  Here it is!!  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Th 5:16-18) How can you rejoice all the time and give thanks for everything?  By understanding that your life is not unfolding in some chaotic, unexpected way to God.  I know life constantly surprises us, but God is actively involved in the lives of His children, working every circumstance–good or bad, easy or hard, sweet or bitter–for their ultimate good.  If it won’t in time benefit you and work for God’s glory, God will not allow it in your life, Christian!   There is great comfort in that truth if you can embrace it.  Rom 8:28-29: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”  May we trust that God has our best interest at heart in the peaceful AND the painful times.  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11)

Jamie

To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.
Acts 3:21

Horrific events in recent days have people looking for answers.  Why is America so different than it was even 20 years ago?  People used to sleep with their doors unlocked, but we have alarm systems today.  In the near past, parents didn’t think twice about sending a child to the corner store on his or her bicycle, but those days are long gone now.  Like the society in Romans 1 that is spirally downward, further and further into the darkness, we have become a land where we hear more and more of people “without natural affection”. (Rom 1:31)  Who holds the answer to this dilemma?

We do, church!  Brothers and sisters, we have the only hope for this and every age.  It is the gospel that this generation needs!  There is no time to tiptoe around the truth.  We need the sense of urgency the apostles had in the text below.  I’ve included all of Peter’s brief message below to those who witnessed the miracle of the lame man healed at the temple.  Notice that in the message, there is no sugar-coating of the truth.  He doesn’t beat around the bush or speak in subtleties.  How desperately we need the same faithful preaching of the word of God today!  It is a dark time, but Christ is the Light of the world!  We have been called to give witness to that Light.  May we boldly declare the truth.  May we faithfully tell this poor generation just how desparate their case really is but also share that “God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

Act 3:12-26
(12)  So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
(13)  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
(14)  But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
(15)  and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
(16)  And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
(17)  “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
(18)  But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
(19)  Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
(20)  and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
(21)  whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
(22)  For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN. HIM YOU SHALL HEAR IN ALL THINGS, WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU.
(23)  AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERY SOUL WHO WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET SHALL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.’
(24)  Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.
(25)  You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’
(26)  To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

Jamie