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Testing, God’s Way (1Co 10:13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].” If we are to bear fruit, then God must test us. The testing is always God’s way, not ours. The story of Job is of trial and testing, not of his righteousness. Notice, God is the one who approached Satan, not the other way around. The response was a challenge to God saying that Job would not trust or serve Him in the midst of great adversity. Satan plainly stated that Job’s trial would cause him to break relations with the Lord: “Touch all that he has and he will curse you to your face… Touch his bone and flesh and he will curse you to your face.” Please understand this truth: Many of our problems today in these hours are because of the testings taking place at the hand of Satan because God said. The testings of Job are not normal testings. They are major, master trials – they are final exams in the school of the Spirit. They are more lengthy and severe than what we have been accustomed to. Not until we reach the end of our spiritual testing process does God expose us to these kinds of distresses. The characteristics are common, but the degrees are different. Regardless, God is the same through all of them. Everything He did for Job, before, during and after his trials, He will do for you and me. Christians have to qualify for the Job kind of testing. God will not put wood, hay, or stubble in the refining process. It would be consumed. Only gold and silver qualify for these types of tests. God reserves His hardest trials for His most promising servants. As scripture tells us, Job was tested severely because of his standing of righteousness. (1:8) “There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man.” JOB’S QUALIFICATIONS: · Feared god (1:1) · Avoided sin (1:1) · Loved his children (1:5) · Communed with God (1:5) · Interceded regularly (1:5) · Understood the sin nature (1:5) · Was perfect (spiritually mature) (1:8) · Was a worshipper of God (1:20-21) The trials of Job represent the Christian who is becoming a mature disciple of the Lord. Those who walk an upright, righteous life in Christ Jesus are qualifying participants of this special honor. They walk in obedience and have proven their love for the Lord. God is not interested in trying baby Christians who cannot handle the heat. Because Job was an interceder for his family there was a hedge about them all. The enemy could not touch them until God permitted it. Therefore God was Job’s personal protector. That same protection is available to every obedient Christian today. Under orders from the Protector, angels guard our bodies, families, homes and possessions day and night. With supernatural security, comes supernatural peace against all terror and fear. This testing of Job occurred for approximately one year. The rest of Job’s life was very prosperous (200 years). Satan did not touch Job again. That kind of security is Divine, unfailing and miraculous. Satan’s malicious invasions were not Divine failures. They were Divine interventions to establish Job eternally. Instead of focusing on what is happening to us now, we need to focus on all that God has done and will do for us eternally. If we trust and obey, God will do for us what He did for Job. But remember, the same God that protected Job from destruction also exposed him to severe testing. Once we are growing and maturing in the life of the Spirit, and we are gaining wisdom and understanding from the lesser trials, there will come a season of strong testing: (Job 1:13) “There was a day…” This represents a day when our loyalty and faith to God will be severely tested that we may be established for all time and eternity. God, not Satan is the initiator, thus proving that the adversities are not accidental, but providential. Satan did not conceive them. God authored them. But God only does this when He knows He can trust us to withstand the attacks. (1Cor.10:13) “God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above what you are able to withstand.” Satan only attacks the Saints of God after God has spoken well of us in the heavenlies. The enemy’s onslaughts reveal that God is pleased with our current spiritual advancements. REMEMBER THIS: Our trials are not random happenings, but the plan of a Mastermind. God started them and Satan wants to control them. But God sees the good, not the ruin for our lives. So the mere fact we are in them proves that we are presently able to overcome them if we can maintain the correct frame of mind. God does not leave Satan to his own designs or he would have killed Job. God did not let Satan do what he wanted. Remember that! The first time, God said to Satan, “All that he has is in your power.” But you can’t touch his body. The second assault was also limited. “Behold he is in your hand, but, you cannot kill him.” So no matter how bad things get, there is a limit set by God over the evil one. Satan knows no bounds, so God sets them for him. Another thing I want us to understand about the way God tests us is this: God does not allow anything to happen to us without His watching over us. (2:3) “He still holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.” God knew every response of Job. Now, if Job had known that, do you think he would have reacted a little differently the next time around? But God has given us this record so we would know it, so we would be encouraged to believe that every time we hold fast to our faith and righteousness, God will bring us through and shut the mouth of the accuser. For Christ’s righteousness is in us. Do not fear that your devotion to God goes unnoticed. Don’t lose heart when the trial is prolonged. Don’t allow discouragement so you will stumble. God is watching over you ,and He who sees in secret will reward openly and will speak well of you in the heavenlies. Just as one day began a long time of testing for Job, so one day it all ended. (Job 42:10) “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.” (Listen) When finally Job abandoned his self-defense and spoke of surrender, (42:6) “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes,” then God could release him from the trial. It is that simple. When pride is finally broken, our spirits are crushed, our hearts are purified, AND we demonstrate faith and submission, then Satan has nothing left to hold on to – no more accusations – then God ends our captivity. (1 Cor. 10:13) “God is faithful, who will make the way of escape, so you can bear it.” If we remain in strife or continue trying to justify ourselves, we are snared – the pride and strife of self-vindication will eventually bring a divine rebuke. God will only turn our captivity if we repent of our uplifted pride and return to being humble in spirit, word and deed. If we will accept the judgment of God, knowing it is for our good, and not defend ourselves before men, “God will take delight in us and bring forth our righteousness as the light and our justice as the noonday.” (Psm.37:6) “Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.. “ (Isa.41:11) THE OUTCOME: God recompensed Job for his pain and suffering. God doubled his blessing. God will always honor the faith that honors Him. This is the true message of prosperity. God always give more than we give or give up. Those who are willing to endure intense testing receive immense blessing. This is the good news for every believer who is tried and tested. To help you through the tough and trying times remember there awaits you great reward for your patient endurance. The greatest blessing is the release from every hindrance that ever kept you tied down. God does not give grudgingly, but with delight: “God give us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Tim.6:17) He is a rewarder to those who endure to the end. Pr. Steve November Newsletter 2005 | Testing, God's Way | No Strings Attached part 2 of 2 Pastor's Journal November 2004 | Real Hope | Church As Spiritual Zion part 2 of 3
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