{"id":6968,"date":"2019-12-31T20:00:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-01T03:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?p=6968"},"modified":"2019-12-29T17:40:01","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T00:40:01","slug":"job1_1-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/job1_1-12\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Reasons God Tests You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Job 1:1-12 Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today we begin the book of Job.\u00a0\u00a0It tells one of the most famous stories in the Bible about a man who experiences incredible suffering and loss despite being a seemingly moral and upright man.\u00a0\u00a0It deals head on with the question \u201chow could a loving God allow people to suffer?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0In terms of date, a good argument can be made that when you consider the names, cultural references and the lack of any mention of Mosaic law or Jewish transitions in the book of Job, a good argument can be made that the book of Job was written around or before 2000 B.C., relatively close to the time of the Old Testament patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).\u00a0\u00a0The book of Job is likely one of the oldest books in the Bible.<\/p>\n

Some have suggested that Job himself wrote the book, but the fact is that very little is known about the human author who wrote the book of Job.\u00a0\u00a0Still the book of Job has been heralded as one of the greatest literary works of ancient or modern times.\u00a0\u00a0Believing the Holy Spirit inspired its writing, we will look into the book of Job and find valuable lessons for us today.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Job 1:1-12.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Job 1:1-3 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0He had seven sons and three daughters,
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 1-5:\u00a0\u00a0What made Job great was not just that he was wealthy.\u00a0\u00a0Even more importantly, what made Job great was his heart for God.\u00a0\u00a0Despite Job\u2019s material wealth, Job\u2019s greatest concern was the spiritual well being of his children.\u00a0\u00a0He went out of his way to lead his family spiritually.\u00a0\u00a0He prayed for his children and regularly offered sacrifices on their behalf (v5).
\nWhat can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Just as Job loved his kids and offered a sacrifice for each of his children\u2019s sins, God so loved us His children that He gave us His only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Just as Job\u2019s kids were lucky to have a father like Job, so you and I are blessed to be loved so much by our Heavenly Father.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. Just as Job was a priest in his home, here\u2019s believing that God made you to be a priest in your home too (1 Peter 2:9).\u00a0\u00a0What is a priest?\u00a0\u00a0A priest is someone who stands in the gap between God and the people he is with.\u00a0\u00a0The priest\u2019s goal is to bring around him closer to God.\u00a0\u00a0How can you be a priest for your family?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Pray with and for your family.\u00a0\u00a0Read God\u2019s Word with your family.\u00a0\u00a0Take your family to church regularly.\u00a0Live out God\u2019s Word for your family to see.\u00a0\u00a0Remember that Job showed that he feared God not just through the prayers he prayed or the sacrifices he made but through the character he displayed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Job 1:6 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
      \n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0One day the angels came to present themselves before the\u00a0LORD, and Satan also came with them.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

      On verse 6:\u00a0\u00a0Why could Satan accompany the angels when they present themselves before the Lord?\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s because Satan, a fallen angel who rebelled against heaven but was defeated, needs to give an account to the Lord and is still subject to the Lord\u2019s authority.\u00a0\u00a0No matter how powerful Satan may seem, Satan is always under the Lord\u2019s authority and must bow to Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Job 1:7 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
      \n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The\u00a0LORD\u00a0said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the\u00a0LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

      On verse 7:\u00a0\u00a0Pastor Jon Courson insightfully observes that whereas Satan roams \u201cback and forth\u201d on the earth like a prowling lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), the eyes of the Lord also range throughout the earth to strengthen those who are committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).\u00a0\u00a0So\u00a0in those times when you feel like Satan is tempting you, remember that the Lord is also there to strengthen you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Job 1:8-12 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
      \n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then the\u00a0LORD\u00a0said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
      \n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.
      \n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
      \n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
      \n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The\u00a0LORD\u00a0said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the\u00a0LORD.<\/em><\/p>\n

      On verses 8-12:\u00a0\u00a0In this dialogue between God and Satan, notice that God and Satan have very different views of Job.\u00a0\u00a0Like a proud parent, God is proud of Job and even boasts of how Job fears God and shuns evil (v8).\u00a0\u00a0Satan has an entirely different view of Job.\u00a0\u00a0Being the accuser that he is, Satan does not believe Job to be that God-fearing.\u00a0\u00a0He thinks that the only reason Job fears God is because God has given Job very comfortable and blessed circumstances, but that if the blessings were taken away, Job would surely curse God to His face (v9-11).\u00a0\u00a0To prove Satan wrong, God allows Satan to do as he wishes with everything in Job\u2019s possession, but not to lay a finger on Job himself (v12).
      \nWhat can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The way God sees you and the way Satan sees you are totally different.\u00a0\u00a0God sees and brings out the best in you.\u00a0\u00a0God is not blind to your flaws and weaknesses, but He focuses on your strengths and the vision He has for your life.\u00a0\u00a0He is proud of you.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Satan on the other hand has a cynical view toward you.\u00a0\u00a0He specializes in undermining your worth.\u00a0\u00a0Satan enjoys downplaying your strengths and magnifying your shortcomings to the point of distorting the truth.\u00a0\u00a0Listen to Satan\u2019s lies and you will be miserable.\u00a0\u00a0Focus on God\u2019s truth about you and it will set you free.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. From time to time God will test His children to see what is truly in their hearts.\u00a0\u00a0As David says, \u201cI know You test the heart and love integrity\u201d (1 Chronicles 29:17).\u00a0\u00a0God tests our hearts not to be cruel to us or to treat us like lab rats.\u00a0\u00a0Rather, like a loving parent, God tests us for three reasons.\u00a0\u00a0First, God tests us so that we have an opportunity to grow and get stronger,<\/strong>\u00a0for it is under testing and pressure that we grow.\u00a0Second, God tests us so that He has the opportunity to bless us even more\u00a0<\/strong>when we pass the test.\u00a0\u00a0Third, God uses the opportunity to prove Himself right about you and your enemy Satan wrong\u00a0<\/strong>when we pass the test.\u00a0\u00a0So whenever God tests you, remember that God has a good purpose behind the test, that God\u2019s grace is sufficient in the test and that greater blessing awaits you when you pass the test.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Heavenly Father, all authority in heaven and on earth is in Your hands.\u00a0\u00a0Thank You for being a loving Father who is proud of Your children.\u00a0\u00a0Thank You that whenever You test us, You always have a good purpose in mind, Your grace is always sufficient and greater blessing awaits us when we pass the test.\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

          Today we begin the book of Job.\u00a0\u00a0It tells one of the most famous stories in the Bible about a man who experiences incredible suffering and loss despite being a seemingly moral and upright man.\u00a0\u00a0It deals head on with the question \u201chow could a loving God allow people to suffer?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0In terms of date, a good argument can be made that when you consider the names, cultural references and the lack of any mention of Mosaic law or Jewish transitions in the book of Job, a good argument can be made that the book of Job was written around or before 2000 B.C., relatively close to the time of the Old Testament patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).\u00a0\u00a0The book of Job is likely one of the oldest books in the Bible.<\/p>\n

          Some have suggested that Job himself wrote the book, but the fact is that very little is known about the human author who wrote the book of Job.\u00a0\u00a0Still the book of Job has been heralded as one of the greatest literary works of ancient or modern times.\u00a0\u00a0Believing the Holy Spirit inspired its writing, we will look into the book of Job and find valuable lessons for us today.<\/p>\n

          Today\u2019s passage is Job 1:1-12.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6968"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6971,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6968\/revisions\/6971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}