Date: Monday, June 02, 2014
Today's Chapters: Job 13-16
Message Title: A Little Bit Of Faith

Our faith in God goes up and down like a roller coaster, one minute we truly believe that all things are possible, the next, we think, it's just impossible. It's not really about God or us, it's about our feelings, they are what really goes up and down like a roller coaster and it's those feelings that make or break our faith. The word feelings means easily affected or moved, we really do know what we need to be doing, it's our feelings that cause us to make decisions. It's time we get back to living by faith not feelings. “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” - Mark 11:22,23.

Job was a righteous and upright man, in the eyes of God, God Himself confirmed that, however, Job's faith in God was being put to the test. The amazing thing was that the more his friends criticized him the more faith he got that God knew he had not done anything wrong. He continues to defend himself, reminding them that, he same things of God that they do and that they were no better than he was. “What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.” - Job 13:2-5,9,10.

I love it, physicians of no value, he told them that they would have been wiser if they just sat there and said nothing at all. To be inferior means to be lower in place or value than someone else, no one is better than anyone else, in God's eyes we all have the same fate “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” - Romans 2:9-11.

As Job continues speaking on his behalf, he reminds them also that they are the ones judging him, not God. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.” - Job 13:15-18,27.

Some of the ugliest debates have sprung up over this very issue, people cannot grasp the concept of eternal life, and they will even twist Scripture to prove their point. In the end, it is they who will suffer because they do not believe in the power of Jesus Christ, we are not saved by our righteousness, but by Christ's. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:10,21-24.

God will allow the devil to test our faith in Him, remember, Satan cannot take away our salvation, but he can do a good job at making us think he can. Job knew that he was justified by God and knew that at least He was on his side, regardless of what everyone else thought. This did not stop his friends from continuing to lash out at him, Eliphaz replies to Job, basically calling him a lying a windbag. “Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.” - Job 15:2-4.

The more they spoke against him, the more frustrated he became, he was beginning to think that God sent them to bring more grief to him. They were not about to change their opinion of him, in fact, the more he defended himself the worse they got. Job figured out that it was a waste of time to argue with these men. “I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.” - Job 16:2-611,12.

Don't you hate it when you tell your troubles to people, seeking some kind of encouragement only to get a lecture about everything that they think you are doing wrong? There are just some people out there who have a lousy way of comforting people, thank God that we have the Holy Spirit inside of us to give us comfort when no one else will. We do not have to reason, argue, or even accept their accusations as true, we have a witness in heaven that will testify on our behalf. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:1-5.

Job came to his senses, realizing that God is his witness. “Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!” - Job 16:19-21.

When a person puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save them from death and hell, they do so, solely believing, by faith, that He alone is the only one who can save them. When God looks at a saved person he does not see the sins of the past or even present, He sees righteousness through Christ. Why? We are not saved by our own righteousness, but by our faith alone in the finished work of Christ, who died on the cross, was buried, and resurrected three days later. God is a faith in the unseen God, He blesses us more when we live by faith and not by our own reasoning. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1,3,6.

Today's Prayer: God, As much faith as I have in You taking me to heaven is how much faith I need in You getting me through every trial I face. As much as I try not to let my feelings get the best of me I admit that they do at times. Forgive me for the times I let my feelings make my decisions rather than coming to You. Help me to overcome all my trials by keeping my eyes on You, give me faith that not only moves mountains, but crushes them. Give me Your power, strength, and wisdom to get through all these tests, never forgetting that in the end I will be justified because I You truly know my heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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