WE ARE 'JOB'

 Has thou considered my servant Job . . . ?

• THE BURDEN OF THE FREEDOM OF FREE WILL

When ready to take a step forward in faith, Job is the place to start. It is one of the hardest pieces of scripture to read and can be even more difficult to understand. Even though it ends well, Job experiences deep anguish throughout the story. That anguish might cause us to remember our own or to fear the experience of it. 

The fact is that Jesus called us to take up our cross and follow Him. He promised us love, advocacy, hope, fulfillment, guidance and companionship, indeed He promised even more than that, because we need it. We build strong faith in Him, we lean heavily on His promises, we utilize the tools He gives us for a purpose. We have difficulties to battle in life, and we need His help through them. As His followers, we also participate in a bigger battle. Let Ephesians 6:12 remind you that...

"... we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Job's story is situated in such a way that it exhibits both battles... life. On one hand, we have family and livelihood; on the other hand, we have faith and kingdom. In both cases we we wrestle to be good/worthy, capable/productive... amidst a slew of the full ranges of adversity, emotion, and the burden of the freedom of free will.

Job is our special example in that he near-mastered (for all fall short of the glory of God) the elements of family, livelihood and faith and kingdom. Like him, with steadfast diligence, wholehearted love and commitment to God, we can maintain the beautiful blessings God builds within and around us. It is simple, yet it requires arduous work. It is good, fulfilling, rewarding work... but it is work and we must be glad to do it (after all, we are fellow-workers with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9).

• DEFY SATAN'S POSTULATIONS

Yes, we are fellow workers. Our actions are examples to others. The life we lead is a path; we are, to varying extents, responsible for those we convince (deliberately or even inadvertently) to follow it. We set an examples for our family, friends, or neighbors and acquaintances and even the people we may not see, who stand in or outside of our periphery. The story of Job reminds us that we are an example, also, to those who supersede this life, this earth: sons of God (angels), the good and the corrupt. Job was an example to Satan. God was proud to showcase Job as a faithful man, one who defied all of Satan's postulations that true love/faith does not exist.

• BATTLE WITHIN THE KINGDOM

Satan did not believe that Job truly loved God. Satan believed that Job loved what God did for him. When he made this statement, not only did Satan manipulate the relationship between God and his child, but he also endeavored to fracture the very foundation of the kingdom of God. Here we can see the battle within the kingdom, and how all four elements are interwoven. We are Job in the sense that each of these four elements of life: family, livelihood, faith and kingdom, are relevant and active today.

Consider your tribulation, consider your blessing. Could there be, right now, an ongoing debate in heaven about your commitment? Your resilience? Your faith and love for God? Surely we know that God roots for you, and more even than that. He has put Himself on the line for you. He believes in you. His doubters do not. Do not give them, the doubters, the pleasure of being right. Fight. Believe in God as He believes in you.

• THE SELF-PITY BUS IS FULL AND HEADED NOWHERE

We all fall prey sometimes to well... self-pity-parties. In those moments, we forget who we are. We are God's children. As God's children, promises have been made to us. There is purpose even we we do not see it; even when we do not hear it, as Job did not hear Satan's conversation with God. That which is meant for evil against us is changed, is meant for good from God (Genesis 50:20). In our lowest moments, it is crucial to consider that perhaps there is a debate about us and that God has presently, vehemently taken our side.

Satan's darkness tries to tempt us. God's light tries to test us. Satan tries to wither us down to nothing. God tries to refine us down to our solid core. Our strength. Our resilience, our unbreakable part. Our spiritual backbone. Job wailed, the loss of just about everything, everyone nearly destroyed him. The one spark of life he had left was his relationship with God. His solid core that enabled him to withstand the pain, everything until God re-manifested blessing. Job hung his head. He was defeated in many ways. It is okay for you, too, to hang your head. But pray while you do it. Do so and there will be purpose in the pain, a beginning for an end.

And because our relationship with God is our solid core, we should not blame God. It is the nature of the world to cause disruptions in life. It is not the nature of God or the kingdom. Satan's intention is to prove you weak. God's intention is to prove you strong. Satan uses his (limited) power, time and effort to dismantle, to confuse, to destroy. But God is limitless. Powerful, exceeding the bounds of time and effort. God builds, explains, restores. We must know the nature of both God and Satan. We have to know who we are dealing with... who is gambling for or against us. We have to decide who will we prove right, through how we live here and now.

We have to choose God. And when we do, there is no reason for pity. We are blessed even when we are down, and we will not be down long.

• MUCH IS REQUIRED

It is important to mention the Bible verse "to whom much is given, much is required"(Luke 12:48). This was the case for Job. He had many blessings. His big-blessing required, though we could more accurately say, elected or qualified him, to be an example for the purpose of the kingdom. He was qualified, elected to do the hard work of fighting against those principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and wickedness. Job's case teaches us that hard work probably looks different from what we expect. Just because a person is not a preacher does not mean they are not orating an important message directly to an audience in which Satan himself is sitting. Each of us, in our way, preach a message that is crucial to the kingdom.

The verse from Luke 12 should not frighten you. Our blessing requires things that are easy to give, we just have to be diligent to give them. Things such as our gratitude to God, our surplus (more if we are inclined) to others, or time, our effort, our concern, our light to places and people that are deficient. And most importantly, to give our example to the world. We do not have to act or be perfect, we simply have to live well, in accordance with the scripture we represent as children of God. It is simple. It is much only in that it is so important and must be done without lapse. When it does feel like much, remember that God is with us every day and each moment offering to bear the weight, Matthew 11:28.

EVEN IF WE CANNOT YET SEE IT

Our tribulation may look different from Job's but the purpose is the same. Even if we cannot yet see it, as Job could not yet see it. The battle is the same; do you maintain the light of the kingdom? Do you serve as an example of its truth? Have you the faith to persevere? Hate says you cannot, you do not, you will not. Love says you can. You do. You will.

Scripture: Job 1

WHAT THE LORD DOTH REQUIRE

"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

Revelation 22:7 

• WHAT DOTH THE LORD REQUIRE OF THEE BUT TO . . .

Deuteronomy 10:12-21

The focus of this sermon will focus Deuteronomy 10, but similar scripture can be found throughout the Bible. Some examples of those places are Proverbs 6, Genesis 4:6-7, Matthew 22:36-40, and Micah 6:8. Indeed we can also learn what God requires of us as we read about the people in this book, their triumphs and failures in life and faith.

Here in Deuteronomy 10, Moses addresses the tribes of Israel. They have committed themselves to this faith, to God. They were born into the faith because of the everlasting covenant God made with Abraham, but now they had to live it. By God's will and hand, they were miraculously extracted from enslavement in Egypt. God, through Moses and Aaron, led them to a new land. An inheritance of land God promised to Abraham's posterity.

But before arrival, they needed to be prepared. Any place or person that represents God needs to endeavor to match His righteous character and standards. Because as children, followers, servants, fellow-workers with God, we influence people either toward or away from Him. We know that to have God is to have a comforter, counselor, friend, guide, protector and provider. We would never want, through bad behavior, to steer someone away from all that He is. 

But there is also personal benefit to life in accordance with what God requires of us. In Deuteronomy 11:8, Moses explains that God provides these directives that we may be strong. Life requires strength, in all its forms: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual. We derive what we require by fulfilling what God requires.

The journey through the wilderness, the preparation the tribes of Israel undertake before their inheritance foreshadows our own arrival into our ultimate inheritance: the kingdom of God. The promised land. Moses provides a comprehensive list of what is required to obtain what is offered through grace:

• . . . Fear the Lord

The word used here is yārē' and it means to morally revere. We should hold ourselves to moral standards out of respect for God and in agreement with His definition of righteousness. Our moral reverence should cause us to be more obedient to God than to any temptation or inclination toward immoral, immature or base behavior (when they inevitably arise).

Proverbs 9:10 states that the beginning of wisdom is fear, that is: moral reverence, of the Lord. Through this verse, in combination with Deuteronomy 10:12, we can understand why God requires fear/yārē' of Him. Immoral, immature, base behavior is the behavior of the weak and foolish. It is unwise. God encourages our reverence of Him not out of pride, but out of selflessness. He wants us to be wise. 

Through moral reverence, we overpower weak/foolish/immoral behavior and replace it with behavior that is productive to our life, heart, relationship, friendships, opportunities, etc. Our fear/yārē' of God contributes to our quality of life.

• . . . Walk In All His Ways

God and Jesus lead by example. Our commitment to their example cannot be half-hearted. This faith is a wholehearted lifestyle. We falter, we err; but we must always strive to follow all of His ways. Not just the ones that are convenient to us. Not just the ones we remember from a few, sporadic skimming of scripture. We need to be submerged, rooted, incorporated into it. Not just a member but a pillar. A well-rounded student and follower.

For to follow all His ways is to arrive at the proverbial doorstep of the kingdom of God. To follow half of His ways is to be halfway off. Less than halfway commitment is even worse... is even lost. There is no need to be lost, though so many are, when God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, Psalm 119:05.

God encourages us to follow Him because His example is a lifestyle that not only strengthens, supports and leads us, but does the same for the people who our lives touch.

• . . . Love Him

In order to truly, properly, love God, we must develop and maintain a relationship with God. We must both talk and listen to each other through unceasing prayer, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Faith in God is in part a life spent in conversation with God. We learn who He is and while doing so, we learn that He already knows exactly, precisely who we are.

But to love God is even more than to have made a consistent commitment to conversation with Him. It is appreciation for His character, His creatures and creations which surround us. Earth has been His easel; God has painted a portrait of who He is in the  venation of vibrant leaves, the color and shapes of blossomed flowers, in the peaks of mountains, in windblown snow and sand, in the strength of waves and in the variety of fruits and spices, animals and so much more. There is so much to appreciate about Him; His attention to detail, His delight in giving life . . . He is extraordinary.

Love of God is a requirement because it is one that cannot be manufactured or faked. Only those who genuinely appreciate the life He proffers can have it. And we must genuinely appreciate the life He proffers because those who do not would ruin it. The kingdom of Heaven is not a place that will be ruined. 

• . . . Serve Him With Whole Heart and Whole Soul

God requires authentic, heart and soul-deep service. Each person is infinitely precious to God. Indeed there is joy in heaven when even just one sinner repents and changes his/her life, Luke 15:7. There is more joy for that one person than for ninety people combined who were already headed to heaven. It hurts God to lose one, even one individual.

Therefore our service as children of God, as fellow-workers with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9), is immensely important. Our actions impact that one person He roots for from heaven. We cannot be careless with what is precious to God. We must care too, like He does, with our whole heart and our whole soul otherwise we might break or neglect some precious person that is fragile, and so precious to Him.

More than that, we simply cannot get the righteous-work done that we need to do if we do not have the faith to do it. Our service to God requires generosity, trust, humility, kindness, wisdom, patience, mercy, perspective, objectivity in greater amounts and deeper quality that we could ever mine without Him. Each person and situation is unique and only He can provide what we need to do the work that needs to be done in or around them.

• . . . Keep the Commandments 

The 10 commandments, with some clarification:

Exodus 20:1-17

• 1 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

There are many ideologies and philosophies in the world. There are many religions and spiritualities. The elements of all can become intermixed and convoluted. More than that, there are the figurative "gods" a person can have. Things they place their trust in instead of God.

• 2 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them...

Idol worship exists in modern day. Perhaps we (most of us) do not make little figurines and then worship them (though some still do), we do become infatuated with our things. We place our trust in things and people other than God and we place our values in things and people other than God. 

We must be careful not to serve our vanity or greed.

• 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Even more than to resist using His name as a curse word, this commandment directs us to represent God well and honor Him. We should not be flippant about His name, His word or our faith.

• 4 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

God has determined that it is important for us to rest, to reflect on Him and scripture and faith. In Hebrews 4, we learn that Jesus became our sabbath. Our rest is in our relationship with Him and our faith in Him. It is imperative that we make the time to focus solely on God, to rest from the world.

• 5 Honor thy father and thy mother.

For many, this commandment is easy, or relatively easy, to do. Others have complicated or even disastrous relationships with their parents. At the very least, God wants us to appreciate them bearing us. For this life is an opportunity of inheritance of the kingdom of God.

• 6 Thou shalt not kill.

God prohibits premediated, malicious murder. In fact, the punishment for murder is death (Deuteronomy 19:11-12; 1 John 3:15). However we know that there is forgiveness when regret/shame/repentance is absolute (from David's example in 2 Samuel 12). 

Moreover, we know that God supports capital punishment, self-defense, defense of the innocent, and battles against evil because much of the Old Testament revolves around just that.

• 7 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

• 8 Thou shalt not steal.

In some ways, theft is the ultimate sin. In addition to stealing physical things, a corrupt person can "steal" another person's life by taking it. They can steal someone's faith by corrupting it. They can steal someone's peace of mind or safety. They can steal opportunities, joys and so much more. 

• 9 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

• 10 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house... nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

• . . . Circumcise Your Heart 

Romans 2:25-29

In the Old Testament, circumcision of males was a symbol of their inward faith.  In the New Testament, Paul explains that circumcision of the heart, rather than literal, is a figurative phrase for our inward faith and outward actions. Those who keep the righteous law are circumcised of heart. 

• . . . Love the Stranger

The tribes of Israel were once strangers. In Egypt. They were badly mistreated. In their new land, their own home, God wanted them to remember what it felt like to be a stranger. He wanted them to use that experience to treat strangers in their land better than they were treated in Egypt.

Often our own difficult experiences help us to empathize with others.

• . . . Cleave to Him

There is so much in the world that pulls at us, so much that distracts us. Cleave, cling, to God instead. Do not let the stress, the speed, the chaos, the temptations of the world pull you away.

• . . . Swear By His Name

Count on God. Lean on God. Trust in God. Boldly. 

• A PURE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE

Revelation 22:1-5;7


God has graciously extended an invitation to His kingdom. The glories of His habitation are an inheritance we can claim, while here on earth, to receive after life on earth. How do we claim it? We do what is required.  And what do we inherit?


We are given a glimpse of the promised land in the very last chapter of the Bible.

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

The first element of the Promised Land is something earth as we know it cannot provide, something millions, billions fear the loss of: life. But more than the gift of  life, from God we receive life abundant. Whole, consistent clarity, provision, healing. The presence of God, and Jesus, their Light and righteous reign everlasting.

GENESIS 6, PART 1

 "And God saw . . ."

• THE SONS OF GOD

6:1-2 Verse one informs us that men and women began to have children; but only their daughters are mentioned. Verse two informs us that the sons of God noticed the daughters, and their beauty, then married them.

It would be easy to read over these two verses; the second verse even seems redundant. However it is not redundant; notice that in the first verse, men and women are having children. In the second verse, instead of the word men, the term 'sons of God' is used. To understand the remaining chapter(s) and the upcoming, famous flood, we have to understand what the term 'sons of God' means. To do that, we temporarily diverge from Genesis, but first:

Remember discussing 'the serpent' in Genesis 3? Though he is given many names which might suggest otherwise, he is a person. Through scripture, we will learn how he began as a trusted child of God but devolved into 'the serpent'. 'The serpent' is a term more descriptive of his character than his actual, physical characteristics. 'The serpent' has always tried to subvert God's plan... with Eve in the garden and even before that. 

                        __ The Book of Ezekiel 28:13-19 

The serpent has many names; in the Bible, he is referred to as Satan, serpent, dragon, king of Tyrus, Apollyon, Ababdon and more. The world depicts him as a monster, as having the terrifying characteristics of such names but he's just a person. And actually, an outwardly beautiful one (Ezekiel 28:17).

But in Ezekiel 28:14, we learn who he was first: an anointed cherub, trusting with the protection of the kingdom. But the glory of his position made him prideful, arrogant and greedy for power. Satan wanted to be god: "Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; ... (Ezekiel 28:2)

But his doctrine is different, opposite of the God. Therefore God reprimanded and reminded him: "yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God..." (Ezekiel 28:2). But in his arrogance, Satan refused to listen. He continued, and continues today, to try to tempt and covert people to his side. His first initiates were, mentioned in Genesis, the sons of God. They chose Satan's side long ago, before earth and humanity.

                        __ The Book of Revelation 12:7-8

Chapter twelve of Revelation describes, through metaphor, Satan's rebellion in Heaven. It describes the period of time in which the aforementioned anointed cherub, turned into an adversary against God. 

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:7-8

Michael and other angels remained loyal to God and prevailed against Satan. Satan lost and was sentenced to death. But other angels, sons of God, were thrown out of heaven. These were fallen angels because they fell from grace. They are referred to as sons of God not because they are loyal to God, they are not, but because they were still created by God. And they came to earth not a babies born through women, but as adults. Though they physically resembled humanity, they were superior in design than regular humans because they lacked the limitations of the earthly body. They are therefore not referred to as sons of men (people from earth), but of God (people from heaven).

Therefore, when verse two of Genesis speaks of sons of God marrying and having children, it means that these fallen angels procreated with regular women. This was problematic to God for two main reasons: the fallen angels were corrupt; they had showed their true nature to be evil by rejecting God and choosing Satan. And also, their children with regular women would be a hybrid-superhuman kind on earth, more capable than regular humanity and therefore upsetting the balance God created. He had created humanity to have dominion on the earth (Genesis 1:26-28), but these mightier children could easily subdue them.

 

                        __ The Book of Jude 1:6

In Jude, we learn that the fallen angels have already been identified, retained and sentenced: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Remember the mention of Enoch in Genesis 5? Enoch was written to have walked with God. In Jude 1:14, we learn that Enoch actually prophesied of the arrival of the fallen angels. It was important work and God recognized him for that faith and work.

The angels which kept not their first estate were the angels which chose Satan in the rebellion, 1/3 of the angels in heaven, that Satan gathered with his "tail" and cast to the earth (Revelation 12:4). They were kicked out of heaven; Satan brought them to earth. He planned/plans for earth to be the place of his second rebellion; he wishes to gain followers here as well. He wishes to subvert God's plan as much as he can, though even he knows that he will ultimately fail. God has already prophesied that Satan does fail.

Satan started with Eve and continues today; he even tried to tempt Jesus away from God (Matthew 4:1-11). Therefore it would wise, and important, for you to be vigilant, aware, present. So that you will recognize when you are being lured into prideful, selfish, greedy, corrupt behavior by others or by your own shortcomings.

Finally we are able to return to the sixth chapter of Genesis with full understanding of what scripture meant by "Sons of God." We are also now more able to understand why the flood was necessary.

• DAYS SHALL BE AN HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS

6:3 God decreased the lifespan of humanity. People had been living hundreds of years, but here was is decreased to an average  120 years. The average human lifespan is somewhat less than that now, either due to environmental factors or to another, but undocumented change by God. 

• THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT

6:4-7 Indeed God looked into the earth and made several changes. Upon noticing the havoc the fallen angels were creating on the earth, the rapid increase of corrupt behavior and evil-hardheartedness, God regretted the creation of life on earth. The fallen angels had caused severe damage (the children born to earthly-women were like giants, and were, apparently, influenced by the corruption of their fathers). Humanity, having previously left the Garden of Eden, regressed into bad behavior instead of good... especially because they were surrounded by negative influences.

God decided that desperate times called for desperate measures: a massive flood. A way to remove the corrupt humans, hybrids and fallen angels. A way to remove everyone (likely in a region rather than the whole world) that had mixed with or procreated with the fallen angels. A way to ensure that the lineage through which Jesus would come remained... as the arrival of Jesus was (and is) the only final solution. Jesus, the One who saves humanity (Luke 2:11). Jesus, the One who destroys Satan (Hebrews 2:14).

As both a conclusion to this study and a prelude to the next, this is an excerpt from "The Companion Bible", a 1910 study Bible made with notes based on the languages of the original manuscript.

"Their [The Fallen Angels/ Sons of God] progeny, called Nephilim, (translated "giants"), were monsters of iniquity; and, being superhuman in size and character, had to be destroyed. This was the one and only [purpose] of the flood. Only Noah and his family had preserved their pedigree pure from Adam. All the rest had become "corrupt". This irruption of fallen angels was Satan's first attempt to prevent the coming of the Seed of the woman foretold in Gen 3:15. If this could be accomplished, God's Word would have failed, and [Satan's] own doom would be averted... This great conflict may be seen throughout the Bible." 

Strong's Condorance, Appendix 23: "The Sons of God"