The Biggest Faith Thief - The Lie About God And Job

INTRODUCTION

The story of Job, and the book of Job, both hold hidden truths, that need to be spiritually be discovered. The reason being, that we have been called to be a people of faith. The wrong understanding, and spiritual application of the story of Job can jeopardise our faith in God, and our walk of faith as believers.

God loves us so much that he sent His only begotten Son to die for us; hidden agenda’s to harm us in order to strengthen our faith, are not part of His redemptive plan.

Hence the need for us to discover the truth in the story of Job, with the Holy Spirit.

ONE

THE PLACE OF FAITH

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) .

As Christian believers, redeemed back to God by the precious blood of our saviour Jesus Christ, our understanding of the story of Job must be from the point of our redemption.

We should hear right. Hearing the truth about God, establishes our knowledge of Him, which help us to discern what is of God and what is not.

When we hear wrong, we will become unstable in our faith.

“But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double minded man unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-9).

Our faith in God is vital to a life of victory. “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

For this reason, the devil will do anything to ensure that we step out of faith by believing wrong; which will diminish our ability to please God, resulting in losing lives battles.

God desires for us, to know the truth about Him, so that we can stand strong in faith, trusting Him.

For instance, God says this about himself, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”. (Malachi 3:6).

It simply means God never changes. So why would he change to hurt Job? Better still why will He change to want to hurt you and I in order to test us?

In addition, the Lord Jesus said this to His disciples,

“he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (John14:9b).

The Lord Jesus, in this scripture, further reveals the nature of God; as He went about doing the work of God not to harm, but to heal and restore us.

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him”. ( Acts 10:38)

God, does not test us with pain and destruction. Therefore, we should not expect the painful events that happened in the life of Job, to happen to us, as a test from God. Believing and accepting this notion about God, will not only be a denial, but also a negating of the purpose, of the Life, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We therefore need to be discerning, when we hear teaching or preaching of the word of God especially about the story of Job.

Also, believing that God will use His sovereignty to test us- test us by allowing Satan to steal, kill and destroy in our lives; (like he supposedly did in the life of Job), is not in the nature or character of the God, neither is it part of our covenant in Christ Jesus; God love and keeps the righteous. If we hear wrong, we will believe wrong. “God is allowing it for a reason” , “he gave the devil permission to test your faith,” “God is boasting about you to the devil” “ it must be the will of God”, are some of the teachings that we hear, which lead to us believing wrong, which are generally the lies of the devil.

The story of Job, when taught erroneously, creates double minded believers. These are well meaning children of God, who face the frustration of unanswered prayers; as a result of incorrect teachings about God and Job. It is very crucial here, to remember the truth, that Jesus is “The Word of God”( John 1:1) if what we are hearing does not sound like Jesus, then we need to discard it and let the Holy Spirit lead us into what is true. Amen.

Here are some truths about the nature of God.

To buttress the truth about the nature and character of God.

1. God says this about Himself- “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” ( Exodus 34:6).
2. God is love- He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ( 1 John 4:8).
3. God is a good God- “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalms100:5).
4. God thinks only good thought about us- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end .(Jeremiah 29:11).
5. There is no unrighteousness in God- “ To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” ( Psalm 92: 15 ).
6. God does not give evil- “ Every good and perfect gift comes from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” ( James1:17).
7. God protects and saves the righteous – “But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him” ( Psalm 37: 39- 40).
8. Only God is good- “so he said to him why do you call me good, No one is good but One, that is God” (Matthew 19:17).
9. God always does good.- How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts10:38).
10. The Lord does not harm his children - For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men (Lamentations 3:33).

These truths about God, establish the true nature of God, and it is clear to see that they do not agree with Job’s experience. Hence, the need to examine what really happened to Job, as revealed by the Spirit of God and in line with the nature and character of God.