Text: Job 1:9 And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.
Remember that when passion re-enters the church, His presence comes back through the door as well (Rick Warren).
When David offered to build God a physical house like a temple, the Lord made it clear He did not dwell in temples made by men. Instead He promised to build David's house! David's son, Solomon, finally built a grand temple in Jerusalem, but even Solomon knew God wouldn't live there. He simply asked that God answer the prayers offered in that place.
Psa 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before Jehovah our maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice,
I believe that a `full life` starts at the level of trust we put in God. The more we trust, the more fulfillments we have.
When the Word goes forth, it has power. It has the Holy Spirit, and you have the assurance that God’s Word will do what it says.
Psa 73:28 But I'm in the very presence of God-- oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord GOD my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do!
It is not just about Abeing saved@, it`s much, much more than that.
Neither can we go about the work of ministries and our callings as followers of Christ as if it is Abusiness as usual@
We need to step up to the plate, to be the light in a lost and very troubled world.
We need to take our own lives and lifestyles and make corrections where needed.
How do I do this? How do I make corrections?
The key to this is Aintimacy@ with God. Our relationship with Him is paramount. A `Drawing` needs to take place.
The question is Awho draws first ?@
The Adrawing@ starts with us. AI@ determine the level of my intimacy with God. AI@ initiate the process.
The problem:
Ø Often times we cling to the things of the past, the old places where we feel safe and secure. Sometimes we cling to these past places and situations, even to our own detriment. We are afraid of letting go, afraid that we might lose our safety and our comfort, if we step out into new and unknown territory.
Ø So often we do actually step out, we do attempt the new, but the minute things become `testing`, as soon as it seems that failure is at hand, we turn and run back to the old familiar places.
Ø Perhaps we fail to step out because of past failure and we are afraid of old reputations that might precede us.
Fear not:
God gives us comfort:
“Have no fear; for you will not be shamed or without hope: you will not be put to shame, for the shame of your earlier days will go out of your memory, and you will no longer keep in mind the sorrows of your widowed years.”
Psa 106:1 Hallelujah! Thank GOD! And why? Because he's good, because his love lasts.
2 But who on earth can do it-- declaim GOD's mighty acts, broadcast all his praises? 3 You're one happy man when you do what's right, one happy woman when you form the habit of justice
This Psalm says it all: Why should we thank God?
Because He is good and He has an everlasting love for us.
The Modern King James Version : Psa 106:1 Praise Jehovah. O give thanks to Jehovah; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever. 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah, or cause all His praise to be heard? 3 Blessed are those who keep judgment, he who does righteousness at all times.
Do you notice verse 3? Being thankful is equated with being righteous, and that blessings will follow who act righteous all the time.
God`s fence
Job 1:9 And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.
Jesus said:
Joh 8:44 You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Sometimes, even a fool may say something worthwhile. Even though he is the father of lies, even the devil may sometimes say something truthful.
In Job 1: 9 & 10, he says something about the hedge around Job, which God does not dispute. God goes even further to prove that the hedge around Job was higher and stronger even than satan imagined.
We sometimes miss this lesson in the book of Job.
What suggestions does God’s hedge about us make?
1. Proprietorship: God’s hedge around us suggests that He owns us. No honest man will put a fence around someone else’s property. God created us and redeemed us. Isa 43:1 says “I have redeemed you”, and with that the deal is sealed. We respond with a “You have redeemed me” and with that we recognize His ownership.
2. Preciousness: In any country you will find millions of acres of unclaimed, unfenced land, not worthy to be claimed or fenced. But, fertile lands are.
3. Protection: a Solid fence protects the crops. Satan walked around Job and found the fence too strong to penetrate, until God, conditionally, opened the gate. Ps 34:7 tells us that no mother watches over her children as anxiously as Jesus watches over His children.
4. Purpose: God’s hedge is not for protection only. His intention is to plant and cultivate in this field.
The character of those fenced by God
A. Separation: Jesus told His disciples: “you do not belong to this world….”His prayer was: “not that You take them out of this world, but that You protect them from the evil one”
B. Usefulness: Jesus says: “you are the salt of the earth” salt preserves, flavors and even creates thirst. “You are the light of the world”. Light illuminates, gives life, health and direction.
C. Fruitfulness: One should expect from a fenced in field that it would produce. Abandon a field, remove the fence and soon it would produce no harvest.
D. Endurance: James writes: “you have heard of Job’s perseverance” The word here does not mean patience in the sense of waiting for something to happen. It means patience in the sense of being able to endure, to keep going on in the face of disappointment, frustration, suffering and defeat.
May God help us who are God’s precious and protected possession to carry out His purpose for us!
Father help us to keep ourselves separate from the world, useful and fruitful! Help us to endure, to keep on.
Jam 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, double-minded ones.
Message Bible Translation :
Jam 4:8 Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field.
Psa 73:28 But I'm in the very presence of God-- oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord GOD my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do!
The beauty is this: at the very moment that I begin to draw near to God - he responds by drawing near to me.
The invitation is there - God is waiting anxiously for us to respond to it. You can Ahave@ as much of God as you want. All we have to do is simply Acome@.
In order for us to get to the >place@ God has ordained for us - in order to bring glory to His name in everything that we do, we need to run into His presence first. In His presence is fullness of joy, there is knowledge and wisdom.
That is where we find guidance and peace. With Him is the rest we need. When we spend time in His presence He will show us things to come. He will give the strategy. In Him we have victory.
Let us as Christians, as parents, as businessmen and women, as leaders, pursue Him with all we have, so that we may lead and guide others in His Kingdom as He wills. For then we will have great success and do the Amighty exploits@ He has promised.
The Bible says that the Holy Spirit yearns for us. The Bible says Apray without ceasing@, when we pray without ceasing - He will interact and talk to us - without ceasing!
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