Abba Father, I pray in agreement with my brothers and sisters in Christ, for William's needs and concerns. Knowing that You, Lord, are perfecting those things which concern William. Amen
Job' after he, in chapter 3, cursed the day of his birth. After seven days of silence, Job had, in chap.3, stated that it would have been better for him if he had died immediately after his birth. He asks why individuals have to long for death and it does not come. And Job manifests a spirit of rebellion against God's will.
We might ask, Is this the same man who just prior to this uttered such profound spiritual confessions? It is. How then are we to understand all of this? Up until this time we have seen strength and consistency in Job. Now we see infirmity and weakness. But at the same time we see the strength to resist temptation. God's grace is evident, not only in maintaining and keeping Job faithful, but also in preserving Job yet, even now, as he speaks in rebellion against God.
Job clings to God. By His grace he has no thoughts of departing from God. Though the infirmity of his flesh overcomes him so that he murmurs against God, nevertheless he remains faithful and committed to walking before God's face, and he gives evidence again of his confession of God's goodness. But he utters hard words and evil thoughts which cannot be justified. We see here the battle between the old man and the new man. We see evidence of the old man coming to the fore, but at the same time we see the sustaining power of God's grace as He keeps that new man, and as Job is preserved close to God.
The new man, given by the power of regeneration, is the power by which Job will be preserved and glorified. Even in these thoughts Job expresses no cursing of people: no cursing of the Chaldeans or Sabeans, of his wife or of the three friends. But there is a commitment, and conviction, to remain faithful to God. There is Job's final confession: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" .
Babblers, though they boast before men, know nothing of the living God. But those who have been pressed like Job know and confess their weakness and their dependence upon God. They are ones who have been brought low, perhaps. But when we are weak, then we are strong.
Job, here, is battling against total despair. His so-called friends are no friends. But God's mercy is reserved for him at this time. And when Job has come to the depths of despair in excessive sorrow, he restrains himself and still continues to confess God's goodness. He does so as a servant of God, as we are. "Though Jehovah kill him," he confesses, "yet his trust will not waver."
The friends have implied that Job's suffering is a result of sin and the judgment of God. And, if indeed, it is, then if God would kill Job, that would be the final expression of God's anger and wrath. And if Job's life were taken, Job would be cast into everlasting destruction.
Job, however, knows that that is not true. That cannot be true. God is God. Job knew God as his covenant friend and he knew that his God would never leave nor forsake him. "I will trust in him." He lets the faithful fall? He cannot! But He will maintain His own until the very end. And Job, therefore, will continue to maintain his ways before God. Not that he will insist on salvation on the basis of his own righteousness. But faith is not passive. Faith demands a pleading with God on the basis of God's promises. And Job will continue to maintain his own ways before God because his ways are the ways of humble dependence on God's promises. He will plead and trust and believe the promises of God, even in the midst of great affliction, for faith cannot be shaken off God's promises.
Job, therefore, reveals a knowledge and understanding of God's ways. The righteous suffer and through that suffering their faith is made the greater. At first sight a man would say, Here is judgment. But Job knew the mercy and love of God. And having once experienced that love and mercy, he knew that God could not change. God's goodness was such that He would never leave His children. And, no matter what the world may do, His saints will be preserved.
While we live in the midst of this world, we experience with Job groanings and bondage to sin. We experience sufferings, struggles. Faith is the power alone by which we hold fast to God as our Father. And our confidence is such that He is our Father, we must call upon Him. Indeed, He afflicts me. And when I am minded to come to Him, I will not always be confident that I am heard because of my own sin. But truly I wait upon God in silence and rest upon His promises, confident that Jesus Christ is my Mediator, praying for me even when it feels as though my prayers cannot enter into the throne room of God, confident that He will be my salvation. And faith draws us in silence to walk the path of obedience.
I understand your suffering, William. I suffered for many years in darkness, severe depression, failure at every turn. During that time I sinned against God again and again, by Not trusting in Him, in His Word, His promises. I became angry at God for letting the miserable darkness overwhelm me. I had confessed every sin I could recall, time and again. After I threw one tantrum after another... I prayed without ceasing and when there wasn't any fruit to my prayers, I suffered even more doubt and confusion. "I" "ME" Was doing all "I" knew to do. When I had hit bottom, and couldn't possibly go any further down, for I was unable to function at all... I experienced the "Fear of God" in a way I never grasped before that. Before that, God was more like a santa clause figure in my life. He was there to make me happy - Not Holy!
When I entered into the Fear of the Lord, reality took hold of me... "My GOD and LORD, I Have Sinned Against You, Have Mercy On My Soul, Forgive Me of My Sins Against You." Then my heart's cry became "Though You Slay Me, Lord, Yet Will I Trust In YOU!"
That day, my healing began. My recovery took three years. But during those three years, I grew strong in my love and trust in, and faith in Almighty God. My fear (Awesome Reverence) of the Lord became a blessing to my soul - I understood the power and beauty of genuine worship of the Lord for the first time in my life.
Every demon of bondage, or destruction, that entered my life gained access through my own permission, and rebellion against God. I had given permission, given access, to the devil to wreck havok in my life. However, what the devil meant for destruction of my life - God turned it around and used to His glory to Save me, Deliver me, Heal me, Strengthen me, Anoint me, Bless me, and make me a useful vessel for His glory. HALLELUJAH!
I have learned that there is a Huge Difference between knowing "About" God - and Knowing Him.
I praise You, Abba Father, for filling me, surrounding me, covering me and enveloping me with Your rich and wonderful love which is so abundant that it is truly immeasurable. I rejoice in Your amazing love. Hallelujah!
Father of mercy, we ask that William be strengthened in his inner man - and that he will be able to see that Your desire is to rescue him from the clutches of the enemy and give him a hope and a future. But it is by our own words - our own confessions, that we stand in victory in Christ Jesus, or we fall into the hands of the devil.
Strengthen William, Lord, strengthen his heart and soul to be set to seek You with a perfect heart (nothing lacking, nothing missing) with a willing mind. As he seeks You diligently, he will find you. Help William to sanctify You, Lord, in his heart of hearts, and to stand fast in You. Guide him, Lord God, in his study of Your Word so that he will meet Your approval and become a diligent worker who never needs to be ashamed. 2 Timothy 2:15
Wonderful Lord Almighty, we believe that all Your promises to the diligent are fulfilled. We thank You for the fact that Your blessing is always with those who are diligent, Proverbs 10:4 , and we delight in the understanding of Your Word which tells us that diligence is our most precious possession. Proverbs 12:27
Strengthen William, Father, to walk in the way of righteousness- not his own righteousness - but in Christ's righteousness, because we know that in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12:28
Therefore as William waits on You in good courage, as he does so, precious Father, may he realize You are strengthening his heart, healing him, and making him whole. Psalms 27:14
Thank You, Father, for everything, in Jesus name - Amen
soon!!!
