We have been doing a series of messages about Job, the patriarch from the Old Testament. The title of the series is “Job: Patient Endurance and Faithfulness.” Last time, we talked about Job being a man of the utmost integrity. Today I want to back up and talk about this conversation between God and Satan with regards to Job; it seems like God is making a deal with the Devil here. Is that so?
When I read about this I think about an old song, “ The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” “The devil went down to Georgia, he was lookin' for a soul to steal”…and some would say wrongly in the story about Job that God made a deal with the Devil. He put his money on Job, that he would stay faithful in the middle of his calamity. But it wasn't a bet….a bet is when you don't know the outcome. And God knew that Job was going to patiently endure the trial and that he would be faithful in this severe persecution.
Job 1:9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
I want to talk about words starting with the letter A… Adversary, Access, Agenda, Authority, Ability.
Adversary ….the devil is a cunning adversary…..he is defiant, challenging, and rebellious. He makes accusations against God, of God paying off Job; bribing Job to get his worship. And he makes false predictions about Job’s allegiance.
Access…. you see that Satan has access to the presence of God. You ask yourselves, how is it that a holy God allows Satan into His presence? But this is not an ongoing fellowship in the presence of God, it is a restricted visit for a short time.
Agenda …the Bible said that Satan is the prince of the power of the air, the demonic realm in the atmosphere but he is also hands-on, management by walking around on the earth. He's looking at a very close level at how he can take you and I down.
Authority…it's interesting here that Satan is accusing God of bringing harm against Job, when in reality, what God does is give permission to the devil to do harm.
Ability… Satan would like you to think that he has equal power to God. But he does not. He would like you to think that he has supreme authority over life and death, but that is not so.
How can you avoid the attack of the enemy? Be aware that he is coming, that he has devices and schemes…put yourself in a position where he has no legal claim or right to you. If you are serving God, doing the will of God then the enemy has no right to you. You belong to Jesus. Speak the name of Jesus, the name above every other name. It's the one word that has the power to put the enemy to flight.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “The devil Went Down to Uz.”
Blessings, Kevin