A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day Feb.28, 2019
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (John 14:9)
The third and fourth questions we posed in our first devotional about the Book of Job were: Is Satan God’s sub-contractor who is hired to do all the dirty work? What are the tools and tactics used by Satan? If you are going to be in any kind of war one of the most important things you need is intelligence. You need to know who your enemy is, how they operate,what their intentions are, and what they are doing. So, let’s look at the Book of Job from that kind of perspective.
My entire theology is based on two simple thoughts “God is good and the Devil is bad” and “there is no darkness in God”. This simplicity is rooted in the following scriptures:
The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
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)
Remember what we mentioned before? Job and his friends did not have access to these scriptures. They just thought God controlled everything, as do a lot of Christians today. They thought that God gave and God took away but we know from scripture that God is not a thief, He does not change, and He tempts no man. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29, KJV). For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call] (Amplified Bible).
God is good all the time and He does not need to hire Satan to do anything!!!
Now, let’s look at the four tactics used by the enemy against Job. He used two tribes (the Sabeans and the Chaldeans); natural elements (fire and wind); close acquaintances (three friends, his wife, and one young man); and then sickness (boils). The Sabeans were men of stature and strength and slave owners (Joel 3:8). They specialized in taking people captive. The Chaldeans were on the other hand highly educated priests, magicians, astrologers, and fortune tellers (cultish). Please notice that Satan can use the lowest individuals (human traffickers) all the way to the most educated elite, but they all come to kill, steal, and destroy.
The friends accused Job of being disobedient to God and being wicked. They voiced the belief that all these attacks and losses must be due to Job’s sin and disobedience. They hurled accusation after accusation at him but Job kept saying he was not guilty (as did God). Job’s own wife told him to just curse God and die. Let me ask you this. Who is the “accuser of thebrethren”? The answer is in Revelation 12:10 and it’s not God:
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
So, all Job’s friends and acquaintances were being led by demonic spirits (the enemy) and their intention was to kill, steal, and destroy and then blame it on God. The enemy attacks our relationship with God by getting us to question and doubt the goodness of God. We do not comprehend God’s goodness. It is indescribable. What was the response of Jesus when they called Him good?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God (Mark 10:18).
Jesus was not just being modest here. He did not have adequate words to describe how good the Father is (nor do we). The “Goodness of God” is what the enemy is after. He never wants you or I to get anywhere close to realizing how good God is.
Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance (Romans 2:4)?
This fight is still going on today. That is why we need the armor of God (Ephesians 6). That is why we don’t need to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
It’s not that we need to be afraid, but we do need to be aware and we don’t need to be ignorant of the tactics of our enemy. Always remember this. God is good, all the time!!! Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy that would tell you anything otherwise!!!
