puricare chronicles: Job

Showing posts with label Job. Show all posts

Thursday, April 15, 2021

DOES SATAN HAVE TO GET GOD’S PERMISSION BEFORE HE CAN ATTACK US? - God allowed the harassing of His disciples, within limits, but He had a higher purpose in mind — the strengthening of them all. In the same way, it seems that there are boundaries and rules that Satan must abide by. He can go so far but no farther. Job and Peter were hedged about by the Lord — Satan couldn’t get to them without the Lord’s first removing a measure of His protection. We know that God cares for all of His children, so it is reasonable to assume that God has a measure of protection surrounding each of us. And we know that, ultimately, God controls everything in the universe, including Satan. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” - There is no biblical proof that Satan always needs God’s specific permission in order to act against Christians every time he wishes to attack them. We know that Satan needs permission at least sometimes. Job 1 shows that Satan was not able to afflict Job without God’s permission. However, consider Satan’s argument before God: “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land” - Satan is obviously familiar with who Job is and is aware of Job’s special protection and blessing by God.

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Does Satan have to get God’s permission before he can attack us?

God allowed the harassing of His disciples, within limits, but He had a higher purpose in mind — the strengthening of them all. In the same way, it seems that there are boundaries and rules that Satan must abide by. He can go so far but no farther.

Job and Peter were hedged about by the Lord — Satan couldn’t get to them without the Lord’s first removing a measure of His protection. We know that God cares for all of His children, so it is reasonable to assume that God has a measure of protection surrounding each of us.

And we know that, ultimately, God controls everything in the universe, including Satan. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”

Got Questions Ministries

There is no biblical proof that Satan always needs God’s specific permission in order to act against Christians every time he wishes to attack them.

We know that Satan needs permission at least sometimes.

Job 1 shows that Satan was not able to afflict Job without God’s permission.

However, consider Satan’s argument before God: “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land” (Job 1:10).

Satan is obviously familiar with who Job is and is aware of Job’s special protection and blessing by God.

How could Satan have known of Job’s protection, unless he and/or his demonic minions had not already tried to work their will against Job?

What Satan is really asking is for God to remove Job’s protection; of course, in asking that the protection be removed, Satan is essentially seeking permission to attack Job.

Does Satan have to seek such permission every time he attacks us? The Bible does not say.

Another relevant passage is Luke 22:31–32.

Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Clearly in this case Satan had asked God’s permission to test Peter and the other disciples.

Jesus tells Peter that He has prayed specifically for him so that Peter’s faith would not fail and so that Peter can strengthen the other disciples when the test was over.

The implication is that Peter and the rest would be sifted in whatever way Satan intended.

So God allowed the harassing of His disciples, within limits, but He had a higher purpose in mind — the strengthening of them all.

In Job 38:11 God says that He limits the waves of the sea: “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.”

In the same way, it seems that there are boundaries and rules that Satan must abide by. He can go so far but no farther.

As the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), must he stop and ask God’s permission for every step?

Or does he only need to ask special permission when he runs into an obstacle to his hatred?

There is no real biblical proof either way. Job and Peter were hedged about by the Lord — Satan couldn’t get to them without the Lord’s first removing a measure of His protection.

We know that God cares for all of His children, so it is reasonable to assume that God has a measure of protection surrounding each of us.

And we know that, ultimately, God controls everything in the universe, including Satan. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Got Questions Ministries seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence."
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.

https://www.gotquestions.org/Satan-God-permission.html

Friday, April 9, 2021

I KNOW GOD IS WORKING - Sometimes, when we are standing constant in our belief that God will answer a prayer that we know to be His will, we become weary. Job certainly felt worn out. Almost everything in the life he enjoyed was gone — a grief so deep very few of us can truly grasp or understand it. He wrestled with why God allowed this to happen. He could see, with his very eyes, the work of God. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not God was present; Job knew He was. The issue was Job not seeing God at work in his own life. This verse appears about halfway through Job’s story. Job had no idea of the good that God was working to bring to him. Like Job, we look to God to change the circumstances in our lives that need His intervention. We, too, are in the middle of stories God is still writing. And while the days of praying get long, we can trust that, based on His majestic creation around us and His prior faithfulness to us, He is also working on our behalf, even when we can’t see Him. - “… on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.” - On my knees again, I was asking, seeking and knocking — just as I had been for years — for the salvation of a family member. While praying, my heart sank as my mind thought: God, I believe You will answer this prayer, but it’s really hard when I don’t see evidence of the answer on its way. Just then, a memory of another specific prayer came to mind: spiritual growth for my husband.

I Know God Is Working

Sometimes, when we are standing constant in our belief that God will answer a prayer that we know to be His will, we become weary

Job certainly felt worn out. Almost everything in the life he enjoyed was gone — a grief so deep very few of us can truly grasp or understand it. He wrestled with why God allowed this to happen. He could see, with his very eyes, the work of God. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not God was present; Job knew He was. The issue was Job not seeing God at work in his own life.

Job had no idea of the good that God was working to bring to him. Like Job, we look to God to change the circumstances in our lives that need His intervention. We, too, are in the middle of stories God is still writing. And while the days of praying get long, we can trust that, based on His majestic creation around us and His prior faithfulness to us, He is also working on our behalf, even when we can’t see Him.

Lynn Cowell

“… on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.” - Job 23:9 (ESV)

On my knees again, I was asking, seeking and knocking — just as I had been for years — for the salvation of a family member.

While praying, my heart sank as my mind thought: God, I believe You will answer this prayer, but it’s really hard when I don’t see evidence of the answer on its way.

Just then, a memory of another specific prayer came to mind: spiritual growth for my husband.

I sensed God whispering to my heart, Remember this one?

Yes! I do remember that prayer, and now, every day, I see the answer before my very eyes.

Sometimes, when we are standing constant in our belief that God will answer a prayer that we know to be His will, we become weary.

Job certainly felt worn out. Almost everything in the life he enjoyed was gone — a grief so deep very few of us can truly grasp or understand it.

He wrestled with why God allowed this to happen.

He states, “… on the left hand when he [God] is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him” (Job 23:9).

In this passage, Job is speaking of the creation surrounding him.

He could see, with his very eyes, the work of God. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not God was present; Job knew He was.

The issue was Job not seeing God at work in his own life.

This verse appears about halfway through Job’s story.

Here, Job had no idea of the good that God was working to bring to him, the good that you and I get to read about at the end of his story:

“And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. … And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:10, 12a).

Like Job, we look to God to change the circumstances in our lives that need His intervention.

A marriage that doesn’t look like it will survive.

Healing to alleviate day-after-day pain.

The child who has run far from God.

A job that drains every last bit of joy from your life.

The addiction where freedom seems impossible.

We, too, are in the middle of stories God is still writing.

And while the days of praying get long, we can trust that, based on His majestic creation around us and His prior faithfulness to us, He is also working on our behalf, even when we can’t see Him.

God has not answered my prayers about my family member’s salvation yet, but I know He is working behind-the-scenes in their heart every day.

Today, let’s resolve to continue putting our confidence in Him, the One who is never shaken and always faithful.

Jesus, I’m weary today, but I will set my mind and my heart on Your past faithfulness and Your power to change all things.

With You, nothing is impossible!

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (KJV)

RELATED RESOURCES

Just as we gain encouragement from the end of Job’s story, we can also build our faith and confidence by reading stories of women in God’s Word!

Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures is a Bible study about women, for women, to empower you to believe God for miracles in your life! Click here to purchase.

REFLECT AND RESPOND

Is there any area in your life where you have become weary of praying?

Reach out to a friend to join with you today as you continue to believe and trust God. In the comments, let us know your thoughts about today’s devotion.

Share your prayer request on our prayer wall, where our volunteers will pray for your request.

Lynn Cowell is a national conference speaker who is passionate about helping women of all ages understand the importance of Christ-confidence. She is the author of several books including her newest for women Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures, and Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You just for girls ages 8 - 12.

Lynn’s messages equip women to:

Find their confidence and identity in God’s unfailing love, rather than in their own abilities.

Recover from defeating decisions to move forward toward a strong self-worth.

Identify and address the fears that keep them stuck, with practical steps to walk in their calling with confidence.

Lynn and her husband, Greg, have been married for over 30 years and live near Charlotte, North Carolina. They are adjusting to this new season of being "just us". When they gather with their three young adult children, they enjoy hiking in the mountains, well-worn sweatshirts, and anything combining chocolate and peanut butter. Connect with Lynn today at www.LynnCowell.com and on Facebook and Instagram at Lynn Cowell.

Lynn looks forward to hearing your heartbeat for your event and coming alongside to minister with you.

What We Believe

If your life feels too overwhelming, click here for our care and counseling resources.

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with Christ, with Proverbs 31:10-31 as a guide.

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2021/04/09/i-know-god-is-working

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