4 � And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
There seems to be something terribly wrong with the feed...
Anyway, my initial post was not finished.
The book Job is not about fear nor faith.
It deals with the wrong human assumptions that God punishes the bad and rewards the good.
It throws upside down our belief that blessings are awarded to us because God agrees with our way of living and vice versa.
And it shows how wrong people are in asssuming and accusing others to have sinned when terrifying things are happening to them.
Job is not being punished. Nor does he get in the live what he is so afraid of. These are in fact secular, human filosophies.
The book of Job is about integrity. In fact about too much integrety. As you may know, God sees Job as a upright and perfect man (Job1:8). Job is not a sinner he is regarded upon by God as righteous. There is but one thing only that righteous man keep from having true fellowship with God: assumed integrity of themselves!
It was a constant issue between Jesus and the pharisies also.
The book is not about God who wants Job to understand that he should not be afraid. He wants His servant Job to understand that for true fellowship with God, there is absolutely no room for assumed own integrity.
So this is why I am saying that one cannot simply glue two verses together and then claim that 2+2=4
When you speak of Peter denying Jesus it is important to understand of course he did, but he was not born again number one, number two he had not received the Holy Spirit
As for condemnation never is any intended, never
Should have fear, no we should not, we can not stop fear from coming, but we are able to overcome it.
Where in the bible does it say a Christian has a sinful nature?
By the way as always there is no condemnation, in the message of fear, the intent is to expose it and it's dangers and then give the answer out of the word of God.
Any christian can overcome fear, for me that is encouragement.
Jesus teaches us that the opposite of faith is NOT disbelief but fear.
If you fear satan so much that you see and hear it in everything that everybody says and writes to you.... then your heart is rather filled with fear (for satan) .... which is.... the opposite of faith (in God).
Having fear of, is keeping you from having faith in.
But satan has lost the battle a long time ago.
Maybe satan can deceive us but he cannot win EVER as he has already been defeated.
Jesus says in Joh12:31
NOW is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
See also Rev 12:9 (war in heaven)
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and satan which deceiveth the shole world; he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.
So not only our deep sin has been taken care of, also our biggest enemy has been defeated through Jesus Christ.
The only thing we have to do, and what Jesus tells us constantly, is having no fear and having faith. Jesus says we can even move mountains if we do so.
I do not understand why satan is so important to you and why you are so convinced that this world is about God vs satan. As it is written that he will deveive the whole world.
That means that there is nothing and nobody, and that includes you, who can keep satan from doing so.
However, God has defeated satan a long time ago so we do not have to fear his deceiving.... we can have faith.
Gut gebr�llt, L�we! I read on your profile you lived in Germany, so you'll understand it ;)
Also @riveroflife:
I absoltely agree with what you wrote. Great post.
@PhillipJohn:
You write:
When you speak of Peter denying Jesus it is important to understand of course he did, but he was not born again number one, number two he had not received the Holy Spirit
Number 1: You are right,
Number 2: but after pentecoast he did have recieved the spirit and been born again, do we agree? But he still had fear afterwards in Antioch:
Gal 2:12:
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
You write:
Should have fear, no we should not, we can not stop fear from coming, but we are able to overcome it.
Rightly said. But still there is fear. If we were perfect, there would not be fear coming. But it does come and it can get a hold of us, as we are still sinners.
You ask:
Where in the bible does it say a Christian has a sinful nature?
Does the bible teach that Christians had another nature than non-Christians? For those do have a sinful natrue, or don't we agree? But then, if Christians are the same by nature (or flesh) as the nonbelievers, how could one say they had not a sinful nature?
You say:
What are you saying concerning Romans 8:28?
I don't understand yor question. What exactly do you mean? How I think of the translation of the verse in several bibles, what it means to me personally? Please be more precise so I can understand you (sorry for the inconvenience, I really don't know what you want to ask).
You write:
Any christian can overcome fear, for me that is encouragement.
I'd rather say: Every Christian WILL overcome fear, every Christian is definately going to overcome fear, for the Lord is with us. Now if that wasn't encouranging. Only a slight chance of overcoming fear wouldn't encourage me at all (but maybe that's only me), because I know I am weak and I certainly gonna miss that chance...
Satan is not important in any essence to me but many do not know his tactics , and they are giving place to him
Number one he is still God of this world, and those that are not born again, are subject to him, in otherwords he rules them, that is exactly what the word says, and the word also tells us how he does it in people.
Know Christians not learned in the word of God can give place to him the same way.
Eph 2:1 � And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Yes it is correct Satan is defeated, but as believers you have to keep him in his place, it is not automatic.
look at a couple of scriptures here; and when you show this to
christians they may get mad, because they don't think they have any responsibility concerning him.
1st Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 � Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 � Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 � But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
The word tells us their is a fight of faith and if a believer is unlearned in the knowledge of the word, Satan will play with them
You notice in the two passages how the word grace and humility are mentioned if we humble ourselves we will have grace to deal with the devil.
We see that in the context of Paul speaking of all that he had gone thru as a believer:
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 � Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
1 � It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ�s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Paul just told us some things he had suffered by a messenger of Satan sent to buffett.
Yea he is defeated but he still goes about as a roaring lion and if one does not resist, then they will be overcome.
We only have one adversary
Eph 6:10 � Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 � And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.
There is more but that is plenty to make establish the truth
