The Prince of Darkness - Satan - Lucifer and the Lord said have you considered my servant Job?

Job 2:1-6

 

Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.   And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”   And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”   Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life.   But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.”  And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

 

Lucifer, O Day Star son of Dawn, Prince of Darkness, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, Lord of the Flies, the Antichrist, Father of Lies, Moloch, angel of light, or simply Satan.  Any way you look at this father of lies, you will see the devil, you must  understand that he has to ask for permission to mess with a person who has by grace and faith entered into the family of God.  Isaiah 14:12-14, we get a picture of his fall and the reason for it.  We have this word from Jesus as he talks with the seventy-two He sent out ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to go.  Pay close attention to what they said to Jesus and His reply in Luke 10:17-20.  “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”   And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.    Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.   Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  What value is being sent out with authority if you do not understand first, that you have it, and second that your action shows that you are under that authority?  

 

This question came up in our Bible study, how can Satan come into God’s presence in that God does not look on sin.  I’ve come to understand that when it comes to God the Creator of all things, there are absolutes that are unchangeable, such as His character; He is pure, God is a personal Spirit, God is all-powerful, God is ever-present, God knows everything, God is sovereign, God is holy, God is absolute truth, God is righteous, God is just, God is faithful, God is love, God is merciful, God never changes.

 

My pastor said something like this in a sermon, when we say God cannot do such and such outside of the things listed above, such as look on sin, you have crossed over into some dangerous territory because you have elevated yourself to a place of being like God.  I always recall that God’s ways are higher than mine and His thoughts are higher than mine, the thing I’m sure of is that He loves me because His actions have demonstrated that to be true.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

 

 

 

No such thing as "LUCK"-Only God's Providence

Job 1:13-22

 

I wonder if many in the church forget the role of Satan!  We are told in Scripture that he and the demons have one goal and that is to kill, steal, and destroy.  Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us life in the full and yet I hear people who go by the name Christian wishing others good luck, as if life was not the providence of God, but of chance.

 

Proverbs tells us the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and a wise person will have the attitude of the LORD.  He gives and the LORD takes away, blessed be the name of the LORD.  Job was that kind of man, he did not have an understanding of what took place in heaven between God and Satan, but he did fear God and was willing to wait on the LORD.  That did not mean he was not in a deep depression over the loss of his wealth and Children.  Over and over we get the account that as one messenger was giving a terrible report, another came with more bad news.  

 

I witnessed a Godly lady who had four daughters and had waited for the first son and to have him killed in a car with other boys, none old enough to have a driver’s license, when he was supposed to be in bed asleep.  It was a terrible time for the family, the first son was an amazing young man who had a walk with Jesus.  They lost one son, but Job lost all seven and his three daughters and his wealth, all in one day.

 

How did this man of integrity handle what Satan was allowed to do to him?   We get the account in verses 20-22.  “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.   And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”  

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

Satan powers over us has been restricted by God

Job 1:6-12

 

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.   The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”   And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”  Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.   But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” ¹² And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”

 

It is of important to look back at the introduction this writer did on the book of Job.   We explored in the first five verses insight into the integrity of Job, but one must read the conversation in heaven between God and Satan.  These are the words of God about Job, ^“And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

 

As we explore this book we will do our best to grasp Satan’s come back and how God has restricted his powers over us.  First we must understand who the author is referring to as the sons of God, they are created beings at a high level or order than humans, they are angels.  How do we know they are of a higher order, the answer is found in Hebrews 2:9, “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”

 

Satan is referred to in Scripture as the accuser of the brethren and never forget it was God who brought up Job’s name, and allowed Satan to have access to Job, with restriction.  The other thing that one should not miss is Satan is all about killing, stealing and destroying.   He did not know the outcome of the battle but God who is all knowing new that someday you and I would be learning more of the ways of God from the account of Job.

 

This writer has no understanding of if Satan was invited to this gathering, but never forget God is omniscience so He is never surprised.  We see that the first thing Satan does is challenge Job’s motives for fearing God and tries to put the blame on God’s blessing and protection.  The Holman Study Bible state, “The limitation God imposed on Satan’s testing demonstrated the LORD’s desire that Job be a trophy of God’s grace even in his suffering.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Introductions to Job - a blameless man

The Book of Job Introductions

 

This book is named after its central character and speaker.  The theme is about a very wealthy man who lost everything that was dear to him.  But it is so much more than that it is about God and the spiritual forces of evil.  It deals with depression, physical pain, faith, and friends, accusers, and in the end, God alone had the final word and restored all that Job had lost.  

 

We do not know the author, but we do know he had insight into the knowledge of the heavens, and he had knowledge of plants, foreign lands, animals, of human professions.  In the Holman Study Bible it gives us this insight: “He was a wise man, familiar with traditional wisdom (6:5-6; 17:5; 28:12,28), but above all a man of spiritual sensitivity (1:1,5,8; 2:3; 14;14-15; 16;11-21;19:23-27;23:10; 34:26-28; 40:1-5; 42:1-6).  He was doubtless an Israelite as confirmed by his frequent use of God’s covenant name (Yahweh).”

 

I want to end this introduction with this insight from the Homan Study Bible, it deals with the message and purpose Job has in the Scripture.  “The book of Job demonstrates that a sovereign, righteous God is sufficient and trustworthy for every situation in life, even in the most difficult of circumstances.”

 

Job Chapter 1:1

 

“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”  As we explore the first five verses you get an insight into the integrity of Job, but one must read the conversation in heaven between God and Satan.  These are the words of God about Job, ^“And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

 

As we explore this book we will do our best to grasp Satan’s come back and how God has restricted His powers over us.  The book of Job has vast wisdom for those who seek it, but it will require a willing spirit to adapt to walking in the spirit and not by a feeling of the flesh.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Just Praise the LORD everywhere at all times

Psalm 150:1-6

 

 

“  Praise the Lord!  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.   Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!   Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!   Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!   Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”

 

It has been a long time since I’ve shared my reason for attempting to share my thoughts on the Scripture.  In no way is it meant to be a commentary, just my thoughts.  It began with a desire to leave my two wonderful grandsons, John Mark and Zachary David my thoughts on the book of beginnings.  I had no plans on writing at this point on most of the Bible, but because they were just little guys, I began to share a few with some friends and one of them Ron C. who is in ministry told me I should write a blog.  I did not know what a blog was, so he set me up with one and that’s how this all began.

 

When I began writing on Psalms back in January 10, 2019, I had not thought that it would take a year to share my thoughts on the Psalms, and yet it has been exciting and fulfilling to do so.  Psalms 150 is the perfect way for the Psalmist to end these songs of praise.  What an amazing way to learn how to talk with our God, and I hope this has been a blessing to you, as it has to me.

 

Our Father has given everything in Creation the ability to give praise, and especially you and me.  Shall we set our hearts on doing as the Psalmist is telling us; “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

True Worship

Psalm 149

 

“Praise the Lord!  Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!
 Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!   Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!  For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.   Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.  Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,  to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written!  This is honor for all his godly ones.  Praise the Lord!”

 

I’ve often wondered, do we have any understanding of true worship?  Are we so concerned about how we come across to others that we miss worship?  Do we still have some of the freedom we saw in David as he entered Jerusalem with the ark of God?  Is worship abandonment of the thoughts of men and only caring about how God perceives us?  

 

The Psalmist points out that the people of Israel not only should praise God for being their creator but also their King.  Do you understand as God’s chosen people they had God in those two roles, and the Psalmist went on to instruct them in how to praise their King and Creator.  In dancing for God takes pleasure in his people, but do not tell the Baptist.  One wonders if we will recall all the restrictions we placed on worship when we finely get it right in heaven?

 

At the young age of 77 it is important to understand what God adorns and it is the humble who gives them salvation.  For years humility was not in my life, I was proud, and arrogant, but God, I love those two words, but God has allowed me to understand, without Him I am nothing.

 

In verse six we see the term “double - edged sword” and in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  The same word is used also in the old Testament as mouths and also many teeth.

 

If we filter everything through the word of God, we will have a discerning spirit about us.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Praise of His People

Psalm 148

 

When reading Psalm 148, your mind may go as mine did, to these words of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.  Dr. Luke gives this account in his gospel, chapter 19:37-40, “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,  saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

 

Now it’s a little above my paygrade to understand how rocks can cry out but if Jesus said they can, remember this one fact; Jesus is Truth.  A wise person understand that when it comes to God, His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are above our thoughts.  So, when the Psalmist tells us that all creations praise the Lord, we should not doubt, for our mighty God, spoke it in to being.

 

Look with me at verse 5 and 6, “Let them praise the name of the Lord!   For he commanded and they were created.  And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.”  My study Bible has this note on those two verses; “God established creation and set boundaries, exercising sovereign control over the cosmos.”

 

Ponder on that verse, God established all creation, God set boundaries, and God exercised sovereign control over the cosmos.  So, to have global warming or climate change, we need to remove God.  Also, to have evolution God must be removed, and also abortion, and all three of these are being pushed by highly educated people who are ignorant of our Creator.  It’s not a new thing, for like Eve they bought into the message you can be like God, so they have chosen to follow one that can give them power and wealth in the world but has no authority over eternity.  In ignorance they follow and choose eternal separation from heaven and God.

 

You may be asking how could anyone be so blind, and it is not about blindness, but not having a moral authority over them, it’s about wealth and control, for in all three are building blocks to under mind the teaching of Scripture.  To have a world order or a one world religion, God must be removed, to control the masses God must be removed and government must become god.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice 

Is Scripture being fulfilled in your Time?

Psalm 147

 

 

The Psalmist has much to be thankful for, God has restored Jerusalem, and we are told; “How good it is to sing to our God for praise is pleasant and lovely.”  The people are experiencing both physical and spiritual healing.  Slaves were freed and land reverted to the owner in the year they celebrated jubilee, the Prophet Isaiah talks about that in chapter 61:1,  “The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners.”  But you can see it is not Isaiah that is going to do this, no it is the Messiah, and it’s not an event like the year of Jubilee that happens every seven years or the bigger event that happens every 49 years where the slaves were set free and the land reverted to it owner.  Read Levities 25, for more insights into the Sabbath years and Jubilee.

 

If we turn to Luke 4:18-21, we see the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1.  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”  And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

Jesus came to His own people and a few excepted Him, but most wanted a mighty king on a white horse setting them free from the Romans.  But God, don’t you love those two words, God had a better plan, it was a cross where the Lamb of God would take your sins and mine, all sins and set us free from its control.  That’s a Hallelujah!  The victory has been won and all who will bow their knee in faith and ask for God’s forgiveness will be set free.  And now we can proclaim as did the Psalmist, “How good it is to sing to our God for praise is pleasant and lovely.”

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

 

Do not put your trust in Government

Psalm 146

 

“Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live;  I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.  Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.   When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed who gives food to the hungry.  The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.  The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise the Lord!”

 

Know your audience!  That’s what every good speaker tries to do, that is what every good salesperson attempts before going into an account.  It is also what politicians do and that’s why they are caught telling different stories to dissimilar groups.  Today I’m going to give some of my opinions on our culture and I believe our children in general are being trained to expect much and give little.

 

The Scripture is clear, Proverbs 22:6,  ^“Train up a child in the way he should go;  even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  As parents many of us have dropped the ball, we wanted to be their friend, always be liked, tell them lies about their skills, not require them to put honesty, and integrity above all else and seek a fellowship with the LORD. 

 

We have not trained them in our home, expecting the school system and church to do that job, and we are reaping what we sowed.  A generation of young people who want to put their trust in government, who expect someone else to be generous so they can be of no value to themselves or anyone else.  Today Proverbs 19:6, is being played out,

Many seek the favor of a generous man,^[ and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.  We have come a long way from John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961 when he said; “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

 

Now I know that most of you give thought to what others say, and most are  not bashful in sharing agreement or disagreement, and my hope is  you give thought to the problem we are in as a nation, an not only address it, but let us ask our Father who loves us, to guide us as a Nation back to Truth.

 

As a Nation, that sounds great, but it must start in the home.  We have to look forward and to train our Children that all work is good, it is a gift from God, that laziness is of the evil one, the one that tells you one day you deserve and the next points out what a waste your life is, and the world would be better off without you.  You will never find your value in the worlds system, but if you look to the Father, the Creator of all things, He tells you of your great value to Him.  Now let me be really clear, you will not find your value in religion, only in Christ Jesus!

 

Give praise to the LORD, do not trust in men, nor government, nor religion, for they cannot save you, as the Psalmist states; “When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.”  As you read the remainder of Psalm 146, you will grasp the only One worthy of your praise, and worship.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

God is Righteous - Blameless - Good - Just in all of His works

Psalm 145:17-21

 

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.  The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.  My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.”

 

It is almost one in the morning and I awoke early this morning at 5:30 and this evening got all involved in a National title for who would win the college football game.  My team did not do very well, and I got way to emotional over something that has no eternal importance.  I got out of bed and came into our living area to be still and hear from my Father who I had already ask to forgive my foolish actions.  My prayer is that you are willing to ponder on  the verses above  when you get this.

 

Think about the word righteous; He is blameless, good, just in all His works.  Now give thought to our LORD being near to all who call on Him, but do not miss that they call on Him in truth.  Tonight, when I went to bed, I called on the LORD and once again I ask Him to forgive my foolishness over getting upset over a football game.  I allowed a game to rob me of my joy and peace.  Now I know He has heard my cry for mercy, and I know that I am deeply loved by Him, and that I am forgiven.

 

 I’m going back to bed, not upset over my actions but as a very thankful man who is a mess, but as Brennan Manning states so well; “All is Grace.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice 

A World out of Touch with God

January 11, 2020

 

Psalm 145:8-16

 

“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.   All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your^[a] mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.  [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]   The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.  The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

 

As a follower of Christ, I often am confused when I hear someone including myself saying we should turn that area in to glass, talking about Iran.  Yes, I will agree that their rulers are evil, they support terrorism and in the last weeks we have witnessed our President giving the command to kill a general in their military that was responsible for killing over 600 of our soldiers and was planning to kill more people.  We waited for response after they sent missiles into one of our military bases in Iraq and the next day God answered my prayers and I’m sure many others, in that President Trump saw no need to hit back and take the life of Iran’s people.

 

Many feared and the media added to those fears of an all-out war, but God, who is gracious and compassionate gave our leader the wisdom to stand down, in that we did not lose any of our troops.  We need to understand that the most pagan leaders such as those in Iran are restrained in action by the hand of our loving Father.  And before saying something stupid like we should turn that country into glass, do you understand, that God loves them as much as He loves you and me?   The apostle Peter gave this insight to all of us; “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

 

We need to take to heart who God is and how out of touch our world is to God.  A God that is beyond our understanding, but who loves us so much that in grace and mercy He sent us Jesus His only Son.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

It is all about God

Psalm 145:1-7

 

“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.   Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.  They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.”

 

“It is not about you, it is all about God;” never have truer words been spoken!  Because we live in a culture of it’s all about me, a follower of Christ can easily be molded into a pagan mindset of, I’m special, I need to be recognized, and the list gets longer and longer.  That’s why I put to memory 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

 

I find a need to take that test often, who or what am I extoling?  Is it all about me and what I’m doing for God or is it about all that God through Jesus is doing and has done?  Extol is what you admire and worship, and there are many people I admire but when examining why, it is because of Christ doing it all for them.  When we grasp that truth, we do begin to extol God.

 

As we understand that our world feeds our fleshly desires to have it all about me, we come to an understanding that as the Psalmist has stated; “His greatness is unsearchable.”  His superiority goes beyond comprehension, and the prophet Isaiah states so in chapter 40:28, “Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”

 

I often drop the ball when it comes to telling others what God is up to in my life, I hope that my actions are louder than my words, but words are needed.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice