I've recently been reading in the book of Job. Job was a man tested beyond belief! I'd like to challenge us with a few excepts from this man's life. The scripture references I have used are from The Message version.
Job 1:6-8 One day when the angels came to report to God, satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out satan and said, "What have you been up to?"
satan answered God, "Going here and there, checking things out on earth."
God said to satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."
1. Job was noticed.
Job was noticed by God and by satan. God is always with you and watching you, but satan only notices you when you are making a difference in God's kingdom.
Challenge: Are you living in such a way that you are noticed by satan? Are you dangerous to the Kingdom?
Standing beside your spouse while walking through the process of Teen Challenge IS making a difference! As we support our husbands along this journey; taking care of our families, and offering support and love, we are making a difference in The Kingdom!
Job 1:13-15 Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
2. Job lost his ability to worship.
satan attacked Job's livestock. In those days, their offerings and blood sacrifices were their act of worship. satan stole Job's ability to worship. If satan can touch your worship, he can touch everything else.
I know this season of life is not ideal. I know if we would have had a choice, we would not have chosen this path. But, reality is, and here we are.
Challenge: How's your worship life? Are you actively worshipping the Lord t-h-r-o-u-g-h this season of your life?
Make a decision to not allow satan to rob you of your worship. We worship the Lord because that is what we were created to do....in good times and in bad times.
3. Job received restoration and a double portion.
Job 42: 10-11 After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—and then doubled it!
One of my favorite quotes is by Isreal Houghton, who has written many worship songs that we sing in our churches today. He says, "If you turn to the back of the book....WE WIN!!"
This is true! We do win! We are overcomers! Job did receive restoration. In fact, he received double: double blessings; double anointing.
Throughout the book of Job, Job experienced periods of waiting; waiting on a miracle, waiting on God's promise, waiting for breakthrough, waiting, waiting. We only wait for what we value.
Challenge: Seek the giver, not the gift, and the blessings will follow.
4. Job's sacrifices were generational blessings.
Job 42: 12-15 God blessed Job's later life even more than his earlier life. He ended up with fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand teams of oxen, and one thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first daughter Dove, the second, Cinnamon, and the third, Darkeyes. There was not a woman in that country as beautiful as Job's daughters. Their father treated them as equals with their brothers, providing the same inheritance.
Job persevered and he was blessed, but the blessings did not end with Job. He had seven sons and three daughters. And his daughters received an equal inheritance, along with beauty.
Believe that the sacrifices our husbands are making will be blessed for generations and generations to come.
We all have the ability to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren. We have the choice to leave generational blessings or generational curses. Personally speaking, my family has had enough of generational curses. The line has been drawn in the sand. Because we have made a decision to live for the Lord, and walk in His authority, we DO NOT have to receive the generational curses the enemy wants to pass down through our family. Lies like, "everyone in our family is an alcoholic", "all in our family struggle with anger and rage", "this is the 5th program we've been through and our life will never change", and the list of lies could go on and on.
BUT, in John 10:10, Jesus says, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Final Challenge: Today, choose to walk in the full life Jesus promised. Today, begin to release generational blessings. Believe in His promises of love, provision, mercy and forgiveness, and if you need encouragement at times, turn to the back of The Book and remember that WE WIN!!
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