Morning Manna with Love ~ October 3, 2016 ~
My Redeemer Lives
Have you ever felt isolated and alone at a time you're experiencing great pain and suffering though you are surrounded by lots of people not just strangers but people you know care about you and your well being? Are you by chance going through a trial of sickness that is even life threatening where the pain is at times unbearable?
Which kind of pain is more unbearable, physical, mental or emotional? Well, that's a loaded question because you may be thinking, who are you to tell me your emotional or mental pain is less than my physical pain and vice versa. Exactly. But tell that to the person who's depression led them to commit suicide.
In the end PAIN and suffering is subjective. By subjective I mean it's not something you can verify. You can't verify my pain and neither can I verify your pain to compare and see if mine is greater or lesser than yours and vice versa. However, we can and should be sympathetic and empathetic towards one another.
Today many are going through hardships of pain and suffering whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Much of the time whether our pain is physical, emotional, or mental it will have some kind of impact on our spiritual walk. It will either have a positive effect drawing us closer to the Lord or a negative effect drawing us further away from God.
That brings me to the subject of this blog posting. I was crying out to the Lord because of the physical pain I've been experiencing the last month that several times have brought me to my knees. Sometimes the pain is so unbearable and only with God's help can I endure it. I asked the Lord today while in prayer to lead me in what He wanted to speak to me about if anything. He led me to the book of Job chapter 19 and my eyes immediately went to verses 25-27. See below
[Job 19:25-27 NIV] 25 I know that MY REDEEMER LIVES, and that in the end HE will STAND on the EARTH. 26 And after MY SKIN has been DESTROYED, yet in MY FLESH I will see GOD; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
I love, love, love this scripture. YES, MY REDEEMER LIVES! HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST (YESHUA HA MASCHIAH). These words can be of great comfort to anyone who is battling a severe illness, especially one that is life threatening. Job says after my skin is destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. When we get older, yes I'm a senior citizen, took my early retirement a couple of years ago so now you know my age. haha...as I was saying when you get to be my age and even some are younger but close, your skin starts to wrinkle and get thin.
Sometime there's pain just at the touch of your skin. This is what I imagine Job was feeling, pain at just the slightest touch yet he had hope to live again in the FLESH at that. This scripture so blessed my soul as I read it and I cried while thanking the Lord for his Word which is an ANCHOR for my and your soul as well. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen or been through...does that song sound familiar.
Though I've not been given a death sentence perhaps you reading this may have received one from the doctor or know someone who has. I will always stand on the Words of healing that are found in Isaiah 53:4-5, till I take my last breath or am raptured whichever comes first. As well as pray for those I know need healing in their body whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.
"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." NIV
You may not be old enough to remember that song. The questions I posed to you in the opening scenario are what came to mind as I started to read Job, chapters 18-23. What I love about JOB (pronounced JOBE) is the fact that he didn't know it was the devil bringing all the tragedies, the pain and sufferings his way. His suppose to be friends came I believe with the right intentions. However, they were self-assuming in that Job had done something bad. Their much needed attention as friends should be were enwrapped with countless hurtful words. They proved to be anything but comfort to Job.
I'm sure they cared about Job but didn't realize much of what they were saying was unjustified and untrue. Sometimes the people closest to us say all the wrong things at the wrong time. Though there's never a right time to say the wrong thing, it can hurt more when we are feeling our lowest. Their words attacked Job cutting him to the core. Though his friends and his wife were around him, he was ALONE in his pain and suffering. Notice what Job's so called friend Bildad said to him at Job 18: 18-21
[Job 18:18-21 NIV] 18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness and is banished from the world. 19 He has no offspring or descendants among his people, no survivor where once he lived. 20 People of the west are appalled at his fate; those of the east are seized with horror. 21 Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man; such is the place of one who does not know God."
Can you imagine a good friend saying these kind of things to you after losing your children and all your life possessions and health. Here Job is hearing how others are talking bad about him, being appalled and the friend seems to be agreeing with their assessment.
Next his other friend Zophar adds more fuel to the fire they have set in front of Job falsely accusing Job just as Satan had falsely accused Job in the first place. Accusing him of oppressing the poor, leaving them destitute, taking their homes, homes he didn't own. How mean and hateful it would be to do that. We know from the record Job was nothing like described below.
[Job 20:19-23 NIV] 19 For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build. 20 "Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure.
21 Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. 22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him. 23 When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows on him.
What I find most amazing about Job is that he doesn't back down from his so called friends. He comes right back in defence of the attack upon his character by his three companions. When you read what Zophar says above, it's true that God's burning anger does come against the wicked. His words were true but they didn't apply to Job.
Also Job knew in his heart that he loved God and was probably WRESTLING with WHY God ALLOWED these trials and tribulation to come upon him. He says if ONLY I knew where to find Him , Job says if he search here or there for God he couldn't find Him. How many times have we felt the same, Oh God if only I could find you NOW, this moment, this time.
[Job 23:3 NIV] 3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!
[Job 23:8-17 NIV] 8 "But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. 9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. 10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
That's the worse feeling ever, when in our trials and tribulation God seems to be so far away that we feel isolated and so alone. I wrote a song called "Come Lord Jesus" a couple of years ago and this is the first verse along with the chorus.
Come O come Lord Jesus, my heart is longing for you, don't delay. Oh how I love you Jesus, why do you seem so far away? But I can see you through eyes of faith, at heaven's door we're face to face. And you remind me, that you're not gone...I feel your heartbeat within this song.
Chorus: I'm really not so far away, you say, my Holy Spirit's with you ALWAYS
Don't fret my child, in just a while,...you'll see me coming on the clouds...don't fret my child, in just a while...you'll hear, you'll hear the trumpet sound...I'm really not so far away today, my Holy Spirit's with you always
Though he couldn't find the Lord in the time of his hardest trials and sufferings he remained faithful to God having a healthy fear of God. We also, must fear God not wanting to displease him in any way, respecting Him for WHO he is.
13 "But HE STANDS ALONE, and who can OPPOSE him? He does whatever he pleases.
14 He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. 15 That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him. 16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. 17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.
Notice in verse 14, JOB is saying that God is the one that carried out his plans against him. Yet in all he suffered he never cursed God because he did not consider God to be unjust. The HCSB says Job did not blame God. In either case, the final analysis says that his healthy fear of God keeps him balanced in his thinking.
He knows better than to CHALLENGE or OPPOSE God in saying God is wrong. In that sense of the word JOB did not blame God. No doubt Job had a close personal relationship with God, knowing God is love. Compare Job 1:8
[Job 1:8 NIV] 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
So therefore, Job's probably thinking, I want to just ask God WHY? I say that because he says, "If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling. How many times have we ever thought WHY God? WHY is this happening? Are you doing this or is this the enemy? If so, WHY are you permitting it. Perhaps like Job, we're thinking if only I could go to heaven, to his dwelling.
Though we can go there by faith, sometimes our faith is lacking. Although Job lacked knowing all the circumstances behind his situation, he knew God had all the answers. That's TRUST. We must TRUST God that He knows what is best for us even though we don't always understand. But still we want to know WHY God! We just want to know. It's in our human nature.
[Job 1:22 HCSB] 22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
Compare the same scripture in the NIV
[Job 1:22 NIV] 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job made no charges of wrongdoing to God not knowing it was Satan doing everything to him. Also note what Job said in verses 11-12. He treasures God's word more than his daily bread.
11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread
Job was likely familiar with Deut 8:3 which Jesus quoted to the devil in the desert that man must not live on bread alone but on every utterance of God. What a play on words because God's Word is our daily bread, the true manna from heaven. Jesus himself is the bread from heaven, the manna which is the Word of God. Compare John 1:1
[Mat 4:4 NIV] 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every WORD that comes from the mouth of God.'"
[John 1:1 NIV] 1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God.
That is the point I would like to drive home in this article. We must continue to keep our integrity to God like Job no matter how hard it gets. If Job could continue to love and trust God thinking God was bringing all the trials and tribulation on him, how much more so for us. We know the truth behind the story of Job though Job and his friends had no idea of the TRUE circumstances behind his trial.
[Job 1:7-11 NIV] 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it." 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "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. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
It was actually the devil, Satan behind it. Satan ask God "Does Job fear God for nothing?" It's the same today. He still accuses us falsely as he did Job and God allows him to test us in the same way. However, we can rejoice in the outcome of Job as he did receive everything back that was taken.
We all have a CROSS to bear in sharing in the sufferings of Christ. [2Tim 2:3 HCSB] 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Many Christians don't want to hear that today I know. We like the part about being heirs. I remember when I was making my posters of scriptures for my war room and one scripture I chose was Roman 8:17. I wrote it out in huge letters to read everyday.
[Rom 8:17 NIV] 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
But I have to admit, every time I got to the part about suffering, I got a lump in my throat. It's only normal but the Lord gives us the grace to endure if we ask and lean on him. For the JOY set before Him Jesus endured a torture stake. So we must endure. How? By keeping our eyes heavenward, setting the JOY that comes up ahead in our MAIN FOCUS.
We must take REFUGE in Him especially in times of suffering for righteousness sake. Even when our suffering is our own fault we can humble ourselves before the Lord for the Lord loves a contrite heart and spirit in that He will lift us up in His own due time.
[Isa 57:15 NIV] 15 For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
[Isa 66:2 NIV] 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
I will end with a special message to the faithful bride church, the church of Philadelphia. You are longing and awaiting the bridegroom. The Holy Spirit leads me to say that just as JOB's daughters were equally blessed with an inheritance along with his sons, so will the BRIDE church, comprised of the sons and daughters of God Most High soon receive their inheritance from the heavenly Father.
[Job 42:15 HCSB] 15 No women as beautiful as Job's daughters could be found in all the land, and their FATHER granted them an inheritance with their brothers.
The Lord wants to tell us that it won't be long before we are rewarded with blessings beyond our imagination. We have a special place in heaven with him, for we are seated with him in heavenly places now.
[Ephesians 2:4-6 NASB] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Just as JOB was elevated after being humbled, the bride will be elevated and blessed by all including her enemies. Therefore take these words to heart and meditate on the promises of God, SAVOR the sweet sayings of Psalm 65:4
"How happy is the one YOU choose and bring NEAR to live in YOUR COURTS! We will be SATISFIED with the GOODNESS of YOUR house, the HOLINESS of YOUR TEMPLE. HCSB
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