Can You Stand The Test?
Message Scriptures:
Job Chapters 1-4, 42:7-8
Daniel Chapter 6
Job 1
Job and His Family in Uz
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
Job’s Three Friends
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
Daniel 6
The Plot Against Daniel
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Message
Often times I hear Christian people saying that the devil did this
and that old devil is busy. Well unlike most Christians, the devil
does his job. He is consistent, persistent, and relentless. But,
can I tell you that it is not the devil all the time. Sometimes God
allows stuff to happen to us. He tests us and our faith to show
the world and the devil that because of what and who we are
carrying, we can stand the testing.
Journey with me as we look at a man, perfect and upright, and
see how he endured the testing. God allowed the devil to afflict
him, but he was steadfast and unmovable in his faith. Let’s look
at Job Chapters 1-4.
First satan attacks Job’s belongings, his possessions, his kids.
That didn’t work. (Job 1:13-22)
Then Job’s health is attacked, he was covered with soars and
scabs. That didn’t work. (Job 2:1-10)
The third attack is his against his mind; Job gets weak and starts to break down wishing that he hadn’t been born, wishing that he was dead (Job 3:1-26). That didn’t work. Have you ever been at this place when life has seemed like it dealt you a low blow and things start to close in on you and looks dark and gloomy? Have you ever just got tired of stuff? Job is throwing his own pity party.
The next attack is his friends; only one of Job’s friends encouraged him. Look at his friend in Chapter 4 telling him how he is used to Job telling other people not to give up and how to hold on. His friend is reminding him how God has always been there for him. You know sometimes you don’t necessarily need the solution; you just need someone that’s been in your shoes to just say it’s going to be okay. You will make it through this testing. It has a calming effect to you, I can’t explain it, and it just makes you feel better. It adds to your strength. It makes you lock in and dig deeper. Anybody knows what I’m talking about.
Let’s also take a look at Daniel.
He was first a governor then he was promoted to be the overseer of all of the governors.
Daniel was a praying man, three times a day he prayed to his God.
His so called friends conspired, the bible says, they got together to get rid of Daniel (Daniel 6:5-9). They knew that there was no way that Daniel was not going to pray three times a day. Watch your friends and their jealousy. His friends came up with the scheme and took it to the king saying for 30 days no one is to pray to their God. They can only pray to you o king. They convinced the king to sign a decree saying that for 30 days, no one can pray to their God. They only can pray to the king. His friends set him up.
Daniel was seen praying (his friends told on him). The king really liked Daniel and was hesitating on acting on the issue. (They reminded him that this was a dishonor and that he had to give out the punishment).
The king ordered Daniel to be put in the lion’s
den. Daniel, let’s see if your God can shut the
mouths of these lions. Your God of whom you
are so loyal to will get you out of this
(Daniel 6:16). God did, Daniel didn’t have a
scratch on him. The bible says that the king
didn’t eat or sleep that night he went on a fast.
The next day the bible says that he hurried
down to the den calling out to Daniel and Daniel
answered him.
Can we stand the test? Can what we are using
now stand up to the testing of God?
Are we willing to be tested? Can God allow some stuff to happen to us without us falling apart?
Will we pass the test? Yes we can, yes we will. By being steadfast and unmovable just as Job and Daniel were. If we learn how to hold our peace and let the lord fight our battles. Remember, Daniel kept praying and Job kept on believing. So what if your friends turn on you. Go through the storms in your life. Don’t give up, get into your secret place and pray to God and He will answer.
Freddie Carter Sr.
