JOB 1: 6-12

As I sat reflecting on my life, the many struggles I’ve gone through, the many wilderness experiences I’ve had to endure. Had much heartache and pain too many to mention. I found myself smiling as the question formulated in my mind and it’s the focus of this discussion today.

Can God trust you with trouble? I know it’s a tough question, maybe even challenging for some, but it’s a real question that requires a look in the mirror and a deep introspecting of one’s self. It is a question that requires an honest answer that can only come from us assessing our response not only to the situations that we have faced in the past but also our response to God and His word in those situations.

Here are some realities: once you declare you belong to Christ, walking in a committed relationship with the king of all kings; then you have been anointed for trouble. ,

You may ask but why? Here’s the reason. Before there can be an outward expansion (which is usually one of the byproducts of serving the Lord) there has to be an inward stretching (which is also a byproduct) etc.

Most of us, if not all, wants to have the glory of God manifesting in our lives but we tend to resist the process that God has put in place to birth forth that manifestation. Let us get this today. If at all we want God’s glory, we have to have God’s trouble, and we cannot resist God’s trouble. Let’s stop blaming the devil he works for God!!

In Job 1:8 The Lord asked Satan “Have you considered my servant Job? Job feared God he was blameless walking upright. Satan presented himself at the meeting of the heavenly council in the courts of heaven, to accuse God saying if he had not blessed Job so much job would not be so blameless. So God says all right do what you want with him but touch not his life.

God is no respecter of persons, “YOU CAN DO IT”! Being perfect before God is not impossible, it is possible and it is also a requirement for being a part of the Bride of Christ, which must be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish – and it is a requirement for going in the Rapture when Jesus comes to catch his Bride away.

It was not because of any sin that Job was to face these harsh trials – IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIS PERFECT LIFE BEFORE GOD AND GOD’S BELIEF IN JOB AND HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE OF JOB’S FAITHFULNESS! Why he could give the enemy permission to attack almost every area of Jobs’ life.

God knows what he has placed inside of you and me. He knows the strengths and he knows the weaknesses. That’s why in 1 Corinthians 10:13 we are told: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may b,e able to endure it.”

The good thing about all this is, Job’s wealth and power in this world had not gone to his head and ruined his relationship with God. He stayed faithful through it all. Let that be a lesson to those who think that rich people can’t serve God or be faithful despite their wealth.

I know that many people have taught, and thought, through the years that rich people can’t or will not make it into Heaven. That’s foolishness! Does not God have the power to save even the rich people? The Love of Money is the root of all evil, and it does give power that can easily be corrupted, and it can easily take control of our life, but it doesn’t have to. Money is no more than a tool to be used for good or evil.

It’s that faithfulness and the love of God in a man that matters to God. If we remain faithful and trusting to God as Job did, then a rich man can be a great blessing to the kingdom of God, to his neighbors, and the work of the Lord. So I pray that God sends a few rich Christians to the body of Christ to help support the work that God has called us to do.

So, now the same question is being asked about you and me today. The Lord allows some things to happen for his glory to be revealed and for expansion to take place. If the Lord had allowed some of us to stay in our comfort zone, we would not be accomplishing the things we have and are accomplishing today; so for the purpose to spring forth, trouble has to come.

Hell is breaking out because you are being set up for expansion/glory. Whenever we’re going through trouble we’re so anxious to get out that `all we focus on is the “EXIT” instead of enjoying the journey. 1 Peter 4:12-13 tell us about rejoicing in our afflictions because that’s how we overcome…by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. What is the word of our testimony today?

There is a purpose in the pain/trouble…when trouble comes it changes all your plans. We don’t choose trouble, trouble chooses us according to the call and purpose that God has ordained for us. The duration of our trouble is sometimes determined by our words and our attitude.

We don’t grow when things are easy peasy. We grow when we face challenges and overcome them. We have to take the bull by the horn and decide comes what may I won’t turn back I won’t relent because this is working for me a greater weight of glory as the scriptures declare in 2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light afflictions which is but for a moment is producing for us an eternal a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

At times it looks like things are lost forever…Job lost everything…but the Lord restored him double for his trouble. In Joel 2:25 He promised to restore the years that the cankerworms, locusts, palmerworms, and caterpillars have eaten. You can be the most powerful preacher/teacher/healer etc. and still be in pain because of trouble. You can be filled speaking in tongues and still become homeless.

Trouble comes to purge, prune and process us. Some of us keep running away not wanting to face the trouble when it comes so we keep going around the mountain getting the same result but the Lord is saying like he said to the children of Israel when they were camped out at Mount Sinai You have stayed at this mountain long enough.

Too long you have been skirting around the issues. The glory, the breakthrough, the revelation the wisdom, won’t come unless we decide to rise take up our bed, and begin to face our goliaths. There’s a David inside all of us let us activate and begin to put our weapons of war to work.

The intensity/level of the warfare is determined by what you and I carry. The greater the warfare the greater the anointing to be poured out. Do you know what you are carrying? Mary knew what she was carrying, and even thou it cost her grief and pain when she lost him to the cross; what she lost at the cross she regain when the Holy Spirit was given to them in the upper room, where he indwelled her for a second time, but in a greater way. God will restore and in a greater portion, he will give double for all our troubles. That’s a guaranteed promise.

IN CLOSING

Truth is you can be walking in favor but it does not mean fear won’t be present. What do you do when you expect a blessing but all you get is burden after burden, trouble, and heartache one after the other?

Mary was blessed and highly favored having the privilege of carrying the savior in her womb yet she had to be on the run for some two (2) years with her baby because there was an assignment from Herod to kill him.

Two characteristics of God revealed by the testimony of the Book of Job are His love & His Sovereignty. The Book of Job shows us God has power over what Satan can or cannot do. The book of Job also shows us that God is very caring. After testing Job, He rewards his servant with twice all he had before.

He will do it for you and me too. Can He trust you today to be faithful in believing that he’s working things out for our good? Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” And “If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10. God trusts us because he knows what he has placed inside of us. But do we trust him to keep us, and see us through? He is no man’s debtor. Remember you are being set up for expansion and promotion.