Your Part in the Plan to Destroy Wickedness

Mike Blume
Nov 05, 2002 am

1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: (13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

1 Peter 3:13-18 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? (14) But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (16) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

The story of Job begins with a very wealthy man who had a reputation of being upright and full of integrity, as well as perfect in heart.

Satan is told to then enter God's presence where God challenges him as to consider Job and how he loves God.
Satan excuses Job's dedication for his true desire for the material possessions given as blessing from God.
God then allows Satan to destroy all Job's possessions and children!
However, Job retains his integrity and refuses to blaspheme God.
He has trust in God.

Satan is then challenged by God once again.

Satan then excuses Job's continued dedication by the assertion that Job's own flesh was not touched.
Satan reasons that if God should let Satan touch Job's flesh, then Job would not continue to stand true for God.
He says that a man may give all he has in order to continue to exist and not be personally harmed.

In both instances of trial upon Job, Satan accused Job of being selfish.

The first debate over Job had Satan say Job was selfish and it was because of the materialism God had blessed him with that Job stayed true to God.
The second debate had Satan see the first argument was wrong, so he insists selfishness was still part of Job's life.
Satan says Job was perhaps more selfish than initially thought.
Job would indeed give up all, including his houses and livestock and even children (!), if his own life could be spared.
Satan could not imagine someone genuinely loving God!

Satan was said by Jesus to have fallen like lightning from heaven.

Lucifer is told in Isaiah 12 to have fallen from heaven.
Most agree that Lucifer is Satan.
If so, Lucifer was in glory and held a powerful position in heaven.
And he was so self
centred that he sought to lift his own throne above the throne of God.
He was so self
centred, that he reasoned if he could not truly love God with all his blessings, then surely a mere mortal like Job does not truly love God.
But Satan was so wrong.

The story of Job shows Satan touching Job's flesh directly and inflicting boils and sores, showing us that some sickness can be direct attacks of the devil.

Job's wife even urges him to curse God so that God would slay him and put him out of his misery.
Job refuses.
Naked he came into the world and he will leave naked.
Though God slay him, yet Job would still trust God.

Three comforters then arrive to solace Job, but wind up charging him with iniquity.

Three rounds of debates begin at this point between the "friends" of Job and Job.
These men insist that Job must have committed some sin in order for the tragedies to befall him as they did.
Job insists he is innocent.
These men cannot understand suffering without a reason of iniquity for it.

This is where our sermon today truly digs into the issue of how we have a part in destroying wickedness.

Chapters 3 through 37 shows this debating going on.

Elihu comes along after time, and he scoffs at the three others' viewpoints, and offer his own, but also is incorrect.

Read the reasonings of the men who thought suffering demands there have been iniquity as cause for it in the form of punishment.

"Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed? According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble harvest it," (4:7-8).

But then, after all this, God reveals Himself awesomely to Job and the others.

"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me!" (38:2-3).

It appears as though God is rebuking Job and telling him to simply accept what God does and not to ask questions, which has been the opinion of man scholars, plus some critics of recent times seeking to find fault with God.

But its far more noble than that!

As God reveals his glory, we begin to hear God speaking about BEHEMOTH and LEVIATHAN.
As we read descriptions of these creatures, we learn that God is referring to Satan!
Satan
The one who first came to God and sought to show Job a pathetic, selfish fake who truly did not love God at all!

Behemoth is called "the first of the ways of God," (40:19).

Reminds you of Lucifer being the first and highest of all angels.

Then Leviathan is noted.

In chapter 41:20-21 Leviathan breathes forth fire like a dragon.

Rev. 12:3 says Satan is the dragon John saw in the vision.

Job 41:19-21 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. (20) Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. (21) His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

Job 41:33-34 says Leviathan rules over all the worldly "sons of pride" as their king, and "on earth is not his equal."

God is referring to the one who first came to speak to him regarding Job!

Can Job bind this fearsome devil?

Job 41:1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

Job 41:5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

Job 41:8-10 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. (9) Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? (10) None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

Why is God mentioning the destruction of the devil?

The true picture and intent of this story begins to unveil!

Job was told to humble this being.

He was challenged by God to tread down and hide and bind this devil.
But this is impossible for man to do... alone.
However, we are not alone!
God is with us!

Job then, in awe, speaks to God humbly and confesses his weakness.

God addresses the others and rebukes them and notes that Job is indeed upright, and they were so wrong in thinking suffering is only due to sin and iniquity on the part of the sufferer.

Job 42:7-10 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. (8) Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. (9) So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. (10) And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Job is sort of resurrected into status and wealth again, with precisely twice as many cattle as he had before

A double portion!

And Job acts as a high priest in making atonement for his friends at the command of God to the friends to take sacrifices and go to Job that Job might pray for them.

But the message I have in all of this today is that God brought up the issue of controlling and binding the devil after Job's suffering occurred.

And it was the devil who was behind all of Job's sufferings.
Is this not like Christ's cross and suffering while Christ remained innocent?

Satan deals with people as weaklings in his own mind.

-They are as helpless as sheep!
In fact, Christ was God manifest in flesh.

In Revelation 5, John saw God on the throne holding a book and a voice bidding one to come and retrieve the book.

None ventured forth, and John wept and wept.
We know this is speaking about gaining atonement for man's sins, because verse 9 informs us that when the book was taken, man was redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
So its little wonder that John weeps so terribly, since man could not be redeemed if none are worthy to take the book.
But then John is told to see the lion of Judah who prevailed to take the Book.
And John sees not a lion, but lamb!
And the lamb was apparently slain, but yet standing on its feet!

What is more weak than a Lamb?

You can lead a lamb to the slaughter and it remain dumb and silent and not fight back.
And God was manifest in flesh as a weak man.
But it was through the suffering and weakness of a man, that Christ defeated the devil!

Now we know why God mentions the devil after He allowed the devil to cause Job to suffer.

Our part in the work of God destroying wickedness is a great one!
Satan looks at us as weak, and we are!
However, God uses weakness to destroy wickedness!
The greatest show of weakness was Christ's crucifixion, led like a lamb dumb to the slaughter.
But that cross of suffering defeated hell's hold on man, for all those who would accept its work.

When you feel like you are being cheated and treated unfairly, remember that Job was, too!

But when Job was treated so by wickedness, he held onto his integrity with God!
And it turned out that God destroyed wickedness' rant and bragging using Job.
And God brought down those who were so proud in their accusations against Job to their knees!

If you give up before God is finished with His work in defeating Satan, you will spoil God's purpose in using you to destroy the wickedness.

God stopped us up this morning to unveil the picture of what is really occurring behind the scenes, because someone needs to know.
It encourages us while we suffer, when we live right, to know that behind the scenes God is using us to destroy wickedness.
Satan played himself into God's hands as a pawn!
Satan caught the bait of attacking weak humanity!
And alone we cannot bind the devil, but with God, in Jesus' name, we can!

You need to always remember that God allows such suffering because He is fixing to draw Satan into a trap and then smash him for it.

Christ was led like a lamb to death, and Hebrews 2:14 says that through death Christ destroyed the devil who had the power of death.
Christ waited until he was down in the devil's stronghold of hell, and then ripped loose and exploded in glorious resurrection power, defeating Satan, and snatching the keys of death and hell from the devil.
He took the power of death!

Hold on when things are not fair.

Too many think that living right is not worth it if they're going to suffer unfairly.
However, they do not know what good God is actually doing!
He is using them to defeat wickedness!
So many give up living right, and let themselves go and sin and so forth, because they think life is not fair anyway.
Don't fool yourself!
The devil is soon going to be dealt with THROUGH YOU, if you'll let God do what He needs to do!
And you will share the glory of victory in defeating the devil!

Don't give up and live loose.

Don't give up and sin.
Hold on!
You can do it.
God will not let the devil do more than you can bear.
But He is letting the devil do enough to entrap him and eventually destroy him.

You are being used to destroy wickedness.

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

God reveals His glory through this strange means of the innocent suffering.

He is not the one causing suffering.
The natural disasters that insurance companies call "acts of God" are not at all acts of God.
God has allowed the enemy to commit these acts.
But God is doing so in order to destroy wickedness.

Hold on!

God sees what you are going through.

He is not ignorant of your plight.
And if you are sincere, and only you and God know that, and are suffering due to no iniquity nor sin on your part, then God is using you!
You have the spirit of glory resting on you!

Job's suffering was like Christ's.

He was innocent and did not sin.
But yet suffered.

Peter told us that if we suffer having done no wrong, then we are sharing Christ's sort of experience.

And we know what Christ accomplished through his suffering!
He destroyed wickedness!

Satan cannot understand someone loving God and suffering for no wrongs done, and still loving God!

He cannot even understand what I am saying to you, and he does hear me today.
Satan is insane with evil and selfishness and hate, that he cannot believe people can love God and hold on when things get hard.
So, let us continue to allow the spirit of Glory to rest upon our lives!
When we suffer for no wrongs done, then the Spirit of Glory is on us!
And you know what the spirit of Glory did when Christ suffered and died!
It raised Him from the dead, and over all evil and wickedness!
Let the spirit of glory rest on you by holding on to God even when you suffer for no wrongs done!
You are being used by God in honour to destroy wickedness.
Do not spoil what God is doing!