Tag: John 16:33
Unseen Accusations!
Scripture reading for August 12: Job 2:3-6 “And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse You to Your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, only spare his life.”
We come to the ancient book of Job and the story of Job’s life and trust in God in the days before Abraham. The story reveals a conflict between God the Father and Satan, the fallen angel. This conflict was during a gathering of the ‘Sons of God’ and Satan came along with them. The ‘Sons of God’ is a term used to describe created heavenly beings who serve God and do His will. Satan was once part of that group until iniquity was found in him and he was removed from his position of authority under God. His name, Satan, (‘hassatan’ in Hebrew) means ‘adversary’ or ‘prosecutor’ or ‘accuser’ and is a title rather than a name. Although cast out of the heavenly angelic band, he was still given access to God’s throne on occasion.
In this passage, we find God speaking to Satan and bringing to his attention His servant Job a second time. God’s assessment of Job was that he stood alone among those on earth as blameless and upright and fearing God. Job had passed the first test of keeping steadfast faith in God as sovereign even after losing his flocks, servants and even his children and their families. Now Satan accused God of protecting Job’s health as he had of his wealth the first time. Satan’s accusation was that if Job’s life was threatened, he would curse God. God allowed Satan to take Job’s health, just not his life. God was confident that Job would remain true to Him.
As we learn from Scripture to trust God in all circumstances, we can learn from Job’s example and the unseen and unknown accusations behind the health circumstance. There are forces of evil trying to destroy us and our faith. But our Lord Jesus has power to sustain those committed to Him. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Humbly Seek His Face!
Scripture reading for August 10: 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 “Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My Name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.”
According to Jesus, in this world, we will have trouble. We are told to be of good cheer and live in peace, for He has overcome the world and it’s ultimate trouble, sin and death. (John 16:33) Time and chance happen to all people, including God’s people. Bad things happen, sickness strikes, and habits of the flesh bring consequences. But God made provision for His people in dealing with this trouble. They must come with a sacrifice to His house and humbly seek His face.
In the Old Covenant, God called His people who were experiencing troubles related to sin, either their own or that of the people of the world, to come to Him in prayer. He encouraged them to come humbly confessing sins and needs and seeking His face for forgiveness and healing. God gives grace to the humble but He opposes the proud and rebellious. This famous passage from 2 Chronicles 7:14 was God’s response to Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple. God promised to hear their humble prayers, confessions of sin, and to bring healing to them and their land. Sin affects people but also the land. Drought, famine, and pestilence are all related judgments of God that are consequences of sin. God is the only source of rain, multiplication of seeds sown, and deliverance from insects and pests.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ has perfectly obeyed the Law of God and offered His own body and blood as the perfect and final sacrifice. He prayed “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Believers in Jesus can come with confidence before God’s throne and find grace and help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) What a Savior and Lord! Amen!
Day 3–Jesus’ Gift of Peace
Scripture reading for March 11: John 14:25-27 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
First responders must be prepared to enter into the trouble and chaos of others involved in accidents, crime, sickness or disease. On top of that, each person has troubles of their own to deal with. In these Scriptures we uncover a Source of peace that helps us overcome each incident. God has made several key provisions for those who trust in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. He desires that all men and women enter into the perfect peace He offers. That peace comes when we receive and believe His Word. Faith comes into our hearts through this process. Jesus Christ came as the ‘Word made flesh’ (John 1:14) and He spoke His Word to those willingly following Him. “So faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
But after Jesus gave His body and blood to cover and cleanse us from guilt and sin, Jesus rose again and told His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would live in each believer and personally teach each person the Word of God and help them to apply it through faith. The Holy Spirit would bring the fruit of peace. (Galatians 5:22) He would actually bring Christ Jesus’ own peace that gives comfort to us in the midst of the world’s troubles. It enables us to overcome those troubles and fears and walk in confidence. It is a gift from our Father and Lord to be received daily as we walk with Him.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing provision of peace given through the Words of Your Son Jesus Christ. Even more amazing is the Gift of Your Holy Spirit living in me to teach me God’s Word and manifest the fruit of peace through me to a world in trouble. Amen.
Protection from falling away!
Scripture reading for November 12th: John 16
Key Scriptures: John 16:1-4 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor Me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”
Jesus had just finished a long dissertation explaining that He would be going away and that persecution would come. His Father would send them another ‘Helper’ Who would be with them always. He told them about their access to Him by prayer and how they would do even greater works because He was going to the Father and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In summary, Jesus stated that He had told them all these things to help keep them from falling away when the events of His departure unfolded and the persecution that would come escalated. Their remembrance of these things would be facilitated by the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
John 16:12-15 “”I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.””
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Words of wisdom and encouragement to all who believe and follow You. Thank You for securing the Holy Spirit to be with us always, bringing to remembrance all that You have spoken. Lead me today into all Truth and empower me to proclaim Your Word to those in need of a Savior and those of Your followers who need to hear so that their faith would not fail!
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”