Suffering Can Prove Qualification - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) February 25, 2025

We often expect God to create an easy way out of trouble or provide a soft landing when we have to take a leap of faith. Many times, however, He chooses to do things differently from how we would expect. Often, He uses challenging situations to not only strengthen His children, but also to make a point about them. This was the case for Job, who was described as blameless, upright, and so God fearing that he shunned evil. Job 1:3 says he "was the greatest man among all the people of the East." God even boasted about him to satan, calling him "my servant" and said there was no one else like him in the entire world (Job 1:8).

And yet, God allowed satan to afflict Job. The devil was intent on destroying the man and caused him great harm. All to prove God a liar. So much so, that his friends insisted that his suffering had to be the result of living a sinful lifestyle. As each friend accused him, he held to his belief that he had not committed any sin to warrant his loss and pain. In his frustration, he demanded the Lord explain why he was going through such a tough time. God obliged him. The result was a chastened Job, who acknowledged that he should have been more careful how he'd spoken and thought about His Creator.

We are told in 1 Peter 5:10 - And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. Similarly, after Job had suffered for some time, the Lord restored all he'd lost and gave him double for his trouble (Isaiah 61:7). That wasn't all he got for enduring the challenges. God acknowledged him as His servant to his friends - the same friends who'd accused him of being everything but a saint. Speaking to Eliphaz, the Lord called Job a servant four separate times. He also instructed him to have Job pray over himself and the two others who had spoken incorrectly (Job 42:7-8).

God didn't stop there. Having shown that Job stood firm under pressure, the Lord also proved to satan that His initial assessment was indeed correct - the man was His servant. A man who weathered the worst that satan could throw at him and did not break faith with His God. In so doing, He proved that satan was nothing but a liar.

​Job's experience teaches us many things. First, someone else's suffering may be God's tool to ultimately show that person approved. Therefore, we should not assume we understand what God is doing during someone's season of suffering. Consider the struggles faced by the first apostles and Christians. To the casual observer, God must have been upset with them to allow them face death and prosecution. They did not know that Jesus had warned that such would happen because they believed in Him (Matthew 10:22). We have the benefit of the Bible and the Holy Spirit to help our understanding. Instead of gossip and judgment, let us support the suffering with assistance (where we can and are equipped) and fervent intercessory prayers.

Second, it is easy to complain about God's pruning but He may be doing things we are unaware of. We need the patience and wisdom of God to hang in there until we receive breakthrough. God could be using our current season to prove us worthy of the title He lovingly assigns. To understand this point, imagine if Job had done what his wife suggested in Job 2:9, "curse God and die"? Or, if he'd crumpled under his friend's accusations and shifted in his faith that he had not sinned against God? He may have truncated his journey and his story would have ended differently. Instead of satan learning that it it gained nothing for troubling him, it would have had grounds to point at God and call Him a liar.

Third, just because a person has suffered does not automatically make them God's servant. While suffering can qualify someone for service, notice that God called Job His servant prior to his affliction. Job's commitment and obedience made him a servant long before satan attacked. In fact, that was partly why he was attacked. We must allow God to give us the title and appointment He desires. It is unwise to usurp His authority and go where we have not been trained for or sent to. The Seven Sons of Sceva tried this (Acts 19:13-16). They'd gotten away with it for a while but crossed their Vashti Line and were beaten black and blue. May that never be our portion IJMN Amen.

Fourth, God needs to tell us whether our suffering stems from His training or a sinful lifestyle. All men have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Yet, some struggles are a result of unrepented and/or repeated sin that prevent the blood of the Lamb from purifying believers who walk with the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:7). Sins such as fornication, sexµal immorality, occult practices, unforgiveness, hatred for God or others, and more dull spiritual senses so flesh dominates. When this happens, access to God's grace and mercy decrease and the devil has increased liberty to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Unlike with Job where God allowed his struggles for a short period, those living in perpetual sin walk further away from God's protection and bear the unpleasant brunt of satan's evil. Prayer and fasting will bring the insight needed.

Our suffering can teach us many things. It can teach the devil that God's children are worthy of the title He assigns them. May we submit to God's will especially when it is hard to understand why we are confronted by the storms of life. May the Lord grant grace, strength, and wisdom to not contribute to the devil 's evil underlying schemes. May we always be on the Lord's side and may our lives prove Him true in all we do, IJMN, Amen.

To learn more about today's message, kindly read the hyperlinked messages as well as:

1. Serve with your Talents & Gifts - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) August 4, 2020

2. Job, satan and Return on investment - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) September 21, 2021

3. How satan speaks 2: Book of Job - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) May 9, 2023

4. Stay in God's Service - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) May 30, 2023

5. Prove It! - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) January 30, 2024

6. Topic: Suffering

7. The devil's Underlying Scheme - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) February 21, 2025

The devil's Underlying Scheme - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) February 21, 2025

Do you know that at the heart of everything satan does is the attempt to prove God a liar? I know, I know, you're probably wondering why the devil would bother. Certain scriptures are likely flooding your mind right now. Could it be Numbers 23:19, which states, God is not human, that he should lie? There's also 1 Samuel 15:29 - He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.” Paul also said "it is impossible for God to lie" in Hebrews 6:18.

Although there's more scripture where those came from, the point is - God cannot lie. It isn't just that He doesn't lie. So, why would the devil bother to try and establish something that is impossible to prove? The devil knows it can't prove God a liar, but it also knows that it can make human beings believe the Lord is untruthful.

Now that we understand satan's objective, we need to recognize how satan tries to get us to agree with its wicked scheme. A chief example to learn from is in the Book of Job. The devil attacked Job because it wanted to prove God wrong. The Lord said of His servant in Job 1:8 - ...There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.

The devil responded that Job only honored God because he was blessed. From that moment, everything Job experienced stemmed from the enemy's desire to contradict God so it could call Him a liar.

For some reason, satan didn't learn from this and chose to mess with Jesus. During the temptation in the wilderness, the devil attempted to get Jesus to sin. Despite knowing He was the Son of God, it twisted scripture, hoping to push Jesus out of God's plan and timing for His life. If it had succeeded, it would have claimed the Lord was a liar. It would have said that God is no different from itself.

The devil is trying to achieve the same with you. It wants to manipulate you into thinking that God lies. So, take a look at your life. Where is the enemy telling you that God cannot move for you? How is the enemy trying to convince you that God is a liar? Is it regarding your prayers for people or your hopes for yourself? Is there a defect in your character that you've struggled to overcome? Is the enemy telling you you'll never be better than you are right now? Do you believe that God has failed you in some way?

​If the answer is yes to any of these questions, I pray the Lord will shift your perspective to reveal what you need to know about your season and His plans for you. I also pray that this message will edify.

God is very orderly and that order is reflected in nature as well as the spiritual realm. We often forget that a planted seed takes time to germinate. In addition, water and sunlight are needed for the plant to produce fruits. Sometimes, we willfully ignore the fact that this process impacts our prayer lives. Therefore, 'watering' via continued prayer is required, which is why Jesus said men ought always to pray (Luke 18:1).

We must also keep that prayer seed exposed to sunshine via Bible study and the proclamation of God's word over our petitions. And by holding onto our faith, we stand firm thereby keeping away the pests and other vermin seeking to destroy what is growing before its fruits feed us and others. Then there's also the fact God wants to transform us as we wait for the prayer seed to germinate into complete fulfillment. Imagine a farmer who plants but is too lazy to come back and weed. Or one who lacks the discipline to fertilize when needed?

Many of us want to throw the seed in the ground without performing the activities that not only strengthen us but strengthen what we've planted. God is not a magician. His way is to partner with His children, not do everything for them. If He did things that way, He'd infantilize His own instead of training them to become mature believers who do not shake in the face of smoldering firewood. We therefore must consistently play our role in the sowing and reaping cycle to enjoy fruits from our prayers.

This requires us to walk with the Spirit of God, submitting to His cautioning and direction so we exercise our faith and grow spiritually. While not easy, it is possible, and God delights in helping us do better each day so the impact of satan's resistance to our petitions weakens. God's mercy and compassion flow even when we mess up because He lovingly leads us to repent and be purified from our sins (1 John 1:7). And as we do what He wants in every area of our lives, we deprive satan of its goal of proving God a liar. We show satan the liar instead. Hallelujah!

To learn more about today's message, kindly read the hyperlinked messages as well as:

1. Patience: A Fruit of The Spirit

2. The Pruning

3. Satan is a Destroyer

4. Don't Uproot Your Seed

5. The Parable of the Sower

6. Beware of the Birds

7. God Is Waiting On You

8. Topic: The Wait

The Crown of Glory - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) February 18, 2025

Every child of God wears a crown of glory. This is because once an individual chooses to submit to the authority of Jesus and His Father, they become a part of the Kingdom of God. 

Members of this kingdom instantly become royalty. All of heaven rejoices over them (Luke 15:7). They stand as the daughters and sons of the King of kings. It is therefore their rightful inheritance to receive and wear the crowns their Father has given them. But they are even more than that because they serve as the very representation of His kingdom and power in the earth. Isaiah 62:3 tells us, "You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God" (NKJV).

We learn in Romans 8:30 - and those whom He has pre-destined He also has called; and those whom He has called He has also declared free from guilt; and those whom He has declared free from guilt He has also crowned with glory (WNT). For those who are walking through the grace of Jesus Christ in the Spirit of God, a crown of glory rests upon their heads. God wants these individuals to walk in the authority they have as His royal priesthood who put His plans and His word into effect (1 Peter 2:9). 

That the children of God wear a crown of glory shouldn't be a surprise. After all, Jesus received a crown of glory per Hebrews 2:9 and we know that He shares all that God gave Him with all who will inherit heaven (John 16:13,15). Alas, most believers do not realize that they carry a crown of glory upon their heads. But you know who is fully aware of this fact? The devil and it strives to steal that crown or cause the wearer to put it down so it can be taken. If God's children don't understand their position and the priceless headgear they carry, they are liable to be irresponsible with it. That way, they will lose out on the value it presents in their lives and the lives of others.

When Job was struggling, he said in Job 19:9 - He has stripped me of my glory and taken the crown from my head (NKJV). He spoke of God there and given what we know of Job's story, he was right that God was involved. However, the reason why that crown of glory was temporarily stripped was because of satan and its evil plot to destroy him. Praise God that the Almighty's plan was one of victory for Job and great defeat for satan. The devil soon discovered that it gained nothing for troubling the Lord's servant.

It is important to note that a child of God can be stripped of their crown by the One who placed it upon their head. In such cases, the primary reason for this is the consistent failure to obey God and serve only Him. This was the case for the Israelites of old who worshiped false gods and bowed to foreign idols. God patiently beckoned them back to Him for a combined 430 years but at the end of that period, a Vashti Line was crossed. Those who had been chosen by Him for sonship became the captives of other nations and their gods.

Nevertheless, their crown of glory was restored after they returned to God in faithful service. They were restored to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And that is the case for anyone who may believe that somewhere along the line, their crown of glory slipped off their head, was stripped from them, or was stolen. God desires to restore the designation of royalty to all who want it. All He requires is the confession of sins and true repentance which comes with allowing the Holy Spirit to lead the individual into living in obedience. Then, they will experience the fullness of life plus eternity in heaven. 

Where's your crown? If it's not where it should be, today is the day to pray for restoration. If it is firmly in place, today is the day to thank the Lord for this grace. The crown of glory is the inheritance of God's children. And if we submit to Him, He will ensure its security as we navigate this world to go live with Him in His Kingdom.  God bless you and see you at Noon EST for fellowship.