SHOCKING RESPONSES FROM JOB IN TRIALS

The Bible says in Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice". This is a secret of having Dominion and the presence of God. The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His children (Ps. 22:3). We should not in hard times translate that scripture to "Complain and cry to the Lord alway; and again I say, Complain and cry".
Let us study some interesting responses of Job in his trying times.

1. Job 1:20-21
"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord"
I mean Job had just lost all except his life and wife. The news came in series, tail to head from Chapter 1 vs 13, yet when they had finished, all he could do was to fall down in humility and submission to God and worship, not complain, query or cry. I covet the faith and devotion of Job.

2. Job 2:9-10
"Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips".
Even when the tides were against Job and he knew God was all sufficient and could save him if he wanted, he still defended God when his wife advised him to curse God and die. If only we can stand strong on God's side even in the storms of life without complaining, murmuring or backsliding, God will show us His power to save beyond measure.

3. Job 9:32-33
"For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any days-man (or umpire) betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both"
In his trials, Job acknowledged that God is still supreme and cannot be questioned or judged. He understood that God's ultimate thought towards us is good and not evil, to give us an expected end (Jer. 29:11), and so there was no point accusing God for keeping silent in those times, for he knew God is alive and will make his 'tomorrow' alright.

4. Job 13:15
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him"
This is my favorite and it is very deep, but self explanatory. Such faith!

5. Job 19:25-27
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me"
Wow! Job was ready to trust God even till death. Here he talks about his hope of being saved from this body and seeing God. He even talks of Jesus, the redeemer, who shall stand at the latter day, the end of time (1Thes.4:16).
Beloved, I want to trust God with everything I have and I am. I know you feel the same way too, let us make up our minds together to love and trust God in good times and in bad times too, knowing that our God cannot lie.
God bless you.

Ikpa Onwuka

GOD WILL NEVER DENY HIS OWN

I attended a traditional marriage ceremony on the 24th of October 2015 in the eastern part of Nigeria and something happened which triggered a thought in my heart.
There were a set of friends that came together for that wedding amongst whom were four guys and a few young ladies. One of these ladies was part of the 'asebi' (young single ladies in uniform who dance out with the bride). In the course of the ceremony, after the ladies had danced out, the Master of Ceremony told the ladies to go into the crowd and pick out a guy each who would pay N500 to 'set them free' from the stage. Then the war began... Men and boys began to dodge their faces. It happened that non of them knew me, except for the groom. This lady came to her friends and pleaded that one of them should come out for her, but they all refused. She pleaded earnestly but I noticed they were not even willing to go out. I saw disappointment coupled with embarrassment on her face as a result of this. She went back without anyone. What baffled me was that before the ceremony began, these guys were so free with her, talking to her, laughing together and all of that. You know, I saw a feeling of being accepted on her face at that time. Only for the time to prove the 'acceptance' to come and they all rejected her (probably they didn't have money-but went in such splendor).
Then I thought, man has never been sufficient, so it's of no use to put trust in him. Blessed is he that trusts in God rather than man (Ps. 118:8). First of all, God will never deny you for any reason if you sincerely come to him. He says draw nigh to me and I'll draw nigh to you (James 4:8). Jesus said he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out (Jn. 6:37). Secondly, He is all sufficient, He does not have any cause to be ashamed when you're in need of Him because He is sufficient.
After considering this, I just felt at ease because the "All Sufficient God" is my father and friend. I have all I will ever need because I have him that owns all- Ps. 24:1.
Note: I'm not blaming those guys or the lady for any reason, I just used that experience to explain the truth that unlike men, God will never deny you!
SHALOM!

Ikpa Onwuka.