What A Comprehensive Redemption

God's brilliant plan of redemption is so far reaching, and unfortunately far to many Christians have limited it to only the forgiveness of sin and a trip to heaven at the end of this life.  The word redemption itself means, deliverance upon payment of ransom; to rescue. For Christians it carries with it, deliverance from sin through the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Christ. Deliverance means, to rescue from bondage; to rescue from moral corruption or evil. This is the price that Jesus paid for humanity. The hope of heaven is just that, it is future. But while we are on this earth we have been delivered, we have been set free from all the bondage, corruption and evil that has come upon the earth through Satan.

Sickness and disease is bondage! To be in bondage is to be bound by, subjected to, or under the influence of an external power. That external power is Satan. How did Satan get this power to hold humanity in bondage? It started in the Garden of Eden when Satan approached the woman as a serpent and deliberately challenged God's Word to deceive her. (Genesis 3:1) Once she allowed her mind to reason, it was all but over for her. The Bible records that the woman was deceived (I Timothy 2:13-15) She believed the lie of Satan instead of God’s Word. However, Adam sin was a deliberate choice. He sinned knowingly. (Genesis 3:6) Due to his position as the representative of all mankind, his sin was therefore charged to the entire human race. (Romans 5:12-21)

In both Genesis 1:26-30 and Psalm 8:3-8 we see that God gave Adam control over creation. In a sense, Adam was the god of the world. However, the Gospel according to Luke records the temptations of Christ. It is here that we see the result of Adam's treason concerning God's original plan for man in man's God given responsibility to have dominion over God's work of creation. "Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” (Luke 4:5-7) Notice that the kingdom's of the world had been delivered to Satan. Adam's act of treason was just that. He forfeited his dominion, authority and control of "The work of God's hands" into the hands of Satan. The Bible tells us that now Satan is the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Although Satan is the God of this world, God's incredible plan of redemption came to earth. The Word of God, God the Word became flesh (John 1:1, 14) to save the world, to bring salvation. (John 3:16)

However, taking a closer look at the words save, saved and salvation that we find in the Bible, we see that they have far greater meaning that most believers have come to know. The Greek Words that are translated salvation and saved in most English versions of the Bible are a form of the Greek word sozo. Various forms of this word are used more than 100 times in the New Testament. Although most churches and ministries tend to limit the words salvation and saved to the rebirth experience. However, the full meaning of this word goes beyond just being born again and going to heaven. A more complete meaning of sozo is; to save; deliver; protect; preserve; be made whole; to cure; to be made well; to heal. As we can see, sickness and disease have been dealt with through the redemption that God has brought to humanity through Jesus Christ. PTL..

What's A thorn Anyway

The Bible records another incident in which some teach as being God's Will concerning sickness and disease. It states that the Apostle Paul dealt with sickness in his body. However, a closer look at this reveals something entirely different.  This incident deals with what the Bible records as Paul’s thorn in the flesh. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

For many, the thought that is widely accepted is that Paul had a sickness which God refused to heal. So let us look at this and see if this thinking is scriptural. First, the expression “thorn in the flesh” is used elsewhere in the Bible. It refers to what God said would happen to the Israelite's if they failed to obey Him by not driving out the inhabitants of the land which the Lord had given to them. “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.” (Numbers 33:55) 

Next, Paul says, “…a messenger of Satan to buffet me…” The word messenger is the same word most often transliterated as “angel” elsewhere in the New Testament. Paul is saying that the thorn in the flesh was an angel of Satan that buffeted him. To buffet means to strike with a fist. Paul never says that the buffeting was sickness. After Gods response, Paul then says that he would rather boast in his infirmities. The word infirmity in this scripture does not mean sickness, but weakness. This is why God’s response is as such, “… for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Again, not sickness but weakness. Therefore, we conclude that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a satanic angel that stirred up persecution against Paul wherever he went.

Let's look at some of the things that Paul dealt with for the gospel's sake that reveals the persecution that he faced. "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool, I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches." (2 Corinthians 11:22-28)

Can any one of us honestly say that they have suffered what Paul had suffered for Christ? No! He was not sick or sickly but persecuted. He understood something that most in the church cannot even comprehend, Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, (weakness) that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, (weakness) in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul understood that weakness was nothing more than the place where the power of God could come upon him. Honestly, if God's power is going to come upon a person, sickness and or disease will certainly be dispossessed. PTL

The Devil Is Bad

When considering where sickness and disease come from we need to look no further than what the Bible says concerning the nature of God and the nature of Satan. It is within the nature of both God and Satan that helps us determine not only the origin of sickness and disease but also answers the following questions; Is sickness and disease God's will? Does God use sickness and disease for some divine purpose? Does God have a specific time or season in which He heals? Am I not healed due to a lack of faith? Let's begin by looking at what the Bible says, "As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not afflict.” (Job 37:23). "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;” (Psalms 34:8). “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”(Psalms 103:8). "Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). "… for love is of God…for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

Although these few scripture are far from being all inclusive concerning what the Bible says about Gods nature, they are certainly enough to see that God does not afflict; He is good; merciful; gracious; slow to anger; abounding in mercy; exercising loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for love is of God…for God is love.” Do any of these attributes that reveal Gods nature even remotely sound like sickness and disease come from Him, or that they are somehow a part of His will? Let us be stark honest, if sickness and disease comes from God or is the will of God, then love has turned to hatred. There is not one sane parent on earth that would agree that sickness or disease is an act of love, especially when it is ravaging their child's body and or mind.

However, the Bible reveals Satan's nature as the antithesis of Gods nature. Here we will see more that the Bible reveals concerning Satan's nature, Adversary, Hater, Opponent, Enemy. (1 Kings 11:1, 23-25; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Zechariah 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 2:11). Accuser, Slanderer, Whisperer. Slanders God to man and man to God. (Matthew 4:1; 13:39; 25:41; John 8:44; Ephesians 4:27, 6:11; Hebrews 2:14; James 4:7; Revelation 12:10). Serpent, Enchanter, Beguiler (Genesis 3:1-14; Isaiah 27:1; Matthew 10:16; 2 Corinthians 11:3; James 3:15; Revelation 12:9,14-15, 20:2) Beelzebub: Prince of Devils. Derived from Beelzebub or Lord of the Flies, God of the Dunghill. (2 Kings 1:2; Matthew 10:25; 12:24,27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15-19) Belial, Worthless, Perverse, Lawless (1 Samuel 10:27; 30:22; 2 Samuel 23:6; 2 Corinthians 6:15) The Enemy, Hater, The Tempter, Enticer (Matthew 13:39; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Matthew 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). The Wicked One, (Matthew 13:19, 38-39; 1 John 5:18-19; 3:12). Adversary, The enemy, The one who opposes (1 Peter 5:8). Murderer, Killer, destroyer of life (John 8:44). Liar, Thief, Wicked one, (John 8:44; Luke 8:12; John 10:10; Matthew 13:19). Son of Perdition: (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). 

I admit that I have revealed many scriptures concerning Satan's nature, but this list is still not all inclusive concerning what the Bible reveals. I show these so that we can fully understand who Satan is which is directly reflective of what he does. Do we see the extremes between Gods nature and Satan's? The contrast that we see between Gods nature and Satan's should unarguably begin to strip away a lack of knowledge and begin to correctly answer the questions shown above. As King David clearly states concerning the LORD, "You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes." (Psalm 119:68). May the grace and peace of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ be multiplied to you...

A Good, Good Father

The majority of people on earth tend to always blame disasters and or traumatic situations on God. This is not limited to those who are of the world, but unfortunately many who call themselves Christians. In contrast, you almost never hear people thank God when something good happens. Why is this? Although God told the Prophet Hosea to speak these words Israel, I believe the same words are an indictment against all people who blame God for disasters and or traumatic situations. "My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me." (Hosea 4:6 NLT) 

God's will, nature, character, purposes and plan is clearly revealed in the Bible, especially in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. But as Hosea tells us, a lack of knowing God has promoted the idea that He is the one responsible for disasters and traumatic situations happening. Jesus reveals some very important information concerning His connection with the Father in a conversation that He has with His disciples. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." (John 14:7-11) As we clearly see, Jesus entire life and ministry reveals the Father's will, nature, character, purposes and plan. If we want to know God the Father, we simply study the life and ministry of Jesus. 

There is another reason why people blame God for bad things. It also deals with the area of having a lack of knowledge. This time, it deals with a lack knowing the schemes that the Bible reveals concerning God's enemy, Satan. The very names that Satan is associated with as revealed in the Bible (and they are many) are a direct reflection of his nature and actions. To discover how this all came about, we begin by using what is know as the Hermeneutical Law of Double Reference. It is speaking of or to one person in reference to another person beyond or behind them.  There are two main scripture references that we can look at to discover these events, Isaiah 14:4-23, Ezekiel 28:1-19. 

In short, Lucifer was a magnificent created being, a powerful Archangel that was at the throne of God. However, in the pureness and holiness of heaven he manifested self-will against God's will; I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. We see that he fell through pride and self-will, the very essence of sin; He wanted to be independent of God and be worship as God, so in his rebellion against God, he was cast down by God because iniquity (lawlessness) was found in him. 

Although the Bible does not reveal the actual origin of sin, we do find here that Lucifer, now Satan is  credited as the originator of all sin, the beginning of sin, sin personified, the first and original sinner. The Bible records Satan's nature and actions to be, the enemy (Matthew 13:39); Antichrist (1 John 2:18-22); the adversary (1 Peter 5:8); the accuser (Job 1:6-7); a liar and murderer (John 8:44); a thief (John 10:10); the opposer (Zechariah 1:3); the deceiver (Revelation 12:9). Although these are just a few, we can clearly see who he is which is what he does. Basically, he opposes God, people and everything good with his evil schemes.

As we see in the above, the two reasons why people blame God for bad things is through a lack of knowing God, that is, His will, nature, character, purposes and plan and also through a lack of knowing the schemes that Satan. Satan's lawless acts continuously oppose God, people and all that is good.  However, God is good and does good all of the time. (Psalm 119:68) Grace and peace be with you all.

God is For Us

The Bible records, Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalms 34:19) In this verse the word affliction means, adversity, calamity, displeasure, and distress. I do not know one person who desires affliction. However, affliction sometimes comes but if it does come, how will you handle it? How do you handle adversity, calamity, displeasure, and distress? What is your response when you feel as though you are ready to give up, that is, to be so overwhelmed, so troubled or worried, in severe physical pain, or even brokenhearted by something that you feel you are unable to deal with any more? These questions generally cannot be answered unless you have gone through a serious affliction or are experiencing it now. I want to share two stories with you that I believe will encourage you. The first story is found in the Bible... 

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him...And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 1:10, 16)

This next story is not found in the Bible but it did happen to one of God's children...
Some time ago a young Pentecostal evangelist found out that he was dying from tuberculosis. He had become bedridden and was hemorrhaging from both lungs. He took his family to live on his father-in-laws farm. One day his father-in-law was out in the field plowing and his wife and mother-in-law were behind the house doing laundry. So, this young evangelist begged God for enough strength to get out of bed and make it to a clump of trees and bushes about quarter of a mile down the road. He said in his heart, "I'm going to pray until I pray through and God heals me, or until they find me dead, one of the two." When he reached the place, he fell down exhausted. He couldn't cry out for help if he wanted to, plus no one knew where he was. The devil spoke to him saying, "They won't find you until the buzzards lead them to you." The evangelist responded, "Well that's all right devil. That's why I came out here. Just as soon as I can regain a little strength, I'm going to pray until I'm healed or die at this spot." As the young man lay there he began to think, "Everywhere I had been, I had turned in prayer requests for my healing. Thousands of people had prayed. Every healing evangelist in America had laid hands on me and if all the prayers were put together, it would add up to hundreds of hours of prayer."

He finally concluded where he had missed it. He thought, "I have been trying to get a bunch of people to pray for me rather than receiving what God said was already mine. The Bible says I'm healed, so, Lord, I'm going to lie here flat on my back and praise You. I'm going to praise You until my healing is manifested." At first the young evangelist gave all that he had in him which was just a whisper. He began to whisper, "Praise the Lord, Glory to God, Hallelujah, thank you Jesus." After about ten minutes of whispering, he got enough strength to lift up his arms by propping them up on the ground with his elbows. Another ten minutes or so went by and he got enough strength to lift his hands off his elbows and at the same time his voice got louder. At the end of about two hours he was up on his feet hollering, "Praise the Lord, Glory to God, Hallelujah, thank you Jesus." His praises became so loud that people heard him several miles away.

Notice what the Bible says in Psalms 34:19 concerning afflictions, "...but the LORD delivers him out of them all." This is Gods promise to His children. This is what happened in both stories shown above. If you are born again, then you are one of God's children. As one of Gods children you must always remember that our heavenly Father is millions of times greater than any human father. We must believe and receive what He has promised us through the meritorious work of Jesus Christ. So, if affliction tries to knock at your door, "Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)         

God is Just to All

 The Book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Many use Job as a lesson for believers from the position that when adversity comes no matter how horrific it may be, somehow God is behind it. Believers are taught that because God allowed Satan to do certain destructive things in Jobs life that it was God's will. The Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser (Revelation 12:10) so he made some accusation against God and Job, "Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil.So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land." (Job 1:8-10)

Notice first that God always speaks highly of His children. He protects His children and blesses His children. This is Gods true nature and it holds a very important key when it comes to fully understanding what is about to transpire in the life of Job. Next, we see Satan firing his accusations against God and Job. Due to his hatred towards God and man, Satan then puts a challenge to God, "But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD." (Job 1:11-12) Although Satan wanted God to do damage to Job, it was not God, it was Satan!

After all the havoc that Satan leashed on Jobs family and possessions it wasn't enough. Satan returns to God and continues his accusations, but once again we see the true nature of God revealed, "Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job2:3) This time Satan makes his accusations more personal towards Job, "So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job." (Job 2:4-7) Again, Satan wanted God to do damage to Job, and again it was not God, it was Satan!

We see clearly that Gods true nature is to bless not curse, but why would God allow Satan to bring such devastation upon Job? Does God use Satan to do His dirty work? Does God use destruction, disease and sickness to chastise His children? Is it because God is sovereign (and He most certainly is) and He gets to do whatever He wants? Before we see the real reason behind this satanic attack on Job, let's see another characteristic of God as reveal by a young man named Elihu, "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice." (Job 34:10-12) and "As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not afflict." (Job 37:23)

God is absolutely just. He does not do wicked things. He does not commit iniquity. He does not pervert justice. He is abundant in Justice. He does not afflict. Everything that God does is on absolute legal grounds. He does not pervert justice for anyone, including Satan. So why would God permit Satan to do the things to Job that he did? Job himself reveals exactly why, "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me." (Job 3:25) The apostle Paul tells Timothy, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) If fear does not come from God, where does it come from? Fear is a product of the fall and is from Satan. Adams response to God immediately after the fall was, "...I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:10)  The apostle Paul tells us, "do not give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27) Fear in Jobs life was legal ground for Satan to do what he did to Job, For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me." Now we can clearly see why God permitted Satan to bring such devastation upon Job. Remember, God does not do wicked things. He does not commit iniquity. He does not pervert justice. He is abundant in Justice. He does not afflict!

The true nature and character of God is revealed throughout the Bible. For instance, He reveals His nature to Moses, "And the LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7) We see again that He is just. Think about this from another perspective. God chose to redeem humanity in Christ "before the foundation of the world." (Ephesians 1:3-6) So God knew that Adam would commit treason before He created him. When the fall came, God immediately made known His plan of redemption for humanity. (Genesis 3:14-15) If God's will is for humanity to suffer at the hands of His enemy, Satan, then we have to ask ourselves why did God spare Cain's life and not kill him immediately after he murdered his brother Able? God tells us when He spoke to Cain before He murdered Able, "...sin (Satan) lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Genesis 4:7)

God gave Cain the solution to do what was right, but Cain's anger was stronger than Gods advice. His anger gave place to Satan and murder was the result. Jesus tells us that "Satan is a murderer" (John 8:44) not God! As a matter of fact, "...through death, Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) Luke tells us, "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) John tells us, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8) Jesus Himself quotes a prophetic word spoken by Isaiah the prophet concerning Himself, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-19) Does any of this sound like a God whose will is to have disease, sickness, poverty or any other devastation to come upon His children? Absolutely and emphatically not!!!

If it is God's will to have humanity, especially His children suffer at the hand of His enemy, Satan, whether it be to chasten them or any other reason, then why would Jesus come to destroy the works of the devil?  As you can see, this thinking is complete ludicrous. If we say that the things that happened to Job is because God is sovereign (and He most certainly is) and He does whatever He wants due to His sovereignty, then we have to also believe that God operates outside of and or ignores His own Word. This thinking is also erroneous, "My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalms 89:34), "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalms 119:89), "I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." (Psalm 138:2) By looking at the conclusion of the Book of Job, we see God's true nature in action.

From chapter 38 to chapter 41 God questions Job from the realm of creation and the realm of animals. He then tells Job to save himself, if he can. He compares the power of Job with that of the behemoth and that of a leviathan. Finally in chapter 42 Job confessed his lack of understanding and then repents. In response to Jobs confession and repentance, "the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10) "Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning." (Job 42:12) "After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days." (Job 42:16-17)  God's will and nature is to is bless and give life. It is Satan who steals, kills and destroys. As shown above, Job gave Satan a legal right to do the things that had come upon him, but once Job had confessed and repented to God, Satan lost all legal ground to Job and God could legally bless Job again.

For God to bring eternal redemption to humanity, He himself would take the liability for the fall of man. It was Jesus Christ the Son of God who suffered as a substitute for humanity, the just for the unjust. Satan used humanity to take the life of a sinless, innocent man which opened the door for God to redeem humanity on absolutely legal grounds. Now all who confess the Lordship of Jesus become a child of God. They are a New Creation. Satan is defeated and the believer has authority over him. However, we must be careful not to "Give place to the devil" but live by faith in the realm of the spirit with all the benefits that are legally ours provided by redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. It's all legal and it's all ours, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) PTL

Who Is Doing That

Through a good part of the 1980's the doctrine of spiritual warfare became a major part of the teachings and music in a large portion of the church, especially in the USA. Its focus was mainly tearing down the strongholds of the devil. Like many doctrines that enter the church, this also had many flaws when compared to what the Bible teaches, as a whole, concerning this matter. For instance, many believers were taught that pretty much everything that is wrong in life is the work of an evil spirit, when in fact many of the problems are really nothing more than works of the flesh. When the Word of God talks about keeping the flesh under the dominion of the believers recreated spirit, it not only refers to keeping sexual desires under control, but everything that is associated with the flesh. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul reveals the works of the flesh, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like..." (Galatians 5:19-21)

What many believers have been calling the works of the devil, the Bible calls the works of the flesh. Again, we see the Holy Spirit reveal to us through Paul some of the traits of the old man (old unregenerate nature, the works of the flesh), "Therefore, putting away lying...Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor...Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:25-32) So, let us not be quick to blame the devil on the problems of life when it may be the old nature that has not been brought under the dominion of the believers recreated spirit.

God's Word tells us how to deal with the body and soul (mind, will and emotions) which were not recreated when one is born again. Believers are to, "put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) Who is to put off the nature of the old man or the works of the flesh? The believer! God is not going to put off the old man for you. However, God has given us the way, His way, to put off the works of the flesh, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)  

God's way of putting off the old man and put on the new man is devoting your body to the service of the Lord and by renewing your mind with His Word. Putting off the old man and putting on the new man is part of your reasonable service or your spiritual worship. If you didn't have your flesh and its carnal nature to deal with, there would be no problem. However, as long as you're in your body, you
will have your fleshly, carnal nature to contend with. For example, if someone physically hits you or says something hurtful to you or about you and your flesh is not in subjection to your spirit, it will want to retaliate in some way. That's the way the carnal nature acts apart from God. Not only does it want to seek retaliation, but it also wants to hold bitterness, resentment and even unforgiveness against the person. Why?

The Apostle Paul tells us, "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (Galatians 5:17-18) There is a war, so-to-speak, going on in your members that wants to let the works of the flesh have control. But the writer of Hebrews tells us, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Notice, God's Word is living and powerful. It exposes that which is of the flesh and that which is of the spirit. This is why it is of the highest importance for every believer to read, study and meditate on God's Word daily. It does not matter how much you have done these things in the past, it matters that you are daily about God's Word.

Look at the advice, command, that the Lord gave to Joshua, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8) The Holy Spirit through Solomon reveals, "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22) Through David the Holy Spirit reveals, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) These are but a few scriptures that shows us the transforming power of God's Word. 

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, (to embed; rooted in the heart) which is able to save (make whole; rescue from danger and destruction; to make well; save from evil; preserve) your souls (mind, will and emotions)." (James 1:21) In other words as believers receive God's word, give it complete access into their life and let it take hold, it transforms the soul. The realization of the Word that Jesus spoke is no longer simply a nice scripture, but a life changing event that believers now embrace. "It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63 AMP)

Therefore, putting off the old man and putting on the new man is a choice. Believers do not have to give in to the dictates of their flesh. Paul tells us, "Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) However, if you let the flesh dominate you, you can get out of control and do and say things you will regret later. Many people want to blame the devil when they let the flesh have its way. But the truth is, they are simply giving in to their flesh and letting it dominate them. By not keeping their flesh in check, they are opening a door to the devil. The Apostle Paul warns, "Do not give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27) 

So, before we blame the devil for all the problems of life, let God's Word do its job of dividing the soul from the spirit and revealing the thoughts and intents of the heart to see who is really behind what is going on. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...

It's Supernatural

Christianity not only claims a supernatural origin, but also is maintained by the same supernatural power that brought it into being. Shortly before Jesus was taken to heaven, He gave the apostles final instructions, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8) The word power refers to miracle working power or the ability of God working through the church, all believers. So, concerning the Bible, to those who love it, it is a miracle book; a spring of life and source of power. (John 6:63; Hebrews 1:3) It is a living message, a revelation of God Himself to humanity. It may appear to be dry, dead and even foolish to those who are not born again, (1 Corinthians 2:14), but it is a supernatural book.

The Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews describes God's Word in this way, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) In other words, to the believer, the Bible is the living Son of God in print. Therefore, the Bible is a miracle. The background of the Bible as revealed in the Old Testament is nothing short of a series of miracles. For instance, Abraham is our spiritual father. He was a miracle character. His descendants, the Israelite's, were a miracle people. They were protected and sustained by miracles. They saw the Red Sea opened and approximately two million people escaped from the Egyptian warriors as Israel crossed on dry ground. (Exodus 14)

Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years without any means of support, and yet they were completely provided for by God. (Exodus 16) Their clothes and sandals never wore out. (Deuteronomy 29:5) A cloud led them during the day, and a column of fire led them at night. (Exodus 13:27) They saw the Jordan River obey the voice of Joshua as a servant obeys the voice of his master. (Joshua 3:14-17) They saw the walls of the great city Jericho fall flat at the word of that same man. (Joshua 6) Just as young David said when he stood before the menacing Goliath, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (1 Samuel 17:45), we see the miracle-working living God in action, while the Philistine gods of Goliath were dead.

Fast forward, we see Jesus was supernaturally conceived. His public ministry was a series of miracles, culminating in His resurrection from the dead, another miracle. Likewise, the birth of the church was also a miracle, and miracles played a vital role in the early church. (The Acts of the Apostles) Miracles were so interwoven into the early church, it is impossible to even think that the two can be separated. Let's be honest, if you were to take the miracles out of Christianity, all you have left is religion, because in reality, Christianity is a living thing, it is a miracle.  Think about it, God Himself is dwelling in the body of every born again believer. The presence of the Holy Spirit, to save, heal, deliver, that is, transform lives, during our worship services is a miracle. Take away Christianity's spiritual power and you have nothing left but a system of precepts, doctrines and ethics with demands that cannot be met. But let the miracle elements come in, and God becomes a real presence in our midst and Christianity becomes the living force among the nations of the earth as it truly is.

If the days of miracles are in the past, then the days of Jesus Christ's life in the church are also in the past. If miracles are no more, then the things that make Christianity a living religion are gone. If the days of miracles have passed, God's promises exist only to mock us. Likewise, the statements that Jesus made about His name and the power vested in it and given to the church also mock us. If the days of miracles are in the past, then the mighty Name of Jesus is nothing more the a dry cloud to a desert land that is crying out for water. The Bible tells us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) The truth is, Jesus' name has not lost its power and Christianity is the work of a miracle-working God, through which He is still performing miracles.

So, do not let anyone deceive you by telling you that the days of miracles have passed. If the days of miracles have passed, then God is no longer God, Christ is no longer Christ, there is no need for the Holy Spirit and the Bible is no longer the Word of God. However, the great news is, as long as they are, and they are, miracles will be. "For I am the Lord, I do not change." (Malachi 3:6) PTL...

What do You Desire

Out of all the people of the Bible, there are three men that stand out who had an insatiable desire to know God. Moses, who met God at the burning bush and spoke with God face to face, "So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend..." (Exodus 33:11) He desired to know God more intimately, "And Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory." (Exodus 33:18) The second of these three men was David. David was also a man who loved God and had an insatiable to know Him. We see this reflected in the Psalms that he wrote as well as what God Himself said about David, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) The third is Paul. Paul was willing to all for Christ. He walked out his Christian life through great success and yet most likely with more trials then any other believer in the history of the church. (2 Corinthian 11:24-28) However, even through his continuous trials he said, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." (Philippians 3:10)  

Unfortunately, for most believers, there initial encounter with God, the day they receive Christ as Lord and Savior, was the most intimate encounter that they have ever experienced. But, believers cannot be content with only their born again experience. We must know Him. God is and has so much for us. Sadly, believers miss out on divine experiences and encounters with His presence. They are satisfied with the theory, theology, and knowledge they have, but that should never be enough. Jesus promised that He would be with us always. (Matthew 28:20) Affirming this truth should not be just a doctrinal declaration on our part, but see and receive this promise by faith every day, knowing that He is indeed with us.

For instance, Jesus tells us, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to 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 things that I said to you." (John 14:16-18, 26) If you are born again, the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit dwells with you and is in you! He is our Helper; He is our Teacher; He gives us revelation through God's Word. Although this is true, how many believers truly rely on the Holy Spirit for these things?   

The church today has many resources such as, study Bibles, books, teachings on Cd's and DVDs, computer programs, the internet with Bible studies, and the preaching of the Word. Basically, believers have access to countless resources to help them grow and mature spiritually and even though for-the-most-part this is good, all it has provided is intellectual knowledge that has not transformed lives. We have so much knowledge that we have become selective to the point that some of us place our personal interests above the living and transforming Word of God. As a result, many church leaders often reject revealed knowledge from God and adopt beliefs that seem to be more acceptable to their own lifestyles or worse yet, the lifestyles of the world.

Proverbs 27:7 declares, "A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet." That is to say, that we have become so self-satisfied that we "loathe the honeycomb" that is, reject God's Word, especially the revelation that the Holy Spirit brings. The proof of this is seen in the church today, regardless of denomination. In order to justify a lack of faith and revelation of truth, church leaders develop doctrines and creeds as disclaimers that disagree with God's Word. Jesus experienced the same in His day as the Son of man, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."..."making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down..." (Mark 7:6-7, 13) 

The good news is, there is a generation of people of all ages and nations who genuinely hunger and thirst to know God more intimately. They are no longer interested in the ritual of church as usual nor the church programs that are focused on training the natural person and do nothing for ones spiritual condition. They are not satisfied with teachings that only please the flesh and tickle the ears, nor doctrines of men that are contrary to God's Word which do not build faith, but actually erode it. These believers yearn to learn more of Him through revelation by the Holy Spirit and not the knowledge that come through the five senses that only increases the intellect. This hunger to know the deep things of God, to have daily encounters with Him, has made even "that which is bitter a sweet tasting thing."  In other words, those who hunger and thirst after God may face ridicule and even persecution from other believers, but to them it is worth it, it is "a sweet tasting thing" because they are receiving the wonderful things of God which come by being in His presence.  

Jesus has made us promises as to what we can expect if we truly desire Him above all else, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8) "He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-15) Of course this takes faith in the integrity of God's Word. Hebrews 11:6 declares, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently (make a pain staking effort) seek Him."   

So, let us no longer seek for knowledge that only increases our intellect, but let us have an insatiable desire to know Him like Moses, David and Paul. Let us pray everyday the prayer that Paul prayed for the church and receive it through faith, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (Epignosis; precise and correct knowledge) of Him." (Ephesians 1:17) Let us desire to have an encounter with the Father everyday. Let us no long put God on our schedules, and try to fit Him in, but let us "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..." (Matthew 6:33) "For man does not live on bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) Grace and peace be with you...  

No Longer I, But Christ

One of the most exciting revelations shown in the Bible, is who the believer is "in Christ." For the most part, before the born again experience, our minds were dominated by the world with all of its negativity and carnality. For most in the church today, the world ruled mind has prevented many to see what they have now become in Christ. This also has kept many at the "cross" rather than experiencing the resurrected new life "in Christ."  The cross is the place of death, whereas the resurrection is the place of new life.

We find in the Epistles, especially the Pauline Epistles, the phrases, "in Him" or "in Christ." It is these two simple words that begin to reveal the facts of who the believer truly is in the mind of our Heavenly Father. We were "in Him" when Jesus was nailed to the cross, "I have been crucified with Christ." (Galatians 2:20) We were "in Him" when He died, "If we died with Christ." (Romans 6:8) We were in Him when He was made alive in hell, "made us alive together in Christ" (Ephesians 2:5) We were in Him when He conquered hell and death, "I have the keys of hell and death." (Revelation 1:18) We were in Him when He rose from the dead, "raised us up together." (Ephesians 2:6) We are in Him today in the heavenly places, "made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6)

When the Father looks upon the believer, He sees us in Christ. The believers position in Christ guarantees true intimate fellowship with the Father and the Son. (1 John 1:3) It also means that Satan cannot reach us or touch us because his authority over the believer has been completely destroyed. (Colossians 2:15) Most important we must know without doubt that the Father is expecting us to occupy our position in Christ where there is no guilt, condemnation or inferiority (Romans 8:1); where we stand complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10); where His fullness becomes ours, (John 1:16); where His grace and strength becomes ours (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In the mind of the Father, there is no such thing as failure or defeat for the believer (Romans 8:37) because as noted above, the believer is "in Christ." All it take is simple faith on the part of the believer to release the power of God to meet every need whether in spirit, soul or body. Although these frail bodies of ours at one time had been stained with sin and marred with sickness, we are now His dwelling place (1 Corinthians 3:16). Sin can no longer have dominion over us (Romans 6:14); and sickness and disease can no long touch us (1 Peter 2:24) without our consent. The great Almighty Creator who spoke the worlds into being dwells in our body. Can you see just how mighty that makes us? This is all due to us being "in Christ." "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) PTL

Who Dunn It? - Part 5

God's incredible plan of redemption is so far reaching, but unfortunately the majority of Christians have limited to regeneration and a trip to heaven at the end of this life.  The word redemption itself means, deliverance upon payment of ransom; to rescue. For Christians it carries with it, deliverance from sin through the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Christ. Deliverance means, to rescue from bondage; to rescue from moral corruption or evil. This is the price that Jesus paid for humanity. The hope of heaven is just that, it is future. But while we are on this earth we have been delivered, we have been set free from all the bondage, corruption and evil that has come upon the earth through Satan.

Sickness and disease is bondage! To be in bondage is to be bound by, subjected to, or under the influence of an external power. That external power is Satan. How did Satan get this power to hold humanity in bondage? It started in the Garden of Eden when Satan approached the woman as a serpent and deliberately challenged God's Word to deceive her. (Genesis 3:1) Once she allowed her mind to reason, it was all but over for her. The Bible records that the woman was deceived (I Timothy 2:13-15) She believed the lie of Satan instead of God’s Word. However, Adam sin was a deliberate choice. He sinned knowingly. (Genesis 3:6) Due to his position as the representative of all mankind, his sin was therefore charged to the entire human race. (Romans 5:12-21)

In both Genesis 1:26-30 and Psalm 8:3-8 we see that God gave Adam control over creation. In a sense, Adam was the god of the world. However, the Gospel according to Luke records the temptations of Christ. It is here that we see the result of Adam's treason concerning God's original plan for man in man's God given responsibility to have dominion over God's work of creation. "Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” (Luke 4:5-7) Notice that the kingdom's of the world had been delivered to Satan. Adam's act of treason was just that. He forfeited his dominion, authority and control of "The work of God's hands" into the hands of Satan. The Bible tells us that now Satan is the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Although Satan is the God of this world, God's incredible plan of redemption came to earth. The Word of God, God the Word became flesh (John 1:1, 14) to save the world, to bring salvation. (John 3:16)

However, taking a closer look at the words save, saved and salvation that we find in the Bible, we see that they have far greater meaning that most believers have come to know. The Greek Words that are translated salvation and saved in most English versions of the Bible are a form of the Greek word sozo. Various forms of this word are used more than 100 times in the New Testament. Although most churches and ministries tend to limit the words salvation and saved to the rebirth experience. However, the full meaning of this word goes beyond just being born again and going to heaven. A more complete meaning of sozo is; to save; deliver; protect; preserve; be made whole; to cure; to be made well; to heal. PTL

As we can see, sickness and disease have been dealt with through the redemption that God has brought to humanity through Jesus Christ. In the next part of this series will will look at the ministry of Jesus when He walked on the earth as the Son of Man and how He approached sickness and disease.

Who Dunn It? - Part 4

As we saw in part three in the life of Job, it was Satan exercising his right into Jobs life through Job's own words that gave him the permission to afflict Job, "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me." (Job 3:25) It was fear that opened the door for Satan to afflict Job. It had absolutely nothing to do with God's will for Job, but God's justice.

The Bible records another incident in which some teach as being God's Will concerning sickness and disease. It states that the Apostle Paul dealt with sickness in his body. However, a closer look at this reveals something entirely different.  This incident deals with what the Bible records as Paul’s thorn in the flesh. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

For many, the thought that is widely accepted is that Paul had a sickness which God refused to heal. So let us look at this and see if this thinking is scriptural. First, the expression “thorn in the flesh” is used elsewhere in the Bible. It refers to what God said would happen to the Israelites if they failed to obey Him by not driving out the inhabitants of the land which the Lord had given to them. “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.” (Numbers 33:55) 

Next, Paul says, “…a messenger of Satan to buffet me…” The word messenger is the same word most often transliterated as “angel” elsewhere in the New Testament. Paul is saying that the thorn in the flesh was an angel of Satan that buffeted him. To buffet means to strike with a fist. Paul never says that the buffeting was sickness. After Gods response, Paul then says that he would rather boast in his infirmities. The word infirmity in this scripture does not mean sickness, but weakness. This is why God’s response is as such, “… for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Again, not sickness but weakness. Therefore, we conclude that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a satanic angel that stirred up persecution against Paul wherever he went.

Let's look at some of the things that Paul dealt with for the gospel's sake that reveals the persecution that he faced. "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool, I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches." (2 Corinthians 11:22-28)

Can any one of us honestly say that they have suffered what Paul had suffered for Christ? No! He was not sick or sickly but persecuted. He understood something that most in the church cannot even comprehend, Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, (weakness) that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, (weakness) in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul understood that weakness was nothing more than the place where the power of God could come upon him. Honestly, if God's power is going to come upon a person, sickness and or disease will certainly be dispossessed. PTL 

In the next part of this series we will look at what redemption that God brought to earth through Christ and what it has accomplished for all humanity.  

How Dunn It? - Part 3

Now that we have seen the extreme contrast between God and Satan, we are seeing clearly that sickness and disease is not from God nor is it His will. Some of the misconception concerning God's will and sickness again arise out from, "Not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29) One of these comes from the life of Job. In short, many have taught that because God was present when Satan came before Him concerning Job, that it must have been Gods will for Job to suffer such great loss. But is this true? Let us look at what happened in the life of Job.

Many believe that God allows suffering and sickness to come on His children, believers, in the same or similar way that He allowed it on Job. First, we must keep in mind that Satan is the accuser. (Revelation 12:10) When we look at the account of Jobs life, we must keep this in mind. First, Satan accused God of protecting Job. Next, he accused Job in saying that Job would curse God to His face if he were permitted to assault him, his family and possessions (Job 1:6-22, 2:10) Most are taught that this was all part of God’s will for Job, yet why would God speak so highly of Job in both attacks of the devil if this were so?  "Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) "Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3)

The fact of the matter is, these attacks on Job had absolutely nothing to do with Gods will nor some mysterious purpose of God for Job. Job himself had given Satan permission to do these things by his own words, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25) Fear is not from God, it is from Satan. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy, "God has not given you a spirit of fear…” (2 Timothy 1:7) We must also keep in mind that God is just. Look at what Elihu tells Job and his three friends concerning God, “As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.” (Job 37:23)

Notice, God is abundant in justice; He does not oppress or afflict. If I may paraphrase in more modern terms what Elihu said, "Hey guys, none of these things that has happened to Job is from God nor a part of His will, He done not afflict, oppress, torment, torture or cause one to suffer." Another important thing to keep in mind is God is just, He is consistent with what is morally right; He is righteous; Everything He does is good and right. Do we honestly believe that what Job had experienced matches up even in the most minute way with God who is just?

The fact is, God who is just does not bend justice for anyone. He is just to Himself, man and even the Satan. If He did not hold His justice on an immovable plain, then man and Satan could accuse God of not being just, showing favoritism and or partiality to who he chooses. However, that is not consistent with scripture. "For there is no partiality with God." (Romans 2:11) No, Gods justice is so immovable that Perfect Deity had to become humanity to satisfy a broken law and the claims of justice. It was not God’s will, nor some mysterious purpose for these things to happen to Job, it was Satan who was given permission by Job's own words. Job gave place to the devil and when accused before God, Gods justice had to be upheld.

Another key factor in these events is revealed at the end of the book of Job. First Job repents before the Lord, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6) Repentance takes away all territory in ones life that Satan has laid claim to. Satan is no place in a believers life through repentance. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) the confessing of sin to God removes the unrighteousness which gives place to Satan in ones life.   

Next, we see what God was able to do due to Job's repentance, “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” (Job 42:12) Some have been led to believe that it was God's will for Job to suffer in the way he did so that God could bless him. I do not know about you, but that sounds sadistic to me. No, God’s will is to bless, especially those who are in Christ. (Galatians 3:29) There is not one sane person that can honestly say that what Job suffered was a blessing. God is a God of life (John 10:10) There is certainly no life in sickness and disease, on the contrary, sickness and disease is death in progress.

In the next part of this series we will look at the Apostles thorn in the flesh, which is another case where God's Word has been taken out of context and meaning to say that sickness and disease is from God or that they are His will. 

How Dunn It? - Part 2

When considering where sickness and disease come from we need to look no further than what the Bible says concerning the nature of God and the nature of Satan. It is within the nature of both God and Satan that helps us determine not only the origin of sickness and disease but also answers the questions...

• Is sickness and disease God's will?
• Does God use sickness and disease for some divine purpose?
• Does God have a specific time or season in which He heals?
• Am I not healed due to a lack of faith?

These questions will be answered throughout this series. However, looking back at part one, we see that these questions stem from a lack of knowledge of God and the schemes of Satan. Typically, a lack of knowledge in or of something has built within it skepticism and or unbelief. So it becomes no wonder as to why the above questions arise especially among so many Christian. So let us begin by looking in the Bible and see some of scriptures that reveal Gods nature.

• Job 37:23 tells us, “As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not afflict.”
• Psalms 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;”
• Psalms 103:8 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”
• Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord.”
• 1 John 4:7-8 “… for love is of God…for God is love.”

Although these few scripture are far from being all inclusive concerning what the Bible says about Gods nature, they are certainly enough to see that God does not afflict; He is good; merciful; gracious; slow to anger; abounding in mercy; exercising loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for love is of God…for God is love.” Do any of these attributes that reveal Gods nature even remotely sound like sickness and disease come from Him, or that they are somehow a part of His will? Let us be stark honest, if sickness and disease comes from God or is the will of God, then love has turned to hatred. There is not one sane parent on this planet that would agree that sickness or disease is an act of love, especially when it is ravaging their child's body and or mind.

However, as we saw in part one, the Bible reveals Satan's nature as the antithesis of Gods nature. Here we will see more that the Bible reveals concerning Satan's nature.

• Adversary, Hater, Opponent, Enemy. (1 Kings 11:1, 23-25; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Zechariah 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 2:11).
• Accuser, Slanderer, Whisperer. Slanders God to man and man to God. (Matthew 4:1; 13:39; 25:41; John 8:44; Ephesians 4:27, 6:11; Hebrews 2:14; James 4:7; Revelation 12:10).         Serpent, Enchanter, Beguiler (Genesis 3:1-14; Isaiah 27:1; Matthew 10:16; 2 Corinthians 11:3; James 3:15; Revelation 12:9,14-15, 20:2)
• Beelzebub: Prince of Devils. Derived from Beelzebub or Lord of the Flies, God of the Dunghill. (2 Kings 1:2; Matthew 10:25; 12:24,27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15-19)
• Belial, Worthless, Perverse, Lawless (1 Samuel 10:27; 30:22; 2 Samuel 23:6; 2 Corinthians 6:15) 
• The Enemy, Hater, The Tempter, Enticer (Matthew 13:39; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Matthew 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:5) .
• The Wicked One, (Matthew 13:19, 38-39; 1 John 5:18-19; 3:12).
• Adversary, The enemy, The one who opposes (1 Peter 5:8).
• Murderer, Killer, destroyer of life (John 8:44).
• Liar, Thief, Wicked one, (John 8:44; Luke 8:12; John 10:10; Matthew 13:19).
• Son of Perdition: (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

I admit that I have revealed many scriptures concerning Satan's nature, but this list is still not all inclusive concerning what the Bible reveals. I show these so that we can fully understand who Satan is which is directly reflective of what he does. Do we see the extremes between Gods nature and Satan's? The contrast that we see between Gods nature and Satan's should unarguably begin to strip away a lack of knowledge and begin to correctly answer the questions shown above. 

As we continue in this series we will look at some of the people in the Bible who dealt with sickness or who were not really sick but have been labeled as such by means of what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day, "You are deceived, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)   

Who Dunn It? - Part 1

The majority of people on planet earth tend to always blame disasters and or traumatic situations on God. This is not limited to those who are of the world, but unfortunately many who call themselves Christians. In contrast, you almost never hear people thank God when something good happens. Why is this? Although God told the Prophet Hosea to speak these words Israel, I believe the same words are an indictment against all people who blame God for disasters and or traumatic situations. "My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me." (Hosea 4:6 NLT) 

God's will, nature, character, purposes and plan is clearly revealed in the Bible, especially in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. But as Hosea tells us, a lack of knowing God has promoted the idea that He is the one responsible for disasters and traumatic situations happening. Jesus reveals some very important information concerning His connection with the Father in a conversation that He has with His disciples. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." (John 14:7-11) As we clearly see, Jesus entire life and ministry reveals the Father's will, nature, character, purposes and plan. If we want to know God the Father, we simply study the life and ministry of Jesus. 

There is another reason why people blame God for bad things. It also deals with the area of having a lack of knowledge. This time, it deals with a lack knowing the schemes that the Bible reveals concerning God's enemy, Satan. The very names that Satan is associated with as revealed in the Bible (and they are many) are a direct reflection of his nature and actions. To discover how this all came about, we begin by using what is know as the Hermeneutical Law of Double Reference. It is speaking of or to one person in reference to another person beyond or behind them.  There are two main scripture references that we can look at to discover these events, Isaiah 14:4-23, Ezekiel 28:1-19. 

In short, Lucifer was a magnificent created being, a powerful Archangel that was at the throne of God. However, in the pureness and holiness of heaven he manifested self-will against God's will; I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. We see that he fell through pride and self-will, the very essence of sin; He wanted to be independent of God and be worship as God, so in his rebellion against God, he was cast down by God because iniquity (lawlessness) was found in him. 

Although the Bible does not reveal the actual origin of sin, we do find here that Lucifer, now Satan is  credited as the originator of all sin, the beginning of sin, sin personified, the first and original sinner. The Bible records Satan's nature and actions to be, the enemy (Matthew 13:39); Antichrist (1 John 2:18-22); the adversary (1 Peter 5:8); the accuser (Job 1:6-7); a liar and murderer (John 8:44); a thief (John 10:10); the opposer (Zechariah 1:3); the deceiver (Revelation 12:9). Although these are just a few, we can clearly see who he is which is what he does. Basically, he opposes God, people and everything good with his evil schemes.

As we see in the above, the two reasons why people blame God for bad things is through a lack of knowing God, that is, His will, nature, character, purposes and plan and also through a lack of knowing the schemes that Satan. Satan's lawless acts continuously oppose God, people and all that is good.  In part two we will use the Bible to contrast God, who is and does good all of the time, with Satan the enemy of all that is God and good. Grace and peace be with you all. 

God is in Your Corner

The Bible records, Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalms 34:19) In this verse the word affliction means, adversity, calamity, displeasure, and distress. I do not know one person who desires affliction. However, affliction sometimes comes but if it does come, how will you handle it? How do you handle adversity, calamity, displeasure, and distress? What is your response when you feel as though you are ready to give up, that is, to be so tired, worried, annoyed, hurt or brokenhearted by something that you feel unable to deal with it any more. These questions generally cannot be answered unless you have gone through affliction or are experiencing it now. I want to share two stories with you that I believe will encourage you. The first story is found in the Bible... 

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him...And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. (Acts 1:10, 16)

This next story is not found in the Bible but it did happen to one of God's children...
Some time ago a young Pentecostal evangelist found out that he was dying from tuberculosis. He had become bedridden and was hemorrhaging from both lungs. He took his family to live on his father-in-laws farm. One day his father-in-law was out in the field plowing and his wife and mother-in-law were behind the house doing laundry. So, this young evangelist begged God for enough strength to get out of bed and make it to a clump of trees and bushes about quarter of a mile down the road. He said in his heart, "I'm going to pray until I pray through and God heals me, or until they find me dead, one of the two." When he reached the place, he fell down exhausted. He couldn't cry out for help if he wanted to, plus no one knew where he was. The devil spoke to him saying, "They won't find you until the buzzards lead them to you." The evangelist responded, "Well that's all right devil. That's why I came out here. Just as soon as I can regain a little strength, I'm going to pray until I'm healed or die at this spot." As the young man lay there he began to think, "Everywhere I had been, I had turned in prayer requests for my healing. Thousands of people had prayed. Every healing evangelist in America had laid hands on me and if all the prayers were put together, it would add up to hundreds of hours of prayer."

He finally concluded where he had missed it. He thought, "I have been trying to get a bunch of people to pray for me rather than receiving what God said was already mine. The Bible says I'm healed, so, Lord, I'm going to lie here flat on my back and praise You. I'm going to praise You until my healing is manifested." At first the young evangelist gave all that he had in him which was just a whisper. He began to whisper, "Praise the Lord, Glory to God, Hallelujah, thank you Jesus." After about ten minutes of whispering, he got enough strength to life up his arms by propping them up on the ground with his elbows. Another ten minutes or so went by and he got enough strength to lift his hands off his elbows and at the same time his voice got louder. At the end of about two hours he was up on his feet hollering, "Praise the Lord, Glory to God, Hallelujah, thank you Jesus." His praises became so loud that people heard him several miles away.

Notice what the Bible says in Psalms 34:19 concerning afflictions...but the LORD delivers him out of them all. This is Gods promise to His children. This is what happened in both stories shown above. If you are born again, then you are one of God's children. As one of Gods children you must always remember that our heavenly Father is millions of times greater than any human father We must believe and receive what He has promised us through the meritorious work of Jesus Christ. So, if affliction tries to knock at your door, "Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)         

It's All Legal

The Book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Many use Job as a lesson for believers from the position that when adversity comes no matter how horrific it may be, somehow God is behind it. Believers are taught that because God allowed Satan to do certain destructive things in Jobs life that it was God's will. The Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser (Revelation 12:10) so he made some accusation against God and Job, "Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil.So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land." (Job 1:8-10)

Notice first that God always speaks highly of His children. He protects His children and blesses His children. This is Gods true nature and it holds a very important key when it comes to fully understanding what is about to transpire in the life of Job. Next, we see Satan firing his accusations against God and Job. Due to his hatred towards God and man, Satan then puts a challenge to God, "But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD." (Job 1:11-12) Although Satan wanted God to do damage to Job, it was not God, it was Satan!

After all the havoc that Satan leashed on Jobs family and possessions it wasn't enough. Satan returns to God and continues his accusations, but once again we see the true nature of God revealed, "Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job2:3) This time Satan makes his accusations more personal towards Job, "So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job." (Job 2:4-7) Again, Satan wanted God to do damage to Job, and again it was not God, it was Satan!

We see clearly that Gods true nature is to bless not curse, but why would God allow Satan to bring such devastation upon Job? Does God use Satan to do His dirty work? Does God use destruction, disease and sickness to chastise His children? Is it because God is sovereign (and He most certainly is) and He gets to do whatever He wants? Before we see the real reason behind this satanic attack on Job, let's see another characteristic of God as reveal by a young man named Elihu, "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice." (Job 34:10-12) and "As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not afflict." (Job 37:23)

God is absolutely just. He does not do wicked things. He does not commit iniquity. He does not pervert justice. He is abundant in Justice. He does not afflict. Everything that God does is on absolute legal grounds. He does not pervert justice for anyone, including Satan. So why would God permit Satan to do the things to Job that he did? Job himself reveals exactly why, "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me." (Job 3:25) The apostle Paul tells Timothy, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) If fear does not come from God, where does it come from? Fear is a product of the fall and is from Satan. Adams response to God immediately after the fall was, "...I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:10)  The apostle Paul tells us, "do not give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27) Fear in Jobs life was legal ground for Satan to do what he did to Job, For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me." Now we can clearly see why God permitted Satan to bring such devastation upon Job. Remember, God does not do wicked things. He does not commit iniquity. He does not pervert justice. He is abundant in Justice. He does not afflict!

The true nature and character of God is revealed throughout the Bible. For instance, He reveals His nature to Moses, "And the LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7) We see again that He is just. Think about this from another perspective. God chose to redeem humanity in Christ "before the foundation of the world." (Ephesians 1:3-6) So God knew that Adam would commit treason before He created him. When the fall came, God immediately made known His plan of redemption for humanity. (Genesis 3:14-15) If God's will is for humanity to suffer at the hands of His enemy, Satan, then we have to ask ourselves why did God spare Cain's life and not kill him immediately after he murdered his brother Able? God tells us when He spoke to Cain before He murdered Able, "...sin (Satan) lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Genesis 4:7)

God gave Cain the solution to do what was right, but Cain's anger was stronger than Gods advice. His anger gave place to Satan and murder was the result. Jesus tells us that "Satan is a murderer" (John 8:44) not God! As a matter of fact, "...through death, Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) Luke tells us, "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) John tells us, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8) Jesus Himself quotes a prophetic word spoken by Isaiah the prophet concerning Himself, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-19) Does any of this sound like a God whose will is to have disease, sickness, poverty or any other devastation to come upon His children? Absolutely and emphatically not!!!

If it is God's will to have humanity, especially His children suffer at the hand of His enemy, Satan, whether it be to chasten them or any other reason, then why would Jesus come to destroy the works of the devil?  As you can see, this thinking is complete ludicrous. If we say that the things that happened to Job is because God is sovereign (and He most certainly is) and He does whatever He wants due to His sovereignty, then we have to also believe that God operates outside of and or ignores His own Word. This thinking is also erroneous, "My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalms 89:34), "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalms 119:89), "I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." (Psalm 138:2) By looking at the conclusion of the Book of Job, we see God's true nature in action.

From chapter 38 to chapter 41 God questions Job from the realm of creation and the realm of animals. He then tells Job to save himself, if he can. He compares the power of Job with that of the behemoth and that of a leviathan. Finally in chapter 42 Job confessed his lack of understanding and then repents. In response to Jobs confession and repentance, "the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10) "Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning." (Job 42:12) "After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days." (Job 42:16-17)  God's will and nature is to is bless and give life. It is Satan who steals, kills and destroys. As shown above, Job gave Satan a legal right to do the things that had come upon him, but once Job had confessed and repented to God, Satan lost all legal ground to Job and God could legally bless Job again.

For God to bring eternal redemption to humanity, He himself would take the liability for the fall of man. It was Jesus Christ the Son of God who suffered as a substitute for humanity, the just for the unjust. Satan used humanity to take the life of a sinless, innocent man which opened the door for God to redeem humanity on absolutely legal grounds. Now all who confess the Lordship of Jesus become a child of God. They are a New Creation. Satan is defeated and the believer has authority over him. However, we must be careful not to "Give place to the devil" but live by faith in the realm of the spirit with all the benefits that are legally ours provided by redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. It's all legal and it's all ours, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) PTL