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CATRINA VOLZ
PROPHETIC EXHORTATION
6-19.-2021
In the book of Job, God is recorded as saying to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?" It was not have you considered my servant Job's wife. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Job's wife told Job to curse God and die. Who do you think might have had worse character issues? Her, him, both? By the end of the story, God had Job pray for forgiveness for his friend's assumptions and advice. No one had to do that on Job's behalf. Who had worse character issues to be dealt with then? Yet it was Job who was chosen to be tested.
"Simeon (Peter), Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat..."
What about James and John? They asked to call down fire from heaven to kill people who didn't receive Jesus. They also fought over sitting on either side of Him...
Peter may have had too much self confidence/pride but was not everyone considered cowardly when they abandoned Jesus in the garden? So who had worse character issues, them? him? both? Yet it was Peter who Satan demanded to sift.
James was the one who ended up being quickly beheaded while an Angel was sent to free Peter.
Testings do come to all the servants of God for various reasons but could it be...maybe just maybe, testings can also be in proportion to a person's call.
Much of the church is the epitome of Job's friends. We wrap a tight theology bow around suffering without recognizing God's thoughts and ways are above ours. While Jesus could not promise James and John their seemly haughty request, He did assure them they would get a cup of suffering.
As I get older, the more I realize not everything is so cut and dry with a nice theological bow. Jobs friends were religious and self righteous without understanding. We have to be careful and know when to concede instead of assume. Some theological bows can cause theological crises because they are not full truths. Sanctification is immediate in Christ as well as it being a life long process of renewal. God is the Potter. He chooses what each vessel is used for. He does the molding and shaping. Ultimately depending on it's use, does not even in the world of pottery, that decide how long the vessel has to endure the wheel?
~Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” Despite all this, Job did not sin with his lips.~
~My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as my servant Job has.~
~And they consoled and comforted him (Job) over all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him.~
~As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ~
~Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! (Paul) Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.~
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