January 12, 2021 – I'm Following Jesus

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Chapters: Job 32-34
Message: Justified By Christ

Hello My Friend,

My heart is extremely heavy today, it is really hard to stay focused and concentrate on God’s Word when our nations are in such a disarray, not just America, every nation. I begged for God to open the hearts of these elected leaders who are taking all our freedoms away, to show them the way to His Son. I also begged Him to give His people the strength and empower us to stand up to the elites who somehow made it a point to decide how we are to live and what we are to believe, while they can do whatever they please. As I was reading the chapters for today, something came to my mind, endurance. Jesus warned us that these days were coming.

[Mark 13:8-10,13 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.]

[but he that shall endure unto the end,] [Endure; To last; to continue in the same state without perishing; to remain; to abide.] This means that as long as our faith in Christ never wavers until our dying breath we will be saved from the worse that is yet to come. As much as we would like to avoid suffering while we are here, that is going to get harder because the one behind all the evil is Satan himself, and he is working overtime right now to make sure all hope of Christ is gone completely. When Satan afflicted Job, he did have hope of seeing heaven, that was really not very comforting to what he was feeling as his friends falsely accused him. Even though he was innocent, they were determined to convince him that was guilty of something. As I said at the beginning of our study on the Book of Job, there were more than just the three men there, in fact, there were several people there, including Elihu. Elihu, sat there patiently listening and waiting for just the right time to speak.

[Job 32:1-6,12,20 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. 12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: 20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.]

[because he justified himself rather than God.] Remember, God had already determined that Job was perfect and upright? Of course, these men did not see that because as far as they were concerned, that much affliction meant that Job was really wicked, especially now that he had been justifying himself. We do have a right to justify ourselves, and not one person has the right to force us into believing that we are guilty of something we did not do. [and durst not shew you mine opinion.] Keep in mind that this is his opinion from what he was been hearing from the four men, not actually what was going on. Elihu continues to speak.

[Job 33:7-9,12-17,29-30 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. 8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. 14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.]

[That he may withdraw man from his purpose,] This was an attempt to show Job that good works are what saves us, if he just admitted that he sinned, then he would be justified. Well, the truth is our good works cannot save us, they never were the key to our salvation, our faithfulness to God is the key, and today that faithfulness means that we must receive His Son first. The only way we are just before God is through our faith in Christ, [Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.]

To understand what being justified really means we need to understand that being justified comes first by God accepting us as just. Elihu believed that Job’s friends were not successful in convincing him that he was not just because they too were unwise about God. Elihu formed his opinion on Job based on things that he and his friends said, had he really listened to what what being said, he would have understood that Job was innocent. Elihu upbraids Job for claiming he was just before God.

[Job 34:4-7,35-37 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. 7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? 35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.]

[Let us choose to us judgment:] Right there Elihu chose Job’s judgment, he insisted that God was punishing him for his sin and that he was completely oblivious to it. It aggravates me to no end when people believe themselves to be so righteous that they make themselves our judge. There is no doubt that we are all sinners saved by grace, and those who say they have no sin, well, then that is their sin. However, God knows the way that we take, and when our heart is right, when we confess our sin, when we come to God with all our troubles, when we are upright in our heart, that is when we are justified by God Himself, [Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.]

Jesus Christ Magnified: [Job 33:23-24 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.]

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for justifying me through my faith alone in Your Son. I understand affliction is not always a result of some hidden sin, it is about trusting You and believing that I will endure and be saved. I know what it feels like to be judged by others, to have them form some opinion on me. Lord, help me to respond to these accusations with the true knowledge that You have given me. Also, let me not form opinions of others by hearsay, but learn the facts and truth before I comment on what is actually going on. Let me not lean on my own understanding, but totally on Yours. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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