Principles for Answered Prayerp

Someone wisely said, "When your knees are knocking, kneel on them." That is always a good thing to do.

Maybe you find yourself in troubling circumstances right now. Maybe you have received some bad news recently, and you're beginning to wonder if there is anything you can do.

In Acts 12, we find a story about how powerful prayer can be. It is a story of how, when things were looking bleak, prayer turned the entire situation around. This story not only encourages us with a wonderful example of answered prayer, but also provides us with a number of principles we can apply in our own lives to help us see our prayers answered in the affirmative.

Let's look at some of these principles together.

Principle one: We need to offer our prayers to God. Verse 5 tells us, "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church" (NKJV).

Did you know that not all prayer is offered to God? A number of studies in recent years have found that people who pray seem to have fewer problems in life, less stress, and lower blood pressure. It was even found in hospital situations that a person who was being prayed for seemed to have a more rapid recovery than people who had not been the recipients of prayer.

The question I have is, "Who were these people praying to?" Prayer is not the answer. God is the answer. Prayer is the vehicle by which we reach God.

We don't need to be looking to prayer. We need to be looking to God through prayer. We need to offer our prayers to God.

Principle two: We need to pray with passion. The phrase, "constant prayer" could be translated, "earnest prayer or stretched outwardly."

Have you ever dropped your car keys in that little spot between the seat and the center console? or thrown your only coin left with you under the shelter during bible study? They are just beyond your reach, and you strain to try and get them. This is the idea here. They reached out to God. They put everything into it.

Another way to translate this phrase is, "they prayed with agony." This was not a flippant kind of prayer. This was a storm-the-throne-of-God kind of prayer.

God promises that we will find Him when we search for Him with all of our heart (see Jeremiah 29:13). That is how we need to pray.

Principle three: We need to pray with persistence. Jesus said, " 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you' " (Luke 11:9 NKJV). A better way to translate that would be, "Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking."

Is Jesus saying here that God is really busy, so we had better bug Him until He answers our prayers? Nothing could be further from the truth. Sometimes, when God doesn't give us what we want, we say that God didn't answer our prayer. I would say that He did, because "no" is as much an answer to prayer as "yes" is.

Sometimes God says, "Go." Sometimes God says, "Slow." Sometimes God says, "Grow." So we need to keep praying and not give up.

Principle four: We need to pray together. Remember, "Constant prayer was offered to God for him [Peter] by the church" (verse 5). There is power in united prayer. Jesus said, " 'If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven' " (Matthew 18:19 NKJV).

Does this mean if two people agree on something—like a Rolls Royce, for example—that God will just give it? Not necessarily. The idea here is of two people praying with the same, God-given burden, sure of His will, and in agreement with the Spirit of God and with each other. So we need to pray with other believers.

I wonder what is waiting for you that is not yet yours because you haven't brought it before God and said, "Lord, I have been thinking about this. I have been worrying about it. I have been stressing out about it. But I haven't prayed about it. Now I am bringing it before you."

What situation are you facing? Is it a loved one who isn't a believer? Is it an opportunity that you want to pursue? Is it provision you need?

Bring it before the Lord and ask God to work.

Create social networking site for youth progress

Social networking sites such as Facebook and Orkut have definitely caught everyone's fancy, including those in the civil society and education sector. Experts at a function here on the occasion of International Youth day Tuesday suggested creating such sites for the youth to network and discuss more serious issues such as drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.

R. S. Bhadoria, president of the Nau Jawan Kisan Manch, said he has been working on such a network which will bring the country's youth together.

'As of now, all the major youth groups are those that are affiliated to the political parties. I am looking forward to creating such a network which will bring together young people from all walks of life to discuss and debate on issues which affect them,' Bhadoria said.

'Probably a social networking site like Facebook would do the trick in catching the youth's attention and getting them to take initiatives to curb such evils like drug abuse,' he added.

Bhadoria's suggestion came after a comment by one of the guests from Nagaland in India's northeast who said that for lack of opportunities and employability options, many youth, out of frustration, have started taking to drugs. This has escalated the number of HIV cases in the state to a scary high.

While a whole range of issues were discussed at the function whose focus was the role of youth in progress and development, that of education and employability were the major ones.

'The need of the hour is skill-based education... which promises a young person a safe future. With the number of educated but unemployed youth in the country, many a youth is disillusioned about the education system.

'Vocational training, therefore, is very important, especially in the rural areas. And, of course, linkages with the market, which shows which sector has the highest demand, are important,' said an educationist, Shalini Sharma.

Walking with Jesus

Walking with Jesus

After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.

— Mark 16:12

I think it's interesting to note those to whom Jesus chose to appear after His resurrection. We don't read about Him appearing to Caiaphas or Caesar.

Now if it had been me, the first person I would have appeared to would have been Pilate: "Yo, Pilate! Remember me? Can't keep a good man down, can you?" Or I would have appeared to Caiaphas, the high priest who, for the most part, orchestrated the crucifixion.

But it is interesting how Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and joined them on their journey. We don't know who they were, and they are not mentioned again in the Bible.

The Bible tells us that Jesus appeared in another form to them as they went into the country. In other words, He was going incognito. They didn't know that it was Jesus.

The last sight they had of the Lord was His beaten and bloodied body. Surely they wanted to get that image out of their minds.

There they were, walking along, and Jesus was walking with them. It's a reminder to us that at all times, even when we don't realize it, Jesus is walking with us.

Isaiah 43:2 promises, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you."

Maybe when you are in church, you feel close to God. But wherever you go, you can know that Jesus is with you there too. When you are going through hard times, even when you cannot feel Him, Jesus is there.

The Rest of the Story

The Rest of the Story

In the final chapter of the book of Job, God restored to His righteous servant everything and doubled it. He had passed the test, leaving an unforgettable example for us in the pages of Scripture. Though he could never replace the children he had lost, God gave him more, allowing him to enjoy his children and his grandchildren.

Could it be that the hardships you find yourself facing today are preparing you something just over the horizon—a ministry and a life beyond your imagination right now? I'll tell you this: God doesn't waste anything. Not one sorrow. Not one sigh. Not one tear.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe quotes a professor of history who said, "If Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him. But no one would have remembered him either."

Wiersbe concluded, "If you want to be memorable sometimes you have to be miserable."

You might say, "Honestly, I don't see how I could handle one-tenth of the things Job faced. In fact, I can't handle suffering at all."

Don't worry. God knows what you can manage. He knows what you can take. And He will parcel it out accordingly. You just need to trust Him.

God will give you what you need when you need it. Not before, never after, but just when it is needed. Until then, we must simply trust Him.

Corrie ten Boom, the well-known author of The Hiding Place, was placed in a Nazi concentration camp, along with her sister and her father. They were committed Christians and their "crime" had been hiding Jewish people in their home, trying to protect them from Nazi genocide against all Jews in Hitler's Reich.

Both Corrie's father and sister died, and Corrie herself went through deep suffering during that time. But she survived, and spent the rest of her life traveling around the world as a self-described "tramp for the Lord," declaring that there was no pit so deep that God was not deeper still.

When Corrie was a little girl, she was reading a story about martyrs for the Christian faith, and was trying to process what these saints of God had endured for the sake of Christ.

She said to her father, "Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ."

"Tell me," said that wise father, "when you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?"

"No, Daddy," she replied. "You give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."

"That's right," he replied. "And so it is with God's strength. Our Father in heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need just in time."

As it turned out, God never required Corrie to die as a martyr. Even so, Corrie suffered much in her life, and God always gave her the strength she needed...just as her father had told her.

Here's something that hit me pretty hard as I studied Job's life. We need to hold everything God has given us loosely. Everything you have has come to you as a gift from God.

Job found that out, and had to declare before God and man, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Maybe you drive your new SUV through the car wash and admire the way it sparkles and gleams after you wipe it down. Don't forget, that was given to you from God.

Or you pull into the driveway of your home. Don't take it for granted! God has graced you and privileged you to live there.

You get up in the morning and feel like a million bucks, or finish a game of tennis and grab a nice long shower...don't forget. Your health and strength are a gift from God.

You say, "I'm very careful to eat only organic stuff and I have a regular exercise routine." Good for you. But remember, God gave you your health.

God has given you your life. God has given you your wife. He has given you your husband. He has blessed you with children. He has given you everything.

Hold it loosely. He may leave it in your hands for years; then again, he might take it tomorrow. That's up to Him to decide. But it all belongs to Him, and we praise Him every day for what He has given us.

The truth is, everybody suffers. Calamity comes into every life—the righteous and the unrighteous, the godly and the ungodly. The good news is that the Lord can use suffering in the lives of His sons and daughters...to strengthen us spiritually...to make us more Christ-like...to use us to minister to and comfort others...and to prepare us for future tasks that are completely off our personal charts.

What comfort we have in Christ! What an indescribable hope! He is worthy of our complete trust and confidence, no matter what we might be enduring at the moment.

Sometimes, God can use sickness, tragedy, hardship, or difficulty to get our attention. The psalmist said, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word...It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees" (Psalm 119:67 NKJV).

Are you in a "hot place" right now? Do you find yourself in the fires of difficulty or crisis? You got bad news from the doctor. You were let go from your job. Your "significant other" dumped you. Maybe something else has happened that has rocked your world, and you don't know what to do.

You need to say, "God, help."

He has thousands of years of experience helping, comforting, and saving those who reach up to Him in faith.

The Darkest Day

The Darkest Day

One day when Job's sons and daughters were dining at the oldest brother's house, a messenger arrived at Job's home with this news: "Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: "Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother's home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the desert and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground before God. He said,

"I came naked from my mother's womb,
and I will be stripped of everything when I die.
The Lord gave me everything I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!"

In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
(Job 1:13-22 NLT)

Job was not having a nice day.

His losses in those horrific few hours are almost incomprehensible. Think about it. In one day, Job, one of the wealthiest men in the land, lost everything—all his assets, so wisely and carefully built up through the years. His trusted servants—what we might call loyal, longtime employees—had all perished in a string of (what we know to be) supernatural disasters.

Those things would have been difficult enough to endure. But it got much, much worse. The worst news of all on this day was to hear that his children—his pride and joy—had all been killed. Seven sons and three daughters. Wiped out in a moment.

Having walked with parents through the death of a child, I can tell you that this is the worst thing that can happen to a mother or a father. No parent ever wants to outlive his or her children. We spend our lives caring for them, nurturing them, loving them, and investing our hopes and dreams in them. For most loving fathers and mothers, to lose a child is a fate literally worse than death.

Satan had challenged God, saying, "You just let me take away the things he holds dear and then see how loyal and faithful Job will be. He'll curse You to Your face!"

The Lord granted Satan permission to turn Job's world upside down—within limits. The evil one would not be allowed to lay a finger on Job himself.

And how did Job fare in that attack? Did he curse God as Satan suggested? No. He praised God. "The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!"

No wonder the Lord was bragging on Job! You can almost hear the pride in the Lord's voice as He says to Satan,

"Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you persuaded me to harm him without cause."

But Satan wasn't through yet (is he ever?), issuing one final challenge.

Satan replied to the Lord, "Skin for skin—he blesses you only because you bless him. A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

"All right, do with him as you please," the Lord said to Satan. "But spare his life." So Satan left the Lord's presence, and he struck Job with a terrible case of boils from head to foot."

Then Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. (Job 2:3-8 NLT)

In times like these, you would like to think you could turn to your spouse for support. But it didn't work that way for Job.

His wife said to him, "Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die."

But Job replied, "You talk like a godless woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" (vv. 9-10).

We have much to learn from this story of Job. In his letter to the church, the apostle James wrote, "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11).

Persevere.

That's the key word here. The book of Job teaches us how to persevere—hang in there—when we go through heartaches and hard times. Because it's not a matter of if some kind of calamity, trial, sickness, or difficulty will strike you or someone you love. It's a matter of when.

Company Shows Up

Company Shows Up

The Bible names three friends who came to Job to "sympathize with him and comfort him" (Job 2:11 NIV). As it turned out, Job would have been better off if these guys had just stayed home.

These three counselors apparently traveled a great distance, and when they arrived at Job's residence and caught sight of their old friend huddled out back on top of an ash heap, they were shocked right down to their sandals.

When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to demonstrate their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. And no one said a word, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. (Job 2:12-13 NLT)

Believe it or not, that was the perfect thing to do. What Job needed right then was just someone to be with him. These friends started out with the right idea when "no one said a word."

We need to learn from example. When you spend time with someone who is suffering or grieving, don't feel that you need to necessarily say something "wise and profound," or try to explain the situation. To begin with, you don't know enough to explain anything, because that knowledge lies with God alone. And besides that, explanations have never healed a broken heart.

Sometimes the best thing to do is just be there.

And say absolutely nothing.

When our Lord was facing His imminent arrest and crucifixion, He was waiting with His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. To His three closest companions, Peter, James, and John, He said, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death." And then He said to them, "I want you to just stay with Me. Stay with Me and watch with Me" (see Matthew 26:36:44).

Watch with Me.

He didn't ask for a sermon, He didn't want an explanation, and He wasn't looking for someone to step in and fix His situation. In His humanity and in His sorrow that night, He just wanted a few friends around, that's all. And they were with Him…at least in body. Unfortunately, they couldn't keep their eyes open and slept right through His great anguish and struggle.

When someone is hurting, you just need to go to them. One of the best things you can say is, "I don't know what to say." Then take your own advice and don't say anything! If you do say something, keep it simple.

"I love you."

"I'm here for you."

"I'm praying for you."

As a pastor, I frequently have to walk right into the middle of human suffering. And when I get that call that someone's child or spouse has died, or someone has found out they have cancer, it's very hard to deal with many times. Even pastors don't know what to say at times.

But most of the time, my words aren't all that important anyway. I have found that by simply showing up—showing love, and a readiness to listen—I've been able to bring comfort to these grieving ones. Sometimes, you ask the individual what he or she is facing, and then you just close your mouth and listen with both ears.

Many times, simply because they don't want to be uncomfortable, be rejected, or look silly, people keep their distance from those who grieve. Or if they do spend time with that individual, they will steer clear of mentioning the one who died.

That's no comfort at all.

The grieving spouse or parent wants that loved one to be remembered. Sometimes you can simply say something like, "I miss John. I wish he was here with us right now. But thank God we will see him again in heaven."
You say, "Oh, I don't want to say that. They might cry."

Yes, they might. And a good cry might do them some good, too, as they are still dealing with the loss and mourning.

Many times, we will say things don't help at all, but actually deepen the sorrowing person's pain.

"I know how you feel."

No, you don't! So why say it?

"There's a reason for everything."

That may be true, but neither of you have any idea what that might be.

"Well, no one ever said life was fair."

What a rotten thing to say to someone in crisis!

"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger."

No. What idiot came up with that little gem?

"Well, cheer up. There's always someone worse off."

Believe it or not, I've heard that one many times. It has zero—no, negative—comfort value, and sounds about as callous as you can get.

"When life gives you lemons make lemonade."

Say that and your friend will be seriously thinking about hurting you.

"Don't worry. Be happy."

Now they are thinking of killing you.

"Have a nice day."

Now they will kill you for sure.

We have to give people—even fellow believers—time and room to grieve their loss. We will say, "She's with the Lord now. She's happier than she's ever been. Don't cry."

What do you mean, "Don't cry"?

That's holding people to a higher standard than even the Lord does! The Bible says there is a time to laugh and a time to mourn. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of His dear friend, Lazarus. In the book of Acts, after Stephen was stoned to death by a violent mob, we read that devout men wept over him. It's okay to weep when you lose someone. But as the book of 1 Thessalonians says, we do not "grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:15 NIV). We do have hope. We have strong, unquenchable hope that we will be with our saved loved ones in heaven, and share eternity together.

Job's comforters always get a bad rap, and deservedly so, but just remember something: At least they got it right in the beginning. They wept with their friend, kept their mouths closed, and sat with him on the ground for seven days before they said anything. We think we're being a martyr if we sit with someone for seven minutes. At least initially, Job's friends did the right thing. Scripture says to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).

A Father's Legacy

The greatest legacy we pass on as fathers is not our inheritance. It is not even our good name. It is the spiritual heritage that we give to our children, desiring them to walk in the way of the Lord.

When David was on his deathbed, he said to his son,

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9 NKJV).

God has placed parents as the authorities in the life of the child. And in many ways, we as fathers represent God to our children.

A story I've often told about a little boy illustrates this well. The little boy was frightened one night by a very loud thunderstorm. He called to his father in the next room and said, "Daddy, I am scared."

His father called back from the next room, "Son, don't be scared. God is with you."

The boy paused for a moment and then said; "Yeah, but I want someone with skin on right now."

Fathers, in many ways, are like God with skin on to their children. I don't mean that literally, but I do mean that fathers are the representatives of God to that child.

Consider this: many of the attitudes a child will develop about God will be based on their relationship with their fathers. While I am not trying to lay a guilt trip on fathers, I do want to say that we fathers need to do everything we can to be a godly influence on our children. When our children see their mom or dad contradicting what they know is true, great damage can be done.

Sadly, many children do not honor their parents simply because they are not very honorable. Many adults have never grown up themselves, so they abandon their responsibilities to their families to chase after their own interests.

That is why Andrew Murray said, "The secret of home rule is self-rule: first being ourselves what we want our children to be."

Our children must see the gospel lived as well as preached. We are not only to be witnesses to the world. We also need to be witnesses in our homes. Children pay attention to what really matters to us and how our Christianity affects us in day-to-day living.

You are an example. The question is, will you be a good one or a bad one?

We find an interesting insight in an often-quoted passage regarding parenting—one that is usually quoted when children go astray. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it" (NKJV).

This phrase, "in the way," could also be translated, "in his bent." The Amplified Bible translates it this way: "Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it."

We see in this a recognition that every child is different. I hope, as parents, that we realize this about our children. Every child has a unique and distinct personality. Just as no two snowflakes are exactly like, it is the same with children.

This is why we need to observe our children. We need to watch our children. Then we need to adapt our training accordingly.

This doesn't mean we turn away from the principles of Scripture, but that we adapt them to each child. For example, stern words get some children in line, while others need a different approach.

My point is that we need to recognize the unique characteristics in the lives of the little ones whom God has entrusted to our care. We want to do our best to point them in the right direction and train them in the way of the Lord.

How often we think, "I'm too busy for the kids!" Yet time goes by so fast. Treasure each moment with your children, and don't neglect them. Express your love to them.

To know that our children walk with the Lord—that is our great hope. But we need to remember that they don't belong to us; they belong to God. Our responsibility is to point them to Him.

Satan's Unwitting Role

Satan's Unwitting Role

When we read about Satan, this powerful and evil spirit being who hates God and despises mankind, we might wonder why God allows Satan to even exist.

As he says in his own words, he is restlessly going back and forth across the earth, looking for trouble...looking for lives to ruin...looking for saints to stumble. In the last chapter, we asked the question: Why does God allow him to carry on? Why doesn't the Lord just take him out?

Why? Well you might be surprised to know that Satan, in his own twisted way, serves the purposes of God.

You ask, "How in the world could that be?"

Just consider this. Satan unwittingly played a major role in the cross of Christ. In his enduring hatred for God's Son, the devil thought it would be a great idea to have Jesus betrayed, arrested, beaten within an inch of His life, and then crucified and put to death on a Roman cross.

Everything went according to Satan's plan. As Jesus told the mob who came to apprehend him, "This is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns" (Luke 22:53 NLT).

The power of darkness did indeed reign that day, and Satan's plan succeeded.

But so did the plan of God.

What the evil one didn't realize was that it was the Father's plan all along that the Messiah would die for the sins of the world. In the book of Zechariah and in Psalm 22, God even mentioned that the Messiah would die by crucifixion, and it was graphically described thousands of years before it had even been invented (see Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 22). In the prophecy of Isaiah, we're told "It was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer" (Isaiah 53:10 NIV). Unaware that he was making the biggest blunder since his rebellion against God, Satan played into the plan and purpose of God (also prophesied in the book of Zechariah) when in his rage and hatred he inspired Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:12-13).

Satan's "best shot" against God and the people of God was the crucifixion of the God-man, Jesus Christ. And in that act, he unwittingly not only sealed his own doom, he opened the door for Jesus to offer redemption and salvation to the whole world.

But that's not the end of the matter. Believe it or not, Satan can also accomplish God's purposes through the trials and afflictions that he throws our way. How? By helping us to cling to the Lord in dependence and prayer and, as a result, growing stronger spiritually.

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan the Accuser came with them. "Where have you come from?" the Lord asked Satan.

And Satan answered the Lord, "I have been going back and forth across the earth, watching everything that's going on."

Then the Lord asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil."

Satan replied to the Lord, "Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

"All right, you may test him," the Lord said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the Lord's presence. (Job 1:6-12 NLT)

Talk about having friends—and enemies—in high places! God was so proud of Job He was bragging on him. Look again at verse 8. "'Have you noticed my servant Job? The finest man in all the earth—a man of complete integrity.'"

When I read that statement and then go on to read what happened to Job immediately after God made it, I feel a little nervous about the idea of God ever bragging on me! I almost feel like saying, "Lord, if You're ever feeling proud of me just for a fleeting moment, could we kind of keep it between the two of us?"

I wonder if God would ever boast of His servant Greg, or would boast of you with all the angels standing around. I would tend to doubt it in my case. We often will see ourselves one way—maybe in a quick surface way—while God knows us through and through. Over in the book of 1 Samuel, we're told, "The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV).

You and I can be way off in the way we evaluate one another. We might be in a worship service and find ourselves drawing conclusions about how spiritual that person next to us might be. If he's singing loudly, closing his eyes, and raising his hands up high, we might conclude, "Now that is a spiritual person." Then we look around a little more and see someone else who isn't singing at all. Maybe her head is bowed a little, but she's simply holding the chair in front of her and doesn't seem engaged in the worship. And we conclude, "She's not a very spiritual person. I wonder if she's even a believer."

The truth might be the very opposite of what we think!

We don't know what's going on in the heart of another person. So . . . we had better leave all such conclusions and evaluations with the Lord Himself, where they actually belong. We need to just concentrate on seeking to live a godly life.

So here is God, bragging on the man from Uz. "My servant Job." There could be no higher endorsement, and no higher job description: a servant of the living God.

We're also introduced to Satan in this passage. We have to get rid of the world's stereotypical caricature of a devil in a red suit and pointed ears, wearing a goatee and carrying a pitchfork. (I especially take issue with the goatee part, as I have been known to sport one myself from time to time.

I'm not sure where that came from, but it bears no resemblance to the description of our adversary in Scripture.

Satan is a powerful spirit being . . . not a myth, not a cartoon character, and not "the dark side of the force," lacking identity or personality. He is real, and Scripture calls him by name.

• "Satan the accuser came . . . " (Job 1:6).


• "Satan answered . . . " (Job 1:7).

In verse 7, he describes his activities to the Lord, "going back and forth across the earth, watching everything that is going on." Then in verse 12 we read that Satan left the Lord's presence. You see, we're talking about an active personality with an agenda here, not an impersonal force. Satan has something he very much wants to accomplish.

And what is that? The devil's single, consuming ambition is to turn you and me away from God and all that is good. His ultimate agenda can be summed up in the statement of Christ in John 10:10, where Jesus said, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness" (NLT).

You can immediately see the contrast. Jesus is in effect saying, "I have come to give you life. Satan has come to give you death. I have come to give you freedom. He has come to give you bondage. I have come to build you up, to save you, to restore you. He has come to steal, kill, and destroy." And that is what he wants to do with you to this very day, this very hour.

The Man from Uz

The Man from Uz

Job was a real, historical, flesh-and-blood man who many scholars feel walked the earth during the time of the patriarchs, somewhere between 2000 and 1800 BC. Scripture says he lived in the land of Uz—which may sound like Oz, but Uz was a real place in the world, not an imaginary land of munchkins and talking scarecrows. It was most likely east of the Jordan, perhaps in northern Arabia. Many scholars tell us that the book of Job may be the oldest book of the Bible, possibly written by Moses himself.

The New Testament writer James validates Job's story, and the great lesson it teaches about patience and faith:

We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy. (James 5:11 NLT)

Uz was a real place and Job was a real man with real problems with a real God to whom he turned—the very same God you and I can turn to in our times of need.

Let's set the stage for this amazing account by picking up an introduction from Job 1.

There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, and he employed many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

Every year when Job's sons had birthdays, they invited their brothers and sisters to join them for a celebration. On these occasions they would get together to eat and drink. When these celebrations ended—and sometimes they lasted several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, "Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular practice. (Job 1:1-5 NLT)

So right off the bat, we learn some important things about the man named Job.

1. He was a man of integrity and character.

Character may be the most important thing in any individual's life. How do you determine character? Here's what it comes down to. When you are all alone, when no one is looking, when there's no one around to impress, what does your life look like? That is who you really are. The measure of a man or woman's real character is what they would do if they knew they would never be found out.

What if I could give you a foolproof guarantee that you could get away with a certain sin? Would you do it? Would you cheat on your income taxes? Would you be unfaithful to your spouse? If that is the case, then that is who you most truly are.

It really comes down to what you think about most. What saddens you? What makes you mad? What makes you laugh? That is your character. A German proverb says that "a man shows his character by what he laughs at."

Bottom line, Job practiced what he preached. He was a man of true integrity. God Himself said so, and no one could have a higher endorsement than that.

2. He was a wealthy man.

Success has turned many a head, and wealth has been a spiritual stumbling block to many. We are warned in Psalm 62:10, "If riches increase, do not set your heart on them" (NKJV).

Remember what Jesus said about wealth in the parable of the sower? He spoke of seed that was sown on the ground where it took root, but was eventually choked out by weeds. "The thorny ground," Jesus explained, "represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced" (Mark 4:18-19 NLT).

That is not to say it is wrong to desire success, a nice home, or a prosperous business. But it is wrong if you let it become the driving force in life. Don't let that become your obsession. Don't let that become your God. Because the Bible says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5 NIV).

Job had vast wealth and holdings, but it didn't turn his head.

3. He was a family man.

Job raised his children in the way of the Lord and brought them before God in prayer every day without fail.

So even when his adult kids were having a celebration, he would pray for them. He would offer a sacrifice on their behalf, which was an Old Testament way of saying he was interceding for them. Here was a dad who was concerned about the spiritual lives of his kids, and prayed every day that they would steer clear of sin and walk with God.

Our kids need our prayers—every day of their lives. Especially in the culture in which we live today. While it's true that we need to work toward releasing our sons and daughters, and launching them into independent, self-sufficient lives, we'll always be their parents, and they will always need Mom and Dad's faithful prayers.

Job was a concerned parent, bringing his family before the Lord, praying for their protection and blessing.

4. He was a prayerful man.

When Scripture says Job prayed for his adult children, it underlines the fact that "this was Job's regular custom." In other words, when it came to prayer, Job wasn't hit-or-miss. He had an established routine of coming before the Lord with his requests.

The Bible says that we should "pray without ceasing" and "in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NKJV). Does that describe your life? Is God first in your list of priorities? Do you pray for your children? Do you set a godly example for them to follow? You've heard the expression, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." That is so often true when it comes to loving the Lord and following Him. Your sons and daughters will take their cues from watching how you relate to God, and the priority you give to your spiritual life.

Job set an outstanding example for his children. And as this story unfolds, we are given dramatic evidence as to why it's so vital to cover your family with prayer every day. In one of the most fascinating passages in all of Scripture, we are allowed to look behind the scenes and see what was happening in the spiritual realm that would directly effect Job's life, and every member of his family.