Not Against Flesh And Blood - [Job 1:6-12]

This morning while you were driving to church in Preparation for the preaching of the word the fellowship of the brethren the worship of our King The evil one was preparing his flaming darts. Especially just for you last night while you were sleeping.

Satan was plotting against you this week while you were at work. The devil disguised as an angel of light was working also. He was working overtime. While you were going about your week. Whether it was an ordinary week or an extraordinary week like some of us who went to the shepherd conference.

Showing the heights of praises to our great God and King to plumbing the depth of the riches of God's Word. Your adversary the devil was prowling around like a roaring lion Seeking to devour you. Even while you're sitting here this morning listening to the Word of God the father of lies Wants to cast doubt upon the Word of God.

By asking as he did from the very beginning. Did God really say there are some today? Unfortunately who would have you find a devil behind every unturned stone? One of those men is Peter Wagner. Who is a self-appointed apostle?

He believes that there are apostles still today and to no surprise. He considers himself one of them. The last time I read my Bible apostles were hand-selected by the incarnate Christ. Luke chapter 6 where Jesus went up to the mountain a whole night to pray came down and selected his apostles.

According to the Bible. I've read recently Acts chapter 1 an apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrection. But yet Peter Wagner says he's an apostle. He's began what he calls the new Apostolic Reformation and he has the audacity and gall of saying it's on the part of the Protestant Reformation.

He says that those who are in opposition to him are under demonic influence. So I guess I'm under demonic influence and This man quotes in terms of spiritual warfare that you need to take seminars to know how to defend yourself against Satan.

Quote. If you do not know what you are doing, and if you do not have the necessary expertise Satan will eat you for breakfast. Another man of This thinking is Neil Anderson in his book bondage breaker writes.

Quote. Demonic influence is not an external force in the physical realm. It is the internal manipulation of the central nervous system. End quote. Great theologians and scholars, I guess. But what does the Bible say our final authority.

Jesus was tempted himself by the devil. Was he not in Matthew 4? Jesus referred to the devil in John 8 as a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies. Jesus in his great high priestly prayer in John 17 prayed to the father saying father protect them from the evil one.

Jesus knew the reality of Satan and so did all his Apostles and even New Testament writers. From Jude to John to James and Peter and even the Apostle Paul listen to the Apostle Paul first. Thessalonians 3 5.

For this reason when I could bear it no longer I sent to learn about your faith for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. Or Paul says also in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verse 3.

But I'm afraid that as a serpent Deceived Eve by his cunning your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. We are not talking about as the world would have us think about someone with a pitchfork in his hand and two red horns.

Paul says in Ephesians 6 we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. He says in 2nd Corinthians 10 for though we walk in the flesh. We are not waging war according to the flesh. C .s. Lewis said in the screw tape letters quote.

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.

Close quote. So we want to look at what the Bible our final authority says. About our arch enemy the devil. So if you would turn with me in the Old Testament to the book of Job chapter 1 the book of Job chapter 1 beginning in verse 6 through verse 12.

The oldest book of the Old Testament canon, by the way as We read through this text. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came among them.

The Lord said to Satan from where have you come? Satan answered the Lord and said from going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it and 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 who fears God and turns away from evil.

Then Satan answered the Lord and said Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him in his house and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land but stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will curse you to your face and The Lord said to say and behold all that he has is in your hand only against him.

Do not stretch out your hand. So say and went out from the presence of the Lord. Because we're airdropping into this particular passage of scripture into this book, let me give you a little background.

First of all, the book of Job is not fiction. It is historical and we know this for a number of reasons. The opening statement first of all is similar to other books that introduce in the Bible historical events.

Look at verse 1 of this chapter 1 for example. There was a man in the land of us whose name was Job. Judges 17 verse 1 says there was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah first Samuel 1 verse 1.

There was a certain man of ramathim Zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah. Historical events that are introduced in the same fashion. Secondly, we know it is historical because Job is mentioned elsewhere in Scripture Ezekiel 14 and the word of the Lord came to me son of man when the land sins against me by acting faithlessly and I Stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it and cut off from it man and beast even if these three men Noah Daniel and Job were in it they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.

Or if I send pestilence into that land and pour out my wrath upon it With blood to cut off from it man and beast even if Noah Daniel Job were in it as I live declares the Lord God they would deliver neither son nor daughter.

That's a prophet Ezekiel, but it is the Lord God speaking the Lord God mentions the name of Job. He was a historical figure that settles it if that wasn't enough. The land of Uz is mentioned in the Prophet Jeremiah's lamentations chapter 4 verse 21.

He says rejoice and be glad O daughter of Edom you who dwell in the land of Uz. It's a historical book, but it takes place during the patriarchal period. How do we know that? First of all, we know that because of the length of Job's life the length of Job's life in chapter 42 of the book.

Verse 16 it says. And after this Job lived a hundred forty years and saw his sons and his sons four generations. Abraham was a hundred seventy five years old. Isaac was a hundred eighty years old. Jacob lived to a hundred forty seven years old.

So Job because of the length of his life was happening during the patriarchal period. A Second reason we know it was during that time is because Job's wealth was mentioned in this was measured in the same way as Abraham's and Jacob's namely through his livestock.

And a third reason we know it is During the patriarchal period if you look with me in verse 15 of our chapter and then verse 17 it mentions two groups of peoples verse 15 and the Sabians fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword.

And I alone have escaped to tell you verse 17 well he was yet speaking. There came another and said the Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword.

And I alone have escaped to tell you well both those groups the Sabians and Chaldeans were nomads during the time of the patriarchal period. So Job is a historical book. He's a real figure. The Lord got himself said through the prophets Ezekiel and it's also during the patriarchal period.

So to walk you through this text to help you unfold this text before us in verses 6 through 12 I have six headings for you as we walk through this text. The first setting is Satan's presence. We see here Satan's presence verse 6.

Now there was a day. Stop there. Now there was a day. Look at verse 13 Chapter 1. Now there was a day. When his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the oldest brother's house. Look at chapter 2 verse 1 again.

There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. This was not an Extraordinary day. It was another ordinary day. It was not a unique day that stood out but just a regular routine day.

The author's point is simply this the divine activity that we're about to study here is normal activity. It's not a one of a special of a kind activity. This is what normally happens. It's just a day.

And what happens during this day verse 6 continues when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. The sons of God as we find a later in the book of Job chapter 38 verse 7 is a reference to angels.

So the angels are coming before the Lord God to present themselves before him. The question That we must answer is for what purpose do they present themselves? There are two first of all to receive instructions for the Lord.

Why were the text say they came to present themselves before the Lord. Well to receive instructions in first Kings chapter 22. Verses 19 through 22. You don't have to turn there highlights this and Micah said therefore hear the word of the Lord.

I saw the Lord sitting on his throne and all the host of Heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left and the Lord said who will entice Ahab that he may go up. And fall at Ramoth Gilead and one said one thing and another said another.

Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord saying I will entice him and the Lord said to him by what means. And he said I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of All his prophets and he said the Lord said you shall entice him and you shall succeed go out and do so.

They came before the Lord to receive instructions and as we heard in first Kings The Lord gave him commands to do their duty but they also present themselves before the Lord not only to receive instructions, but to give a report a Report of what you say?

Well Hebrews chapter 1 verse 14 tells us a little bit about that concerning the angels. Are they not all? Ministering spirits. Sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation. So they're also giving a report to the Lord God about those whom they are see serving the elect those who will inherit salvation.

That's where they appear before the Lord. Now what we're looking at in verses 6 to 12 job is not privy to by the way the author Takes back the veil and shows us what's happening in heaven here. So here are the angels Appearing before the Lord to receive instructions and give a report and verse 6 continues and Satan also came Among them.

The term Satan literally means adversary. It's the most used title of him in Scripture 52 times. Of course He has many other names and titles. The deceiver of the world the accuser of the brethren the devil the God of this world the ruler of this world the father of lies a Murderer the tempter the evil one the prince of the power of the air, but his number one name and title is Satan Adversary and as we'll see as this text unfolds.

He is an adversary in this specific case against Job this account of Job is Satan's second appearance in the scripture. His first is in Genesis 3. Where he comes to even says to cast out on the Word of God has God really said about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in John chapter 8 verse 44 Jesus said of the devil.

He was a murderer from the beginning. In First John chapter 3 the Apostle John said the devil has been sinning. From the beginning so from the beginning. He's been an adversary he's been a Murderer and he's been sinning.

His background is delineated a little bit more in Ezekiel the prophet chapter 28 where he says of Satan that he used to be an anointed guardian cherub. It says of him from the day you were created. So he's a created being he is not God.

Ezekiel continues and says of say and you sinned and he finishes that section by saying your heart was proud. Isaiah the prophet builds on the pridefulness of Satan and no less than five times. You will hear him say that phrase.

I will Isaiah 14 verses 13 to 14 You said in your heart. I will ascend to heaven above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high. I will sit on the Mount of Assembly. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

I will make myself like the most high. Pride was his downfall. Our text says that was Satan who came among them. But it also uses the term if you would see there and say and also came among them. Which begs the question How is it that Satan is in the presence of the Lord?

How is it that Satan is before a holy God? How can that be? Alas, I'll answer the question with a question. How can it be that the eternal Son of God the second member of the Trinity Trinity? Cloak himself with humanity in his entire time while he's here on earth never be marred by sin and Live a perfect sinless life obedient to the Father.

Revelation gives us a little insight. Chapter 14 verse 10. He also will drink the wine of God's wrath. Poured full strength into the cup of his anger and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the Holy Angels.

And watch this in the presence of the Lamb. Remember early on in our marriage. Before we had children we were living in New York and after a long day We'd go to bed together and be lying there half Just exhausted and of course my wife thought it wise at that time to ask me some deep theological questions.

So she'd asked me as I'm lying dead some deep theological question and my response to her would be Deuteronomy 29 29. She says what does that say? I said the secret things belong to the Lord. Good night.

So in like manner we can Conjecture how is Satan before a holy God the same way that Christ lived among? Sinful humanity the same way that what we read in Revelation 14 would also be in the presence of the Lamb.

But nonetheless, here's a scene in heaven God. The holy elect angels before him giving a report. Receiving instructions and here comes Satan. That's the first heading Satan's presence. The second heading for our outline is sovereign plan.

The sovereign plan. Notice if you will in verse 7 The Lord said to Satan. The text does not say Satan said to the Lord. God took the initiative. Because even with Satan in his presence God is still sovereign.

God took the initiative the Lord said to Satan. From where have you come? Interesting the term Lord here in our text verses 6 through 12 is mentioned seven times. It's the term Yahweh. The covenant-keeping name of God and the author wants to signify that God Yahweh is in a covenant-keeping Relationship with Job if you were to read the rest of the book of Job.

The term that is used is I don't I Almighty because this was happening during the patriarchal period. God presented himself as Yahweh in Exodus 3 later, but here in this opening scene. Our author presents him as Yahweh.

What is Satan's answer to the Lord's question? Satan answer the Lord and said from going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. What was Satan doing going to and fro the earth very simply.

Peter puts a best in first Peter 5 8 as a Roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and in this case. He was seeking after Job. But again notice the initiative of the Lord verse 8. The Lord said to Satan.

Have you considered? My servant Job. That there is none like him on the earth. God is presenting to Satan. What one of his servants Job? And he highlights that there is none like him on the earth with four characteristics.

First of all that he's it that he is blameless. Blameless in Hebrew, it literally means straightforward. Job is completely Blameless. He has integrity. He has spiritual maturity. The idea is what is said of Daniel in Daniel chapter 6 verse 4.

Then the high officials in the satraps tried to find a ground for complaint or accusation against Daniel with regard to the kingdom but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was faithful and no error or fault was found in him.

But secondly God says of Job. He is upright. This is in verse 8 still in Hebrew. It literally means he is ethically straight his behavior. In other words, it is in harmony with God's ways. Third He fears God that's in verse 8.

And last End of verse 8 he turns away from evil the hallmark of Job's character was this the fear of the Lord. All the other characteristics in Job's life blameless upright and turning away from evil flowed flowed out of his fear of The Lord, how do we know that look at Satan's response in verse 9?

Does Job fear God for no reason? Satan did not say does Job is Job turning away from evil for no reason. Is Job upright or blameless for no reason. No, Satan said does Job fear God. Because that is the overarching characteristic which all the others flow out of.

We also know that because of Job's response concerning the spiritual welfare of his own children. Look at verse 5 of our chapter 1. When the days of the feast had run their course Job would send and Consecrate them and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings.

According to the number of them all for Job said it may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did once in a while. No verse 5 says continually. Why did he do this continually for the spiritual welfare of his children the fear of the Lord?

That's the sovereign plan of God. Third heading for our text Satan's plotting. Satan's plotting we see it in verse 9. Then say and answer the Lord and said does Job fear God for no reason. Have you not put a hedger on him in his house and all that he has on every side?

You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land, but Stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will curse you to your face. Of course, this is Satan's plotting because he's true to his name.

He's an adversary. He's Satan. But notice even in his plotting Satan knows Who is sovereign? Notice in verse 10. He says have you God? Yahweh not put a hedger on him in his house and all that he has on every side you Have blessed the work of his hands in his possessions.

Even in this plotting Satan knew his place in the presence of the Lord and the elect angels. The fourth heading. Sovereign permission. We see here sovereign permission verse 12 and The Lord said to Satan behold all that he has is in your hand.

Remember it was God Yahweh who took the initiative with Satan to present to him Job and after what Satan says to him here in plotting against Job. This is permission by God because he is sovereign. Okay, Satan.

All that he has is in your hand. I allow that I permit that as the sovereign and don't forget Satan is a created being as the Prophet Ezekiel has told us. That we see here is sovereign permission. But fifthly we see also sovereign parameters.

We see sovereign parameters the second half of verse 12. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. All that he has is in your hand his possessions his livestock his family. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.

The sovereign God of the universe is putting parameters To Satan and then we see the sixth heading of our text. God here he puts Sovereign parameters after giving him sovereign permission and now we finally see here Satan's parting.

Satan's parting the last part of verse 12 says simply. So Satan went out From the presence of the Lord. It's not like my children sometimes and I'm sure those of you have parents never have this issue.

But if I say something to my children, sometimes they'll stop and look back and say but dad. There's none of that here. Satan knows his place before the sovereign God. He just left his presence. We see at the beginning of the text Satan's presence coming into the presence of the Lord with the angels and now after God gives him permission with parameters Satan just leaves.

He doesn't put up a fight and say something else to the Lord. But I want us to take away some lessons from this text and we'll go into a little bit in a moment into the New Testament to understand the full or picture of What is going on here in This text the four lessons we can learn and categorize them into four categories concerning God first of all concerning Satan.

Concerning the church believers and concerning unbelievers. So let's look at lessons. We can take concerning God number one. Concerning God God is sovereign. Many say that the reason Job is in the canon of Scripture is because to show us human suffering.

Wrong. The reason Job is in the book of is in the canon of Scripture is to show us that God is sovereign over human suffering. Warren Worsby concerning the book of Job writes this. Quote from the outset the writer reminds us that no matter what happens in this world and in our lives God is on the throne and has everything under control.

Close quote. From the outset as I highlighted he's a sovereign over Satan. He takes the initiative with Satan when Satan says to do something. It's only under God's sovereign permission and only under his parameters.

And even at the end of the book of Job Job chapter 42 verse 2 Job himself makes a statement about the sovereignty of God and I remind you again when Job went through his trials He was not privy to verses 6 through 12.

He did not have this veil open to him before heaven and yet at the end Job says this. I Know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours Can be thwarted. God is sovereign. Even over human suffering.

Secondly, we learn about Satan. Where does Satan work? We saw here in Job that he he works as the adversary by his name Satan to as a roaring line to seek and prowl and to devour as Peter's Epistle says.

But where does Satan work today? Let me give you three areas. Sam's work today and is first and foremost in the era of evangelism. Evangelism. Listen to what Jesus said in Luke chapter 8. The seed is the Word of God.

The ones along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and Takes away the word from their heart so that they may not believe and be saved. That is why when it comes to preaching the gospel to our family and friends.

We can't use humanistic philosophy or methodology or gimmicks because this is a spiritual battle. The devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts. Paul put it this way. Satan's work in evangelism.

2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verses 3 and 4. And even if our gospel is veiled It is veiled to those who are perishing in their case. The God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel.

So I think with some clever Methodology I can open the eyes of an unbeliever. Without the Spirit of God, it will not happen. Paul says in 2nd Timothy 2 of Satan's work when it comes to us giving the gospel God may perhaps grant them repentance.

Leading them to a knowledge of the truth and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after Being captured by him to do his will and non-believers ensnared to do the will of the devil.

So when we give the gospel, we have to be mindful of that that apart from the Spirit of God yes, God uses us as his voice as his mouthpieces and it is a privilege, but only the Spirit of God can open the eyes and deliver one who's enslaved.

A Second area that Satan works today is with false teachers with false teachers. 1st Timothy chapter 4 verse 1 Paul says now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and the teaching of demons.

In 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 Paul says also for such men are false apostles. Deceitful workmen disguising themselves as apostles of Christ and no wonder for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

So it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Satan works amongst the false teachers of our day. One of the Keynote sessions in at the Shepherds Conference Ian Murray who's written many biographies Said that the reason over the years in history why Evangelicalism has departed from a conviction to the inerrancy of the Word of God is because Satan works amongst false teachers.

To draw them away from that. But Satan not only works and when it comes to evangelism and amongst false teachers. Thoroughly he works in the world. That is why Paul says of him in 2nd Corinthians 4 refers to him as the god of this world.

Jesus refers to him in John 12 as the ruler of this world. He works in the world system in the world's ideologies and philosophies and pattern of this world. That's why Paul says in Romans 12 to do not let the world conform.

Do not be conformed after the pattern of this world or as JB Phillips put it, but do not let the world Put you into its mold. Because Satan is working through the world system. What about the church, what can we learn about the church the believer?

Lloyd-jones said this quote. I am sure that one of the reasons for the ills of the church is That the devil is forgotten. So we're like people of the pendulum we've gone the other extreme after all the whacked-out spiritual warfare named gurus and Charismatics are finding a devil behind every stone.

Lloyd-jones says it seems like the church has forgotten the church that there is a devil. But what about for us? What does the New Testament teach and from our text here about believers four things? I would say the believer number one is comforted in suffering.

As A believer you are comforted in suffering. That is why at the end of chapter 1 of Job after his trials Job can say this Job 121. Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked. I shall return the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord in Chapter 2 his wife says to him. Are you still holding on to your integrity curse God and die? She says to him Job's response to her chapter 2 verse 10. So we receive good from God.

And shall we not receive evil? We are comforted in our suffering. Even the weeping prophet Jeremiah who at one point in his life was suicidal. Jeremiah reveals to us the book when he wrote the book the name by which says it all lamentations even the book by the name of Lamentations Jeremiah says this lamentations 338.

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? He's sovereign over both good and bad. That's why we are comforted in our suffering. That's why job could say what he said. In the 80s There was a rabbi by the name of rabbi Kushner who wrote a very well-known book when bad things happen to good people.

And with the loss of his 14 year old son, he was struggling to make sense of that. So because of that he was approaching the book of Job looking it through the lens of his experience. Rather than looking at the lens of his experience through the lens of Scripture.

And he says this quote. Job is forced to choose between a good God who is not totally powerful for a powerful God who is not totally good. Chooses to believe in God's goodness. He continues. God wants the righteous to live peaceful happy lives, but sometimes even he can't bring that about.

It is too difficult even for God to keep cruelty and chaos from claiming their innocent victims. I. The God of the Bible Spurgeon there is no attribute of God more comforting to his children than the doctrine of divine sovereignty under the most adverse circumstances in the most severe troubles they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions as Your adversary your arch enemy Satan comes against you.

Do you believe that God and the sovereignty has ordained all your afflictions in your life? But not only are we comforted from affliction, but also as believers we are protected from Satan. We are protected from Satan.