Strength For The Journey

[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Job 13:4-15

Confidence in God, Not Man

Job 13:4-15

As we read in Job 13, Job again spoke quite forcibly of his refusal to let his "friends" arbitrate his case for him. He declared he would take it to God himself.

Job brushed his "friends" aside and told them that what they knew he knew, that he was not a bit inferior to them.

It goes without saying that Job's words to his friends and some of their words to him are hardly patterns for believers to use. A great deal of bitterness was evident on both sides.

Job was suffering greatly in body and mind, and the discourses of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar added torment to his already overburdened heart.

Job forcefully expressed his resentment against their unfair treatment. At times he "blew off steam," and yet intermingled with his strong words were often statements of remarkable truth concerning God.

>From what we have already seen in chapter 13, Job stated that even if God were to kill him, he would trust Him. Would we be able to make such a statement in the midst of intense suffering?

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Ps. 118:8).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Job 31:33-35 Job 31:6-8

When the Heavens Seem As Brass

Job 31:6-8,33-35

Job was an unusual man. He had done many noble deeds. He was outstanding in many ways. He was the kind of man who, once he humbled himself before God, could be trusted with more responsibility.

The Scriptures say that the person who is faithful in little things will also be faithful in great things (see Matt. 25:23; Luke 16:10). Job's pride, however, was still keeping him from enjoying the best that God offered.

It was no light decision for Job to ask God to weigh him in the balances. Job was a chaste man, God-fearing, kind and sincere. He was ready to put his signature on the list of his own virtues. And he wanted his Adversary to put his charges down in writing.

Job thought that since he had always pleased God before, everything was all right. He was worthy of the best God could give him. This was his personal evaluation, however.

In and of himself, no one is ever worthy of anything from God. The more we realize our unworthiness, the better position we are in for God to use us. Then we must yield ourselves to Him to do with us and through us what He pleases.

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory" (1 Thess. 2:12).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Job 32:1-12

Let God Be Justified

Job 32:1-12

The great principle underlying Job's spiritual problem was given centuries later by our Lord: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:23,24).

Job was trying to hang on to his reputation and his past victories. If we want God's best, we must be willing to lay aside everything that might be counted dear to us so that God can really do for us what He wants to do.

I can almost see Elihu as he listened to the various speeches, getting a bit warm on the inside. "Why don't they get down to the facts? Why don't they speak the truth? Why does Job seek to justify himself? Why doesn't he see himself as God sees him?"

Elihu sized up the matter very clearly. The reasons given for his anger (Job 32:2,3) are of more value than what was said in the 29 chapters of discourses.

He recognized that Job was trying to justify himself rather than God. Then he pointed out the problem of the three men: They had condemned Job instead of leading him to condemn himself.

When we justify ourselves, we condemn God. But when we condemn ourselves, we "justify" God. We do this by admitting that God is right in what He is doing and praising Him for it.

"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Deut. 32:4).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Isaiah 55:9 Job 33:1-12

God is Greater Than Man

Job 33:1-12

Elihu's first thought in approaching Job and his problem was to make very clear that God is greater than man. This is a fact that we must clearly understand if we are to have the right answers in our times of trouble.

Elihu uncovered Job's faults without stirring up his opposition. This is an art that the Spirit of God imparts if we allow Him to take charge of our helping others. Nothing wounds an upright person as much as unfounded suspicion and any charges that may grow out of it.

Bible-believing churches and pastors could well apply this principle of pointing out faults without offending. We need to be careful that we do not let a carnal spirit divide us and hurt us so the Lord finds it difficult to use us.

Job's problem was pride, self-will and doubting God's goodness. This is what Elihu brought to Job's attention.

He told Job this was not right and then emphasized the fact that God is greater than man. For this reason man has no right or authority to ask God for an explanation of His actions.

God does things that are incomprehensible to us. He is infinite and we are finite. He is the Creator and we are the creatures. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isa. 55:9).

We must clearly understand this fact if we are going to have any peace of mind with regard to the everyday happenings of life and God's control over this universe.

"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Ps. 127:1).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Job 38:1-11 Luke 5:8

When God Speaks

Job 38:1-11

God spoke to Job out of a whirlwind at this point, and what He said had an immediate effect. God's voice made Job conscious of the presence of God, whom he had not seen and said he could not find.

Before this the discussion had been about God as if He were absent. Now Job was suddenly made aware of His nearness.

When a person suddenly realizes he is in God's presence, his life can be profoundly affected. At one time Peter said to Jesus, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord" (Luke 5:8 ).

He realized that since he was in the presence of the Lord Jesus, he was in the presence of God.

God did not immediately restore Job's health or possessions. He did not even argue with Job. Why should He? Instead, He asked Job a series of questions that were designed to bring him to proper thinking and believing.

Job had shown some arrogance; he needed to be humbled. In this God used irony to good effect. He did not use sarcasm, for His purpose was not to humiliate Job but to humble him.

It is one thing to be brought to the place where we recognize we are nothing; it is quite another to be humiliated--so bullied or made fun of or made to look cheap that we inwardly cringe at the treatment we receive.

People can easily humiliate each other, but that is not the way God works.

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1,2, NASB).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Job 40:1-5

Nothing More to Say

Job 40:1-5

Job had contended with God. He had argued against God's dealing with him, which was the root of his problem. He, the creature, had sat in judgment against God, the Creator. He had even accused God of doing the wrong thing.

Now God had spoken to Job and made His presence known. From nature He had emphasized very obvious lessons so that Job could not fail to catch the moral principles involved. No wonder Job replied that he was vile.

How could Job really answer God after this revelation of God's care for His creatures? Job realized how contemptible he had been in speaking as he did of the Lord.

He had thought the Lord cruel and unjust; in reality God had shown His love to Job. Job decided all he could do was put his hand on his mouth, say nothing more and just listen to God.

How do we face times of suffering? Do we wonder after a long period of testing if God really cares?

We seek for love and care, and God in His grace is ready and willing to love us and care for us; but above all we must remember that God has permitted this testing and has a purpose in it. God is both sovereign and righteous; therefore, He always does what is right.

When a believer does wrong, he may suffer for the wrong done. On the other hand, much suffering in the life of a believer is for discipline, not punishment. Through such suffering God molds him into the image of His Son (see Rom. 8:28,29).

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (Rom. 3:19).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Job 42:1-6

Two Inseparable Truths

Job 42:1-6

Job had a new comprehension of God, which brought a new comprehension of himself. He acknowledged that he was vile.

Many believers think they have reached the end of themselves when they give mental assent to the doctrine of human depravity and say we are all depraved.

But it is one thing to speak of vileness and depravity in general; it is quite another for us to know deep within that we are vile. To say before the Lord, "I am the one," is the place Job came to and the place we need to come to.

This is a personal, intimate thing--a private matter between ourselves and God. It is not something that one believer can reveal to another. It comes as the result of the work of the Spirit in our hearts.

These two things always go together: "Mine eye seeth thee" (Job 42:5) and "I abhor myself" (v. 6). To catch a new vision of God and His righteousness is to bring us to the place where we hate what we are in ourselves.

When God's light shines into our hearts, we cannot help but abhor ourselves.

Self-abhorrence is expressed by a humble spirit and a gracious attitude. It is of little use to profess humility if we are quick to resent any injury we may suffer or to feel insulted when someone has slighted us or discouraged us.

The true secret of a broken and contrite heart is to abide in the presence of Almighty God and then to maintain a correct attitude toward those around us.

"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isa. 6:5).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference Job 42:7-17

Vindicated by God

Job 42:7-17

The vindication of Job was a vindication before his "friends." God called him "my servant" and had him act in the capacity of a priest for the three who had so cruelly slandered him.

We not only need to see what God was able to do with Job, we also need to see the God of Job for ourselves.

We learn from Job, and this is part of the vindication, that the suffering of the godly always includes a compensation, or a reward.

It may not come in this present life. It did in Job's life, and we can be assured that it will eventually come for us. The Bible says so, and that settles it.

Job's reward had to come during his lifetime in order to complete the object lesson the Lord was presenting through him.

Life for the believer does not end with his life on earth; it continues on into heaven. All believers have an inheritance reserved in heaven.

The Bible tells us in many places that we cannot avoid suffering here on earth. The suffering will not endure forever, though, and we must look beyond it to the rewards God will give for faithfulness.

"Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (James 5: 11).

God does not delight in our being afflicted, yet through these afflictions His very gracious purposes are realized. This is what James called "the end of the Lord"; the outcome of the Lord's dealings with us includes vindication.

"And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday" (Ps. 37:6).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Romans 1:13-17

One Man's Testimony

Romans 1:13-17

In Romans 1:14-16 Paul made three significant statements about himself. First, he said, "I am debtor" (v. 14). He realized he had an obligation because he had seen the truth concerning Jesus Christ.

Those of us who have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus Christ have a ministry of reconciliation--we have an obligation to take the message to others (see 2 Cor. 5:18-20).

When we stand before Christ to give account, our faithfulness to this type of ministry will no doubt be one of the chief concerns.

Second, Paul stated, "I am ready" (Rom. 1:15). It's one thing to sense an obligation and even to be willing, but it is another thing to be ready. Readiness involves a mental attitude--putting ourselves at God's disposal to do His will.

Third, Paul said, "I am not ashamed" (v. 16). He was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is a clear and strong reference to the great doctrine that the Holy Spirit, through Paul, established by irrefutable logic in the succeeding chapters of Romans; that is, the doctrine of justification by faith.

Or one may simply call it the doctrine of salvation by grace.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Romans 1:18-25

God Hates Sin! Do We?

Romans 1:18-25

There must be no misunderstanding of what God's wrath is. It should never be confused with man's wrath, which is sinful.

God's wrath is not a sudden fit of temper; neither is it a desire for revenge. These things are sin, and we cannot attribute sin to God.

God's wrath is a fixed attitude of opposition toward all unrighteousness. This attitude never changes. It will culminate in righteous judgment on all who finally and completely reject God's offer of love.

God abhors sin, but He loves the sinner. This was clearly manifested when He made a way for the sinner to escape the consequences of sin and provided such a wonderful salvation in Christ.

God's attitude toward the sinner is seen in such passages as John 3:16: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son."

His attitude toward sin, however, is entirely different. Sin is of the Devil, and God in His wrath is against it. He will never tolerate it, regardless of the circumstances.

If a sinner continues in sin, refusing to accept God's gift of eternal life, then God's unchanging attitude of wrath toward sin will be revealed against the sinner.

This is the truth stated in John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God [His unchangeable attitude against sin] abideth on him."

In other words, when the sinner clings to his sin and refuses God's offer of mercy, then sin and the sinner are one so far as the wrath of God is concerned.

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Romans 2:17-29

Doing and Teaching Go Together

Romans 2:17-29

We need to ask ourselves if our lives are good illustrations of what we teach.

We teach that people should not steal, but do we steal? We may never rob banks, but are we guilty of withholding money that rightfully belongs to others? Are we totally honest in preparing our income tax returns?

And stealing involves more than just money--it can also involve time. Are we stealing God's time by doing things with our schedules and energies that God never intended?

Are we placing God first in our lives, not only concerning our finances but also concerning our time? Or do we give God only the finances and the time that are left over?

We should never think that once we have given some money and time to the Lord that the rest is ours to do with as we please. All that we have belongs to God, so He should be taken into consideration in everything we do.

Each of us needs to come to God with an open heart and ask Him to do what David asked of Him: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps. 139:23,24).

God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to accomplish this task. How serious it will be if, when we stand before the Lord, we must admit that we did far less than we could have.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Romans 3:9-18

Life's Most Important Fear

Romans 3:9-18

Romans 3:18 is not speaking of a reverential fear of God that a person has who recognizes Him as the great Potentate of all ages and as the Almighty God we serve.

Rather, this verse refers to those who have no concern for the existence, character or attributes of God. They do not think that God merits any thought at all. They completely fail to recognize their accountability to Him.

People's basic problem--the root cause of all their trouble--is that they do not know God, and they do not fear meeting God when they die. People speak lightly of death because they do not want to face its realities.

People have taken it for granted that God, if He even exists, will overlook what they do and will take care of them, regardless of how they live.

People's refusal to make God the God of their lives is the fountain from which all these evils flow. Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9:10).

When people refuse to fear God, or recognize Him for who He is, they lack wisdom, and they experience increasing mental confusion. One needs only to consider the fields of modern music and modern art to see this.

And in addition to the absence of wisdom and an increasing mental confusion, there is also moral and spiritual darkness.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Prov. 9:10).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Romans 5:1-5

Understanding Your Standing

Romans 5:1-5

Our standing before God is in the grace to which we have constant access (Rom. 5:2). We do not need new credentials each time we come to God, because our standing is constant since we come by means of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us.

God does not accept us as we are, but as we are in Christ Jesus. God makes His grace abound toward us (2 Cor. 9:8), and we are able to come boldly into His immediate presence (Heb. 10:19).

All of this is available to us; our responsibility is simply to act on the basis of what God has made available. We need to follow the principle stated by Jesus: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37).

Through grace, God has made all the benefits available to us; we now need simply to appropriate them or to act on the basis of what God extends to us.

God's grace is what He is; therefore, our standing is as sure as God is. Inasmuch as justification is by faith, it is already securely ours when we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.

The benefits, or blessings, that accompany justification are also ours, but in order to enjoy them we must appropriate them for ourselves.

To fail in appropriating these benefits is like having money in the bank but refusing to use it, or having water immediately available but refusing to drink it. Wonderful as these blessings are, they benefit us personally only as we appropriate them.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (Gal. 5:1).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Romans 5:3

Triumph in Tribulation

Romans 5:3; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Humanly speaking, no one likes tribulation. Within ourselves we react negatively to difficulties.

The word "glory" means "rejoice." No unbeliever can do this, but the believer's whole outlook is changed because of his relationship with Christ.

A true Christian can look tribulation in the face and say, "I thank God for this difficulty; I rejoice in it."

Notice that Romans 5:3 does not say we rejoice in spite of tribulations; rather, it says we rejoice in tribulations. This is sometimes an extremely difficult thing to learn. Have you learned it?

If not, you are missing one of the greatest blessings that God has in store for you. You can rejoice and thank God even for the tribulation you are passing through.

Most believers are familiar with Romans 8:28, which emphasizes that God is working all things together for our good and His glory.

God is using everything--whether we would call it tribulation or not--in order to mold us into the image of His Son (v. 29). And it takes difficulties to make us like Christ.

In order for us to have the qualities of Christ, we need to pass through difficulties. They teach us valuable lessons in the Christian school of experience.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

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[nChrist]

Author: Theodore Epp
Source: Strength for the Journey
Scripture Reference Romans 6:1-10

One With Christ!

Romans 6:1-10

After an individual is justified by faith in Christ, he discovers that he still has a sin nature. This gives him trouble, and he finds himself committing sins that he does not wish to commit. Soon he may become a believer who is dominated by sin.

What does God do about this? The solution to this problem is our identification with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. In this identification God sanctifies, or makes holy, the justified individual (a sinner saved by grace).

Whereas justification deals with the guilt of sin, sanctification (identification) deals with the power of sin in the life of the believer.

How does God sanctify, or make holy, a believer in daily experience? Romans 6 gives the answer. The answer is our union, or identification, with Christ.

Notice again that everything we have is because of Christ. Being in union with, or identified with, Christ is what is meant throughout the New Testament by the expression "in Christ." Being in Christ simply means that the believer has become one with Christ, or identified with Him.

Christ is not just a partner walking alongside the believer; He actually indwells the believer. Therefore, the believer is identified with Christ because Christ's life is in the believer.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

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