Testing of Faith (Job 1)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
12 January 2020
Gold is tested for its genuineness. If faith, like gold, is of any value, it will be tested. So Christians, don't be surprised or shocked when you face severe testing of your faith.
God's people are like gold in his sight and their faith will be tested The enemy of faith, the devil, will not rest as long as faith endures. He targets believers. He targeted Job. He targeted Jesus. Both Job and Jesus were blameless - Jesus perfectly so, yet they were tested.
Why is faith tested? There is a spiritual dimension. Satan’s contention is that God protected Job. He reasoned that should this protection be withdrawn Job's faith would crumble. The issue was, does faith need props to survive? Satan sought to hurt Job so badly that Job would deny his faith.
The Lord permitted Satan to put Job to the test. Without this permission Satan could do nothing. However, with God’s permission Satan can do much harm. But his power is restricted. The devil has potency but he is not omnipotent.
Note the severity of Job's trial. In one day he lost all his wealth; all his children. It was calamity after calamity. But amidst this severe testing Job’s faith remains steadfast.
The crucial issue of Job chapter 1 is that God-given faith does not need props to survive. Underlying the events of Job 1 is the age-long Satanic assault on the sufficiency of Christ’s work of grace. If Christ’s death secured the salvation of the elect will the faith of God’s people stand in the heat of Satanic attack? Job’s answer is a resounding yes. God-given faith will withstand all Satanic attack. It will triumph.
How shall we endure when we are tested?
Be prepared. Jesus said we can expect tribulation (John 16:33). If you do not understand why trials come, you have not understood the Bible. Prepare yourself for trials.
Do not become bitter in the midst of trials. Satan wanted Job to curse God (1:11; 2:5). Job’s wife also wanted this (2:9). She had become a servant of Satan. But Job did not curse God (although he had his moments of doubts). Our tongues are for blessing, not cursing.
Acknowledge the sovereignty of God in your circumstances. Job's response is worth memorising. "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (1: 21).
In all his trial Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Learn from Job. Don’t blame God; bless God .