Job 9:1-2 (NKJV) Then Job answered and said: “Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?
Since Job lived during the time of the Patriarch or even earlier, Job knew that it was impossible to stand righteous before God based on his self-efforts. However, we now have the breastplate of righteousness that comes with the imputed righteousness upon our confession and belief in our heart that Jesus has saved us from our sins. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts against the fiery darts of the devil. We have a right standing before God because we are made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ. The full armor of God is now available to us, which was not available to Job then.
Job 10:2 (NKJV) I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me.
Job was not able to see any hope in his situation because he thought God was his adversary and condemned him. The prolonged suffering took a toll on his life and his perspective of God waned. In actual fact, it was the devil who struck him with boils, killed his children and stole all his herds. But Job was not aware of the devil’s existence or his works. However, we are now privileged to be able to read this with a clearer perspective.
We cannot fight the good fight of faith unless we know and are convinced that God is not our adversary but our helper.
We want to be stronger in the Lord when we exit on the other side of the crisis. We need to put on our full armor of God when we are in periods of suffering. Therefore, we need to put on the breastplate of righteousness by acknowledging that our right standing with God is based on the imputed righteousness when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are able to lift up the shield of faith because we believe that He is our advocate and the mediator of a better covenant. We have peace with God through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. We put on the helmet of Salvation when we have these truths in place. Once we have these truths in place then nobody is able to condemn us regardless whether it is the devil or people who are misinformed. We will not retreat into a corner. We will take up the sword of the Spirit to enforce the victory of Jesus Christ as a Christian! We take hold of the sword of the Spirit to say as it is written that nothing shall separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35). No tribulation be it COVID-19, the global economic crisis or any other crisis that brings about distress or lack because we are convinced that He is able to provide for us, He is our victory banner and our righteousness!
Sermon Series: Job and I (Part 3)
穿戴神所赐的全副军装
以弗所书6:14 所以要站稳了，用真理当作带子束腰，用公义当作护心镜遮胸。
撒旦最常用的其中一个伎俩就是籍着我们先前所做错的事来谴责我们, 攻击我们在神面前公正的地位。没人喜欢被定罪, 因为当我们自我感觉很糟糕的时候, 我们几乎无法抬起头来面对神和面对人。
约伯记 9:1-2 约伯回答说：我真知道是这样；但人在 神面前怎能成为义呢？
因为约伯生活在族长时代，甚至更早, 约伯知道, 仅靠他自己的努力, 是不可能以公义站立于神面前的。 然而，我们现在有公义的护心镜, , 藉着我们口里承认和心里相信主耶稣已经将我们从我们的罪中救赎, 就得以称义。公义的护心镜保守我们的灵免受仇敌的火焰标枪的攻击。 籍着主耶稣基督的宝血, 我们得以称义, 在神面前以公义站立。 现今, 神所赐的全副军装可以为我们所用, 而约伯时代是没有这样的装备。
约伯记 10:2 对 神说：不要定我有罪，要指示我，你为何与我争辩？
约伯在当时的处境里看不见任何希望, 因为他认为神是他的对手且要定他的罪。 持续不断的苦难挫伤了他的生命, 减弱了他对神的认识。 而实际上, 是撒旦用毒疮攻击他, 杀害他的孩子们, 盗走他的牲畜。 但是约伯对撒旦的存在和撒旦的恶行并不知晓。 然而, 现今, 我们有幸能够用更清晰的角度来解读约伯的经历。
只有确信神是我们的帮助, 而非对手, 我们才能去打那美好的信心之战。
在我们走出危机时, 我们在主里更刚强。 在经历磨难时, 我们需要穿戴神所赐的全副军装。 在接受主耶稣成为我们的救主和生命的主之时, 我们因信称义, 有了以公义立于神面前的权柄, 因而我们得以用公义当作护心镜遮胸。 我们拿着信德当作盾牌, 因为我们确信在更美好的新约里, 祂是中保和保惠师。 籍着主耶稣基督的救赎大工, 我们得以与神和好。 当我们有这些真理时, 我们戴上了救恩的头盔。 一旦我们有了这些真理, 无论是撒旦还是被误导的人们都不能够定我们的罪。 我们不会退缩到角落里。 作为基督徒, 我们将拿着圣灵的宝剑，巩固主耶稣基督业已成就的得胜！我们拿着圣灵的宝剑说, 圣经里写着: 没有任何事情能使我们与基督的爱隔绝（罗马书8：35）, 无论是COVID-19、全球经济危机，还是任何其他带来痛苦或匮乏的危机，因为我们确信祂是我们的供应。 祂是我们得胜的旌旗，是我们的公义！
讲章系列：约伯与我（第三部分）