Keep the Faith: Running the Race, Fighting the Fight

Key Scripture - The Book of Job

What was Godís intent in this story?
What was Satanís intent?
We may want to ask what the purpose of all of this was, but instead of that, I want you to ask a different question: What happened in the life of Job through these events?

Creating division is one of the easiest ways for Satan to stop a church from being the kind of church that God wants it to be. Division turns a church from a place that is about God into a place that is about people and preferences.

Satan knows that by attacking us physically, it will make us tired, it will discourage us, it will create fear, and it will cause us to stop moving forward.

When bad things happen in our lives we want to know a couple of things right off the bat.
∑ Why did God allow this to happen?
∑ What is the purpose of this suffering?

We have expectations both for what God should do, and for what it means to be one of His children.

When we are under attack, it is not God who attacks us, but it is Satan

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NIV

James 1:13-15 NIV

1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

God is sovereign over all things. He is still God. But Satan has a lot of power in this world to do what he wants to do

1 John 5:18-20 NIV

What is Satanís ultimate objective?

His objective is not to make your life miserable. That is not what he wants.
What he wants is to pull you away from God. So, Satan will do whatever he can to frustrate you, to discourage you, to make you angry at God so that you pull yourself away.

2 Timothy 3:10-13 NIV

Persecution and attack are a sign that you are living your life for God. It is not proof that God is not there.

The life of the early Christian was not characterized by victory here on earth. This world was a tough place for them.

The life of Jesus
∑ As a baby he had to run for his life. Or I guess ride with Mary on a camel for his life.
∑ He was very poor. Came from a humble family
∑ He was homeless throughout his ministry
∑ He recognized that people hated him without good reason.
∑ Then he was tortured and killed.

John 16:33 NIV

Romans 8:35-39 NIV

The encouragement we get is to endure, to hold on, and to not give up.

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 NIV

The call is a call to endure. To hold on. To not give up. To run the race until it is completed. To know that God is there waiting for you.

Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV