My Bible reading plan currently involves alternating between the books of Job and Revelation. This is tremendous encouragement as I deal with ongoing suffering and our enemy’s temptations. Just as with Job, when suffering is intense, we’re also dealing with spiritual warfare. For the next two weeks, I’m asking God to help us wage war with the enemy of our souls by hailing the complete power…
of the Savior of our souls, Jesus Christ!
Job’s words, amid shattering losses of health, financial stability, and the death of his children, expressed his anxiety, grief, and depression to God. He was desperate for relief. It sounds familiar.
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water (Job 3:24 CSB).
I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come (Job 3:26 CSB).
In all of Job’s battles with Satan’s many lies, temptations, and tests, Job looked forward to his Redeemer…we now look back to the same Redeemer!
We also look forward to the day when Jesus Christ returns and destroys Satan and his minions forever…
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall,
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!
(“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” Perronet, E., 1780)
All hail the power of Jesus over the enemy!
Sure, our adversary the devil is prowling the earth, seeking to devour people (1 Pet. 5:8). Our accuser pretends he’s speaking truth and can even do counterfeit supernatural things (2 Thess. 2:9). Just as with Jesus, the deceiver can subtly use Scripture to try to lead us away from devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3). He speaks lies in our thoughts to try to make us forget God’s love for us in the gospel (Jn. 3:16). Just as he used the Pharisees’ teaching, who prized self-righteousness in our own works instead of cherishing God’s gracious gift of righteousness found only in Christ, the father of lies tempts us to think our salvation is not sure and that our sin is not forgiven.
The enemy tempts us to sin with pride and unbelief! Let’s fight back!
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8 ESV)…
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him (Col. 2:14-15 ESV).
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
ye ransomed of the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace!
Jesus is powerfully keeping our souls safe as we suffer
Is there anyone who understands the enemy’s temptation as we suffer more than Jesus, the One who was tempted in every way and remained sinless (Heb. 4:15)? More than the One who had to face separation from our Father on the cross and ended up sweating blood from His anguish as the time approached (Lk. 22:44)?
More than the One who did this for those He died to save, His beloved bride? It’s done…and ongoing!
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Col. 1:13 ESV, emphasis added).
Sister in Christ, our Savior and Lord had to fight every temptation to bow out of His suffering and gain earthly relief…in love for us. He fought by remembering you and me, even when His friends wanted Him to quit and leave His road of suffering.
Our all-powerful and victorious Lord is actively helping us to fight, praying for us throughout the battle, and keeping our souls safe as we suffer.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession (Heb. 4:14 ESV).
But [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me” (Mt. 16:23 ESV)…
Jesus fought with trust in our loving Father, knowing that His suffering would bring about His gospel plan and purpose…
”for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16 ESV)…
so you and I would become those who will live for eternity with Him in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 22)…
and crown him Lord of all!
Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2022
Playlist gift to sing of God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes!
This week’s playlist gift focuses our hurting hearts on the “gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16). In this, we sing of the complete power of Jesus over Satan! As we suffer, we need to remember what is true! We have all hope…not despair, doom, or gloom!
Let’s sing praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for all He’s done for us, past, present ongoing, and future, for our God’s plan is unfolding for us as the beloved bride of Christ! Let’s crown Him Lord…of ALL! If this would help you in the many temptations suffering brings, sign up here and it will come to your email! Or perhaps other resources below will help?
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Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering
