Job 8:8 Consider What I Say

Job 8:8 (KJV)
For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

I’m attempting to meditate upon the accusations of Job’s friends, and his responses to them, from the perspective of Scofield’s proposition[1] that Eliphaz leaned on his experiences, Bildad on his traditions, and Zohar on his “superior” understanding of God and his dogmatism. I moved that to Eliphaz, the charismatic, Bildad, the Protestant, and Zophar, the Fundamentalist.

Bildad appeals to the former age.

Job responds, “I know it is so of a truth.” Neither the Charismatic nor the Protestant were entirely incorrect. It’s just that neither one allowed that God was at work in the life of Job.

I think this is where the Baptist distinctive of individual soul liberty shines. A person has a right to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. Consider, individual soul liberty does not imply that each person’s understanding of God is correct or that any form of worship pleases God, so long as the person is sincere. This is the purpose of preachers, preaching, and teachers, teaching. God calls and gifts certain persons to study the Word of God and proclaim it so that others may be corrected and directed to worship in spirit and in truth. What it does mean is that we are free not to hold judgment against another solely because his position differs from ours.

Job was right. By the end of the book, we know that. It was Job God called to pray for his friends and not the other way around.

I do not demand anyone agree with me. I only beg them to consider what I say.
2 Timothy 2:7 (KJV)
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

[1] I recognize that this is the proposition of a fallible man, such as I am. I merely do this as a spiritual exercise, asking the Lord to give me understanding of His Word. I’m looking to criticize anyone – just understand the Word of God more clearly.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

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Job 8:8 Consider What I Say

Job 6:7 Unwavering Submission to God

Job 6:7 (KJV)
The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

I am reminded of,
Philippians 4:11-13,
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewithto be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

When we read the words of verse thirteen, we often apply it to – well – all things. But the context is much more precise than that. The “all things” Paul refers to are abounding or being abased, full or being hungry. Christ gave him the strength to live, serve, and honor the Lord in whatsoever state his current circumstances found him.

Eliphaz seems to have believed God was only found in the good things. He could not conceive of God being glorified through a suffering believer. He, therefore, could not understand how Job would be content with anything other than good things.

I look at Job today and realize that his unwavering submission to God, even while hurting so terribly, brings great glory to God.

May our Lord strengthen us to be content and thereby glorify Him in all these things.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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Job 6:7 Unwavering Submission to God

Job 5:6 The Way to Seek God

Job 5:6 (KJV)
Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

I’m thinking of Scofield’s likening the friends to various types of Christians, Eliphaz being like the Charismatic. The Charismatic’s faith is works based. He sees salvation as something earned by works and kept through works.

The Charismatic sees God as the giver of all things good, so it must be our fault if trouble comes.

  • Affliction cometh not of the dust
  • Trouble springs not out of the ground

The Charismatic is religious, but he is religious for the experience of good.

“I would seek God…. Which doeth great things.”[1]

No doubt Job sought unto God. But Job understood the principle “Submit yourselves therefore to God….”[2] He knew that the way to seek God was to submit to Him.

God does not exist to give us the fruit of the Land. We exist to glorify God and bring pleasure to Him.

[1] Job 5:8-9 (KJV)
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

[2] James 4:7 (KJV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Job 5:6 The Way to Seek God

Job 4:2 The Christian Satan Uses

Job 4:2 (KJV)
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Satan plays a prominent part in the first two chapters of Job, setting the stage for all else that transpires. Chapter three is an expression of Job’s grief. It would be improper to see him as sinning. The Word of God is simply letting us into the pain of one who has been so injured in this life. Chapter four begins the communion of his “friends.” We do not hear the name of Satan again. We do not have to.

So much of the time, Satan gets the ball rolling, but our so-called friends keep it going. A modern version of verse two might sound more like this, “Will it upset you if we tell you what we think?” His friends would have been friends if they had stopped right there. Instead, they were pawns. They were the devil’s instruments to heap terrible coals of fire on a man already grieving.

Schofield’s Notes says of Job’s friends that,
Eliphaz rests on mysterious experience, Bildad rests upon his tradition, and Zophar rests upon his dogmatic knowledge of God. In every case, he likens those the devil used to Christians.

It occurred to me that,

  • Eliphaz is like the charismatic Christians
  • Bildad is like the Protestant Christian and
  • Zophar is like the fundamental Baptist Christian

Don’t be the Christian Satan uses to finish his fiendish plot.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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Job 4:2 The Christian Satan Uses

Job 1:6 The Character of Satan

Job 1:6 (KJV)
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

It seems impossible, but any time the sons of God, whether human or angelic, present themselves before the Lord, Satan shows up too.

I see three characteristics of Satan in this chapter.
He is action-oriented
The serpent has been an “evangelistic” since the garden. He shows up where people are, preaching the Word of God but asking just the right questions to confuse people into putting themselves above God.

He is success driven
God pointed out Job’s godly character. Satan focused on his success.

He is religion based
The passage begins and ends with Satan in the presence of the Lord.[1]

Job serves as a sharp contrast to Satan in that, though he worshiped the Lord, he was much more passive. He was settled in his faith. He was resolved to allow God to rule in the entire affair. Job did struggle. This was difficult, nearly unbearable. 

But in the end, Job was where I want to be.

[1] Job 2:1 (KJV)
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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Job 1:6 The Character of Satan

Esther 9:2 The Victory Belongs to Jesus

Esther 9:2 (KJV)
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

The authority of the king held such a tremendous sway. Whether the enemies of the Jews defeated the Jews or whether the Jews defeated their enemies was not up to fate nor up to the strength of one over the other. The king entirely decided the victor.

For a time, it appeared the enemy would win, and the Jews would be exterminated. God had other plans. Circumstances had already been implemented to counter any advantages the enemy seemed to have had.

  • Esther was the queen
  • Mordecai had saved the king’s life

Though a decree had been signed and the Jews were deeply threatened, what was apparently ordained was countervailed by the further command of the king.

The events of this world are not under the thumb of the greatest power. The victory does not belong to the largest army or the strongest force. The outcome belongs to the decree of the Lord. Many of us have already read it. Though he is seemingly powerful, and with overwhelming forces, Satan hasn’t the authority to win. 

The victory belongs to Jesus. Those who follow Him will partake in and rejoice over that victory.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
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Esther 9:2 The Victory Belongs to Jesus

Acts 26:24 The Key to Saving Grace

Acts 26:24 (KJV)
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

Interestingly, Festus said of Paul, “much learning doth make thee mad.” I am often accused of being “unlearned”[1]because of my position on the doctrines of Christ. I find in Paul’s defenses three responses:

Felix trembled[2]
It is unfortunate that he did not come to Christ.

Festus shouted
He thought the doctrines of Christ and His resurrection were ludicrous, insane.

Agrippa waffled
Paul looked into this man’s eyes and pleaded for him to trust. Agrippa replied, “Almost.”

But 

  • Almost is not good enough
  • Conviction is not far enough

Faith is the key that opens the door to saving grace.

[1] I’m in good company. Acts 4:13 (KJV)
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

[2] Acts 24:25 (KJV)
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Acts 26:24 The Key to Saving Grace

Esther 8:4 A Second Blessing

Esther 8:4 (KJV)
Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

Among the Arminian believers,[1] there is what they call “the doctrine of the second blessing.” They teach that salvation is a first blessing and sanctification, to be perfectly sinless, is a second blessing. When I was in Bible College, my wife worked at a Christian grade school administered by a group that held such a doctrine. I once heard the bishop Conkle, then the leader of this group, teach the doctrine[2] on the radio. His wife was the principal of the school my wife worked at. The bishop’s wife confided in my wife once, “I don’t believe the second blessing is really in the Bible.” She had lived with the bishop long enough to know he was not perfectly sinless!

The doctrine of the second blessing is not biblical, but this second time the king held the golden scepter toward Esther does remind me that our salvation isn’t the only blessing God has for us.

He extended grace before us when He saved us from our sin and made us children of light, not darkness. He has given us victory over sin, over death and made us His own.

He will extend grace before us once again when, in the last day, He raises us with immortal, celestial bodies, seats us together with Christ in heavenly places, and binds Satan eternally in the Lake of Fire.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

[1] Arminianism, a theological movement in Protestant Christianity that arose as a liberal reaction to the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. The movement began early in the 17th century and asserted that God’s sovereignty and human free will are compatible. Apr 11, 2023  https://www.google.com/search?q=Arminian&oq=Arminian&aqs=chrome..69i57.283j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[2] And claim it for himself.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Esther 8:4 A Second Blessing

Esther 6:3 Hard Work with Little Reward?

Esther 6:3 (KJV)
And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

Every month, I’ve put some money aside in an account for about forty years now. In practical life, this practice has accomplished nothing for me. There has been no benefit. There is nothing to show for it. I get a slip of paper, or more recently, an electronic notice, that reports the total, but that is of little good. The fact is, that number costs me. I have to pay taxes on it. It is a practice that they say is good to do. But in real-time, it seems good for nothing.

Mordecai had done the right thing. He had reported the betrayal of two of the king’s servants and saved the king’s life. Nothing had been done to reward or recognize him. But it was not as if his service wasn’t worth it. It had been recorded. In time, really, at the right time, the record came to the king, and, at the right time, the king was moved to honor him.

Serving the Lord can sometimes feel like hard work with little reward. But that’s not the case. Serving the Lord is like putting money in the bank. God is keeping a record, and while it might sometimes seem like nothing has been done to repay that service, a day is coming when the account is opened, and the treasures laid up will be more than sufficient.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Esther 6:3 Hard Work with Little Reward?

Esther 4:4 The Devastation the Devil is Doing

Esther 4:4 (KJV)
So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

It is common among Christians today to put on a false front. It is, in many cases, even expected that Christians would behave as if everything in the world was fine. A smile, a disposition of joy is the premium American Christianity sells today.

I do believe that Christians are overcomers.[1] I agree there is both a joy and a peace that passeth understanding[2] available for the Christian. But I also believe that too many of us are, like Queen Esther, living in the palace and unaware or else purposely ignoring the devastation the devil is doing in our world.

  • Would to God we had more believers in sackcloth and ashes.
  • Would to God the Queen Esther’s of this world would be the ones corrected of their celebrations rather than the Mordecai’s being chided for their mourning.

What Christian doesn’t know the eventual end of this world?

Perhaps we would see a great revival before the Great Tribulation if we also saw a great mourning among the believers.

[1] 1 John 4:4 (KJV)
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[2] Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 6000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Esther 4:4 The Devastation the Devil is Doing