How does God work with believers in light of Satan's plans for the world? Job 1-2

Job 1:12

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

How does God work with believers in light of Satan's plans for the world?  In Job we see Satan wanting to attack Job for the purpose of proving to God that Job did not serve God out of love but out of "blessings."   Satan's argument to God was, in essence, "God has blessed Job and therefore Job is loyal ... remove the blessings and Job will curse God."    As the story unfolds we see God allowing Satan to take away the blessings; which will allow Satan to prove his point.   The subject of this section, however, is "how does God work His purposes and allow evil and Satan to have their moment?   In the subsequent verses we see that God allowed Satan to afflict Job's family and possessions by using a two corrupt groups (the Chaledens and the Sabeans); a fierce and destructive wind; and lighting from heaven.   Once the world fell into sin through Adam and Eve's disobedience the world became a death trap.  God allowed the "forces of evil" to "do their thing" and that inflicted pain and suffering on Job.  God, at times, removes His protection and allows evil to run it's course.   We know that God hates evil (Proverbs 15:26).   But, He will allow evil to do what evil does, to accomplish His purposes.   God wanted to show Satan that Job was loyal and loved God ... and, when we finish the story we will see that is what happens.   But, God can, and does, accomplish His purpose by allowing evil to do what it does when it is in the power of Satan's hands.   God just allows Satan to only have so much in his hands.   

Is it alright to hang with the world? Psalm 1-2

Psalms 1:1

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

As the Psalms begin God lays the first verse in the first Psalms somewhat as a theme for the rest of the book.  The entire first Psalm outlines God's message in the book: Follow God and receive blessings, in time; Don't follow God and receive wrath, in time.   The first verse Psalms up where we need to be in regard to faith.  We are to practice faith in God and avoid companionship with the world and the world's system.   This is a theme throughout all of Scripture.  The nation of Israel failed to here this warning.   The main reason they lost the promise land and suffered God's loving hand of chastisement was because of their failure to avoid the counsel of the wicked, the path of the sinners and the seat of the scoffers.  Note what God says to the nation through the prophet Isaiah: 

Isaiah 2:6

For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob,

Because they are filled with influences from the east,

And they are soothsayers like the Philistines,

And they strike bargains with the children of foreigners.

Make no mistake, if you believe in God and follow Him you will have to live separate from the world.   When we get close to the world's counsel, path or seat we fall into the world's philosophy and habits.  God knows us ... He made us.   He knows we can easily be lead astray.  He knows that we are easily influenced.   We are blessed when we stay clear of the world's teaching and thought.   

Does God work with each generation the same? Joshua 1-5

Joshua 1:5

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

Does God work with each generation the same?   There is much debate about how God works in the lives of believers in each generation.   Much can be written on the subject.   Personally, I believe although it is the same God, He has chosen different methods and different purposes for different periods in history.   But, the above statement from God gives us one constant throughout all of history:  The same God that was with Moses would be with Joshua, to complete His task.   The same God that was with Joshua will be with us today to complete the tasks and mission He has given us, via the church.  We might differ on the tasks and the extent of the tools He provides each generation, but we should never question the character of God is the same.   Joshua must have taken great solace in this statement from God.  He had seen the miracles while in Egypt, as just a lad.  He must have been amazed at the destruction of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea .... imagine his young mind growing in faith!   He was selected by his tribe to spy out the promise land and saw the great things he was now ask to lead the nation to obtained.   Joshua would be strengthened knowing that, "just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you."   We should take the same thought to heart.   God is with us.  The same God that was with Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Daniel and all the other great men and women of faith, is with us.   We pray to the same God and it is the same God who gives us His love, protection and provision.   Question "how" God may work with us today as compared to the past, if you must.  But, don't ever question that God does work with us today and has the same power, protection, provision and care as in the past.  

Why confess when God already knows? Genesis 1-3

Genesis 3:11-12

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

"Confession is good for the soul but bad for the reputation."    This old adage has been passed around for years.   The value, or truth of it, probably depends upon the one saying it.   When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden God came looking for them and asking them what was wrong.   He asked them who told them they were naked.  But, God already knew.  He is omniscient.  He knows everything.    Why then did God ask them "why" they were naked?   God knew they were naked but God wanted them to say it. Confession is for us and not for God.  Confession is when you and I agree with God that our behavior is sin and offensive to God.   When we sin we have a tendency to want to hide it from others and from God.    But, in the above account of this historical and theological event we see that God desires that we "confess" to Him what He already knows.   Confession is good for us as it relates us to God and allows us to open the door for His grace.   Confession is the valve that we open to allow God's grace to flow into our damaged lives.  

He will finish the job!! Jude

Jude 1:24

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

After reading the first 23 verses in this little book of Jude we might think we are destined to be deceived and will fall for every deceitful doctrine postulated by man.   Jude, in his one chapter book, is warning believers that there are many who wish to lead them astray.  He gives a number of examples of those who taught falsehoods, or gave into them.   He is warning us to stand our guard against the doctrines of the Devil, who only wishes to lead us into his same destiny.    The attack on the faith of the believer is real and often successful.   Yet, God ends the book with the above verse ... a promise to all believers, similar to the one Christ gave to Peter in regard to his denials.  Christ told Peter he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.   However, Christ didn't abandon Peter in his denial.  In fact, note what Christ said to him "prior" to the denial:

Luke 22:31-32

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

God promises to "keep us from stumbling" and to "make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy."   We may fail and fall-away.   But, God promises to keep us to the end.   He promises to finish what He started.   There may be deceivers out there and we may fall to their message from time to time.  But, God will rescues as we believe in faith that He will and He will bring us safely home to Glory.   

Don't forget God's will because of His methods - Acts 27-28

Acts 28:30-31

And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

This historical evidence of Paul's travel from Jerusalem to Rome is remarkable on a number of different levels.  God's sovereignty is on full display, as is Paul's faith and the attitude of unbelievers toward them both.   Paul had so longed to go to Rome but never would have imagined the journey that would bring him there.  Yet, the purpose and mission, no matter how he arrived would stay the same: Preach the Gospel and persuade whoever would hear about the resurrection of Christ.   As today's believers, we must finish our course in the same manner.   We have no idea "how" we will get where we are going.  But, along the way we have to make sure that the journey doesn't distract us from the mission.  We are called to tell others about Christ.   We are not called to enjoy and embrace the world.   We are called to be the light in the darkness.   That means while in the darkness we can act like others.   Paul is our example of what can happen when we have faith in God's plan and His ways of working out His plans.   Many of us believe in His will but few like His methods to accomplish that will.   Remember the mission despite the journey: Christ and Him glorified.  

Water of Life at NO COST - Revelation 18-22

Revelation 22:17

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

In this last section of the Revelation much debate can be heard as to meaning.   Who is who and what is what is often kicked like a can between theologians as they struggle with the visions and terms and pictures.   Thankfully, despite the difficulty, there is much that is simple and true and can be stated with out ambiguity.    The above verse is one of those clear and certain truths we would have little debate about.   At the end of the book there is a clear and distinct invitation to come to Christ.   The book might cause some confusion but God's intent is to drive the hearer of the Word toward Christ.   "Come" is the invitation all men need to hear.   In our difficulty of understanding some parts we see that all the parts point to an invitation to come to Christ.    Like the Gospels, The Revelation of Christ is an offer to quench the thirst.   The "water of life without cost" is the offer a Savior who paid it all.   Don't get lost in the interpretation when the central theme is so plain and so clear.   Once we come to that understanding it is much easier to realize the rest of the book has Christ at the center, as well.