Job 30 - Fear Has Torment

Fear Has Torment

We have seen Job go back and forth in these chapters. One minute he is praising the Lord and the next he is groaning and complaining about his circumstances. He defends his integrity and his faith in God and then sinks back into depression and despair. He is all over the board here – can you see it saints? Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father;

Thank You for a new day in Your glorious presence. Thank You for teaching us day by day the things we need to know in order to walk in victory for our lives on this earth. Lord, I ask You to speak to me and through me today in the name of Jesus. May Your word go forth through me unhindered and unchecked by any outside force or my flesh. In the name of Jesus may each person reading this receive the revelation that You have for us and come up higher in our walk with You. Thank You in advance for what You will show us as we purpose to have eyes to see and ears to hear with hearts that long to receive Your precious word. Father, we are doers of Your word and not hearers only. Thank You for changing us more and more and bringing us into the best shape of our lives so we can be like our Master – Jesus. In Jesus mighty name we pray. We believe we receive it – and all God’s people said, amen!

This chapter opens with some profound information that shows us what can happen when we give place to the devil and yield ourselves to his ways. Job is now being tormented by people who he wouldn’t have ever considered associating with in the past. People who were down and out and full of evil intentions. Young men who live in the wilderness and have come by to torment Job and spit in his face.

Have you seen the movie titled “The Book of John?” In it, the story opens with Jesus coming to John to be baptized. It is the story of Jesus’ ministry from the beginning to the end and is pretty close to accurate as far as scripture is concerned. There is a scene in that movie where Judas, having deceived the Master and accepted the thirty pieces of silver, was running away crying because he knew he had turned on the Lord of glory. He was vexed in his soul. He was deeply troubled. He knew he had blown it - big time!

As he ran toward the wilderness grieving, the movie shows a bunch of really ugly looking people tormenting him and mocking him – just like we are reading about in today’s chapter. It is a dreadful scene. Judas goes out to the country, far out in a plain all alone, and these little people, follow him and continue to tear at him. These ‘little people’ in the movie were actually portrayed as demons who were hounding Judas. He had sold out to the devil, falling for the enemy’s scheme, and now satan’s demonic force was taunting him ceaselessly.

It was difficult to watch but well portrayed as such in the movie. They pushed on him so hard that he couldn’t take it until finally he found a rope and hung himself. It was really dreadful to watch that scene. Let’s look at the scene in the word of God…

Matthew 27:3-5

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”

And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Remember that Judas had been called of God to be one of the twelve disciples. He was loved by God and the Lord had a plan to use him to change the known world by converting many to righteousness through him. He had everything going for him. He walked and talked with Jesus for three years. He saw the healings, the deliverance from demonic spirits, the people getting miraculously fed and the dead being raised back to life. Who wouldn’t be amazed at such awesome wonders? Judas was a blessed and very privileged man – just like the other twelve.

But Judas had undealt with sin in his heart. As a result he lived in fear and he was tormented. When he finally gave in to the devil’s promptings, he was on his way down. Satan was watching everything that concerned Jesus very carefully and he also watched His followers. He saw the open door for attack in Judas’ life because he loved money more than the master. That was what allowed the devil to get into Judas’ mind and get a foothold on him that eventually turned into a stranglehold – literally. Not funny – don’t laugh! It is happening all over the world today saints! People are falling for satan’s tricks and it is opening the door for an endless (if they don’t get a hold of truth) stream of torment.

Job had opened the door for the initial attack. Now as time has gone on in his trial, he has been very ‘wishy washy’ in his resolve. One minute praising God and the next minute accusing Him of being cruel to him. This brought on the tormenters. There are a host of demons out there and they are watching Christians very closely. Just like we have angels assigned to us who will inherit salvation, there are demons assigned to us as well. This is not to cause any fear. Remember that in Psalm 23 the Lord reminds us that we do not fear evil – ever…

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Fear is a key that opens the door to the devil to come in and torment us in our lives. There are many other ways that will invite him in to wreak havoc in our lives. Things like we see Job doing today, such as complaining, accusing God of evil intentions, being upset, depressed, always whining about his circumstances and focusing on the problem rather than the solution. Fear is always of the enemy. When we yield to fear, we are basically saying, “Come on in spirit of fear, here I am”. And they see it and they respond quickly.

If Judas had repented on the spot for what he had done, he would have had hope. But he didn’t. He gave in to the fear and the torment of the enemy and he lost his life, his calling and did not fulfill the purpose and plan of God for which he had been called. That is very SADD-U-CEE!!!!!! What a special place in time he had had when he was called by Jesus Himself to come alongside Him and learn from Him so he could be empowered to go and literally be used by the Lord to change the world! Let’s look at some verses about fear (456 verses in the NKJV alone!). Perhaps one of the most well-known verses in the Bible on fear is this…

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

This is one of the first verses the Lord showed me about what fear does. Unfortunately, I never took the time to really mediate on it and take it to prayer. As an addict I was filled with fear. Fear of loss, fear of rejection, fear of lack, fear of man. Addictions of every kind come from a root of fear. And if you or anyone you have ever known have been addicted to something, then you understand the torment that your fears have brought your way. But did you know that fear is a spirit? Yes it is. Just like there is a good spirit, like a spirit of faith, there are many evil spirits. 

There are spirits of fear, spirits of addiction, spirits of torment, spirits of depression, anger, bitterness and well, you get my point. I could go on and on. God is love. There is no fear in Him. He is perfect love. His love perfected in our lives would dispel any and all fear. It’s like turning on a lamp in a dark room. The light dispels the darkness. It’s the same with God’s love. In Him there is no fear so when we enter into His presence and abide (stay, remain) therein, His presence dispels the fears – all fears. It has taken me a long time to understand this. Every time I gave in to fear, I ate things I didn’t need to eat, not realizing that was what was happening. I was fearing lack. I was not trusting God. And I have opened the door to the enemy sadly countless times. When I would do that I would be stricken with a spirit of infirmity and I would ache and hurt all over. My stomach would feel nauseous, and it was like coming down with a severe case of the flu.

What happens when the symptoms come upon us? Well, we can moan and get depressed and in total despair which only prolongs the matter, or we can repent of any sin and immediately resort to praising God and thanking Him that by Jesus stripes we are already healed – even while the symptoms are still present.

Many Christians do not believe this and because of that many die prematurely thinking it just wasn’t the will of God to heal them. That is nonsense! The devil has convinced many that it is not God’s will to heal and so many lives are cut short and not able to fulfill their God given calling to live a long life and be fruitful and effective for the kingdom. A lack of faith in God is an open door to satan to come in and steal, kill and destroy our health, our finances, our families and marriages, our work, you name it. But how many realize this? How many today are walking around on the planet shouting “Praise the Lord” on Sunday and freaking out on Monday when they get a bad report from the Dr.?

Friends, there is a big difference in hearing a report from the Dr. and accepting it. We do not have to agree with their report. When someone says “You have cancer.” We can reply and say, “Jesus paid for that and by His stripes I am healed, so no sir or mam, I do not have cancer. Jesus took that and bore that sickness on the tree for me. I am healed!” If a person were to stay in that kind of faith, they would quickly see the symptoms disappear and become a shining testimony for many to see. I have heard of countless healings, aside from my own stories of which I have several where people were miraculously healed, both through the direct touch of God and through Him working through a Dr. God is able to heal any disease and He can use all kinds of ways to do it.

But if we get that same report and get in fear, then the problem only exacerbates. It is a sad thing to see us as Christians giving in to fear. Nothing, no nothing is too big for God. Look at what He says in His word over and over about not being afraid…

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

If Christians would really trust God like we say and sing that we do, our lives would be on a totally different level than they are today. If we stood on His word and His promises and took them seriously, the results would blow the minds of people all over the world. They would see the power of God in our lives and they would want a piece of the action for certain. Hallelujah! The words in the Bible were written for us to grab on to today. When we really put our trust in God, it is amazing and miraculous how He intervenes in our lives on our behalf. If He can create planets and design the human body as complex as it is, don’t we think He can heal it?

Are you afraid of people? Here’s what God says about that…

Psalm 56:4

In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

And look at this…

Isaiah 44:8

Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’”

Is there anybody or any thing that you can call on to help you like God can? The resounding answer to that question is a big fat NO! Look at this…

Joshua 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ² “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. ⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Look at that! Who wouldn’t want what God is promising here? Only a fool would turn this down! When God tells us to do something, He has already made a way for it to prosper. But how many Christians really believe that? How SADD-U-CEE! If God says it, we just need to believe it and the matter would be settled. He didn’t tell the Israelites that they wouldn’t have to face some giants when they went in to take their promised land, but He did promise to be with them and prosper them if they would trust Him, do what He said and not deviate from it.

If we know this then, why are we still in fear? 

When are we going to really start to believe God and stop walking in fear and allowing ourselves to be tormented day and night? I can speak for myself only when I say it has taken me awhile to get this through my thick head and down into my heart. If He tells me to eat a certain way then I know I can do it and He will help me. If He tells me to write this Bible study when I can’t see what He wants to say in it each day, then I just start doing it and watch Him step in and lead the way. When we start responding to God’s commands in our lives with a boat load of faith and a “Yes Sir!” then we will see the miraculous. How do I know? I am a witness. I am seeing miracles at my house every day. I am serious.

God has been doing amazing things for me and through me daily and I am in a constant state of awe of Him. I look forward to every chance He will give me to boast about Him and how good He is. Regardless of my current situation, whether it is a family matter, a financial need or a physical or emotional need we can know this…

Philippians 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What if Judas had trusted in the Lord to provide for him financially? Do you think he would have been searching out thirty pieces of silver to disclose the Master’s whereabouts? Hardly! He would have known that just like the coin in the fish’s mouth to pay taxes, the Lord would have certainly provided anything that Judas had need of…

Matthew 17:24-27

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ He said, “Yes.”

And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

²⁶ Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. ²⁷ Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

When tax time came around, the Lord provided and the bill was paid. There was no need to fear. What about you? Do you believe that the Lord is your one and only true source for all your provisions? Do you trust in Him more than a paycheck, realizing that the paycheck is only one means that He can provide for you? If you believe it, you will be free from all fear where money is concerned. Judas loved the money and we saw that in other parts of scripture where his true heart had been revealed. The expensive perfume that had been poured out on Jesus’ feet was a ‘waste’ according to Judas. Right there the devil could see that he had an entry point into this man of God’s life, and he took full advantage of it. 

Judas ended up throwing the money back at them when he realized what he had done. So he came to a swift  and terrible end when he lost not only the silver, but his precious relationship with the one who had come to call him friend and save his soul. Today we have a bunch a ‘scaredy cat’ Christians running around, and when lost people hear the way they talk, they wonder what is so special about being a Christian anyway.

But that is not you or me, is it saints? No, we are going to trust in the Lord our God and we are not going to lean on what we can see, feel or understand are we? We are going to walk by faith and not by sight. We are going to proclaim with our mouths that the Lord is our provider…

Psalm 78:12-31

Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap.
In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink in abundance like the depths.
He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

But they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy.
Yes, they spoke against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?”

Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation. Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven.
Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full.

He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; and He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.

So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel.

God showed Israel that He could bring them all the meat and water they could possibly want and more. But did they really believe Him? No. And because of that they angered Him and caused their own destruction.

Think of a good parent who has all the food needed for their child, yet at the end of the day they find out that the child went begging for food at someone else’s house because they didn’t really believe dinner would be on the table when they got home. Do you think that might make the parent a bit angry?

“Every need” is what our Philippians verse says. Do you need healing? Will not your God provide? Has not Jesus already paid for your sickness? Do you need money? Will your God not supply that too? Whatever it is we need, He has it. There is no shortage in God’s pockets. The big thing is to seek His heart and what He wants and leave the details to His care. We have rights to call in money we need in the name of Jesus but that’s another subject for another day.

Right now we need to look at what Job is doing wrong so we can get it right. That’s why the Lord put it in there. If we always saw the successes of people and never the struggles then how could we learn from them? Many want to just blaze their own trail and find out the hard way rather than looking for the answers to life’s every need in the book of life. I have been there and done that too many times.

God wants us all to walk in faith and trust Him completely, without any fear. No fear of sickness or death. No fear of lack or man. No fear of anything. But like everything else in life, God gives us a choice. We can choose to give in to fear and be tormented day and night (what a waste of a good life!) or we can walk in faith and watch Him do miraculous things in our lives – what’s your choice? Let’s say this out loud right now…

Father, I am going to trust in You for all things and I am not going to let fear into my life. When fear tries to come, and I know it will at times, I will resist it. I will choose instead to trust You Father and know that You are working out all things for my good because I love You and am the called according to Your purpose. Father, I repent for any fear I have had and ask You to forgive me right now in Jesus name. Thank You Lord that I am forgiven and I forgive myself. From this day forward when fear tries to get on me I will resist it and place all my trust in You. Thank You Father for being a good God and so faithful to me in Jesus name! Amen!

Questions:

What were those young hooligans doing to Job?

What do they represent?

Why were they able to get away with it?

Where have you been letting fear into your life?

What can you do instead of fear?  

Psalm 16:1

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.

   There are three main points to consider from today’s study…

Fear is an open door to the torment of the devil

God told us in His word not to fear

God said we can trust Him

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding me in Your word today that there is perfect love in You that casts out all fear. I don’t have a single thing to be worried about or afraid of. Thank You for always providing my every need. Forgive me for the times I doubted You Lord and help me to remember every time that fear tries to come that I can resist it and turn it into faith in You. Thank You Lord in Jesus name. Amen!

What are you afraid of anyway?  

And God Said… You fill in the blanks.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³ Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
⁶ The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah