Job 3-4
One of the most hotly debated television commercials of our time was during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. It was from Nike and featured Andre Agassi telling the world that "You don't win silver. You lose gold." They were harshly criticized for the ad going against the Olympic spirit and the ad was pulled; but to some extent, the slogan stuck. Winning, at tennis, or football, or Spiritual Warfare is always the goal when we enter into competition. In most of them, we really should be happy with winning the second place silver medal. But when is comes to the spirit world, there really is no place for runners up on the medal stand as only one can stand victorious.
Job, throughout his life, is religious, pious and respected. His walk with God is good and his relationship with Him is strong. Throughout chapters three and four we find good and bad examples of how to practice warfare. During Job's speech we hear all of his complaints, fears and regrets. He wishes that he was never conceived or that he were a stillborn. He complains that his wealth, health and family are nothing but memories now. It's important to notice that his complaints were true. He was simply stating facts. He asks questions that we all ask; why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people? Nowhere in his speech does Job ever blame God for the struggles in his life. God does allow difficulties but does not actually cause them. Expressing that prevents an opportunity for the devil to establish a foothold. By continuing to speak not of the difficulties but instead of what God will do is a perfect example of how to battle even in the most difficult times.
Immediately following that, in chapter four, we see a perfect of how to be defeated in battle. Job's friends come to him and demonstrate what is the common human response to adversity. His friends tell Job that God only punishes the wicked and that no good man has ever been destroyed. They conclude that because Job is suffering it is obvious that he mush be a hypocrite and an evil man. Vocalizing those things actually do more harm than good. They plant seeds in our minds which can lead to doubt and confusion. It also gives the devil ground on which to operate. Jesus told us that with faith we can remove obstacles from our lives. Good warfare prevents them from becoming obstacles in the first place.
Job, throughout his life, is religious, pious and respected. His walk with God is good and his relationship with Him is strong. Throughout chapters three and four we find good and bad examples of how to practice warfare. During Job's speech we hear all of his complaints, fears and regrets. He wishes that he was never conceived or that he were a stillborn. He complains that his wealth, health and family are nothing but memories now. It's important to notice that his complaints were true. He was simply stating facts. He asks questions that we all ask; why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people? Nowhere in his speech does Job ever blame God for the struggles in his life. God does allow difficulties but does not actually cause them. Expressing that prevents an opportunity for the devil to establish a foothold. By continuing to speak not of the difficulties but instead of what God will do is a perfect example of how to battle even in the most difficult times.
Immediately following that, in chapter four, we see a perfect of how to be defeated in battle. Job's friends come to him and demonstrate what is the common human response to adversity. His friends tell Job that God only punishes the wicked and that no good man has ever been destroyed. They conclude that because Job is suffering it is obvious that he mush be a hypocrite and an evil man. Vocalizing those things actually do more harm than good. They plant seeds in our minds which can lead to doubt and confusion. It also gives the devil ground on which to operate. Jesus told us that with faith we can remove obstacles from our lives. Good warfare prevents them from becoming obstacles in the first place.