MORAL SOUNDNESS



In the Book of Job we see a good man who becomes overwhelmed because of his circumstances.

Job 1:1 (NKJV) THERE WAS A MAN IN THE LAND OF UZ, WHOSE NAME WAS JOB; AND THAT MAN WAS BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT, AND ONE WHO FEARED GOD AND SHUNNED EVIL.


Beginning with the 1st. Chapter of Job, Satan embarks on an assault on Job’s character claiming that the only reason Job is loyal to God is because of the blessings God constantly bestows on him!

Thus, an all-out attack by Satan through Job’s so-called ‘friends’ is set in motion. There’s controversy after controversy, debate after debate with those men who surround Job, accusations beyond belief by the “religious” community. It gets so bad, Job’s wife even chimes in.

Job 2:9-10 (NKJV) THEN HIS WIFE SAID TO HIM, "DO YOU STILL HOLD FAST TO YOUR INTEGRITY? CURSE GOD AND DIE!" 10 BUT HE SAID TO HER, "YOU SPEAK AS ONE OF THE FOOLISH WOMEN SPEAKS. SHALL WE INDEED ACCEPT GOOD FROM GOD, AND SHALL WE NOT ACCEPT ADVERSITY?" IN ALL THIS JOB DID NOT SIN WITH HIS LIPS.


(How many of us would remain stalwart with un-ending faithfulness without even a complaint?!)


In chapter 23, Job says: BUT HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE; WHEN HE HAS TESTED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD. 11 MY FOOT HAS HELD FAST TO HIS STEPS; I HAVE KEPT HIS WAY AND NOT TURNED ASIDE. 12 I HAVE NOT DEPARTED FROM THE COMMANDMENT OF HIS LIPS; I HAVE TREASURED THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH MORE THAN MY NECESSARY FOOD.


And he goes on to say in chapter 26: HE STRETCHES OUT THE NORTH OVER EMPTY SPACE; HE HANGS THE EARTH ON NOTHING. 8 HE BINDS UP THE WATER IN HIS THICK CLOUDS, YET THE CLOUDS ARE NOT BROKEN UNDER IT.

And verse 14 of that chapter says: INDEED THESE ARE THE MERE EDGES OF HIS WAYS, AND HOW SMALL A WHISPER WE HEAR OF HIM! BUT THE THUNDER OF HIS POWER WHO CAN UNDERSTAND?"


Now, right in the middle of all the hoop-la going on by Job’s self-righteous “friends”, he says:

Job 27:2-6 (NKJV) "AS GOD LIVES, WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY MY JUSTICE, AND THE ALMIGHTY, WHO HAS MADE MY SOUL BITTER, 3 AS LONG AS MY BREATH IS IN ME, AND THE BREATH OF GOD IN MY NOSTRILS, 4 MY LIPS WILL NOT SPEAK WICKEDNESS, NOR MY TONGUE UTTER DECEIT. 5 FAR BE IT FROM ME THAT I SHOULD SAY YOU ARE RIGHT; TILL I DIE I WILL NOT PUT AWAY MY INTEGRITY FROM ME. 6 MY RIGHTEOUSNESS I HOLD FAST, AND WILL NOT LET IT GO; MY HEART SHALL NOT REPROACH ME AS LONG AS I LIVE.


You see, Job didn’t know ‘why’ all of this was happening to him. He just knew that WHATEVER came his way, he WOULD NOT denigrate or besmirch the great Name of God, Jehovah! Job 13:15-19 (NKJV) THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST HIM. EVEN SO, I WILL DEFEND MY OWN WAYS BEFORE HIM. 16 HE ALSO SHALL BE MY SALVATION, FOR A HYPOCRITE COULD NOT COME BEFORE HIM. 17 LISTEN CAREFULLY TO MY SPEECH, AND TO MY DECLARATION WITH YOUR EARS. 18 SEE NOW, I HAVE PREPARED MY CASE, I KNOW THAT I SHALL BE VINDICATED. 19 WHO IS HE WHO WILL CONTEND WITH ME? IF NOW I HOLD MY TONGUE, I PERISH.

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There is so much to be learned from these passages! Listen to this:

Job 27:13-17 (NKJV) "THIS IS THE PORTION OF A WICKED MAN WITH GOD, AND THE HERITAGE OF OPPRESSORS, RECEIVED FROM THE ALMIGHTY: 14 IF HIS CHILDREN ARE MULTIPLIED, IT IS FOR THE SWORD; AND HIS OFFSPRING SHALL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH BREAD. 15 THOSE WHO SURVIVE HIM SHALL BE BURIED IN DEATH, AND THEIR WIDOWS SHALL NOT WEEP, 16 THOUGH HE HEAPS UP SILVER LIKE DUST, AND PILES UP CLOTHING LIKE CLAY; 17 HE MAY PILE IT UP, BUT THE JUST WILL WEAR IT, AND THE INNOCENT WILL DIVIDE THE SILVER.


This passage explains why we say, “THE APPLES DON’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE!”

You see, there IS such a thing as “Generational Curses”. And unless you renounce all those sin-laden activities prevalent in your family history, YOU are a candidate for spirit-activity that has traveled down the family-line!


However, the same thing applies for God-fearing family backgrounds. If your up-bringing is all-inclusive of a Spirit-filled household, your “THINKING” will be embraced by what you were taught about the Lord, His Word, and what He expects of you in this life.

Of course, you still have the God-given ‘right’ to choose your own path in life. But it’s a lot more likely that you will follow the Lord IF you were taught the ways of God from your parents and grandparents!

But that’s exactly why Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV) says: "I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH AS WITNESSES TODAY AGAINST YOU, THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSING; THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS MAY LIVE;


You see, ultimately YOU are the one who will answer to Almighty God. You can’t put the blame on your Mama, Daddy, or anybody else. YOU will stand before the Righteous Judge; and He will NOT accept the excuse: “it’s the way I was raised”, or “the Devil made me do it!!”


Job 28:28 (NKJV) AND TO MAN HE SAID, 'BEHOLD, THE FEAR OF THE LORD, THAT IS WISDOM, AND TO DEPART FROM EVIL IS UNDERSTANDING.'"


Pro 1:7 says: THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE, BUT FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION.

And once you’ve made that covenant with the Lord to do His perfect will in your life, you have this Scripture to lean on:

Job 42:2 (NKJV) "I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, AND THAT NO PURPOSE OF YOURS CAN BE WITHHELD FROM YOU.

So, it becomes clear to us that no matter WHAT the enemy throws our way, we KNOW in our “KNOWERS” (heart) that we have a “SALT COVENANT” which means our promises are “seasoned” and perfected by God’s Word! AND we have each other: Galatians 6:1 (NKJV) BRETHREN, IF A MAN IS OVERTAKEN IN ANY TRESPASS, YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL RESTORE SUCH A ONE IN A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS, CONSIDERING YOURSELF LEST YOU ALSO BE TEMPTED.


And we also have this: Jesus said in John 16:13 (NKJV) "HOWEVER, WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, HAS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; FOR HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT WHATEVER HE HEARS HE WILL SPEAK; AND HE WILL TELL YOU THINGS TO COME.

You are able to say: Lord,

            I need Your confirming Word. Please speak to me so that I know beyond doubt that You are taking care of this matter (whatever it is). I am not completely sure of some things. But I know, Lord, that YOU know the truth! I know that nothing can escape You. And I ask You, Lord, in Jesus' Name, that Your perfected will be done in all my circumstances.


THEN you must begin to SEE by the Spirit what you desire to take place! Mark 2:5 (NKJV) WHEN JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH, HE SAID TO THE PARALYTIC, "SON, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU."

Jesus saw their faith NOT the faith of the man they were praying for!

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So, we have before us tonight, to concepts:

1. INTEGRITY, which means an uncompromising position on moral issues.

2. SIN, which means breaking Divine Law!


In the middle of dire circumstances, Job chose to walk with utmost integrity. His so-called ‘friends’ belittled him, and self-righteously accused him. But Job would not “come off the wall”, so-to-speak.

Listen:

we were created BY Love

FOR love

TO love

AND to MAKE KNOWN God’s Love!


SO............................

We will NOT be “double-minded” because that means “of two spirits”.

We are determined in this House to walk - as Job did - with Wisdom and Faith. Because we are convinced that FAITH IS the POWER OF GOD RELEASED IN US!


It is done, in Jesus’ Name!