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Vol. II Number 1 January 18, 1998
1 Peter 1:1-7
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to
his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in
heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
As many of you already know Rita and I have just gone through a fire and our apartment building was set aflame by a man who lived for the pleasures of sin for a season. This individual, though refusing to acknowledge that Satan was his lord and master, was a tool used by the demons of Hell to try to kill all those in the building. This fire was set intentually by an evil and perverse devil who has in times past has stated that he is out to destroy me. It is the devil's sole purpose to destroy all of the saints of the living God, who are his enemies. Satan is continually seeking ways to destroy the righteous.
In the beginning of the book of Job Satan comes to the Lord seeking permission to tempt Job. Satan is so assure of his pernicious evil ways of temptation that certainly Job will have to sin. But the Lord who knows more that the devil, and also knows the heart of man, will only allow the temptation to escalate to what the tempted is able to bear.
Job 1:1-22
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was
perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and
five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great
household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent
and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job
sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt
offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my
sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before
the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the
LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and
down in it.
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that
there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that
feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all
that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his
substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will
curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power;
only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the
presence of the LORD.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and
drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and
the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain
the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell
thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of
God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and
consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The
Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them
away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am
escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and
thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the
four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead;
and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down
upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return
thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of
the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job 2:1-10
1 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.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered
the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and
down in it.
3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that
there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that
feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity,
although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man
hath will he give for his life.
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will
curse thee to thy face.
6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his
life.
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore
boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among
the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse
God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?
In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear
it.
Though Satan is continually attempting to tempt and destroy the righteous and laughing at the calamity that he causes, the saint of God is able to endure all temptation for the Lord is there as an ever present help in times of trouble.
Psalms 46:1-11
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the
mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake
with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the
holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and
that right early.
6 The heathen 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, what desolations he hath made in the
earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and
cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I
will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM