I heard one of the best messages preached by Jentezen Franklin recently.  He spoke about how satan went before the presence of the Lord, and the Lord asked him, “Whence comest thou? (Where did you come from?) Then satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it.’” Job 1:7. 

There is another passage in the Word of God, which says, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8.

Jentezen Franklin then continued in the book of Job, chapter 1, “And the Lord said unto satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and eschews (flees from) evil?’ Then satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you made a hedge about him and about his house and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands and his substance is increased in the land; but put forth your hand now and touch all that he has and he will curse you to your face’” Job 1:8-11.

Satan, in essence, told God that if He would lift the protective hedge around Job and if He would allow Job’s blessings to be removed, he would curse God.

“And the Lord said to satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power, only upon himself put not forth your hand; so satan went from the presence of the Lord” Job 1:12.

To make a long story short, satan afflicted Job by taking all that he had, his home, his children and all of his wealth.  Satan left him with only a very bitter wife, who said to Job, “…curse God and die!” Job 2:9.

The Word of God says, “Then Job arose and rent (tore) his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped, and said, ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this, Job did not sin or charge God foolishly” Job 1:20-22.

Jentezen Franklin’s message was about praising God and he brought in the fact that it was satan’s expectation that when he destroyed all that Job had and left him destitute, later even afflicting his health with boils from head to toe (Job 2:7), until God later healed him, that Job would become angry and bitter against God and curse Him.

Pastor Franklin also spoke of how God created the angels in heaven and they have never known tribulation and trials, so the praise of angels is without challenge. However, we teach the angels that we can praise God even during times of great affliction. It is easy to give God praise and glory in the midst of wealth and excess and it is easy for the angels to praise God in heaven, because they do not have to go through trials, as we do.

Peter wrote, “You greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold which perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Christ, whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though you do not see him, you believe, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory… which things the angels desire to look into” 1 Peter 1:6-8, 12.

Is all of your focus on this temporary life here on earth, this simple moment - compared to the vast span of eternity?

The Word of God says, “Blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection (the resurrection of the saints from the dead), on whom the second death (hell) has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years” Revelation 20:6. 

The next time your faith is tried through the fire, just remember that those who will be “priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years” must be refined. God has a way of allowing our characters to be purified through the things we experience, even suffer, in this life. Not just any joker is going to reign with Christ. Our characters will be vetted by God, and by the time we enter eternity, we will be the honorable saints He desires us to be.

Through the next trial, you could either “curse God and die (eternal death in hell),” or you can choose to “take up your cross” and reign with Christ in eternity.

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, ‘If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me’” Matthew 16:24.

If you aren’t saved, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. The Lord is looking for priests to reign with Him in His kingdom forever. God bless you.