Satan and the Church

In the book of Job, found in the Old Testament which is our schoolmaster, we are able to see the heart and mind of the Father towards the Church. For this cause we must look a little closer at Job’s encounter with the devil or Satan. James made mention of it in his epistle to the Body. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy (James 5:10-11).

According to James, the book of Job is a type of the relationship between God, Satan and the Church. When he says you have seen the end of the Lord; James is referring to God’s involvement in the story as typical and universal.

Job 1:8-12

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.

In this story, the trying of Job’s commitment and integrity towards God is usually the focus of teaching and encouragement. However, there are some other very important principles to consider here. The Father’s testimony of Job was that he was a perfect and upright man and that there was no other man like him in all the earth. We must understand Job’s perfection to be relative to the keeping of the law through sacrifice and offerings installed to cover sin. However, of those who lived under such law Job was extraordinary in his walk before the Lord. This should also be the testimony concerning the Church. There should be nothing like us in all the earth. We are the Sons of the Most High. As Jesus said, we are in the world, but we are not of the world. Satan’s response to the Lord was according to his knowledge and consciousness of God’s supreme authority in the earth. In fact, everything that was ever created is aware of the authority of God. Likewise, Satan realized that Job was not vulnerable to him. He could not do anything to Job unless the authority of God permitted.

This principle needs to be embedded in the minds and hearts of the people of God. We, the Church must take on a God-consciousness that sees the Father as the supreme authority over all, including Satan and his dealings with the Church. Note the terminology Satan uses in his conversation with the Lord. Hast not thou made an hedge about him . . . . This hedge is a setting of boundaries around Job and all that pertained to him. Keeping in mind that the whole encounter is a type of the relationship between God, Satan and the Church, then it follows suit that there are boundaries set in the lives of the Sons of God.

If Satan is to deal in any manner with any of us, it is by the authorization of the Father. Satan knows this and acts accordingly. In his eagerness to destroy God’s testimony of Job, he knew God would have to permit such an entrance. Thus he utters, “But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” The implication is that Satan would be the hand of God moving against Job. Some may find it very difficult to accept this as truth but the Lord’s response to Satan’s second inquiry concerning Job bears witness of these facts.

Job 2:3-6

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.

Those who find themselves citizens of the Kingdom of God must accept the fact that the Father is in complete control. The enemy is not able to touch them or anything that pertains to them without the authorization of the Father. Satan may be a rogue angel but he is also the hand of God that moves in the lives of the people of God. I am sure Job was perplexed by the sudden happenings in his life, especially knowing he had kept the laws of God.

Nevertheless, he was not made privy to the conversation the Father had with the devil. He knew nothing of the provocation in which Satan moved God to put him to the test. However, faith and integrity towards God is holding fast your confession and commitment to the Father without knowing or understanding the reason for the evil that has come upon you. To proceed in the character of our example, would be to respond as Job did. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him (Job 13:15).

There is another reason for the recording of the story of Job. In it we see the response of the religious clergy to one that proclaims perfection in his walk before God. As this message of a sinless identity in Christ comes to the forefront in the Body, many of those who have thought and taught the contrary are setting themselves as adversaries of these truths.

Some are innocently ignorant of the knowledge of God as opposed to some who are willingly ignorant due to personal agenda and pride. I have often taught that it is an erroneous perspective from which ministry is developed that has caused men and women in the Body to error in their rendering of the gospel of Jesus Christ. One such error is the assumption that bad things only happen to bad people. Thus, if afflictions or any evil befall a Son of God, then it is evident they are walking in some sort of sin and/or unbelief.

Many saints have been dismayed by such teachings. Many have lost hope and have given up. Some have turned from the faith in despair. But the mindset of many schools of thought are the same; “God has not appointed saints to suffer.” Therefore, the doctrine of Spiritual Warfare against the devil is launched to rid the Church of the workings of the devil in their lives. Now if we are honest and stick to the rules of biblical discussion, allowing only scripture to interpret scripture, then we would see that such teachings are poison to the Body and must be confronted. It is the responsibility of the apostle and prophet to confront this mindset.