Deliverance From Seven Troubles
By G. Kirkpatrick

Vital Words to the Body of Christ

Proclaiming the Everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom

Vital Words to the Body of Christ 
Freely We Have Received, Freely We Give
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The book of Job is full of wisdom. Job's three friends had much wisdom in what they spoke to Job, but they did not apply their wisdom wisely. They used their wisdom which they had received from God, not for the edification of Job, but to bring blame upon him.

What was Job's problem with God? It is the same that is in our life, and that is that God had to make needed changes in Job's life so He could bless him. In order to make those changes God used satan as a tool to bring Job into a place where he would hear. It is no different in our life. Adversities brought on by the adversary will drive us to our knees to repent and to seek the voice of God.

When Job's three friends came, they did not know why job was suffering. They only knew by their religious teachings, that when people are going through trouble, then they must have sinned. They never once considered Job's trouble was God's tool to change Job so He could bless him abundantly. Let's look at some of the wisdom of Job's three friends.

The first friend's name was Eliphaz. Eliphaz means "God of fine gold" or "God has refined." Eliphaz begins:

"He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine He shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword." Job 5:19-20

Eliphaz begins with the first of the seven troubles: Famine. Famine has always been the scourge of the earth. It knows no age limit. All are affected. Famine is mentioned 96 times in the Bible. Abraham went down into Egypt because of famine. There was famine when the patriarchs went into Egypt in the time of Joseph. There was famine when David fled Saul:

"Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." II Samuel 21:1

Famine was pronounced upon all the land because of the sins of Saul. There was also famine in the time of Elijah, when it didn't rain for 7 years because of the word of Elijah. God makes His people many promises about famine:

"To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." Psalm 33:19

"They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." Psalm 37:19

Eliphaz knew God would deliver His people in the time of famine and distress. But what of those who know not God? Amos speaks of a famine - - - a spiritual famine:

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." Amos 8:11-12

Through our many travels, we personally wondered from sea to sea, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Not one church was teaching the true Word of God that we visited. We did not go to the main line churches where we knew only manmade doctrines were preached. We went to the out of the way churches, yet could find no fellowship in any of them. We went away hungry, sad, and spiritually drained.

The Bible also speaks of a physical famine that is coming:

"Moreover He called for a famine upon the land: He brake the whole staff of bread." Psalm 105:16

The famine is coming when God is going to break the whole staff of bread. The whole food chain will be broken. How? It will be by an agriculture disaster. It is on the horizon with the use of chemicals, poisons, and bad agriculture procedures. How else?

"Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." Revelation 18:8

How? By a nuclear attack, and the ensuing nuclear fallout that will contaminate everything it touches. Everyone knows this is coming. The terrorists are getting ready. This is why we need to continue to get ready. God has promised through the pen of Isaiah:

"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed." Isaiah 65:13

The time ahead is going to be a time of rejoicing for those who know their God, who have been filled with the Word, and have prepared.

"In famine He shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword." Job 5:20

God also promises that in war we will be redeemed from the power of the sword. The word power means "strength." War produces many things: hunger, famine, disease, the loss of property, and everything that one holds dear. This nation has not known armed conflict on its own soil since the Civil War. American has seen nothing like war as we know it today with nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. In the Civil War a soldier could shoot about 4 shots per minute. Now the troops can shoot 800 shots per minute.

Eliphaz stated we would be redeemed from the power or strength of war. God's prepared people will not suffer from all the things war produces because they will be in God's protective hands, not man's. The prophet Joel tells us:

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Joel 2:1

We can become God's holy mountain, the New Jerusalem, the Holy City:

"A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them." Joel 2:2-3

Yes, God's people will be in the fire, but the fire will not touch them. Their vision is of the Garden of Eden. A renewed earth is before them. Their hope is for the New Day and the renewed earth, not the devastation around them.

"They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded." Joel 2:7-9

As Eliphaz stated the power of the sword will have no effect in their lives. Even if they fall upon the sword, or the sword falls upon them they will not be wounded.

"They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief." Joel 2:9

God also showed Isaiah this group of the redeemed:

"Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" Isaiah 60:8

The power of the sword will have no effect in their lives. Eliphaz continues:

"Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shall thou be afraid of destruction when in cometh." Job 5:21

The word scourge means "whip, or those who try to damage". These are those who have mouths as swords to cut down God's people. Isaiah gives us a promise:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 54:17

No weapon of war, anger or malice can prosper against God's people. Many things can be weapons. The old saying is a toy in the hand of a maniac becomes a weapon. Men have been killed by hammers, saws, and any blunt instrument. A clinched fist is a weapon if it is formed, and it will not prosper against God's people.

God will condemn every tongue that rises against His people in judgment. This is our heritage in the Lord. The Psalmist also gives us this promise:

"Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Psalms 31:20

The pavilion of the Lord is the secret place of the Most High God. We have access to this place in God where no tongue will strive against us.

"The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords." Psalm 55:21

Do you remember the girl who followed Paul and kept proclaiming, "These are the servants of the Most High God." Many will speak words sweeter than butter and softer than oil, but war is in their hearts, and their tongue is a drawn sword. We must be sure we are not guilty of these same things. These are the things that will bring God's judgement in our lives. Peter speaks:

"Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." I Peter 3:16

If your way of life is righteous before God, then it makes no difference if people speak evil of you. Eliphaz continues:

"Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh." Job 5:21

We do not need to be afraid of destruction when it comes. Why! Number One, because we have prepared ourselves spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. But we have God's assurance in Psalm 91 for this end time generation.

"Because thou hast made the Lord, which is My refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at they right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee." Psalm 91:9-12, & 5- 7

This promise is for all those who live by God's Word, and their lives are governed by the Holy Spirit's promise. Eliphaz tells us:

"At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth." Job 5:22

We will laugh at destruction and famine. Praise the Lord! We will not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. Today the world is paranoid over shark attacks, children being mauled by bears in their sleeping bags, dangerous animals in cities make many afraid to even go out of their houses.

There is another beast loose in this nation, and that is the beast nature that attacks our children. When we hear of the abuse of children it is horrifying. When you think about it, what is terrorism, but the best nature at it's worst. But we have God's assurance we do not have to fear these beasts:

"For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee." Job 5:23

The stones of the field are not a threat to anyone - - - and the beasts of the field will also be at peace with us. Why! Because the Prince of Peace will not let any thing hurt us. We will have total dominion over all God's creation. We are promised this in Genesis:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Genesis 1:26

God has given us dominion over all His creation. Then why do we not have dominion? It is because we have not taken it. Eliphaz knew God's plan for His people concerning dominion. God has given us dominion over all things, yet we walk defeated and in fear. Why? It is because we have not taken God's Word to heart and applied it to our lives.

"And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin." Job 5:24

What is our tabernacle? It is our body. God has promised our tabernacle will be in peace. Peace is what the world is looking for. By God's Word we know:

"There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." Isaiah 48:22

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

The peace of God is beyond finding out with our carnal minds. How can one explain the peace of God. You cannot. There is no word to describe it. How, then, do we get this peace?

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3

Our mind, heart, and soul must be stayed on the Lord and His Word. The word stayed means "to be supported by." Are we diligently seeking to stay in God's Word? It is our only support for the days ahead. Is our mind trusting in God or ourselves. Does His Word direct our way or do we go our own way. When Jesus left the earth, He gave us something very precious:

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

The Lord Jesus left us His peace. When we have His peace, then our minds (our hearts) need not be troubled or afraid.

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Those who are carnally minded are dwelling in death, but to be spiritually minded is life, and this is the real peace the world is longing for, but does not know how to obtain. Many seek peace through alcohol and drugs, but this brings no peace, only torment.

When we come to know real peace, then we can rest in knowing the promises God speaks through the words of Eliphaz.

"Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth." Job 5:25

God's promises are not only for us, but also for our children.

The last promise God makes us through the words of Eliphaz is:

"Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season." Job 5:26

If we do God's will we are promised a long and profitable life. This includes coming to a full age or full strength. An example of this is Moses who lived to be 120 years old:

"And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." Deuteronomy 34:7

God's word through the mouth of Eliphaz was fulfilled in Job's life because Job never cursed God or lost his faith.

"After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days." Job 42:16-17

Job lived to be 140. He lived a full and prosperous life. He was given twice that which he lost. We have this same promise:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased." Proverbs 9:10-11

Solomon continues:

"The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." Proverbs 10:27

The reverence of the Lord prolongeth days. When we reverence God in every aspect of our lives, we can claim all the promises God made through Isaiah:

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

We are in a waiting period before the Lord, but I believe we are about to have our strength renewed, and we will mount up with wings like eagles, and fly to the window and minister to those who must endure the wrath of God. The Holy Spirit will light upon them as a dove to endow them power and strength for the days ahead.

Eliphaz spoke for God to all of us in this end time age:

"He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee." Job 5:19

God will deliver us in all the things Eliphaz spoke about:

He will deliver us from famine, from the power of the sword, from the scourge of the tongue, from destruction, from the beasts of the earth, and we will forever live in peace. And number 7, we have God's promise no evil will touch us because we are in God's protective hand. This not only means our bodies, but what He has given us. We need to stand on God's promises and live!