JOB'S FRIENDS

JOB'S FRIENDS

© Morris E. Ruddick

"Then the wrath of Elihu was aroused against Job because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job." Job 32:2-3

The story of Job provides one of the oldest and richest insights into the realities that bridge the spiritual and the natural; of a foundational dynamic that links God and the righteous, along with the dichotomy between the religious and righteous.

Job was described by God as blameless and upright, a man who feared God and shuned evil. Job was a righteous man. He was a tz'dakim who represented God as a blessing to his community. Yet Satan's challenge targeted another dimension.

The challenge was that without the blessings of God, Job would blame God for his misfortunes. Upon losing his children, his fortune and his health; despite the prodding of his wife to curse God and die, Job vindicated God's trust in him with the familiar words:
"'The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.'
Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God." Job 1:21-22

Following the tragedies unleashed against Job was the arrival of Job's three friends. Their outward intentions of bringing Job comfort, soon gave way to unfettered charges that his former blessings had been built on weak and shifting sands. In short, they aligned themselves with the destruction arrayed against Job, taking positions as his accusers.

In his misery, Job expressed a heart-cry for hope (Job 6:11). He pondered if success had left him altogether. As his friends prodded, he questioned what he had left. The arrival of Elihu became the spark of a deeper revelation the Lord gave Job. It was a rich glimpse into God's honor and majesty. It brought a perspective that has marked the heroes of faith throughout the centuries.

The Role of Honor
The perspective yielded from the story of Job unveils a compelling truth concerning the importance the Lord ascribes to the honor of the righteous and how that is tied to His honor.

The ease with which Job's friends digressed into becoming his accusers begs the question of an undercurrent that already existed among them; an undercurrent that perhaps was the catalyst that fueled Satan's charge against Job. What was missed in the speculations of Job's friends was the honor the Lord ascribes to the righteous. The increase of the intensity of their rant was well described by Elihu's response:
"His anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job." Job 32:3

The reality was that God had Job poised for promotion. That promotion would take him down a pathway that brought clarity to the role of honor. It not only vastly broadened Job's grasp of the Lord's honor and majesty; but it also redefined the foundational honor attributed to the righteous, which Job's friends, for all their words, missed altogether.
"And the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has." Job 42:7

The Dynamic
From the time that Cain killed Able, each generation has experienced the reactions of the religious to the righteous. Job was slandered. Noah was mocked. There was a reason God told Abraham to leave his family, his country and his father's house. Joseph's brothers conspired to kill him and at the last moment got rid of him by selling him into slavery. David's presence was both a comfort and torment to Saul, until he purposed to kill David.

Without the aura of success that Job once had, the undercurrent among his friends manifested. It is the difference in response to the superficial and the real. It is the crux of the dichotomy between the religious and the righteous. It is the dividing asunder between Churchianity and the Kingdom.

Jesus pointed to the root of the problem: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while his men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way." Matthew 13:24-26 "The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea that gathered some of every kind. When it was full, they sat down and gathered together the good, but threw the bad away." Matthew 13:47-49

Yet, Jesus pointed out that for those who would be his followers: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19

The blending between the religious and the righteous gives rise to the ambitions and competition of the religious, the manifestations of which range from slander to the outright destruction and removal of the righteous. The ones given the keys to unlocking the Kingdom become targets. Yet the keys they have for advancing the Kingdom are what give them the edge and an immunity from the intentions of the ambitiously religious.
Audience
Honor against Overwhelming Odds
Years ago, as the head of a small consulting operation, I published an advertisement to a host of Fortune 500 companies we sought to do business with. The ad showed a graphic of David with a determined grin as he popped the rock into his sling under the shadow of Goliath. The ad positioned our company against some of the largest and best known consulting firms in the world. Even today, this ad differentiates the ministry and impact we steward.

The truth in this ad gives focus to the perspective held by Job's friends. They banked on outward appearances: on Job's position and success, while overlooking the honor, substance and role tied to the righteous. The role of the righteous may or may not carry the image of success as the world views success.

Upholding God's Honor
The foundational dynamic linking God and the righteous is honor. Honor distinguishes the righteous tz'dakim from the religiously ambitious.

The role of the righteous as His ambassadors, within their spheres in word and deed, upholds and points to the honor of God. When the righteous uphold God's honor, the positioning becomes a precursor to the cloak of honor worn only by the righteous.
"I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." John 12:24-25

Honor in the midst of your enemies
When God's honor is upheld and the honor of the righteous tz'dakim is given genuine support by the community, then the expectation will be for the community to experience the positive ripples from this dynamic.
"And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, as the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people." Exodus 11:3

The book of Acts tells of when: "Great fear fell upon the church and upon ALL who heard these things." This was a day in which the dynamic of God's honor was upheld. Stephen was stoned for it. Their leadership was limited to the righteous. God's people were not trying to be like everyone else. Their identity and worldview was fully in God. The righteous tz'dakim of the early church were not dealing the success cards mete for church growth; but rather the change tied to building the Kingdom.

Understanding the Times
We've entered a new season. Globally, we are experiencing a shift that penetrates the economic, cultural and political realities governing the course of future events. The stakes are higher, as are the parameters for operating according to God's Kingdom rule. We have to be viewing the realities from God's perspective and ensuring our pathways and models provide anticipatory responses to the changes.

The gap between the two-thirds of the world with little to no middle class and the West is closing. God's righteous ambassadors have always been "out-of-the-box" from the standpoint of the world and the position of the religious. We have not been wired to be like everyone else.

Within the shift underway will be surprises; unveiling unlikely candidates for the tasks of the Kingdom. Ambassadors are emerging from among the suffering and persecuted who may now be as Jobs, poised on their ash heaps, listening to the rants of their unafflicted "friends" coming from their stances of success.

The Key to True Honor
True honor follows humility. The revelation Job had came through a pathway of humility and led to the honor only bestowed by God.
"Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3-5

True humility is the revelation that "His strength is made perfect in our weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) The honor that comes from God has its context in the impact made in community. The price of community leadership is the sacrifice seen in genuine friendship. Jesus described it in John 15:13 when He said: "Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends."

God's authentic ambassadors, the ones who sow good seed, the tz'dakim, are givers of life. They extend opportunity. When they see the gaps, they work toward filling it in, rather than pointing it out. God is looking for those who will sow the good seeds and pay the cost to avert disasters and build community.
"I sought a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me." Ezekiel 22:30

With their many words, Job's friends had dishonored him. They added to the weight of the burden rather than shouldering it with Job. They were gap finders, rather than gap-standers. They judged Job with an unbalanced scale based on the limitations of their own perspectives.
"I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

The scripture says that Job's friends had no answer and still by their words they condemned Job. In their limited, self-righteous perspectives, they brought God's anger on themselves. Yet, in graciously praying for his friends as he beheld God's honor, Job was promoted into an entire new season of being blessed to be a blessing.
"The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold." Job 42:10-11
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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling" and "Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets.

Mr. Ruddick is also the founder of the Global Equippers Entrepreneurial Program, which imparts hope and equips economic community builders where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. To schedule a speaking engagement, sponsor a workshop, make a donation or to get more information on how you can help, contact Global Initiatives at 303.741.9000.

2009 Copyright Morris Ruddick - response@strategic-initiatives.org

GPN 26 Mei 2009

GPN 05-26-2009

“It is impossible for faith to overdraw it’s account in God’s bank.” Mark 11:22-25 Greetings, Roberto Wijnhof GPN

I'm a missionary in Moscow. Pray for my neighbourhood to come to God. For God to bless me to plant a church here. For God's presence here. For all satanists that oppose me to get saved. God's will to be done here. For doors to open for evangelism.

The 21st of May 2009 marks the ‘National Day of Prayer for Police’ in the UK Consider: Adopt a police station in your area and pray for the officers on a daily basis. Try to get to know some of them and pray for them by name. Thank God for everyone who is willing to serve their communities in this manner. Ask God to protect them from harm. Pray also for their families; that they will be supportive and loving. Pray that members of the police force will completely rely on God in every situation.

Please, pray for my friend Sveta. Pray for her to be successful in everything she does for the Lord. Pray for God to break all obstacles in her way. Pray for her to have favor at work.

A Muslim background believer (MBB), was arrested because of her marriage to a Coptic Christian. (Women registered as Muslim are not permitted to marry non-Muslim men in Islamic law.) She was released to her family, ran away from home and is now hiding from family and police. Also M, a MBB, was arrested at Cairo airport and detained for obtaining a fraudulent Christian national identity card and adopting a new name. The card would have enabled her to obtain a passport and marry a Christian. She also is in hiding with concerns over a fair trial because of her faith. M, also a MBB, wants to change his official religious registration from Islam to Christianity enabling him and his daughter to be legal Christians. This would allow his daughter to legally marry a Christian. Pray that such a precedent leads to other MBB's securing the same right. His hearing on 2nd May was adjourned until 13th June. Pray that many unbelievers in Egypt will come to the knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Pray that Christians in Egypt will be granted religious freedom; that new believers can have their identity cards updated and be allowed to marry a fellow believer.

Please pray for Freedom Christian College & Graduate School in Lake County, CA, for the very Presence of God, wisdom, vision, favor, anointing, blessing, excellence, seminar attendance by the community, new enrolments for courses, victory, provision, and effectuality in every way including Souls Saved, Lives Changed, Leaders Equipped, and
Christians Edified. Pray for those God is calling to come to FCC&GS to make a commitment and keep it. Please pray specifically for the FCC&GS events taking place on the following dates: May 31, June 1,2,4,5,6,8,9,11,15,16,18,22,23,25,30, October 23,24.

Pray for Slava and Dima Teterin. Pray for them to saved and delivered. Pray for them to be free from alcoholism, fornication and poverty. Pray for the whole Teterin family to be saved. Pray for them to be open to my preaching.

Hi my brothers and sisters asking special prayer for GODS strength and provision just to make it through the week. GOD richly bless you brother Danny

Please pray also for Pastors Greg & Kate Hartman for wisdom, favor, anointing, provision, and breakthrough. No weapon formed against Pastors Greg & Kate shall prosper and every tongue which rises against them they shall show clearly to be in the wrong.

Pray for the war Chechnya to stop and for new laws to be established that will bring democracy, peace and prosperity here. Pray that the country’s leaders would rule fairly and help build the infrastructure. Pray for revival to ignite the churches.

The spiritual atmosphere in Moscow is heavy because of the occult. Pray for Moscow's deliverance fr. the occult for all satanists to be saved. If the satanists will get saved, many people will be free to serve God.

Please pray as we speak on 5/29 that the presence of Jesus will be there and touch hearts.



Please pray for the book on Iraq that it will be completed on time and the Lord will use it in regular bookstores to tell the story of Iraq to be a blessing and comfort to the families of those who gave their lives so that Iraq would be free and the story of the precious Assyrian Christians of Iraq!



Please continue to pray for the results of the Hacking of our websites. Please pray that all the data would be found and restored and the result would be better than it was before!

Ken Joseph Jr. Iraq.

I ask that you pray for our financial situation. I was retrenched last year august and still I have not managed to secure a job. I pray that God will open doors for us as we are falling. Cant cope with the daily living. I pray for gods miracle to open doors that no man can close. C.

Pray for my nephews Matvei, Zora and my nieces Sofia and Lena. Pray for their hearts to be open to Jesus and for me to be able to minister to them. Pray for their parents to be saved and delivered. Pray for them to be healthy and to trust God.

Dear hear of Jesus: in the past, I Have asked for many favors. This time, I Ask you this very special one, I Have just eight hours to go to solve my financial problems, I Don’t know if I will see tomorrow. Take this request dear Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your father sees it. Then, in your merciful eyes, it will become your favor, not mine. Amen Dubai.

Pray for my former co-worker Greg to be saved and delivered from drugs and fornication. Pray his Dad Sam to understand me and not o be critical of me. Pray for Larry to be saved and delivered. Pray a blessing upon Sam's family

Thanks, Sasha

Pokok Doa 19 Mei 2009

GPN 05-19-2009


“When we put our problem into God’s hands, He puts His peace into our hearts”. Psalm 37:7 That’s how easy it is. Peace to you, Roberto Wijnhof GPN.

All my children would meet Christians that will come to our church and become my children’s best friends.

My wife will be instantly healed of depression and sleep apnoea and I will be immediately prospered in my busy work so I can afford to help my family’s medical needs.

I praise God for allowing my ministry: International Impact Christian Center to expand. Now we want to find more street kids to feed every week. Pray for donations to come in for us to buy them tooth paste, brushes, soaps, towels and clothes.

Pray for Ruslan and Vanya to stop spreading rumours about our ministry. Pray for them to stop being jealous, to be delivered. Break every hindrance in front of us. Pray for a financial blessing for us. Pray for us to open feeding sites for street kids.


Pray for my landlady. She needs salvation and inner healing. Pray for her to stop being abusive towards us. Pray that she will have a desire to come to our evenings of evangelism. Pray for her to be free from love for money and hatred for people.

Please pray for the book on Iraq. Please pray for its completion in time, organization so it can be in regular bookstores and present the story of the situation an the Assyrian Christians.

Please pray for our websites. They were hacked and all information was erased. Please pray for the team as they work to recover all the data. Pray that it will be restored 150% - better than before!

Ken Joseph Jr. Irak.

Sveta's work place has problems. Please, pray that Sveta'a job will be blessed by God. We cancel every curse against Sveta's work place. Pray for Sveta's friends Sergey and Oksana to be saved. We bind all spirits that are deceiving them.

Please pray for mrs. E.G from Suriname, she needs to be operated, she has breast cancer. She also has problems with her legs and is not able to walk right.

Mr. L. Needs prayer for his legs, he is really hurting. He also needs prayer for healing in his spirit. He is disappointed and does not go to church anymore. W.L.

Please can you pray for mrs. K. who became blind. She is not able do take care for her self and is in bed the whole day.

Pray for the healing in both of my legs. I can not even wear shoes anymore. They really hurt.

Mrs. S.K. got paralysed on her left arm and leg. She is a schoolteacher and wants to be healed so she can go back to school as soon as possible.

Coming Thursday we will be having special meetings in the Netherlands and Belgium for Ascension Day. Please pray for a mighty move of Gods Spirit. JMWM The Netherlands.

The World’s Worst Persecution Hot Spot

North Korea is a country in which being a Christian is punishable by death. Owning a Bible carries the risk of being subjected to brutal torture.

North Korea is a life gripped by merciless famine, but where those who search for food are executed in the marketplace. North Korean believers are cut off from the outside world and held ransom by the idolatrous regime of a power-hungry dictator.

For most of us, it’s simply unimaginable. But this is the shocking reality of life for the people of North Korea.

World’s worst

It’s not surprising that North Korea has once again ranked highest on the latest Open Doors’ World Watch List. For the seventh year running, North Korea has been rated the world’s worst persecutors of Christians.

Which is why at Open Doors we are more committed than ever to interceding for this desperate country and for our brothers and sisters enduring untold suffering within her borders.

Not forgotten

“The circumstances of life in our country are very difficult,” writes one pastor in a recent letter. “The price of rice continues to increase. Recently, five women were executed in public. Their crime? They were trying to survive by looking for food.”

Despite the risks and restrictions, this pastor thankfully knows that his plight—and that of Christians across the country—is not forgotten by the Body of Christ around the world. “We thank God that there are so many people who are praying for our country,” he shares. “Your prayers strengthen the Christians in North Korea.”

Caring for Christian Women

One area of particular concern for Open Doors is the plight of Christian women trapped inside North Korea. Not only do they endure the daily misery of famine and oppression, many have also been the victims of human trafficking, and are physically and emotionally scarred.

In one project, women are now receiving help and hope through Open Doors. The sisters receive regular Bible training along with financial support to help them meet their families’ needs and fund their children’s education.

“Our greatest reward is to see their lives change through a stronger faith in our Lord,” says one Open Doors co-worker.

Reaching out

Evangelism in North Korea carries immense risks. The spread of Christianity is one of the greatest fears of the country’s infamous leader, Kim Jong Il. It is reported that he recognizes Christianity to be responsible for the fall of communism in Eastern Europe—and is fearful that it will also prove to be his downfall. And so the authorities clamp down harshly on any Christian found to be sharing the gospel.

But against all odds, and by the grace of God, the underground church in North Korea is committed to reaching the country with the Good News of Jesus. “We are doing our best to spread the gospel in North Korea,” writes one pastor. “Please continue to pray for us!”

While the borders of North Korea remain closed, and while the situation for our brothers and sisters remains perilous, we take heart that the Lord is indeed at work. So please join us in hearing the pleas of North Korea’s Christians as they ask for our support. May God use your prayers to break through the borders, advance His Kingdom, and fulfill His purposes in North Korea.

Pokok Doa GPN 12 Mei 2009

GPN 05-12-2009


“To get together is a beginning; to stay together is progress; but to work together is a success”. Psalm 133. Watch over it, that nothing will come in between of this. Greetings Roberto Wijnhof.

Please pray for us we are under a huge attack and really need the help.!!!

Laura (Myself)- Back injury-Creative miracle

My day care business, safety and prosperity. Able to pay off old debts so I can support my children and myself

Drew-Husband- Stock market gambling. Realization of problem, repentance, and deliverance from the debt.

Marriage- Abandonment- Nurturing, affection, shared responsibilities, sarcasm, forgiveness.

Newly adopted children-Daughter- Seizures, safety

Newly adopted son-Sensory issues, healing from fear of learning and trying new things. Able to learn

Mother- 84 year alcoholic. Bitter, unforgiving, salvation

Step father- Heart condition. Able to cope with alcoholic wife. Needs solutions and support, Salvation

Brother, Thyroid cancer, Salvation

Foster Son, salvation, direction for future turning 18 soon

BREAK OFF GENERATIONAL CURSES

I live my life completely terrified that when I die, I Will not exist anymore. I want to believe in God so very badly. I want to be able to believe in my own soul. Please pray for me to find my way. Thank you.

Please pray for mr. A.G. He has many problems at home with his family and his health.

Cast out the spirits of pornography, drug addiction, Buddhism, yoga, lust and satanic meditation from the lives of Lena and Andre S. Break every demonic stronghold in their lives. Declare salvation and deliverance in their lives in Jesus name!



Break the stronghold of the occult, spiritual blindness and pride in lives of Zhora and Natasha K. Declare with me that they are free to serve Jesus! Pray for them to be dissatisfied with Satanism and to start seeking God. Thanks, S.

I've been facing obstacles at my workplace and training course. I am believing a miracle to have a complete breakthrough in my job situation and training course.

Dear Praying Friends, we ask for prayers for our twin babies and we want to let you know how they are doing:



The twins are growing and progressing. Please continue to pray as the Lord prompts you. I know the family is tremendously appreciative of the prayers and encouraging words that you have offered up on behalf of Annie and Katie.

There are not enough words to thank-you for being there for us on Friday. We could have easily gone to our church but as we were sobbing in the family waiting room, the email that you had sent out earlier that day reminding people of your weekly Friday watches kept coming to my mind and I knew immediately we were to come to see you. God knew that you had words that we needed to hear. There were so many things that were said that were both encouraging and eye-opening. I now realize that I was getting in the way of letting God do His job of taking care of my children. I think I thought if I prayed long enough, hard enough, stayed up as late as I could praying and said all the right words that would save them, especially Katie. Friday I truly released them into His hands. When we left there that night and got into the car we prayed into agreement that the steroids would work and would work quickly for Katie and they have. When we got home that night, I prayed again and did not force myself up all night praying, and for the first time in days I slept peacefully. The next morning I got up at 6am to pump and although I was still tired I knew I was to go down to the hospital to see, touch, talk, and sing to my babies no matter what. God put something inside of me to do this. I won't say I wasn't at least a little nervous to go and find out how things were going and how their night went but I went knowing that He was in control and that He was there with them all the time. And you know what, God totally rewarded me with the best visit I have had so far. I was there for 2 hours and it was a beautiful experience. The image that people saw of Jesus standing over the girls breathing His Holy Spirit into them has been an image that has given me such joy, I literally day dream about it. Thank-you for being such a blessing to us and allowing God to use you to touch so many lives. May God bless you exceedingly for what you do. Love, Colleen and Chris

I'm a missionary in Moscow. Pray for Ruslan, Olia and Lena D. They were a part of my min., but left the Lord and now have a really hard time. Pray for them to come back to God. Pray for growth of my ministry and for God's blessing upon us.

Mr. From Germany wants us to pray for him, he has diabetes and liver cancer. He is in a lot of pain.

Sis. J.K. is in Gambia for a project from her work. Gambia is a Muslim country, so she asks for Gods protection.

U. Do from Vietnam was a Christian for 10 years, but now left the faith. Please pray for a return to Jesus.

Mrs. has a depression.

Mrs. Sandy K. asks for a new job.

Please pray for the father of my friend, who has pancreatic cancer.

Prayers of healing for John G., Harper hospital, Detroit, mi. Healing from a severe stroke. Immediate prayer is needed. Thank you R.