On the Devil's Radar - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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The Devil’s Radar

Job 1

Intro: RADAR is an acronym that stands for Radio Detection And Ranging

It comes from radar systems in aviation or military contexts, where an object that shows up on the radar screen is being tracked or monitored.

The idiom "on their radar" means that someone is aware of something or someone, usually because it's relevant, important, or might need attention in the future.

Last week, I found out that our church was on the KGB watchlist. They monitor our church and the website.

It is because of the preaching.

Can I tell you something? I’ve been on the Devil’s Radar for most of my life.

Many of you have as well.

I honestly believe that one of the greatest insults to a church, a man of God or a Christian is to pose so little of a threat to the gates of hell that the devil doesn’t even know who you are.

NOTE: Some church members are so uninvolved that even their pastor don’t know who they are.

Jesus was on The Devil’s Radar

Matthew 4

·        1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

·        2 Being forty days tempted of the devil.

Peter was on The Devil’s Radar

·        Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Paul was on The Devil’s Radar

·        1 Thessalonians 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

Later, we read that a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet Paul.

No question about it – The Apostle Paul was on the Devil’s Radar.

Sober, serious believers are on the Devil’s Radar.

When we read the book of Job, we discover a sobering fact; he was on The Devil’s Radar.

Job was on the devil’s watchlist.

NOTE: Not everyone is on the devil’s radar!

ILLUSTRATION: In Acts 19, the seven sons of Sceva confronted the evil spirits and found out quickly that they were not on The Devil’s Radar.

·        Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

When God asked Satan if he had considered Job, Satan knew him.

·        He knew about his PIETY – “…Doth Job fear God for nought?”

·        He knew about his PROTECTION – “…Hast not thou made an hedge about him,”

·        He knew about his PRODUCTIVITY – “…thou hast blessed the work of his hands…”

·        He knew about his PROSPERITY – “…and his substance is increased in the land.”

The devil had been circling Job for a while.

I believe there are several reasons why Job was on the devil’s radar.

Job was on the the DEVIL’S RADAR because of…

I. His Reputation of Perfection

The Bible describes Job in a manner that every child of God should desire to be described.

Three times he was referred to as “perfect”

·        Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name the Devil’s Radarwasthe Devil’s Radar Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

·        Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that the Devil’s Radarthere isthe Devil’s Radar none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

·        Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that the Devil’s Radarthere isthe Devil’s Radar 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.

Any child of God that takes their walk with God seriously enough to be “perfect” will be on the devil’s radar.

·        2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

·        Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

·        Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Hebrews 13

·        20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

·        21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God made the world perfect.

Man was perfect. Woman was perfect.

And Satan couldn’t rest until he had corrupted it and ruined it.

A Christian that is striving to live a life of victory and purity will be a target.

A church that is trying to stay pure will be on the devil’s radar non-stop.

A husband and wife that are trying to have a Christ-centered marriage will get far more attacks.

II. His Responsibility in Parenting

Notice verse 5:

A. He was Involved - “…that Job sent and sanctified them,

B. He was Intentional - “…and rose up early in the morning…”

C. He was Invested - “…and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all…”

D. He was Interceding - “…for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.”

There’s nothing that will draw fire from the devil like taking responsibility for your children’s spiritual welfare.

I find it fascinating that his kids were all old enough to have their own houses. (vs. 4)

They were not little children running around mama’s feet in the kitchen.

His children were grown, and out of his house.

QUOTE: “He didn’t clock out when his kids moved out.”

But he never stopped taking responsibility for their relationship with God.

He offered sacrifices on their behalf JUST IN CASE any of them sinned or renounced God in their hearts.

III. His Resolve in Persecution

His resolve was tested by:

A. The Foolish Advice of his Bride

·        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.

How many men can withstand that kind of pressure from their wife?

B. The False Accusations of his Brethren

Eliphaz – chapter 4

·        7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

·        8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Bildad – chapter 8

·        1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

·        2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

·        3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

·        4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

·        5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

·        6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Zophar – chapter 11

·        1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

·        2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

·        3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

·        4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

·        5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

·        6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Conclusion: We need to be reminded in closing of what the Devil’s primary objective was.

Job was on his radar, because Satan wanted Job to lose faith in God and curse God to His face.

That was what the devil wanted.

That is what the devil wanted Jesus to do when Jesus was on his radar.

·        Matthew 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

But it didn’t work. Jesus stayed faithful and He finished the work God gave Him to do.

He was able to say on the cross, “It is finished!”

Peter was on his radar, but he finished strong.

2 Peter 1

·        14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

·        15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Paul was on his radar, but he didn’t lose faith, and he finished strong.

2 Timothy 4

·        6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

·        7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

You might be on the devil’s radar, but you do NOT have to go down in flames.

You do NOT have to be a casualty.

You can stand and be faithful and trust God – no matter what.

·        Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.