Job was truly an amazing man, and God decided that He would use this amazing Job in a great way. God looked down through the telescope of time and saw that His people, even we today, would need this amazing Job. We need to learn all we can about him—his integrity, his determination, his devotion to God. The grace that God found in Job was the same grace He had found in Noah. Job had great favor with God.

If you take a look at all the characters in the Old Testament, Job is one who really stands out. He was a remarkable person, and no powers of hell could stop him. You will find things in the book of Job that you won’t find in any other book.

The book of Job opens with Job’s great blessings: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually (Job 1:1-5).

God Called Job Perfect

Some people don’t realize that God can talk to the devil and tell him what He wants him to know. In this next scripture, God tells Satan that there is no one like Job in all the earth. What an amazing man! 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 (Job 1:8)? God described Job as perfect. People claim that no one can be perfect, but in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). It’s believed that Job, this perfect man, lived before the Law was given; but we have no way of knowing exactly when. We just know that he did live because God said so in His Word.

God Greatly Blessed Job

Job was upright with a deep fear of God, and he shunned all evil. He had great possessions because he served God with all of his heart, and it seemed that God blessed him more than He blessed any other man on earth.

The devil sneered and claimed that Job served God only because of what he could get from God, not because he loved God. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 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. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face (Job 1:9-11).

The devil claimed that if Job’s possessions were swept away, he wouldn’t serve God. But Job’s record was in Heaven, and Job even served God when he had nothing.

Everything Was Suddenly Swept Away

And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. [It would take the devil to lie and say that the fire that burned up all the sheep fell from heaven because that fire was not from God; it came from the devil.] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. [Job had many possessions, and his great camel herd was stolen. But the worst news of all was yet to come.] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee (Job 1:14-19).

Job Humbled Himself before the Lord

What did Job do? He humbled himself before God even more. What a spirit of love and humility Job possessed! What grace was his!

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly (Job 1:20-22). Job outwardly showed the humility he had on the inside as he blessed the name of the Lord.

This amazing Job has blessed me so much in my life, especially in the trying hours. Considering all that happened to Job, he did not sin or accuse God of not loving him or forgetting him. In all of his trials, Job had no accusation to bring against God.

Satan Afflicted Job with Boils

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. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life (Job 2:3-6).

Nothing could make Job give up on God. It didn’t matter how much discouragement came his way, he conquered it; when friends turned from him, he still moved on. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die (Job 2:7-9). Job was going through great suffering, but the only encouragement his wife had to offer was, Curse God and die.

Job’s Wife Gave No Support

Afflicted all over with boils and mourning the loss of his children, Job sat in the ashes in humility and responded to his wife’s advice: 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 (Job 2:10).

Job was a pathetic sight; but if his wife had really loved him, it would have shone forth at such a trying time. Real love shows forth in times of tragedy. God has real love for us; when calamity hits, He’ll always be there with His divine comfort.

Job knew in his heart that God was still looking on and that God wouldn’t forget him. When Job told his wife that she spoke as one of the foolish women, he meant she spoke like a sinner.

Job Didn’t Have Calvary to Draw On

I say again that in all this Job didn’t sin with his words even though he lacked perfect knowledge of the way God works. It was Jesus who brought the revelation of God’s great love.

When God made a Calvary for you and me, it was the first time He used all His love. Job had never seen a Calvary on display, and he had never been taught that kind of amazing love.

Job Had Fear

The Lord moved for Job in wonderful ways; however, Job had one weakness: fear. He said, For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25). Fear opens the door to the enemy, and that door was opened to Job’s enemy through fear. Would God have ever allowed Job to face what he did if that great fear had been overcome? We bring things upon ourselves that we greatly fear. Nevertheless, Job was still perfect and upright, and there was no one else like him.

Divine Love Casts Out Fear

Children of God, we must not let fear linger in our souls. Fear will come momentarily, but yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him flow divine love into your mind to flush out that fear. It works. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (I John 4:18).

Jesus brought the great love that conquers fear. Always remember that God’s perfect love casts out fear, and you will be delivered as you put His love into action. Don’t live with fear, Child of God. If you’re born again, you don’t have to live in fear. When you know how to get rid of fear, then do it. Rise up with the faith of God, and trust His divine love to cast out all fear. Use the great faith that God has given to you; it’s wonderful indeed!

God Gave All His Love on Calvary

The amazing Job didn’t know all that we know today, yet he held onto God’s unchanging hand. It didn’t matter what the devil did to him; he wouldn’t give over, and today we have even more than Job had. We have the Bible, and we have Jesus who brought us the will of the Father. In fact, Jesus was the will of the Father’s whole heart of love for us, so we have no excuse for giving over to the enemy.

Calvary was the first time God had to use all of His love to do any one thing on planet Earth. If people won’t accept Calvary, there is nothing left for them. God has no more love to give; He gave it all when He gave His whole heart. When you reject Calvary, there is no more divine love for you; you’ve turned away from the heart of God.

If Job can be such an amazing man to the God of Heaven, imagine what the Bride of Christ will be like to Him in her final walk! What a joy she will be! Without spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing, she will have great power for her final journey!

Unwavering Trust

Let’s continue on with the amazing Job: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him (Job 13:15). Job said his trust in the Lord would not waver even if the Lord decided to slay him. It makes me want to weep that the amazing Job had such humility that it didn’t matter to him if God killed him; Job would still love Him. Job knew God was Lord Almighty. He knew that God created the heavens and the earth, that He stretched His line out over the empty places, and that He hung the earth on nothing. He bound the waters in His thick clouds, and the clouds were not rent. Job praised the Lord for His overwhelming greatness.

Job Had the Revelation of the Redeemer

Listen to Job in the nineteenth chapter: Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever (Job 19:23,24)! Job’s words are written in the Holy Book so we can all read about his love for God. For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth (Job 19:25). Consider what Job knew! Nothing could take his faith away. And during Job’s great suffering, God gave him a glimpse into the future.

Through love, Job had the revelation that his Redeemer lived! His God could not die but would live forever, and that wasn’t all. His Redeemer did stand on the earth, and we have record of it. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God (Job 19:26). Job knew that although his body would be buried in the earth when he died, it would someday be resurrected; and he also knew that in his wonderful, glorified body, he would see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me (Job 19:27). Job couldn’t see anyone else but his Redeemer, the one he said he would serve even if He killed him. Job knew his Redeemer lived! But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment (Job 19:28,29).

Job Knew He Would Stand the Trial

Job didn’t care how circumstances looked to others; he was confident that God knew the way he took. Regardless of the condition he was in, Job’s great faith kept him alive. But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined (Job 23:10,11). Take a lesson from the amazing Job who didn’t even have the Calvary experience that we have. He didn’t have the salvation greatness of Heaven that we have or the Holy Ghost living on the inside of him. Yet he said, My foot hath held His steps. That’s fascinating to me!

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food (Job 23:12). Job put God ahead of everything; God’s Word was his necessary food. Job knew God would find no fault in him, so he was not going to complain. It’s easy to grumble and complain when things don’t go our way, but we should never do it.

Footsteps of the Master

Jesus left His footsteps for us saying, Come, take up the cross, and follow me (Mark 10:21). Job didn’t have the footsteps of the Redeemer like we do, those blood footsteps that the devil has never been able to erase. Those footsteps are there for every man, woman, boy and girl to follow to Heaven if they really want to go.

When Job said, His way have I kept, and not declined, it showed that he hadn’t backed down on anything. Job would never reject the Lord no matter how much he suffered. If it meant his death, Job would still serve Him knowing that somewhere after death he would still live on with God.

God Is Our Witness

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high (Job 16:19). The friends who gathered around tried to cause Job to doubt that he had really served God. They called him a liar, but Job knew his record in Heaven proved that what he said was true. God was his judge, not his friends. They could say he failed God, but he knew he hadn’t. They could say he had no integrity, but he knew he did. Job was right with God. No matter what anyone else said, Job knew his good record was in Heaven; and no one could destroy it. It was beyond them.

This is what we have to remember as well: Regardless of what anyone says, our record is on High, and God is our great witness. God knows everything. Paul said, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:12).

God Rose Up

Here’s another thought: What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him (Job 31:14)? This great respect for God kept Job steadfast in Him all the way.

Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me (Job 40:6,7). The Lord turned Job’s captivity. Now, his so-called friends had been with him for quite a while before they even spoke to him, and they just sat and stared; but when God rose up, they ran for their lives.

Job’s Friends Had to Repent

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:7-10).

The Lord told the three friends that if they didn’t repent and have Job pray for them, He wouldn’t forgive them. All they had said to Job was wrong, but this amazing man forgave them from his heart; he had no trouble forgiving them.

Job Found the Greatness of God

Job lived thousands of years ago, but he found the greatness of God. He found his way, and the Lord not only healed him but doubled his possessions. The Lord gave him the same number of children that he had had before—seven sons and three daughters. When the word went forth that Job had the favor of God, people lined up to bring him gifts. Job, you’re wonderful! Please accept my gift.

Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold (Job 42:11). Where were those people when Job was so afflicted and being tested and tried? Wouldn’t it have helped Job more if they had been there when he was really suffering? Where was his wife with her support? The amazing Job didn’t let anything stop him!

So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 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 42:12-17).

Job’s Mind Was Girded

In all Job went through, he didn’t willfully sin against God because he had a girded mind. He had surrounded himself with a hedge of truth, and that truth was a part of his spirit, the spirit that hedged him in. Job also had blood protection in his mind. Again and again the devil found Job’s mind to be in that state, and he knew he couldn’t get into him. Job lived in grace and truth, and he had the divine blood or he never could have withstood all the attacks of the devil.

We, too, must have a girded mind to be able to defeat the devil. The Bible says, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:13).

There are things that you have to do to gird your mind. Gird means to surround; you have to surround your mind with the right things if you’re going to have the mind of Christ. Hedge your mind in with the living, blood Word, and then your mind will have Heaven’s protection.

How to Gird Your Mind

I’m going to give you five words that will be a great help to you in girding and protecting your mind if you allow them to be. These words are the direction from God for your mind. Don’t ever forget them.

1. Enclose
2. Surround
3. Equip
4. Furnish
5. Clothe

Enclose

You are to enclose or fence in your mind with good thoughts and the good things of God. You know how to fence in your yard or your garden, but some of you have never learned how to fence in your mind. The Lord wants you to become knowledgeable about this. For as he [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). You have to think strength, power, joy and peace. The Lord said, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). I think on these words over and over; but if you keep trouble on your mind, you’re going to have fear. And when you have fear, the devil can really make hash out of your mind. It’s easy to have a troubled heart outside of Eden; and if you don’t fence in your mind, the demons will get to you. They’ll bind you with fear about your finances, your spiritual well-being, and your physical weaknesses. You have to decide to fence in your mind against fear.

Dwell On Good Things

You have the power and knowledge available to enclose your mind with goodness and with good things. Next, you must surround yourself with good, godly people. Don’t listen to people who don’t speak God talk. If they don’t use God’s love language, then don’t talk to them unless it’s to conduct business; just “hello” and “goodbye” is enough. Don’t socialize with them even if they come to your church, and don’t have telephone conversations with them that would make your mind sick or weak.

If you will enclose your mind, you won’t be troubled, upset, depressed or oppressed; you’ll be a joy to those around you. But some of you are not free. You stay in the bondage of oppression and depression, and you make yourself and everyone around you miserable. You’ve let the devil deceive you into thinking that you can’t have a delivered mind like those of other people. Of course you can! The Bible is for you, God is for you, Jesus is for you, the Holy Spirit is for you, and Heaven with all it contains is for you. But you’re not using what is available, and the devil has rendered you helpless.

Sent of God

Wouldn’t it have been terrible if I had come here to establish this work depressed and oppressed, with doubts and fears filling my mind? What do you think would have happened? I had to surround myself and enclose my mind with the beautiful roses of Heaven that bloom forever, never fade, and have no thorns. I had to enclose my mind with Heaven and its great promises.

Some of you are being fought hard, but you don’t use what’s available to bring you out of it. Some of you try to think your way out or pray your way out, but you have to believe your way out and trust your way out. And to believe your way out, God must come first. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD (Psalm 121:1,2). The Psalmist identified why he would look unto the hills, and you are to look unto the hills, too.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Some of you say you trust in God with all of your heart, but you’re really leaning to your own foggy understanding. The devil gives you foggy understanding so your view of the Lord will be anything but clear. Then your days are not clear, and the storm can get inside of you through your mind. Once there, the storm rages, and you can’t get rid of it. You sleep with it; it causes nightmares, and you get up in the morning so worn out that you don’t feel like facing life. You feel so undone, worthless, and pushed out of God’s way. You’re living in feelings by this time, and you feel that God doesn’t really love you or care for you anymore. You don’t live in the truth or in the honest paths of God. You bring these things on yourself, so it’s time to enclose and surround your mind.

When you enclose your mind, you surround it with all that is on God’s table; it is spread for you daily and includes everything you need. But many of you don’t surround yourself with that table; you push back from it with your fears, despairs and doubts. There you are eating garlic, onions and briars while a great big table has been spread.

Surround

Surround your mind with good things; let it overflow with them. The Lord said, He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). Where do you think that living water is coming from? It comes from the river of life that flows before the throne of God, and you’re connected to it through the blood of Jesus Christ. He tore down the wall of partition that separated man and woman from their God so that the flow is there just like it was for the Only Begotten when He was here.

You need to surround your mind with that flow. When rivers of living water are flowing, the devil isn’t able to talk you out of anything.

We’re supposed to have this river, but some of you don’t. In fact, if you fed your stomach like some of you feed your mind, you’d be sick all the time. When you eat physical food that doesn’t agree with you, it will cause you to get sick; and when you feed your mind the wrong things, you become spiritually sick. You no longer have an appetite for the greatness of God; you don’t hunger for the water of life or thirst after righteousness.

The Lord said, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). But some of you aren’t filled; you’re empty because you don’t hunger and thirst. You have to have an appetite to feed your physical body, and you have to have an appetite to feed your mind spiritual things. You need the right kind of appetite that comes from the Lord, the appetite that Jesus had. Jesus always had the right kind of appetite, and His mind flowed with the greatness of Heaven. You can bring that glory flow in like waves of the ocean, and there are oceans of it available.

Hunger for the Lord

Do you have fellowship more with the Lord or with people? I stay away from people as much as possible. I need to be alone with God. When I’m around people too long, I begin to feel like I’m being emptied; and I need to get away with God to fill up. I hunger for the Lord just like you hunger for food; I thirst for Him like you thirst for water, and I need to get filled back up with Him. I must not come into a service half empty or I couldn’t be used of God like I am; nor would the angel stand by my side like a human being.

I know I must have the angel of the Lord, and he stands by me so many times when I’m preaching. I don’t know when I’ve ever preached on foreign soil without the angel of the Lord standing by my side as tall as a man. It’s wonderful! If I feel weak, the angel can just touch me with the strength of Heaven, and I’m renewed; it’s just as if I’m not tired or I haven’t been working at all.

Equip

The third word is equip. Equip your mind, and the Bible teaches you how to do it. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Equip yourself with the whole armor of God because you can’t stand without it. Some of you don’t think about equipping your mind, and that’s why you run into such awful things that your mind is taken over. The devil makes you so scared that you forget God in your fearful hour, and you think He has forgotten you. But God said His love is everlasting, and His care is for all eternity.

Jesus’ theme was, Be not afraid, only believe (Mark 5:36). And the Lord gives you faith to do it. Just as you have to have equipment for certain jobs, you have to get yourself equipped to do the big job the Lord has for you to do. Put on that armor; the Lord told you the hour would come that people will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (II Timothy 4:3).

Paul told Timothy to equip himself and to be a good soldier. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:1-3).

Soldiers must be equipped for battle. It would be ridiculous for them to go without a weapon or ammunition, but some of you run around in these mind battles and wonder why you’re losing. You have no ammunition to use and no weapon. Your greatest weapon is the blood, but you forget all about it. You talk down instead of looking up, and you don’t equip yourself or prepare your mind for battle. God taught you how to do it, but you have to take time to do it.

Spend Time with God

How much time do you spend with God? Some of you don’t prepare properly. You get a guilt complex during the day and promise God, I’ll pray tonight; then you get down beside the bed tired and worn out. A tired mind is in no condition to reach out for God’s equipment because it’s too weary; your mind is crowded with the trials of the day. You haven’t kept it surrounded with the things of God or focused on any of His good works during the day, so you’re depressed.

You need to prepare your mind, make it ready to face trials. How much have you looked into the Bible? You will look into a mirror to check if you’re dressed properly, but have you looked in the Bible to check your spiritual attire? You have to be equipped to take in the things of the Lord, and you have to practice them.

Reason With the Lord

The Bible is a book of wisdom and the Book of all books. How spiritually intelligent are you? Intelligence is not how many college degrees you have but how much of the Word you have.

The Lord said, Come now, and let us reason together (Isaiah 1:18). I reason with God because He has all the answers. When the Lord reasons with you, you can discuss your spiritual equipment, your armor, with Him and ask, What do I lack? You must equip the mind with all the greatness of Heaven, and be conscious of the fact that you have the same fellowship with the Father that Jesus had. Don’t count yourself lonely and left out.

You need to reason with the Lord, but you have to have the right kind of mind and the right kind of intelligence to reason with Him. Paul said he put away childish things. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things (I Corinthians 13:11).

Some of you are so childish that all someone has to do is just look at you the wrong way or say the wrong thing, and you get hurt. I don’t let people hurt me. Put on the protection, the coat of blood and love and the shield of faith; and don’t let the enemy get you down. Why does it matter what other people say or do? You don’t need other people to get you into Glory, so you don’t have to cater to them or stay around them.

I enjoy being by myself, away from everyone and alone with the Lord and the things of God. I enjoy surrounding myself with the beauties of Heaven that give me strength. If I stayed around people all the time, I wouldn’t have a good mind; I’d be burdened down with all their troubles.

Don’t Talk About Sickness

Sickness is a terrible subject; and if you love to talk about sickness, you’re not going to enjoy Heaven because there won’t be anyone up there who will listen to you. The Lord said to let your conversation be the same as it is in Heaven. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20).

Don’t think sickness, and don’t acknowledge every pain. When a pain comes, just say, I have Jesus for this; He’s my sickness bearer, and turn it over to Him.

You’re healed by faith, not by your feelings. When you determine whether or not you’re getting through to God by your feelings, then you’re failing the test; and you get a zero. Had you held on through faith, you’d have earned an A+. You have to decide that it’s not the will of the Lord for you to be sick and that there isn’t anything in the whole world like the will of God. Know that you want God’s will, and His will is for us to have good health and to be able to work for Him. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (III John 1:2). It’s His will for us to have a good mind, too; so equip your mind with scriptures to use against the devil, and then go forth.

Furnish

Why shouldn’t you furnish your mind with what is in the Bible? They’re the words of life, grace, peace, joy, happiness and mercy; they’re words of everything good and nothing bad. Food that is good for the soul will also suit the mind. That same spiritual food that suits the holy soul washed in the blood will do wonders for your mind; and the Holy Spirit in you will feed you perfect peace through the blood in your soul. Child of God, as long as your life matches the pages of the Bible, you have all the mind help you need, and everything is furnished for you; but you have to use it. When you don’t use the Word, your mind is not going to stay in perfect peace and perfect love.

In grace you have all the favor of God. The Son of God had the complete favor of God and was fully equipped in everything. He brought this favor for us, paid the price for us to keep it; and the devil can’t steal it. It’s always there, but you have to recognize it. If you don’t keep your mind enclosed, surrounded and equipped, you’re not going to provide for it and keep it healthy and strong. You must keep it open to the whole, divine will of God and never doubt it.

Why would you want to find the will of God, enjoy it for a season, and then doubt it? I don’t doubt God’s will. When I get His will concerning something, that’s it. Why do you play games with your mind? When you do, you’re opening the door to the devil because the Holy Spirit doesn’t play mind games.

The Holy Spirit is a sober teacher from Heaven and the Spirit of truth. Jesus said that if you know the truth, use the truth, and furnish your soul and mind with the truth, you’d be free. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31,32).

You have to furnish not only the soul, but also the mind. When you provide for the mind, the faith and blood love in your soul flows to your mind as well. The soul and mind really belong together, but some of you don’t act like it; you don’t treat your mind like you treat your soul. And when you think of mind food, you don’t think of it from a spiritual standpoint. You don’t use the knowledge of God.

We must have God’s intelligence in order to be like Him and to find that wonderful place, Heaven. We have to have His intelligence to know who we are and what we are.

You can come into God’s intelligence so completely that you’ll know when you’re not ready for the trial ahead. You’ll know before you face a battle whether or not you’re ready for it; the Holy Spirit will let you know. In the meantime, however, if you’re sincere but not yet ready, the Spirit will keep working to get you ready.

Clothe

Take care to clothe the mind. It’s more important to clothe your mind than it is to clothe your body because the mind has everything to do with the soul and with your walk with the Lord. Your mind has everything to do with whether or not you make the Rapture, how earnestly you pray for the lost, and how many souls you bring into the Kingdom. The mind has everything to do with you.

You must clothe your mind, but some of you clothe your mind only in rags. If you could see your mind at different times as God sees it, you’d run from it if you could. It’s cluttered up with the rags of this world and the cares of this life. Where is God? You reach for Him; but in those rags, you don’t feel you’re worthy. You have a tattered mind.

The Holy Spirit tries to clothe us for each battle, to give us the knowledge we will greatly need for the battle; it’s there for the asking and taking. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7). Don’t beg. You can knock on Heaven’s door any time, and it will fly wide open; then down the street of Glory you’ll go in all faith and love before the Father’s throne.

Don’t let the devil steal the thoughts of God from you. The devil is a thief; and if he can steal a strong thought of God from you, he’ll replace it with a weak thought. You don’t want those weak thoughts; you want strong thoughts so you can think strong.

The Word is God’s thoughts, so we always have them available, either directly or through the Holy Ghost teaching us, directing us and guiding us. It’s wonderful indeed to know that, when you pick up the Word of God, you’re picking up the thoughts of God.

Clothe your mind with the garments of the Lord, and then sin and disobedicnce won’t tempt you. When we’re fully clothed each day, we will have no fussing or fighting; and we will live by faith. Put on the whole armor of God, live in His image and take on the intelligence and wisdom that He’s promised each of us.

Give Yourself Completely to the Lord

If you will really use these five words—enclose, surround, equip, furnish and clothe—and put them into practice, you can have a girded mind just like the amazing Job.

God dealt with me much about Job, and he has helped to make me what I am today. He’ll surely get a great reward for all the souls that I win and for all I do for the Lord. In the Old Testament, Job is the person whom God used the most to teach me. He was human, yet he came into such perfection of love that he would do anything for the Lord. Job made it, and you can make it, too.

Let nothing stop you in this hour. You must go on and give all for the Lord. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1). All God wants is for you to give yourself to Him.

Job gave himself to God and didn’t take himself out of God’s hands regardless of what man or the devil said. Job would not let go of his love for the true and living God.

God is God, and there is none other! The amazing Job loved an amazing God, and He is our God. Nothing could take Job’s love, grace or the goodness God had put into him. Job held on, and you can, too. God is looking out for you all the time. Oh, glory be to God! Thank God for His Son and for the wonderful Holy Ghost! We have it made!

They Went to the Tree of Death

God is the great God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is the God of the first Adam. God loved this perfect man so much that He came down in the cool of the day to walk and talk with him. He was created without sin, and God’s original plan was that he never sin and never have to leave Eden.

Oh, that Adam hadn’t gone to that tree of death! If only he and Eve had stayed at the tree of life, they would still be in Eden today; and this planet would be paradise. There would be no devil loose on earth to torment the human race and no devil to have tormented Job. Job, how amazing you are!

God Saves and Heals

Sinner, how can you go on living without Job’s amazing God? I wouldn’t want to live without Him, and there would be no life for me on earth without Him. God is my life, and He’ll be yours if you take Him into your heart. If you don’t have Him, say the sinners’ prayer with me.

Oh, God, save my soul! I’m so sorry I sinned against you, but I’ve come home. I’m going to serve you, Lord, the rest of my life. I want Job’s God. I want the greatness of Him in my life. I want Him to guide my footsteps; I want Him to make plain paths for my feet. I want Him to lead me to Glory. Come into my heart, Jesus! I believe that the blood of your Son, Jesus, washes away all my sins. Come on in, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, He has come. When we’re born again, our souls are sealed with the blood; but because the mind is not sealed with the blood, you have to keep the mind girded. Through the blood, the Holy Ghost will flow all the good things and all the powers of the blood that are in your soul, from the soul into your mind. Let the Holy Spirit flow that cleansing blood power to flush your mind; then take God’s thoughts.

Now, here’s one of God’s thoughts: I know that thou canst do every thing (Job 42:2). Everything includes any healing or miracle you need. You may need a great physical healing for HIV/AIDS, TB, paralysis, leprosy or damage to your heart and lungs. It doesn’t matter what your problem is; God can heal it. He declares, I am the LORD that healeth thee (Exodus 15:26). God sent the healing Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). The miracles that Jesus performed when He walked on earth, He is still performing today. Think on the precious, healing blood of Jesus and give over to the power of the Holy Ghost.

Lord, I bring the people before you to be healed by your hand in the blood name of Jesus. Heal! Heal! Heal! through the holy blood of Jesus.

God heals for His honor and His glory. He is here, and the name is Jesus. Let the great healing power of the Lord flow into your body now to bring His promise of healing to your life: With his [blood] stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Get well; but, remember, you have to serve God if you want to keep your miracle. He must have all the glory.