In this poetic book of the Bible, we learn to appreciate a deeper relationship with the Lord (as symbolized in this book). As God brings us to certain mountain tops of spiritual insight, it is here the bride of Solomon, representing the Church, is brought by the groom, representing Jesus, to the pinnacles of Mt. Amana, Mt. Senir and Mt. Hermon. It is here she gets a “birds-eye” view of roaming lions and leopards. God will show each of us, as we mature, where the enemy roams and how to protect ourselves. Paul revealed this concept to us in Ephesians 6: 10 – 13.

As we continue our series, “Banner of Love”, let’s remember that we have looked at three phases of the Christian Life: 1) Salvation, 2) Witnessing, 3) Following Him. This morning we will be looking at an unusual phase, one that takes us into the depth of spiritual suffering. But first let’s go to the greatest example of suffering; Jesus on the cross. Let’s read the account of Christ’s death on the cross in Matthew 27: 37 – 44.

Jesus is the Son of Man (100%).
Jesus is the Son of God (100%).
Jesus was innocent of any wrong doing or sin.
Jesus was stripped, mocked, and beaten before He went to the cross.
Jesus carried His own cross to Golgotha.
Jesus was nailed to a roughhewed cross & hung in shame between 2 thieves.
Jesus was ridiculed saying, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.” (vs 42)
Jesus was challenged to come down off the cross and if He did so they would believe He was the Messiah, God.

As Christians, we know this account of Jesus’ death on Calvary and many know that God the Father in Heaven shamed His Son Jesus by not interceding for Him, but instead turned His back on Him. Have you ever felt God, your Heavenly Father, turned His back on you? How do you analyze that? Is there any hope beyond that sense of rejection from God? Let’s remember that Christ’s faithfulness to the cross was the very example for every Christian to bear! It was here at the cross, where Jesus knew the emotional pain from man and God, yet He was faithful to the Father’s Will, even though as a man, He was clearly misunderstood and rejected. Jesus was stripped of everything; friends, family members, ministry to people, good health and His clothes, yet He kept His faith in God’s will to suffer and die a horrible death as payment and punishment for our sins.

As we grow in Christ, He will sometimes strip us down to nothing. He knows if we’re ready to receive what He has for us to receive from the experience. He knows that we will learn a better perspective in life and of Him. Let’s look at an example of a common sinner, as a natural born man, going through such stripping of his life in Job 1: 6 - 12.

As the story of Job is told we find that “everything” was taken from him except his life and still he remained faithful and trusted God’s Will for him.

Job, just as Jesus, knew that God was on His throne in Heaven even though it seemed God had turned His back on him. In Matthew 27:46 we read how Jesus, while on the cross, also called out to God,

Job had questions for God, when he would find Him, i.e. know His presence and ask those questions. In verse 14 we see that Job was confident that God was working a good work in him, he never allowed his emotions to deny his knowledge of God nor his relationship with Him.

Watchman Nee, a 1900’s Christian author, leader and teacher in China who was imprisoned for his faith said:

“The Cross took away our sin, but the cross we carry brings us into triumphant life.”
And
“Good is not always God’s Will, but God’s Will is always good.”

Now there is a danger we face in our lives with Christ, it happens when we stop seeking God and become complacent in our walk with Him. The keen awareness of God becomes dull and robs us from the fulness of life God has for us. Remember, God is Holy. He never does anything wrong and He loves us beyond measure, and will never leave us even if we think He has! Therefore, we can trust Him!

As we talked about last week, there is a roaring lion roaming the earth seeking to devour us and as we read today in Job 1:7, that roaring lion is Satan roaming the earth. Peter teaches us some important things to remember in I Peter 5: 8 - 10.

We need to resist and be steadfast in our faith when we suffer. God will perfect us through the trials. He will strengthen us.

Job came to know God through the suffering.

The question is, “Are we willing to let God disturb our lives for the sake of knowing Him?” ______Yes ______No

We are not only called to “put off the old man” in Ephesians 4: 22-24, but we must be willing also for God to put the branding of shame, sufferings and misunderstanding on our lives, as Jesus did from childhood through the Cross. This too is another phase of holding up the “Banner of Love”!