ÿWPC‡ ?6ózÇ\+< Øp •çÐü”Ÿ?bö¦1ˆN?úê7vŸK@o„¾Ü‘›½¾m?•XûíU—ïƒû~`@ê=íú•:³åÑò©Ãzmæ?ÖUíŠëá„?­~"¡È[+nBlóx‚P¢P¾‘Í¿§™I¨sÎœ'?oð«öü!ªíÎýHö( 3{ün>|´ ­?€å‘?vóv¹Årë¸QfXäOŠÝ{X8TUHˆå Ÿß?ИÆ>3ÆBlj6úa€@Ÿ¶'Ñ9ýw/½J©Šm1‰èp?|×–àaô3ߘȳøûϲ’ˆÜ3{DÏÿÙ»dRõuß0t?¬±ò<¨g–KØkùrª¼yš_üô‹¥?*?t¦æ×?Ç×FƒN?*?(¥‡Ì¡fŠ\>´’TƒIBYwÒ †¥UéAµÇÃ!(:6N ŸkEák:=i®ŒÏd&J@>MbÍ?Õ[|~ø“ ÿƒ…£U~}I²çi5­ûzê¾d¥]i*™‰vÍ‹5èòµýo…o¸^'qL–“G0Ñ79RÔ[ô—2%‚}ƃ5Xµè''=EQ󔔨ÜM|Õ¶h?«×}Ço#7·Xï¹ÂüŸ‡]TÑ Â #ɶUN %Í 0:Ó^ w41@ mBNYU,[˜Lexmark X125xX,,,,xX0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ôè?t1é Îkb/¢Ø+00?3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ,c½¬AZ‹Arial Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ X@XXXÔò òÔ‡ 踶çX X@ÔÑ8€ó¨XXdìdÈ8ÑSatanððs€Present€Power€and€the€Problem€of€EvilÐ ° ÐOnly€TemporaryÔ#† X@Xç 踶_#Ôó óÔ#†Xó¨XX X@=#ÔÐ 6† ÐÔ€,à,XXó¨ÔÌEric€V.€Snow€Ô_ÔSermonetteÔ_Ô€08„04„04€Ô_ÔUCGÔ_Ô„Ann€Arbor,€MichiganÐ 2‚ ÐÌԀ蔛ç,,àÔÔ€ 踶ççè”›ÔAs€weððre€all€well€aware,€the€fall€Holy€Days,€including€Ð  n Ðthe€Feast€of€Tabernacles,€are€fast€approaching.€Ð ? î ÐCases€of€ð ðFeast€Feverðð€no€doubt€will€soon€beÐ  n Ðbreaking€out€all€over,€if€they€arenððt€already,€in€theÐ ? î ÐChurch€of€God.€€But,€before€we€celebrate,€we€haveÐ n  Ðto€fast,€right?€Three€weeks€from€now,€weððll€beÐ ?î  Ðobserving€the€Day€of€Atonement.€€Much€of€theÐ n  Ðmeaning€of€this€day€concerns€the€binding€of€SatanÐ ?î  Ðso€the€whole€human€race€can€be€reconciled€to€God.€Ð n  ÐÌBut€why€does€God€let€Satan€tempt€men€and€womenÐ n Ðto€begin€with?€€Why€did€God€let€Satan€set€up€aÐ ?î Ðlongstanding€rebellion€against€Him€that€includedÐ n Ðprobably€millions€of€formerly€holy€angels?€€WhyÐ ?î Ðdidnððt€God€just€instantly€ð ðzapðð€him?€€Why€not€just€nipÐ n Ðthis€all€in€the€bud,€rather€than€let€the€rebellionÐ ?î Ðspread?Ð !n ÐÌThe€reality€is€that€we€need€to€have€faith€that€GodÐ $n Ðknows€what€He€is€doing.€€Since€His€power€and€HisÐ ?%î  Ðknowledge€are€so€much€greater€than€ours,€we€haveÐ 'n" Ðto€stop€complaining€to€God€about€our€trials€as€if€weÐ ?(î# Ðknow€the€full€story€behind€them.Ð *n% ÐÐ ?+î& ÐÔ_ÔS.P.S.€€We€need€to€have€patience€and€faith€aboutÐ ° Ðwhy€God€allows€Satan€to€tempt€us€and€the€rest€ofÐ 0€ Ðthe€world€at€this€time.Ð ° ÐÌThe€three€basic€points€to€consider€are€these.€€First€ofÐ °  Ðall,€we€need€to€consider€how€this€season€ofÐ 0 € Ðtemptation€likely€will€not€last€that€much€longer.€€ItÐ °  Ðmay€well€end€in€our€would„be€natural€lifetimes.€Ð 0€  ÐSecond,€the€reward€of€being€in€the€first€resurrectionÐ °  Ðand€the€gift€of€having€eternal€life€are€so€large€theyÐ 0€  Ðgreatly€outweigh€the€pains€and€trials€we€sufferÐ °  Ðtemporarily€now.€€Since€God€controls€our€destinies,Ð 0€  Ðand€is€the€only€source€of€eternal€life,€we€have€toÐ °  Ðsurrender€completely€to€Him€if€we€wish€to€avoid€theÐ 0€  ÐLake€of€Fire.€€Third,€we€donððt€know€enough€toÐ ° Ðcondemn€God€and€to€criticize€God€and€to€curse€God.€Ð 0€ ÐThatððs€why€we€need€to€have€patience€and€faith.€€Ð ° ÐÌRev.€20:1„10Ð ° ÐÌFor€the€first€point,€notice€that€the€eventÐ °" Ðforeshadowed€by€the€Day€of€Atonement€may€literallyÐ 0$€ Ðoccur€within€the€next€two€or€three€decades.€€WeÐ °%! Ðshouldnððt€fix€dates.€€But€consider€such€propheticÐ 0'€" Ðdevelopments€such€as€the€growing€political€unity€ofÐ °($ ÐEurope€and€the€increasing€resentment€much€of€theÐ 0*€% Ðworld€has€against€the€U.S.,€Israel,€and€BritainÐ ° Ðstemming€from€recent€events€in€the€Middle€East.€Ð 0€ ÐWe€shouldnððt€repeat€prior€generationsðð€mistakes€inÐ ° Ðsetting€specific€dates,€of€course.€€But€we€reallyÐ 0 € Ðshouldnððt€think€itððs€a€false€alarm€this€time€to€thinkÐ °  ÐJesus€may€come€before€a€third€of€this€century€hasÐ 0 € Ðpassed.€€So€then,€if€we€fall€away€from€God,€beingÐ °  Ðresentful€that€He€has€allowed€Satan€to€tempt€us€orÐ 0€  Ðfor€the€general€evils€in€the€world,€what€good€wouldÐ °  Ðthat€do€then?€€Do€we€really€think€itððs€that€muchÐ 0€  Ðlonger?Ð °  ÐÌV.€6:€€Notice€the€great€reward€we€receive€forÐ °  Ðendurance€in€this€life,€as€part€of€the€first€fruits.€€ThisÐ 0€  Ðis€my€second€point.€€Our€lives€now€may€be€harderÐ ° Ðbecause€true€Christianity€isnððt€compatible€with€theÐ 0€ Ðworldððs€culture.€€We€may€be€persecuted€or€otherwiseÐ ° Ðjust€simply€mistreated€by€others€in€the€world,€suchÐ 0€ Ðas€in€our€physical€families,€coworkers,€or€neighbors.Ð ° ÐÌV.€7:€God€allows€those€living€at€the€end€of€theÐ °" Ðmillennium€to€be€tested€by€what€we€have€before.€Ð 0$€ ÐNotice€how€quickly€so€many€who€had€had€it€so€easyÐ °%! Ðfell€away.Ð 0'€" ÐÌV.€10:€Do€we€wish€to€end€up€in€the€same€place€asÐ 0*€% ÐSatan€Himself?€€(Donððt€wish€to€deal€with€Greek€here,Ð ° Ðetc.,€not€a€ð ðdifficult€Scriptureðð€sermonette).€€LetððsÐ 0€ Ðmake€sure€we€donððt€get€put€into€the€same€place.€€ItððsÐ ° Ða€dangerous€thing€to€be€called€in€this€life,€the€firstÐ 0 € Ðlife.€€This€fate€we€must€aim€to€avoid,€and€insteadÐ °  Ðembrace€eternal€life,€but€we€can€only€have€it€onÐ 0 € ÐGodððs€terms.€€Have€faith€and€obey,€or€die.€€WeÐ °  Ðshould€remember€this€when€we€want€to€spit€in€GodððsÐ 0€  Ðface€verbally.€€Ð °  ÐÌJob€1:6„12€Ð °  ÐÌV.€8:€God€holds€up€Job€as€an€admirably€righteousÐ °  Ðman,€not€someone€who€was€a€huge€sinner€whoÐ 0€  Ðdeserved€punishment.€€Bullððs€eye€analogy.Ð ° ÐÌV.9+:€Satan€accused€Job€of€serving€God€only€forÐ ° Ðmaterial€gain.€€Ð 0€ ÐÌV.€12:€So€God,€knowing€Jobððs€character,€allowed€aÐ 0!€ Ðsupremely€awful€set€of€trials€to€strike€him.€€For€HeÐ °" Ðknew€Job€wasnððt€being€tempted€beyond€his€strength,Ð 0$€ Ðas€hard€as€these€trials€were.Ð °%! ÐÌVs.€21„22:€Notice€that€despite€this€sore€testing,€JobÐ °($ Ðdid€not€curse€God.€€Satan€had€predicted€this,€but€itÐ 0*€% Ðnever€happened.€€Iððve€known€people€even€in€theÐ ° ÐChurch€of€God€who€have€cursed€God€or€questionedÐ 0€ ÐGodððs€love€and€righteousness€for€trials€far€lessÐ ° Ðsevere€than€those€Job€had€here.€€Ð 0 € ÐÌWhat€we€get€in€this€life€really€isnððt€ours,€but€is€fromÐ 0 € ÐGod€conditionally€and€temporarily.€€€So€we€shouldnððtÐ °  Ðwalk€around€with€some€kind€of€entitlement€mentalityÐ 0€  Ðcomplaining€about€life€not€being€fair€to€us€or€others.€Ð °  ÐIn€this€same€context,€The€Bible€commentatorÐ 0€  ÐMatthew€Henry€says€(p.€658,€on€Job€1),€quotingÐ °  ÐScripture€in€part:€ð ðIn€all€our€comforts,€God€gave€usÐ 0€  Ðour€being,€òòmade€us,€and€not€we€ourselvesóó,€gave€usÐ °  Ðour€wealth;€it€was€not€our€own€ingenuity€or€industryÐ 0€  Ðthat€enriched€us,€but€Godððs€blessing€on€our€caresÐ ° Ðand€endeavours.€€He€gave€us€power€to€get€wealth,Ð 0€ Ðnot€only€made€the€creatures€[farm€animals]€for€us,Ð ° Ðbut€bestowed€upon€us€our€share.ðð€Ð 0€ ÐÌJob€2:1„10Ð 0!€ ÐÌV.€3:€Notice€that€God€could€still€say€Job€wasÐ 0$€ Ðrighteous€despite€having€such€a€set€of€truly€awfulÐ °%! Ðtrials€inflicted€on€him€by€Satan.€€Indeed,€He€almost€isÐ 0'€" Ðtaunting€him.€€Job€maintained€a€good€attitudeÐ °($ Ðdespite€much€pain.€€Are€we€doing€as€well€as€he€did?€Ð 0*€% ÐOr€are€we€complaining€far€more€about€much€moreÐ ° Ðtrivial€trials€than€his€were?Ð 0€ ÐÌV.€9:€Do€we€react€as€Jobððs€wife€did€to€trials?Ð 0 € ÐÌV.€10:€Notice€Jobððs€sense€of€self„control.€€Have€weÐ 0 € Ðdone€as€well?€€Are€we€doing€as€well?Ð °  ÐÌNow,€the€answer€as€to€why€God€allowed€Job€to€beÐ °  Ðso€tested€by€Satan€isnððt€really€answered€here.€€TheÐ 0€  Ðreal€answer€comes€later€in€this€book,€when€GodÐ °  Ðconfronts€Job€out€of€the€whirlwind.€€God€has€soÐ 0€  Ðmuch€more€knowledge€and€power€than€we€do€weÐ °  Ðshouldnððt€be€questioning€or€criticizing€Him.€€WeÐ 0€  Ðshould€have€faith€that€He€knows€what€He€is€doing.€Ð ° ÐJehovahððs€Witnesses,€in€their€Bible€dictionary,€haveÐ 0€ Ða€good€point€when€they€say:€ð ðHe€[Job]€was€alsoÐ ° Ðmistaken€in€insisting€on€receiving€an€answer€fromÐ 0€ ÐGod€as€to€why€he€was€sufferingðð€òò(Insight€in€theÐ ° ÐScripturesóó,€vol.€2,€p.€83).€€Are€we€like€Job,€and€insistÐ 0!€ Ðthat€God€should€satisfy€our€curiosity€before€we€willÐ °" Ðobey€Him?€€But€who€has€the€power€here,€and€whoÐ 0$€ Ðmakes€the€terms€of€the€contract?€€Itððs€our€duty€toÐ °%! Ðbelieve€and€obey€even€if€we€arenððt€fully€intellectuallyÐ 0'€" Ðsatisfied€by€the€response,€ð ðI€know€more€than€you€do;Ð °($ Ðtrust€me€for€now.ððÐ 0*€% ЇThe€issue€comes€down€to€Godððs€allowing€HisÐ ° Ðcreatures€free€will,€or€free€moral€agency.€€The€angelsÐ 0€ Ðreceived€this€freedom€also,€not€just€men€andÐ ° Ðwomen.€€Since€Godððs€creatures€doubt€that€He€hasÐ 0 € Ðtheir€own€best€interests€in€heart,€He€decided€toÐ °  Ðprove€it€to€them€by€letting€them€suffer€from€their€ownÐ 0 € Ðhard€experience€when€they€disobey€His€law.€€ItððsÐ °  Ðsaid€fools€only€learn€from€experience.€€Likewise,Ð 0€  Ðsince€neither€Lucifer€nor€Eve€would€take€Godððs€wordÐ °  Ðfor€it€that€disobeying€Him€would€be€bad€for€them,€HeÐ 0€  Ðlet€them€choose€badly.€€Why€didnððt€He€ð ðzapðð€themÐ °  Ðinstantly?€€Well,€this€issue€was€going€to€keep€comingÐ 0€  Ðup,€with€His€creatures€through€endless€billions€ofÐ °  Ðyears€having€questions€about€whether€Godððs€waysÐ 0€  Ðreally€were€best€for€them.€€So€God€decided€to€proveÐ ° Ðit€by€their€empirical€experience:€Their€pain€wouldÐ 0€ Ðprove€He€could€be€trusted.€€And€to€prove€it€more,€HeÐ ° Ðdecided€to€suffer€in€pain€Himself,€by€dying€so€awfullyÐ 0€ Ðpainfully€on€the€cross€for€His€creatures.€€So€if€weÐ ° Ðcreatures€had€had€faith€in€God€to€begin€with,€most€orÐ 0!€ Ðall€of€this€pain€and€evil€could€have€been€avoided.€Ð °" ÐBut€both€Lucifer€and€(later)€Eve€had€other€ideas.Ð 0$€ ÐÌConclusion:€As€we€prepare€to€celebrate€the€Feast€ofÐ 0'€" ÐTabernacle,€we€should€remember€that€the€Day€ofÐ °($ ÐAtonement€portrays€a€time€when€Satanððs€influenceÐ 0*€% Ðon€the€world€will€be€destroyed.€€This€event€couldÐ ° Ðeasily€occur€within€the€next€two€or€three€decades,€ifÐ 0€ Ðnot€sooner,€so€shouldnððt€we€have€patience?€Ð ° ÐSimilarly,€our€great€gift€of€eternal€life€should€be€fullyÐ 0 € Ðreceived€by€then,€which€will€greatly€outweigh€theÐ °  Ðproblems€and€evils€weððve€suffered€in€this€life.€Ð 0 € ÐFinally,€we€should€have€faith€and€patience€that€GodÐ °  Ðknows€what€He€is€doing€when€He€allows€Satan€forÐ 0€  Ðjust€a€little€more€time€to€operate.€€Seeing€what€GodÐ °  Ðoffers€us,€we€should€do€better€than€Jobððs€wife,€whoÐ 0€  Ðsaid€to€curse€God€and€die.€