THE BAD SIDE 3 & 4

1. Introduction

a) As I was reading the Scripture, I noticed number 3 & 4 associated with the work of our Enemy, Satan & his followers. Thus, I surveyed deeper and decided to write this message: "The Bad Side for 3 & 4".

b) Before we look into "The Bad Side for 3 & 4", we shall consider generally what most Bible scholars accept the significance of:

i) Number 3 - Signifies completion or perfection, and unity. 3 is the number of Persons in the Trinity.

#1) Many significant events in the Bible happened "on the third day"

#2) After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. (Hosea 6:2 ESV)

#3) Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish (Matthew 12:40).

#4) Jesus' earthly ministry lasted three years (Luke 13:7).

#5) Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19 ESV)

ii) Number 4 - Relates to the earth.

#1) Earth has four seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall.

#2) There are four primary directions: north, south, east, west.

#3) Four earthly kingdoms (Daniel 7:3).

#4) Parable with four types of soil (Matthew 13).

#5) He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12 ESV)

c) From the above, number 3 signifies completion or perfection, and unity & number 4 relates to the earth. What then is the bad side for 3 & 4?

2. What then is the bad side for 3 & 4?

a) Our adversary (enemy) has limited power to do evils in the case of Egypt & Job. We notice that Satan and his followers are limited to 3 or 4 tries to test things in heavens (plagues) and things on earth (Job). The trials and tribulations the children of God face are only temporary.

b) After 4, comes 5 which is a number associated with GRACE!

#1) Five Levitical offerings (Leviticus 1-5).

#2) Jesus multiplied five loaves of barely to feed 5,000 (Matthew 14:17).

#3) Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him. (Genesis 43:34 ESV)

3. What does the Scripture say concerning the magicians' arts in Egypt?

a) The magicians could only perform 3 magical arts and no more

#1) Their rods became serpents

i) 11Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. (Exodus 7:11, 12 NIV)

#2) Water turned to blood

i) 22But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 7:22 NIV)

#3) Frogs came up upon the land

i) 7But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. (Exodus 8:7 NIV)

b) The magicians couldn't overcome the power of God but God's power overcame Satan & his followers.

c) For the 4th plague, the magicians could not cause gnats (lice) to infest the entire land.

i) 18But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, (Exodus 8:18 NIV)

d) In fact, they acknowledged God's sovereignty "This is the finger of God".

i) 19The magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:19 NIV)

4. What does the Scripture say about Job's 1st test (Job 1:13-19)?

a) God allows Satan to test Job. Job loses his property & children (7 sons & 3 daughters) which is summarized in 4 incidents. Here are 4 bad reports:

#1) The Sabeans attacked and made off oxen & donkeys with them. They put the servants to the sword (v14-15).

#2) The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants (v16).

#3) The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword (v17).

#4) When suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on Job's sons & daughters and they were dead (v18-19).

@1. 13One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 16While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 17While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 18While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” (Job 1:13-19 NIV)

5. What is the window period for the adversary to play?

a) Till 3rd and 4th generations

i) 4"You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6 NKJV)

6. Why is it so essential for us to ensure that we live to see our 3rd and 4th generation of our godly offspring?

a) The devil has the window to play i.e. up to 3rd and 4th generation to cut short our godly offspring to a thousand generations.

i) Sin is crouching at our door. So, beware!

@1. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Genesis 4:6, 7 NIV)

ii) Sin gives the devil the right to come in.

b) After the 4th generation of godly offspring, I believe God does not hold us accountable (we may not be around) and that the lineage of 5th generation of godly offspring will move to a thousand generation. This is to say that the window for the devil to play is closed!

i) 10The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. 11May the Lord , the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! (Deuteronomy 1:10, 11 NIV)

ii) 9Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV)

7. What is the key to long life that enables us to see our future generations?

a) Honor our father and mother

i) 16"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV)

b) Obey God's commandments

i) 28The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, "I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. 29Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! (Deuteronomy 5:28, 29 NIV)

c) Walk in obedience

i) 32So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. (Deuteronomy 5:32, 33 NIV)

8. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we will live long to see our 3rd and 4th generation of godly offspring.

b) Pray that we are healthy, live long to ensure that our godly inheritance will move to a thousand generations. 

Comments