How Shall We Then Live Part 5
Notes
Transcript
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Intro
What have we learned up to this point?
Adam - how to deal with sin - Key word Repentance
Sin is a fire that burns and devours
Overcoming sin is in some sense by figuring out what is required and what is forbidden and
doing what is required and forsaking what is forbidden.
also - Presence is not good enough - It is presence with practice. AMEN
Noah - God deals with wickedness
Noah Did what God asked him to do - not only this but all God asked him to do
When you commit - You commit
Noah’s actions are a model for us of obedience and faith.
Abraham - A life lied by faith
Recognizing that Gods promises are Yes and Amen
A life of tithing ( giving to God) and the authority of priesthood
We also see Abraham recognizing evil and wanting not part in it. ( not even the smallest item of value from it)
David - living s life or repentance
a life of worship
A life understanding that God is the strong one, the one that can direct the rock, wipe out armies, bring vengeance on gods people. That the nation of Israel will be preserved
Joseph - rags to riches story - a life of loyalty and trust
You are blessed? Yes why? Because God is with you
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Esther - God has a plan and will use anyone he chooses even a little orphan girl
We learn God answers prayer
She became the vessel for deliverance.
Daniel - standing firm in your faith
- We worship of the one true God. Never giving room for any other idol.
- Character and Courage - rather than being a fake character with imaginary
courage. ( Marvel Character)
Transition
Today I end with one more from the OT and that is Job
Job 1:1 (ESV)
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
WOW - It would be very difficult to find a JOB today anywhere.
He was blessed beyond measure.
He would even offer burned offerings for his kids just incase they sinned.
What a heart.
God calls Job his servant and brags on Him
Wouldn’t it be nice to have God brag on you
He was used by God as a example to us of unwavering love for his God
8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
How shall we then Live - We live like Job
Satan himself attacks Job
The accuser of the brethren and deceiver of the world
9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.
10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
Satan is relentless on his attack on you - Your character Your faith - Your heart
He hates you
Not only Hate but deception.
He is allowed to test Jobs relationship with His God. This is hard to even imagine or fathom such a thing. But what a blessing to us as we consider his life and the life we can live in the midst of tragedy.
Job looses practically everything
kids, servants, livestock, then his health all pretty much at the same time.
He is left with a wife - who also has lost everything except her husband.
This story is also a contrast on how we respond to life's very difficult challenges
Remember in the world we will have trouble along with blessings - Right !!
We are always left with the choice on how we respond
Jobs Response
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
His wife's response
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
Make no mistake there is nothing easy about Job or his Wifes response-
Immediately Jobs friends show up- Nothing mentioned on his wifes friends.
These friends have a warped sense of life and are of no help to Job.
DIY Bible Study Job—About Suffering
Job’s friends believe that his misfortune is evidence that he has sinned and deserves God’s judgment.
In this world we can have misfortune- but can the works of God be made manifest through them?
Bad things can happen to good people - Look at Christ
John 9:2–3 (NASB95)
2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
How many of you know there are many rich people and self righteous people who are spiritually bankrupt and miserable.
Or how about the story in Luke 18 9-14
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!
12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’
14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Back to Job
Here is another challenge
His friends have no answers and
God is silent. - He doesn’t answer Job
Job Questions ‘Why”
Job 10:2 (NASB95)
2 “I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Let me know why You contend with me.
Why questions many times have no answer- Even if there was an answer it probably wouldnt be a good enough one for us.
Job feels like he is groping in the darkness
8 “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
In Chapter 31 look at the many times the word IF is used.
When God finally speaks
He speaks to His sovereignty, knowledge, wisdom, creative and sustaining power.
What can we learn by that?
I can sum it up in one word TRUST
We have to Trust the creator of the universe, the source of all knowledge and wisdom. The one who has the power to not only create but sustain. It is He who we have to humble ourselves before.
We think God does not know what he is doing. We have this tendency to be God when we are called to serve God
2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.”
In the end Job gives his final confession.
It is the confession we must all come to.
It is our confession
It answers the question How Shall We Then Live
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
A famous old preacher once said
How do we live, by understanding our position
We are a creation of God
We are the clay - He is the potter.
We are formed and furnished by Him
We are created in Gods image
We lodge in this body but we return to God
1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
WE LIVE BETWEEN THE LINES OF GOD’S WISDOM NOT MANS
CONCLUSION
Humanism says man is the measure of himself autonomous and independent - not having a need for God
In comparison to Gods wisdom man is stupid.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
So how shall we know live?
Recognize their is only one who can change every circumstance
Belief in the one who has all knowledge and wisdom.
Live life loving God in the good and the bad (Not Easy)
Remember God
In this cosmic battle between Satan and his evil horde - God wins
You ultimately win