230219 Job 1: Job's Perseverance

Power perfected in weakness | Piety and Perseverance | Trouble in a Test Case | Frustrating the Accuser | The Maker, the Faker and the Test Taker | Light and Momentary Affliction

Luke 21.19 ““By your perseverance you will gain your lives.”

Romans 5.3 “And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance;”

Col 1.11 “being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously”

INTRODUCTION

James 1.2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not groan, brothers, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brothers, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we count those blessed who persevere. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

JOB IS UPRIGHT, HONEST, WEALTHY, GREAT FAMILY AND TAKES SERIOUSLY HIS KIDS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, A PRIEST FOR HIS FAMILY

Job's Righteousness

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil.

Ezekiel 14.14 “even though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves,” declares Lord Yahweh.”

Job’s Riches

Job 1:2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the sons of the east.

James 1.17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Job’s Reverence

Job 1:4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 Now it happened when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and set them apart as holy. And he would rise up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

The Maker, The Hater and the Test Taker

Job 1:6 Now it was the day that the sons of God came to stand before Yahweh, and Satan also came among them. 7 And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” (NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR AND EVERYWHERE IN GENERAL) 8 Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you set your heart upon My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 And Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God without cause? 10 “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 “But send forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand, only do not send forth your hand toward him.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.

God sets Job apart to demonstrate that His Sovereignty is greater than satan’s hatred and malice. Although Job will suffer God will bring him through it

The Beginning of Hardship | Riches and Relations Removed

13 Now it happened that on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them. They also struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the young men and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans set up three companies and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and touched the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Why did all this happen?

God created Job for this test to demonstrate His sovereign power over all the malice, evil and hatred of satan.

It was not because Job sinned - it is overly simplistic to assume that all hardship is directly related to sin - some is and we cannot escape that. Some is related to our own individual sins and some is the result of others. I do not sin if I am hit by a drunk driver - it is their sin.

John 9 | 1 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this was so that the works of God might be manifested in him.

Job’s Response | Perseverance Proven

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh.” 22 Through all this Job did not sin, nor did he give offense to God.

It all belongs to God, the Sovereign Holy God of the universe and when He removes blessing and when He gives it He does nothing evil.

Job did not blame God

Why is there hardship in our life as Christians? Remember DEPTHS

Defines who is saved and who is not

Philippians 1:27–30 “Only live your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about your circumstances, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind contending together for the faith of the gospel, in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same struggle which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

Rom 2.7 “to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;”

Enables us to desire to pray

Perseverance is particularly powerful when paired with petition through prayer

Eph 6.18 “praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

Product of self control and in turn it produces godliness

2 Peter 1.6 “and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,”

2 Tim 2.19 “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,” and, “EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF THE LORD is to DEPART FROM WICKEDNESS.””

Tests our faith

Mark 4:16–17 ““And in a similar way, these are the ones being sown on the rocky places: those who, when hearing the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.”

Helps us to comfort others

2 Cor 1.3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is working in your perseverance in the same sufferings which we also suffer.”

Sin

Romans 5.12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”

What does a failure in Perseverance look like

2 Tim 4.10 “for Demas, having loved this present age, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.”

John 6.71 “Now He was speaking of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.”

2 Timothy 2:17-18 “and their word will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.”

Develops perseverance in our faith

James 1.3-4 “knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Luke 8:4–15 | 4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 “And other seed fell on rock and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 “And other seed fell among the thorns, and when the thorns grew up with it, they choked it out. 8 “And other seed fell into the good soil; and growing up, it produced a crop one hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 And His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. 11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 “And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 “And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 “And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of life, and do not bear ripe fruit. 15 “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Quote

1 Corinthians 3 | 1 And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are still not able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident, for the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are a sanctuary of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the sanctuary of God, God will destroy him, for the sanctuary of God is holy, and that is what you are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; 20 and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.” 21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Self attestations

Job 31 ““I have cut a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? “And what is the portion of God from above Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? “Is it not disaster to the unjust And misfortune to those who work iniquity? “Does He not see my ways And number all my steps? “If I have walked with worthlessness, And my foot has hastened after deceit, Let Him weigh me with just scales, And let God know my integrity. “If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands, Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lied in wait at my neighbor’s doorway, May my wife grind for another, And let others kneel down over her. “For that would be lewdness; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges. “For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, And would uproot all my produce. “If I have rejected the justice of my male or female slaves When they filed a c…”

Not perfect - had to repent

Job 42.6 “Therefore I reject myself, And I repent in dust and ashes.””