Trusting In God Series

Protocol:

Prayer: Scripture

Job 5:8–11 ““As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause. He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.”

Subject: When all hope is gone.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 12: Job (Introduction)

Sooner or later, everyone identifies with Job. Suffering is part of the human condition. When that moment comes, whether innocent or guilty, we cry out in anguish, Why? Unless we are sadists obsessed with guilt, we feel that the pain of suffering is always more than we deserve. So, while few of us can match the uncontested innocence of Job, all of us in the time of suffering raise angry questions about God’s justice, our righteousness, and religion’s answer. Invariably, we also get down to the cosmic question

“Why do the wicked prosper and the innocent suffer in an orderly universe created by a just God?”

Background

The book Of Job narrates how Job loses his wealth, children and health yet he remains faithful to God refusing to curse God. Through out his trials, Job engages in deep philosophical discussions with his friends about the nature of suffering, justice, and the ways of God.

Job is depicted as a righteous and prosperous man who live in the land of Uz.

Job is describe as being blameless, upright, and one who fears God, shunning evil. despite his righteousness Job faces a series of calamities that test his faith and endurance.

in Job 5:8-11 i want to encourage you today to turn to God in times of trouble, believing that God can perform wonder. in other words seeking divine help and relying on God’s transformative power.

First i want to understand that Job going through some life circumstances and he decides to talk to his 3 closest friends.

in out text today we find his friend Eliphaz respond to Job suffering.

Can I disarm some of your thinking for a moment.

When bad things happen to people i first response is Karma

Can I make this statement according to the text today.

just because people are suffering does not means they had done wrong in life Amen. So be careful How we place word Karma on people.

Eliphaz came to Job under the pretext of a compassionate friend authoritative teacher. and because he has health and wealth

so he

extend his apologies

giving his analysis of the situation

invoke his authority

make is assumptions

then offer his advice

Now before you begin to pass judgement on Job friends how many of us is guilty of the same thing as Job friend.

See the society that we live in has projected this mindset on to us, that we show when somebody is going through we extend our sympathy to them.

As we look at the situation they are in we begin to form our own opinion about it because we are the best Christian in the whole world.

then we want to tell them that God is punishing you for something you have done all you got to do is confess and God will forgive you.

Then we tell our little story of what God has done for me.

When is the last time you just sat with that person and sang and old familiar hymn I learn to lean and and depend on Jesus because I find out if I trust him he will provide.

Now before you begin to talk about Job friend Eliphaz remember the culture that they were in.

Eliphaz’s primary equation reads, “Sin equals suffering,” and its is consequences just the opposite, “Righteousness equals prosperity.”

Eliphaz is asking Job to appeal to God

when we are in difficult times in life and we don’t know what to do seeking God is the wise course of Action.

Trust God for divine wonders and miracles that God can do extraordinary wonders that surpass our human comprehension.

God says your thoughts are not my thoughts and your ways are not my ways. what we see as impossible God see as possible.

Finally, my fellow labors of the Gospel. Wait on God’s transformative power Now I don’t want to lose you with this so hold tight

transformative is define as the process or effects of bringing about a significant change or transformation in something or someone.

in other words their a fundamental shift that leads to substantial improvement, growth or renewal.

Somebody maybe saying Pastor what are you talking about well as I look in the bible i see God transformative power at work.

I believe if I had a little talk with Moses he would tell me I was a murder, fugitive but when I meet God at the burning bush I went from being a murder and fugitive to a well respect leader.

If Moses could give us some encouragement today He would say it doesn’t matter how far you have fallen its never to late to turn our lives around and follow God.

Miriam Moses sister the prophetess but a gossip and had envy to the point she spoke against her brother Moses and was struck with leprosy Oh but the story don’t end there.

She would say I repented of my sin and was healed by God.

Miriam would tell us to remain humble regardless of the difficult times we face God is still with us and God will use us for his purpose.

If I could talk to my brother David would tell me I was a man after God’s own heart but I committed adultery with Bathsheba and I had her husband killed but when I was confronted by Nathan I repented and ask for forgiveness

Lord blot out my transgression cleanse me from my inequities and create in me a clean heart and renew in me a right spirit.

David would tell us God is always willing to forgives us when we repent.

My story:

God can and God will transform you if you let Him.

Are you ready to move from that old life and old way of thinking into this brand new life that God has create for you. Are you ready to TRUST GOD in everything.

The song says All to Jesus I surrender all to him I freely give all forsake take me Jesus take me now..I surrender I surrender all is there one today who wants to give their life to Christ.

Surrender All