I AM Wrong, IF . . .

This Week’s Theme: Compelled To Act

The Word for the Week is Awe: It is profound reverence, wonder, and respect for God that inspires both admiration and fear of His greatness, holiness, and power. It is more than just being impressed — it is a response of the heart, mind, and spirit to God’s majesty.

Memory verse: Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Sermon Focus:  Let the fear and majesty of God compel you to look out for others.

Sermon Passage: Job 31:13-23

Job 31:23 NKJV

23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

MY FRIENDS, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT TO BOAST, BUT TO BE WEIGHED. 

I DO NOT ASK YOU TO BELIEVE ME 

BECAUSE OF I LOST ALL MY HEALTH, WEALTH, AND PROSPERITY 

NOR DO I POINT TO MY FORMER BLESSINGS 

AS EVIDENCE OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD 

THE ALLEGATIONS GIVEN BY MY FRIENDS 

I KNOW YOU HEARD BILDAD

Job 8:6 NKJV

6 If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place.

BILDAD ARGUES THAT

IF I WERE TRULY PURE,

GOD WOULD RESTORE HIM IMMEDIATELY.

I KNOW YOU HEARD ZOPHAR FALSE ASSUMPTIONS

Job 11:2–3 NKJV

2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? 3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

ZOPHAR ACCUSES JOB

OF PRIDE,

FOOLISHNESS,

AND VERBAL INSOLENCE TOWARD GOD.

I KNOW YOU HEARD ELIPHAZ’S ACCUSATIONS MOVED FROM 

SECRET SINS

Job 4:7 NKJV

7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?

THE INNOCENT DON’T PERISH 

THE UPRIGHT AREN’T CUT OFF

Job 4:8 NKJV

8 Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same.

YOU REAP WHAT YOU HAVE SOWN 

TO 

SEEN  

Job 22:6–7 NKJV

6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.

TAKEN PLEDGES FROM MY BROTHER 

STRIPPED THE NAKED OF THEIR CLOTHING 

I REFUSED TO GIVE WATER TO THE WEARY 

AND GIVE BREAD TO THE HUNGRY 

I KNOW YOU HEARD 

HIM SAY THAT 

I DID HELP BUT SENT THE 

Job 22:9 NKJV

9 You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

WIDOWS AWAY EMPTY HANDED 

AND 

CRUSHED THOSE WITHOUT FATHERS 

I HAVE PREPARED A STATEMENT TO REFUTE 

THESE DAMAGING ACCUSATIONS 

I ASK YOU TO LISTEN 

EXAMINE MY LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF GOD.

I HAVE SEARCHED MY HEART, 

AND I HAVE PLACED MYSELF 

UNDER OATH BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY. 

IF I HAVE SINNED, 

I DO NOT ASK TO BE EXCUSED—I ASK TO BE CONDEMNED. IF I AM GUILTY, LET GOD SAY SO.

SO I SPEAK PLAINLY AND SAY IT BEFORE HEAVEN AND EARTH:

I’M GUILTY, IF I…

I. DISMISSED THE COMPLAINTS

Job 31:13 NKJV

13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,

I DID NOT DISMISSED THE COMPLAINTS 

OF THOSE UNDER MY AUTHORITY. 

I DID NOT DESPISE THE CAUSE 

OF THE SERVANTS WHO WORKED FOR ME 

DID ANYONE TALK TO OR QUESTIONED HADAD? 

“I AM BEING WORKED WITHOUT REST.”

WHEN RACHEL MY FEMALE SERVANT SAID, 

“MY LABOR HAS NOT BEEN PAID.”

I DID NOT DISMISS HER COMPLAINT 

I MADE SURE SHE GOT HER WAGES 

WHEN SIMEON MADE THE CHARGE THAT

“HE WAS BEING TREATED HARSHLY AND WITHOUT MERCY.”

MAYBE OTHERS OWNERS

SILENCED COMPLAINTS

BUT 

I LISTENED 

AND WHEN THE WORKERS 

THOUGHT THAT THEY 

WERE “BEING WORKED WITHOUT REST.”

I MOVED THE STOP WORK TIME UP AN HOUR 

SO THERE WOULD BE NO CONFUSION 

ABUSED MY AUTHORITY

I LISTENED TO THE LOWLY

I ATTENDED TO THE AFFLICTED

I HEARD THE HELPLESS 

I HEARD THEM

I TOOK THEIR WORDS SERIOUSLY

I PAID ATTENTION

I DID NOT TURN AWAY

I LISTENED CAREFULLY

Job 31:14 NKJV

14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

WHEN GOD RISES UP  

WHEN GOD PUNISHES THE WICKED

HOW CAN ANYONE ANSWER? 

WHAT DEFENSE CAN YOU OFFER

Job 31:15 NKJV

15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

TRANSITION: I KNOW THAT HEARING A COMPLAINT IS ONLY 

THE BEGINNING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS—

FOR IT IS POSSIBLE 

TO LISTEN AND STILL DO NOTHING.

WHICH IS WHY 

I’M GUILTY IF I

II. DECLINED TO CARE 

Job 31:16 NKJV

16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

HOW COULD I FACE YOU

IF I SAW NEED AND 

TURNED MY EYES AWAY. 

IF THE POOR LONGED 

AND I WITHHELD. 

IF HANNAH WEPT 

AND I IGNORED HER. 

Job 31:17 NKJV

17 Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it

IF I ATE MY BREAD ALONE

WHILE THE FATHERLESS WENT HUNGRY.

FROM MY YOUTH I DID NOT LIVE THAT WAY.

Job 31:18 NKJV

18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);

I DID NOT DECLINE CARE TO THOSE AROUND ME

IF

Job 31:19–20 NKJV

19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering; 20 If his heart has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

I COULD NOT ENJOY WARMTH WHILE ANOTHER SHIVERED.

I COULD NOT BLESS MYSELF WHILE OTHERS PERISHED IN WANT.

BUT COMPASSION IS TESTED MOST NOT WHEN WE HAVE

LITTLE POWER—BUT WHEN WE HAVE MUCH.

III. DAMAGED THE CASTAWAY

I’M GUILTY IF I

Job 31:21–22 NKJV

21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate; 22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.

EVER USED MY INFLUENCE TO CRUSH THE HELPLESS.

IF I SAW THE ORPHAN STANDING ALONE IN THE GATE

AND USED

MY VOICE,

MY STATUS,

OR MY CONNECTIONS TO WIN AGAINST HIM—

THEN LET MY OWN STRENGTH BE BROKEN.

I KNEW THE WEIGHT OF POWER.

AND BECAUSE I KNEW IT,

I REFUSED TO WIELD IT

AGAINST THOSE WHO HAD NONE.

TRANSITION TO POINT IV

AND YOU MAY ASK—WHAT RESTRAINED ME? WHAT KEPT MY HAND FROM VIOLENCE AND MY HEART FROM HARDNESS?

IV. DELIGHTED IN HIS CONTEMPT

I’M GUILTY IF I EVER DELIGHTED IN GOD’S CONTEMPT

Job 31:23 NKJV

23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

IF HIS JUDGMENT DID NOT TERRIFY ME.

THE FEAR OF GOD WAS MY GUARDRAIL.

HIS MAJESTY STOOD BEFORE ME EVEN

WHEN NO ONE ELSE WAS WATCHING.

I DID NOT DO RIGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING.

I DID RIGHT BECAUSE GOD WAS.

CONCLUSION (FIRST-PERSON — JOB SPEAKING)

SO NOW, LET THE ALMIGHTY ANSWER ME. I HAVE LAID MY LIFE OPEN. I HAVE NOT CLAIMED SINLESSNESS—ONLY INTEGRITY. IF I HAVE DONE THESE THINGS, LET ME BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES. BUT IF I HAVE NOT, THEN LET IT BE KNOWN THAT MY SUFFERING IS NOT THE PROOF OF MY GUILT.

I STAND ON THIS: RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT MEASURED BY COMFORT, BUT BY CHARACTER. NOT BY WHAT A MAN CLAIMS, BUT BY HOW HE TREATS THE WEAK WHEN HE HAS THE POWER TO DO OTHERWISE.

I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE GOD AND BEFORE YOU:

I’M GUILTY, IF I…

I. DISMISSED THE COMPLAINTS  

II. DECLINED TO CARE

III. DAMAGED THE CASTAWAY

IV. DELIGHTED IN HIS CONTEMPT