The Believer's Response to Adversity

THE BELIEVER’S RESPONSE TO ADVERSITY

INTRODUCTION:

LATELY, MUCH OF MY DAILY BIBLE READING HAS BEEN IN THE BOOK OF JOB.

AND AS I READ THROUGH THE ACCOUNT OF JOB’S SUFFERING, I AM REMINDED THAT SUFFERING IS REAL, AND THAT SUFFERING IS OFTEN INTENSIFIED DURING HOLIDAYS…

AND THERE ARE MANY REASON FOR THIS TO BE THE CASE…

- ONE REASON IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ABSENT FROM OUR LIVES…

o WHETHER IT’S BECAUSE OF DEATH, DISEASE, DISTANCE, OR DIVISION, THE GROUP LOOKS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR…

o AND THIS CAUSES US PAIN…

- ANOTHER REASON IS THE CULTURAL STRESS OF THE SEASON…

o WE ARE CONSTANTLY MADE TO FEEL AS IF WE ARE LESS THAN PROFICIENT PARENTS, OR GRANDPARENTS IF OUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN DON’T HAVE THE LATEST TOY OR GADGET…

o WE WONDER HOW WE’LL PAY FOR IT ALL, AND THE STRESS BEGINS TO MOUNT…

- THERE ARE OTHER REASONS…

o A FEAR OF CROWDS

o THE FEAR OF BEING ALONE

o TENSE RELATIONSHIPS

o PERSONAL ILLNESS

o PERSONAL TRAGEDY

o ALL THESE THINGS LEND THEMSELVES TO THE ALREADY STRESSFUL CULTURE IN WHICH WE LIVE…

SO HOW ARE WE TO COPE WITH ALL THESE STRESSES?

WELL, I THINK ONE WE CAN COPE IS BY PUTTING SOME THINGS IN THEIR PROPER PERSPEPCTIVE…

AND ONE WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS BY LOOKING AT A BIBLICAL EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO FACED STRESSES THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER FACE…

AND THAT MAN’S NAME WAS JOB.

TAKE YOUR BIBLE AND TURN WITH ME TO THE BOOK OF JOB, CHAPTER 1.

IF YOU CAN FIND THE PSALMS, JUST GO BACK ONE BOOK AND YOU’LL BE IN THE BOOK OF JOB.

ESTHER…JOB…PSALMS.

WHEN YOU’VE FOUND YOUR PLACE, LET ME KNOW BY STANDING WITH ME AS WE READ THE ENTIRE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF JOB.

ALL 125 VERSES…JUST KIDDING, THERE ARE JUST 22 VERSES IN CHAPTER ONE.

JOB, CHAPTER 1, VERSES 1 THROUGH 21.

STAND – READ – PRAY

YOU OFTEN HEAR RAGS TO RICHES STORIES FROM TIME TO TIME.

MAYBE YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS.

BUT THE ACCOUNT OF JOB’S LIFE IS A RICHES TO RAGS TO RICHES STORY.

IT’S THE ACCOUNT OF A MAN WHO LOST EVERYTHING, AND I DO MEAN EVERYTHING.

I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE FIRST TO LOOK AT THE CHARACTER OF THIS MAN JOB.

THE BIBLE GIVES US GREAT INSIGHT TO THE TYPE OF MAN JOB WAS IN THE FIRST VERSE OF THE BOOK.

LOOK AT VERSE ONE.

HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT CONDUCT, OF PERFECT INTEGRITY.

IT SAYS HE WAS BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT.

HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT REVERENCE.

IT SAYS HE WAS A MAN WHO FEARED GOD.

HE WAS A MAN WHO MADE GREAT DECISIONS.

AND IT SAYS THAT HE WAS A MAN WHO TURNED AWAY FROM EVIL.

AND EVEN THOUGH JOB WAS ALL THESE THINGS, BAD THINGS STILL HAPPENED TO HIM.

THE FIRST CHAPTER OF JOB IS A TELLING OF THE TRIALS OF A GOOD MAN.

JOB WAS A GOOD MAN, AND ALL THIS HAPPENED TO HIM.

JOB SUFFERED GREAT LOSSES.

JOB’S LIFE CAME CRASHING DOWN AROUND HIM, AND HE WAS HELPLESS TO STOP IT.

LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT HE LOST.

1. FIRST, HE LOST HIS FORTUNE.

a. VERSE 13 BEGINS THE ACCOUNT OF THE UNRAVELING OF JOB’S LIFE, WHEN HE HEARS A REPORT THAT THE SABEANS HAD STOLEN ALL JOB’S OXEN AND DONKEYS.

b. AND THAT THEY HAD KILLED ALL THE SERVANTS THAT WERE TENDING TO THEM.

c. WHILE HE WAS RECEIVING THIS NEWS, ANOTHER SERVANT COMES IN TO REPORT THAT THE FIRE OF GOD HAD STRUCK ALL HIS SHEEP AND THE SERVANTS WATCHING OVER THEM, AND THEY WERE ALL GONE.

d. WHILE HE WAS RECEIVING THIS NEWS, ANOTHER SERVANT COMES IN TO REPORT THAT THE CHALDEANS HAD RAIDED THE LAND AND STOLEN ALL THE CAMELS, AND KILLED THE SERVANTS TENDING TO THEM.

e. YOU KNOW, IT’S A VERY UNSETTLING THING TO LOSE THE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAT WE HAVE.

f. ONE OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE WORLD MEASURES US…

i. AND OFTEN THE WAY THE WORLD MEASURES US IS BY THE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAT WE HAVE.

g. JOB WAS A WEALTHY MAN, PROMINENT IN THE AREA HE LIVED IN.

h. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE WAS THE GREATEST MAN AMONG ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE EAST.

i. SO WHEN HE LOST HIS MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, HE MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD HAVE LOST HIS STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY.

j. BUT JOB WAS A MAN OF INTEGRITY, A HARD-WORKING MAN.

k. HE HAD LOST EVERYTHING, AND MAYBE HE WAS THINKING, “AT LEAST I STILL HAVE MY FAMILY.

l. BUT THEN THERE WAS A FOURTH REPORT.

2. JOB HAD LOST HIS FAMILY.

a. A SERVANT CAME TO JOB AND REPORTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A BUILDING COLLAPSE AND ALL OF HIS CHILDREN WERE DEAD.

b. NOW JOB HAD TEN CHILDREN.

c. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH JOB’S MIND?

d. ALL THE MEMORIES, ALL THE HOPES AND DREAMS THAT HE HAD.

e. ALL THE PLANS HE HAD FOR HIS CHILDREN.

f. GONE IN A MOMENTS TIME.

g. MAYBE JOB PAUSED FOR A MOMENT, CONSIDERED THE SITUATION, AND MAYBE HE THOUGHT, “WELL, AT LEAST I STILL HAVE MY HEALTH.”

h. BUT OVER IN CHAPTER TWO, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT JOB DIDN’T EVEN RETAIN THAT.

3. CHAPTER TWO TELLS US THAT NOT ONLY DID JOB LOSE HIS FORTUNE AND HIS FAMILY, BUT HE ALSO LOST HIS FITNESS.

a. GOD ALLOWED SATAN TO INFECT JOB WITH INCURABLE BOILS FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD TO THE SOLES OF HIS FEET.

b. DID YOU SEE THAT WORD INCURABLE?

c. THAT MEANS THAT JOB WAS FORCED TO FACE THE REALITY THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS FOREVER.

d. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.

e. JOB WAS FACED WITH THE STARK REALITY THAT THIS WAS HOW LIFE WAS GOING TO BE.

f. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

g. IF YOU WERE IN JOB’S PLACE, HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?

h. IT WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO BE JOYFUL AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

4. BUT LOOK AT HOW JOB RESPONDED TO THE ADVERSITY IN HIS LIFE.

a. JOB LOST HIS FORTUNE, HE LOST HIS FAMILY, AND HE LOST HIS FITNESS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT JOB NEVER LOST THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE ORDEAL, WAS HIS FAITH.

b. AFTER RECEIVING THE NEWS THAT HE HAD LOST EVERYTHING, JOB RESPONDED THIS WAY.

i. FIRST, HE WORSHIPPED.

ii. VERSE 20 SAYS THAT JOB STOOD UP, TORE HIS ROBE, AND SHAVED HIS HEAD.

iii. THEN HE FELL TO THE GROUND AND WORSHIPPED.

a. SECOND, HE TESTIFIED TO THE GOODNESS OF GOD…

c. LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID.

i. 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.

ii. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.

CONCLUSION:

AS I READ THAT PASSAGE, AND I SAW HOW JOB RESPONDED TO ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN HIS LIFE,

MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, “HOW IN THE WORLD COULD JOB RESPOND THE WAY THAT HE DID?”

I THINK YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO VERSE ONE TO FIND THE REASON.

IT’S BECAUSE JOB WAS A MAN OF PERFECT INTEGRITY, WHO FEARED GOD, AND TURNED AWAY FROM EVIL.

EVEN THOUGH THOSE AROUND JOB INSTRUCTED HIM TO CURSE GOD FOR THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN HIS LIFE, JOB WAS FAITHFUL TO GOD.

AS YOU READ ON THROUGH THE BOOK OF JOB, YOU FIND THAT EVEN THOUGH JOB LOST EVERYTHING HE HAD, HE REMAINED FAITHFUL TO GOD.

AND HIS FAITHFULNESS PAID OFF.

CHAPTER 42, VERSES 10 THROUGH 16 TELL US OF THE RESTORATION OF JOB.

HE REGAINED HIS FITNESS.

GOD HEALED HIS BODY.

HE REGAINED HIS FORTUNE, AND THEN SOME.

HE REGAINED HIS FAMILY, AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HIS DAUGHTERS WERE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE LAND.

BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, JOB DID NOT REGAIN, BUT HE RETAINED HIS FAITH THROUGH THE ENTIRE BOOK.

MAYBE YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEIR LIFE IS CRASHING DOWN AROUND YOU.

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE BUILDING AND BUILDING AND YOU MAY WONDER HOW MUCH MORE YOU CAN TAKE.

LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT IT’S NOT UNUSUAL FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL THIS WAY.

THE PRESSURES OF LIFE ARE TREMENDOUS, AND EACH OF US HAS PROBLEMS.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT IS CONSTANT IN OUR LIVES, IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

AND WHATEVER STRUGGLES YOU ARE FACING TODAY, GOD IS AWARE OF THEM, HE CARES ABOUT YOU, AND HE WANTS THE VERY BEST FOR YOU.

AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR SUFFERING…

ONE IS THAT SATAN WANTS YOUR SUFFERING TO SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD…

HE WANT S TO USE YOUR SUFFERING AS A WAY TO CONVINCE YOU THAT GOD DOES NOT LOVE YOU, AND THAT YOU DESERVE BETTER…

AND MANY PEOPLE ARE FALLING PREY TO THE DECEPTION OF SATAN IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING…

BUT GOD’S DESIRE IS TO DRAW YOU CLOSER TO HIM THROUGH SUFFERING…

HIS DESIRE IS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH…

AND THE QUESTION IS “HOW WILL WE RESPOND TO THE TESTING THAT GOD ALLOWS TO COME INTO OUR LIVES…”

THIS MORNING, I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO RESPOND IN ANY OF FOUR WAYS.

FOUR INVITATIONS

A CALL TO RESPOND TO THE MESSAGE – YOU MAY BE HERE AND GOD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU THROUGH THIS MESSAGE.

AND YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO RESPOND IN REPENTANCE AND RENEW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD DURING THE INVITATION.

A GOSPEL CALL – YOU MAY BE HERE THIS MORNING AND YOU HAVE NEVER RECEIVED CHRIST BY FAITH AND COMMITTED YOUR LIFE TO HIM, THIS CALL IS FOR YOU.

CHRIST WENT TO THE CROSS AND TOOK YOUR SINS UPON HIMSELF SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE REDEEMED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN AND RECONCILED TO GOD.

IF YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL TO BE SAVED, I WANT YOU TO COME FORWARD DURING THE INVITATION.

A CALL TO COMMITMENT – MAYBE YOU ARE HERE THIS MORNING AND YOU SENSE IN YOUR SPIRIT THAT THE LORD WOULD HAVE YOU TO UNITE WITH THIS BODY OF BELIEVERS.

WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP HERE AND WE ACCEPT MEMBERS THROUGH SALVATION AND BAPTISM, THROUGH TRANSFER OF LETTER FROM ANOTHER SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH, OR THROUGH STATEMENT OF FAITH, PROVIDED YOU HAVE BEEN SCRIPTURALLY BAPTIZED.

MAYBE THIS MORNING, THIS IS WHAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO.

IF SO, I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD DURING THE INVITATION.

A CALL TO SERVICE – YOU MAY BE HERE AND YOU FEEL THAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO A SPECIFIC PLACE OF SERVICE.

WE WANT TO WALK THROUGH THIS DECISION WITH YOU AND CELEBRATE GOD’S MOVING IN YOUR LIFE.

IF THIS IS YOU, I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD DURING THE INVITATION.