CLS Job 1_21 Living Through Calamity

Church Life series - Living Through Calamities

Job 1:21

Secular:

The question isn’t will we face calamity, tribulation, illness, loss, hurt… pain…
The question is how will we deal with it WHEN it comes
There will be mass killings
There will be hurricanes
People will continue to get sick and die…
We live right next to a fault line… it will… in time… give way…
Are we ready…
Is it best to take a first aid course… while your child’s face goes from pink, to red, to purple, as they choke helplessly on a small toy…
Learn CPR while leaning over a lifeless body…
Head out to the car to go buy a fire extinguisher while your kitchen is consumed in flames?
It is better to be prepared… our hearts and minds before calamity strikes…. At least before it strikes again.

Listen to Job in the midst of great trial

Biblical:

Job 1:21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Personal:

I have said before… I have never seen a u-haul trailer behind a hearse
Eventually all we have WILL be taken away… period… Boats, cars, pets, family…
Loved ones die…
Our health fails… rapidly in an accident… or prolonged in an illness
What are we standing on…
Or do we just cling… another possession…?

Bridge:

Worry, fear, anxiety are based on our need to have the future unfold our way… Truly God NEVER promises that and that is actually an affront to his sovereign pleasure.
Thy will be done…
We can be compassionate, strategic, concerned without falling into the trap…
You see ultimately all things work to the glory of God…. Even the stuff we don’t like or want.
God sits in sovereign control and not only foreknows the future…. He predestined… foreordained it!
STEADFAST IN CHRIST
GIVING GLORY TO THE FATHER

Body:

1. Ask for wisdom… Be a fountain of life!

Chicken little… pessimist… do they really see the glory of God unfolding?

NAU James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Dependence on the depth of God
Right words… spirit enlivened… spirit empowered
Give the best…

NAU Deuteronomy 32:2 "Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As the droplets on the fresh grass And as the showers on the herb.

Words are strength, rejuvenating, revitalizing
Pure…

NAU Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.

Best help and love
Value…

Ask for wisdom… Be a fountain of life!

2. Feel and express empathy… weep with those who weep.

Listen, absorb… empathize… walk in their shoes… just cause it is foreordained suffering doesn’t diminish its reality

NAU Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--

Be ready… warm heart… sensitive…
Don’t let society form calluses

NAU Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

The time WILL come… not if when!
We need to come alongside… alone is not helpful
Don’t trivialize…

NAU Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Close enough to share…
Active in lives…

Feel and express empathy… weep with those who weep.

3. Feel and express compassion… loss is personal in its magnitude.

Compassion is love and grace poured out… even beyond our comprehension of the event. It is a dislike for human suffering… a passion dislike!

NAU John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept.

Jesus was going to raise Lazarus… wasn’t about hope it was about compassion…
Loss is personal… not just physical impact…

NAU Luke 19:41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 "For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

Weep for them… show genuine compassion
See what has befallen them…
See how it impacts them!
Care for them as they feel… not just as you would feel…

Feel and express compassion… loss is personal in its magnitude.

4. Take time to touch… minister to the wounded body and soul.

Love is intimate

NAU Matthew 8:14 When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.

Did he have to touch?
Lots of healing in the touch…
Be appropriate… but be close…

NAU Mark 1:40 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."

Touched the untouchable
Hold… touch…
It ain’t that scary…but it sure is comforting
Reach out…
Research… Untouched babies…had to stop…
The effect was profound…
Touching takes time

Take time to touch… minister to the wounded body and soul.

5. Offer God’s promise to heal and sustain… trust in God’s capacity.

If you don’t believe… you have nothing to offer… “BOB”

NAU Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Don’t be trite be truthful…
Their suffering is real.
God’s help is real
God is faithful… and sovereign

NAU Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

God’s promise… is to heal and sustain… we need to trust…
Model it… believe it… share it…
Trust in self is idolatry…
Believe in God

NAU 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 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.

We get it… to give it… (Pay it forward)
He promises… it is in his Name.

NAU 2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

Offer God’s promise to heal and sustain… trust in God’s capacity.

6. Affirm the depths of Christ’s suffering… and his role as sympathetic mediator… He knows our pain!

NAU Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Good for us to sympathize… and empathize… and demonstrate compassion…
It is even more comforting to know that Christ suffered as our mediator… faced hurt, loss, devastation… pain…
We can trust in Him and his promises because he has been there…

NAU Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

He knows… he has felt… he has experienced…
He bore our sin… our pain…
Not a distant deity… a malevolent god
Yahweh is a intimate loving God

Affirm the depths of Christ’s suffering… and his role as sympathetic mediator

7. God permits sin… From Adam to us…

NAU Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

Don’t dismiss God’s purpose in trails, challenges…
God brings glory to his name in the most devastating circumstances.
Not a morality play… it is about salvation
There is not one more sinner in 15,000 people from New Orleans… and 15, 000 people from Squamish

NAU Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Don’t turn away cause we don’t understand… it is too be expected…
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen
Perspective… (We don’t have it… God does!... do you trust him?)

God permits sin…

8. Satan is a massive reality… yet God is in control

NAU Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

Recognizing all of what God days

- sovereign

- soul protector

- Battle real

Make no mistake… Satan is real…
We are in a war…
We face supernatural…opposition
Comfort recognizes this reality but also God sovereignty…

NAU Job 1:12 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

God is never surprised!
Satan is real…. God is in control

NAU Job 1:21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." 22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Don’t use Satan as an excuse…
Our choice is real too
Stay true to God…

NAU Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

It will be bring glory to God… allowed by God
We can be instruments of that glory…

NAU 2 Corinthians 12:7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Used to depend on God
Used to root out our idolatry used for God’s purpose
Satan… evil… used by God…predestined!

NAU Acts 4:27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

Predestined to occur!!
Don’t loose hope… the battle is won!

Satan is a massive reality… yet God is in control

9. Godless people serve evil… not trusting, believing in, living for God.

NAU 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

Those who do not live for God serve evil… period.
Heart that surrenders to God serves God… otherwise idolatry and evil.

NAU Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

It needs to be demonstrated…
Real faith is demonstrated…
Real heart is demonstrated…
Evil… or holy..,. it all comes out

NAU Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

People walk by spirit or flesh…
Don’t downplay evil

NAU James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

When we trst in something other than God… we serve evil
Trust for everything
We bring strife to relationships… lust, envy, greed….
How do we model faith… we trust

Godless people serve evil… not trusting, believing in, living for God.

Conclusion…

Worry, fear, anxiety are based on our need to have the future unfold our way… Truly God NEVER promises that and that is actually an affront to his sovereign pleasure.
Thy will be done…
We can be compassionate, strategic, concerned without falling into the trap…
You see ultimately all things work to the glory of God…. Even the stuff we don’t like or want.
God sits in sovereign control and not only foreknows the future…. He predestined… foreordained it!
STEADFAST IN CHRIST
GIVING GLORY TO THE FATHER

Church Life series - Living Through Calamities

Job 1:21

Secular:

We will have no shortage of opportunity to speak into the lives of others… if we are prepared for calamity…
Divorce
Death
Illness / Injury
Natural Disasters (Clear voice of Christ in the floods)
Terrorism…

Listen to Job in the midst of great trial

Biblical:

Job 1:21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Personal:

I have said before… I have never seen a u-haul trailer behind a hearse
Eventually all we have WILL be taken away… period… Boats, cars, pets, family…
Loved ones die…
Our health fails… rapidly in an accident… or prolonged in an illness
What are we standing on…
Or do we just cling… another possession…?

Bridge:

Worry, fear, anxiety are based on our need to have the future unfold our way… Truly God NEVER promises that and that is actually an affront to his sovereign pleasure.
Thy will be done…
We can be compassionate, strategic, concerned without falling into the trap…
You see ultimately all things work to the glory of God…. Even the stuff we don’t like or want.
God sits in sovereign control and not only foreknows the future…. He predestined… foreordained it!
STEADFAST IN CHRIST
GIVING GLORY TO THE FATHER

10. Rebellion is evil… in activities and in our hearts

Interestingly when we hear many religious militants… they talk about serving god… often in the name of Allah… and that these terrorist activities serve his purposes…
We need to remember that their actions neither serve nor honour God.
There is NO confusion…
We need to store God’s word in our hearts so that we are capable of dismissing such evil

NAU Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

In justifying their evil… in rationalizing their action… we need to understand we are rationalizing evil and downplaying the glory of God.
The greatest tragedy is the grotesque face of evil… not the temporal pain!
And we need to be ready to act in a godly manner…
For no matter how hideous the offence we are not justified to sin…. To hate… speak evil… we are to forgive and trust God… they are no more evil than the liar, the cheat, the angry…. They are just acting on a grander scale…
Not the time to trust in ourselves and our righteous anger… but to trust in God and his purposes!

NAU Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

With the word on and in our hearts and a right view of our life in the light of the glory of God!...
And we are hope in the face of evil!
Because we don’t run away… we run into God’s arms

NAU Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.

Rebellion is evil… in activities and in our hearts

11. Remember to repent… les sin over take us.

NAU Luke 13:1 …

Shares with them…

5 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Jesus Shared that it is hypocritical for us to sin in our contempt for sin…
We still need to be loving and Christlike even in the face of evil…
The greatest example… was Christ… in life

Romans 5:7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
And in death…

Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

Remember to repent… les sin over take us.

12. Believer’s face bodily harm… even though their soul is protected.

NAU Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Key things to remember… Christians suffer… but it ends!

Put to death… slaughtered for Christ’s name…
But we conquer…
Jesus is Lord… in health and sickness… wealth and poverty… life and death…

There is nothing in this life or the life to come that can separate us from His love.
Tragedy and a lack of faith do not equal?

Believer’s face bodily harm… even though their soul is protected.

13. Balance weeping and trust… genuinely experience the hurt and the presence of God

NAU Lamentations 3:32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. 33 For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men.

It is wrong and fake not to experience pain… God doesn’t ask us to be stoic…
We need to see hurt… in light of the glory of God…
Imagine Joseph…

Chucked in a pit
Wrongly accused

Perspective…

NAU Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Suffering and trust…hurt and the presence of God

Balance weeping and trust… genuinely experience the hurt and the presence of God

14. Trust in God… to bring good out of bad.

NAU Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Remembering that all things work together for good to those who love God
What?
Isn’t that tough…
We need to trust… not in us but God…
It is very different… to experience the situation… and weep… and to fail to trust God…
Genesis 18:25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?

NAU 2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

Comparatively… Everything else is lost… burden until we trust in nothing but God

NAU 2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

All things… to God’s glory….
If we are not trusting how will the world?

Trust in God… to bring good out of bad.

15. Remember the mystery… a good God ordains things which He disapproves and forbids.

NAU Acts 4:27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

Herod and Pilate
Assyrians and the children of Israel
Isaiah 10:4 Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives Or fall among the slain. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out.
God uses things He prohibits us to do… to accomplish his purposes…
We are not to judge God… for who could?
We are to trust and obey…

Remember the mystery… a good God ordains things which He disapproves and forbids.

16. Cherish your Sovereign God… acknowledge human impossibilities.

Nothing is impossible for God
Do not make a mistake… and assume God is human

NAU Mark 10:24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"

Hold onto your treasures and you can’t get into heaven…
But God can transform even the stubborn human heart

NAU Jeremiah 32:40 "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.

People are fickle… and God can hold them…. And promise to keep them beyond their own capacity.

Cherish your Sovereign God… acknowledge human impossibilities.

17. Count on God… your only lasting treasure.

NAU Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Depend on anything but God… and be disappointed
Depend on anything but God as your lasting treasure… and know no hope

Count on God… your only lasting treasure.

18. To Live for Christ…. And to die to self

NAU Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Think about what that looks like before a tragedy?
Trying to think of it in the fever of natural disaster or the panic of an attack or the sudden loss of a loved one… tough!
How do we testify to the goodness of Christ in the bad time?
We learn to die to self….
So that even in the greatest trial it can be Christ living within us…

NAU Philippians 1:23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

Keep the perspective it brings real hope!

NAU 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight-- 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

To Live for Christ…. And to die to self

19. Be Open to the Word… be satisfied with God

NAU Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain.

To help people face calamity…. Be open to the Word and help open the word to them…
Love God’s Word… choose to love it!
Pray for God to unveil his Word in the right moments!

NAU Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.

In a world where things are changing and unsure…
May I see your glory reflected in your word!
May I follow your lead… not the natural man… but the new creation in Christ!

NAU Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.

May I find my fulfillment in you
I am not perfect but your Son died that I may have perfect righteousness
May I find my satisfaction in you… not seek failing comforts

NAU Psalm 90:14 O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Overwhelm me with who you are are!
In tough times…

Be Open to the Word… be satisfied with God

20. Freedom to suffer… for the glory of Christ.

Our eternal salvation enables our temporal suffering…
Our eternal salvation enables our temporal suffering…
We have bought into the world’s belief system when we zealously protect the here and now… sacrificing eternity!

NAU Acts 20:24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Greatest comfort in calamity to know that we have chosen to suffer for Christ and depend on him…
That our eternity is secure and this is fleeting…
And we testify to the glory of God when we live that reality!
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Freedom to suffer… for the glory of Christ.

Conclusion: Calamity will come… to us as individuals … or as a community, a nation, as a world….

How we react is dependant on our relationship to God…

Do we fail around dazed and confused?

Or do we shine the light of Christ in the middle of many people’s darkest hours?

It is good to be ready!

• Worry, fear, anxiety are based on our need to have the future unfold our way… Truly God NEVER promises that and that is actually an affront to his sovereign pleasure.

• Thy will be done…

• We can be compassionate, strategic, concerned without falling into the trap…

• You see ultimately all things work to the glory of God…. Even the stuff we don’t like or want.

• God sits in sovereign control and not only foreknows the future…. He predestined… foreordained it!

• STEADFAST IN CHRIST

• GIVING GLORY TO THE FATHER