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Stop Talking and Listen - Oct 23rd

Oh, that My people would listen to Me. Psalm 81:13

When we’re hurting, sometimes we find healing by talking about it—with a friend, a counselor, to God. But eventually, the time comes to stop talking and listen. There are times when silence represents the highest respect. The word for such times is reverence. This was a lesson Job learned—the man in the Bible most touched by tragedy and despair. If Job had a fault, it was his tongue. He talked too much. Not that anyone could blame him. Calamity had pounced on the man like a lioness on a herd of gazelles, and by the time the rampage passed, there was hardly a wall standing or a loved one living. His wife told him to “curse God and die.” His four friends came with the bedside manner of drill sergeants, telling him that God is fair, and pain is the result of evil, and as sure as two plus two equals four, Job must have some criminal record in his past to suffer so. Each had his own interpretation of God and who God is and why God had done what he had done. They weren’t the only ones talking about God. When his accusers paused, Job spends six chapters giving his opinions on God. We are thirty-seven chapters into the book before God clears his throat to speak. Chapter 38 begins with these words: “Then the LORD answered Job.” When the Lord speaks, it’s wise to stop talking and listen. For the Tough Times

DIG DEEPER – THE STORY OF JOB.

There are a few things that we can learn from the story of Job.

1. Bad things happen to good people.

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” Job 1:8

· Satan caused all the trouble in jobs life not God.

· God allowed it to happen because he trusted Job with that hardship.

· There is always a purpose for the pain.

2. In the midst of suffering, don’t lose hope in God.

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this WILL turn out for my deliverance Job 13:15-16

· What we say during difficult seasons matters… Job said this will… not might … not this is going to take me out… not I hate GOD for allowing this. NO! THIS WILL.

· God will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:15

· If he allowed it, he has plans to get you through it.

3. God is always with us.

· The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. “Job 42:12

· God blessed Job with double.

DISCUSSION:

1. What are somethings that we can get out of Jobs life?

2. When you think about reverence what comes to mind?

3. What did you think of Jobs friends? what about his wife?

Closing thoughts /application

a. After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: (Jobs friend) “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. Job 42:7

Speaking for God is a serious things , make sure you know what he is saying.

b. God told Jobs friends that they had to have Job pray for them for God judge them. ( Job 42:8-9)

The same people that are talking about you are the ones that are going to ask you to pray for them later.

c. Job prayed for his friends and only when he finished praying God blessed him with double. (42:10)

· Forgiving the people that did you worn during your hard season is what going to take you to your next season of double blessing.