Finding Strength in the Darkness

STRENGTH IN THE DARKNESS

JOB 23

Introduction

The book of Job is one of sadness, uncertainty, hope, and restoration. It is a rollercoaster ride of hopes, dreams and doubt. If we were to go back to Job 1, we would see a completely different Job than what we see here. The writer of Job makes a very strong statement that shows us what kind of man Job was. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. If anyone was going to be blessed and taken care of it most certainly would be Job. Job was on top of the world. Everything is going right, he was wealthy, he had a loving wife and well behaved children. His spiritual life was one to model after. God thinks so much of Job that He asks Satan, Have you considered My servant Job? What a statement.

Then, everything, and I mean everything, disappears. In a series of events Job loses his wealth, health and family. His life now consists of sitting in an ash heap scraping his skin with pot shards. If that wasn’t bad enough, his wife tells him to just curse God and die. His friends come to console him but end up blaming him, and yet we still here Job praising God. So what has driven Job to the current condition he is in? Simply, He was in a dark place. The loss of hi wealth health and family did not put him in the place he is at. It was the apparent lack of Gods presence. Have you ever been in this kind of place before? Are you in such a place tonight? My prayer tonight is that, Just like Job you will find strength in the darkness.

JOBS COMPLAINT

A. His complaint was one of rebellion v2,3

Job was not rebelling against God directly; he was rebelling against God’s apparent denial of hearing his case. He says my stroke (open hand) is heavier than my groaning. Job was beating himself up over this and all he really wanted was for God to hear him. Ps.55:1,2 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; Ps. 77:2-9 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. (Have them turn to this Psalm.)

B. His complaint was one of reasoning v4,5

Job just wanted to have his case heard and tried in Gods court, order my cause before Him, this is translated meaning come into his presence. The same word is used in Job 1 and 2 talking about satan coming into Gods presence. In Chap. 16 Job was fed up with no one pleading for him, he goes as far as to tell his friends that they are nothing more than miserable counselors. Job just want his time before God since no one else seemed to be interested.

When Job says fill my mouth with arguments, that word arguments is translated to mean bringing a case before a judge. It is used in a legal sense.

Ps.35:1Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

C. His complaint was one of reality v6,7

Reality just sunk in. Jobs complaint that started out as one of rebellion and arguments, has now turned into reality. The day was coming that he would get his chance and God will grant him the opportunity to plead his case. what Job is meaning here in v6 is that the very strength or power that God would use to judge Job, is the same power that God will grant him to bring his case before God and in doing so that same “power” he will have to get through the remainder of his trials. Job knew that God will not forske the righteous. Psa_9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Psa_37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. But v7 concludes with a reality for us, we will not have to reason or bring our case before God, because Christ already has and we can proclaim, Rom_8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Do you ever find yourself complaining like Job . He was complaining that his desire for God to hear him was going unfulfilled. He was complaining that all he wanted was to plead his case before God. But, his complaining became a reality when he remembered that his “day was coming” and he would get his chance. Do you ever go to God, begging Him to hear you? Have you ever gotten bitter about the possibility that God was not listening? We complain a lot, but when our complaint becomes a reality, we then like Job must confess some things.

JOBS COMPLAINT VS. 2-7

JOBS

CONFESSION VS.8-10,17

A. He confessed to the Misery of the saint v8,9,17

Have you ever been in a situation where, no matter where you looked you could not see. I was a firefighter from the age of 15 until 25. During those 10years I was in several situations where no matter which direction you looked you could not see a thing. That same picture can be applied here. Vs 8,9 and 17 is a picture of being in the darkest place on earth and trying to see. It’s not going to happen. V9 gives us the picture of knowing that there is something in front of you, but you don’t know what it is. Being in this type of situation is very scary and can cause you a lot of misery. Lam 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. Lam 3:44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

When you get in this kind of a place spiritually in can have a major impact on your Christian walk. Plain and simple, you ain’t walking anywhere. It becomes absolute misery.

B. He confessed to the Mercy of God v,10

Regardless of Jobs situation, he knew that no matter what, Gods mercy would prevail. V10 says, “But He knoweth the way that I take, and when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold.” Gods mercies are new every morning and God knows where you are at believer. Just as Job is referring to here, he says I may not come through this thing down here on earth, but when it is all said and done I will be like Gold. Do you know what a refiner looks for in gold during the refining process? His reflection. God is just getting you to the point He can see himself in you. Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lam 3:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. Psalm 106:1 (KJV 1900): Praise ye the Lord.O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:For his mercy endureth for ever.

When you begin to complain about God not hearing you, just start confessing your current condition and you will soon begin to confess the mercies of God. And when you begin confessing the goodness and mercies of God, this will very quickly lead to a confidence in God that the world will never understand.

JOBS COMPLAINT

JOBS CONFESSION

JOBS CONFIDENCE v.11-16

A. Was confident in the promises of God v11,12

Job was confident in the promises of God because he knew that God would reward his service. Jobs confidence in the promises of God was not based on feelings, it was based on fact. We don’t know what scriptures Job had but he knew that God was faithful. We have the entire, complete Word of God. If anything, you have more facts then Job ever did. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

B. Was confident in the providence of God v13,14

When we go through trials, we need to hold on to the confidence that God is in control and no matter what happens He is providential in all that He does..

Can you like Job tonight say He performeth the thing that is appointed for me… Just as you need to have confidence in the promises of God based on fact, you need to have confidence in the providence of God based on fact. 2 Samuel 22:31 (KJV 1900): As for God, his way is perfect;The word of the Lord is tried:He is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

C. Was confident in the power of God v15,16

Job realized that his strength was of little use in his current situation. At first glance one would think Job was giving up, but we must remember v6. Job knew that he had no strength, but God did. He had confidence that the only way he was going to make it through this situation was by the power or “strength” of God.

Our strength does not lie in ourselves in lies in God. God is strength and the giver of it.

Pastor Andy Wells gave probably one of the best illustrations about being in the darkness spiritually.

“Take 35mm film for example, during the life of this film, it has a very intimate relationship with the camera and the photographer. For as long as it takes for the film to be used up, it is having a great life. It is getting all these beautiful scenes put on it. But there comes a day when that film is full and the photographer must remove the film from the camera. Once this film is removed it is then taken into a very dark room and taken apart. This is not a delicate process at first, at first the film must be ripped from the container it is in, then it must be cut into individual pictures, then those pictures must be submerged into a very cold solution. Now if it were possible for this film to get up and walk out, what would happen to the film? Everything the photographer put on it would be ruined. But allowing that photographer to do what needs to be done, when finished some of the prettiest pictures will be displayed.” Then Pastor Wells said this, you have two options just like that film if it had the ability to walk, one you could get up under your own power and walk out and ruin everything God has done so far, or you can stay in that cold dark room and allow the power of God do what needs to be done.” It’s up to you believer, finding strength in the darkness is a very hard thing to do, but if we remember God is in control and His strength is sufficient, it will make these days a lot easier.

So how do we find strength in the darkness of life’s trials?

1. Desire to have God hear you even if it seems that he is denying to hear your case.

2. Confess your current situation to God and remember that His mercy and grace are sufficient.

3. Be confident that God is God and His ways are perfect.

You may be here tonight, unsure how you are going to make it through tomorrow, God holds tomorrow in His hands. You may be here tonight unsure of your salvation your darkness may not not be one of God just being silent, it is a darkness that comes with not knowing Christ who is the light of the world. Do you know him today. You can, will you come tonight and make things right. Will you come tonight and find that strength you need while in the darkness.