Making Sense of Life 1 God is God

Making Sense of Life

1. God is God, we are not God

1. God is God, Totally Inaccessible we are not Unknowable Three gods Three Persons God Knowable Totally Accessible One God One Person

1. God is God, Totally Inaccessible we are not Harsh or cruel Just Three gods The Cause of evil Unknowable Three Persons Sovereign God Empowering Overriding Free will Knowable Totally Accessible One God One Person Loving Ignoring Evil

And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? ” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. ” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. ” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Job 1: 8 -12

And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? ” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. ” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. ” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Job 1: 8 -12

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “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. ” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1: 20 -22

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground [GRIEF] and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. [HUMILITY] The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. ” [FAITH] 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1: 20 -22 1. God is God, we are not

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2 “Who is that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding…” Job 38: 1 -4 1. God is God, we are not

6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me to justify yourself? 9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? 10 Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor…” Job 40: 6 -10 1. God is God, we are not

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger. ” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. ” Romans 9: 10 -13

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. ” Romans 9: 16 -17 2. We deserve hell; anything else is mercy

20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this? ’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? Romans 9: 20 -21 2. We deserve hell; anything else is mercy

1. God is God, we are not God 2. We deserve hell; anything else is mercy

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Matthew 6: 24 -25 3. Only Jesus can save us - now and forever

24 “Everyone then who hears these words [FAITH]of mine and does them [OBEDIENCE] will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Matthew 6: 24 -25 3. Only Jesus can save us - now and forever

37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24: 37 -39 3. Only Jesus can save us - now and forever

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ” Luke 9: 23 -25 4. Christians should expect suffering now

S U C C E S S 4. Christians should Humility expect suffering now Dependence Service Sacrifice Y E A R S

A t u bo E M S U C C E S S 4. Christians should Humility expect suffering now Dependence t u o D O G Service Ab Y E A R S Sacrifice

S U C C E S S Humility “Take up their cross daily” Luke 9: 23 Dependence Service “In this world you will have trouble. ” John 16: 33 Y E A R S Sacrifice 4. Christians should expect suffering now “He must become greater; I must become less. ” John 3: 30

5. Our promise is everlasting joy S U C C E S S Humility Dependence Service “Whoever loses his life for me will save it. ” Luke 9: 24 Y E A R S Sacrifice re 0 u s 6: 2 a tre att. … M p u n. ” e e r o av t “S he in “Everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. ” Lk. 14: 11 ETERNITY

S U C C E S S “Not one stone will be left on another; Deception every one will be thrown down. ” Matt. 24: 2 Devastation Persecution “All these are the beginning of birth pains. ” Matt. 24: 8 Y E A R S “Then there will be great distress, unequaled…” Matt. 24: 21 Desertion Execution “You will be persecuted… and put to death. ” Matt. 24: 9

S U C C E S S Deception “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ” Matt. 24: 13 Devastation Persecution Desertion “Those who had been beheaded… reigned with Christ. ” Rev. 20: 4 Y E A R S Execution “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. ” Rev. 2: 10 ETERNITY

S U C C E S S Deception “This light and momentary affliction is achieving… eternal glory. ” 2 Cor. 4: 17 Devastation “I consider that our present sufferings Persecution are not worth comparing with the Desertion Execution glory that will be “We groan… as we wait revealed in us. ” for… the redemption of Romans 8: 18 our bodies. ” Rom. 8: 24 Y E A R S ETERNITY

What God is Teaching us Today: 1. God is God, we are not 2. We deserve hell; anything else is mercy 3. Only Jesus can save us - now and forever 4. Christians should expect suffering 5. Our promise is everlasting joy