TAKING HOLD OF FAITH LIKE JOB Job may

TAKING HOLD OF FAITH LIKE JOB

■ Job may be the earliest book of the Bible. ■ Events fit the time of Abraham; the writing may have been at the time of Moses. ■ Simple outline: – Job’s Dilemma (Chapters 1 -2) – Job’s Debates (Chapters 3 -37) – Job’s Deliverance (Chapters 38 -42) -NASB Commentary

Job’s Dilemma: There is an Enemy

From Job, we know Satan… ■ Is a liar ■ Knows us as individuals ■ Is NOT the “equal but opposite” of Jesus ■ Has limited authority and ability ■ Comes to steal, kill, and destroy

“Satan loves to take what is beautiful and ruin it. God loves to take what is ruined and make it beautiful. ”

Job’s Debates: Moving from “why” to “who”

From Job, we learn about Ourselves …■ Known by God ■ In need of a Mediator

Job knew he needed a mediator or an advocate. “For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court. There is no mediator between us…” Job 9: 32, 33

From Job, we learn about Ourselves …■ Known by God ■ In need of a Mediator or Advocate ■ Secure in a relationship with God in which we are confident of our standing before Him

Job 31: Job outlines his faithfulness ■ Vs. 1 -8 ■ Vs. 9 -12 ■ Vs. 13 -15 ■ Vs. 16 -23 ■ Vs. 24 -28 ■ Vs. 29 -30 ■ Vs. 31 -32 ■ Vs. 33 -34 ■ Vs. 38 -40 To God To his wife and family To his employees To the suffering To the his work To his enemies To the stranger To himself To nature

From Job, we learn about Ourselves ■ Known by God… ■ In need of a Mediator or Advocate ■ Secure in a relationship with God in which we are confident of our standing before Him ■ Valuable – ”Consider how precious a soul must be when both God and the devil are after it. ” -Charles Spurgeon

From Job, we learn about loving Others. . . ■ The most important thing we can be to others is PRESENT

Do not judge those who have hardships as though they have done something wrong. “The one who is at ease holds calamity in contempt and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping. ” Job 12: 5

Three words would have kept Job’s friends from wounding him… I DON’T KNOW.

Seven words might have actually helped… I DON’T KNOW, BUT I AM HERE.

Job’s Deliverance: “Then the Lord answered…”

From Job, we know God… ■ Rules! He is Sovereign. ■ Reveals Himself. ■ Invites our authentic conversation with Him. ■ Loves to bless His children. ■ Restores joy, gives hope, wipes tears.

In Jesus, the comeback is greater than the setback.

God: restorer of brokenness redeemer of pain

Let this be our testimony… Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food. Job 23: 10 -12

“But as for me, I know that my redeemer lives, and at the end he will stand on the dust. Job 19: 25 Christian Standard Bible