Job - chapters 38-42

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Opening

• Philippians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus
• all your needs?? remember - he defines need - we do not define needs !!!! he knows your needs! you will not be tested beyond what you are able........
• Philipians 4:11 - 13 - I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
• what is all things ? I can do all things - - - including hunger !!!! to be crushed !!!!!! ignored !!!!! have little !!!!! be without clothing !!!!!
• here are the all things ??? - - - 2 cor 11:24-30 - Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness
• Matt 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
• but, how much ????? how about in the sudan??? - - - -all you need to glorify God - - - which may mean NONE
• when john and betty stamm were martyred in China, they were in their underwear - it wasnt glorious - - their heads were chopped off - - they were taken out early in the morning - taken off guard - - forced out of their house - - humiliated to the core - paraded thru the streets - - she was forced to watch as they chopped off her husband's head - then they chopped off hers - - were all things added unto them???????
• the puritans called it the "great 8" - - - romans 8 - - romans 8:33-37 - Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." [12] 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
• eph 3:16-21 - I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
• I want you to walk away with a theology that can handle that - - and not feel like you're grasping at straws - - you have the word of God - - - his verses - -

The text

pride - is the root of all other sins. It's even in the most godly people we know -- its in all people.........

38v1-2 - Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?

was'nt it elihu who just spoke for 6 chapters?

42v3 - [You asked,] `Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. - - this is why I think he's speaking to Job

Remember - you're on trial in this life - - not God

Geography - v4 - earth, v8-sea, v12-15 - dawn - .....you can't do it - I can - - and I've always done it.......

most people are too self focused - - - they dont see anything but their problems - - they dont see the sun, mounatins - the magnificience.........

chesterson - "one of the most childlike things about God is he does things again and again and again - - with joy - - - and one of those things is the sun comes up........every day - without fail......and with joy......

v16 - depth of the sea

switches to the world above - v19-21 - origin of light and darkness

v22-30 - snow, hail, rain and frost - - do you know how to do this Job?????

v31-33 - constellations - Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up [God's ] dominion over the earth?

we are in the milky way - a tiny galaxy - in comparisons to the millions.........

v34-38 - rain again - Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?

I'm in charge of these things - and if there's that many mysteries in the physical world - do you really expect to be able to call me to count on the moral universe?

I believe that every electron in every atom in every molecule in every constelation in this universe has a name assigned by God and he is keeping its position by divine appointment

the world of animals - v39 - 41 - lions and birds - - - I make sure the little bugs fly thru the air to provide them food - God

ch39 v1-2 - goats (see the verse in the bible - not 1 bird falls to the ground without God's knowledge) -- - God is BIG !!!

v5-8 - who would even ask such a question????? well, God would...... you think he's nuts - - God says - I set him loose...he looks wild to you - - but he's in order...under my control.....

v9-10 - oxen

v13-18 - ostrich - The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork. 14 She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand, 15 unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them. 16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain, 17 for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense. 18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider.

this is a dumb bird - - and God made her that way - - - why dont you sit on your eggs? - - God said - shes not out of control - - shes stupid - and I made her that way - -

v19-25 - horse -

v26 - hawk

v27-30 - eagle

the point - Job - you dont know anything and you cant do anything about these things - so Job back up, and be more humble about these things

job 40 - see the point on pride - The LORD said to Job: 2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!" 3 Then Job answered the LORD: 4 "I am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. 5 I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more." 6 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: 7 "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 8 "Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his? 10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, 12 look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. 13 Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. 14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.

Look at verses 9-13 - - - God says - I use my might to abase the proud, and exult the humble - - its not "might makes it right" - I don't work that way - - the way I work in the world corresponds to the excellence of my name - i deserve worship, love and allegiance - and you dont...........

chapter 42 - Job submits in 3 regards:

submitting to the sovereignty of God - v1-2 - "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.

submitting to the wisdom of God - v3 -You asked,] `Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

- repentance - v4-6 - ["You said,] `Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

ch 42 - - the promise chapter or the restoration chapter - whether in this life or in the next - you will be rewarded - you have never lost anything in the path of obedience that will not be restored 10,000 times in the age to come

take a look at the eternal perspective:

romans 8:18 - I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

matt 5:10-12 - "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 cor 4:17 - For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

closing

story of John Bunyan -

story of william cowper -

God has some blessing and purpose in mind for your pain. He has a design for your life - a design for your ministry - - your pain is meant to be a blessing to somebody ...............

one of the great threats in suffering - our consciences rise up and condemn us and we feel we must have done something terribly wrong and its going to damn me because I am so guilty of so much pride and I have been angry at God so many times or I've spoken badly to people and lost my patience........the accusations will come......

remember this 2 cor 5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin (or a sin offering) for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

all of our guilt is paid for - - all of our attempts to be righteous is supplied in Jesus.....

romans 3:28 - For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

so when your suffering comes, in the end, your final hope is you have a savior.....not whether your life has been adequate

sing: to affirm your faith - - if you sing it and mean it - youre saved - its an affirmation of faith - don't sing it if you dont mean it.......

on christ the solid rock

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace.

Through every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant His blood, support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

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