I Alone

I love this cook book.

I’ve never prepared or eaten a single dish from it’s recipes.

I love it because it has some strange recipes:

Read one-maybe just title

I also love it because it was compiled from recipes from the 1800’s and published by the Daughters of the Texas Republic.

It has 183 pages with an average of 3 recipes per page,

But Tony, I couldn’t find a single recipe that called for AN OUNCE of JOB.

So, I guess if we’re to have an ounce of Job in us, it will come from living a righteous life, not from some recipe book, huh Tony!

Ping pong

Two Sunday’s ago, as Lisa and I were driving home, I told Lisa “I have a word for my next sermon, and it stemmed from Tony’s message today.”

She replied “what, are y’all going to “ping pong” over each other’s sermons each week?”

I replied, “well, not by design”.

Listen, just to bring you up to speed, he preached on “humility”, but he referenced my sermon from the week before on “worship”.

He began by reading Job 1:13-19.

After Tony’s message, I literally spend a week reading over and studying the 1st chapter of Job.

Tony, I don’t know if anyone else did, but I took something home from your message!

But there are two words that got my attention in each of the verses 15-19.

I’ll read those verses:

Job 1:15–19 “when the Sabeans (sa-BEE-ans) raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!””

Ever have those weeks when bad news just cascades in on you? One wave right after another?

It was so bad for Job, that while one was still speaking, (he hadn’t even gotten it all out yet) another brought bad news...and then another and then another. Each time, interrupting the previous one!

Then we see Job’s response:

Job 1:20 “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.”

The recipe for having an ounce of Job in us is:

“to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength”.

So, all that was for “no charge”.

Before I get into today’s message, I just want to share with you a couple of things I learned about Job this week.

There’s no definitive answer to who wrote the book of Job. Some say, Job, others say Moses, and yet others say it was both.

Many scholars believe it was the 1st book written.

It’s the first time the name “Satan” is found in scripture. Satan translates to “adversary”.

Here’s today’s message:

The two words that stand out to me in each of the v15-19:

“I alone”

Tony read verse 15, and my mind was “off to the races”. I know Tony gave a powerful message on humility, but what DelRay needed to hear was what Tony shared in Job!

Church, if we take one thing each week from a message, and apply it in our lives, change will be unstoppable.

Scripture tells us this:

The first part of Proverbs 23:7 tells us this: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

I’m gonna ask that you hang tight with me as I attempt to connect the dots.

Let’s go to the Lord in prayer:

“Holy Spirit, move me out of the way” Amen.

We’re going to be looking @ 3 passages today, as we begin, in Genesis 18.

Genesis 18 beginning in verse 16. You’ll recognize the story as we get going.

Genesis 18:16–19 “Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.””