I Can’t See Him, But I Know He’s There!

I CAN’T SEE HIM, BUT I KNOW HE’S THERE

Job 23:8-10

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. At church one morning, as Gwen was about to start her four-year-olds’ Sunday school class, a little boy showed up without any identification.

2. Gwen managed to get his first name, but couldn't find out his last name. "Brian, what's your daddy's name?" she asked. "Daddy," he replied. She tried again, "Brian, what's your mommy's name?" "Mommy."

3. Suddenly she realized exactly how she could get the answer she needed. "Brian, what does your daddy call your mommy?" His face lit up. With a grin and a deep voice, he replied, "Hey, Babe!" (Susan Boatright)

B. TEXT

“Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: on the left hand, where He works, but I cannot behold Him: He hides Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: but He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:8-10.

C. THESIS: GOD’S UNSEEN HAND

1. Have you ever had an unexplained blessing that came to you right when you needed it, and all you could say was, “Thank You Jesus?”

a. Many of you have had reversals of medical conditions. The doctors said one thing, but later the condition was reversed, leaving doctors scratching their heads.

b. Some of you have had situations that were impossible – there was no way out, no solution in sight, and no earthly hope of meeting the need. But when you prayed, the answers flowed from God!

2. You’ve met the GOD OF THE TURNAROUND! The conduit of possibilities opened; your predicament changed; and suddenly, the fingerprints of God became visible, AND GOD STEPPED BETWEEN YOU AND THE SITUATION!

3. Aren’t you glad God fights your battles? I'm here to tell you, this morning, that God’s got your battles! He’s between you and your situations.

4. SUDDENLY! Somebody shout SUDDENLY! The thing about “suddenly” is, that you can’t get ready for it. There’s nothing you can do to make it happen. It just happens. This is why there are times when God puts together, something that you could never have put together on your own.

5. The title of today’s message is, “I Can’t See Him, But I Know He’s There!”

I. JOB’S TROUBLES

A. JOB’S FAITH IN TRIALS

1. In our text this morning, we see Job’s response to the terrible events of his life. Job expressed his faith that his situation would be reversed, and that he would come through as pure gold.

2. We don’t ever need to be afraid of trials! No gold is ever injured in the fire. Stoke the furnace as hot as you like, and put the gold into the center of the flames, even pile on more fuel. But not one particle of the gold will be burned up.

3. Job was a godly man who was allowed to suffer when he wasn’t at fault, to give us an example of how to persevere in faith, even when we don’t understand why things have happened to us.

4. Satan caused numerous difficulties in Job’s life, including the loss of his health, his wealth, and the near destruction of his entire family. Despite these increasing calamities, Job kept his faith in God and believed God would eventually turn his situation around. In the end, God did just that. God restored everything to Job and blessed him with ‘double for his trouble’ – gave him twice as much as he’d had before!

B. WE SERVE THE GOD OF INTERRUPTION!

1. God has the ability to interrupt our circumstances. Divine interruption prepares us for divine provision. What we need to understand is that the thing we hold onto is not as good as what we’re going to get. God interrupts our lives for a reason. So turn to your neighbor and say, "Let it go."

2. God’s working in the background of our lives to ensure that we accomplish His purposes. He’s opening doors that are shut, creating doorways that don’t exist -- to help us make an eternal contribution.

3. We may not see God operating, but He is there; behind us, in front of us, and on our left hand and right. God’s unseen hand guides and controls, tears down and builds up. I’m glad we serve such a mighty God!

II. HOW GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US

A. GOD SUSTAINS US IN TROUBLE

1. Just like Job, God has also provided for OUR needs. When your spiritual strength was at its lowest level, God lifted you. Some of you experienced the death of a loved one, but God was there, to lift you out of depression and give you a new purpose. We know He was there, because he kept sending us so many messages to ‘get up and try again.’