It Is The Lord's Purpose That Prevails

“IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS” (Outline)

June 15, 2008 --

PENTECOST 5 --

Job 38:1-11

INTRO: The pride of man ruined God’s perfection created in the Garden of Eden. They took the fruit and they ate. They put themselves in the place of God. After thousands of years and thousands of generations since that first sin of pride mankind is not any better. Mankind hardly ever thinks that God or his word has any authority in today’s society. After all, everyone wants to do want he or she wants whenever he or she decides. Very few care what God wants. This is the same sin of pride that threw the entire world into the sinful state it is in today. For the believer God and his word is still the ultimate authority in this world and in our lives. "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails"(PROVERBS 19:20,21). We have here our theme for today’s text:

“IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS”.

I. Mankind is often challenged.

II. God shows his mighty power.

I. MANKIND IS OFTEN CHALLENGED

A. Job was a very faithful believer. Satan wanted to tempt Job so that he might curse God.

1. It all began with bad news. Messenger after messenger came to Job with bad news.

a. Job’s herds were stolen, his flocks destroyed. b. Job’s wealth was completely gone.

2. Worst of all the last messenger told Job that all his sons and daughter were killed.

B. Job was sad, very sad. He did not curse God. Three friends came to comfort their friend Job.

1. But what could these friends say? They sat together for seven days and nights in silence.

2. Job spoke first and cursed the day he was born (but not God). His friends gave worldly advice.

3. The friends accused Job of some great sin. God’s correction must fit the great sin of Job.

C. Back and forth the conversations go. God hears enough and lets them know, verse 1.

1. Verse 2. Who would darken my plans when he doesn’t know what he is talking about?

2. Verse 3. God tells Job and his friends to get ready to hear God’s questions and then answer

a. Brace = get ready = prepare for battle. b. God will challenge Job and his friends.

3. Verse 4. The Lord begins at the beginning. Job is asked to explain creation. Job must know.

D. You realize how little the Old Testament people knew about the complexity of creation. Today does man understand creation? Many are challenged by the simple creation story: God created the heavens and the earth in six days. On the seventh day God rested. Creation is not taught in schools. Our learned people talk about the “Big Bang Theory”. Students are taught that evolution took millions upon millions of years. Yet, no missing link has ever been found. Mankind’s pride stands opposed to faith. God challenges mankind. Plant a seed. Watch it grow. Who can truly explain such a miracle? "Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man’s face and changes its hard appearance" (EZEKIEL 8:1). The fear (= awe and respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

E. All too often all too many plan their lives around their desires and wants. Not too many take into con-sideration that it is always the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Let’s face it we are quite small and insignificant in the grand scheme of this world. We are smaller in the grand scheme of the universe. Yet, how important we make ourselves in our own eyes and the eyes of others. "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’"(JAMES 4:14,15).

F. Think about the greatest challenge / mystery you and I and every believer face. Who is a God like our God? Human thinking says that God will get even. Our Lord delights to show mercy. This is the exact opposite of the world’s need for revenge. "He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities"(PSALM 103:9,10).

“IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS”.

Mankind is often challenged in his ignorance.

II. GOD SHOWS HIS MIGHTY POWER

A. The Lord God asked Job to explain creation. Surely Job and his friends must understand everything.

1. God continues with creation specifics, verse 5. How big is the earth, the universe?