Lesson 3: Worship While Suffering

“Worship is giving to God the worth that is due Him” –Old Definition

A. WHEN TO WORSHIP

1. Worship when the worst calamity hits. “Then Job arose and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshipped” (1:20).

a. Completely humbled.

b. Completely prostrate on ground.

2. Worship in the darkest night. “Where is God my maker who giveth songs in the night” (35:10).

3. Worship in the face of criticism. “You think you are presenting truth from God! Be careful God doesn’t find out the errors you are saying . . . I stand upon my faith in God . . . though God may slay me, yet I

will trust Him . . . in my integrity, I believe in God” (13:9, 15-16, ELT).

4. Worship silently when God speaks to you. “Job replied to God, ‘I am vile and ashamed to speak. I have no answer for you’” (40:3-4, ELT).

B. TYPES OF WORSHIP

1. Magnify. “O magnify the Lord” (Psa. 34:3). “I now realize you can do everything, and no one can obstruct what you do . . . your wisdom is far beyond me” (42:1-3, ELT).

2. Repentance. “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:6).

3. Sacrifice. “The three of you must get seven sacrifices, give them to my servant Job . . . will sacrifice for you, and I will accept Job’s intercession, and I will not punish the three of you” (42:8, ELT).

4. Commitment. “I have made a vow to have integrity before God, that vow includes not lusting after women . . . I have kept my word” (31:1, ELT).

5. Giving thanks. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving” (Ps. 100:4). “I remember the past days . . . God watched over me . . . I felt God’s

presence in my life. . . I remember El Shaddai guiding me” (29:4-5, ELT).

6. Praise. Job recognized God’s providence (Job 10:1-16).

C. RESULTS OF WORSHIP

1. Acceptance by God. “My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him” (42:8).

2. Vindication in eyes of your critics. “The Lord said to Eliphaz, ‘My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends for you have not spoken to me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath’” (42:7).

3. Reward. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friend” (42:10).

a. Captivity to sickness and pain.

b. Captivity to trials of Satan.

4. Relationship. Four times God said, “My servant Job” (42:7-8). No servant is perfect, but they can have a perfect relationship with God.

a. Not everything Job said was perfect.

b. Not everything the counselors said was wrong.

c. The counselors had to provide a sacrifice.

d. Job had to pray for them.

e. Job had to forgive them to re-establish their relationship to God.

f. Job’s relationship with his family was restored.

g. Job’s relationship with the community was restored.

5. The hedge is restored. “The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before . . . so the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than the beginning . . . Job lived a hundred and forty years (42:10, 12, 16).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.

To receive this lesson, log on to www.elmertowns.com. You will find it under Sunday School lessons. To email Dr. Towns, eltowns@liberty.edu. For more information on the class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.