CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SERIES
8 – JOB
This morning, we are continuing with our sermon series, entitled, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
And we’ve been talking about the fact that if there’s ever been a time for us to have close encounters, it’s now
And we’re going to be preaching on this series until we, as a church, HAS CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
It’s no excuse for us to…
--retreat
--give up
--give in
These are the days of Elijah, declaring the word of the Lord
These are the days of Ezekiel, the dry bones becoming as flesh
There is NO GOD LIKE JEHOVAH!
What West Road Church needs is – CLOSE ENCOUNTERS!
And we’ve been pointing out to you, that no matter…
--who you are
--what you’ve done
--what life has thrown you
--where you are spiritually this morning
You can have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God Almighty
And so far in this series, we’ve talked about…
--Adam
--Abraham
--Joseph
--Moses
--David
--4 Great Women
And next week, we’re going to be talking about DANIEL
But this morning, come with me to the ash heap of a forgotten Middle Easter town, where we hear the moaning and sighing of a man who’s suffering like none before, no none since
And his name is JOB, and we’re going to see how JOB had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God
With that in mind, let’s read…
•Job 42:12 ( KJV ) 12So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning…
•Isaiah 46:9-10 ( KJV ) 9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
INTRODUCTION
Without question, of all the people of the Bible, there’s no doubt but that Job had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God
But when we look at the life of Job, we readily see that IT WAS NOT WITHOUT a lot of suffering
You know, we’re living in a day of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL
Where every time you turn on the TV, all you hear is that if you “sow your seed” you’ll drive a Bentley
One preacher I heard one time say that when the world saw him driving his Mercedes, they would know that He had a good God
And this is a basic and flawed philosophy that…
--if you do right, everything will be great
--if you do wrong, everything will be bad
But time and experience has taught us that this is not always true
Now it’s true ETERNALLY
We know that ULTIMATELY, ETERNALLY, that if you do right, everything will be great, and if you will do wrong, everything will be bad
But we’re not there yet, and when you think of Jesus, He did everything right, but yet suffered greatly
And we never learn this truth more, than when looking at the life of JOB
Now, I’ll admit, everything about the book of Job is hard to understand
It’s hard to understand the age old question – WHY DOES BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE
Also, just reading the book of Job can be difficult, especially from chapters 3 through 37, as the dialogue between Job and his 4 friends are especially difficult to follow because it was recorded in Hebrew poetry, and so it takes a couple of readings to get the gist of the thought
I do suggest when reading Job, getting a modern translation or paraphrase, such as The Message, or the New Living Translation
But the overall them of Job is clear – and that is that no matter
--what happens to you
--what you face
--the tragedies in your life
--the things you loose
You can have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God Almighty
And so, for a few moments, I want us to look at the life of Job, and I want to break his life’s story down into 4 parts
First of all, let’s look at…
1. JOB’S IDENTITY
Who was this man called Job?
Some have even said he was a fictitious man because its so hard to believe that all this tragedy could happen to one person
But that’s not true
The opening line to Job says…
Job 1:1-3 ( KJV ) 1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job;
In other words, he was a real man and according to Genesis 46:13, we find out that he is the grandson of the patriarch Jacob, born to his son Issachar
The prophet Ezekiel mentions Job alongside of Noah and Daniel, and if these men were real, so was Job
Even in the New Testament, Job is mention in the book of James, where James says…
James 5:11 ( NLT ) …you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
And in the first chapter of Job, we read…
Job 1:1-3 ( NLT ) 1There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 2He had seven sons and three daughters. 3He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and he employed many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
This tells us THREE things…
--he was a great servant of God
--he had a wonderful family
--he had a thriving business
And you know, I like the way that Bible lists these things – notice the progression…
--faith
--family
--fortune
And you know, that’s the way the order of every life ought to be…
--God
--family
--work
It reminds me of the Bible says of Job’s great-grandfather, Isaac, where it says in Genesis 26:25…
--he built an altar
--he pitched his tent
--he dug a well
In other words – God, family, work, and any time you get that mixed up, your life will never be ultimately what it can and should be
And so the Bible tells us that Job not only had a larger family, but the Bible tells us that Job offered sacrifices for his children in order for them to know the Lord
Job 1:5 ( NLT ) He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.
And there’s a preaching point right there
Because if you’re going to impact your children for the kingdom, it’s going to take sacrifice
You may have to sacrifice…
--the hunting club
--your “night off”
--your social agenda
To get your family into church and into revival
And later on, we will learn that it paid off
That is Job’s identity, and now, let’s consider…
2. JOB’S ADVERSARY
For the Bible tells us that Satan came before the Lord (and I don’t have time to get into the theology of that), but suffice it to say that the Lord said “have you considered my servant Job?”
And Satan replies in Job 1:9-11 in some many words – “God, if you weren’t so good to Him, he’d quit on you! He’s only serving you for what He can get out of you.”
And I want to preach right here for a moment
First of all, we all have an ADVERSARY
1 Peter 5:8 ( KJV ) 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
And the Bible calls Him in Revelation 12:11 – THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN
In other words, Satan accuses us to God and accuses us to ourselves
Second of all, are you like that? Will you serve God…
--just in the good times
--when the bills are paid
--if your marriage works out
--if he heals you
What will you do if…
--your family member dies
--if the economy collapses
--Christianity doesn’t fit your schedule
--Christianity doesn’t meet your “felt needs”
There are a lot of AMERICAN Christians who are serving God as long as the good times roll
But God is looking for some people who will PROVE that the devil is a liar
Come…
--what may
--hell or high water
I’m going to serve the Lord
So…
--we see Job’s identity
--we see Job’s adversary
And thirdly, now we move to…
3. JOB’S AGONY
Because God said, “OK Devil, have at him, but just don’t touch his life”
And this is a good preaching point right here – SATAN IS ON A LEASH
He has to get permission to move against you, UNLESS you give Him a place and an opportunity to work
There is such a thing as giving place to the Devil
The Bible says…
Ephesians 4:27 ( KJV ) 27Neither give place to the devil.
You give place to the devil when you…
--get offended
--won’t come under authority
--gossip, murmur and complain
--sin
--go your own way
There is such a thing as giving place to the devil, but that’s not what I’m talking about
Unless you give place to the devil, the only way Satan has access to your life is through the permission of God!
One is being dumb, the other is a God-ordained test
And so, here goes…
A. JOB LOOSES HIS BUSINESS AND WORST OF ALL, ALL OF HIS CHILDREN!
All this happened in 1 DAY
And isn’t that the way it is
What a difference a day will make
And how did Job respond…
Job 1:20-22 ( KJV ) 20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
You talk about CLOSE ENCOUNTERS!
It did say he grieved – nothing wrong with that
But he not only grieved, He worshipped!
And then, as if things could not get worse…
B. HE GETS TERRIBLE BOILS ALL OVER HIS BODY AND HE’S PLACED IN AN ASH HEAP
Think of that! One minute…
--in the CEO’s chair, the next in a leper colony
--all is great, the next all is gone
And in the third chapter, Job says three things…
1. Why was I born
Job 3:2-3 ( KJV ) 2And Job spake, and said, 3Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
2. Why didn't I die when I was born
Job 3:11 ( KJV ) 11Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
3. Why can’t I die now
Job 3:20-21 ( KJV ) 20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; 21Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Why, why, why
First of all – it’s OK to ask WHY
Jesus asked why!
Secondly, notice that Job didn’t say I WILL KILL MYSELF
Listen, suicide is that wrong choice!
And then…
C. THERE IS THE RESPONSE OF JOB’S WIFE
Now, let’s give his wife a break – she has just gone through loosing 10 children
But, what she said was totally wrong, and hurtful
And then,
D. JOB’S FRIENDS COME
And they say basically three things…
--you’ve sinned
--you’re to blame
And how further from the truth
Be very careful what you say to people when they’re suffering
This was a TOTAL TEST FROM GOD
Now, if you have messed up, take the advice!
But Job knew the integrity of His heart
And all throughout this whole ordeal, Job said some powerful things…
•Job 19:25-27 ( KJV ) 25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
•Job 23:8-10 ( KJV ) 8Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
•Job 23:12 ( KJV ) 12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
You now what will get you through – not the explanations, but the promises
LEARN THIS – God doesn’t come to get you out of trouble, He comes to get into trouble with you
Because, we’re going to see, not only…
--Job’s identity
--Job’s adversary
--Job’s agony
4. JOB’S RECOVERY
Because the God that was silent, though never absent, began to speak
Job’s recovery begin with…
A. Rediscovering God’s attributes
Because when God starts talking, He starts talking about…
Job 38:4-7 ( KJV ) 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
And in chapters 38 and 39, God is just reminding Job, that no matter what he’s going through, God is still God!
B. Realizing God’s perspective
And because He’s God, He was a perspective
You see, Job never understood the conversation between Him and Satan, and we don’t always have the right perspective
Look at this blanket
That’s the way our lives are
Job’s recover began when he realized God…
--power
--perspective
And finally, by…
C. Receiving God’s provision
Because GUESS WHAT, God blessed the latter more than the beginning
Job 42:10 ( KJV ) 10And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
He had to pray for his friends that hurt him
Great things happen when we’re not offended
But listen to this…
Job 42:12-13 ( KJV ) 12So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Why didn’t he have 20 children – because he never really lost the first 10!
Jewish scholars tell us that Job was 70 when this happened – guess what? He lived not just 70 more years, he lived another 140 years!
IN CLOSING
Never doubt in the dark, what God has spoken to you in the light
God declares the END FROM THE BEGINNING!
Let me tell you the awful truth – BOTH CHRISTIANS AND NON-CHRISTIANS WILL SUFFER IN THIS LIFE
Here’s the glorious truth – the only suffering Christians will ever go through will be in this life!
We’re going to that place called Heaven
And Job said it right…
Job 3:17 ( KJV ) 17There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
It's like the lady who was on the train that was going to Houston and the train got endangered and they thought they were going to have a serious accident. She just kind of sat there and smiled and hummed a hymn all the way through it. When it was all over someone said, "Dear lady, how could you stay so calm when it looked like we were in danger?" She said, "It's like this. I'm on this train on my way to see my daughter in Houston. I have another daughter who died a few years ago and went to heaven. I just figured it didn't matter either way it went - either going to Houston or heaven - I was going to see my daughter."
If you haven’t, come to Him today!
