“I’m about to make a Comeback “
Text :Job 13.15
Introduction:
A. Why do bad things happen to good people ?
The Book of Job, is one of the oldest manuscripts in the Bible, probably written before Exodus!
It tells the story about a man who’s name bares the title of this book ;a fellah named Job. Job’s story begins with a man who had everything, who lost everything, but in the end got everything (plus interest) back.
During his setback, he had three friends who were telling him how he must have done something wrong (sinned) or God wouldn’t have been punishing him by taking away everything.
One of Job’s friends by the name of : Zophar calls him to repent. Because he thinks Job is a phoney /hypocrite . . .
In Job 11:11 he tells Job that God knows deceitful men; And that He sees wickedness also.
There are a lot of people who want to compare themselves to Job, but they aren’t going through anything like Job. It’s true that we all experience setbacks but none of us to the degree that Job did.
While there are bad things that happen to good people we must realize like Job that no matter what we go through we have to have a made up mind that God……..no matter what I go through I’m gone trust you !
Job placed an unwavering trust in God during the most difficult setbacks of his life.
He said,“ Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Job 13:15
We must learn to cling to God even when it seems like we can’t find comfort from Him.
When it comes to stressful situations it puts demands on us. Not only physically but mentally. When that happens psychologist refer to this as “Stressors”. They also state that when you’re “stressed out” you tend to feel lousy, and there’s no question that extended exposure to stressful situations can have long-term negative consequences. But it’s important to understand that stress is in many ways an adaptive reaction. This is why when you’re in a threatening situation, or when someone is placing demands on you, it’s important that your body become “activated” so you can respond to the threat in the best appropriate way. Tell your neighbor,” Stress is suppose to initiate a fight or flight response in you.” I.E. It’s suppose to bring out the best in you. What Job was going through was preparing him to be able to go on the defensive and bring him out of his setback. To many people have become exhausted and not put up a resistance to the enemies attack. Your not suppose to run from what God is allowing you to go through. Your suppose to be like Job and say, ”Though He slay me yet will I trust him” (Quote John 16:33 and Read John 15:19-21; 2Timothy 3:12 say‘s “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”)
What lessons can I learn from setbacks?
1.)They should teach me that I have buoyancy: the ability to recover.
2.)They should teach me that I have persistence: the ability to hold firmly and steadfastly to a purpose, state, or undertaking despite obstacles or warnings.
3.)They should teach me that something is about to break…I‘m not talking about a breakdown or a breakup….but I am talking about a breakthrough ……God is about to make a way out of no way!
B. Put your Trust in God!
Job 13.15 can help us turn our setbacks into comebacks because out of this scripture I learn to that I must always Trust God!
Job proclaimed that regardless what God would do (or allow to happen) to him, he would never lose faith.
Job had suffered tremendous loss at God’s permissive will for the enemy to take anything and everything but don‘t touch his life:
Job lost the three things which are considered signs of a man’s well-being.
1 He lost his wealth. (1.14-17) (Ox, camels, donkeys, sheep, servants)
2 He lost his children. (1.18-19) Sons, daughters, grandbabies
3 He lost his good health. (2.1-8) Boils from top of head to feet
Note to me:1 and 2 on the same day
Men have the tendency to curse God when any of these three things have happened to them.
Notice that Job didn’t turn from God when these happened to him.
One translation said , "God, you can kill me, but I’m not leaving you. Trusting you God is more important than living is to me."
Job’s statement today would strike fear in the heart of many believers today because of a statement like that but we need to understand that our lives are in his hand and it aint over till God say’s,” It’s Over.”
(Give Example of What happened with Grandma)
Preach this:
I learned something from everything my Grandmother has gone through :
That regardless of my setback, I’ve got to keep trusting God!
That no matter what the enemy tries to take, Lord ….. . I’m going to trust you.
That no matter what I suffer with right now it‘s only going to be temporary.
I’ve learned that no matter what you do to me, Lord . . . I’m going to trust God.
I’ve learned that no matter what the doctor’s diagnosis is . . . I’m still going to trust God.
When you make a statement like that it strikes dread into the heart of the enemy. Isaiah 54:17 say’s “ No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” I.E. No matter what stuff the enemy tries to form or fashion against you; it won’t advance, it won’t succeed or make progress.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus picked it up and said, ”Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” I.E We that make up the body of Christ, we should not be afraid or trembling in our shoes ; we should not be anxious or terrified. As a matter of fact the enemy is looking to see if he will get a response from you but always remember this, “Never let him see you sweat.”
The devil can not stop those of us in the church who have made that kind of commitment to God.
You better start telling pain, hardships, the devil, cancer, divorce, your circumstances, death, and setbacks that NOTHING can or will stop us from trusting God.
Even So Come Lord Jesus!
Bishop C. Jones
1/29/06
