JOB’S RESURRECTION
JOB 14:1-17, 19:23-27
Hurricane Katrina- Man who cancelled his flood insurance 3 weeks before Katrina. What terrible timing. I had a similar thing, although not as costly. I cancelled the insurance on our mini-van because and my daughter wrecked it and totaled it 4 months later. Bad things happen to each of us whether we are prepared for them or not.
Many people think that when bad stuff happens, it must be a sign that God is angry with you.
1. Was Hurricane Katrina God’s Judgement on New Orleans/Miss.Coast?
I don't know. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. I know I got angry listening to other preachers declare it to be God pouring out His wrath on New Orleans because it was such a sinful place. My response to them was this. If God was angry with the sinful things going on in the French Quarter so much, why did He destroy most of the residential areas of New Orleans but completely missed Bourbon Street? If God created that storm to punish homosexuals so much, why was the Mississippi coast destroyed and not a single gay bar in the Quarter destroyed?
We simply don't know whether God was behind that storm or not. And we ought to be careful assigning the blame or the credit to God for something He may not have had anything to do with.
Keep this passage in mind before you proclaim God's judgement on someone else's misfortune.
Luke 13:1-5 1 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
2. Truth is, the righteous and unrighteous face many problems/calamities.
** Job- lost his family, his fortune, his business, and his health.
Only thing he had left was a depressing wife and worthless friends.
His friends kept telling him he was suffering because of some secret sins he is committing.
His wife's advise to him was "to curse God and die." WOW.
After much time of suffering and being unjustly preached to, he began to feel very depressed and began to question God, his faith, and his whole spiritual life. Big problems do this to us sometimes.
1. THE TROUBLES OF LIFE.
Job 14:1-6 “Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. 2 “Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain. 3 “You also open Your eyes on him And bring him into judgment with Yourself. 4 “Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one! 5 “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. 6 “Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day like a hired man.
A. It is not “if” you will have troubles, but “when” and “how will you respond to troubles?”
John 16:33- Jesus said, “In the world you have troubles, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
1. Knowing in advance about troubles helps you to be prepared; So Satan cannot deceive you.
2. Knowing in advance, you can take courage to know that the victory is won.
B. The question is not “if” you will die, but how you will live and how you will die.
** Job has been bombarded from every direction about his “apparent” sinfulness.
** Sometimes when you hear negative stuff enough, you start to believe it.
** Job begins to ponder the question of dying clean or unclean.
Each of us should do the same thing because you don’t want to stand before God on Judgement Day a sinner condemned.
** The problem is that his terrible circumstances has depressed him for a while and Satan is attempting to wear him down.
This is also Satan's plan for you!
2. THE DESPAIR IN LIFE.
Job 14:7-12 7 “For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.
8 “Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil, 9 At the scent of water it will flourish
And put forth sprigs like a plant. 10 “But man dies and lies prostrate. Man expires, and where is he? 11 “As water evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up, 12 So man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no longer, He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.
** life can beat you down and just make you miserable.
** All over the world people live empty, meaningless lives apart from God.
** Job is so depressed he is jealous of a tree stump.
– The tree is the life of an individual
The water is the Holy Spirit that regenerates the believer.
The new growth is the life God has for you, be it a better life here or eternal life.
** Job is doubting everything he has believed all of his life because of the suffering he has gone through.
- you might look down on him, but I have learned not to judge people until/unless I have been in their shoes. You really don’t know for sure how you’d respond under similar circumstances.
** Job is so discouraged at this point in his life and he begins to talk like someone who is living in defeat
- But God will not let His children be defeated without sending out a lifeline. Something to hold onto. God sends out encouragement and victory. God gives Job a glimmer of hope.
3. THE HOPE OF NEW LIFE.
Job 14:13-17 13 “Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me! 14 “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes. 15 “You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands. 16 “For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin. 17 “My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You wrap up my iniquity.
Job asks the question, “If a man dies, will he live again?”
But Job’s faith can be seen here also, and in (14b-15) you can see his faith somewhat stated.
Even in his struggles, he does believe he will live again just as God has promised.
** God wants you to persevere through difficult times.
** God does not want you to suffer through it alone.
2 Great truths to remember when you are facing hard times:
1. Over 40 times in Luke alone this first truth is mentioned.... “and it came to pass”
Whatever problem you are now facing, remember the famous words “tomorrow is another day”-Scarlett Ohara.
2. Matthew 28:20- “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age...” (LOW)
When you are downtrodden and at your lowest, Jesus loves you, He knows about your problems, and He cares and He promises that He will always be with you.
4. THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
Job 19:23-27 23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! 24 “That with an iron stylus and lead They were engraved in the rock forever! 25 “As for me, I know that my [f]Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God;
27 Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!
Job finds comfort in the Lord. He makes 3 bold statements:
1. I know my Redeemer Lives!
2. He will return to the Earth!
3. I will be resurrected and live with God in Heaven!
Jesus desires to improve your life here on earth and throughout eternity.
** “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; but I come that you might have life and have it abundantly!”
Life might be a battlefield. But remember:
1. Who your Redeemer is. (Jesus Christ Himself)
2. His promise that He made to you. (Return for you)
3. His promise made for you. (Resurrection and Heaven)
