TITLE: HE’S PREPARING ME
SCRIPTURE: JOB 23:10
This morning I will present Part-Two from last week’s message. Last week we looked at John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. This morning I want to focus upon Jesus preparing the way for us. If you missed last week’s message, I encourage you to visit our Church Facebook page and view the message from last week. I lift as a thought this morning he’s preparing me. During this brief time together this morning, I want to examine one portion of how the Lord takes the time to prepare us. Not necessarily referencing preparing us for Heaven but preparing us as his disciples while we are yet living. As believers, we have a job to do.
Job said here in our text for examination -- “WHEN HE HAS TRIED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD.”
• Gold is tested by fire
• Saints are tested by adversity!
• None of God’s children enjoy the Refiner’s Fire
• But all of us experience it to one degree or another, at one time or another
It may or may not always be a physical trial, but it is always a spiritual trial! And we often find ourselves with a gamut of emotions -- Anger - Fear - Despair - Frustration -- and questions like “why me?” - “why now?” But as someone has said God takes us into his “darkroom” to develop our character.
• Our character is who we are when no one is watching
• Our true character comes out during the stormy times in our lives
• Our character is not defined and tested on the beach
• It is defined and tested during the storms
• Yes, HE’S PREPARING ME
It was the great preacher - C H Spurgeon, the Baptist “Prince of Preachers” of the 1800’s who experienced many physical and spiritual trials, said that there is no education like adversity, testifying
• I have derived more real benefit and permanent strength and growth in grace, and every precious thing, from the furnace of affliction, than I have ever derived from prosperity
• Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the top of a mountain
• So are many things learned in adversity which the prosperous man dreams not of
So, I suggest to us my brothers and sisters, that when we find ourselves going through stuff, it is God’s way of Preparing Us for the next level. One of our dear members said just last week, they have been saved for a few years now, but they find themselves in a position now where they are always repenting, struggling with various issues in this life. Can I suggest to you that He’s Preparing You.
• Sometimes we pass the test the first time
• Other times we simply take the same test over and over until we get it right
• We are not prepared during the Sunshine in our lives
• We are prepared during the Storms
• We are not prepared on the Mountain Top
• We are prepared in the Valley
He’s Preparing Me.
• MOSES was not prepared in the Palace – He was prepared on the back side of the Median Desert
• SHADRACH, MESHACH, and ABEDNEGO were not prepared in the King’s Court – They were prepared in the Fiery Furnace
• PETER was not prepared when he walked on the water – He was prepared when he began to sink
• JOSEPH was not prepared wearing his coat of many colors – He was prepared in the Pit
• JESUS did not prepare us while in the Upper Room – He prepared us on Calvary
The disciples experienced several “mountaintop moments” in their time with Jesus. But when a storm arose while they were out on the Sea of Galilee, fear took over. Amidst the roaring waves and with the boat rocking, Jesus’ chosen ones failed to recall the lessons they had learned about the power and purposes of their leader. Even the appearance of Christ walking on water didn’t bring immediate relief.
When trouble strikes, we sometimes forget our knowledge of God, just like the disciples did.
• We struggle to recall past answers to prayer - specific guidance provided by the Holy Spirit - and lessons learned in previous crises
• Only the present discomfort seems real
• Our minds spin with future implications, and our troubled emotions inhibit clear thinking
In our own strength, we lack sufficient resources and abilities to meet life's challenges. So, God provides what we need.
• Our struggles are never a surprise to the Lord
• He knows everything we are going through
• More than that, He’s orchestrating our circumstances for His glory and our benefit, according to His good will
• ROMANS 8:28 “AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE”
• Yes, He’s Preparing Me
We find perhaps the greatest comfort of ROMANS 8:28 in the first three words, “AND WE KNOW.” As Christians, there are some things we ought to just know about the Lord. Some things we ought to know beyond the shadow of a doubt about our God. Adrian Rogers, in the Billy Graham training seminar, “Rising Above Your Circumstances,” said -
• “This is not conjecture, this is not happenstance, this is not perhaps, this is not maybe; this is ironclad certainty. ‘We know that all things work together for good’”
• As long as we live in this world, people will attempt to reconcile God’s Sovereignty with humanity’s Suffering
• Verses like Romans 8:28 assure us that no trials we face are wasted
• God is always at work for our good and His glory
• When we cannot comprehend why trials come and struggle to imagine that anything good can come from them, we can rest in the security that God is in control
• Because of this, we can have hope in knowing – HE’S PREPARING ME
All too often we do not view what we are going through correctly. We oftentimes begin to examine our past or current situation and look for the sin or what we have done wrong that displeased the Lord to allow us to be in the position we are in that is causing us such Grief. If you don’t hear anything else in this mornings message, here this -- trials are no evidence of being without god, since trials come from God. Job says - "WHEN HE HAS TRIED ME." He sees God in his afflictions.
• The devil actually wrought the trouble
• But the Lord not only permitted it, He had a design in it
• Without the divine concurrence, none of his afflictions could have happened
It was God that tried Job, and it is God that tries us. Note, I said “tried” and not “tempted.” JAMES 1:13 “LET NO MAN SAY WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, I AM TEMPTED OF GOD: FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN.”
• No trouble comes to us without divine permission
• All the "dogs of affliction" are muzzled until God sets them free
• No, my brothers, and sisters, against none of the seed of Abraham can a dog move its tongue unless God permits
Troubles do not spring out of the ground like weeds that grow randomly, but they grow orderly as plants set in the garden.
• God appoints the weight and number of all our adversities
• If He declares the number Ten they cannot be Eleven
• If He wills that we bear a certain weight, no one can add half an ounce more
• Since every trial comes from God, afflictions are no evidence that you are out of God’s way
• He is simply Preparing You
Besides, according to the text, these trials are tests: "WHEN HE HATH TRIED ME." The trials that came to Job were made to be proofs that the Patriarch was real and sincere. Did not the enemy say: "HAVE YOU NOT MADE A HEDGE ABOUT HIM AND HIS HOUSE AND ALL THAT HE HAS, ON EVERY SIDE? YOU HAVE BLESSED THE WORK OF HIS HANDS, AND HIS POSSESSIONS HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAND. BUT PUT FORTH YOUR HAND NOW AND TOUCH ALL THAT HE HAS; HE WILL SURELY CURSE YOU TO YOUR FACE."
• The devil will have it that as dogs follow men for bones, so do we follow God for what we can get out of Him
• The Lord lets the devil see that our love is not bought by temporal goods
• We don’t serve the Lord for what we can get out of it
• We don’t serve the Lord for what we think He will give us or do for us
• We are not mercenary followers, but loving children of the Lord, so that under dire suffering we exclaim, "THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM"
• By the endurance of trials our sincerity is made manifest, and it is proven that we are not mere pretenders, but true heirs of God
How frequently God's saints see only Satan as the cause of their troubles. They regard the great enemy as responsible for much of their trials and tribulations. But there is no comfort for the heart in this. We do not deny that the Devil does bring about much that harasses us.
• But above Satan is the Lord Almighty!
• The Devil cannot touch a hair of our heads without God's permission
• When he is allowed to disturb and distract us, even then it is only God using him to "try" us
• Let us learn then, to look beyond all secondary causes and instruments to that One who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will
• This is what Job did
• Because ultimately, he understood – He’s Preparing Me
I believe we face certain challenges and sometimes difficulties in that we will be more compassionate and bring comfort to others. God's work in our lives is not intended solely for us. It's designed to reach a world that does not recognize or acknowledge Him. The Lord uses our challenges to equip us for serving others.
• As we experience trials, we will learn about God's sufficiency - His comforting presence - His strength to help us endure
• Our testimony during times of difficulty will be authentic
• Those to whom we minister will recognize we know and understand their pain
• What credibility would we have with people in crisis if we never experienced a deep need?
• We go through things that when we come through, we can serve others more effectively
I believe it was the Mighty Clouds Of Joy that sang that song “I’ve Been In The Storm Too Long.” The storms are not designed to last always. If you have been in your struggle too long, most often it is because you are not learning the lesson the Lord has designed for you in the storm. Just like being in School, you are not promoted to the next grade level until you have sufficiently learned what was required in the current grade. If you have not adequately learned the lessons for the school year, you are held back and you go over the same lessons and lesson plan again. God has a lesson for us to learn during the difficult periods in our life.
• Is God ready to take you some place outside of your realm of comfort?
• Is He looking for you to move into a deeper commitment to Him?
• Is He preparing you for a better place, perhaps an even greater work?
• Have you been in the state you are in, the place you are in for far too long?
Any spiritual growth that ever takes place in our life will always be accompanied by the trials of life, for "HE KNOWETH THE WAY THAT I TAKE: WHEN HE HATH TRIED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD." Though it is natural for us to shield ourselves from the vicissitudes of life, it is an act of faith to entrust our circumstances to the Lord, placing greater emphasis upon the development of our spiritual character than the defense of our mortal flesh. Remember the words recorded in JAMES 1:2 "MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS."
Wait a minute – is it just me? Did I read that right? joy in tribulation? James, how can you say such a thing? I mean, after all, I dread temptation. When they come, the worst in me usually comes out. I start to fear and worry and it’s not usually very pretty. Then, I feel guilty and unforgiven.
• My preference would be that temptations would stay as far away as possible
• But, James says to count temptation as joy?
Do properly understand this, we must have a good understanding of joy and God’s mercy. Getting the right perspective on these two things will change your viewpoint. The joy of the Lord should never be based on my circumstances.
• Praising the Lord is huge in getting us into the joy of the Lord
• Because it takes my mind off the problem and puts it where it truly belongs – on the one who can solve the problem!
• That gives me joy!
If Joy is based upon my circumstances, then we will never see God clearly and understand his Plan and Purpose in our life. Our joy is not based on circumstances, but on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, our Praise and Thankfulness should not be based on our circumstances, but on our relationship with Jesus Christ and what He says. We serve a God that will do what He says that He will do. Joy has more to do with remaining in the presence of Jesus than with avoiding problems and struggles in our lives.
• Happiness is a state of mind - while joy is a mind-set
• Happiness comes and goes - while joy can be constant
• Happiness is dependent - while joy is independent
• Happiness is conditional - while joy is unconditional
Let me move us towards a close this morning. In the opening chapter of the book which bears his name we find Satan obtaining permission to afflict God's servant.
• He used the Sabeans to destroy Job 's herds
• He sent the Chaldeans to slay his servants
• He caused a Great Wind to kill his children
And what was Job's response? "THE LORD GAVE, AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY; BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD." Job looked beyond the human agents, beyond Satan who employed them, to the Lord who controlleth all. He realized that it was the Lord trying him.
We get the same thing in the NT. To the suffering saints at Smyrna John wrote, "FEAR NONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH THOU SHALT SUFFER; BEHOLD, THE DEVIL SHALL CAST SOME OF YOU INTO PRISON, THAT YE MAY BE TRIED" - REVELATION 2:10. Their being cast into prison was simply God Preparing them.
--How much we lose by forgetting this!
--What a stay for the trouble-tossed heart to know that no matter what form the testing may take, no matter what the agent which annoys, it is God who is "Preparing" His children
--What a perfect example the Savior sets us
--When He was approached in the garden and Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus
--The Savior said, "THE CUP WHICH MY FATHER HATH GIVEN ME, SHALL I NOT DRINK IT?"
--Men were about to vent their awful rage upon Him
--The Serpent would bruise His heel, but He looks above and beyond them
--No matter how bitter its contents, infinitely less than that which the Savior drained
--Let us accept the cup as from the Father's hand
--HE’S PREPARING ME
