I love this cook book.
I’ve never prepared or eaten a single dish from it’s recipes.
I love it because it has some strange recipes:
Read one-maybe just title
I also love it because it was compiled from recipes from the 1800’s and published by the Daughters of the Texas Republic.
It has 183 pages with an average of 3 recipes per page,
But Tony, I couldn’t find a single recipe that called for AN OUNCE of JOB.
So, I guess if we’re to have an ounce of Job in us, it will come from living a righteous life, not from some recipe book, huh Tony!
Ping pong
Two Sunday’s ago, as Lisa and I were driving home, I told Lisa “I have a word for my next sermon, and it stemmed from Tony’s message today.”
She replied “what, are y’all going to “ping pong” over each other’s sermons each week?”
I replied, “well, not by design”.
Listen, just to bring you up to speed, he preached on “humility”, but he referenced my sermon from the week before on “worship”.
He began by reading Job 1:13-19.
After Tony’s message, I literally spend a week reading over and studying the 1st chapter of Job.
Tony, I don’t know if anyone else did, but I took something home from your message!
But there are two words that got my attention in each of the verses 15-19.
I’ll read those verses:
Job 1:15–19 “when the Sabeans (sa-BEE-ans) raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!””
Ever have those weeks when bad news just cascades in on you? One wave right after another?
It was so bad for Job, that while one was still speaking, (he hadn’t even gotten it all out yet) another brought bad news...and then another and then another. Each time, interrupting the previous one!
Then we see Job’s response:
Job 1:20 “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.”
The recipe for having an ounce of Job in us is:
“to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength”.
So, all that was for “no charge”.
Before I get into today’s message, I just want to share with you a couple of things I learned about Job this week.
There’s no definitive answer to who wrote the book of Job. Some say, Job, others say Moses, and yet others say it was both.
Many scholars believe it was the 1st book written.
It’s the first time the name “Satan” is found in scripture. Satan translates to “adversary”.
Here’s today’s message:
The two words that stand out to me in each of the v15-19:
“I alone”
Tony read verse 15, and my mind was “off to the races”. I know Tony gave a powerful message on humility, but what DelRay needed to hear was what Tony shared in Job!
Church, if we take one thing each week from a message, and apply it in our lives, change will be unstoppable.
Scripture tells us this:
The first part of Proverbs 23:7 tells us this: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
I’m gonna ask that you hang tight with me as I attempt to connect the dots.
Let’s go to the Lord in prayer:
“Holy Spirit, move me out of the way” Amen.
We’re going to be looking @ 3 passages today, as we begin, in Genesis 18.
Genesis 18 beginning in verse 16. You’ll recognize the story as we get going.
Genesis 18:16–19 “Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.””
In those verses, we can see that Abraham had a personal relationship with the Lord.
Genesis 18-20-21- God says “it’s bad down there. I’m gonna go down there and see for myself.
Genesis 18:22 “Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.”
Church, full transparency here: I need to get better @ standing still, before the Lord, when I intercede for others!
Here, we see Abraham step up and begin his intercessory argument.
Years and years ago, we had a lady in our organization we called KBTX Mary- for those of you in Rio Linda, KBTX is a news station in the Brazos Valley.
KBTX Mary was the first the know about everything!
“Psst” did you hear about so and so?”
It’s not uncommon that an intercessor is the 1st to know about things.
BTW- there is a huge difference between “a gossip” and “an intercessor.”
The reason God shared this secret with Abraham is because God reveals His secrets to His friends.
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
James 2:23 “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.”
The first time I read this story of Abraham interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah, I was a sales trainer, and I thought, “man, I wish I had Abraham on my team!
He was negotiating with God!
However, I don’t want us to misinterpret this passage.
It is about God’s willingness to show mercy, when someone “stands in the gap”. It was not about Abraham persuading our immutable God. IMHO.
If we believe God is omniscient, then He already knew that Sodom and Gomorrah were so steeped in sin, that not even 10 righteous people could be found.
But God wanted Abraham to see His compassion before those cities were utterly destroyed!
But Abraham alone, tried to intercede.
Go with me now to: Ez 22:30.
In Genesis, we see a couple of cities that God destroyed because of their sin.
Now, we see a nation, full of corruption and sin.
Chapter 22 lays out a picture of a nation so far from God, that He sees no other choice but to destroy it.
The priests, the prophets, the princes (and the king), as well as the people were all corrupt, and full of sin.
It is my belief, that Ezekiel chapter 22 depicts that state that America is in.
Greed
Injustice
Killing
Profane living
Theft
Violence
False prophets
Corrupt leadership
...and on and on and on
I want to expound on one passage from Tony’s message last week.
While I was preparing today’s message, which was before Tony preached last week. I wrote this thought above the passage:
The IF/THEN of 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
“My people, My name”.
I want y’all to take hold of this today.
“A godly church, can’t help but impact a godless culture”.- repeat, then say “Is that us?” “What impact did we have this past week? What impact will we have this week?”
Because He is a merciful God, He always looks for intercessors.
Go with me to Ez 22:30.
Ezekiel 22:30 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
-ask others what their bible says-
This is a spiritual wall being spoken of, in this passage. There was not a single person who God could trust to pick up the torch, and stand in the gap to restore a nation. NOT ONE!
Charles Spurgeon wrote:
300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church The Duty of the Saved
Men of God, if you are indeed the Lord’s, and feel that you are his, begin now to intercede for all who belong to you. Never be satisfied unless they are saved too.
Y’all have heard me say this before. I believe the entire bible is the unified story that leads us to Jesus.
He is our Great Intercessor.
Let’s compare two verses that caught my attention over the last week or so:
Job 1:20 “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.”
Mark 14:35 “He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.”
Now listen, both of these men were in great agony, yet their response, is to fall to their knees and pray!
Throughout the bible, God looks for someone to stand in the gap.
The best I can tell, it began with Moses.
Moses stood in the gap, and led God’s people out of Israel.
Standing in the gap, requires leadership.
Every one of you, are leaders for God’s Kingdom, and He has equipped you to stand in the gap.
We’ve examined a couple of instances today about standing in the gap, in Genesis and Ezekiel.
That passage in Job, that contained “I Alone”, stirred me for this message today.
Jesus stood in the gap and declared:
I alone, stand in the gap as atonement for your sin
I alone, am the bread of life
I alone, am the living, everlasting water
I alone, am the resurrection and the life
I alone, am the way, the truth and the life
I alone, have shortened the day’s, for the elect’s sake
I alone, am the Good Shepherd
I alone, am the Sheep Door
I alone, am the only way to the Father
I alone, am the True Vine
I alone, will crash the skies and gather the elect to live forever with me in Glory!
But, but...until then
you stand in the gap,
Matthew 28:19–20 ... and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Father, thank you for sending Your son to stand in the gap for our sin. To wash us clean, to cover us in His blood, and to live a righteous life for His glory, in victory. And like Abraham and Moses, may we stand in the gap, asking God to spare and save!
Amen.
Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
