BLESSED ASSURANCE
Job 2:11
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place-- Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.
Before we look at Job 2 we need to go back to Job1: 6 where it states, ¡§NOW THERE WAS A DAY¡K.¡¨.
Most of us can remember where we where on certain days. We can often remember what we where doing when certain life events took place.
We remember what we where doing when we received the news of the lost of a loved one.
We remember what it was like the day our child was born.
Those of you as old as I or older will remember when:
ľ Kennedy was shot
ľ The evening Dr King was killed
Many of you have embedded in your minds what you where doing when you heard the terrible news of September 11th.
I remember a normal morning at work. You know what I¡¦m talking about; you get your first cup of coffee, do a little small talk with associates and then get started on your daily routines. But THIS WAS A DAY. I remember my wife calling and telling me a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. I remember co-workers crying and calling home to relatives. I remember having a blessed assurance that all was not lost and if my God could bring us to this, He could bring us through it.
We all remember days of major life events.
Brother Job had a day and the bible says NOW THERE WAS A DAY.
I can imagine Brother Job and his Sister Job eating breakfast on a normal but beautiful morning.
I can see them looking out the window at the green fields covered with a bountiful harvest. They can also see the camel caravan passing by taking their goods to market.
They look out and see the houses of their children and maybe their grandchildren getting ready for school.
Next they look at each other and think how blessed we are. I can hear them say This is a Day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.
But in a matter of moments their lives change forever.
In only a matter of moments one servant after another comes shouting horrible news.
In a matter of moments the news got worst and worst until finally the final blow comes with the news that ALL TEN CHRIDLEN HAVE BEEN LOST.
It only took a matter of moments for Job to go from being the wealthiest man in the valley to being a man who has lost all.
Possessions gone, Staff gone, Livelihood gone, All of his children gone.
Just like brother Job we can go from being on top of the world to losing everything.
We live in a time when we have lost our way of life as we used to know it.
We live in a time when:
ľ Children are blowing up schools
ľ Children killing children and even killing parents and grandparents
We live in a time when:
ľ Our sons are in jail
ľ Daughters strung out on drugs
We live in a time when:
ľ Our elderly live in fear
ľ Gangs roam the streets
We live in a time when in just a matter of moments your life can be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
Many people can identify with Job. For whatever reason they have lost all they had and where left with a choice. Where do I go from here and who can help me now.
What will you do when trouble comes your way ¡V when misery comes your way ¡V when disappointment comes your way?
Will you trust in the Lord as your maker, creator and ever presence help in time of need.
Evidence tells me we¡¦re not trusting God to make a way somehow¡K
Most people are trying to figure things out on their own¡K
Brother Job didn¡¦t do what some of us do.
ƒæ Didn¡¦t go see the root woman
ƒæ Didn¡¦t consult the soothsayer ¡V the crystal ball reader
ƒæ Didn¡¦t go to the loan shark ¡V title loan company
ƒæ Didn¡¦t look up the lady of the night
ƒæ Didn¡¦t go to the bartender
ƒæ Didn¡¦t look up the drug dealer
If this where not bad enough. The bible says; ¡§THERE WAS ANOTHER DAY¡¨.
On this day Job awakens with terrible pain all over his body. He is covered from head to toe with painful boils.
Job lost almost all that was dear to him and now he even loses his health.
But Job is an extraordinary man because the Bible tells me;
Job 1:20-22
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."
22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
(NAS)
How many people have turned from the church and God when things have gone bad in their lives.
Who knows how many people have been strengthened by Job¡¦s example.
ľ People in hospital rooms have gained strength.
ľ Some in nursing homes have been encouraged.
ƒæ Even at the funeral home saints have gained comfort from Job¡¦s example.
We now find Job at the edge of the city, sitting in an ash heap dressed in sackcloth. His body is wrecked with pain and he has no one to comfort him. Not even his lovely wife understands. For she said ¡§do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!¡¨
But Job said to her, ¡§You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
This is where Job¡¦s so-called friends enter the picture. They have made an appointment among themselves to come and sympathize with him and comfort him.
Their purpose was honorable and good.
We should be able to come and put our arm around a hurting friend and sympathize with them and comfort them.
Something got lost in the process. Their agenda got blurred somehow.
How many time have I stopped by a hospital room, only to find people standing around talking and acting the fool.
ľ No prayers
ľ No songs of comfort
ľ No bible to be found
ľ Not even an encouraging word
It makes you wonder why did they come in the first place.
ƒæ Some come to be able to be the first the run and tell the news of how bad you¡¦re doing.
ľ Some come out of obligation
ľ Some come out of guilt
Now Job¡¦s three friends come to see about him.
Job 2:12-13
12 And when they lifted up their eyes at a distance, and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe, and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky.
13 Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that {his} pain was very great.
These brothers where doing pretty good so far. They knew how to sympathize with Job¡¦s situation.
The problem came when they opened their mouth.
ƒæ I¡¦ve known people who have lost their homes
ƒæ I¡¦ve known people who have lost their jobs
ƒæ I¡¦ve even know people who have had to bury a child
But I have never known any of them who had to endure the verbal assault and abuse that Job did after their lost.
Job¡¦s friends did a tag team match verbally assaulting him.
That same spirit lives today.
We could call it the Bildad spirit or the Eliphaz spirit or even the Zophar spirit.
ƒæ It¡¦s that harsh, judgmental spirit that attacks your marital partner.
ƒæ It¡¦s a boss who criticizes your every move and never has a good word to say.
ƒæ Sometimes it¡¦s the preacher who uses the pulpit to beat up on the sheep.
ľ It may show up in a nurse who just does not want to be bothers.
This spirit can attack in many different forms and ways.
These men felt like they where on the right track in their attacks on Job.
Prov 14:12
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
The tongue of the wise can bring great benefit but the tongue; on the other hand can be a deadly thing.
It can torment and it can crush, it can insult and it can wrong.
How many times have you used your tongue to crush and insult someone?
Maybe that someone would be here today if not for your tongue.
Though all of these attacks Job did not lose his integrity.
Job realized that when you¡¦ve done all you can do and tried the best you can¡K
He realized when you¡¦ve given it all you¡¦ve got and there is nothing more you can do¡K
You might as well wait on the Lord ¡V wait until your change comes.
No reason to hang your head ¡V just wait on the Lord.
Have blessed assurance that Jesus can fix it after the while.
He will strengthen your heart.
Job waited I¡¦m sure for what seems like a long time.
Some of you have been waiting and praying for a long time.
If Job could speak to you today he would say ¡§Just hold on because your help is on the way.
Fanny Crosby wrote in that great hymn of the church:
Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit washed in His blood,
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
I have that Blessed Assurance that no matter what, I have a friend in Jesus.
