The Man Who Impressed God

We used to say that “first impression lasts.” But how do you impress someone like your supervisor, spouse, and parents? This morning I would like you to meet someone who was able to impress not just the people around him but God Himself. That someone is none other than Job. THE MAN WHO IMPRESSED GOD

In Job 1:1 – 2:13, God described Job as blameless and upright; a man who fears God and shuns evil. (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3)

Being blameless and upright do not mean sinless and perfect. No one is sinless but Christ alone. Rather it means that he was exemplary and honest as a person. These qualities are the result of fearing God and shunning evil. Actually, he shunned evil because he feared God. To fear God means to give reverence and submission to God.

To fear the Lord means to respect who He is, what He says, and what He does. It is not the cringing fear of a slave before a master but the loving reverence of a child before a father, a respect that leads to obedience. That was the kind of person Job is. No one wonder his life story was included in the Old Testament. We should be that kind of man too.

But what did Job do to impress God that much? How did Job impress God? I want us to examine Job’s life and encourage all the men to learn how he was able to impress our God. Job impressed God because…

EXPOSITION

A. Job assumed responsibility of his family’s conduct in life. (Read Job 1:2-5)

CONTEXT He had 7 sons and 3 daughters. He owned 11,000 of animals and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

What impresses me more was his being proactive in terms of his son’s behavior. His children were close with each other and often had a party when it was someone’s birthday.When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.

The fact that their father offered special sacrifices after each birthday feast does not prove their celebration was wicked.

It only shows that Job was a pious man and wanted to be sure his family was right with God. Thus he always takes the initiative to sacrifice a burnt offering for the possible sins they committed.

TRANSITION The man who impresses God is the one who is ready to assume accountability for his family’s behavior. Job did what he did because he is the head of the family or the leader of his household.

Read Ephesians 5:23; 6:1-4.

In the same way, impress God by assuming the responsibility for the behavior of your loved ones. Recognize your accountability. Use all the opportunity and resources you have to influence our family. Make sure that they live in accordance to the will of God.

Make sure that your family would demonstrate an appropriate standard of living. Be together in honoring and obeying God. Men when we teach our loved ones their duties and commitment to God, God is please. And we honor your today.

Read Psalm 128:1-4.

B. Job understood that life is not defined by what you have. (Job 1:6-22)

CONTEXT One day Satan presents himself before the Lord. The Lord mentioned again Job’s devotion to Him. (See v. 8) But Satan argued that Job does not fear God for nothing. Let me pause for a minute on Satan’s argument. I believe that what he said is true for most people.

There are people who fear God because God put a hedge around them and their household and everything they have. A hedge is a protective fence that secures man. The moment God stretch our His hand and strike everything they have and they will surely curse God.

Read Luke 18:18-25.

CONTEXT Finally, God gave Satan permission to take everything Job has except his life. Thus in one day, he lost all his animals and all of his children. You can imagine the pain and sorrow that Job experienced. However Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head – it is a symbol of remorse, humility and repentance.

Then he said “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. He did not charge God with wrong doing.

TRANSITION For Job life is not defined what one has. It is so easy for most of us to let our possessions define who we are. Thus once they are gone, we have a nervous breakdown and depression.

God was impressed on Job because He did not let the gifts to replace the giver. He did not allow his possessions to define who he was. His security, importance, and happiness in life were not defined by what he possessed.