Tried By Fire

TRIED BY FIRE

From "Comfort for Christians" By Arthur W. Pink

Scripture: Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me I shall come forth

as gold."

Introduction:

Though Job had felt that his lot was unbearable, he recovers himself here and revises his outlook.

1. Despite his afflictions, Job was able to be optimistic.

a. He did not allow the afflictions to make a skeptic of him.

b. He did not permit his trials and troubles through which he was passing to overwhelm him.

2. He looked at the bright side of the dark cloud--God's side, hidden from sense and reason.

For us, this side is only seen by faith.

Remember Daniel when he prayed for 21 days? Daniel 10:13 Read

On the other side, the bright side the answer was already issued. It just had not

yet arrived due to Satanic forces, the Prince of Persia.

3. He took the long view of life.

a. Jesus took the long view.

Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

b. Don't be short-sighted. Take the long view of life.

Here's how Job was able to be optimistic.

I. THE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF MY LIFE

A. Job

1. Did not know the way he took

a. Yes he was consciously making free-will decisions and he choose to

follow God.

Job 23:11 "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined."

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him [Thomas], I am the way, the truth,

and the life:"

b. However, he did not know, and neither do we, what may occur in

his life in the next moment.

2. Could not see God.

Job 23:8 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:"

(v. 9) "On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:"

3. His friends misunderstood and charged him that he had sinned or was just a hypocrite.

B. God

1. Knew

(v. 11) "But he knoweth the way I take"

2. Could See Job

Though I cannot see God, what is a thousand times better, He can see me!

a. If He notices the fall of a sparrow

b. If he counts the hairs of our heads of course "He knows" the way that I take.

3. Understood that Job was "a perfect and upright" man.

Here is instruction for us in like circumstances. Fellow-believer, your fellow-men

and your fellow-Christians, may misunderstand you: but console yourself with the blessed fact that the omniscient One knoweth.

Song in Hymnal "Stand By Me" pg 149

Verse 3 In the midst of faults and failures, Stand by me, In the midst of faults and failures, Stand by me; When I do the best I can, And my friends misunderstand, Thou who knowest all about me, Stand by me.

C. One of the greatest tests: How does God's omniscience (all knowing ability) affect you?

1. Does it cause you distress or comfort?

2. Are you troubled by the fact that God knows the way you take whether it be

in righteousness or in unrighteousness. God knows the very hearts of men.

Genesis 18:19 "For I know him [Abraham] , that he will command his children and his

household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and

judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken."

Psalms 139:1 "O LORD, thou has searched me, and known me."

Psalms 1:6 "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

D. There are two ways. Choose His Way

Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

(v.14) "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Are you saying that few will be saved? The One who said, "I am the Door" said

few would find it.

E. Don't Be Deceived

Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are

the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are

the ways of death."

A man may persuade himself that his easily besetting sin, his evil dealings, his false religion,

and his selfish way are right, but whatever is not God's way will end in death and hell. Dake pg 650