Experiencing God Peace in the storms of life
Experiencing God Peace in the storms of life
Topic: Often God is found in the darkest of times, the hardest of times.
JOB: The opening of the book introduces us to spiritual realities which were—and are—always present.
The sovereign God who reigns over all things even when he seems distant.
We must recognize these realities if we are to understand Job’s journey and difficulties properly: as an unfolding of spiritual warfare.
Suffering in this world does not occur in a neutral spiritual atmosphere.
According to the apostle Paul, the Lord works all things for our ultimate good (Rom 8:28), and the phrase “all things” includes the sorrows we face.
In Genesis, Joseph recognizes that, though his brothers had meant evil against him, God had meant his experiences for good (Gen 50:20).
The book of Job offers profound lessons on faith, suffering, and God's sovereignty.
It teaches that suffering is a part of life, even for the righteous, and that God's ways are often beyond our understanding.
Job's story emphasizes the importance of trusting God's character, even when facing hardship, and the need for humility and repentance in the face of suffering.
Five Tactics satan Utilizes
Job 1:1-5 NIV
1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
· Job was the wealthiest man in the east in his day. In those days’ wealth was measured primarily in terms of land, animals, and servants. Job had all three in abundance. Job was prosperous in his family (seven sons and three daughters). Job was great in his piety. He was not sinless, but he was complete and mature in character and straight in his conduct.
· Satan appears in heaven to accuse the saints of God. He would like to be able to turn the eyes and heart of God away from His children. It is not long before you observe Satan plotting, planning, scheming against Job. Satan plays havoc in Job’s life.
· Satan sets out to get Job. He will attempt destroying you as well. It would do us well to observe the tactics in which Satan endeavored to dismantle Job. May we learn from the life of Job some of the devices of Satan to get an advantage of us.
I. Satan tried to get to Job through his faith (11)
Job 1:11 NIV
11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
Look at Job 1:21 and note Job’s profound statement of faith.
Job 1:20-21 NIV
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
· Satan wants to overthrow your faith in God.
· He wants you to think negatively about God.
· He wants you to doubt the power of God.
· Satan wants you to think skeptically about God.
· Satan is not interested in what God has said or did not say; what he is interested in is getting you to doubt that God said what he said. He wants to fill your heart with questions about God.
· Satan wants you to think suspiciously about God.
· Satan wants you to doubt the love of God.
He will attempt to misrepresent God to you.
II. Satan tried to get to Job through his finances (14-17)
Job 1:14-17 NIV
14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
Job was stripped of everything he had (21).
· Satan will try to get to you through your money whether you have it or whether you don’t.
· Satan will come at you through your funds or lack of it until you are discouraged, disheartened, and defeated.
III. Satan tried to get to Job through his family (18-19)
Job 1:18-19 NIV
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
Job lost seven sons and three daughters in one day. Can you imagine the death of 10 children in one day?
· Satan can work through people who are dear to us.
· Satan gets to a lot of God’s children through their family.
· It may be through conflicts with our family.
· It may be with confrontations with our family.
· It may be with compromise for our family.
IV. Satan tried to get to Job through his flesh (2:7,8)
Job 2:7-9 NIV
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
X A man can stand almost anything better than he can stand pain!
X A prolonged trial will wear out the flesh.
V. Satan tired to get to Job through his friends (2:11-13)
Job 2:11-13 NIV
11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
At least three friends showed up. However, the number three is pitiful, for don’t you know he had more friends than he could count when everything was going good.
Three friends of Job agree to come to mourn and to comfort him. They came indeed to sympathize with him, but like other well-meaning people today, they stayed on to sermonize.
Eliphaz suspected that Job had sinned and this may be the reason for his trouble.
Bildad surmised that Job was a sinner, and this was probably the reason for his trouble.
Zophar stated that Job had sinned, and this was the reason for his trouble.
Be cautious of the person who knows why everything happens to you.
Lessons
Satan is a real person with great intellect. He is an individual who is extremely subtle. Don’t underestimate him. He desires the destruction of every man. He will use anything and everything to distract, disappoint, and defeat you. He walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour
If we are constantly aware of Satan’s devices, we are much less likely to fall prey to him.
Suffering is Inevitable, Even for the Upright: The book of Job begins by establishing Job as a righteous and devout man, yet he experiences immense suffering. This challenges the idea that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin.
God's Ways Are Higher than Our Ways: Job's friends offer various explanations for his suffering, often rooted in retribution theology, but Job's story ultimately reveals that God's ways are far beyond human comprehension.
Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering: Despite the pain and confusion, Job maintains his faith in God, even when he doesn't understand the reasons for his suffering. This demonstrates the importance of trusting God's character and sovereignty.
The Importance of Humility and Repentance: Job's journey culminates in humility and repentance as he acknowledges God's greatness and his own limited understanding.
God's Sovereignty: The book underscores God's ultimate authority and control over all things, even suffering.
God is Faithful: Despite the trials, God remains faithful to Job, ultimately restoring him to health and prosperity.
Don't Be Like Job's Friends: Job's friends offer well-meaning but ultimately unhelpful counsel. This highlights the importance of offering comfort and empathy rather than judgment or simplistic explanations during times of suffering.
Express our anguish in prayer: Job's cries of anguish demonstrate the importance of expressing our pain and frustration to God.
We can learn from God in suffering
Job's persistent search for God throughout his suffering emphasizes the importance of seeking God's presence and guidance during difficult times.
10.Embracing a Savior Who Suffers: Job's story foreshadows the suffering of Jesus Christ, offering a model for enduring hardship and trusting in a God who understands human pain.
In conclusion
In Job chapters 38-40 God explains that we worry and complain since our knowledge is limited
Our strength is in God, not ourselves
All the trials we face can overwhelm us. We can come to the point, where all we can see and feel is the problem.
When we face obstacles in our lives, let’s learn to look to the author and benefactor of our lives.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seethe thee.
