March 27, 2016

Easter Sunday Morning

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: John 20:24-21:14, Job 19:23-27
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Is the teaching of the resurrection from the dead only to be found in the New Testament?
  • Is there ever such a greater statement in the Old Testament?
  • Job was going through great suffering but makes such a tremendous statement

The Crisis

  • If you know the story of Job you know he loved God
    • He had an impeccable character
    • God blessed him in many ways
    • He had a deep reverence for God
  • One fateful day came when he lost everything
    • Job sadly lost all his children
    • People recently have lost loved ones
    • What do you do in such circumstances? Can faith fold out? Is there hope in such times?
  • Job does not blame God
    • He recognises that he comes into and goes out of the world empty handed
    • He says something staggering "Blessed be the name of the Lord"
    • Job had amazing faith
  • Some might say that Job is callous and only concerned for himself
    • The rest of the story shows how he reacts to other afflictions
    • His health
    • He suffered the tormenting words of his wife
  • How does Job fare in this crisis?
    • He does not sin
    • He accepts good and adversity from the Lord
  • Job's friends come to 'comfort' him
    • They have no real sympathy or compassion
    • They are merely using their own understanding of theology in their own twisted way
    • Job protests his innocence to his friends
    • His friends torment him and call him wicked - Job 18:17-21
  • Job is bitter and does feel that God is persecuting him, yet has great faith in God
    • Job 19:2 - his soul was in torment
    • Job 19:13 - he is despised and shunned
    • Job 19:14 - even his close friends and family deserted him
    • Job 19:17 - he is an offence to his own wife
  • v23-24
    • Is Job wanting his complaint to be recorded for ever?
    • Is Job not wanting everyone to know that Job believes in the Redeemer?
  • The reactions of others
    • Think of Thomas who would not believe
      • Faith is often not strong in despondency and depression
      • After he had seen, he confessed 'My Lord and My God'
    • Think of Mary
    • Think of the two on the road to Emeaus
    • Think of the disciples
      • They had gone fishing, not expecting to see the risen Christ
      • Peter plunges into the water wanting to get near Christ and his faith is rekindled
  • Job in his agony believes in the resurrection and in God

The Confidence

  • The Redeemer
    • People in the Middle East knew what this mean back - the human person/relative who would intervene
    • Job knew that it was the Lord who would redeem him
  • He had tremendous confidence
    • No think or hope, but I know my redeemer lives
    • He had great faith
    • It is almost as God has come to strengthen him
    • Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead?
    • Do you believe that God will reconstitute the person?
    • Do you believe in the judgement?
  • Job believed with all his heart
  • In my flesh, I shall see God
    • He didn't want to see any other
    • Do you want to see the beauty of the Lord?
    • Words of the song: There is a hope that burns within my heart
    • Do we believe there are many mansions in heaven?
  • His confidence led Job to prayer
    • He prayed for his friends
    • God restored him and blessed him - Job 42:10
    • God gave Job twice as much as he had before
  • Job passed the test of the severe trial of his faith
    • Abraham passed the test of faith
    • May it be that when God tries us that our faith may continued, even though we may have many pains

The Challenge

  • We talk about having the patience of Job, but what about the faith of Job?
  • How will we face the challenges of life?
  • How will we face death?
  • Do you believe in the resurrection?
    • Jesus came to pay the price for sin
    • Jesus died and then rose from the dead
    • Jesus has undone the curse of sin, including death
    • In heaven there will be no more suffering
    • Jesus will come again to judge the earth
    • There will be a new heaven and a new earth
  • The message of the resurrection is that Christ is victorious over sin and death
    • The challenge for each of us is whether we will believe in this
    • This is the promise of the resurrection and of Easter
    • May we all believe today

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