Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• The living God will meet us in our suffering
• Suffering is a horrible thing
• Quote from Napoleon and C.S Lewis

Progressive Reading

Job 1:6-12

• A frightening glimpse into heaven
• The accuser steps into the presence of God
• This person stands to accuse us
• Satan wants to sift us and shake us up
• In these same circumstances God wants to season us with grace
• Satan does not understand grace
• "Where have we been?"
• The Lord highlights Job
• Job is the epitome of a godly man
• Job is a 'perfect' man
• Satan says Job is righteous because of the shield God has placed around him
• Why do we serve God?
• Do we come [to Church] because He is worthy?
• In times of suffering this will be tested
• A cosmic battle in heaven?
• We are in a spiritual battle
• Jesus is not in a battle
• Satan in under a leash
• The Son of Man has all authority in heaven and earth

Job 1:13-17

• Job lost all his business overnight
• He knows that it came from heaven
• Job was richer than all of us put together
• Quote from Christopher Columbus
• The best use of money is the furtherance of the Gospel

Job 1:18-20

• Job lost all his children
• Do we blame God for our circumstances?
• Job fell to the ground in worship!
• Is this how we respond?
• Job is angry but says 'praise the Lord'

Job 2:1-3

• The heavenly realm is revisited
• Without reason
• Have you had anyone approach you and suggest that your suffering is because of sin?
• Example from Paul Mallard
• There isn't necessarily a reason
• Job spends the next 40 chapters trying to find out why and doesn't get an answer
• The Lord is proud of Job
• Job is still faithful, righteous and upright

Job 2:4-8

• How wicked is Satan?
• 'I haven't even started yet'
• Let me take his health
• 2 Thess 2:5-8
• Satan was to be a guardian angel
• He abused his authority
• His downfall was his pride
• Isaiah 14
• Job is in a bad way

Job 2:9-10

• Job's wife tells him to curse God and die
• Quotes from great Christians about Job's wife
• Put yourself in Jobs' wife's shoes
• Watching people you care for is horrific
• Job puts his wife straight
• He did not sin
• Like Joseph God meant this for good

Three Big Questions

Does God's suffering happen within God's will?

• Yes
• Why bad things happen to good people - bad theology
• God is always in control
• Quote by Jay Vernon McGee

Is healing always God's will?

• No
• We pray expecting God to heal
• 1 Tim 5:23
• 2 Tim 4:20
• Paul's thorn in his side
• Bad things happen to all people
• God is good but doesn't always say yes to healing

Have you experienced more of God through prosperity or suffering?

• For me it is through suffering
• Job doesn't find answers but did find an anchor for his soul
• Example of George Mattheson

Closing Remarks

• Illustration of the injured child
• When bad things happen - do we look at God as the executioner or the surgeon?
• Do we look to blame God when things go wrong?
• We can trust God even though He doesn't give us answers because He gave us Himself
• Calm seas never produce good sailors
• Are our eyes on God?