Full Transcript for Hardship | Pastor Rick Wright | The Church at CW

its work, get the rest of everything out of the way. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.520 God, for a few moments I pray that we could focus on what you have to say. 00:02:57.920 --> 00:03:01.520 And God, let our hearts be in tune with you. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:07.920 And God, I pray that you would take people today from this place changed, different. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:10.800 Lord, if we're just the same, what have we accomplished? 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:13.920 God, meet with us and do your work in our hearts. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:15.759 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:16.719 Amen. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:21.360 Letter A, we see this that pain comes to Job unexpectedly. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.560 If you missed that first point, it was hardship is certain. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:26.960 There in Job chapter 2. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:29.840 I want you to see verses 3 through 8. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.120 This is the second round. 00:03:31.200 --> 00:03:49.439 Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless, upright man, and one who fears God and shuns evil, and still he holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without cause. 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:53.039 So Satan answered the Lord and said, Skin for skin. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:57.360 Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:04.640 But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone, his flesh, and he'll surely curse you to your face. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:09.520 And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:24.159 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, and he took for himself a pot's herd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of ashes. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:32.399 If you look back at chapter one, the Lord says to Satan in verse eight, Have you considered my servant Job? 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:35.759 Job is put to the trouble test. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:37.920 How many of you have felt like that? 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.919 It says that God is having this conversation with Satan. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.119 He says, Have you considered my servant Job? 00:04:47.679 --> 00:04:50.159 Seems like a weird conversation, right? 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:51.599 Have you considered Job? 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:52.639 Job is upright. 00:04:52.719 --> 00:04:53.839 Job does right. 00:04:54.159 --> 00:04:56.159 Think about testing him. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:59.119 Have you ever been voluntold something? 00:05:00.799 --> 00:05:02.159 Put you to the test. 00:05:02.479 --> 00:05:10.319 My aunt was a choir director, and she volunt me that I had to be on the choir team. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:12.239 Y'all, I can't sing. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:14.399 I can't even hum. 00:05:15.039 --> 00:05:16.799 I can't clap on tune. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:19.599 I'm pretty much a threat to worship. 00:05:20.479 --> 00:05:22.399 And my aunt made me get on this team. 00:05:22.479 --> 00:05:27.759 And not only did I have to get on the team, you know when that class took place in school? 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:30.000 Doran, gym class. 00:05:30.479 --> 00:05:35.759 The greatest class the high school and junior high ever had was gym. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:44.079 And so instead of going outside and playing football or instead of playing dodgeball, there I was singing. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:57.279 Not only did that happen, but my aunt on the first program we had in this particular year had me singing a solo line for Purple Mountain's Majesty. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:03.519 But the song went off and everybody had their line. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:12.799 Amber waves of grain hit, and I froze, and I sang for amber waves of grain a second time. 00:06:13.919 --> 00:06:16.479 She never asked me to sing again, folks. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:20.799 You ever been voluntarily? 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:26.239 It feels like Job, a servant of God, is getting a backslap to the face. 00:06:27.119 --> 00:06:29.919 Like he says to Satan, have you considered Job? 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.679 And Satan says, Yeah, you've made his life easy. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:35.519 You've hedged him in. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:42.399 And in chapter one, verse eight, it says, before verse eight, it says he lost all of his livestock. 00:06:42.479 --> 00:06:50.879 You heard about the boils in chapter two, he lost all of his livestock, he lost all of his workforce, and he lost all of his children, what seems like ours. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:55.519 And if you lost just your job, you would say, that's a hard day. 00:06:55.679 --> 00:07:01.439 If you are an employer and you lost all your employees in one day, you'd say, that is the worst day. 00:07:01.679 --> 00:07:09.279 If you lost all of your children in one day, you'd say, What is going on with my life? 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:11.519 Why am I so afflicted? 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:16.639 And then it moves on to chapter two, and it says, that's not enough. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:20.079 So he gets skin boils from foot to crown. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:21.919 Hear this, church. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:24.639 Job was not some super saint. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:28.239 Job was a man like you and me. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:33.359 And what we find out in this instant is pain comes to people unexpectedly. 00:07:33.599 --> 00:07:36.799 Job didn't know about the challenge from Satan. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:39.199 He didn't know God permitted a test. 00:07:39.359 --> 00:07:42.639 He didn't know of any idea why this would take place. 00:07:42.799 --> 00:07:49.679 From his perspective, this is the worst week there's ever been in the history of mankind. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:55.439 I um went to Delaware last week to officiate my nephew's wedding.

00:07:55.679 --> 00:08:00.319 And um, it was project time with dad, which is fine. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:04.639 My dad, he'll have metal saved up, and we'll go to the scrapyard. 00:08:04.719 --> 00:08:08.319 He'll have wood to be chopped, he'll have, and that was all fine. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.519 Went to the wedding, and um, it was sweet. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:29.759 Wedding went fine, you know, got married, the kiss, everything's perfect, and we go in, and there's this first dance, and I'm kind of listening, watching, I'll you know, look over at the dance, and all of a sudden, in the midst of the song, this song comes on called Then. 00:08:30.239 --> 00:08:38.560 Maybe you know it's by Brad Paisley, and these words hit, Now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:48.560 When your hair is turning gray, what I can see is how I how am I ever gonna love you more? 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:56.720 And I look over at Catch My Dad at this other table, and he's just weeping, just bawling. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:02.160 And I thought, when I heard gray in that song, I thought about my mom before she passed. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:12.879 My mom had this grayish, whitish hair that there was a time where she'd dye it forever, and it just got, you know, this pretty white or pretty silver, whatever you want to call it. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.320 And I looked at dad and he's just weeping. 00:09:17.680 --> 00:09:24.720 I saw a cousin go over and I saw my sister, and this is what I know from my dad this year. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:29.600 My dad didn't know in January that he was going to catch on fire. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:34.800 If you're visiting today, my dad spent six weeks in a burn unit. 00:09:35.280 --> 00:09:42.320 He didn't know when he came home from that fire after a few short weeks, my mom would have a heart attack and pass. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:47.120 My dad had no idea of those things. 00:09:47.280 --> 00:09:51.519 And I think about that, and that's me and my life, and it's been hard. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:57.600 There's sweet families in here, and you've lost somebody, and it hurts. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:03.280 And you've gone through a hardship, and your heart is burdened. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:06.639 And there's some people in here you've lost a job and it hurts. 00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:10.080 And you're walking through tension right now, and it hurts. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:13.519 As I was leaving, I grabbed a hold of my sister. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:22.560 We didn't even talk about my mom, and we just hugged, and she wouldn't let go, and she just wept because it hurts. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:33.200 And for you, somebody here has been given a health diagnosis, and you're saying, Why, God, this trouble. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:41.360 And there's people I know in this season at this church that have gotten a diagnosis, and you're saying, God, this hurts. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:48.639 And I want to tell

you that I'm sorry with you, and I'm heartbroken with you. 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:54.639 But we've learned this that pain comes unexpectedly. 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:56.639 Why, Pastor? 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.879 Unexpected does not mean uncontrolled. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:07.440 Pain may surprise you, but pain has never surprised the God who authors pain. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:09.120 Unexpected. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:10.000 Why? 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:14.160 It's unexpected because unexpected reveals control. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:21.840 To believe that you and I have any semblance of control in this life is a huge mirage. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.759 It's false. 00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:29.280 You say this, but when I have control, Pastor, I feel comfortable. 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:30.639 I need control. 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:32.160 Don't you understand? 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.560 That puts me in my comfort zone. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:35.840 And here's how it would work. 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:41.840 If we knew a hardship was coming Tuesday, we'd take all a Monday and plan for the hardship, wouldn't we? 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.600 We'd cancel appointments. 00:11:44.160 --> 00:11:47.519 We'd be on the phone with our insurance agents before noon today. 00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:48.960 Hardship is coming. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.240 We need a plan. 00:11:53.040 --> 00:11:56.399 But unexpected pain makes you face something. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.960 It makes you come face to face with this. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:01.680 What matters most to you? 00:12:03.040 --> 00:12:04.800 Tribulation, hear me. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:05.680 This is hard. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.519 It's aim to hurt. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:10.560 It's aim for pain. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:15.360 God had this open conversation of how he would test his good man. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:19.519 So you say, Pastor, I'm a, yes, you are. 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:23.440 There is good, and we're bad. 00:12:23.680 --> 00:12:28.639 And God says, there's going to be tests, there's going to be trial for everyone. 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:29.040 Why? 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:31.680 Romans 5, 3 and 4 says it this way. 00:12:31.920 --> 00:12:34.720 It encourages believers, it's a hard verse. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.639 I don't even like to really say it. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:39.360 Rejoice in sufferings. 00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:43.840 Why would I say, praise the Lord? 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:46.639 I'm going through hard things. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:49.680 Well, Paul goes on to tell us this is why. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:55.440 He says it produces endurance, it produces character, it produces hope. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.360 Job was chosen. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.960 We saw there in chapter 2, verse 4, it says, skin for skin. 00:13:01.040 --> 00:13:02.800 He was chosen for this affliction. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:09.759 And I want to tell you today, like it or not, you that are

troubled, you've been chosen. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.280 Look at the chosen man of trial. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.600 I want you to see more about Job. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.960 Letter B. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.800 Look down at verses 9 and 10. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:23.120 Letter B is faith is revealed unmistakably. 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:31.680 Job's wife asked what seems to be a fair question. 00:13:32.160 --> 00:13:36.639 Then his wife said to him, Do you still hold fast to your integrity? 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.879 Curse God and die. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:44.800 But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. 00:13:45.040 --> 00:13:47.759 Shall we indeed accept good from God? 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:50.560 And shall we not accept adversity? 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:54.000 And all this Job did not sin with his lips. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:14:01.040 Job in chapter 1, verse 20 through 22, we see he tears his mantle, which is a picture of suffering. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:06.879 And he says, This, Naked came I into this world, naked will I leave, blessed be the name of the Lord. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.480 And he worships God. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:17.440 And so he says, How can I receive blessings from the same hand and not expect pain? 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:22.160 You don't get to choose when hardship is coming, church. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.160 But when hardship comes, it will reveal what's in you. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:35.280 God permitted a test that seemingly Job had no idea was coming, would never maybe even understand as you go through the chapter. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:44.879 And Job, from what he says, accepts the terms that his existence is in God's hand, it's in God's design, and it was never his own. 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:49.759 And the problem of control is when you say, This is mine. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:56.320 This is all about what I will do, what I can do, and the plan that I will make to get out of this test. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:00.240 But Job accepted the terms. 00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:12.240 When we have the blessed, and I say that, and it's hard for me to say, when we have the blessed opportunity to be tested, we have the opportunity to both weep and to worship. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:15.440 We have the opportunity to grieve and give glory. 00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:19.040 We have the opportunity to hurt, but still hope. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:23.519 We have the opportunity to break down and to bow down. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.800 Look at the New Testament. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.120 There's people riddled throughout. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.480 There's a man full of leprosy. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:32.720 You know what it says the man full of leprosy did? 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:38.560 And Mark it says he saw Jesus, he saw the answer, and he came and he fell down before him. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.080 He knelt before him. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.280 There's a man named Jarius whose daughter was dying. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.800 He heard of what Jesus could do. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:50.000 And he thought to himself, if I can just get to this man, hear the answer during a test. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:56.080 If I can just get to this man, and he fell down before that man, and what did it do? 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.800 He fell down in worship, showing his faith. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.160 You think about those two? 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.879 What about the demoniac of the Gadderenes? 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.800 You think you got trouble? 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:09.840 This man's name was Legion for the 2,000 demons that were inside of him. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.200 You think you've done wrong? 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.680 I bet this man did everything wrong. 00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:31.360 And it says that this man who had these demons, I struggle trying to really understand this because these demons would try to take him over, but there was enough humanity in him that the man that was still there ran with his one last worship. 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:36.960 He ran with all that he had and he fell down a lifetime of brokenness. 00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:42.960 And he fell down and he managed to worship in the middle of all of his mess. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.800 Here's what we know about all of them. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.879 Hear me, church. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:52.560 They all stopped trying to stand on their own. 00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:56.240 Somebody here today needs to hear. 00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:59.120 They all stopped trying to stand on your own. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.800 Do you know what worship means? 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.680 It means to abscribe worth. 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:06.319 And it's a posture of your heart. 00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:10.240 I say posture, it means that the heart is knelt down. 00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:16.960 Today I hope you'll join me because the troubles that I walk through, I can't carry. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:28.159 I want God to see me on my knees today because my faith, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:31.359 He's everything that I need, and he's everything that you need. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:37.919 And when you come face to face with the world's worse, what is your faith going to say? 00:17:39.199 --> 00:17:41.279 Look at the second point this morning. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.839 Turn to Job 2, verses 11 through 13. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.759 It takes a shift into these friends. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:54.799 Harshness is costly. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:07.039 The word harshness is the Hebrew word Zoram, and it means jarring like a loud sound or a light, something that jars you that hurts. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.319 Harshness. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:11.839 Look at verse 11 through 13. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:18.319 Now, when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that came

upon him, each one came from his own place. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:28.559 Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Namathite, for they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him to comfort him. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:34.799 And when they raised their eyes from afar and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept. 00:18:35.199 --> 00:18:38.959 And each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.119 So they sat down with him on the ground. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:52.000 Seven days they sat with him, and seven nights, and not one of them spoke a word to him during that time, for they saw that his grief was great. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:56.000 So letter A is this their presence was comforting. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:03.519 These men, friends of Job, came with the intention that they were going to comfort their friend. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.839 It was good and noble intentions. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:13.679 They came to be with him, they came to share in his sorrow, to mourn with him, and bring relief to comfort their friend. 00:19:13.919 --> 00:19:25.519 And it says that when they seen them, when they saw Job and Saw was going on outwardly, they tore, they wept, they fell to their knees, they mourned, all of it was right. 00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:31.439 Seven days, these friends were exactly what Job needed. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:34.879 They showed up, they sat down, and they shut up. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:42.319 They cried with him, and honestly, as friends, they were crushing it. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:46.319 They were doing exactly what they needed to do. 00:19:47.199 --> 00:19:50.720 And then they started talking. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:55.359 Some of us have been better friends before we ever opened our mouths. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:01.839 Their actions should teach us that they cared, even though they misunderstood. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.000 They misunderstood their friend. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:07.359 Verse 12, it says that they wept. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:14.720 The whole picture of grief, they were there for Job, and they were really physically distraught at his troubles. 00:20:14.959 --> 00:20:21.119 I'm painting all this because I don't want you to get all off on his friends as they're terrible because of what happens. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:24.079 But we should learn this lesson, church family. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:30.000 The first action that you've heard many people say is, I just don't have the words. 00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:33.599 And it's absolutely correct. 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:39.039 There are no words that you're gonna orate to somebody who has lost a loved one. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:42.000 There are no words when somebody has lost their job. 00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:44.159 Words are not gonna write it. 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:48.720 But sometimes they just need your shoulder right next to theirs. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:53.119 And if you will be there for them, they're not asking you. 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:55.919 There's no magic that's coming out of your mouth. 00:20:56.159 --> 00:21:00.399 If we had that, we would bottle it up and we would sell it for millions. 00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:02.159 We don't. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:08.639 But being there, their silence was not awkward, it was ministry. 00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:15.839 They couldn't fix it, they couldn't restore what was broke, they couldn't take the pain away. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:21.599 And for seven days, Job's friends were exactly what he needed. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:25.039 And so when you're wondering, how do I help somebody? 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.959 Just show up. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:30.079 Just tell them I'm here. 00:21:31.199 --> 00:21:31.839 Be there. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:34.720 You don't have to fix it with words. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.159 They were what he needed. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.359 But let her be. 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.759 It didn't stop there. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.879 We have a lot of chapters in the book of Job. 00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:49.519 Let her be as their presumption was condemning and cruel. 00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:59.919 After those seven good days, we have thirty-five chapters of bad days. 00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:03.199 I don't know of any other book in the Bible that's like this. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:10.720 35 back and forth chapters of Job's friends and his and the presumptions. 00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:16.559 They were their best when they were present, and they were their worst when they presumed on Job's life. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:19.359 Here's the danger of presumption today, church. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:23.599 The danger of presumption is we can almost completely be convinced that. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:27.519 That we are right about something without understanding it. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:32.799 There's a difference in discernment and presumption. 00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:35.199 Discernment seeks truth. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.720 Presumption assumes, I already know. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:48.559 See, we see things in moments while God across the canvas of time is painting a big picture. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:54.399 And what we might get a glimpse of for a moment doesn't tell us all of God's sovereign hand. 00:22:55.039 --> 00:23:02.879 And so these men, judged by appearance and by every appearance, they thought they were dead on. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:06.399 Everything they saw, they thought this is exactly how it is. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.519 I know it. 00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:13.439 And they go on for 35 chapters telling all about what they know and what they see. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:19.279 John 7, 24, church, tells us don't judge things by appearances. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:23.039 The fruit of the Spirit is not harshness. 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:28.879 It's gentleness, goodness, kindness. 00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:30.559 Soft.

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:34.319 Be a shoulder next to somebody. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:38.000 It's not presumption. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:41.119 Let's look at what they actually say. 00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:44.959 So turn to Job chapter 4. 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:46.399 There's a little bit of turning. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:50.319 We won't go to the lengths of all of these, but I've selected a few. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:52.879 Job 4, 7, and 8. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:58.879 Remember now, Job, whoever perished being innocent. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:01.839 But where were the upright ever cut off? 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:07.919 Even as I have seen those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:13.599 He says, basically, you must have done something wrong. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.839 As I see it, you must have done something wrong. 00:24:15.919 --> 00:24:17.359 Look at chapter 8. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.720 Verses 3 through 6. 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:26.959 Bildad says, Does God subvert judge? 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.919 Or does the Almighty pervert justice? 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:34.559 If your sons have sinned against him, he has cast them away for their sin. 00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:46.079 If you would earnestly seek God, Job, and make your supplication to the Almighty, if you were pure and upright, surely now he would awake for you and prosper your rightful dwelling place. 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:50.240 He says, Your children suffered because they are sinners. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:54.000 Look at chapter 11. 00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:59.839 It goes from bad to really bad. 00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:03.839 Verse 5 and 6. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:14.079 But oh that God would speak and open his lips against you, that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, for they would double your prudence. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:19.119 Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:24.079 He says, You actually deserve worse judgment than you've got. 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:26.000 What a friend. 00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:28.720 And you can go into chapter 22, we won't for time. 00:25:28.959 --> 00:25:31.279 Verses 5 through 10 in chapter 22. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:35.759 He lists out these are the sins that I see of you, Job. 00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.679 It's tough. 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:39.519 Tough to hear all that. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:45.679 Here's what happens: pain can make a person interpret everything through the wound. 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:56.319 Job's friend had decided that they understood everything that was going on, and they had understood some things that God never revealed to them. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.559 Do you ever do that? 00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:01.119 I do. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.839 And you know what I've had to learn in life? 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:05.759 I've got to rewind. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.919 I've got to back up and punt. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.679 I've got to be willing to change. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:12.399 I've got to be willing to be flexible. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:15.279 Pride says, it is what it is. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:18.079 I hate this phrase. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:20.240 I don't use this phrase. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:22.959 Because it is not what it is. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:27.439 As a Christian, you're called to something called sanctification. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:31.199 And it's a lifelong process of change and growth. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:38.000 So to say, I'm geared this way, I'm keyed this way, you can't teach an old dog new tricks, that's not Christian. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:41.039 That's a thought process. 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:44.319 A Christian is not someone who has arrived. 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:47.279 We're in a process of change. 00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:49.439 Well, what should we do, Pastor? 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:51.199 Help me make it practical. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:54.720 Here's a few things that I believe you should do. 00:26:55.199 --> 00:26:57.839 Ask before you assume the worse. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.959 Ask. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.679 Listen before you label someone. 00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:08.559 Compassion comes before any criticism. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:12.399 And give grace where you would want grace. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:17.839 And before you send that text, this isn't in the same line. 00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:19.759 Read it again. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.000 Read it one more time. 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:27.599 Job's friends comforted him, and then they crushed him. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.919 Point three this morning. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:34.639 Healing that is compassionate. 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:39.759 Look to the end of the story, Job 42. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.679 Verse 7 and 8. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:53.199 We have this back and forth. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:55.519 The Lord is revealing to Job who he is. 00:27:55.679 --> 00:27:57.039 Job is questioning God. 00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:58.559 Job is questioning his friends. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:00.879 His friends are questioning him, and then we land. 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.480 Verse 7 and 8. 00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:22.240 And so it was after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:43.599 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering, and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken to me what is right as my servant Job has. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.959 Letter A, we see this that God rebukes Job's friends. 00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:55.599 Job, before that, if you go the first part of the chapter, you

see that Job repents. 00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:57.519 That seems interesting. 00:28:57.679 --> 00:28:59.199 Verse 6, you can see it. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:02.799 Therefore I bore myself and I repent in dust and ashes. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:10.720 Job repents not because he finally discovered some secret sin that led to all of this struggle. 00:29:10.959 --> 00:29:16.319 Job doesn't repent because his friends were right for 35 chapters and he was wrong. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:28.639 Job repents because as he listens to God's words and gets closer to God and encounters the greatness of God, Job begins to see himself for exactly what and who he was. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:33.759 And as he saw God in the presence of God, he began to see himself different. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:35.119 And so he repents. 00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:55.039 And I want to offer today, church family, are you getting in the presence of God? 00:29:55.199 --> 00:30:05.679 The key to revival in 2 Chronicles says, if my people will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, then will I forgive their sin and heal their land. 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:10.240 But none of it happens until the wickedness of people is able to be pulled out. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:15.919 Are we willing to look at the mirror of self because we're getting into the presence of God? 00:30:16.159 --> 00:30:18.240 And what happens, Job repents. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:31.039 Job says, Oh God, now that you have talked to me of the creation and the control and the strength that you are, I see myself a what I really am. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:35.119 I'm not better than these friends. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.199 I'm not better than anything. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:39.359 He says, God, I repent. 00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:49.919 Job, who God offered up because of his righteousness, because he was a good man, he says, put him to the test. 00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:57.199 And then that Job, seeing the sovereign hand of a God of all creation, repents. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:02.480 Then God turns from a repentant, good Job. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:08.480 And if you could feel the turn, and he says, Eliphaz. 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:15.439 I'd like to see who was in the room that day. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:20.240 He turns from a repentant servant, and what a moment. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:25.119 He says, but you, my wrath, is kindled against. 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.240 Hear me. 00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:30.480 God says, you boys have hit my last nerve. 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:33.119 Anybody had their last nerve hit by a parent? 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.319 How about your parents? 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:39.199 Did you ever make your mom or dad say, now you're really making me angry? 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.359 And I said that to my mom. 00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:43.199 I was afraid of what was coming next. 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:45.279 Was it a shoe, a spoon? 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.399 What was coming? 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:48.959 Now you're really starting to make me mad. 00:31:49.199 --> 00:31:51.039 And that's what it feels like. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:56.480 He says this to these men, you have not spoken of me. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.399 This is your thoughts. 00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:05.039 This is your theories, your speculations, this is your accusations and your condemnations. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:12.240 He says, Go offer a burnt offering in the sight of Job and ask him to pray for you or else. 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:20.559 He says, if you don't get this done, then my anger, my wrath is going to deal with you. 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:29.359 Now I don't know who you've had mad at you that's ever made you frighten, but the God of all creation looks at you and says, I'm going to deal with you. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:36.079 These men knew who the Lord was. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:42.480 I believe these men had godly thoughts. 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:45.599 I believe these men went with godly intentions. 00:32:47.679 --> 00:32:54.559 I believe these men spoke well and orated their thoughts based on what they thought religion was and right was. 00:32:55.519 --> 00:33:02.000 And they thought the prescription of pain that they were giving to their friend was firm and he needed to hear a little firmness. 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:07.199 But it would help him in the long run if they just, if he could just get it. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:10.000 If you could see the error of your ways. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:15.759 And so when God turns, what a reversal of heart. 00:33:17.199 --> 00:33:18.159 Letter B. 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:21.439 God restores Job. 00:33:22.639 --> 00:33:23.919 Look down at verse 10. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.759 We'll look at 12 and 16. 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:35.679 And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:39.519 Indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.959 Go down to verse 12. 00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:49.759 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning, for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, and all these other things. 00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:50.959 Verse 16. 00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:57.199 After this, Job lived 140 years, saw his children, grandchildren, and generation. 00:33:57.679 --> 00:34:01.439 So Job died, old and full of days. 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:06.159 We see the restoration of Job, but I want to go back and I just want you to see what got there. 00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:10.320 So this was, to me, kind of humorous. 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:16.559 God turns to Eliphaz, he turns to these men, and he tells them what they need to do. 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:20.960 And he says, go to Job, he'll pray for you. 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:23.519 And they do what he says. 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:25.199 I guess so. 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.480 Right? 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:28.800 They do what he says.

00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:35.200 The word there is Palau and it's intervening. 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:37.280 When Job intervened. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.480 I love this, that God was confident. 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:46.079 He didn't say, you're going to go to Job and maybe he'll pray for you. 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:52.079 He says, go to Job, my good servant, and he's going to pray for you. 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:56.000 God was confident that Job would pray for his friends. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:35:08.559 Job is such the tender man that God says, He'll forgive, he's humble, he's tender, and God says, Job will pray. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:11.920 I wonder if Job's friends shared that confidence. 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:18.480 God just talked about how angry he was. 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:23.680 And they have spent 35 chapters talking to Job. 00:35:24.160 --> 00:35:26.960 I wonder if they shared the same confidence. 00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:29.360 But this is what the scripture says. 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.480 This is important. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:38.320 It says, the Lord turned his captivity when he prayed for his friends. 00:35:42.160 --> 00:35:50.800 It says they went to him and the Lord, verse 10, and the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:52.640 I don't want you to miss that. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:36:05.920 When he prayed for his friends, not because he was innocent of the causes, not because God loved Job and intended to do that. 00:36:06.240 --> 00:36:10.800 He restored Job when he prayed for his friends. 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:22.640 Sometimes being a godly friend means praying for a person that might have hurt, that might have hurt you, that you might have struggled with. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:25.200 Consider Jesus' friends. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:34.480 Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, hours till crucifixion, it says he prayed great drops, sweat drops of blood. 00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:41.600 And he came back to where his friends were and he said, Couldn't you have prayed for me? 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:45.440 He said, I just asked you to pray for me. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:56.079 In these same hours, Judas, his friend, betrays him with a kiss, sells him out. 00:36:57.200 --> 00:37:01.680 Peter denies, Peter, not listen, the inside circle. 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:08.400 One of the ones that seems to have been closer to him, says three times, I'm a Christian, Christ follower? 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:10.079 I don't know what you're talking about. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:15.200 Jesus restored Peter. 00:37:16.160 --> 00:37:21.200 Jesus was beaten and mocked and berated and spat on on a cross. 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:23.840 And listen to me, this is what happened from the cross. 00:37:24.160 --> 00:37:26.240 This wasn't just about disciples. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:30.160 Jesus looked down on a cross, one of the seven statements of the cross. 00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:35.440 He says, Father, forgive them. 00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:38.559 They don't know what they're doing. 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:41.200 They know not what they're doing. 00:37:42.720 --> 00:37:48.160 Giving us a picture of this ever undying hope. 00:37:52.640 --> 00:37:56.320 And church, he forgave you and he forgave me. 00:37:56.720 --> 00:38:02.400 And Romans 8, 1 says, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:08.320 And Romans 8.39 says, nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. 00:38:08.640 --> 00:38:10.640 He turned our captivity. 00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:17.600 That phrase turned his captivity is a Hebrew idiom and it means reversed his desperation. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:34.960 But the key to unlocking it says, when Job prayed for his friends, I have to believe that Job had to swallow some type of pride from what he heard from his friends. 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:38.640 They had to swallow their pride, and they did quickly to come to Job. 00:38:39.120 --> 00:38:42.160 And Job had to pray for his friends. 00:38:42.240 --> 00:38:48.160 Now I want to ask you, are you holding on to something that God has called you to lay down today? 00:38:49.120 --> 00:38:51.920 Church family pride can become a prison. 00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:56.720 Pride says, hold on, and grace says, let go. 00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:08.000 If you came in today and you honestly say, I don't have anything I've got to let go, I will honestly say to you, I don't think you're looking deeply. 00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:15.120 In the presence of God, the upright man Job says, I repent. 00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:26.160 When you get in the presence of a holy God, he has a way of showing what we're still holding. 00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:34.720 Don't miss this morning that hardship, if you're going through it, it's an opportunity to worship. 00:39:34.960 --> 00:39:38.640 And it's an opportunity that we won't get one day in heaven. 00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:40.800 We don't have hardship there. 00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:46.880 And so here on earth, Job was a good man, and hardship like gold purifies in the fire. 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:49.360 That's what happens in Job's life. 00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:53.039 You see, how full circle is this story of friendship? 00:39:53.200 --> 00:40:00.800 When Job's friends came for him, and then Job intervened for them. 00:40:02.640 --> 00:40:04.079 Full circle. 00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:11.600 I don't know if there's something you gotta lay down this morning, but I want to close and just share this old story. 00:40:11.760 --> 00:40:25.039 There was an old story of this monkey trap, and people would put inside of this trap fruit or nuts that a monkey would want to get his hand in and grab a hold of. 00:40:25.120 --> 00:40:40.720 And the monkey would reach in, grab a hold of whatever it was, and be desirous of this thing on the inside, but once it closed its hand around it, the monkey couldn't pull his hand back through the opening. 00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:48.559 And here's the crazy thing: it was not trapped by the cage at all. 00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:51.039 Not by the container. 00:40:51.600 --> 00:40:54.800 The monkey was trapped by his own grip. 00:40:56.240 --> 00:41:04.079 And if he would just open up his hand and let go, he would be able to be freed. 00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:09.280 And I wonder if that's anybody today holding on to something. 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:13.120 And I want to invite you to bow your heads and close your eyes this morning.