and you think YOU have problems (part 1)

My pastor began a 4 part sermon series on Job yesterday. I highly recommend taking a listen:

Mark Dever - Losing Everything: Job's Trials – Job:1 & 2
http://www.chbcaudio.org/2008/06/22/jobs-trials-job-1-2/

(if you want, I can send you a sermon summary)

Some notes I took during the sermon:

Does prosperity spurn you to honor God more? Any prosperity should lead us to God; not away. Be careful with prosperity.

The manner in which Satan speaks with God is very disrespectful. He is insolent, but is in no way in charge of the conversation. God begins and ends every conversation with Satan. God is sovereign.

Being cynical is the opposite of faith. 'To the cynical, believing the obvious is always naive.' Imagined superiority.

Satan see's God's blessing for Job as bribes.

God had to give Satan permission to 'try' Job. He is sovereign.

God is sufficient - Job's trials are so great to show us our's do not compare. Job is a picture of great faithfulness.

Satan is unable to destroy God, so he wants to/thinks he can destroy what God loves.

We are to disprove Satan's slander against God - God intends to use us for this purpose, with His power and Spirit.

Job's faith doesn't relieve his agony, it causes it. It is hard to believe that his Father would allow this, and yet he doesn't lose faith. God is using trials for good.

Job's response to trials: worship God, said 'Lord giveth and Lord taketh away.'

Job's awareness of God's sovereignty is shown through his faithfulness.

Trust like this does not come by nature; but by Grace. Only God can give this to you.

Self-pity is pride in response to trial (I am paraphrasing Mark who was quoting John Piper). On the flip side, boastfulness is pride in response to prosperity.

God had His own reasons to allow trials in Job's life; apart from Job's character. This was not to punish Job in any way, but a part of God's greater, plan. To use to His glory.

God knew that Job's faith was so great that he could be pushed to the limit.

(now this really hit me in the sermon) DO YOU TRY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE TO AVOID SUFFERING?

Does it make it easier to think of suffering when in the end, God's purpose is for your good and His glory?

(then I wrote) God is speaking to me, and I am listening.

When Job's wife tells him to curse God (she echos Satan in this), Job denied her response (this is after he was struck with sores all over his body, and was severely disfigured).

When his friends came to visit, they couldn't recognize him. They sat with him, 'sympathy of presence and respect of silence.'

Job's story is a great example spiritual warfare.

Fear of man is a waste of time and insult to God.

Conclude - God is not on trial; we are. Is your faith in God or in circumstances? We should worship regardless of circumstance. Suffering clarifies:

James 1:2-5 (NIV)

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

So so good. This is the rest of the series:

Part 2 will be on Job's Question.

Part 3 will be on Job's Friends.

Part 4 will be on Job's God.

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And of course, the very first devotional I read (by e-mail, this isn't counting Spurgeon... but I should give a link to that, too!) was about 'In Times of Trouble.'

The Life: In Times of Trouble
http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/devotionalforwomen/2008/06/23/in-times-of-trouble-3/comments

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More great links/reads for today:

The Berean: John 11:3-5 – Trust
http://theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/4744/John-11-3-5

Of First Importance: The Sanctifying Influence of Christ's Love
http://firstimportance.org/2008/06/22/the-sanctifying-influence-of-christs-love/

Of First Importance: The Inexhaustible Gospel (C.J. Mahaney)
http://firstimportance.org/2008/06/23/the-inexhaustible-gospel/

The Berean: Matthew 25:1-13 – 'preparedness through vision and foresight.'
http://theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/210/Matthew-25-1-13

Of First Importance: Salvation & Sanctification by Grace
http://firstimportance.org/2008/06/21/salvation-sanctification-by-grace/

C.H. Spurgeon: Mornings and Evenings - June 23, morning
Hosea 7:8 - Ephraim is a cake not turned. http://christianity.com/devotionals/morningandevening/551356/