Sunday, May 31, 2015

Worth The Disappointments

Date: Sunday, May 31, 2015
Chapters: Job 16-19
Message Title: Worth The Disappointments

Hello My Friend,

I've always been the type of person that when disappointment comes I shrug it off and move on, but once in a while all those disappointments come crashing down on me and I find myself asking God why nothing ever goes the way I would like. Let me tell you, sometimes the things that God puts in our lives make no sense at all, and it's easy to want to just throw in the towel and give up the fight. However, during that time, God is really doing something wonderful in our lives, we might be hanging by a thread, but He's doing something great, and all those disappointments will be worth it when He reveals what He really wants for us. “Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” - 2 Timothy 2:10-13.

Job is in such despair, he lays there all bound up like a mummy in pain, and still grieving over the loss of his children. His wife, grieving also, has given up, and the three people that decide to hang around him do nothing, but criticize him and make him feel worse than he is. He's about had it, and wonders if God is even near. “I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.” - Job 16:2-6,20-22.

The word asswage means to ease the pain, what Job is saying is that friends are supposed to be there to help ease the pain, not bring more. Even the words that he had to speak did not ease his comfort because he had to defend himself of something he did not do.“Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.” - Job 17:7-11,15,16.

It's easy to lose hope when it seems like we have no relief from the pain no matter which way we turn. That is when we need to turn our hope on God, we may not be able to see Him sometimes, but hope in Him will bring us comfort. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:24-28.

Sometimes no matter how man times we speak or try to convince people that they are incorrect, there is still no relief. Bildad speaks again, convinced that Job is sinning still, and until he stops and repents he will not see God. “How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak. Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight? He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.” - Job 18:2-6,21.

There are some people in this world that appear that they know more about God, and that He somehow reveals to them their sin to expose it to others. That's not how God works, yeah, if we sin in secret, God will be sure to expose it in public, and God does give us the ability to give righteous judgment when it is needed. However, God in no way puts it in our heads to judge a person as if we are sinless, none of us are without sin, and to accuse by assumption will do nothing, but get our sins exposed. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” - 1 Corinthians 11:26-31.

Job, defends himself once again, reminding them all that he has a Redeemer, and will be justified. “If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” - Job 19:6-9,21-26.

Job knew who his Redeemer was and that through Him he would be saved from any judgment. We are not redeemed by any righteousness of our own, but through the righteousness of Christ. Salvation or eternal life is the gift of God through His mercy and grace in our acceptance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It cannot be earned, bought, or paid for on our own. We need a Redeemer to be saved from death and hell, and that Redeemer is only Jesus Christ. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” - Romans 3:10,11,23-25.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem me, I know I am not saved by anything that I do of my own, but by my faith and trust in what He did for me. Because I am redeemed I know that You are always with me, but sometimes I feel like You are no where to be found. I catch myself trying to handle my troubles on my own instead of asking You for help and I know that is why I lose all hope that things will change for me. Lord, give me Your power to see past my troubles and look to You, as I do my part, by faith, I know You will do Your part and I will see the amazing blessings that You have waiting for me as I endure the pain with You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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