1. L UKE 10:38-42 “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things” (v. 41) Not a bad person Not immoral Not lacking in love for the Lord Bothered (NASV) – many things Distracted – thus struggled We, like Martha, struggle with many things!

2. Like to think our faith doesn’t change

3. Better picture would be faith increasing

4. Like to think our faith doesn’t change Better picture would be faith increasing In reality—our faith changes:

5. “F AITH ” H AS V ARIABLES Weak (Romans 4:19) Strong (Romans 4:20; Acts 16:5) Little (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8) Great (Matthew 8:10) Weak (Romans 4:19) Strong (Romans 4:20; Acts 16:5) Little (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8) Great (Matthew 8:10) Means: Could have faith – not always be same!

6. O UR F AITH M EETS M ANY C HALLENGES T HAT C REATE A S TRUGGLE Bombarded with attacks on Christianity Our means of making a living – taken away A child tragically dies Family member leaves the Lord Doctor informs us we have terminal illness Unexplainable suffering

8. Job 19:25 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;” J OB S UFFERED U NEXPLAINED S UFFERING Y ET H ELD T O H IS F AITH Miss the point if we think Job did not struggle with his faith His faith was challenged He struggled to understand what was going on Difficult section – but main point stands out clear

9. I. The Challenge

10. A. Job’s Challenge –1. Job suffered extreme tragedy

11. J OB ’ S S UFFERING Lost his property (1:14-17) Lost his children (1:18-19) Personal Grief (1:20-22) Lost his health (2:1-9) Wife’s faith faltered (2:10)

12. Job’s Health Problems Boils (2:7) Itching (2:8) Drastic change in appearance (2:12) Difficulty eating (3:24) Worms & running sores (7:5) Nightmares (7:14) Shortness of breath (9:18) Darkness of eyes (16:16) Odorous breath (19:17) Loss of weight (19:20) Pain (30:17) Blackened skin / peeling (30:30) Fever (30:30) Lasted for Months (7:2; 29:2)

13. J OB ’ S S UFFERING Lost his property (1:14-17) Lost his children (1:18-19) Personal Grief (1:20-22) Lost his health (2:1-9) Wife’s faith faltered (2:10) Friend’s accused him of wrong (4-ff)

14. A. Job’s Challenge –1. Job suffered extreme tragedy –2. Job had no clue as to WHY

15. “We cannot understand the meaning of many trials; God does not explain them. To explain them would be to destroy its objective, which is that of calling forth simple faith and implicit obedience. If we knew why the Lord sent us this or that trial, it would thereby cease to be a trial either of faith or of patience” (Alfred Edersheim, Explore The Book. Vol. 3, p. 24).

16. “The fact is, Job was not meant to know the explanation of his trial; and on this simple fact everything hangs. If Job had known there would have been no place for faith ; and the man could never have come forth as gold purified in the fire. We are meant to understand that there are some things which God cannot reveal to us at present, inasmuch as the very revealing of them would thwart His purposes for our good. The Scriptures are as wise in their reservations as in their revelations. Enough is revealed to make faith intelligent. Enough is reserved to give faith scope for development. In this, we repeat, lies the message of the book ‑ that there was an explanation, but that Job did not know it and was not meant to know it” (J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore The Book, Vol. 3, p. 27).

17. A. Job’s Challenge –1. Job suffered extreme tragedy –2. Job had no clue as to WHY –3. Job struggles—lashed out at God 19:7-12 Real Question: Will Job Buckle Under Pressure? (1:9-11)

18. A. Job’s Challenge B. Our Challenge –1. Often suffering—for seemingly no valid reason –2. Before one crisis over—another begins –3. May question—why did God do this or let it happen? –4. Puts our faith to the test—Are we going to continue to hold to our God even though…?

19. I. The Challenge II. The Faith

20. Job’s Faith –1. Wished his words to be written down (19:23,24) Amounts to “ Mark my words …” Time will come when truthfulness of what I have said will be borne out! “Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever!”

21. Job’s Faith –1. Wished his words to be written down (19:23,24) –2. “I know my Redeemer lives” (19:25) “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.”

22. I K NOW M Y R EDEEMER L IVES !!! * Confidence that one would redeem him ** “Redeemer” (go el) – defender, deliverer (common idea is a deliverance from trouble) ***When all is said and done – I trust that God will deliver me from my suffering and do right by me! ****Even in bitterest suffering – held steadfastly to his faith!

23. –1. Was not blind faith —but relied on evidence he has seen in the past (42:5) –2. Job’s faith could look beyond present circumstances (evidence and good are clouded at the moment of crisis) –3. Still had faith—in a time when uncertain about so many things –4. Death grip on one thing; God was God and He would do what was right ! J OB ’ S F AITH

24. Job’s Faith –1. Wished his words to be written down (19:23,24) –2. “I know my Redeemer lives” (19:25) –3. “He shall stand at last on the earth (19:25) Legal term as a witness stands up in court “I know that my vindicator lives and that He will rise last to speak in court” (Revised English)

25. A. Job’s Faith B. Our Faith –1. Important to ground your faith deep before the storm comes (Acts 20:32) –2. Much we don’t know and can’t understand—much less explain –3. Hold firmly to what we know to be right (John 17:17; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 13:5,6)

26. O UR F AITH 1. 1. Faith does not mean we will not struggle with our faith 2.Faith does not mean we will not :  Have questions about God  Deal with uncertainty  Have moments of discouragement 3.Means : reach out of the muck and mire – hold on for dear life to what we know to be right. 4.Means: have a dogged determination

27. I. The Challenge II. The Faith III. The Future

28. A. Job’s Future –1. Declares hope for bodily resurrection ( 19:26,27) –2. Refused to let go of the future! –3. Focused on a better life beyond and yearned for it (19:27) –4. Job’s life got better later—had no reason to think it would

29. A. Our Future –1. Hope is an anchor of the soul ( Hebrews 6:19) –2. Christ endured looking to the future (Hebrews 12:2,3) –3. Tomorrow may be better—have no way of knowing (James 4:15-17) –4. One thing I can know—I shall see God (1 John 3:2)

30. I. The Challenge II. The Faith III. The Future