Life Is an Enigma Job /27/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles

Life Is an Enigma Introduction Life is an enigma. You never know what you’re going to get. We can’t explain why some things happen and why other things don’t happen. Introduction Life is an enigma. You never know what you’re going to get. We can’t explain why some things happen and why other things don’t happen.

Life Is an Enigma But this has been the story of humanity since the beginning.  Adam and Eve  Abel  Noah But this has been the story of humanity since the beginning.  Adam and Eve  Abel  Noah

Life Is an Enigma  Joseph  Gideon  Job 8 …he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8, NIV)  Joseph  Gideon  Job 8 …he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma If anyone deserved a good, pain-free life, it was Job. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 1:9, NIV) If anyone deserved a good, pain-free life, it was Job. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 1:9, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2:10, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” (Job 1:6-7, NIV) 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” (Job 1:6-7, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. (Job 1:8-9, NIV) 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. (Job 1:8-9, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 1:10-11, NIV) 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 1:10-11, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:12, NIV) 12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:12, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma This test happened because Job feared God and shunned evil. There was a lot going on about which they knew nothing. This tells us that God puts a heavenly frame around our circumstances. God is there! This test happened because Job feared God and shunned evil. There was a lot going on about which they knew nothing. This tells us that God puts a heavenly frame around our circumstances. God is there!

Life Is an Enigma You ask yourself over and over again, why? We want to think that our faith and holiness protect us from evil. Ultimately they do because God is with us. You ask yourself over and over again, why? We want to think that our faith and holiness protect us from evil. Ultimately they do because God is with us.

Life Is an Enigma  Difficult times do come. The Bible teaches us that difficult times come for two reasons: 1. We suffer the consequences of our bad choices. 2. God wants our faith to grow.  Difficult times do come. The Bible teaches us that difficult times come for two reasons: 1. We suffer the consequences of our bad choices. 2. God wants our faith to grow.

Life Is an Enigma  Many Christians don’t understand how God sees things.  We wonder, how can good come from suffering?  We have to be tested.  Many Christians don’t understand how God sees things.  We wonder, how can good come from suffering?  We have to be tested.

Life Is an Enigma 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (1 Peter 1:6, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma  Who would be content while suffering?  What was it about them? –They knew God was sovereign. –They struggled to let God have control of their situations.  Who would be content while suffering?  What was it about them? –They knew God was sovereign. –They struggled to let God have control of their situations.

Life Is an Enigma 13 And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1:2-3, NIV) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1:2-3, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma –The testing of faith drives you to deeper communion and greater trust in Jesus. –Then you’ll be complete, not lacking anything. –The testing of faith drives you to deeper communion and greater trust in Jesus. –Then you’ll be complete, not lacking anything.

Life Is an Enigma 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2, NIV) 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4,NIV) 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4,NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 1.Situations have boundaries (5:1). 2.Situations are sequential (5:3-4). 1.Situations have boundaries (5:1). 2.Situations are sequential (5:3-4).

Life Is an Enigma  We should never factor God out of situations.  Suffering has a purpose—but you have to make it all the way to the end.  We should never factor God out of situations.  Suffering has a purpose—but you have to make it all the way to the end.

Life Is an Enigma –Suffering produces perseverance. –Perseverance produces character. –Character produces hope. –Suffering produces perseverance. –Perseverance produces character. –Character produces hope.

Life Is an Enigma 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 3. Situations are ultimately resolved by God. 5 And hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5, NIV).  We will not be disappointed that we suffered and went through it all… 3. Situations are ultimately resolved by God. 5 And hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5, NIV).  We will not be disappointed that we suffered and went through it all…

Life Is an Enigma  We will not be disappointed that we suffered and went through it all… 5 because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5, NIV)  We will not be disappointed that we suffered and went through it all… 5 because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma Conclusion 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV) Conclusion 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:35-36, NIV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:35-36, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (Romans 8:37-38, NIV) 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (Romans 8:37-38, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:11, NIV)

Life Is an Enigma Job /27/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles