How to Handle Tough Times: Lessons to Learn from Job 4 th of a Series 1 John 5:3-5 July 17 - AM

How to Handle Tough Times  Job suffered much loss  He never sinned or abandoned God  There are some important lessons we can learn from the powerful example of Job  Here are 8 lessons we should remember

1 – Faith is the Victory  1 John 5:4b  1 John 5:4b - And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Job 19:25-27  Job 19:25-27 – 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

1 – Faith is the Victory  Hebrews 13:6 -  Hebrews 13:6 - So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”  We walk by faith – 2 Corinthians 5:7  We are saved by faith – Ephesians 2:8

2 – Faith Comes by Hearing  Job 42:5a -  Job 42:5a - I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,  Romans 10:17  Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 – Faith Comes by Hearing  John 20:30-31  John 20: And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

2 – Faith Comes by Hearing  Psalm 119:11 -  Psalm 119:11 - Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.  We must learn to hear (listen) to God  Without hearing – there is no victory

3 – Never Accuse God of Wrong  Job 40:8 -  Job 40:8 - Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?  Deuteronomy 32:4  Deuteronomy 32:4 - He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

3 – Never Accuse God of Wrong  Psalm 145:17 -  Psalm 145:17 - The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.  We have no right to accuse the potter of how he chooses to shape the clay

4 – God is in Control  God talks with Job about his suffering  Nothing about – “I love you”  God does not explain “why” this happened  God’s focus in on power and control  Who CREATED all these things?  Do you KNOW the secrets of the universe?  Not Job! Only God knows!

4 – God is in Control  When we are suffering – we ask “Why?”  It is OK to ask  Don’t expect a clear, logical answer  When people are suffering, remind them that God is in control.

5 – All Suffering is not Punitive  Job did not suffer because he was bad, did immoral things, and was being punished  John 9:1-2  John 9: Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

5 – All Suffering is not Punitive  John 9:3  John 9:3 - Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.  Some suffering might serve to punish  Some suffering is the result of the sin of others – the innocent suffer from it  Not all suffering is a form of punishment

6 – We Don’t Know it All  Deuteronomy 29:29  Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.  We don’t know the mind of God  We can’t explain our universe

7 – Problems Will Come  2 Timothy 3:12 -  2 Timothy 3:12 - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  Acts 14:22  Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

7 – Problems Will Come  John 15:20 -  John 15:20 -Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  1 Peter 4:12  1 Peter 4:12 - Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

8 – Never Give Up!  James 1:12 -  James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  Galatians 6:9  Galatians 6:9 - And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

8 – Never Give Up!  1 Corinthians 15:2b -  1 Corinthians 15:2b - if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  Revelation 2:10b  Revelation 2:10b - Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  Luke 21:19  Luke 21:19 - By your patience possess your souls.

8 – Never Give Up!  2 Timothy 2:12 -  2 Timothy 2:12 - If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  Job is an example of patience (James 5:11)  We must wait on the Lord.  Never, Never, Never Give Up!

Learn from Job  We have discussed 8 lessons that we must learn from the example of Job.  Suffering the Tough Times is a part of living in this world.  Is your faith ready for the trial?