"Storms of Life Part 1"

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Sunday Worship and Bible Studies @ 9am & 10:45am

Wednesday Family Night @ 6:30pm

Tuesday Night Celebrate Recovery @ 6:30pm

Small Groups meet at various times

“Storms of Life”

Welcome to Friend Day

Job 1-2 (Page 359 in pew Bible) Part 1 of 3

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.

The problems began when Chippie's owner decided to clean Chippie's cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She'd barely said "hello" when "ssssopp!" Chippie got sucked in.

The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie -- still alive, but stunned.

Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.

Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.

A few days after the trauma, the reporter who'd initially written about the event contacted Chippie's owner to see how the bird was recovering. "Well," she replied, "Chippie doesn't sing much anymore -- he just sits and stares."

It's hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . Chippie experienced a storm of life… Chippie’s song was stolen from its heart.

Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, Word Publishing, 1991, p. 11.

	Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible – written after Noah’s flood around the time of Abraham
	If God is a God of love & mercy then why do good people suffer?

Job 5:7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

Job 14:1 "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.

<<Example of storm of life – Our son Jeff’s pituitary tumor.>>

“Storms of Life” – trials, troubles, problems, difficulties, persecution – difficulties we encounter.

	In adversity we usually want God to do a removing job when He wants to do an improving job.
	In order to realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the storm.

Stormy Facts:

· Common to every person – no exemptions granted

· Often come unexpectedly – external or self-imposed… strike at any time

· Comes in many shapes and sizes – Dave Rodgers with his buck thru his windshield

1. The Person (Job 1:1-5; 2:3)

Job… Family, Fame and Fortune

Job 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

	“Land of Uz” was SE of the Dead sea in northern Arabia
	“Blameless” – morally upright in character, not sinless, he lived above reproach among the people…
	Great man among all the people, The Bible records Job was an honest judge, highly respected, a counselor, hospitable, generous, wise, farmer, employer & an intercessor – a God fearing man…
	“Upright” – straight arrow in his ways, not deviating from God’s standard… he shunned evil.
	We’re told he had a wife, seven sons and three daughters… loved & cared for deeply (prayer)
	He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 oxen, 500 donkeys and many servants & much land…
	Very wealthy and influential… Job was making a difference for the Lord = special object of attack!

2. The Plotter (Job 1:6-11; 2:1-5) (we actually see two trials/test Job went through)

Satan… Person, Intellect, Emotions, Will, Adversary

Job 1:6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

	Person – he is real, not just an evil influence or force; Intellect – he communicated with the lord; Emotions – he was antagonistic toward Job; A Will – he planned to destroy Job while dishonoring God; Name Satan means “adversary”…
	He’s also called the father of all lies in Jn 8:44 and a thief who is out to steal, kill and destroy in Jn 10:10, he walks about as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour 1Pet 5:8
	God’s pulls the curtain back to glimpse the unseen spiritual world… it is real & energized.
	Satan is called the accuser of the brethren Rev 12:10, and has access to the Lord. He is alive and well on planet earth today. He & his demonic host are able to “plant” thoughts & suggestions in our minds.
	Satan blinds the minds of the unsaved, keeping them from the truth of the Gospel (2Co 4:4)
	He is not just some little guy in a red suit carrying a pitch fork… he comes as your best friend/wife/etc
	A created being, he’s powerful – able to cause storms/death/disease/depression/etc. but limited…

3. The Permission (Job 1:12; 2:6)

God… Sovereign and In Total Control

Job 1:12 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.

	God is the Creator of heaven and earth and you and me… He is the Sustainer and Redeemer.
	We see the fall of man in the garden, Behind it all, the root cause of all storms is sin – (world/flesh/devil)
	911 with almost 3000 souls killed by Islamic radicals… instigated by sin/devil/evil men’s hearts
	The fallen nature of man (sin) causes wars, heartaches, pain, struggles, terror, fighting, hatred, etc
	Satan received God’s permission with limits… Satan is on God’s leash… he can only go so far.
	Thank God, He restrains him today… Aren’t you glad you personally know the Lord? Hedge of protection

4. The Procedure/Plan (Job 1:13-19; 2:7-8)

Storm… Suddenly, one day it struck

· Oxen & donkey’s carried off & killed the servants – 1:12-15

· Horrible lightning storm killing the sheep & servants – 1:16

· Raiding parties took all the camels & killed servants – 1:17

· Tornado struck house & killed 7 sons & 3 daughters – 1:18-19

	Job’s life totally changed that day – he lost all his livestock, servants, camels, children
	On another day, in chapter 2, Satan comes again but this time he afflicts Job physically.

Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

	Entire body was covered, an intense itching & pain, open ulcerated sores w/worms, fever, aching bones
	His wealth stripped away, his fame vanished, his family killed now his body covered in putrid sores
	In Job 2:9 we see his wife throwing in the towel, “just curse God and die”
	Job hit rock bottom (true with many of us) – lost his children, fame, riches, heath, supportive wife…
	What would you do? How would you handle the storm when all your “crutches” are knocked out?

5. The Proving (Job 1:20a; 2:9-10a)

Choice… Grow bitter or better

Job 1:20a At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head…. 2:10 “in all this he did not sin”

	Heard news about his family - Job tore his robe, shaved his head – an expression of deep grief
	In every storm there’s a choice to be made… the power of a decision is unbelievable.
	A correct decision will lead down this path… an incorrect decision will lead down that path.
	We can be on the wrong path for years, leading into a lifetime or even taking us into eternity!
	We might try to weather the storms by ourselves. You may say, I don’t need God as a “crutch”…
	Or we may blame God for our difficulties, losing all hope as we heed the enemy… (plants thoughts)
	Going down the wrong path, we grow inward and bitter… mad at people, the world and God Himself…
	Job had a choice… to grow bitter or to grow better… he chose to grow better.
	When adversity hits humbly bow before God, learn from the hard lessons and grow better.

· We rather days without difficulty, but God knows better. The easier our life, the weaker our spiritual fiber, for strength of any kind grows only by exertion… like exercise to the body.

· Job had a vibrant relationship with God long before the storms struck.

· When the storms hit – God’s grace enabled Job to continue on

6. The Praise (Job 1:20b-22; 2:10b)

Adoration… Worship, even when it hurts

Job 1:20b “… Then he fell to the ground in worship”

	Job was a broken man… the hurt was real… he bowed before His Creator and worshiped the Lord…
	Job had a relationship with the Lord. You see all over these verse his faith – not a foxhole convert.
	God, I don’t understand – but I praise you… Lord help me to rest in your grace and hope.
	The greatest time to worship the Lord is when you don’t feel like it… even when it hurts…
	We read near the end of the book, Job said of God: Job 42:5-6 ⁵My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. ⁶Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
	Job now sees God in a way he never did before (he grew) and humbly bows in submission to Him.

7. The Promotion (Job 42:10b, 12-13,16; 2Co 4:17)

Results… Present blessings & eternal future rewards

Job 42:10b “… the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before…

	Isn’t God Awesome! Are you experiencing His blessings? Living your new life in Him?
	God blessed Job with seven more sons and three more daughters, 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 2,000 oxen and 1,000 donkeys… Job was polished by the storms and God richly blessed him again.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

	God promises us eternal glory with Him that will last forever. Are you ready to meet Him?
	We saw the person, the plotter, the permission, the procedure, the proving, the praise, the promotion…

8. The Personal Application (Job 19:25-26; John 1:12; 14:6)

Job 19:25-26 ²⁵ I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. ²⁶And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

	I know my Redeemer lives… I will see God!
	Job stood confident in his personal relationship with the Lord… a true child of God.

Storms…

Ø Are sovereignly designed for my benefit. – to get me on the right path, get a hold of my heart

Ø Promotes an environment for spiritual growth. – changes my routine and my thought process

Ø Helps me to refocus my attention toward God. – Rocking my world, kids, money, job, pleasures, God…

Ø Draw me into a personal relationship with Christ. – Greatest thing to ever happen to a person

	The most dreaded storm is to fall into the hands of an angry God… not prepared for eternity.
	It’s going down the wrong road of life and finding out it was the wrong road.
	Understand God loves you – He sent His Son Jesus to die for you… He’s waiting for you to turn
	Turn from your sins and turn to Christ to save you, and discover a new relationship.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

How can I personally receive Jesus Christ?

STEP ONE: Face the fact that your sin has separated you from the God who loves you.

STEP TWO: Be willing to turn away from your sin and turn to God (repentance).

STEP THREE: Place your trust in (believe) the fact that Jesus died for you & rose again.

STEP FOUR: Invite Jesus to take control of your life, forgive your sin and make you a child of God.

Would do that this morning?

Let’s bow for prayer…

· As our heads are bowed… IF you are saved and sure, ready to meet the Lord – lift your hands in praise!

· If you were unable to raise your hand, are you willing to go down a new pathway?

· Are you willing to invite Jesus Christ into your life?

As our heads are bowed, no one looking around… if you desire to trust Christ, would you lift your hands???

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Forgive my sins and take control of my life and help me become the kind of person you want me to be.