Storm Heroes

Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ July 25, 2010

“Storm Heroes”

“God, I don’t understand???”

 

  • Why do righteous people suffer? If God is a God of love and mercy, why does He allow suffering?
  • Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? OR flip it around…
  • Why does God allow good things to happen to bad and evil people? Matthew 5:45 “… He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

 

  • This is one of the most difficult questions to answer in all of theology… God is Eternal, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent… Infinite in all His attributes (holiness, love, grace, mercy, judgment, etc…)

God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus to suffer and die… Perfect in all His ways… Who can fathom?

 

Isaiah 55:9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 40:13-14 13 Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? 14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?

 

Deuteronomy 29:29a “The secret things belong to the Lord our God…”

  • Finite man cannot comprehend an infinite God… The way He works is beyond our understanding…
  • God allows the Storms to blow into our lives… which can produce what I call “Storm Heroes”!
  • Root cause of trials: EVIL/SIN two rebellions against God, one in heaven (Satan) & one on earth (Adam) devastating the entire earth under the control of the evil one and man’s sin nature in every person…
  • Most of us are familiar with the story surrounding a man named Job… Who lived around the time of Abraham after the great flood some 4000 years ago. Job is considered one of the oldest book in Bible…
  • Uz was located S.E. of the Dead Sea in Northern Arabia… near a desert, fertile region outside Palestine
  • This account of Job also gives us a fascinating “behind the scenes” look into the unseen spirit world…

 

I.   The Person – Job (Page 359 pew Bible)

Job 1:1-3 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. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

 

  • Passionate with his Lord v1
  1. “Blameless and upright” – not perfect, but morally whole… God fearing, right living man
  2. He loved and revered God, he submitted to Him and rejected, ran away from wickedness

 

  • Privileged with his Family v2
  1. Job was married and was blessed with seven sons and three daughters… 10 children
  2. Vs4-5 gives us a glimpse of Job’s love for his children… prayed, made offerings regularly…

 

  • Prominent within his Community v3
  1. Job’s wealth was beyond his rivals… 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke oxen, 500 donkeys, large number of servants, working staff to handling his vast holdings
  2. God says Job was the greatest man among the people of the east… A Good Reputation!
  3. Job possessed tremendous fame, fortune, power… a committed believer in His Lord God

“Behind the Scenes” – Satan (adversary, to oppose God’s plan, people and God Himself) approached God…

Rev 12:10 calls Satan the “accuser of the brethren”… “Afflict him and he will surely curse you to your face”

 

II. The Trials – Satan (1:6-11) Notice the phrase used 3 times “while he was speaking…”

  • One Day… He Uses Evil People vss 15,17 (he uses his offspring/children (Jn 8:43-47)
  1. Satan instigated the Sabeans against Job who stole 500 yoke oxen, 500 donkeys, killed Servants
  2. Satan also incited the Chaldeans also who stole 3000 camels, killed the Servants
  3. Satan instigates Islamic terrorist against Christians & Jews… World domination through violence
  4. Satan often uses a relative, co-worker, even a best friend to do his bidding – storms of life…

 

  • One Day… He Uses Natural Disasters and Events vss 16,19
  1. Satan is allowed to send a Severe Lightning Storm which killed 7000 sheep & servants…
  2. Satan worked up a Mighty Tornado that collapsed a house killing Job’s 10 children & servants…
  3. Satan and his legions are very powerful beings, we would like to scuff under the rug… they’re real
  4. Notice the limit God gives Satan in 1:12, “on Job himself, do not lay a finger”… then “ONE DAY”…

 

  • One Day… He Uses Personal Affliction vss 2:7-8

Job 2:7-8 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. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

 

  1. Reading through Job you’ll see Painful discharging sores, boils over his entire body…
  2. Intense Itching, oozing, worms, acute pain, fever, discolored… sits in the dirt, scraping his skin…
  3. Notice again the limit God placed upon Satan 2:6 “he is in your hands but you must spare his life”

 

 

III. The Response – Hope

  • Job’s wife – “curse God and die” (It’s interesting Job’s wife used Satan’s very words – “Curse God”)
    • She viewed Job’s condition as hopeless, doomed, bleak, impossible for him ever to recover
    • I believe she also had a distorted view of God… why did you God destroyed everything dear
    • She demonstrates a bitter heart attitude toward God for allowing these storms…

 

  • Job’s three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar essentially said… “suffering is the result of sin”
    • Seeing how Job’s three friends viewed the situation; you have unconfessed sin Job… get right
    • They demonstrated a judgmental, legalistic, holier than thou attitude… I’m right – you’re wrong

 

  • Job himself was HOPE – Grieving, Acceptance, Trust, Worship, Restoration
    • Job no way wanted these trials, can you imagine burying your ten children? Most of your servants? ALL your finances, 401K, mutual funds, means to make a living gone “One Day”?
    • Job demonstrated a hope, he was connected to the Rock of his salvation…

 

 

Job’s 1st Storm reaction – Losing his Children, his Wealth, his prestige…

Job 1:20-22 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

 

Job’s 2nd Storm reaction – Lost his Physical Health…

Job 2:9-10 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" 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.

 

Look at the heart of Job… we see a HOPE in God –

Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…”

 

  • Whenever any of us face the storms in life… we choose: to either grow bitter or grow better… Job did not understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him.

 

Five Emotional Stages facing a serious illness or death…

Denial – Natural emotion will first cause us to deny what’s happening… wake up to find it a “big bad dream”

Anger – Next we become upset with God, IF He’s in control then why has He allowed this in my life

Bargaining – Next we begin to make deals… I’ll become more committed in_____… if you take this from me

Depression – Next step is feelings of despair, helplessness, hopelessness… sadness, gloom (stay faithful)

Acceptance – Lastly is the point of acceptance of Sovereign God’s will for me… deepened TRUST and HOPE!

 

Storm Heroes…

  • Realizes there is no Immunity (One day…)
  1. Psalmist said, “there is but a step between me and death…” we’re so frail and life is so short…
  2. Job hits the nail on the head when he says in 14:1 “man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble”… James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him”

 

  • Confident Trust in God’s Sovereignty (1:10-12; 2:6) Rom 8:28
  1. As God’s child, with a loving trust… God works ALL things together for Good… He’s in control

 

  • Praises the Lord even when it hurts (Rom 8:28)
  1. Hearing the news of losing all his children “At this…” Job bowed before His creator and worshiped
  2. Get alone with God… Get on your knees… ball your eyes out… Thank Him, worship Him, Trust Him
  3. As a “Hero in the Storm” we see His confident HOPE… “I know my Redeemer lives…”

 

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

 

Maintain an Eternal Perspective!

 

Many folks going through storms of life:

  • Dan Major – rare cancer, beautiful family, Karen & five boys… Hopeless, NO way, we serve God of Hope
  • Rob VanGorder – cancerous brain tumor, PTL… Alan Randall – busted up leg/infections/new baby…
  • Annette Goodman waiting for a kidney transplant… Donna, Nori, Nancy Cannon, various unspokens…
  • STORM HEROES… VBS

 

Let’s Pray…

Can you say as Job did, “I know that my Redeemer lives” ??

“High Seas Expedition” VBS July 26-30th 6:30pm “Exploring the Mighty Love of God”