Biyernes, Marso 18, 2011

MANSERVE OF GOD

Will a man serve God for nought”

Job 1:1-12

I want to begin by asking you a very serious question, "Why are you serving God?" "What is your motivation for being fearful of Him, faithful to Him and fruitful for Him?" Many serve God because of what it might profit them. There are those who only serve God because of a position or a paycheck.

I have come into contact with many people, down through the years, who have only served God as long as they had gotten everything they wanted. As long as they were able to get from God what they wanted, and thought they needed, then they continued to serve Him. As we come to this familiar portion of scripture, there are some very interesting things taking place. One of those things being that God, and Satan are involved in a very interesting discussion. You will notice in verses 6-7, there is a conversation. However, as you come to verse 8 there is also a consideration. This is one of the most powerful questions that God ever asked. It was asked in regards to the faithfulness of Job. As I consider this question I stand amazed at the confidence that God had in Job to make the suggestion, to Satan, that he tempt and try him. It was not a question of Job having faith in God, but of God having faith in Job. I wonder, could the same be said of you or I? Could God say with unwavering, undaunted confidence, "Hast thou considered my servant ___________?"





I used to say that I always wanted God to brag on me until I realized that Job got into big trouble all because the Lord bragged on him. It would behoove us to make sure of what we’re saying, because we may just get into something we didn’t know anything about. However, the question that I want us to consider today is found in verse 9. It is not a question asked by God, nor it is a question asked by Job. Rather, it is a question asked by the devil himself, "Doth Job fear God for nought?" Literally, the devil is asking, "Does Job fear for favor? Does Job fear God for nothing?" He is implying that the only reason Job is serving God is because of the blessings that God has showered upon his life. If those things were to come to an end, he is suggesting that Job would stop serving God altogether. I hate to admit it and give the devil credit, but this is one of the greatest questions the devil ever asked. This question leads me to 3 questions that I want to pose you, today, as taken from the life, and story of this man named Job. The first question I want you to consider is:





I. Will a Man Serve God In The Midst Of SUFFERING It doesn’t take a lengthy introduction to this man by the name of Job to discover that his life was marked by untold suffering. In fact, Job suffers more in a 24-hour period than many will ever suffer in a lifetime. God gives Satan permission to afflict Job with the exception of his life. As a result, Job faced a great time of: A. Financial Suffering Job 1: 16-17 B. Emotional Suffering Job 1: 18-19 C. Physical Suffering Job 2: 8-9 There was a prevalent teaching in those days that physical blessings were a sign of God’s favor. If a man had an abundance of things, then it was evident that God had blessed him and showed favor to him. On the other hand, if a man suddenly endured hardship, then it was an indication of the fact that God was disciplining and chastening him. The only problem with that teaching is that it is simply not scriptural. The Bible reminds us that some of God’s choicest servants endured great times of suffering, tormen,t and affliction. The faith that enabled some to escape enabled others to endure times of perplexity and persecution. One of the most damaging teachings today is that if a man is right with God he will never endure hardships or troubles. However, nothing could be farther from Bible truth. Many "faith healers" today will lead many to believe that it is God’s desire for everyone to be healed, and for no one to be sick. However, I need not remind you that God’s people, from the beginning of Biblical record, have always gotten sick, and have always died. The question is not, "Do I have enough faith to be healed, but do I have enough faith to stay sick?" If God chooses not to heal me, do I still have enough faith to trust Him and serve Him? If physical blessings were a sign of God’s favor then Job would have been a man who would have stood bankrupt. In just one day he loses everything that he had. He lost his fields, flocks, finances, and his family. So, I again pose the question, if you were Job, would you continue to serve God in the midst of suffering.

II. Will a Man Serve God In The Midst of SLANDER Job‘s ordeal did not end with his suffering, but it continued to manifest itself in the midst of the slander that he endured. It is seen it two unique ways. First:

A. He is betrayed by His companion
Notice Job 2: 9. His own wife, helper, and soul-mate now turns her back on her husband. #1 illustration I heard about a woman who went with her husband to the doctor’s office for a checkup. After a while the doctor asked the wife to come in and excused the husband. He said, "Your husband is gravely ill, and unless you do certain things your husband is going to die." She said, "Well, what must I do?" He said, "Every morning make sure he gets a good healthy breakfast. Have him come home for lunch every day and feed him his favorite meal. Make sure you feed him a good hot dinner every night. Be romantic whenever he desires it. Give him a massage before he goes to sleep. Don’t let him do any chores around the house. Finally, keep the house spotless and clean so he doesn’t get exposed to any unnecessary germs. Never argue with him. Always let him have his way." When they got into the car to go home, the husband said, "What did the doctor say?" She said, "The doctor said you’re going to die."

#2 illustration I heard about an old farmer and his wife who wanted to take a ride in a private plane, but it was $50 a head. The farmer’s wife told the pilot that he just couldn’t afford to pay. Well, the pilot offered them a deal. He said, "I will take both of you up for free on one condition. You can’t say one single word during the entire trip. If you say one word you’ve got to pay me the $100." The farmer’s wife said, "You’ve got a deal." They took off and when he got up into the air the pilot started doing loop-the-loops and figure eights; he put the plane into a steep dive; he went into a sharp bank; he flew the plane straight up, and then he flew it upside down. He put it into a spin. He did everything he could to get them to say something, but he didn’t hear one word. When he landed, the pilot said, "Well, lady, you got yourself a free ride. I didn’t think you could do it." The wife said, "Well, I want to tell you it was real close. I almost shouted when Papa fell out!" However, Job not only faced the slander of being betrayed by his companion, but:

B. He is belittled by His confidants In Job 2:11-13 we’re introduced to Job’s 3 infamous friend. I don’t know about you, but I do not need the type of friends that came to comfort Job. Friends are supposed to help not hurt. Friends are supposed to take away some of the pain not add to the pain. However, Job is betrayed by his companion and belittled by his confidants. He now finds himself all alone. It’s just him and God in the midst of his suffering and in the midst of his slander. I ask you, will you continue to serve God when you feel all alone? Will you serve God when it seems that you’re the only one interested in serving God? Young person, will you stand for God, and serve God when it seems you’re the only one at school wanting to do so. Ladies and gentlemen, will you serve God when your companion betrays you and your friends belittle you? I think of a phrase coined by Dr. J. Vernon McGee years ago: "This is where the rubber meets the road!"

III. Will a Man Serve God In The Midst of SILENCE I believe it would be safe to say that the greatest tragedy of Job’s plight was not the suffering or slander that he endured, but the silence. Through it all it seemed that God was silent, with no comment on his personal situation. This was the greatest unsolved mystery. Someone once said: "I could take it if God would answer me. I could take it if God would just tell me why!" The fact of the matter is that we may never know "Why." There may not be an answer, and if there were, we would not be able to comprehend it. I think again of R. T. Kendall words: "God doesn’t have to explain, nor justify anything He has ever done. He does not have to have a precedent to perform any act, nor does He have to do anything twice to prove Himself to man!" As we consider Job’s life story, we see that there were 3 things he had to learn about God’s silence.

A. God Has A Right to His Silence Notice Job 38: 1-4. A great Reformation theologian, once said to his friend Martin Luther, "This day you and I will discuss the governance of the universe." Luther replied, "This day you and I will go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God." For thirty-eight chapters God is silent. But, finally, when God speaks, He has something to say to Job. He reminds Job of His sovereignty, His wisdom and His Lordship. In essence He is saying, "Job, where were you when I spoke things into existence? Who is it that causes the sun, and stars to shine, and takes care of all of His own creation?" God is reminding Job that He has a right to be silent, because He is God. In fact, He has a right to do and to be anything that He so desires. He doesn’t owe an explanation or justification for anything He has ever done or allowed.

B. God Has A Reason for His Silence

Look with me in Job 42: 1-6. No doubt Job has often wondered why God seemed to be silent through all of his suffering, sorrow, sickness, and slander. However, now it seems that he comes to the realization of the fact that God was under no obligation to give him any type of reason or explanation. He realizes that God, not only has a right to His silence, but a reason for His silence.

The fact of the matter is that God is very deliberate in His dealings. He does not do anything by accident or coincidence. He does things by a purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose. Thus, everything God does, or ever seeks to do is driven by a divine reason.

Finally, Job learned that:

C. God Has A Reward from His Silence You are familiar with the outcome of the life of Job. In Job 42:10,12, we’re enlightened to God’s reward He bestowed upon the life of this faithful man of God. Finally, the light shines through the darkness, and although he may not understand, Job accepts the fact that God knows what He is doing. Thus, God rewards Job’s service and faithfulness to Him by rewarding Him, and giving him twice the amount of everything he had to begin with.

Conclusion: So, let’s allow Job to answer one of the greatest questions that the devil ever asked, "Does Job fear God for nought, or does Job serve God for nothing?" Will a man serve God in the midst of suffering? Listen to Job’s testimony in Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” My life has been blessed, down through the years, to have become acquainted with the life, and ministry of a man by the name of Adoniram Judson, the great missionary to Burma. For years he endured untold hardships trying to reach the Burmese people with the gospel. In fact, for 7 heartbreaking years he suffered hunger and privation. During this time he was thrown into prison, and for 17 months he was subjected to some of the most incredible mistreatment one could imagine. As a result, for the rest of his life, he carried the ugly scars made by the chains, and shackles that had bound him.

Upon his release from prison, Judson asked permission to enter another province where he might resume to preach the gospel. The godless ruler emphatically denied his sacred request, and explained it by saying: "My people are not foolish enough to listen to anything a missionary might have to say. But, I fear that they might be impressed by your SCARS, and turn to your religion!"

"Christians are like tea. Their real strength is not drawn out until they are in hot water!"

Life is hard. Life is heavy. We will encounter times of suffering, times of slander, and times of silence. The question is not will we face such times; but, the question is will you continue to serve God, love God, and be faithful to God in the midst of such times. I believe you would have to agree with me that this is one of the greatest questions the devil ever asked.

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