Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/church4u/sermons/87072/how-to-get-through-lessons-from-job/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] I've been talking to some folk who have been talking to me about Job. [0:12] Some of you guys, a number of people actually have been talking to me about Job and the message of Job, the book of Job and the lessons of life from Job. [0:22] It's a great book to take a look at and before we get to Job, I'm just going to read James 5 that talks about him and my message today is really how to get through. [0:39] How to get through. How to get through. How can we get through the troubles of life? A man called Job can show us just how. [0:52] James writes about Job like this in James 5 verse 10. He says, take my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering, affliction and of patience. [1:03] James says to some people that are an example of suffering, of affliction, of patience, of perseverance, of endurance. What can Job teach us today? He's an example. [1:14] He's an example for us. James 5 verse 11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Happy or blessed. It's elsewhere translated. It's a blessing. Those that endure, they're blessed. [1:26] You've heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord. In other words, the purpose of God. You've seen the end of the Lord. The purpose, that which God is ultimately taking you to. [1:42] The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. He shows pity. He shows mercy. So James says this. He says, you've heard about the patience of Job. Job's life was an endurance event, wasn't it? [1:55] It was like a marathon. An endurance event. And God was with him through all those series of tests. And we can know today, friends, that same God, the God of Job, is our God, isn't he? [2:08] And he will be with us as he was with Job through all of life's turns and twists, those tough things. Let's see what we can learn as we read Job's life story. [2:19] It says we count them happy that endure. In other words, blessed. Job was a man greatly tested and a man greatly blessed. So let's go through the book together. [2:30] We'll touch on a few verses here and there through the book. And firstly, oh, they're the ones I've just read, James 5. I'll just repeat that. [2:41] He's an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience. And we count them happy. Which endure. And we've seen the end of the Lord, the purpose, the ultimate end, the ultimate purpose of God is God is full of pity and of tender mercy. [3:02] Is he not? Friends, Job 1 verse 1. And we see there was a man in the land of us. His name was Job. And that man was perfect and upright and one who feared God and eschewed evil. [3:16] He was blameless. He turned away from evil. He was an upstanding man. A man of God. Verse 2, it tells of him, as we're thinking of Father's Day, he was a good father. [3:28] He had seven sons and three daughters. He was a standout great man, Job. Verse 3, it tells of his substance. He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she-asses, a very great household. [3:46] So that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East. And it tells of Job as the father, as we're thinking Father's Day. I'll make some passing reference to that really. [3:59] But maybe on Father's Day, he would have been the father of the year. Because he consecrated his children every morning with burnt sacrifices. He kind of made a commitment, a prayerful commitment on behalf of his children. [4:15] Lest anything that they did was inadvertent sin, that he had their salvation in mind. But tragedy was about to strike. [4:29] What can Job teach us? Number one. The number one lesson is, by faith, trust in God's control. Trust in God's control. [4:40] God is the king. He's the king of kings. And he's the Lord of lords. Friends, absolutely everything ultimately is under his watch, under his government. [4:51] And we see verse 6. It tells us how there was some kind of a presentation of the sons of God, the angels, to come before the Lord. And Satan came also among them. [5:04] They came before God. They came into the very presence of the Almighty. And verse 7. The Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it. [5:19] Here were the angels presenting themselves to the Almighty God. They came to report to God about what was happening. And Satan, literally the accuser, the adversary, he was there too. [5:30] Satan, friends, he is a created being. Satan is subject to the authority and power of God. Because God has control. [5:43] Verse 8. We see the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? That there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and assureth evil. [6:00] He fears God and he turns from evil. He does that which is godly and righteous. He's upright. Friends, Job was known in heaven. And so are you as a child of God. [6:10] God knows your name. And God noted Job not for his wealth, for his worldly credits, his esteem, but because of this one thing, his godly character. [6:25] There's none like him in the earth. He was the best of the best of mankind of that time. Verse 9. Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? [6:35] Satan put it that Job was only righteous because God had favoured him. It's almost like, Okay, Job's following you, but it's only because you're so good to him. [6:49] And he goes on, verse 10. Hast thou not made a hedge about him and about his house and all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. [7:04] Friends, notice this. God is in control. And he is sovereign. He is king. Sometimes we aren't even aware of how he protects us, how he hedges us about. [7:20] We almost don't consider that, that we are actually hedged about. And we can take for granted God's daily blessings. Day by day he hedges us. He looks after us. [7:31] Because God is in charge. And we can trust that truth, no matter what the happenstance of life. Fact is, we're under his control. [7:43] Even though he may allow, in our way, some testings, we'll be put to the test, God is. God is in control. [7:58] And we can praise him knowing that even when he permits storms and troubles, he is God. God is, and God is in control. [8:08] So Satan challenges now, verse 11 he says, but put forth thine hand now, touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. Here's the accuser. [8:20] He's accusing Job of just following God, because of his blessings that he had. He says, take away his blessings and your protection, and Job's going to curse you, just like the rest of them. [8:35] Verse 12, Lord said unto Satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power, only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. [8:46] Child of God, know that Satan is limited in his power. He could do nothing, but that which God allows. God has control. Even when it doesn't feel like it, God has control. [8:59] He is the control. He has control. Job got four dread reports now. The Sabaeans had attacked, and taken the oxen, the donkeys, and killed some of his servants. [9:11] Verses 14, 15, fire fell from the sky, burnt up the sheep, and more servants. Verse 16, the Chaldeans attacked, and stole his camels, killing even more servants. [9:22] Verse 17, then to top it off, his mighty wind swept through, where his children were having a feast, killing all of them. Verses 18, 19, so Job lost everything in this afternoon, in this short interval of time. [9:38] Job had just about lost everything that he had. In an instant, his possessions, his servants, his children. [9:52] It's hard to get your head around. Such a tragic sequence of events, isn't it? To lose his animals meant he'd lost his ability to work, his fields, and to atone for his sin, in the sense of that, sacrifices. [10:08] He couldn't do any of that now. And now with no sons, his name would be cut off from the earth. He'd no reason, no sense, he had lost his sense of purpose, his reason for living. [10:23] But we saw, behind the curtain, Job didn't see what was happening up there. We saw behind the curtain, God is in control of everything. [10:37] We can trust him. Amen? Even when the world crashes all around you. Child of God, trust your father's control. We don't have the whole picture, this side of heaven. [10:51] What's going on? Because we look at the things that are seen, but God has the steering wheel. Amen? Trust him. God has the steering wheel of your life. [11:01] Check out what happens next. How did Job respond? Tragedy after tragedy. What does he do? He prays. [11:12] And he praises. The number one lesson is, trust God's control. Trust God is in control. Number two lesson from our teacher, Job, is this one, on how to get through. [11:27] Rest in God's comfort. Rest in God's comfort. Now, there didn't seem a whole lot of comfort going on right here. [11:39] At first glance, mind you, Job got through because he held on to his steadfast hope. He had his moments, but yet, he had comfort in his enduring faith. [11:53] And he worshipped, it says. Verse 20. Verse 20. It says, Then Job arose and rent his mantle. He tore his clothes. He shaved his head, which was a sign of sorrow. And he fell down upon the ground and he worshipped. [12:09] Sometimes we've almost got to feel in the mood to worship, don't we? Some places, they've got to play the music just right for you to feel worshipful. No, it's not about that. Our worship isn't about feeling the goosebumps. [12:23] It's about, yes, God is. God is in control. And God is my comfort. I will rest in him. And his enduring faith, in his enduring faith, he worshipped. [12:38] He was in torment, shaving his head in sorrow, ripping his clothes, yet Job still praised. All of his children had just been killed. [12:49] But in faith and trust in God, Job worshipped. He fell down and he worshipped. And he said this, verse 21, Naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return there. [13:01] The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Friends, we don't just praise when we feel like it. [13:13] Maybe we should praise when we don't feel like it. We don't just worship God when things are all fine and dandy, when things are easy. Our faith goes beyond the circumstances. [13:26] We can rest in God's comfort. Friends, there is comfort for you. Child of God, your praise can break through the darkest of clouds. And you can say, yet will I praise the Lord. [13:38] Yet will I rejoice in the God of my salvation. Blessed be the name of the Lord. He's my comfort. I'm resting in that. I'm resting on his promises. [13:50] I'm resting on his word. And through our tears, we can worship. You can worship no matter how you feel. We can endure and we can praise God no matter how much we're hurting. [14:02] We can bless the name of the Lord even when we feel like quitting. Humanly, Satan arrived back in heaven again. I imagine he had his tail between his legs and thought, oh, I've still not beaten that man. [14:16] I've still not ground him down to powder. He's still praising God. Verse 4 of chapter 2, Satan answered the Lord. He said, skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. [14:30] But put forth thine hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee to thy face. Verse 6, and the Lord said to Satan, behold, he is thine in thine hand, but save his life. [14:49] You know, God's still in control. Satan wasn't going to wipe Job out, but there was going to be a turning up of the heat. God allowed Satan this more opportunity to test Job. [15:03] So verse 7, it says of chapter 2, so went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord and he smoked Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. [15:15] Job was now covered in these terrible skin sores and it says then, verse 8, he took him a potsherd, so this shard, this piece of broken pottery, this broken pottery, he took it and it says he scraped himself with it and he sat down among the ashes. [15:32] In one afternoon, Job's whole livelihood was wiped out. He'd lost seven sons, three daughters and now for months and months he's going to have this endurance of this affliction, intense, of open sores all over his body. [15:53] We're going to fast forward a little through this time, but think of Job, just some of the things it says about his suffering, it says he lost weight, some of us might think that's a good thing, me included, but no, he actually lost a lot of weight, he was sickly, worms infested his ulcers, they would not heal, he had great pain in his bones, his skin got discolored, he was tormented with nightmares and nobody helped and they even turned away from him because he was on the nose and his appearance, oh, don't want to go near that, yuck, he was scorned, spat on, treated like an outcast by his relatives and his remaining servants and friends, they didn't want to know him, oh, I don't know him and even the outcasts of society, they mocked him, they went out of the way to hurt him and then, to top it off, his helpmeet, his wife, his wife came with further words of discouragement, told him, denounce God, give it up, die, chapter 2, verse 9, then he said his wife unto him, does thou still retain thine integrity, curse God and die, throw it in, give up, take your bat and ball and go home, that's the [17:17] Andrew Craig version, verse 10, it says, but he said unto her, thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh, what, shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil, in all this God, Job did not sin with his lips, now, to be fair to Mrs. Job, Job's wife was suffering too, yes, she was, she lost all her children too, she lost everything too, she was poverty stricken, who could blame her, but Job didn't side with his wife, and a sin really, which it was, what it was, and a blasphemy, despite his trials, Job held fast, he stayed faithful to God, it says he didn't sin with his lips, now sometimes when we get frustrated, it comes out of the lips, doesn't it, Job didn't sin with his lips, he had faith, that held him steady, and he knew God's comfort, God's great grace, here he was without a house, sat on this heap of ashes, scraping himself with broken pottery, wishing he'd never been born, that's chapter 2 verse 8, chapter 3 verse 1, he was really on the, on the edge, but his faith still, held steady, he didn't sin with his lips, now when trouble strikes, question is, where will we turn for comfort, and friends, what happened next then, is some friends came along, friends, in inverted commas, they came to comfort him, first they didn't recognise who he was, because he looked so, well, pretty gross, and they sat with him here, it says, they sat with him for a whole week, not even speaking, because his suffering was so great, and Job's friends brought comfort, even in merely being there, at least that was something, they were bringing him comfort, sitting with him, for this whole week, just sitting with him, they brought him comfort, until, they opened their mouths, and some people, it's better that they don't comfort you, isn't it, they're better they don't give you the feedback, or they're better they don't tell you, but it's good for that, it's good for people to come, and to pray, to bring comfort, we ought to do that, to people in trouble, but when Job's friends, started talking, they blamed Job, you're your fault, you're the problem, they believed that God, was punishing Job, because of his sin, or some sin, and then we see, 34 chapters goes through here, where Job and his friends, they interact, discuss suffering, [19:49] Job knew struggle here, he was suffering deeply, this was real, it was pain, and he asked God to appear, explain his suffering, he cried out, we see this here, 9 verse 33, that Job cried out, for someone, to stand between him, and God, to be a mediator, a dazed man, is the term here, is that sense of a mediator, an intermediary, like an umpire, like a referee, to plead his case, for the almighty, he wanted someone to come, and plead his cause, someone to stand for him, to plead his case, and he said, neither is there any dazed man, betwixt us, that might lay his hand, upon us both, he felt this, lack of a mediator, but friends, for us today, there is a comfort, we've got the comforter, the Holy Spirit, he's called the comforter, and that means, one who comes alongside, to help, he comes alongside, to help, a comforter, and Jesus, our advocate, the same word, it's almost like, we've got the Holy Spirit, on one side, and Jesus, on the other, they come alongside, to help, and what's more, [20:55] Jesus, it says, he is the mediator, between, God, and man, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2, verse 5, as believers, we can know, the mediator, Jesus Christ, and that his death, on the cross, stands, before, the mercy of God, and in our place, he bears the judgment, for our sin, as that mediator, that one, that brings the ultimate, peace, and because of his death, and resurrection, we can be made, right, with God, Job's hope of a mediator, is our reality today, we have a mediator, we can't, we won't, identify with Job, in that there's no mediator, there's no one in between, but that Jesus, is the one in between, we can go to him, to the father, through Jesus, our mediator, and then we see, after his friends, stopped speaking, [21:56] Job decided, that human beings, can't find the, kind of wisdom, that he needed, only the answers, to the deep questions, of life, that only really come, from God, only God has that wisdom, and friends, again, for our comfort today, yes we have, another source, of great comfort, tells us this, of the word of God, it says, what was written, before time, it's written for our learning, we can learn some stuff, from this book, and we, through patience, and comfort, of the scriptures, might have hope, there's, there's a patience, there's an endurance, there's a, there's a comfort, from the scriptures, there's hope here, word of God, and the comfort, of the scriptures, is God's wisdom, for us today, it's, this is, his wisdom, in, in a single book, Job's book, itself, can actually comfort us, as well, Job himself, can be a comfort, that wow, okay, [22:59] I'm not alone, in this time of trouble, for me, Job's been through it, I'm going to get through, Job got through it, and he'll help us get through, and then we see, there's a young bystander, called Elihu, he spoke up, he told a poem, praising God's care of nature, but man's comfort, can only help so far, we need to rest, in God's comfort, and this is the ultimate, God's comfort, the comfort of the scriptures, we can have hope here, and Job said about, his worldly comforters, his friends, he said, he said this, you're miserable comforters, you're miserable to me, because they were quite, really, having a go at him, human comforters, can fall short, even the most well meaning, can tell us things, well meaning, that are really cold comfort, sometimes they, you can get condemned, by friends, other Christians, you can feel blame, they're trying, maybe their best, but human comforters, can only give you so much, but we have, [24:01] God's comfort, amen, so just to, to recap, here we see, number one, trust God's control, don't let trouble, rock your faith, but let it make you stronger, trust God's control, number two, rest in God's comfort, don't let the test, stop you to worship, from worship, go to the mediator, pray through, find the comfort, of the scriptures, and then lesson number three, is this one, rejoice in, God's constancy, friends, whatever, life throws at us, all the curve balls, of life, there's one we serve, who is ever faithful, is he not, the one we serve, is the faithful God, he will not fail, or forsake us, and God was with Job, right from day one, wasn't he, he knew before, the trouble hit, he was watching then, and he was watching through, and he was upholding, he was strengthening, he was supplying, he might face some things, God is constant, he won't fail you, despite the ups and downs, of life, the hurts, the heartaches, we've got an eternal hope, that is beyond, the present, we've got an eternal God, he'll help us get through, how do you get through, [25:17] Job could not understand, his suffering, and yet his faith and hope, held strong, and steady, in the faithful God, now that's not to say, Job didn't have questions, we all can, have many questions, can't we, what is going on, where's God in this, over 25 times, Job said, why, and really, he didn't get a definite answer, from God, for the reason for his suffering, but he rejoiced, in the faithfulness of God, notice this one, that he says, with God, his wisdom and strength, he has counsel, and understanding, he said, okay, I don't have the wisdom, I don't have the strength, but he has, he's got the counsel, he's got the understanding, I don't know what's going on, but he has, he rejoiced in the faithfulness, of his God, friends, Job's faith, was rock solid, and his faith, held firm, and notice this one, chapter 13, 15, where Job says, though he slay me, yet will I trust him, yet will I trust in him, but I will maintain, my own ways before him, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, no one or nothing, can steal your joy, or your peace, when your hope, is in him, whatever happens, yet will I trust, though life will have troubles, and it will, what's going to hit you, [26:58] Monday morning, oh no, don't say that, God is, he's faithful, we can trust in his constancy, though life's troubles, will come our way, and friends, it's the lot of men, and women, man is born of a woman, is a few days, and full of trouble, you know, life's short, and it's full of trouble, that can be so, can it not, you might identify with that, but God is our source, when trouble strikes, even if our life is short, even if it's full of trouble, God is our source, when trouble strikes, there's an eternal dimension, beyond these few days, that's just a minute thing, our life, our life, length, isn't it, the length of our life, our lifespan, just a little thing, compared to, the eternal dimension, this light affliction, but for a moment, there's an eternal weight, an eternal dimension, that sustains us, and Job confessed his faith, notice this in, chapter 19, 25, he confessed his faith, in the constant God, he said, [28:13] I know, that my redeemer, liver, and that he shall stand, at the latter end, the latter day, upon the earth, Job says, I don't know what, on earth is happening, but this one thing, I know, Job knew, when his flesh, was going to be destroyed, he says, I will see God, I will see God, and friends, one day, you're going to see him, won't that be glory, won't that be worth it all, to see him face to face, to see him, won't that be something, amen, some of you are closer, than others, almost envious, I mean, well, that's not to say, I'll compete you to it, but, one day, we're going to see God, amen, one day, we're going to see him, my redeemer liveth, we know, the ever living God, the constant, ever faithful God, he is with you, and you've got an eternal perspective, when you've got that dimension, we've got that hope, that is eternal, that goes beyond, the earthly troubles, beyond the grave, eternity, importantly, [29:22] Job knew this, that God, was his redeemer, he knew the redeemer, my redeemer, it was personal faith, and he knew, the saviour, and he knew, not only the redeemer, but he knew the, the refiner, well, that's, that sounds a bit, scary, but he said, if there's some God, as his refiner, he says, but he knoweth the way, that I take, when he hath tried me, I shall come, forth as gold, my foot hath held his steps, his way, have I kept, and not declined, when he hath tried me, I shall, come forth, as gold, whoa, isn't that something, don't you want to be, a gold Christian, you might hurt a bit, but it's going to be worth it, amen, it will be worth it, be gold, gold, and verse 12, neither have I kept, back from the commandment, of his lips, [30:26] I've esteemed the words, of his mouth, more than my, necessary food, this is life, this is food, don't miss this, we were talking in the week, about missing, missing a meal, don't miss a meal, don't miss a meal, of this, get a hold of it, the words, more important, than your necessary food, and even in the midst, of God's silence, his presence is with us, he says, he knows the, the way that I take, he's making gold, maybe there's some, some gold quality people, here this morning, you might think, I'd rather not be, but amen, God's making gold, in you, in us, there's value there, there's value in your trials, wow, get a load of that, can't you, it's kind of hard to understand, isn't it, that even the trouble, is a good thing, because he's making gold, there's value, and Job was braving, this fiery furnace of suffering, yet his faith held strong, and he declared this, in chapter 27, three through four, he says, all the while, my breath is in me, and the spirit of God, is in my nostrils, my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit, in all of this, he did not sin with his mouth, something, isn't it, how easy it is to, lose it, humanly speaking, my lips did not utter wickedness, he stood firm, [32:12] I'm going to speak, that which is right, I'm going to stand for God, his testimony was strong, in the grace of God, he determined to stand for God, and he says this, in 28, 28, and to man he said, behold the fear of the Lord, is the, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, is understanding, and it's getting to the core here, of the lessons of Job, of this teacher Job, what can he teach us, how do I get through, Job declared, that the wisdom that he needed, is the wisdom that comes from God, the wisdom of fearing God, that's wisdom, to fear him, to have that, reverence and awe, and honour of him, the almighty God, that's wisdom, and to depart from evil, that's understanding, friends, that's understanding, think of it, says this, the spirit of God, have made me, and the breath of the almighty, have given me life, how can I get through, how am I going to get through this, just to recap, quickly again, will we yield to God's control, the almighty, it's one of his names, yield, to God's control, will we rest, in God's comfort, even the comfort, of the book of Job, is a comfort, will we, praise God's constancy, he is ever faithful, his faithfulness, is new, every morning, [33:48] Job learned, all of these lessons, and it was by humility, he learned them, when he came to the end, of himself, and said, I'm going to fear the Lord, he's made me, he's the breath, of his breath, is in me, he's given me life, I owe it all to him, and you can say like Job, my life is in his hands, praise him, we can't avoid suffering, in this life, you know, there's some, I feel for them, they're suffering much, much more than me, people I love, there's a lot of suffering, that goes on, a lot of heartache, there's troubles, beyond our, reckoning, why, but what matters, is that we trust the Lord, he's made me, he's given me life, he's with me, I'm his, and he is mine, and, at the close, we see that God met with Job, wow, that's something, isn't it, that's special, isn't it, wouldn't you like to meet with God, says the Lord answered Job, out of the whirlwind, [34:59] I don't know whether, what a whirlwind would sound like, but he got, God got Job's attention, a whirlwind, whoa, that's loud, but Job, heard from God, and God showed Job, some eternal truths, and it goes through, again, I can't cover every part here, in this kind of, more of a bird's eye view, but Job, was told about the eternal truths, about God's creative power, of his creation, of his wisdom, and Job, was told this by God, verse 4 of 38, where was thou, when I laid the foundations of the earth, declare thou hast understanding, you know, sometimes, we think, we know more than we do, don't we, where were you, when I created the world, where were you, when I made everything, God, really, showed Job, really, his place, Job acknowledged, God is over all, he's awesome, and he heard about, the glory of God, about the beauty, and the wonders, of God's creation, the things that he has made, of the stars in the heaven, to the crawling creatures, under his feet, that God has put everything, in place, he's laid the foundations, of the earth, he's made it all, he's awesome, he's beyond our human reckoning, he's our great, and mighty, creator God, and what's more for us, who know him, he's our saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and in him was life, and he made everything, by him were all things created, everything was made, was made by his hand, and friends, you can know him, who made the world, and Job did, never really understood, the reasons why he suffered, maybe it wasn't fully unfolded, to his mind, and you might go through life, and still have, so many questions, one day we'll get the answers, and Job, he felt such bitterness, but he never rejected God, he didn't walk away, what about us, when we have some little trouble, we might have, a little hissy fit, a little paddy, a little, stomp our feet, a little tantrum, what about us, when things don't go our way, we can complain, about the most trivial things, really, in the scheme of eternity, in the scheme of creation, our trivial problems, before this mighty God, he laid the foundations, of the earth, he doesn't want our worry, he wants our worship, he doesn't want us, to be troubled, he wants our praise, and Job realized, he talked about things, beyond his understanding, that's 42 verse 3, he argued, he questioned, [37:52] God's goodness, God's justice, God's wisdom, but he had to bow the knee, ultimately, he had to bow the knee, to come in humility, to the great, and awesome, mighty God, to just get a glimpse, of his glory, of his wonder, of his character, of his power, and it says, that Job surrendered, in deep repentance, that's a good place, to get to, good place, to get to, is where Job got to, right here, 42 verse 6, wherefore I abhor myself, you know, he didn't say, I esteem myself, he said, I'm the opposite, yes, I'm a rotter, and he repented, in dust and ashes, how are you going, to get through, how are you going, to get through, saint of God, yield, Job had to come, crumble to his knees, and say, God, I humble myself, I come with a humble, a repentant, a broken, and a contrite spirit, [38:54] Job came to perceive, the almighty God, as his resource, as he's seen him, as he'd never seen him before, the awesome, mighty, almighty, and loving God, creator, and Lord, what about Satan, he lost out, Satan was the loser, in the book of Job, Satan didn't, crush, Job, as far as the enemy goes, we've got an enemy, friends, believe us, you've got an enemy, and he hates you, he wants to bring you down, recognize his tactics, God's goal for trials, is your betterment, is to make you better, but Satan's goal, is to take you down, and Satan wants you to doubt, he wants you to distrust God, he wants to attack, your love and fear of God, and he'll do everything he can, to shake you, to make you think, that God isn't worthy, of your worship, you've got to feel like him, you've got to feel in the mood, to go to church, [40:05] Satan wants you to think, God doesn't love you, he doesn't care about you, he's abandoned you, look at the trouble you're in, he wants you to suffer, he likes that, but don't listen to him, don't let Satan get the victory, friends, you're on the victory side, you are more than conquerors, to him who loved you, recognize what Satan's doing, and resist him, here was Job, he knew his life, was upside down here, he raged at God, in times, yes, when he couldn't understand, the why, but he didn't turn away, from God, he didn't turn against him, we naturally can have times, when we can, wonder, but yet, we still have faith, how are you going to get through, Job shows how to keep, your faith in the heartache, in the hard times, no matter how grim, life can be, [41:12] Job shows us how, to keep the faith, ultimately Job emerged, from this pit of despair, and ultimately Job got the victory, in his battle, and things turn right around, as we see, we come to the end of the book, 42 verse 10, says, that the Lord turned, the captivity of Job, you know, things turn right around, this was a, a total reversal, here, and he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job, twice as much as he had, before, God restored, by double everything, that Job had lost, he got through, Job got through, so can you, so can you, and it says, verse 17, that Job died, being old, and full of days, he got a lot more, life span, after the trouble, he got everything back, and double, and God gave him, many more years, so really, at the end, he was blessed, what can we do, to get through, know God's control, he's the ultimate, he's in charge, he knows what he's doing, he's in control, [42:22] Satan's got to come, like a little lap dog, to ask permission, God's, in control, rest in his comfort, there's comfort, here in the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, is the comforter, we've got the advocate, with the father, great comforter, we've got the mediator, between God and man, we've got God's comfort, from woe to go, from cradle to grave, God's comfort, is here for you, trust him, rest in it, and praise him, for his constancy, he's not going to let you down, he's ever faithful, he's ever with you, he says, I will never leave you, nor forsake you, and friends, we say, of Job, we count him happy, which enjoy, he was happy, in the end of it, he endured, he was blessed, you've heard of his patience, well, he went through, that marathon, that endurance event, we've seen his patience, we've seen the end of the Lord, God's purpose was in all of that, that the Lord is, full of pity, full of love, compassion, of tender mercy, and friends, [43:26] God is ever faithful for you, and you know, sometimes you think, of such a message, well, maybe I'm going to get tested now, to put this actually into practice, but friends, whatever the case, God will sustain you, in your hour of trial, you'll get through, you'll get through, and he's the one who says, fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee, at the right hand, of my righteousness, know God's control, know God's comfort, rejoice in his constancy, friends, how to get through, put your faith in him, and friends, we've been talking really, to believers here, you might say, I'm not a believer yet, well, make it happen, as you, come, as Job did, and he fell to his knees, he said, he trusted, trusted, what's stopping you, from trusting this, trustworthy God, the one who gave it all for you, what's stopping you, don't let anything stop you, let's pray, [44:31] Lord God, we thank you, you're great, and awesome, and your power, and mercy, is beyond our reckoning, your great creation, is witness to your wonders, even in such a life, as we, here today, and yet, Lord, when trouble strikes, sometimes we, we can, alter, Lord, help us to be like Job, we count him blessed, he was happy, in his spiritual heart, that he, went through, and got through, on the other side, and you made gold there, Lord, Lord, we pray for each believer, here today, as you make gold, out of our lives, let us be faithful, and to know that, great grace of God, and for anyone, that knows you not today, Lord, that they might, in simple faith, say, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief, Lord, I trust you now, that you died on the cross, of my sin, you rose again, from the dead, you're my living saviour, and I know that my redeemer liveth, and I know that I'm going to see your face, [45:33] Lord, we thank you for that, promise of God, and for each comfort of your word, to each heart today, we thank you, Lord, in Jesus name, Amen. [45:45] Bless you.