Faith and Worship Amidst Suffering: Lessons from Job

Devotional

Day 1: Boldness in Proclaiming Faith

In a world that often seeks to silence the message of Jesus, we are called to speak boldly about our faith. Just as Peter and John could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard, we too should be compelled by the power and truth of Jesus' name. This boldness is not just a testament to our faith but also a reflection of the transformative power of the Gospel. When we speak out, we bear witness to the life-changing impact of Jesus in our lives, encouraging others to seek Him as well. [52:30]

Acts 4:19-20 (ESV): "But Peter and John answered them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'"

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt hesitant to share your faith. What held you back, and how can you ask God for the courage to speak boldly about Jesus in similar situations in the future?

Day 2: Worship in the Midst of Suffering

Job's response to his immense suffering was to worship God, teaching us that true worship is not dependent on our circumstances but on God's unchanging nature. Worshiping God in the midst of trials is a profound act of faith that honors Him and defies the enemy's attempts to break us. This kind of worship demonstrates a deep trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when we do not understand our suffering. It is a powerful testimony to others that our faith is genuine and steadfast. [01:10:05]

Job 1:20-21 (ESV): "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you faced a significant trial. How did you respond? What steps can you take to ensure that your response to future suffering is one of worship and trust in God's unchanging nature?

Day 3: Interceding for Our Children

Job's regular practice of offering sacrifices for his children underscores the importance of interceding for our loved ones. As parents and grandparents, our prayers can cover and protect our children, guiding them even when we are not physically present. This spiritual responsibility is a powerful act of love and faith, demonstrating our trust in God's ability to care for and guide our children. Intercession is not just about asking for protection but also about seeking God's wisdom and guidance for their lives. [57:34]

Job 1:5 (ESV): "And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, 'It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.' Thus Job did continually."

Reflection: Think about your daily prayer life. How often do you intercede specifically for your children or loved ones? What specific prayers can you start incorporating into your routine to cover them spiritually?

Day 4: The Power of Presence

When Job's friends came to comfort him, they sat with him in silence for seven days. This act of presence without words highlights the importance of simply being there for those who are suffering. Sometimes, our presence and silent support can be more comforting than any words we might offer. Being present shows that we care deeply and are willing to share in the pain of others, providing a sense of solidarity and comfort that words alone cannot convey. [01:18:33]

Job 2:13 (ESV): "And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is currently going through a difficult time. How can you offer your presence and support to them this week, even if it means simply sitting with them in silence?

Day 5: Endurance in Faith

The story of Job teaches us the value of enduring faith. Despite his immense suffering, Job remained steadfast in his faith, demonstrating that true endurance involves abiding under burdensome circumstances while maintaining trust in God's ultimate compassion and mercy. This endurance is a testament to our faith and a witness to others, showing that we trust in God's higher ways and thoughts, even when we do not understand our situation. [01:27:10]

James 5:11 (ESV): "Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are struggling to endure. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith and trust in God's compassion and mercy during this challenging time?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the profound lessons from the Book of Job, a cornerstone of Hebrew poetry that contrasts the righteous and the wicked. We began by reflecting on the power of Jesus' name, emphasizing the importance of speaking boldly about our faith, just as Peter and John did in Acts 4. We then transitioned to the story of Job, a man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. Despite his righteousness, Job faced immense suffering, losing his wealth, his children, and his health. Yet, in the midst of his trials, Job chose to worship God, demonstrating an unwavering faith that did not depend on his circumstances.

We explored the nature of Hebrew poetry, which uses parallel and contrasting thoughts rather than rhyming words, to convey deep spiritual truths. This style is evident in the Book of Job, where the same human struggles and needs are as relevant today as they were in ancient times. We also discussed the perplexing scene where Satan appears before God, seeking to test Job's faith. Despite Satan's efforts to break him, Job's response was one of worship and integrity, even when his own wife urged him to curse God and die.

The sermon highlighted the importance of interceding for our children, the power of presence in times of grief, and the need for genuine worship that transcends our personal comfort and circumstances. We were reminded that our faith should not be contingent on God meeting our every desire but should be rooted in His unchanging nature. The story of Job challenges us to endure hardships with faith, knowing that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours.

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Key Takeaways

1. am58Hqg&t=3150s'>[52:30]
2. Worship in Suffering: Job's response to his immense suffering was to worship God. This teaches us that true worship is not dependent on our circumstances but on God's unchanging nature. Worshiping God in the midst of trials is a profound act of faith that honors Him and defies the enemy's attempts to break us.

3. Intercession for Our Children: Job's regular practice of offering sacrifices for his children underscores the importance of interceding for our loved ones. As parents and grandparents, our prayers can cover and protect our children, guiding them even when we are not physically present. This spiritual responsibility is a powerful act of love and faith.

4. The Power of Presence: When Job's friends came to comfort him, they sat with him in silence for seven days. This act of presence without words highlights the importance of simply being there for those who are suffering. Sometimes, our presence and silent support can be more comforting than any words we might offer.

5. Endurance in Faith: The story of Job teaches us the value of enduring faith. Despite his immense suffering, Job remained steadfast in his faith, demonstrating that true endurance involves abiding under burdensome circumstances while maintaining trust in God's ultimate compassion and mercy. This endurance is a testament to our faith and a witness to others.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[52:30] - Boldness in Faith
[53:42] - Introduction to the Book of Job
[55:01] - The Mystery of God's Ways
[55:45] - Job's Righteousness and Family
[56:34] - Job's Concern for His Children
[57:34] - Intercession for Our Children
[58:45] - The Importance of Affirmation
[60:12] - Satan's Access to God
[63:15] - Satan's Attack on Job
[66:13] - The Essentials of Life
[68:42] - Job's Response to Loss
[70:05] - Worship in Suffering
[74:05] - Satan's Second Attack
[75:08] - Job's Physical Suffering
[78:33] - The Power of Presence
[80:16] - Job's Lament
[83:56] - The Need for Mutual Support
[87:10] - Endurance in Faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 4:17-20 (NKJV) — > "But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

2. Job 1:1-5 (NKJV)
> "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly."

3. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
> "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

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Observation Questions

What was Peter and John's response when they were commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus? ([52:30])
How is Job described in Job 1:1, and what were his regular practices concerning his children? ([55:45])
What does Isaiah 55:8-9 say about God's thoughts and ways compared to ours? ([55:01])
How did Job respond to the immense suffering and loss he experienced? ([01:10:05])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Peter and John felt compelled to continue speaking about Jesus despite the threats they faced? ([52:30])
What does Job's regular practice of offering sacrifices for his children tell us about his character and his relationship with God? ([55:45])
How does the passage from Isaiah 55:8-9 help us understand the story of Job and his suffering? ([55:01])
What can we learn from Job's response to his suffering about the nature of true worship? ([01:10:05])

Application Questions

Boldness in Faith: Peter and John could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard. Reflect on your own life. Are there situations where you feel hesitant to speak about your faith? What steps can you take to be bolder in proclaiming the name of Jesus? ([52:30])
Worship in Suffering: Job worshiped God despite his immense suffering. Think about a difficult time in your life. How did you respond? How can you cultivate a heart of worship even in the midst of trials? ([01:10:05])
Intercession for Our Children: Job regularly interceded for his children. If you are a parent or grandparent, how can you make intercession for your children a regular part of your spiritual practice? If you are not, who in your life can you regularly pray for? ([57:34])
The Power of Presence: Job's friends sat with him in silence for seven days. Reflect on a time when someone was present for you in your suffering. How can you be a comforting presence for someone else who is going through a difficult time? ([01:18:33])
Endurance in Faith: Job's story teaches us the value of enduring faith. Are there areas in your life where you feel like giving up? How can you draw strength from Job's example to endure with faith and trust in God's ultimate compassion and mercy? ([01:27:10])
Understanding God's Ways: Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. How can this perspective help you trust God more deeply in situations that you don't understand? ([55:01])
Practical Worship: Job worshiped God despite his circumstances. What are some practical ways you can incorporate worship into your daily life, regardless of your current situation? ([01:10:05])

Sermon Clips

1. "I'm praying that for this church. I'm praying that we can't shut up about Jesus. I'm praying no matter who comes to us and tells us that we have to shut up about Jesus, that we continue to talk about Jesus. Because why is it when somebody cusses, they never say, Ah, Buddha. Why don't they say, Oh, Mohammed? They don't say that. Why do they use the name of Jesus when we get upset? Because there's power in the name of Jesus, and he's King of kings, and he's Lord of lords, and that's what we believe in this church, that that's who he is, and he's good." [53:05] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "It amazes me that we can go and sit before the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the one who gives us breath, and we don't have an awe factor of that. How many of us, we take the breath that I'm breathing right now, for granted? I'm taking that for granted. It's only. You know, I had strep throat when I was like 12, and I didn't realize how many times I swallowed until you have a sore throat. It's like you don't want to swallow anymore. You just want to spit that saliva out because it hurts so much. And oftentimes, we've heard this all before, you don't know how much you got until it's not there anymore. Man, why can't I just come to that point and just say, praise God for what I do have." [56:54] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And so I encourage you, I know you mamas and your daddies, you grandmas and grandpas, you are praying for your children. And that's a good thing. Cover them with God. So when they come up against a decision to make, it's like, no, no, I'm praying. I'm interceding for that child. And that child sees that and says, nope, not going to do that. Praise God for that. You don't have to be in their presence to be a protector of them. Amen." [58:07] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I heard a pastor say this week, it was so good. He says, daddies and grandpas, you should, your daughters and granddaughters should know how beautiful they are because of you. Because if they don't hear it from you, they're going to search for it somewhere else. And Johnny down the street will be willing to tell them how beautiful they are if you don't tell them. It should not be a surprise to our daughters that somebody else thinks they're beautiful if we have never told them that. We should, for to protect that little heart when they go out and meet that dork that we can't stand, they should know how much they're loved because of you, not because of Joey down the street." [58:45] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Church, Satan was focused on maximizing his advantage. God said, you can do this much, and Satan went for it. Now, I want to tell you this. Any foothold, any open door you give to Satan, he is going to maximize what you just did. What do you mean, Tim? What I mean is, oh, I'm just going to go have lunch with my co-worker. Nothing's going to happen. Oh, did you forget to mention your co-worker is hot? Did you forget to mention that part? Why play with that? There's no reason as a Christian man, as a Christian woman, that you should be playing with that fire. The Bible says, hey, can you pour? Can you pour holes in your lap and not get burned? It's like, stop playing with it." [01:04:34] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Then Job arose. Do you guys know in a moment's time, your wealth, your possessions, and all your children are taken away? What do you do? What do you do when that happens? Last week, interesting story. My son Chandler spoke, and at 5 o'clock in the morning, he texted me, Dad, the power's out. I said, yeah, the power's out here too. He said, do you think the power's out at church? I said, I have no idea. When things don't go the way that we anticipated them going, what do we do? God forbid we've had people in this house lose a child. Pastor Kevin. Mama, can I say this? Mama just went to be with Jesus on Tuesday, Monday. He's like, Tim, I've never been in this situation before. How do we go through this? What do you do?" [01:09:22] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. Really? That's what Job did? What When you took out, you took out my money, you took out my income, you took out my cattle, you took out my family, you took out 10 of my children, all of my children, you took them out, and the Bible says that Job worshiped the Lord. Now, that's why I say I want to be like that. That's why I say no matter what this world gives to me, I want to continue to worship the Lord no matter what. In the midst of mourning, Job, he decided to worship God to save his life. Despite his circumstances and feelings." [01:10:05] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Church, is praise real when we only praise him when everything's fine? That seems like I ain't praising him for who he is. I'm praising him for what? What he gives. And when Job can worship him in the midst of chaos, that is worship. That is worship. I want to show a video from Boston Celtics coach Job Mazzulla. And I'm not going to make light of anybody's situation in this house. That's not what that's about. It's a matter of worshiping the Lord, no matter what. That's what this is about. No matter what the circumstance presents itself. It's about worshiping the Lord. That's what this is about." [01:12:23] (84 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "But he said to her, you speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept? Shall we accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity and all this Job did not sin with his lips? Now that's a place where it was kind of a mic drop to his wife. He's like, hey, I'm going to accept whatever comes to me from the Lord. It doesn't matter what comes to me from the Lord. I'm still going to worship him because he's the king of kings and the Lord of lords. No matter what you tell me, no matter what somebody else tells me, I'm still going to worship him. I don't care what you say." [01:15:44] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Church, I thank you for showing up here today. I thank you and God bless you for that. But until you by yourself come into relationship with Jesus Christ yourself, God doesn't have grandchildren. You guys hear my heart, man? You need to taste and see that the Lord is good for you. For you. Not for somebody else. For you." [01:26:17] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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