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Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials (selected Scriptures from Job) Home of Christians Summer Conference 2018 “Trusting God in Life’s Trials” June 30, 2018

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Our Dilemma Good People Good Things OK  Bad People Bad Things Good People Good Things ? Why Bad People Bad Things

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Our Dilemma God’s People Good Things OK  Bad People Bad Things God’s People Good Things ? Why Bad People Bad Things

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials The Book of Job Old Testament Genesis Exodus . Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Who was Job? Job was a good/godly person. He was “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). Job was a blessed person. “He had seven sons and three daughters” (Job 1:2). “…he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants” (Job 1:3). “He was the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1:3).

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Job’s Trials In one day, Job lost everything. He lost all of his wealth (Job 1:13-17). He lost all of his children (Job 1:18-19). Then, Job lost his health. He had “painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head” (Job 2:7).

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Faith & Suffering 1 Peter 1:6b-7 …you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Faith does not exempt us from suffering. Suffering reveals the substance of our faith.

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials One Tragedy, Two Responses Job “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10) Job’s Wife “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9)

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Behind the Scene: Job’s Faith Questioned “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 1:9-11) “A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 2:4-5)

Why do bad things happen to good people? Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials The Real Question Addressed in the Book of Job Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do we serve / trust / worship God? Do we serve God because of what we can get out of it? Do we curse God if God allows unpleasant things our way?

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Substance of Faith Revealed Job’s faith in God: Helped Job to rise above his circumstances because his faith did not depend on God’s blessings. Proved Satan was wrong: not everyone believes in God for what can be gained. Job’s wife’s faith in God: Was destroyed by the same circumstances because her faith depended upon God’s blessings. Proved Satan was right: some believe in God because they expect to gain from God.

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials The Refining of Job’s Faith While Job responded with incredible faith… “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10) “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…” (Job 13:15a) Job also struggled… “I will surely defend my ways to his face.” (Job 13:15b) “How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin.” (Job 13:23) “Though I cry, ‘I’ve been wronged!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.” (Job 19:7)

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Job’s Encounter with God Job, do you understand everything (Job 38-39)? Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” (Job 38:1-3) Job was speechless in light of God’s majesty. “I am unworthy-how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer-twice, but I will say no more.” (Job 40:4-5)

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials Job’s Encounter with God Job, can you control everything (Job 40-41)? “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm: ‘Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s?” (Job 40:6-9) Job was humbled in light of God’s power. “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted… Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know… My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6)

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials When we encounter trials, remember… What are the trials revealing to me about my faith? Do I serve God because of what I can get out of it? Do I curse God if God allows unpleasant things my way? Do I still trust God even when I don’t understand all of His ways? Our faith in God does not exempt us from bad things in life, but our faith in God will carry us through the bad things in life.

Genuine Faith Trusts God in Trials What trials have you encountered / are you going through? What questions do you have from these trials? What answers have you received? Are you satisfied with the answers you received? If not, how do you cope with the tension inside? How is Job our example in how to trust God in life’s trials? Pray for each other to endure and trust God in our trials.