Wisdom from the Bible No Simple Answers Job 4:17-5:7; 19:1-6, 25-27

March 30, 2014 Prayer Requests Dan Dvorak & Family – Bereavement Dan Dvorak & Family – Bereavement Lucy McKinney -- Health Lucy McKinney -- Health Peggy & Danny -- Health Peggy & Danny -- Health Ruth Gawith -- Health Ruth Gawith -- Health Ginnie Jellison – Health Ginnie Jellison – Health Donnie Meeks -- Health Donnie Meeks -- Health Keith McNew – Salvation Keith McNew – Salvation James Alexander -- Salvation James Alexander -- Salvation

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SandraGreat Britain DavidMexico Saurabh Bangladesh, Angola, Namibia RuthIndia, Israel, Australia, New Zealand Keith & Ruth Switzerland SarahSwaziland WayneAfrica Born again at 30,000 feet By Bernie Slingerland On a plane to Panama that left Guatemala three and a half hours late, it is needless to say I was not very excited about about the situation, but the Lord had one of His divine appointments planned. There was a man seated next to me who started to talk with me; his name was Guy. He was born and raised in Israel, and he has lived in Panama for the last 18 years. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family, but he no longer practices. We began to talk about Panama, then Guy wanted to know about my vocation, so I explained I am a missionary in the Church of the Nazarene. I asked him if he celebrated Christmas. He said they have some special dinners and the rest. Then, I shared my personal testimony, which led to sharing the Gospel. I asked him if he had heard the Gospel before and he said no. I asked him if he would like to be “born again.” He responded, “Yes, I would!” So while the plane was halfway from Guatemala, Guy accepted Jesus Christ. I just happened to have a copy of the JESUS film in Spanish, Hebrew, English, and other languages. Guy was excited to know he could watch it in Hebrew. More importantly he was excited to be “born again” in the Christmas season.

Praying for the US & Canada Alexanders: CA, OK, GA, QC Vanderpool: NM (SE ABQ) Jellisons: UT, TX, AK Shultzs: CA, DC, MA, BC Moores: AZ, NM, DC, CA, YT, QC Abby Nielson: MA, OH, VT, QC Aliece Nielson: NM, VT, PEI L. Kilgore: VA, MI T. & P. Brown: IL, HW, PA, DC Nielsons: OH, PEI, VT, MA, RI Griffins: VT, OH, (Northeast) C. Yazzie: NM, AZ, & Navajo Nation Adams: NM, CA, MA B. Brown: GA, OR, ON B. Vito: NY,ID Arkansas church celebrates mortgage burning 14 years after tornado It's been a little more than 17 years since the Twin Rivers Church of the Nazarene was flattened in the 1997 tornado. It has taken the church that same amount of time to pay for the facility — valued now at about $1 million — they rebuilt in Caddo Valley in the months and years after the notorious storm. On Sunday, they'll be burning their mortgage during what has been a long-awaited service.

Psalm My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. [b] Psalm My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. [b]b

Some Questions When have you felt most forsaken by God? When have you felt most forsaken by God? Do you find it disconcerting not to have a “final answer” to some of the most difficult questions of life? Do you find it disconcerting not to have a “final answer” to some of the most difficult questions of life? Why in your opinion does God permit the righteous to suffer? Why in your opinion does God permit the righteous to suffer? Why would God withdraw His blessings from those who believe in Him? Why would God withdraw His blessings from those who believe in Him?

Job 4 (NIV) 17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker? 18 If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error, 19 how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth! 20 Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces; unnoticed, they perish forever. 21 Are not the cords of their tent pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?’

Poorly Timed Logic Do you find Eliphaz’ logic compelling? Did Job? How would you have ministered to Job? Do you think it would have helped?

Job 5 (NIV) “Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? 2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. 3 I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. 4 His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender. 5 The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. 6 For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. 7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. “Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? 2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. 3 I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. 4 His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender. 5 The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. 6 For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. 7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

Unhelpful Reprimand According to Eliphaz, what is Job’s problem? Do you agree? Do you agree that “man is born to trouble?” What is the New Testament view? Is it different from the view in Job?

Job 19 (NIV) Then Job replied: “How long will you torment me and crush me with words? 3 Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me. 4 If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone. 5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, 6 then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me…. 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

The Anchor for Life Guidelines for helping – Guidelines for helping – Don’t offer reasons for the tragedyDon’t offer reasons for the tragedy Don’t accuse the suffererDon’t accuse the sufferer Don’t try to fix thingsDon’t try to fix things Do you have a favorite Bible story, passage, verse to help you through tragedy? (Luke 5:17-26) Do you have a favorite Bible story, passage, verse to help you through tragedy? (Luke 5:17-26)

Wisdom from the Bible Next lesson The Wisdom of Humility Psalms 32:1-11

Wisdom Wisdom is the ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, knowledgeexperience understandingunderstanding, common sense, and insight 1common senseinsight 1 Corinthians 1:301 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 28 Feb Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 28 Feb

Proverbs The biblical proverbs are neither laws nor promises. They provide examples of how biblical faith ought to affect the lives of God’s people.