Afflicted Through Affirmation

with me we want to jump into the word of the

lord today amen we're gonna read a very short

portion of a of the scripture in job chapter

Job 1:8

1 verse 8 i mean if you don't have it it's up

there on the uh on the projector screen amen

job chapter 1 verse 8 portion of scripture simply

Job 1:8

reads then the lord said to satan have you considered

my servant Job. Then the Lord said to Satan,

have you considered my servant Job? Amen. Let

us go before the Lord. Heavenly Father, we come

before you today, Lord. We give you honor. We

give you glory. Lord, we pray, Father, that you

open up our hearts. God, open up our minds, Lord.

Lord, that we would receive your word today,

Father, that your word would lift us up, God.

That your word would encourage us today, Father,

Lord. Jesus, hallelujah, that we would adhere

to the instructions of your word today, God.

Lord, use your vessel, God. Use me, God. Anoint

my lips of clay, Father, Lord. Anoint our ears,

our hearts, God. Those that are watching online

and those who could not be here today, Father,

Lord. Bless them, Father. In the name of Jesus,

we pray. Amen. You may be seated. Amen. Have

you considered, my servant Job, what if everything

that we thought about life's fairness was suddenly

challenged? What if the righteous suffered while

the wicked prospered and heaven itself seemed

silent in our pain? And what if we were stripped

from everything, your family, your livelihood,

your health, your wealth, and left with only

nothing but questions. This isn't a hypothetical.

It's a story of Job, a man whose trials echoed

across time, offering both mystery and meaning

to all who dare grapple with the hardest questions

of life. Job's story is one of a man once called

blameless and upright, and he found himself seated

in the ashes of his faith, tested to the breaking

point of his life. He was the picture of prosperity

and devotion. He was a man who feared God and

turned away from evil. He was blessed with wealth.

a large family, unshakable faith. But all of

it, every single blessing, every bit of joy was

stripped away in a whirlwind of tragedy. His

herds were stolen. His servants were strained

and killed. His children were lost in a sudden

calamity. And as if that wasn't enough, It meant

his body was afflicted with painful sores, leaving

him unrecognizable and utterly broken. Yet through

all of this, Job did not curse God. Instead,

he asked the question that haunts all of us today.

Why? Why, Lord? Why? What makes Job's story even

more remarkable is what happens beyond our visible

world in a heavenly courtroom where Satan challenges

God, claiming Job's faith is shallow and a product

of his blessings. God allows Satan to test Job.

This setting the stage for a cosmic drama that

explores the deepest questions of human suffering

and divine sovereignty and the nature of faith

itself. What amazes me even more is that Job

was not a superhero. Job did not have a cape.

He did not have a superpower. Job was merely...

Flesh and bone, like you and I. I want you to

know that Job's suffering didn't come because

he failed. It came because God affirmed him.

Job's suffering didn't come because he failed.

It came because God affirmed him. And very quickly,

I want us to look at the man named Job. The Bible

says in Job 1 .1, it reads, there was a man in

the land of Uz whose name was Job. 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 7

,000 sheep, 3 ,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen,

500 female donkeys, and a large household. So

that this man was the greatest of all the people

of the east. We're talking about a man. Flesh

and bone. Like you and I. God declared him unique

among men. And Job's character is introduced

with some of the most remarkable words ever spoken

about a person. in the Bible. Imagine having

your entire life summarized in such an astounding

term. Who was this man that the Lord spoke of

and what made his faith so extraordinary? As

I mentioned, Job was just merely a man, flesh

and bone, imperfect because he was flesh, but

in God's eyes, he was perfect. He was a devoted

father, amen, and a devoted servant of his community.

He was a figure of influence and respected by

most. And most importantly, he was respected

by God. Job was a man of unparalleled reverence

and faith. And in Colossians chapter 2, verse

Colossians 2:6–7

6 through 7. Amen. We receive the instructions

and how we should live for God or one of the

instructions as Job did. It reads, so then just

as you receive Christ Jesus as Lord, continue

to live your lives in him, rooted and built up

in him. Strengthen in the faith as you were taught

and overflowing with thankfulness. Thankfulness.

This was how Job lived day in, Day out. From

the moment that he woke up. He woke up in devotion.

To the moment that he laid his head down to rest.

He was in devotion. Unto God. And this is not

to say that Job was sinless. Because as a man

no one is perfect. Except for Christ. But Christ

had lived. Amen. The only one to live without

sin. But the Lord did say that Job. Was blameless.

And in a sense that in his heart. He was steadfast.

And aligned with God. Because of his desire.

To please him. I know it's hot so bear with me.

The word blameless. It signifies a life. Of integrity.

Moral uprightness. And a deep. Fear of God. This

fear was not the fear of punishment. But it was

a fear of genuine love and devotion for God.

Job's devotion was deep and it was heartfelt.

In fact, the opening verse of the book tells

us that he would regularly rise in the morning

to offer sacrifices on behalf of his own children.

Because see, Job wasn't just worried about himself

and how he pleased God. He was concerned about

how his family. Please, God. And the Bible says

in chapter 1, verse 5, that in the morning he

would rise early and he would offer burnt offerings

up to the Lord for each of his children. And

he would say that perhaps my children have sinned

and have cursed God in their hearts. So Job did

this regularly. Every single day he interceded

for his children and his family. This was an

act of intercession, and this reveals a man who

cared deeply for his family, their spiritual

well -being, and his desire to ultimately please

God. Job embodied the scriptures that we read.

Job embodied the scriptures that we say out loud.

Job lived these scriptures out each and every

day in 1 John 3, verse 22. And we receive from

1 John 3:22

him anything that we ask because we keep his

commandments and do what pleases him. In Hebrews

Hebrews 11:6

chapter 11 verse 6, it says, but without faith

it is impossible to please him. For he who comes

to God must believe that he is and that he is

a rewarder of those who diligently seek after

him. This was Job's daily practice. This was

Job, hallelujah, kneeling and praying at the

altar as dawn broke over the desert, offering

prayers and sacrifices for himself and for his

family and for their unseen sins. This detail

about Job's life speaks volumes about his faith.

Job understood that righteousness was not just

a matter of outward behavior. but of the heart.

He was not only concerned with his own standing

before God, but he was concerned about the spiritual

condition of his entire family. And I want to

pose a question to each and one of you, each

and every one of you today. How often do you

wake up in the morning and the first thing you

ask yourself is, hallelujah, how can I please

God today? How often do we fall on our knees

and we cry out to God and we say, God, do you

find my life pleasing unto you? What do you desire

of me and what would you have of me for today?

What songs do you want me to sing? What type

of praise are you worthy of today? Is our heart

filled with this concern? Over how we are pleasing

God. This was Job's heart. This was Job's life.

Now, unbeknownst to Job, while Job was just living

his life, praying, taking care of his family,

there was a challenge and consideration that

was taking place in the heavenly realm. And the

book of Job, amen, wastes no time in setting

the stage for such a celestial confrontation.

Because as the angels gathered in heaven, God

turns his attention to Satan. And he asks Satan,

where do you come from? Because while Satan was

prowling the world like a predator that he is,

seeking who he may devour, he steps into the

gates, amen, and into the courtship of God. God

looks up and he says, hey, Satan, where are you

coming from? Satan says, you know, just walking,

roaming the earth, see me who I can devour, trying

to find the weak link in your chain. Trying to

seek the one that doesn't think they need to

pray this morning. Looking after the one that

thinks that everything is okay until it's not.

You know, just up to my dirty tricks. You know

me, God. It's what I do. God did not say in a

question. He says, okay, while saying. He says,

have you considered my servant Job? that there

is none like him on earth, a blameless and unright

man, one who fears God and shuns from evil. Now

imagine the weight of the declaration that God

just made upon Job's life. God himself pointed

to Job as an example of righteousness, a man

whose life rejects unwavering faith, excuse me,

projects unwavering faith. But Satan, true to

his name, the accuser, he seizes the opportunity,

and he says, okay, God, challenge accepted. So

Satan answered the Lord, amen, and he says, does

Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a

hedge around him and his household? Around all

that he has and everything. Hallelujah. Amen.

That you have put on his side. You have blessed

the work of his hands. His possessions. And have

increased the land that he lives on. Now stretch

out your hand and touch all that he is. And he

will surely curse you to your face. Satan accused

Job's faith of being shallow and mere a byproduct

of God's blessings. If you were there, I'm sure

you can feel the tension in this moment because

Satan isn't just questioning Job's motives. He's

questioning God's character. He implies that

God's blessings are mere bribes and that Job's

devotion is transactional. And that no one would

truly worship God without the promise of reward.

This is an accusation that cuts to the heart

of the relationship between the creator and his

creation. God doesn't rebuke Satan outright,

and nor did he deny his challenge. Instead, he

permits Satan to test Job. He says, amen, behold,

all... that he has is in your power. Now the

stage is set, amen, for this cosmic drama, one

that will test not only Job's faith, but also

the very nature of human devotion to God. And

I want to pose a question, amen, to you all,

amen, and that question is so common, and it

singles out in our minds every time something

happens to us. Why would God allow this to happen

to Job? Why would God give Job's life over to

Satan? Why would God allow Satan to test Job,

a man that God himself declared righteous? A

man that God, hallelujah, knew shunned from evil

and turned from evil ways, so devoted to God,

lived to please God. At first glance, we might

seem that this is cruel, but this moment reveals

something profound about God's sovereignty, because

God, hallelujah, not only has conquered death,

hell, and the grave, but he is sovereign over

it. Satan operates within limits set by God.

And even in his malice, Satan cannot thwart God's

ultimate purposes in our lives. The test is not

a sign that God's indifference, but the test

is confidence in Job's faith and in the greater

plan that God, amen, has revealed so that he

would receive the glory. Somebody give the Lord

a round of applause. We've got to understand

that the same confidence that Job had in God

was the same confidence that God had in Job.

This suggests that God also have a level of trust

and confidence in a mere man. Recognizing Job's

potential for good and his capacity to fulfill

his purpose. Because in Luke 12, 48, it reads,

when someone has been given much, much will be

required in return. We have to understand that

when God calls us to ministry, to purpose, and

he lays out this plan before our lives, you have

to know that you are going to be tested. The

way is not going to be made easy. Some of our

journeys, amen, have been tragic. Some of our

journeys have been horrendous. Some of our journeys

might not have gone the way we thought or the

way that we planned. But rest assured, there

is purpose in your journey. Rest assured that

at the end of your days, God is going to look

at you, amen, and lay the crown of life upon

your head, amen, and welcome you in to the gates

of heaven. let you know that your reward is great

because you finished your race. The question

is why? Why would God and how could a God have

so much faith in a man? God's confidence in humanity

was implemented in the beginning in the book

of Genesis because the Bible says that we were

made in his image. And God said, let us make

man in our image after our likeness. Mankind

was created, amen, with intrinsic meaning, meaning

that the essential nature of God, we were made

from the core of God himself, inheriting value

and purpose and the capability of reflecting

God's character. Number two, God has given us

authority and purpose. Amen. In Proverbs 8, 4

-6, what is a man that thou art mindful of him?

For thou has made him a little lower than the

angels and has crowned him with glory and honor.

God honors humanity in trusting us with authority

and his purpose. And thirdly, God seeks us. Did

you know that God, he seeks you? Do you know

that we're not the only, that we don't just seek

God, but God actually seeks us? Because the scripture

reads in 2 Chronicles, it says, For the eyes

of the Lord run to and to and throughout the

whole earth to show himself strong in behalf

of them whose heart is perfect towards him. The

reason why God has so much confidence in Job

is because Job, you and I were created in the

image, amen, and in the likeness of God. And

God had trusted him because he had given him

the authority and the purpose in which God had

granted for his life. And then God sought out

Job because Job, God knew that the end of Job's

days, with Job enduring the trial, God would

receive the glory. This is how much trust God

has in you and I today. So when you are feeling

lonely and you are feeling, amen, afraid. When

you are feeling weak and you are feeling saddened.

When you are feeling that God isn't listening

and God isn't hearing your prayers. Rest assured

that God has called each and every one of you,

amen, to carry out the will for your life. God

is trusting you the same way. He trusted Job.

Job was such a man of faith, amen, that when

everything started to fall apart, Job worshiped

God in the worst possible time of his entire

life. In Job 1 -12, it reads, and the Lord said

to Satan, behold that he has in your power And

only do not lay a hand on his person. So Job

went out the presence of the Lord. And imagine

Job being unaware of this conversation. Being

unaware of this agreement. Amen. That unfolded

in the heavenly realms. As he was faithfully

going about his day. As he always did. He has

no idea that he has become the focal point of

a celestial wager. And yet his faith was about

to be tested in ways he could never imagine.

Job's lack of knowledge of the situation mirrors

our very own. Because when we often face trials,

we face them blindly without any understanding

as to why. Job's story assures us that even in

the unseen God, hallelujah, that God is working

in the background. God is working in the darkness.

That even though God allowed the devil to touch

his body, even though God allowed the devil,

hallelujah, to do his work, that God was still

in control. Hallelujah. I serve a God that is

in control. When I feel like all hell is breaking

loose and I feel like I don't know whether I'm

coming or going, I know that God is in control.

And as I thought about this, I can picture Job

just sitting up in his office looking over the

view, amen, of all the land that he owned, all

the cattle, all the donkeys, all the oxen, knowing

that his children were off having a party at

his oldest son's house. Everybody's having a

day. There's no need of anything. The sun is

shining. The birds are chirping. And Job is just

sitting in there. Looking over his books. A man

checking his daily inventory like I'm sure he

normally did. And then suddenly Job gets a knock

on the door. Job says, too early. I'm not expecting

any company. Job gets up and he opens the door.

The Bible says that a messenger comes running

in. And he said, Job, Job. He said, the oxen

were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them.

And the Sabians raided them and took them away.

Indeed, they have killed the servants with the

edge of the sword. And I alone have escaped to

tell you. Can you imagine Job just looking at

his servants and saying, okay, okay, let me,

hold on, give me a minute. Job sits back down.

He said, okay, well, 500 oxen, donkey, okay.

Scratches him off. Minuses from the inventory.

Okay, we're still good. We're okay. We're still

good. We're okay. We're okay. We're good. Don't

worry. We're good. Job gets a second knock on

the door. Let him in. Second servant comes in.

And while they were speaking, he says, the Chaldeans

formed three bands and raided the camels and

took them away. Yes, and killed the servants

with the edge of the sword. I alone have escaped

and I came to tell you. George said, Job, man,

I'm having a morning. Okay, well, let me take

a look at this and let me see what's going on.

Job looks and he reads down and he said, okay,

well, 3 ,000 camel. Okay, well, let me scratch

that list. Let me scratch it off the list. Let

me remove it from the inventory. And while he's

doing that, another knock on the door. Jeez.

Okay, let him in. Hey, Job, Job, I came to show

you that the fire of God fell down from heaven,

burned up all the sheep, man. We got no sheep.

Oh, and by the way, all the servants are dead.

Wait, what? What do you mean? There's nothing

left, Job. Hey, and I can just imagine the three

servants standing in front of Job just huffing

and puffing like, man, what are we going to do?

We got nothing left. Job goes down, looks at

his inventory, looks at his books. Okay, well,

okay, no more oxen, no more donkeys, no more

sheep, no more camel. Okay, well, you know what?

I got my wife. I got my children. I got my house.

I think I'm good. We're okay. We'll recover.

God will never leave me nor forsake me. We're

okay. We're good. Oh, God. If I was Job, man,

my stomach would have fell to the floor. Wait,

wait. Camel gun, oxen, donkey, sheep. What's

next? Servant comes running in. And he says,

Job, Job, man, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Job. I'm

sorry, man. I'm sorry. But your sons and daughters

were eating and drinking. At the older brother's

house, suddenly a gray wind came, Job, just from

out of nowhere. I checked the weather. I checked

the app on my phone, man. It said we were clear,

sunny. I don't know where this wind came from,

Job. And I looked up, man, and I saw the house.

The house shook, and the house fell, man. Job,

I'm sorry, Job. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, man, but

the kids are gone, bro. Sons and daughters of

God. You know, I sat there and I could just believe.

I need to remind all of you that I know when

we read these stories and I know we preach on

these things and we talk about these things.

We have to remember these aren't folk tales.

This isn't make believe. This happened. This

transpired in a man's life. Where he not only

lost everything that God gave him, he also lived

with everything that he had and he gave back

to God. He lived his life fully and unto the

Lord. He gave everything unto the Lord when he

woke up and when he went to bed, he prayed over

his children. He asked God to forgive them for

their unseen sin. He did this regularly. And

now in a matter of a day, it's all gone. Everything's

gone. I can't even imagine looking at my children

when something's wrong with them. I'm constantly

asking them, are you okay? Is everything all

right? Or God forbid they get sick. And I'm constantly

running to my children and I'm checking on them.

Are you okay? Are you guys okay? Are you comfortable?

Are you okay? What would I do? If I was Job.

Why, God? Why would you take my children? I got

nothing left. I got nothing left. The anguish,

the pain, the disbelief. Job's story speaks to

anyone who has faith. face moments of doubt and

pain, wondering, God, why, God, would you allow

such a suffering to take place in my life? What

about my neighbor? I know that guy ain't living

for you. What about that dude down the street,

God? He only goes to church on Easter. God, what

about that person that speaks bad against his

brother and sister? God, why would you do this

to me? Why, God? Why? Job does the one thing,

and he's a better man than I am, and I'm not

afraid to admit that. Because the Bible says,

that immediately Job arose. He tore his robe

and he shaved his head. He fell to the ground

and he whispered, naked I come from my mother's

womb and naked I shall return there. The Lord

gave and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the

name of the Lord. And in all this, Job did not

sin, nor did he charge, amen, God with any wrongdoing.

Job thought he had his wife. His wife wasn't

there for him. Although his wife suffered this

with Job, she did lose her children as well.

She did lose everything, her possessions. She

lost it all. And when Job turned and looked at

her, she told Job, curse God and die, man. I

can't see you like this, Job. You're suffering.

It's too much for me. I can't deal with this.

Pianist, if you're ready, you can come up. And

Job tells her, he said, women, you speak of a

woman with a foolish mouth. Because how could

we accept everything good from God and not accept

the bad things? Why is it when the sun is shining

and everything's going great and everything's

going our way, we can come into the house of

the Lord, we can sing, we can worship, we can

praise God, hallelujah, but the moment that things

don't look right, The moment that things don't

work out for us. The moment you don't get that

promotion. The moment you don't get the job that

you were praying about. The moment the healing

doesn't come when you wanted it to come. The

moment, hallelujah, when things just go off to

the side. Things just don't work out the way

you want them to. The way you need them to. How

about when God doesn't answer you? How about

when God, hallelujah, doesn't give you the answer

when you think you need it? How about when God

doesn't respond when you need the response? How

about when changes occur in your life? When everything

is perfectly fine and all of a sudden there's

a sharp left and things start to go wrong? What

about when your bank account tells you that you

don't have enough? What about when you're feeling

good one day and the next day you go to the doctor

and they say we don't know what happened but

we think you might have cancer. We think you

might have leukemia. Something's wrong with your

heart. What about when everything turns upside

down? And we come into the house of the Lord

with our heads bowed. How about when things don't

go right in church? Because church is supposed

to be a perfect place. My friend, it's not. How

about when the preacher says something that you

don't like? When pastor makes a decision and

nobody's in alignment, nobody is agreeing with

it. And we get mad and we get upset. And we take

it out on God. God didn't do that to us. This

is what happens when there is a lack of understanding.

Because when Proverbs, it reads, with all you

get, get understanding. See, this is a natural

reaction of our flesh. When we don't understand

something, we react to it. We respond to it in

our flesh. We question in our flesh. Why, God?

Why did that happen? Why did this take place?

There's no understanding. There isn't anything

there for us to grasp for. So we respond to it

in a way that we feel that we think we need to

respond. How about responding to it the way Job

did? You know, I remember a few years back. My

wife and I, we experienced a financial hardship

that we have never, ever experienced before.

And I'll be honest with you, it was a hardship

that I never expected. And the first time I ever

experienced this in my adult life, everything

that I did that was easy to me became hard. Everything.

It felt like the well had dried up. At the time,

I was doing a lot of things. And like my father

would tell me, most of the time you're doing

way too much. But I was trying, man. I was trying.

I was trying to support my family. I was trying

to do the things that I wanted to do for my wife

and my kids. You know, Brother Jason, one day

the calls stopped coming. No more work. The people

that I was calling back for work, because at

the time I was self -employed. Hey, Dave, great

to hear from you, but no, we're not interested.

Hey, you know what? We thought we'd just wait

for next year. No problem. Hey, you know what?

Something came up. We don't have the money. Sorry,

Dave. Thanks for the call. And I started to wonder,

like, man, what's going on? And you guys know

the bills don't stop coming. Rent doesn't stop

being due. The kids don't stop needing things.

You still got to buy food and groceries. Life

goes on, man. And week after week, I'm dealing

with this thing, just staying quiet, dealing

with this thing in my prayer. And you know, I'm

not ashamed to admit this to you because we're

all human and I know we've been there. I start

to get frustrated. And in my prayer, my prayer

starts to change. And instead of being thankful

and grateful for waking me up this morning, I

start asking God, why is this happening, man?

Why can't I just get one? One job, God, that's

all I need, just one. Forget about real estate,

that dried up. It was gone. So I talked to my

dad and talked to my dad. My dad had work. My

dad was getting work. Well, what's going on,

dad? What am I doing wrong? I don't know, son.

Keep going. Keep pushing. Dad, maybe I need to

go get another job. How many jobs are you going

to get? You're only one person. You're only one

man. I started to talk to my wife about these

things because I don't come to her unless I absolutely

have to. Josh, you know what? We need to start

praying, man. I don't know what's going on. I

don't have no answers. And the whole time, coming

to church, having to preach, having to teach,

having to sing, worship, pray for people when

I'm the one that needed to pray. Going home,

coming back. Telling Josh I'm getting tired,

man. One month passed. Two months passed. Three

months passed. Four, five, six months. I'm starting

to check myself. What am I doing wrong? God,

am I sinning against you? Maybe I'm not praying

right. I'm not doing something right. Maybe I'm

not making myself available to you. What is it,

God? But knowing in the back of my mind that

finances money is nothing to God. Because the

Bible says that heaven is paved with streets

of gold. God uses these gems and these jewels

that we admire and we seek after. We even kill

for them. God uses them as decorations in heaven.

It's nothing to God. And I start saying, God,

something's got to happen, man. Something's got

to happen. I feel like I'm going to break down.

I feel like I'm going to. I really started to

feel this way. Finally, one day I talked to my

dad. And I tell my dad, Dad, I can't do this.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Josh is worried.

I will tell you how bad it got. Three days away

from the car being repossessed. Five hours away

from the PG &E being shut off. I called one of

my pastor friends. Hey, man, you got to give

me something. I need something. This is not supposed

to happen. It's not supposed to happen. He says,

you know what, Brother David? You're in the will

of God. What? It happened to me too. My PG &E

was shut off. Nobody knows. I went to work. I

trusted in God. I didn't stop serving him. I

kept praising. I kept praying. I kept fighting.

I kept going. And the PG &E was shut off. And

I said to my pastor friend, how did you accept

that? What happened to the child, to the people

of God? Why would God do this? He says, I don't

know. But it did. I said, so what did you do?

I love him for this. Because he said, you know

what we did? That night we had prayer meeting

at my house. All the lights are off. Come on

over and pray. Don't you turn off the lights

when you pray at home? That's what we did. We

gathered and we prayed. So what are you telling

me? Pray. Pray. That day, I cried out to God.

Cried out to God, and I just thank God for it

all. You know why? Because in the midst of it,

my children were okay. My wife was okay. The

roof was still over our head. PG &E hadn't shut

off yet. We got food on the table. Somehow, rent

was paid. I knew that there were things pending.

But in that moment, I didn't care. All I cared

about was being in the presence of God. That

day, I got up and I went to work. I was supposed

to finish painting this house. Weeks ago, but

she kept tacking it on, tacking it on. So guess

what that did? Although it meant it was more

money, it kept prolonging the pay. So finally,

3 o 'clock, two hours before the PG &E is cut,

and I said, Lord, I am not calling my wife and

telling her to get the kids and take them to

my mom's house. That is not going to happen.

It's not going to happen. So I call. Took a break

and I called. And I've called plenty of times.

The deadline's done. You're overdue. You need

to pay. And I call. And I talk to the lady on

the other land. She goes, you know, David, man,

we're getting ready. Five o 'clock, that's the

deadline. Okay, okay, but are you sure there's

nothing? Just till tomorrow. I'm going to get

paid today, but just till tomorrow. This cannot

happen. This can't happen. She says, hold on.

She comes back. She says this. I don't know if

you prayed today. But I just happened to click

on the button where it says to extend the deadline.

The deadline extended. I don't know what to tell

you. You have until tomorrow to pay the PG &E.

I sat in my truck, and I just began to thank

God. I know the car was due. I didn't even care

at that point. Finished up the job, went home.

And I'll tell you this, because... I want you

to understand the severity of where I was. Not

so you can feel sorry for me, but just so you

can be reminded of how great your God is. Because

when I got paid, it was just enough to get me

out of the month. It didn't even include what

I owed for the car. But I was like, okay, I'm

okay with that. It's okay. The next day I get

up, I'm like, okay, I got to do this all over

again. I got to go look for work. Here I go.

My phone goes off. There's a chime. I get a Zelle

payment. I don't remember accepting any work.

I don't remember. My mom calls. She said, I was

praying this morning, and God said you needed

this. I don't accept money from my parents. My

dad raised me and my brother. Your family is

your responsibility. If you got to go pull weeds,

you better work. I do thank God for my parents.

Don't get me wrong. They're there. But I said,

Mom, I didn't ask for this. She said, God told

me you did. I don't know what you need it for.

But it's there. I cried out so loud to God. And

I learned a valuable lesson, church. We are not

in control. And that when we experience things

and we go through things, it's because on the

other end, God is going to receive the glory.

Because even though Job was blameless, upright,

and pleased God, Job lost everything. And God

didn't even flinch. He told the devil, take it.

Because in the end, the Bible says that Job repented

in his ashes. And the Bible says that Job, because

he had a conversation with God, and he told God,

I see you. I get it. I know why this happened.

I know why I experienced this. I know why you

allowed this to happen to me. And the Bible says

that God then turned around and he gave Job a

double portion. I didn't share what I shared

with you so you can feel sorry for me. It has

nothing to do with me because none of you even

knew that I experienced this. I shared this with

you to help you. Because sometimes we think we

got it all until we don't. And then we feel that

we did something wrong, so God took it away.

That's not true. God has so much faith in you

that he knew that if he took it away, you were

still going to be okay. He knew that if you didn't

have it, you were still going to be okay. He

knew that if you didn't know what was going to

happen from here and now, that you knew in your

heart of hearts that he would never leave you

nor forsake you. Come on, stand with me. Job

was already affirmed, yet... God allowed him

to be afflicted. There are things in your life

that you've experienced. And you might even be

experiencing those things now. But rest assured,

God allowed it because he knew you were capable

of handling it. The Bible says that he chastises

the ones that he loves. We are his children.

He's never going to leave us alone. We're never

by ourselves. Listen, your need might not have

been as great as mine was. Maybe you haven't

experienced something that drastic, or maybe

you have, or maybe you're experiencing it now.

But I want you to know that the way out of it

is to worship. When we can see past our own needs

and focus on the one who woke us up this morning.

Focus on the one who's given us life. Focus on

the one who's given us another day. Focus on

the one who's allowed us to breathe the air that

pumps in and out of our lungs. You will forget

your need. And you will experience God in such

a way.