Wednesday Evening Message: So Close, Yet Zophar

I wonder if you have any friends.

Yeah. Friends, I'm sure you probably

have at least one friend. Maybe two.

Maybe three. How many good friends do you

have? Nobody has a lot of good

friends. We have a lot of Associates, a

lot of acquaintances but most of us have one two, maybe three

really good friends in our lifetime.

The question is, what kind of friends are they?

Jobe had friends. He had at least three friends

that we know of, I'm sure he had more.

I mean, after all he was a greatest man on the planet.

So I'm sure he had other friends.

We just don't know who they are, but he had at least three

friends, three friends. I think his wife was his friend,

I'm not so sure. I mean that she told him to

curse God and die. Maybe she wasn't his best

friend, I don't know. But he had at least three

friends, but with friends like Joe bad, who needs enemies,

right? Because his friends were not the

best of friends. In fact, when they began to

speak, they were condemning critical.

Condescending. Toward this person they believe

was a friend of theirs. And when you read a story of

job, you really begin to understand what's the best way

to communicate with people. And how not to communicate with

people. And job's friends.

Help us understand that tonight we come to jobs, third friend.

We've already heard what eliphaz has said and what build that is

said. But tonight we're going to hear

from a man named zophar. Some people believe that he is

the youngest of the three. Maybe he is.

That's because he speaks last and they would give preference

to age order. And so maybe he was the youngest

we don't know that for certain, but maybe that's The case, but

he's Brash. He's harsh, maybe he's trying to

gain the upper hand, on the other two are show the other

two, how much she knows. And, and how he can best them in

the in the conversation. But so far was close, but yet so

far from the truth. In fact, one author says it this

way. How sad it is when people who

should Shear Ministry, end up creating misery.

How tragic that? These three friends focused on

jobs words instead of the feelings Behind these words?

The Chinese proverb says, through conversing face-to-face,

their hearts have a thousand miles between them, how true

that is. As job sat in the ash Heap,

after all information is not the same as communication.

Information is giving out. Communication is getting

through. These men, these three friends

were interesting interested in informing job as to why he was

the way he was. But they did not communicate

with what job they were miles apart.

They would sit next to each other.

In the ass sheep. They would converse with one

another face-to-face. But their hearts were so far

apart. So, they could not communicate

to one another. We find that in marriages.

Do we not? We want to be close to our

spouse but sometimes our hearts are far from our spouse.

We want to inform our spouse as to what they did wrong and how

they did it wrong and how they could do it, right, or really,

how they could do it my way instead of their way.

We would inform them, give them information but we don't

communicate with them because we don't communicate heart-to-heart

just face-to-face. We find ourselves miles apart

instead of being closed. Instead of being intimate and

having a Ministry, we create misery and that's because our

hearts are so far from the truth.

And these men who believed in God, were still far from the

truth of how God's word applied to job.

So, zophar is going to speak, he's going to indict job in

three arenas. He's going to attack him when it

comes to his integrity. He's going to attack him when it

comes to his ignorance about God and attack him in his inability

to repent. Just 20 versus a very short

summation and then we'll spend some time in application as to

how these verses apply to your life and to mine.

Text begins in verse number. 1 of chapter 11, then zophar the

name of theit answered shall multitude of words.

Go in answered and a talkative man, be acquitted.

He begins the same way build that begins by condemning jove

for speaking too much. In fact, he condemns Joe by by

saying all these words that that you are speaking?

Truly are covering up. The real reason you are the way

you are. You're trying to convince us of

something that you can't convince us of.

Now, it is true that Proverbs chapter 10 verse number. 19

Proverbs 10 · chapter mention

tells us that in a multitude of words, there wanteth not sin,

the more you speak, the more you cover up your sin.

It also says, in the latter part of that verse that he that

retaining, his lips is wise, but so far, Tells job that he's just

babbling, he's talking too much. And therefore trying to hide

something. He tells job that he is unwise.

He is untrue and he is. Unkind.

So he attacks Integrity. He tells them show your boast or

lies. Silence, men, do you think you

can lie to us? You think you can exaggerate the

truth? You think it keep talking and

try to cover up that which is real job.

You think you can lie to us and silence us, put us, put us to

the silence. The words you say are untrue.

And then he says, and shall you scoff?

And, and none. Rebuke other words.

Why do you mock us? Your unkind.

Here, we are trying to communicate with you or talk to

you and yet you respond with unkind words, but job, didn't do

that. They accuse them of that simply

because they won't, he won't bow to their criticism.

He stands strong on what he believes to be true.

This is the first number four for you have said, my teaching

is Pierre and I am innocent in your eyes now.

Job never said that. But they're accusing them of

that. He's accusing job of saying that

his teaching is pure. And that there truly is no sin

in his life. Now job never said that either

on at least three occasions job said that he had sinned.

He has sinned, he knows he's not sinless.

And so he knows he is not an innocent man.

Although he's upright God-fearing blameless, Turning

Away From Evil, that's Job chapter 1.

Job 1 · chapter mention

God says that about Job, the writer of joke tells us about

him so that's who he is. We never said these words.

And so they say He's a hypocrite, basically you say one

thing and live another way. So he begins by attacking the

Integrity of job and then he attacks the, the ignorance of

job. When it comes to understanding

who God is for God, it's an all wise God.

Now job knows this. But instead he says this but

would that God might speak and open his lips against you?

Would it be that God would would just tell you job where you're

wrong? They even speak.

Now, God is going to speak and when he speaks he's not going to

condemn job, he will condemn zophar and eliphaz and build

that he will rebuke them, but he will not review job.

We saw it last week, job chapter 42, verse number seven.

Job 42 · chapter mention

So so far is going to get his wish.

God's going to open his mouth. He is going to speak, but he's

not going to speak against job. so he says in verse number 6,

show you the secrets of wisdom for sound.

Wisdom has two sides. God need to show you the his

wisdom joke, there's the reveal side and the concealed side, and

maybe he's going to open his mouth speak to you and reveal to

you, that, which is concealed. And then he says these words, if

you can believe it or not, he says no Then that God forgets

part of your iniquity. In other words, he says just be

glad that God hasn't punished You, for all your sin.

What you have gotten your loss of your children, the loss of

your, your business, the loss of your home.

The loss of your health is only partial punishment.

God can do a lot more than that. But it's only punish you for

part of your iniquity, not all of your iniquity.

Now, how could you say that the job?

As you sit there. But he does.

Now it is true that that God never gives us what we deserve.

That's a good thing. Is it not?

You know, it's because of his mercies that were not consumed.

He knows our frame. He knows that we're were nothing

but dust. God treats us with mercy and

Grace. And, and compassion and love.

He does do that. And if God punished us every

time we sinned, then we'd be in big trouble.

But God is merciful, doesn't do that.

But so far, truly condemns job. He comes against him and says,

you know what, be lucky. You were not punished to the

full extent of the law that God didn't unleash on you,

everything you deserve because of your sin.

How do you say that to a man who's lost everything?

And there's nothing to show for it.

But so far does that? This is this.

Can you discover the depths of God, can you discover the limits

of the almighty answered? No, nobody can.

But job knows that never last week and in chapter 9, would a

job. Say verse number 10, who does

great things unfathomable and wondrous Works without number.

God does those kind of things job knows, you can't understand

the Almighty job knows, you can't comprehend everything that

God does jump understands that. But so far wants to wax eloquent

and try to inform Joe job that he's ignorant concerning.

The things of God. Says they are high as the

heavens. What can you do deeper than she

ol? What can you know?

It's measure is longer than the earth and broader than the see

if he passes by or shuts up or calls and assembly who can

restrain him. Answer, no one can.

So, he talks about the awesomeness of God, he talks

about the abilities of God. He talks about the awareness of

God, that God is aware of everything he says in verse

number 11, for he knows faults men.

He sees iniquity without investigating.

We know that God never has to search us.

He just knows all about us, why? Because he's omniscient.

So he's trying to inform job. He's giving job information, but

he's not communicating with job, he's not wanting to understand

jobs predicament and the pain that is in to console him and

working through these things. Nope, he's just trying to inform

him about the fact that you are ignorant.

Concerning the knowledge of God, the wisdom of God, the emissions

of God, the ability of God. Joby just don't understand.

But if you're with us, you know, that job doesn't understand

because it's theology is extremely sound.

So he says verse number 12, an idiot will become intelligent.

when the full of a wild donkey, Is born a man, well that will

never happen. So tells job to job from the

human standpoint of view. You're never going to be

intelligent enough. You're never going to come to

understanding these things. Well, we know that we're never

going to understand all that God is But so far wants to make him

understand, you'll never get the knowledge you're searching for

joke. So, he attacks job's inability

to repent. If you would direct your heart,

right? And spread out your hand to him.

If iniquity is in your hand, put it too far away and do not let

wickedness. Dwell in your tents.

We know that that repentance is a heart issue.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me

Psalm 66:18, right? That's why we preach the word,

Psalms 66:18

why? Because Jeremiah 29 tells us

that when you preach the word, God's word is like a fire in a

hammer. It Purifies the soul with it

pummels, the heart, it crushes, the the hard heart.

And so we know that that repentance is a heart issue, but

he's trying to get job to repent from some wickedness that he's

committed, but that he hasn't So he says did indeed.

You would lift up your face without moral defect, and you

would be steadfast and not fear for you at.

Forget your trouble as Waters that have passed by, you would

remember it. Your life would be brighter than

a Noonday. Darkness would be like the

morning, then you wouldn't trust because there is hope and you

would look around and rest securely.

You would lie down and none would disturb you.

And many would entreat your favorite joke.

These are all the benefits of repentance.

If you just repent, your rest securely, if you just repent,

things will go so much better for you.

Well, that's not necessarily true.

Your people who sin and repent, they still have to suffer the

consequences to sin, right? That had, that does happen.

But so far is trying to convince Joe that you need to repent.

And because you are unable to repent unwilling to repent, says

this as he closes out the eyes of the wicked will fail and

there will be no Escape for them.

And their hope is to breathe their last.

If you don't repent job, your only hope is to die.

That's it. Now so far speaks twice not

three times. Like the other men do he just

speaks twice, which is a good thing, because he wants to leave

job, hopeless. He wants to leave job,

groveling. Think about that speaking to a

man who's in so much pain. Completely isolated all by

himself. And yet, you want to leave him

in that condition. And that sounds so far, Lisa.

Joba, respond and respond in a magnificent way.

But what I want to do with you tonight is show you how it is.

This applies to us. Job James 5.

Verse number 11 says these words We cannot excuse me, we count

those blessed to endured. You have heard of the endurance

of job and a seen the outcome of the Lord's, dealings with that,

the Lord is full of compassion and merciful.

You have heard of the endurance of job.

Now, if we've gone through these, these first 11 chapters,

we realize that for job, he has Unexplicable pain.

So harsh, so difficult. None of us can really imagine

it. And so when the writer James

says that you've heard of the endurance of job, it is true.

He had he had to endure. All the Affliction, all of the

loss, all of the pain, and he did under all that.

But he also had to endure the criticism of a so-called

friends. A lot of us can endure physical

pain, but we can't endure criticism.

We can't endure when our friends come to us and say things that

aren't true about us. We begin to crumble.

But not Joe. I told you on Sunday that jobs a

book about hope. It gives hope to people, like

you and me. Because job was a man who lived

in light of hope it will unveil that to even all the more as Joe

responds to two so far next week.

But there's something about jobs, endurance.

That's remarkable. His ability to sit there and

miss all of us pain and hear the words that are spoken to him.

With no mercy and no compassion. That's why James says that

you've heard of the endurance, of job and how the Lord dealt

with him. Excuse me, with mercy and

compassion. Because the Lord is full of

Mercy. The job even though so far, when

the leave him hopeless, he lived in light of his hope, his Hope

was in God. It wasn't anyone else?

His hope wasn't his friends and you can't have your hope in your

friends or your family. Why?

Because they're going to fail, you.

Inevitably they're going to fail you so your hope must be in God

alone. Psalmist said these words in

Psalm 146. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord

O, my soul. I will praise the Lord while I

live. I will sing praises to my God.

While I have my being to not trust in princes in Mortal man

in whom, there is no salvation, his Spirit departs and returns

to earth. And that very day, his thoughts

perish. How blessed is he?

Whose help is the god of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord.

His God. Who made Heaven and Earth the

sea and all that is in them who keeps Faith forever, who

executes Justice for the oppressed who gives food to the

hungry, the Lord sets the prisoners free, the Lord opens

the eyes of the blind, the Lord raises up, those who are bowed

down the lord loves the righteous.

The Lord protects the strangers, he supports the fatherless and

the Widow. It's the Way of the Wicked.

The Lord will reign forever. Your God o Zion to all

generations. Praise the Lord.

The psalmist learned to Hope in God.

Over in. Psalm 71 it says in You O Lord I

have taken Refuge. Let me never be ashamed in your

righteousness. Deliver me and Rescue Me

incline. Your ear to me and save me.

Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come.

You have given commandment to save Me For You.

Are My Rock and my Fortress rescue me.

Oh my God, out of the hand of the wicked out of the grasp of

the wrongdoer and ruthless Man For You Are My Hope O Lord God,

you are my confidence from my youth by you, I have been

sustained from my birth. You are he took me from my

mother's womb? My praise is continually of you.

Verse 14. As for me, I will hope

continually and will praise you yet more and more Romans chapter

Romans 14 · chapter mention

14 Romans chapter 14. Excuse me, chapter 15 verse.

Romans 14 · chapter mention

Number 13. Now, may the god of Hope.

Fill you with all joy and peace in believing say, you may have

Bound in Hope by the power. Of the Holy Spirit.

In other words, the Bible tells us that God is a god of Hope.

Timothy tells us that that Christ is our hope and in the

book of Galatians, Paul tells us that the gospel Is Our Hope.

Job lived in light of his hope in God, in no matter how

critical his friends were he never lost his hope in God

because it's hope wasn't in his friends.

His hope wasn't in his wife. His hope.

Wasn't God. So James says, you have you have

heard of the endurance of job. Yes, you know that, he endured

physical affliction. you know, they endured pain, immeasurable

but he also endured constant criticism from his so-called

friends. And he endured it.

A unique and special way. Questions.

How did he do that? Because we need to learn how job

endured. If we're going to endure, right?

So many times it's we just crumble under criticism.

We crumble under difficulties, we crumble under things that

that we shouldn't crumble under The job never did.

Yeah, it says some things that maybe maybe will question at

times, but remember job, God has nothing but good to say about

job at the end. So what is it about job that

caused him to endure? Not just a physical anguish.

But the misery he experienced from his friends.

How could he do that? You know, you don't wake up one

day and say today I'm going to endure through everything.

You don't wake up tomorrow and run a 26-mile marathon.

You'll die. After 26 feet.

I mean I would I would make it 36 feet in length 16 miles,

right? You got to build up toward that.

It's like it's like football. You got to endure all the way to

the end. Footballs 4/4 not 1/4, right?

So you train so you can endure through all four quarters.

And it takes time to endure to build up endurance.

Same is true spiritually. So, wake up one day and endure

Affliction or endured criticism. There has to be the groundwork

that's been laid. There has to be the cultivation

of a the spiritual muscles that will allow you to continue,

keeping on amidst, all the Affliction of persecution and

it's all the pain, all the disappointments.

How do you do that? How does somebody in der?

Not just physical Affliction, not just personal anguish.

But relational misery. Because no one stands by you.

Now. There is no one there to hold

jobs hand. No one.

There was was caressing his hand and maybe rubbing his bald head,

or putting their arm around him. Mainly because his body was full

of Oozing pus filled sores, right?

But there is no one there, to give him any comfort whatsoever,

which makes his endurance, all the more Marvelous.

Because he didn't have a human support system.

He only had a Divine support system.

That's all I needed. See, our problem is we think we

need a human support system. Now it doesn't mean we don't

support one another encourage one.

Another pray for one, another doesn't mean we don't do those

kind of things. It's just that you can't depend

on those kind of things. Jobe didn't depend on his

friends. He would depend solely upon God.

So let me give you three words. Three?

Words that I believe are critical to jobs.

Endurance, that help us understand how we could sit

there and listen to zophar bildad eliphaz eventually alive.

Who And never crumble under the criticism.

But we remain steadfast. Strong, even though physically

he was frail. His inner Spirit was strong.

Three words. All right, confidence.

Conviction. And commitment.

Okay. Jobs endurance.

Was rooted. In his confidence.

In God. That's where it was routed.

There was no self confidence in job.

It was all God confidence. He says, later in the Book of

Job, Job chapter 31. If I have put my confidence in

Job 31 · chapter mention

gold and called Feingold, my trust, if I have gloated because

my wealth was great, and because my hand had secured so much if I

had looked at the sun when it's shown or the moon going in

splendor, And my heart became secretly enticed in my hand

through a kiss from my mouth. That too would have been an

iniquity calling for judgment for.

I would have denied God above Job did not put his confidence

in his gold and he had a lot of it.

Who is very wealthy, man? He did not put his trust in

anything. Outside.

Of his God. His confidence was in his God

Alone. If we're ever going to endure,

we must be solely confident. In God himself and no one else.

And that's what job was. In fact, every great man of God

in the Bible was confident in his God.

Whether it's the Apostle Paul, whether it's Daniel, whether

it's Joseph, whether it's Peter, John, they all had confidence in

God. Confidence in what not only

God's activity, but God's ability.

Great confidence in God's activity as well as his ability.

Paul said this way being confident of this very thing

that he who began a good work in, you will complete it until

the day of Jesus Christ. That's how Paul to find it.

Paul says, I am I have this persuasion?

Another word for confidence. I am confident of this very

thing. I am confident of God's

activity. I'm confident of God's ability

that is I am confident God's activity being confident of this

very thing that he who began a good work in you.

God begins to good work in you. It began in eternity past with

predestination, right? Paul says it well and the book

of Ephesians Ephesians chapter 1.

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

Verse number 4, when he says he chose us in him before the

foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless

before him in love. And then he says, in verse 11,

we have obtained, an inheritance having been predestined,

according to his purpose. Who works all things after the

counsel? Of his will.

In other words God who began a good work in you, which deals

with the realm of predestination, And then, when

time in eternity intersect, I call upon the name of the Lord,

and I'm saved that good work. Just comes to be realized in my

own life. The work of Salvation as well as

the work of justification and sanctification and conformation.

So ultimately, there's this glorification of my body.

Paul was confident in the activity of God.

That would God began in you. He will complete it.

Job, had that same confidence. We know he's an upright man that

is he is right with God. And the only way he could be

right with God is because God declared him righteous God.

Did the work So he began a good work in.

You will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Not only in God's activity when it comes to his salvation.

But God's ability, when it comes to your sanctification, He will

complete the work. Other words, God's already at

work. God's never not at work in your

life. He's always doing something to

conform me to his image, to sanctify.

You to set you apart to make you, holy, And she might serve

him in a way that honors and glorifies his great name. so,

like Paul. Jobe.

Endured because his endurance was rooted in the confidence

that he had. In his God.

Did he understand all that God was doing?

Nope. Do you know we understand a lot

more than joke did because we have the Bible.

We have all 66 books joke didn't have a Bible.

We can read theology books. Job didn't have a theology book.

So we have a lot more understanding of God and

knowledge of God, and the workings of God, because we know

Job, chapter 1 job, didn't know that chapter Dentist and the

Job 1 · chapter mention

conversation going on in Heaven from God.

And Satan, we do. but yeah, job endured he was able to be

steadfast. And immovable.

Because of his confidence in God.

Miss your question. Where's your confidence this

evening? Is that in your gold?

Is that in your friendships, your family, your job.

Where is your confidence? We can only be confident in God

himself. He's the only one we can count

on. He is the only one is true to

his word fully and completely. He never reneged.

He's always there. He never forsakes us.

He is always present with us. He is.

Our confidence. so, When Paul defines what a Believer is in

Philippians chapter 3. Verse number 3 says that we are

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

The Marked Ones. We are the we are the

circumcision. We are the ones that have been

set apart by God. We are the ones who put no

confidence. In the flesh.

But we worship God in spirit and glory in Christ Jesus.

We have no confidence in anything of the flesh are

confidence is solely and God himself.

Salvation is a work of God, when salvation is when God Saves you

and he redeems you, he calls you, he moves you, he conforms

you. He's going to bring everything

about you to completion. Until the day of Christ.

Remember to Not only was jobs, endurance rooted in his

confidence in God. But it was riveted by his

conviction about God. He had a deep conviction.

About God. I told you. early on that,

unless you understand Job. Chapter 1. you will never be

Job 1 · chapter mention

able to live through anything like Jobe lives through unless

you understand Job, chapter 1, You'll always crumble under

Job 1 · chapter mention

pressure. Because Job chapter 1 is is the

Job 1 · chapter mention

Crux to the book. It tells us he was a he was an

upright blameless God-fearing man turning away from evil.

The character of job is supreme. And so that's that's jobs

character. But his ability to endure, yes,

centers around that character because that character had a

confidence in God. But it was, it was, it was

riveted by a conviction about his God.

And that conviction was that. God was a, holy God, a pure God.

That's why he would turn away from Evil.

That's why job 31:1. He says, I've made a covenant

Job 31:1

with my eyes. Not to look.

And morally unfaithfully upon a woman. because in a deep

conviction about the Holiness and purity of God, That's why he

was a blameless, man. Because he knew that God called

for blamelessness. He knew that God called for

purity of heart. He now he knew that God called

for a cleansing of the Soul. He had deep conviction about

that. He was so convicted about God's

Purity and God's holiness. He wanted to live to that

standard. That was a standard.

So he can make a covenant with his eyes.

Not to look lustfully upon another woman.

He would not trust in something outside of his God. because

everything was was, was riveted by one conviction that he would

not compromise. He didn't. you know, every every

man of God in the scriptures, the same way, Daniel, was that

way, right? Daniel chapter chapter one.

Verse number 8, the Daniel made up his mind that he would not

defile himself with the Kings Choice food or with the wine,

which he drank. So, he sought permission from

the commander of the officials that he might not defile

himself. get a conviction that he would not defile himself and

that conviction Was. Was based on the fact that his

God was a holy God. And he could not defile himself.

Well the same was to a job the same with Judith Paul Peter John

all these red Joseph, right? Joseph had confidence in his

God. He knew his God was going to be

with him but he also had a conviction about about the

purity of his God the Holiness of his God.

So that would cause him to run away from Potiphar's wife, when

she tried to seduce him because he wanted to live a pure and

holy life. That's a deep-rooted conviction.

then unfortunately, a lot of people just don't have What Joe

did? It caused him to endure.

All kinds of criticism, all kinds of of adverse

circumstances. Later on in the Book of Daniel

it says of Daniel these words and you know them.

Well Daniel chapter 6 verse number 3, then Daniel began to

Daniel 6 · chapter mention

distinguish himself among the Commissioners and say traps

because he possessed an extraordinary kind of spirit.

His fear was different than anybody else's spirit.

And the King plan to appoint him over the entire Kingdom.

And then the Commissioners and say, trust began, trying to find

a ground of accusation against Daniel and regard to government

Affairs. But they could find no ground of

accusation or evidence of corruption.

And as much as he was faithful and no, negligence or corruption

was to be found in him. Well, known it.

Was that true of Daniel but it was true of job.

That's why he was an upright God-fearing blameless, man.

His conviction about God's holiness moved his life.

How about you? How convicted are you about the

Holiness of God? The purity of God.

Bible tells us that he's holy. Holy, holy Very important aspect

of his character. Everything stems from his

Holiness. He is so separate from us, so

different from us. and Joe banister that the Bible tells us

in, In Psalm 15. These words, which makes.

Zophar has attack on jobs Integrity, just so wrong.

Didn't tell lies. It wasn't boastful.

He didn't make untrue statements, he wasn't a

hypocrite. Psalm 15.

The Bible says O Lord, who may abide in your tent who may dwell

in your Holy Hill. He walks with integrity and

works righteousness and speaks truth in his heart.

That's it. And then it says in verse 15, at

the end of verse, number 6, he does these things.

Will Never Be Shaken. Other words Integrity cause you

to endure. And Never Be Shaken.

Never be fearful. Never turn away.

You see, he had this deep riveted conviction, that God was

holy and because God was holy, he needed to be holy.

That's why the Bible says he was a blameless.

Upright God-fearing man, turning away from evil.

He was convicted concerning his own Purity, and his testimony.

They would live for the glory and honor of his God. and so,

when you look at job and you realize that this man had

Supreme endurance, it's simply because of his confidence in his

God and His conviction about the character and nature of his God,

as well as his commitment to that God, to know him to

understand him. And to live for him.

Note, The Book of Proverbs the 24th chapter says, the 10th

verse. If you are slack in the day of

distress your strength, Is small.

Are you slack in the day of distress?

Are you the kind of person who can't bear up under the pressure

whether it's verbal criticism? What is physical suffering?

If that's the case your strength is small.

It's not large, certainly not. You won't endure, certainly not.

That's why. Daniel says that those who know

the God will display strength and take action.

Why is it job could endure? Because he knew his God, he was

committed to knowing god. He was committed to

understanding god with not nearly the tools that you and I

had today. He was committed to knowing his

God in a deep. And, and intimate way.

And he did. The things he says about God

shows us house down. His theology is, as he talks

about the greatness of God, the wondrous works of God, Joe Knows

those things. But but he didn't let it rest

there. He kept wanting to know, let the

Apostle Paul, all that I may they know him in the fellowship

of his sufferings, right? Paul says, I just want to know

my God more and more and more. And whether it's Daniel or

whether it's job or whether it's, it's Peter or Paul, or

whoever it is, maybe they want to know their God.

Why? Because that commitment causes

you to endure. It causes you to stand strong

unfazed. When the Bible talks about Job

fearing, God, Fearing. God is the beginning of

knowledge. Right?

Proverbs tells us that knowing god is equivalent to fearing.

God, the knowledge of God is equivalent to fearing.

God if you fear God, you know God, why?

Because you know, he needs to be feared, the more, you know, God,

the more you're going to fear. God, there is forgiveness with

thee. Psalm 130 person before that

thou mayest be feared. Why does God forgive you of your

sins that you might fear Him? Roma Street tells us that there

is no fear of God before the eye of the unbeliever.

They don't fear God. But job feared God.

Because he knew his God. in the more you come to know, God, the

more you fear Him and Joe did. So when the Bible says that he

was an upright God-fearing man who turned away from evil and

was blameless. It's because their deep

commitment to know, as God. And I wonder if that's your

commitment. How much do you really want to

know? God?

You know, the Bible says in Jeremiah chapter chapter 9,

right? Let not the Mighty Man boast in

his mind or the rich man, boast of his riches or the wise man

boast in his riches. But isn't it funny?

We posted all those things right?

We love to post in our might our riches, our intellect, we love

to boast in those things. And we all had this tendency,

right? We can send our kids to Junior

College or we send our kids to Harvard.

I want my kid to go to Harvard. Why?

Because in reality, I boast in wisdom, but the Bible says let

not the wise man boast in his wisdom.

I, I can let my kid play at a division.

Three school and play division. One school.

And I can tell everybody is on TV.

We boast in our abilities. See I want my kid to go to good

schools and get a good education so he can she can be a lawyer or

a doctor or somebody makes a lot of money because we posted our

riches We tend to lean that way, don't we?

yet the Bible says let him who boasts boast in this the word

boast Or Glory means to be heavy Three way down.

All right, you'll doesn't it. Word means to, to, to be heavy.

Why? Because the, the more riches you

have, the heavier were the heavier.

You were, the more intellectual had the heavy you were right?

And yet, God says, I want you to be heavy in knowing me.

Knowing me because I'm The God Who exercises loving kindness.

And mercy. And justice.

I want you to know me. Is it wrong for your kid, to go

to Harvard? No, they're wrong for your kid

to get a D1 scholarship. No, it's wrong for your kid to

be a lawyer. No, so great things nothing's

wrong with them. He's can't be heavy in those

things just can't boast in those things.

Glory in those things, be heavy in the knowledge of God knowing

god. Coming to understand your God.

And that requires, you knowing him and fearing him.

Listen to what the Bible says. And in Psalm 112 how blessed is

the man who fears, the Lord, who greatly Delights in his

Commandments that great The man who greatly Delights in his

Commandments, is the one who fears God.

They're parallel statements. If you're fearing God, you're

delighting in God's Commandments.

If you're not delighting in God's Commandments because

you're not fearing God and he says this, his descendants will

be Mighty on the earth. Generation of the upright will

be blessed. For this man, verse 36 Will

Never Be Shaken. I'll Never Be Shaken.

The righteous will be remembered forever.

He will not fear evil Tidings. His heart is steadfast trusting

in the Lord. His heart is upheld.

He will not fear. If you're what if you what man

would do to him? See the man who fears God

Delights in the Commandments of God because he's coming to know

more and more about his God. That kind of man is never

shaken. He never Teeters, he stands

established, and strong. See, and that's what we need

today. People like job.

Who endured? it's easy to, to To endure when

when things are easy. You know, someone said, one

time, there's two choices of Life, the easy way in the right

way, right? The easy way, in the right way.

We love to take the easy Road. Because it's so cushy so smooth.

Always, so we say But there's a right way to do things.

And usually that's the heart of the hardest way.

And Joe was a man of great endurance.

I Marvel at this. I just can't understand and

believe what I'm reading when I read the book of Job, That when

they criticize him, he didn't say anything until they're done

and then he speaks not to defend himself.

But just to, to show them, the reason of what's happening in

his own mind. What's going on.

But for him to sit there and injure criticism to endure,

condemnation, to endure ridicule.

When he's already in physical pain, when he's already an

emotional pain, he's already lost everything that he has.

He has nothing to hold onto right in the constant throughout

all these accusations against him against them, one after

another, after another, after another sister and listens and

he endures all of it. He is the Bible's greatest hero

Bar, None, this man is heads. And Tails above everybody else

because he was able to endure. What others never did in her

Paul, endured the Affliction of his enemies, his enemy spoke

against him, Jobs, friends spoke against him.

And you think that jobs friends were his enemies?

But he endured it all and my prayer for you and me is that we

would be men and women of endurance.

That we would understand our confidence is only in God.

That's it. No one else.

And nothing else. His ability.

To make sure that he brings us to a point where we look just

like him. Knowing that that we this deep

conviction about the character and nature of God.

These are pure and holy God and I need to be as holy as God

himself is Holy I might then be committed to knowing him every

day, more and more. Because I want to understand my

God. Now, that lived his glory and

honor, let's pray, father, thank you, Lord for tonight and thank

you for the opportunity. As brief as it is to look into

the word of God and our prayer. Father, is that we would be men

and women who exemplify you Thank you for this man job, who

understood? Understood you?

Did he grasp everything about you?

No, he's not. Did he understand why he was

going through was going through? No, he didn't.

Be a great conference in his God, that God was going to do

something great. when where how He did not know.

But he never lost his faith. He never never backed away from

his Trust. He hoped his God.

My prayer for all of us stores that we would live that same

kind of life. Hoping solely.

On you for everything in Jesus name.

Amen.