Where Could I Go?

              

               WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

stevereevesoutlines.blogspot.com

 

INTRODUCTION:

A. In 1940 a Missouri song writer named J.B. Coats wrote the song, “Where Could I Go

    But to The Lord.” The inspiration for the song had come to Coats years earlier as

    he sat at the bedside of a dying friend who uttered these words.

    1. The first verse of the song expresses the isolation, frustration and futility many

        people feel in their lives. “Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can

        afford. Striving alone to face temptations sore. “Where could I go but to the Lord?’” 

        Another verse says, “Life here is grand, with friends I love so dear. Comfort I get

        from God’s own word. Yet when I face the chilling hand of death, “Where could I go

        but to the Lord?’”

    2. If there has ever been a person for whom these words were applicable, it was Job.

        Although once a vigorous, wealthy, healthy and powerful family man, Job’s life had

        been reduced to ruins and rubble.

        a. Occasionally this happens to people as a consequence of their own foolish

            actions. A person may squander their wealth through recklessness like the

            prodigal son in Luke 15. I once knew a young man who had become addicted to

            on-line gambling and foolishly lost everything he owned.

        b. Sometimes people lose their health as a consequence of their actions. One of

            my high school teachers died from emphysema at the age of 49 after years of

            being a heavy chain-smoker. 

        c. Families are sometimes fractured because of abuse or neglect.            

    3. Job, through absolutely no fault of his own, lost everything.        

        a. In Job 1 he lost his wealth, his servants and his children.

        b. In chapter 2 he lost his health and was urged by his wife to “curse God and die.”  

        c. Where could Job go but “to the Lord”?
B. Where do you go when your life has turned upside down?

    1. Over twenty years ago I was in my study one winter’s morning. The church

        secretary was a woman named Sue. We had adjoining offices so I heard the panic

        in her voice after she had taken a call. She told me that the daycare her

        granddaughter attended was on fire. I told Sue to get in my car and we sped to the

        scene. More than a mile away we could see the black smoke billowing into the

        grey sky. We arrived to find the entire structure engulfed in flames. I drove up to a

        check point set up by the police and inquired about the children. “They’re all safe

        and have been taken to a house down the street.” Sue and I drove to the house

        where parents were gathering. One of the teachers was taking count of the

        students when her face turned pale. She was one short. The missing child was a

        one-and-a-half-year-old boy named Tyler whose father was one of the         

        firemen battling the blaze. I was asked to break the news to Tyler’s dad, Tommy.

        His fellow firefighters had to restrain him from rushing into the inferno when was

        completely out of control. The structure burned completely to the ground. Several

        hours later search dogs located Tyler’s little body that had been shielded from the

        flames by a bookcase that had fallen. I conducted the funeral a few days later.

    2. Where can you go when such a tragedy occurs?

C. There are two qualities in Job’s life that emerge in chapter two. They are the qualities of endurance and trust.

 

I. ENDURANCE

    A. The events of chapter one happened in quick succession.

        1. According to 1:16-17, no sooner had Job learned of the theft of his oxen and donkeys, then he heard of the destruction of his sheep. In verse 18, he, then, learns of the theft of his camels by the Chaldeans. Then, in verse 18-19, Job immediately learned of the deaths of his seven sons and three daughters.

        2. Can you imagine suffering such horrible losses one after another?

    B. We do not know how much time passed between the events of Job 1 and Job 2. The second chapter begins with the statement, “Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.” The scene is almost identical to the one described in 1:6-12.

        1. Satan was asked where he had been. Did not God know? Yes – this is included   

            so, we would know of Satan’s presence in the world and this constant pursuit of

            prey.

        2. Once again God mentioned Job – blameless, upright, fearing God and turning     

            away from evil.

        3. In verse 3, God adds, “And he still holds firm to his integrity, although you incited

            Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

    B. Notice God’s commendation of Job. ”He still holds firm to his integrity.”

        1. Satan wants each of us to lose our integrity and turn away from God. His greatest desire is for the hardships of life to make you bitter towards God.

        2. In the Disney movie, “The Jungle Book” there is a climactic scene in which

            Mowgli, the young boy, and his friend, Baloo the Bear, encounter a ferocious   

            tiger named Shere Kahn. As the tiger attacks, Baloo grabs him by the tail.

            Someone yells, “Let go!” He replies, “Are you kidding, there are teeth in the

            other end.”

        3. Before you let go of God you need to do some serious thinking about the

            alternative.

    C. When confronted with Job’s integrity, Satan, “ups the ante” in verses 4-5, “Skin

        for skin! Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life. ⁵ However, reach out

        with Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to

        Your face!”

        1.This is a good place to be reminded of the sovereignty of God. He controls everything for His purposes. This includes evil.

        2. Lamentation 3:38 – “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

            That both adversity and good proceed?”

        3. Isaiah 45:7 – “The One forming light and creating darkness,

            Causing well-being and creating disaster; am the Lord who does all these

            Things.”

        3. Colossians 1:15-17 – “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of

            all creation: ¹⁶ for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and

            on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or

            authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He

            is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

        4. Hebrews 1:1-3-  “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the

            prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has

            spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through

            whom He also made the world. ³ And He is the radiance of His glory and

            the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word

            of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the

            right hand of the Majesty on high,”  

        5. God is still in control. There is no violence, no disease, no political agendas

            and no enemy over which He is not sovereign and which He cannot use to   

            accomplish His will.

    D. God allowed Satan to strike at Job by afflicting him with sores (boils) from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. These were painful, putrid sores filled with infection and corruption. When I was in high school I had a boil develop on the side of my right knee. I still remember how painful it was and how gross it was when it was lanced. For years I had a scar on my knee. Can you imagine having such an affliction all over your body. What a pathetic sight it must have been to see Job sitting there using broken pieces of potter to scrape the sores and provide some type of relief.  

        1. When God allowed Satan to strike Job, He knew how much Job could tolerate. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.”

        2. There are no surprises with God. If He allows you to be led to it, He can lead you through it.

 

II. JOB’S TRUST

    A. What do you say to a person who is suffering?

        1. Perhaps it is a person who has lost their spouse or their child. Perhaps it is someone suffering from a painful disease and nearing death.

        2. Sometimes we say things that are so inappropriate. “Everything will be okay.” “It will work out eventually.” “My uncle died from the same thing.”

    B. At this point in Job’s story, we find the only appearance in the book of Job’s wife.        

        1. There is so much about her we do not know. Nor can we fully understand what  

             was meant by the words she spoke.

        2. Time does not allow me to present a full exposition of verse 9. It is apparent that

            her words are not very encouraging. “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold

            firm your integrity? Curse God and die!’”  

        3. Compare her words with what Job said in verse 10, “But he said to her, “You are

            speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we actually accept good   

            from God but not accept adversity?” Despite all this, Job did not sin with his

            lips.”

        4. Here was the person who was closer to Job than anyone and yet Job could find

            no comfort, or hope in what she said.

    C. Where could Job go but to the Lord.

        1. In Job 13:15, Job’s faith prompted him to exclaim, “Though He slay me yet will I

            trust Him.”

        2. In Job 19, Job said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives.”   

        3. In Job 23:10, Job continued,  He knows my paths and when He has tested me, I

            will come forth as gold.”

        4. All of these statements convey the same message. “Trust God – no matter what

            happens.”

 

CONCLUSION

A. “Where could I go? Oh, where could I go? Seeking a refuge for my soul. Needing a

     friend to save me in the end. Where could I go but to the Lord.”

B How many of you are in-need-of a Redeemer in whom you can believe in good times

    and bad times? Where can

It's A Jungle Out There

                                                

                                        \   

 It's A Jungle Out There

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

stevereevesoutlines.blogspot.com

 

INTODUCTION:

A. Have you ever watched the TV series “Monk?” The show is about a private detective

    named Adrian Monk who has OCD and severe anxiety issues. He also has the

    observation skills to observe many details others miss and resolve many crimes.

    1. One of the things I like about “Monk,” is the opening theme song entitled, “It’s A

        Jungle Out There.”

    2. Here are the lyrics. “It's a jungle out there. Disorder and confusion everywhere

        No one seems to care, Well I do Hey, who's in charge here?

        It's a jungle out there, Poison in the very air we breathe Do you know what's in the   

        water that you drink? Well I do, and it's amazing People think I'm crazy, 'cause I

        worry all the time, If you paid attention, you'd be worried too. You better pay

        attention Or this world we love so much might just kill you. I could be wrong now,

        but I don't think so! 'Cause there's a jungle out there. It's a jungle out there.”

        Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher Randy Newman.

    3. Sometimes it seems like life is a jungle with evil lurking around every corner and

        people acting like wild animals.

B. The existence of evil, pain, suffering and injustice is a stumbling block many people

    struggle with in life.

    1. Atheists conclude that the existence of evil negates the existence of God.

    2. They reason that if God is all powerful, loving, pure, Holy, righteous and just, He would not allow His creation to be affected by evil, pain, suffering and injustice. Since these things exist it must be concluded that God does not exist. 

    3. TV talk show host Larry King says he would like to believe in God but cannot do so because of the pain and suffering in the world. CNN founder Ted Turner once studied to be a minister but lost his faith in God when his sister died from a painful, debilitating illness that led to her death.

C. Unfortunately, many believers are ill equipped to answer this question. Some might

    suggest that there is no answer (Deuteronomy 29:29) and you either have faith or    

    you don’t.    

    1. Peter wrote, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to

        give a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in

        you but with gentleness and respect” ( 1 Peter 3:15).

     2. In this message I want to offer some guideposts for you to consider as you

        address the issue of trouble in a trying world.

        a. These guideposts come from a story that is older than the Bible itself.               

        b. The story concerns a man named Job who lived during the days of the patriarchs. More than likely he was a contemporary with Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. He could have lived even earlier.

        c. When we think of the book of Job we often think of subjects like endurance, stamina, fortitude and wisdom. While all of these things may appear in the book of Job they are secondary to the real issue. Even Job is a secondary figure in the book. The main character is God, Himself, and the real issue is God’s existence and sovereignty during trouble in trying times.

 

I. JOB’S CHARACTER

    A. There are a few people in the Bible who are complimented by God.

        1. David  was referred to as “a man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22).

        2. Jesus is complimented as “My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt.       

            3:17).

        3. Concerning Job, God told Satan “Have you considered My servant Job, that   

            there is none like him on the earth, a blameless   and upright man, one who

            fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8)?

    B. Who was this man?

        1. He was from Uz” (1:1). Chapter 1:19 describes it as being “near a desert.”

            Harpers Bible Dictionary proposes the location of Uz as being northwest Arabia

            or Edom. (See Jer. 25:20-21 and Lam.4:21). Some scholars  have sought to

            identify Job with Jobab, the second king of Edom (Genesis 36:33). This cannot

            be proven.

        2. He was a blameless man. He was true to his belief in God. He was upright

            meaning “straight.” He shunned evil.

        3. He feared God like Abraham (Gen 22:19). He was a Godly man. Of Job, God         

            said, “I have no one like him on the face of the earth” (Job 1:8). :

        4. He was a family man with 7 sons and 3 daughters. His children loved each

            other, visited in each other’s homes and celebrated with each other. Job

            regularly offered sacrifices in their behalf.

        5. He was a wealthy man with oxen, donkeys, sheep, servants and land.  

        6. Job 1:3 sums it up by saying, “He was the greatest of the men of the east.”

    C. Job’s life appeared to be a tranquil sea with gentle breezes and smooth sailing.

        His life was well ordered, and full of blessings.

 

II. JOB’S CHALLENGE

    A. Sometimes trouble comes unexpectedly.

        1. A sudden illness. A business failure, A natural disaster. A misunderstanding.

        2. Sometimes life is like driving along on a beautiful day when suddenly someone

            runs a stop sign or red light that broadsides you. This is exactly what happened

            to Job.

    3. Keep in mind that Job had no idea what was taking place. Unlike us, he could not

        open his Bible and read about himself.  

    B. There are two meetings described in Job 1 and 2 that are unlike any other

        meetings in the entire Bible.

        1. The first one is described in 1:6-12. The second is recorded in 2:1-6.

        2. They are extremely important in helping us understand the problem of suffering

            and the sovereignty of God.

        3. In the New Testament the apostle Paul reminded Christians in Ephesians

            6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on

            the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes

            of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the

            rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against

            the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

        4. On this occasion the angelic hosts presented themselves before God.

            a. Angels are created beings.

            b. Not all angels are good. In Revelation 12, John described a scene in which

                Satan, described as a great dragon, waged war against Michael and his

                angels. Satan and all of his angels were cast out of heaven and flung to the

                earth. Since that time the devil has been waging war against God by

                promoting and perpetuating evil in every form.  

        5. At this time, God asked Satan, “where have you come from?” Satan said

            from walking and prowling back and forth on the earth.” Remember that Peter

            admonished, “Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil prowls about on

            the earth like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

        4. When God said, “Have you considered my servant Job for I have no one like

            him?” Satan, who is called a murderer, a liar and the accuser of the brethren,

            replied, “It is because you have built a fence around him. Remove your

            protection and blessings and Job will curse you to your face.”

        5. Do not miss God’s response. In verse 12 God said, “Behold, all that he has is in

            your power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So, Satan

            departed from the presence of the Lord.”

        6. Notice two truths.

            a. The origin of this evil action came from the devil, not God.

            b. God allowed Satan to attack Job to prove Job’s faithfulness.

            c. At no time, in this incident or the next, did God fail to control evil and

                maintain His sovereignty.

    C. The evil attack upon Job took several forms.
        1. There was moral evil as thieves swept in stealing his livestock.

        2. There was natural calamity as a destructive wind destroyed the house where

            all ten of Job’s children were killed.                  

        3. God‘s only stipulation in this case was that Satan could not touch Job

             physically. Even this was lifted later, but God refused to let Satan kill Job.                 

        4. I do not believe God is capable of originating evil. This does not mean that He

            does not control evil and allow it to exist in order to accomplish His divine will.

            a. Exodus 4:11 

            b. Psalm 115: 3

            c. Deuteronomy 32:38

            d. God has sent famine, lions, plagues.          

            e. Lamentations 3:37-38

D. You do not have to get God off the hook for evil. He is sovereign and will allow evil to

    exist.

    1. Well, I won’t believe in God, who allows evil.

    2. Do you think God is going to surrender his sovereignty because you don’t believe?     

    3. He is God all the time, and all the time, He is God.

 

III. THE CHOICE

    A. How did Job respond to the evil that suddenly sprang upon his life?

        1. He grieved. This was evidenced by him tearing his garment, shaving his head,

            falling to the ground and worshipping (vs. 20). 

        2. His grief was real. He did not, allow these things to destroy his faith in God.

        3. Job retained his perspective on the temporary nature of human life. In verse 21,

            he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will return. The

            Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”         

    B. God is sovereign. He is in complete control all of the time. His has His on the

         wheel of history. He is never surprised. He never relinquished his control. He

         always knows what He is doing.

        1. In Job 13:15, Job’s faith prompted him to exclaim, “Though He slay me yet will I

            trust Him.”

        2. In Job 19, Job said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives.”   

        3. In Job 23:10, Job continued,  He knows my paths and when He has tested me, I

           will come forth as gold.”

        4. What was the message of Job’s life? “In all of this Job remained faithful and did

            not sin.”

 

CONCLUSION:

 A. Do you feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world? Let me remind you of

    a song you’ve heard often. “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”

    1. Job reminds us that nothing, even the forces of evil themselves, are out of God’s

        control. He will use everything to accomplish His will and His purpose. We may not

        fathom it or understand it but we can believe it.

    2. Will you trust in Him:?

B. Please come as we