“IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS” (Outline)
June 15, 2008 --
PENTECOST 5 --
Job 38:1-11
INTRO: The pride of man ruined God’s perfection created in the Garden of Eden. They took the fruit and they ate. They put themselves in the place of God. After thousands of years and thousands of generations since that first sin of pride mankind is not any better. Mankind hardly ever thinks that God or his word has any authority in today’s society. After all, everyone wants to do want he or she wants whenever he or she decides. Very few care what God wants. This is the same sin of pride that threw the entire world into the sinful state it is in today. For the believer God and his word is still the ultimate authority in this world and in our lives. "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails"(PROVERBS 19:20,21). We have here our theme for today’s text:
“IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS”.
I. Mankind is often challenged.
II. God shows his mighty power.
I. MANKIND IS OFTEN CHALLENGED
A. Job was a very faithful believer. Satan wanted to tempt Job so that he might curse God.
1. It all began with bad news. Messenger after messenger came to Job with bad news.
a. Job’s herds were stolen, his flocks destroyed. b. Job’s wealth was completely gone.
2. Worst of all the last messenger told Job that all his sons and daughter were killed.
B. Job was sad, very sad. He did not curse God. Three friends came to comfort their friend Job.
1. But what could these friends say? They sat together for seven days and nights in silence.
2. Job spoke first and cursed the day he was born (but not God). His friends gave worldly advice.
3. The friends accused Job of some great sin. God’s correction must fit the great sin of Job.
C. Back and forth the conversations go. God hears enough and lets them know, verse 1.
1. Verse 2. Who would darken my plans when he doesn’t know what he is talking about?
2. Verse 3. God tells Job and his friends to get ready to hear God’s questions and then answer
a. Brace = get ready = prepare for battle. b. God will challenge Job and his friends.
3. Verse 4. The Lord begins at the beginning. Job is asked to explain creation. Job must know.
D. You realize how little the Old Testament people knew about the complexity of creation. Today does man understand creation? Many are challenged by the simple creation story: God created the heavens and the earth in six days. On the seventh day God rested. Creation is not taught in schools. Our learned people talk about the “Big Bang Theory”. Students are taught that evolution took millions upon millions of years. Yet, no missing link has ever been found. Mankind’s pride stands opposed to faith. God challenges mankind. Plant a seed. Watch it grow. Who can truly explain such a miracle? "Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man’s face and changes its hard appearance" (EZEKIEL 8:1). The fear (= awe and respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
E. All too often all too many plan their lives around their desires and wants. Not too many take into con-sideration that it is always the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Let’s face it we are quite small and insignificant in the grand scheme of this world. We are smaller in the grand scheme of the universe. Yet, how important we make ourselves in our own eyes and the eyes of others. "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’"(JAMES 4:14,15).
F. Think about the greatest challenge / mystery you and I and every believer face. Who is a God like our God? Human thinking says that God will get even. Our Lord delights to show mercy. This is the exact opposite of the world’s need for revenge. "He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities"(PSALM 103:9,10).
“IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS”.
Mankind is often challenged in his ignorance.
II. GOD SHOWS HIS MIGHTY POWER
A. The Lord God asked Job to explain creation. Surely Job and his friends must understand everything.
1. God continues with creation specifics, verse 5. How big is the earth, the universe?
2. Verse 6. Where is the cornerstone of the earth? What kinds of foundations support the world?
B. There was joy and rejoicing at the light being created out of darkness, verse 7. Where was Job?
1. Verse 8. Where was Job (and his friends) when I (the Lord God) formed the seas?
2. Who protected creation with the warmth of a garment of clouds? Verse 9 = infant care.
a. Water burst forth as a birth. b. Water is wrapped, protected by the Lord himself.
C. At this “big bang” beginning of all things Job and his friends were nowhere to be found.
1. God continues his questions, verses 10,11. Job and his friends continue their silence.
2. From the very start of all things, the beginning of creation the Lord God shows his power.
D. The Lord God Almighty always shows his power throughout history. The Lord God Almighty always shows his power for the benefit of believers and the blessing of this world. Consider Joseph in the Old Testament. Joseph was loved by his father. His brothers were jealous and sold him into slavery. Joseph grew up from his teen years into adulthood completely separated from his family. Joseph and his family were reunited. Joseph’s brothers were bothered that Joseph might seek revenge. Joseph was now second in command in Egypt. Joseph looked back and understood God’s mighty power. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (GENESIS 50:20). Millions were saved from famine because Joseph was placed in Egypt, God’s power.
E. The disciples also saw the power of God in his Son, Jesus. The disciples were sailing back to Caper-naum following a miracle. A violent storm arose and they were frightened. Jesus was asleep. They woke him. They asked for help. "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm"(MARK 4:39). After this miracle the disciples still wondered who this man was that had command of the wind and waves. This same Jesus says to the wind and waves and storms in our lives, “Quiet! Be still!” Jesus shows his mighty power in our hearts, our lives.
F. Our faith is the greatest display of God’s mighty power. Jesus told his disciples that it would be easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich man to enter into the gates of heaven. The disciples were amazed, rightly so. "’Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’"(MATTHEW 19:35b, 36). Our Lord God Almighty shows his mighty power by sowing the seed of faith in our hearts. We cannot save ourselves. By grace God saves us. We cannot earn heaven. The blood of Jesus pays for our sins. Mighty power.
CONC.: We might want things our way – and now – right now. Our Lord God is patient not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to a knowledge of the truth. Thank God that our purpose does not prevail. My desires (purpose) will not always be what you desire. Nor will you always want what I want. Thankfully, our Lord knows best for all. Thankfully – “IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS”. We might feel challenged to completely understand. God shows his mighty power. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?’" (ROMANS 11:33-35). The Lord God Almighty owes us nothing yet gives us everything good. “IT IS THE LORD’S PURPOSE THAT PREVAILS”. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES:
SAT – 1:00pm @ NCF Min., + SUN – 12:00pm @ NCF Medium
/ 9:30am @ Redeemer
BIBLE STUDIES:
TUES. -- 6:00pm (min) + 7:30pm (med) @ NCF
/ 10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
PENT. 5 readings:
JEREMIAH 20:7-13;
ROMANS 5:12-15;
MATTHEW 10:24-33;
(PSALM 31)
