Video Transition:
Our Theme this year - Breakthrough 2020
Thesis: In 2020 we are looking for spiritual breakthroughs in our lives, our souls, our families, our church, our school, and our community. This is our vision and prayer! But to get the desired breakthrough in our lives we need to have 20 – 20 vision from the Lord. We to see into the spiritual realm and learn how to use His weapons which will bring the spiritual breakthrough.
Scripture Texts:
2 Corinthians 10:3-4: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Summary of series:
Sermon 1: David showed us that spiritual brokenness can lead to spiritual breakthrough by us connecting with the Lord or reconnecting with the Lord. David’s example reveals that Breakthroughs come when we choose to leave the bondages, which we think give us security. We need the Lord to bring spiritual breakthrough – we cannot do it on our own – so we need to pray and ask for wisdom to get the breakthrough from God – we also need to praise the Lord for the unforeseen breakthrough – we need to believe it’s possible – we need to have the faith that with God all things are possible – we need to lose the negative thoughts of, “It can or will not happen” instead we must believe in Jesus and cry “All things are possible” even when they look impossible.
A key point in getting spiritual breakthroughs is - we must believe - we really need to sing it loudly, “I believe – I still believe!” We are to have faith in God that He will bring the breakthrough!
Sermon 2: We need to get desperate for a spiritual breakthrough and recruit friends and family to help us get past the crowds and obstacles which block our breakthrough. This means persistent in going after the breakthrough. We need to get into connection with the Lord and in His presence. We need to believe it can happen – a miracle is possible in His presence – a touch from Jesus does bring a spiritual healing and or physical healing – we need to believe this – we need to believe the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Breakthrough – we need to say, “I believe – I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit!” We need to not only believe but pray and intercede and do what we have to do to see the breakthrough come for us and for others.
T.S. – We need to be desperate for a spiritual breakthrough and let nothing stop us from getting it. I believe we also need to recruit others to help us get the breakthrough. But we too must be willing to help others get their breakthrough. Another key point and spiritual tool to spiritual breakthrough is prayer, praise combined with fasting. These spiritual disciplines along with humility brings a divine perspective to suffering and pain – let’s learn from a man named Job.
Sermon 3: Breakthrough 2020 pt. 3
Thesis: Job was a man who faced great hardship and pain but in the midst of it all he still praises God. Did you hear that? In his misery and grieving he did not sin by blaming God for evil but he does cross the line with God by demanding answers for why he is suffering. He had 3 close friends come to grieve with him and help him but instead they blamed him, bullied him, shamed him. Eventually God shows up in the storm to challenge Job and the three on the error of their ways. The 4 repent. This then sets up Job to once again believe for and receive a spiritual breakthrough.
Scriptures from Job:
Job 1:20-22: At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 3:26: "I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
Question: Can you relate to Job’s comment here?
Introduction: To the book of Job
Tony Evans stated, “We shouldn’t run from being broken. Even though it’s not pleasant, it will produce a better life. Brokenness is a blessing because it puts us on the road to a breakthrough. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). Those who are spiritually broken will be blessed because they will see God, and God’s power will flow through their lives. Brokenness is a blessing because it puts us on the road to a breakthrough.”
Job was spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally broken by the attacks of Satan – which from our text is allowed by God (such a mystery) – note: God did not do the evil acts Satan did! Job goes into a time of mourning, despair, grieving but it is connected with prayer, praise and fasting. Spiritual coping mechanisms to pain and suffering. His 3 friends come to help, but instead of comfort they bring more pain and shame. Elihu speaks up when he had enough of the other 4. He is a young man with wisdom and insight and challenges Job and the three friends with truth and insight. He disappears and God shows up rebuking Job and the three friends, they all repent and then God restores all that Job has lost.
JOB:
Theme of the Book: Why do righteous people suffer? There is no answer to this question given in our Book! God says, “I don’t answer to you Job!”
Key Verse: Job 3:26: "I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
Key Word: Trial
Key point: People will suffer both good and evil people – sin is not the necessary reason for all suffering – it could be related to something in the battle of good and evil – we learn from Job’s brokenness what not say about God in the midst of suffering! But repentance brings a spiritual breakthrough especially with a right heart and mind set.
Outline:
I. Prologue Job's test 1:1-2:13
II. False comfort of his three friends. 3:1-31:40
III. Elihus' speeches 32:1-37, 24
IV. God's discourses 38: 1-42:6
V. Epilogue - Job's restoration
(From Unger, 213)
Historical background:
Unger states, “Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Genesis was not written first, but Job. The time described in Job fit the Patriarchal period of the days of Abraham 2,000 years before Christ. Many believe that the author is Elihu who penned this drama shortly after it occurred. Job is not a book of answers but rather a revelation of human experience. Job is an everyday man facing circumstances of which he has no control over. They are ordinary life tragedies of human life. Job gives us insight into not why? We all face trials but conveys to us how to handle these tragedies of life.”
It also reveals how to get a spiritual breakthrough through trials and also shows us how to help others who are suffering get a breakthrough. But it also teaches what not to do as friends or family for others in hard times.
Job’s story and testimony reveal: “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).
We have a choice to make like Job, either we are going to believe God is for us or He is against us!
One brings a breakdown the other a breakthrough. See Job 1:1-22: Specifically verse 20: “At this Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head, then fell to the ground in worship…” Some call this chapter “Blessed be your name oh Lord!” Job in the heat of tragedy starts seeking for a breakthrough in the midst of a breakdown. He goes to Prayer, Praise and Fasting – the spiritual disciplines of breakthrough – these are spiritual tools to use to get a breakthrough from a breakdown.
Point: We need to learn to use them!
Job picked up these spiritual tools in the midst of his trauma and tragedies in life to get a breakthrough.
Remember His story - He lost his business, his kids, his security and health. But instead of giving up and dying like his wife told him to do – her kind words were, “Curse God and die!” Job wielded the spiritual tools of breakthrough so as to break out of the grief and despair! He stumbled in his grief like we all do and fell into the pit pain but in the end he repented of his wrong accusations and assumptions against God and eventually received a spiritual breakthrough.
Important point: Job fasted in our scenario! It’s important to note Prayer, Praise and Fasting are spoken of throughout Scripture.
Jesus placed fasting on the same level as financial stewardship and prayer!
• What would happen to our church and school if we cut out our financial giving to it? It would close – we would be unable to pay the bills! School would close.
• What would happen if we did not pray? The church and school would become a worthless organization with no God and no spiritual power. This too eventually would close both.
• The truth is every major character fasted for spiritual breakthroughs in the Scriptures:
o Job
o Moses
o Samuel
o David
o Isaiah
o Jeremiah
o Many of the Prophets
o Jesus
o Paul
o James
o John
? Jesus said in Matthew 9:15 “There is a time for fasting”
• The above gleamed from https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/54446-your-secret-weapon-for-a-breakthrough
• So, it is important that you understand as a mature Christian there is going to be a time we’re you will need to pray, praise and fast for a spiritual breakthrough! I cannot do it for you – others cannot do it for you - you have to cry out to God in humility for the breakthrough – you have to do what is shown to do in Scripture for a breakthrough! God wants you to do this for you and for others!
Introduction:
The following from Unger:
“Job is a wealthy man living in a land called Uz with his large family and extensive flocks. He is “blameless” and “upright,” always careful to avoid doing evil (1:1). One day, Satan (“the Adversary”) appears before God in heaven. God boasts to Satan about Job’s goodness, but Satan argues that Job is only good because God has blessed him abundantly. Satan challenges God that, if given permission to punish the man, Job will turn and curse God. God allows Satan to torment Job to test this bold claim, but he forbids Satan to take Job’s life in the process.
In the course of one day, Job receives four messages, each bearing separate news that his livestock, servants, and ten children have all died due to marauding invaders or natural catastrophes. Job tears his clothes and shaves his head in mourning, but he still blesses God in his prayers. Satan appears in heaven again, and God grants him another chance to test Job. This time, Job is afflicted with horrible skin sores. His wife encourages him to curse God and to give up and die, but Job refuses, struggling to accept his circumstances.
“Job curses the day he was born, comparing life and death to light and darkness. He wishes that his birth had been shrouded in darkness and longs to have never been born, feeling that light, or life, only intensifies his misery.” The above from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldtestament/section11/
Three of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to visit him, sitting with Job in silence for seven days out of respect for his suffering and mourning. On the seventh day, Job speaks, beginning a conversation in which each of the four men shares his thoughts on Job’s afflictions in long, poetic statements. Then after all have spoken their peace the Lord shows up to bring truth to Job’s life and to set things in motion for a spiritual breakthrough!”
Last week I highlighted how four friends or family members helped the lame man in Mark 4 get a spiritual and physical breakthrough. Today I want to show you what not to do in the process of trying to help someone get a spiritual breakthrough.
T.S. How not to counsel our friends in time of loos and trauma. What will you do when a friend or family member needs a spiritual breakthrough? The three friends of Job (Job. 2:11).
I. ELIPHAZ THE BLAMER & SHAMER (Job 4, 5)
a. After Job's inner cry of despair and his release of his pain. Eliphaz responds to Job's honest despair with words of shame.
i. Eliphaz responds by telling Job in 4:6-9. He is declaring, "God is angry with evil people and He destroys them, but the innocent are spared." (Johnson, 32).
1. You are responsible for your suffering not God Job – you did evil – He is punishing you for it!
2. He accuses and blames Job for all his problems. You are the blame, Job, because God lets good guys win and bad guys always lose.
a. Job you are a bad guy!
ii. This philosophy promoted by Eliphaz is still around today. It's the premise that acceptance by God is based on one's performance or works.
1. Job knew he was not worthy and at one point cries out for an intervener in his speech of grief and despair.
a. Jesus is a answer to Job’s prayer here!
2. The religious legalist of today is always there to tell you that the bottom line to acceptance from God is you keeping the rules, regulations and laws – you break them then the lightening bolt strikes.
a. They throw out God’s Grace and mercy.
b. Eliphaz the blamer misses God's nature and His Grace.
i. We need to know and remember that God deals with us today, not on the basis of our "works" or "performance" but on the premise of His Grace.
1. Romans 3 says, ”We have all sinned and fall short...”
ii. Job is right. We all deserve death. No one is righteous.
1. Eph. 2: 8, 9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”
2. II Cor. 5:21: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
a. Johnson states, "All this is given freely. All of the doing, working and trying for salvation that can be done has been accomplished for us by Jesus. That is grace." (page 34)
b. Let me ask you a question – “Are you a finger pointer?” especially when your friend is in despair or in need of a spiritual breakthrough?
i. Do you make a person feel more guilty and add a little fear to the guilt?
ii. There are Christians and non-Christians who are shame-sellers motivating driving others by using this methodology and philosophy.
iii. There are spouses who attempt to control each other by shame-selling, blaming and using God as their judge.
c. People try to make excuses for God and life's tragedies.
i. Reality Check: You need to understand you cannot control your life 100%. Things will happen. Point is, not if you will suffer but how you will respond to the pain?
iii. Eliphaz does, however, offer some sound instruction to Job. (Job 5:8-17)
1. Johnson states, "Obviously, these are good words. Is Eliphaz, wrong? No, but yes. They are right words and good teaching, but they are used for the wrong reason, to shut Job up. What Job wants is to unburden himself, to war out his pain." (36)
a. People walk through their pain by talking it out – sharing with others for empathy and support!
b. This friend felt uncomfortable in Job's own pain. He wanted Job to say, brothers, I'm sorry I should not have opened up my inner pain."
c. Do you get uncomfortable when others suffer?
i. And therefore try to shut them up or do you listen!
iv. Job, however, responds back to Eliphaz's moralizing blame game preaching. (Chp. 6:4-7).
1. Job disagrees with his assessment – Job may be in pain but he still knows He did not do anything wrong.
c. “Eliphaz responds that Job, who has comforted other people, now shows that he never really understood their pain. Eliphaz believes that Job’s agony must be due to some sin Job has committed, and he urges Job to seek God’s favor.”
i. The above from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldtestament/section11/
T.S. Friend number two enters the heated argument to tell Job how to get his spiritual breakthrough.
II. BILDAD, THE ANSWER MAN (Job 8)
a. He says, “You sinned, your children sinned, therefore, you got what you all deserved” (Job 8: 2,3,4).
i. Like the coaches of the U.S. gymnastics team say, "Suck up the pain and deal with it."
1. How is that for empathy! Bildad has no clue how to help someone going through trauma!
ii. Bildad’s the one, two, three do this solution guy to all life's problems. Job I have a program follow it and all will be well.
1. He gives Job the formula to correct his problems to get his spiritual breakthrough.
a. "But if you will."
i. Look to God – Job is already praying, praising and fasting by the way.
ii. Plead with the Almighty – He has done this in his speech.
iii. Be holy and righteous – Job is holy and righteous even God said so!
iv. Then, presto! You're restored and all is better – he is crying out for restoration – but it has not happened yet!
1. (From: Johnson, page 51, 52)
a. (Note: Job 8: 5-7, 20, 21)
b. The problem here is Bildad's counseling, is oversimplification.
i. His philosophy is, "The good always prosper and the bad always suffer." So, when you do bad admit Job and do these things – then it will get better. Such teaching does not weigh all the facts and it even plays God.
1. Johnson notes, "Not having the problem, Bildad has the answers. (52).
a. This is the quick fix technology of American life today.
i. Many think they have the answer when they don’t.
ii. Many experts know how to fic problems that they don’t even understand!
b. We believe our answers lie in scientific formulas or church formula’s – does not.
i. The idea of "Self Help" is also big here!
1. God helps those who help themselves! Not biblical!
2. Truth is God helps those who ask Him for help – this is the key to spiritual breakthrough.
c. Application: Johnson notes, "It is not that the formula is faulty, but what we are counting on, what we can do to make a change. We just have to get it right. The truth is IT NEVER WORKS, HE, GOD WORKS." (Page 53).
i. Phil 2:12, 13: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
1. Paul knew that what works is God – He is the dependable one – the problem solver the healer and restorer!
2. We need to stop trusting in ourselves to be the ultimate problem solvers and look to God.
a. Johnson notes: "When we stop looking to some strength in ourselves, Jesus gently makes changes." (53)
d. Enter Job's, response. He agrees with the formula and teaching but not with the application of his circumstance. He did not sin so does not apply – he is doing the formula just no breakthrough yet (Job 9)
i. Matt. 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
1. Is the right way to deal with trauma, loss and grief.
e. “Bildad and Zophar agree that Job must have committed evil to offend God’s justice and argue that he should strive to exhibit more blameless behavior. Bildad surmises that Job’s children brought their deaths upon themselves.” The above from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldtestament/section11/
T.S. Enter friend #3, Zophar who has the advice to help Job get the spiritual breakthrough:
III. ZOPHAR, THE BULLY AND EXCUSE MAKER FOR GOD. (Job 11)
a. Zophar is not the brightest of the three but he is full of emotion. He comes in throwing his "guilt bombs".
i. Johnson's point here, "How weak are our attempts to "help" God or defend His ways. We are false witnesses when we pretend that what ought to be, is." (65)
1. Job. 11:3: “Will your idle talk reduce men to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock?”
a. Then – “I will defend God!”
2. Job 11: 6, 11-12:
a. “And disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin. .. Surely, he recognizes deceitful men; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? But a witless man can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born a man.”
3. Job here is blasted by Zophar. He puts Job in the front of the world places a dunce cap on his head which reads, "Inferior, rejected, and judged by God." Zophar is the emotional Judge of God.
a. He is the one who lacks empathy for others. He is right, period! And if you don't agree, look out, the bully goes into action.
b. Even worse, “Zophar implies that whatever wrong Job has done probably deserves greater punishment than what he has received.” The above from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldtestament/section11/
b. Job's response to Zophar is classic. Note Job 12:2,3: "Don't talk down to me."
i. His response then becomes general. Job 13:4: “You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!”
1. Job is in pain in grief and they are blasting him!
2. He accuses the three of whitewashing God and His actions.
3. He then gives them sound advice in 13:5a "be silent."
4. He continues to admonish all three not to "lie for God."
a. Johnson states, "We know far more of 'lying for God' than we care to admit. Some display phony miracles, they are invented healings, religious promoters, embellished victories; we indulge in spiritual sounding boasting. "Neat" answers that attempt to defend God's ways or make Him look good, are put forth by His misguided servants. What a small God! Does He need our lies? If we reduce God to this, it should scare us to death." (70)
5. Job was able to deal openly with God and his friends with honest feelings, and God accepted him. Yet he was angry with his friends. Job 12: 7a, 8b:
a. "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.
i. You guys are the foolish one’s.
T.S. – Enter a young man named Elihu!
IV. Elihu’s message to Job and his three friends Job 33-35
a. Elihu appears to speak after listening to the 4 older men.
i. “Elihu lit into Job again: “Does this kind of thing make any sense? First you say, ‘I’m perfectly innocent before God.’ And then you say, ‘It doesn’t make a bit of difference whether I’ve sinned or not.’ “Well, I’m going to show you that you don’t know what you’re talking about, neither you nor your friends. Look up at the sky. Take a long hard look. See those clouds towering above you? If you sin, what difference could that make to God? No matter how much you sin, will it matter to him? Even if you’re good, what would God get out of that? Do you think he’s dependent on your accomplishments? The only ones who care whether you’re good or bad are your family and friends and neighbors. God’s not dependent on your behavior.”
1. ??Job? ?35:1-8? ?MSG?? - https://www.bible.com/97/job.35.1-8.msg????
a. He speaks clearly and with humility.
b. He speaks with great knowledge of right and wrong, God and suffering, he gives a perspective on God as Creator, who, is not answerable to Job.
c. He notes that Jobs friends need to quit making excuses for God in regards to Jobs suffering and loss.
i. He highlights how the the good and the wicked prosper as well as suffer.
ii. There logic is flawed about God and suffering.
b. Wiki notes the following from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elihu_(Job)
i. He opens his discourse with more modesty than displayed by the other antagonists. Elihu differs from the others in that his monologues discuss divine providence, which he insists are full of wisdom and mercy. He claims that the righteous have their share of prosperity in this life, no less than the wicked. He teaches that God is supreme, and that one must acknowledge and submit to that supremacy because of God's wisdom. He draws instances of benignity from, for example, the constant wonders of creation and of the seasons.
ii. Chapter 32 of the Book of Job is directed at Job's three friends. Chapters 33 through 35:3 consist entirely of Elihu's speech to Job.
1. He promotes divine providence – he says things happen in accordance with God’s plan not man’s plan.
c. Britannica notes this about Elihu - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elihu
i. “Elihu’s insights diverge from those of Zophar, Eliphaz, and Bildad, the three main comforters of Job. Rather than stressing the idea that suffering is a punishment for sinful actions, Elihu concentrates on Job’s sinful reaction to his undeserved suffering. Job, he says, reacts by questioning the justice of God’s ways and, indeed, takes a perverse pride in so doing. Instead, Job should recognize his suffering as a charitable discipline leading to reconciliation with God. In a statement that is unique for the comforters, Elihu also refers to a superhuman intermediary who will help restore Job to God. Elihu ends his arguments by stressing God’s omnipotence and justice.”
T.S. – Enter onto the scene God speaking from the whirlwind – the storm – He addresses Job and then the three friends.
V. God speaks to Job and his three friends from the storm after Elihu’s message to all 4 of them Job 38-40.
a. God speaks with Job to say, “Who are you Job to put me in trial?” “I am the Creator you are the created.” I don’t owe you any answers to trails and tribulations – what have you created Job?
i. Job – “I do not answer to you!”
1. I know this is hard to hear in our American Culture which says, ”Question Authority – you have a right to answers – to know.” “You are special and God owes you!”
2. The arrogance in our society with God is getting worse and worse.
a. God is told stay out of politics and schools.
b. People today Secular and Sacred do not mix but in God they do.
c. “God you fit into our box – not I align with yours!”
ii. God says: “And now, finally, GOD answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said: “Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you’re talking about? Pull yourself together, Job! Up on your feet! Stand tall! I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers. Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much! Who decided on its size? Certainly you’ll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements? How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone, While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise? And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb? That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds, and tucked it in safely at night. Then I made a playpen for it, a strong playpen so it couldn’t run loose, And said, ‘Stay here, this is your place. Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.’”
1. ??Job? ?38:1-11? ?MSG?? - https://www.bible.com/97/job.38.1-11.msg????
b. The following thoughts from https://www.enterthebible.org/Controls/feature/tool_etb_resource_display/resourcebox.aspx?selected_rid=533&original_id=38
i. “After being silent throughout the dialogues between Job and his friends, God finally speaks to Job out of the whirlwind. God does not answer their questions about Job's guilt or innocence, but rather speaks about the created order and contrasts what God can do with what humans are able to do.”
1. We are not God we are the created He is the Creator.
2. Man has limitations God does not.
3. God is in control not mankind.
4. Man does not understand the ways of God!
ii. “Analysis: All through the book, Job had been hoping for an audience with God. He wanted some answers directly from the Almighty. The explanations from his friends connected his suffering with some sins (known or unknown) that he had committed. Job wants God to straighten this out. If Job is innocent, God should acquit him. If he is guilty, God should tell him what is the offense so that he can confess, change, and maybe end the suffering. God does not declare Job innocent or guilty. God changes the subject and begins to talk about the wonders of the world that God had created. God formed the earth, set its structure, put bounds to keep the sea under control, created all the heavenly bodies, and even controls the weather. All through this speech, God reminds Job--using what sounds like sarcastic asides--that mere humans could never accomplish all of this.”
1. Job wanted and audience with God – but he demanded it as if he was going to put God on trial for his pain and suffering. This is were Job crossed the line with God.
iii. “So, what is the purpose of this creation talk? Job remains in the dark about why he, or any human, should suffer. As often happens, we form questions for God, and when the answer comes, it does not deal directly with the questions that we raised. Perhaps the questions were unanswerable.”
1. God does not have to give us answers to why certain things happen in life – we just need to be faithful and push through the pain and suffering and not blame God for evil.
iv. “The most common understanding of God's response is exactly this point. Job and his friends have been trying to answer a question that they can never solve. There are mysteries beyond human comprehension, such as, how to make a world or how to explain suffering. Job is advised to recognize human limits and trust that God will take care of what Job and others cannot know or do.”
1. Faith trusts that God is good not evil – God has a plan for everything which fits into – His – History – His Story!
2. God owes me no answers – I owe him faithfulness and obedience in the journey of life.
v. “Further, the creation talk also suggests that one can look for signs of God's work in the created world. The order of seasons, the power of waves and storms, the beauty of trees and flowers and lakes and mountains--all point to a benevolent Creator who made and sustains this world. We can find something about God by looking carefully at the world that God has made.”
1. Do you want evidence of God look around at nature. Open your eyes to the sunrises and sunsets.
2. Do you want evidence of God Look at a snowflake and a flower. Then look at a storm and the sea.
c. Job repents of his sin and God forgives him.
i. He came to his spiritual senses – he once again replies, “God does not serve me I serve God.” “God does not owe me – I owe God.”
ii. “God does not answer to me a mere man!”
iii. He says, “I am sorry!”
d. God then rebukes the 3 friends and tells them they need to go offer a sacrifice to cleanse them of their sins – their sinful words to Job! Job is to pray for them to be forgiven – he essence needs to forgive them for what they said out of foolishness and arrogance - then God proceeds to bless Job again and give him the spiritual breakthrough he desired in his life.
Conclusion
In our story of Job:
One author summarizes Job as follows:
In the last Chapter, Job is blessed and vindicated by God. We need to remember that Job had none of the New Testament teaching of God's grace, yet this book reveals that he knew that God loved him. He knew that God was not an ogre, but a free giving and forgiving loving God.
The point to learn here is this:
Trials will come your way but remember, God loves you and He will bring you through. What we need to do is to go through the trial and carry the attitude and response to the pain appropriately. If we do this brokenness can lead to breakthrough!
As the great author Jane Austen wrote, “We do not suffer by accident.”
Quote - https://www.exploregod.com/does-god-cause-suffering
”Suffering is a perspective-changer. When things are going well and life seems easy, it can be hard to see any reason to look beyond ourselves. When the opposite is true, our need for divine assistance becomes crystal clear. It’s through suffering that we begin to look beyond the shallow confines of this life and peek out into eternity—to the glorious salvation that awaits all who believe in Jesus Christ.”
C. S. Lewis wrote, “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
We get spiritual breakthroughs by connecting with God – either from the storm – or out of being in His presence – we connect through prayer, praise, fasting and communion with Him. God is the God of breakthrough! Breakthough’s come from God not us and they come in His timing! We learn this through Jobs trials and tribulations.
Question; what do we need to know from this message?
1. Inquiring of the Lord and seeking His direction, wisdom, insight and then listening to His instructions brings spiritual breakthrough!
a. This is all about prayer, praise - which is connecting or reconnecting with Jesus.
b. We must seek the audience of GOD alone not run to our bondages for protection.
c. We need to recruit friends and family that will help us get into the presence of Jesus! Toxic relationships keep us from Him and blame and shame us when we need comfort and hope! We need to go to the Lord – the Creator of breakthroughs.
2. The second dimension to spiritual breakthrough is we need to get desperate for a spiritual breakthrough – a desperation wrapped in humility – now spiritual breakdowns can motivate us to go after a spiritual breakthrough with the help of the Lord.
a. Breakdowns can lead to spiritual breakthroughs when we see that we need the Lord to bring the breakthrough – we cannot do it with our fleshly talents or will – we need his intervention!
b. We need to be desperate for a change in our life – like Job – like the lame man!
c. We need to pray, praise, fast, humble ourselves and seek the presence of Jesus for help for a breakthrough – we cannot create our own breakthrough.
3. The third weapon for a spiritual breakthrough is the combination of prayer – praise – and fasting for the breakthrough.
a. We are challenging you this month to do a 21 day, 7 day, 3 day, 1 day fast for the purpose of a spiritual breakthrough in your life or someone else’s life.
What do they need to do?
We need a desperation – a drive – to seek a spiritual breakthrough in our life and in other’s lives.
Question to church: “How desperate are you for a spiritual breakthrough?”
How willing are you to help someone else receive a spiritual breakthrough? How far are you willing to go?
Pray – fast – praise – intercede – speak up – invite – pick up and help?
Why do they need to do this?
What if just one of your friends came to Christ this year or even family member?
What if you picked up the tools of spiritual breakthrough and you received it – would it not impact your family, church, school friends and work place?
