God and Job

• Job 38:1-7; 40:1

God’s sovereignty over creation (Job 38:1-39:30)

Dialogue between God and Job (Job 40:1-5)

• Job immediately responded with humility.

God’s sovereignty over creation, continued (Job 40:6-41:34)

• Compare Job 10:3, 17.
• Introduction – Job 40:6-14
• Behemoth – Job 40:15-24
• Leviathan – Job 41:1-34
• Behemoth and Leviathan could be extinct dinosaurs. (See https://apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=184 )
• It’s very possible that leviathan was actually a fire-breathing animal. Many animals can eject various chemical as defense. One great example is the bombardier beetle (https://youtu.be/W3sxJNt8CYw ).

Job’s final response (Job 42:1-6)

• Job repents and retracts his words.
• Job 30:19-21 – This might be a place where Job went too far.

God’s conclusion (Job 42:7-17)

• Job 42:7-8 – God refers to Job as His servant. Job’s right speaking here might be his repentance.
• James 5:10-11 – The story of Job teaches us about God’s compassion and mercy.
• Job’s role was to stay committed to God. That’s our role as well, regardless of what we face!

Introduction

• John 19:28 – The word translated “perfect” is also translated as “accomplished” and “fulfilled.”

• We must keep the word in its context.

  • Matthew 5:43-48 – “Perfect” here means loving everyone.

  • James 1:2 – Trials bring a state of maturity. This completeness is also a type of perfection.

  • Hebrews 5:7-9, 14 – Jesus was made perfect. He perfected Himself by carrying out His mission.

  • Philippians 3:11-16 – Paul wanted to be perfected in the sense of being resurrected. Christians can be perfect today in the sense of spiritual maturity.

My relationship with God

• Matthew 22:37 – Martin Luther was racked with guilt and didn’t think he or anyone else could live up to this. He misunderstood perfection and God’s crace, thinking that God must just do everything for us.
• Hebrews 9:1-14 – Our consciences can be perfectly cleansed today by the blood of Jesus.
• Hebrews 10:1-4, 10-14
• I John 1:7 – The sacrifice has been made!
• I John 2:1-2 – I can be perfect because I can partake of God’s perfect plan.

My relationship with myself

• Isaiah 55:3, 7-9 – God’s thoughts are far above us.
• Perfectionism can bring us down and lead us to procrastinate and be idle.
• Robert Turner is a good example of a man who, although he preached God’s word for many years, was still plagued with self-doubt.
• Haggai 2:3
• We need to come to terms with our limits as humans.

My relationship with others

• Luke 18:9-14
• Self-righteousness ruins our relationship with others.
• Ephesians 5:21
• Romans 12:16
• Romans 2:23
• I Timothy 1:15 – Paul said he was chief among sinners!

Conclusion

Let us live with humility and an understanding that we need God.

Last week

Giving – Jesus our example

• Gave Himself – I Timothy 2:5-6
• Left heaven – John 3:13
• Served His creation – Matthew 20:25-28
• Sacrificed His life – John 10:14-18

Importance of marriage relationship (Ephesians 5:25-33)

• Ordained by God – Genesis 2:24 (not new in Ephesians 5:31)
• Requires great knowledge of each other – John 10:14
• Lasts for life – Matthew 19:6
• Much like the most important spiritual relationship

Likeness of marriage

• The marriage relationship is:

  • Established in love

  • Maintained in purpose

  • Sustained in service

  • Steadfast in all things

  • Sealed in sacrifice

Marriage

Established in love

• A commandment to husbands – Ephesians 5:1-2, 25

• What kind of love?

  • John 3:16

  • Romans 5:8

  • I John 4:8

  • Much like “love your neighbor” from Luke 10:25-37

Maintained in purpose

• What purpose?

  • Ephesians 5:26-27

• Similar figure in Revelation 21:2; Colossians 1:21-22

• Requires God-ordained leadership – Colossians 3:18

  • Relationship of one in subjection

  • Similarity of Christ-church relationship

  • Importance of respect – Ephesians 5:23

    • Two-way street

    • I Peter 3:7 – Compare uses of “honor” in I Peter 2:17.

  • Leadership is gentle – I Peter 3:7

  • Leadership is responsibility, not privilege.

Sustained in service

• To become the greatest in a marriage – John 13:3-15
• Comparison of Matthew 20:25-28; 23:11

Steadfast in all things

• Example of Jesus’ steadfastness – Romans 8:38-39
• Steadfastness in consistency – Hebrews 13:8

Sealed in sacrifice

• Giving of self – Ephesians 5:25

  • Time

  • Effort

  • Resources

  • Love

  • Consideration

  • Respect

  • Concern

  • Ear

Introduction

• John 17:20-21
• Ephesians 4:1-3 – “unity of the spirit in the bond of peace”

Unity and peace among brethren

• Psalms 131
• Ephesians 4:13
• Philippians 1:27; 2:2
• Mark 9:50
• Luke 1:79
• John 16:33
• Romans 8:6; 14:19
• I Corinthians 14:13
• II Corinthians 13:11
• Galatians 5:22
• Ephesians 6:15
• I Thessalonians 5:13
• II Timothy 2:22
• Hebrews 12:14
• I Peter 3:11
• Jude 1:2
• Philippians 4:7
• John 17:23
• I can be the source of unity and peace or of discord in the local church.

Lack of unity among believers produces infidelity

• John 17:20-21
• How God looks on one that causes disunity:
  • Proverbs 6:16-19
• How God looks on one who sows discord demands that we mark those that cause disunity.
  • Romans 16:17

God’s platform for unity

• Ephesians 4:1-7
• I Corinthians 1:10
• If we build our lives on God’s platform for unity, we will be acceptable to Him.

Things that are detrimental to unity.

• III John 1:9 – Having our own way.
• II Timothy 2:14 – Strife among brethren
• James 3:5-6 – Uncontrolled tongues
• I Corinthians 5:1-5 - Worldlines

Means of promoting unity and peace

• Philippians 2:3-4 – Humility
• I Corinthians 9:19-22 – Serving others
• Ephesians 4:15
• I Thessalonians 2:10

Unity, peace, and joy

• Unity and peace will ultimately produce joy.
• Philippians 4:1
• Romans 12:12; Psalms 5:11; I John 1:4

Unity, peace, joy, and happiness

• Matthew 25:46
• I Thessalonians 4:13-17 – What happiness!

• Job 32-37

Elihu’s speeches to Job

• Job 32:3, 5, 12 – Elihu is not impressed with the words of Job’s three friends.
• Job 33:8-11 – Elihu summarizes Job’s stated position so far.
• Job 33:13-28 – Elihu points out that God has several ways of communicating with man.
• Job 34:7-8 – Elihu accuses Job of evil and associating with sinners.
• Job 34:9 – See Job 21:15.
• Job 34:12 – God will not do wicked things!
• Job 34:21-30 – God sees and punishes the wicked.
• Job 34:31-37 – Elihu claims Job has spoken inappropriately.
  • See Romans 3:23; 4:1-3.
• Job 35:12 – Elihu claims God does not reply because of Job’s pride.
• Job 37:14-24 – Elihu urges humility for Job. God is so far above us, we have no right to question Him.
• I John 4:20 – God does not look kindly on those who malign one of His own.