| View Blog
|
|
|
JOB 33
All the speeches
All the talk
All the conversation
Nothing Changes
“How to get your foot in the door:”
Job 33:1-6
1 But now, Job, pay attention to my speech,
and listen to all my words.
2 I am going to open my mouth;
my tongue will form words on my palate.
3 My words [come from] my upright heart,
and my lips speak what they know with sincerity.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Refute me if you can.
Prepare your case against me; take your stand.
* 6 I am just like you before God;
I was also pinched off from [a piece of] clay.
Verse 1 – “listen to all my words” - please Job hear me
He gives Job a break in the concentration caused by the speech – take a breath and then listen to this now.
Verse 3 – “upright heart”
Not a perfect heart, it is possible to have every known sin in our life confessed up and have an upright heart
Unknown sins have to be revealed – we can harbor sinful attitudes in our hearts, justifying these in many ways but God can reveal this sin to us and at that point it is a known sin
“my lips speak what they know with sincerity” - pure knowledge –
I am sharing expecting nothing in return – no hidden agenda
Verse 4 - I know from whence I come – GRACE – we are not deserving – we forget that we all deserve to be in hell – it is only because of His Grace…
We can get caught up in comparison with those around us and forget that Jesus is our standard.
Verse 6 – at least 3 different times Job has asked for a mediator but here Elihu states that he has been interceding for Job – he has been praying.
“also” – not better, not bigger, made of clay just like you, one moment away from being in the same shape, one decision away from disaster.
Ever felt that your life is just crumbling away?
What happened when someone touched you and said “I’m praying for you”?
Ever had someone identify with your circumstances and offer you hope?
Elihu identified with Job – lifted him up and prayed for him
Mark 2:2-5 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
There are times when we feel we can’t get through to God – we need friends to intercede - to take us through the roof.
Every church should have s pastor who prays over the members – when you know the person who is speaking over you is praying for you with no motive but pure love – it makes you want to hear what he has to say.
A spokesman before God.
Be an intercessor – bring other’s needs before the throne – if your prayers are always selfish – you are probably not getting too many “yes” answers. Your prayer life will grow when you pray for others.
The other friends only had advice but Elihu was sincerely praying for Job. Sincere intercession can open doors and break down barriers.
Quote: “Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
Job 33:7
Fear of me should not terrify you;
the pressure I exert against you will be light.
“my hand will not be heavy on you”
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it
Colossians3: 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Rebellious children :
1. They rebel on their own
2. parenting is too loose – no boundaries
3. parenting is too tight
Parenthood is not a science – there is no perfect parenting; it is no simple formula of
LOVE + PROVISION = success. It does not work this way, parenting is an ART not SCIENCE.
Bob Ross was a landscape artist – as he painted if there was an “oops” in his work, he did not start over or take it out, he made the “oops” part of the landscape.
Parenting is blending the “oops” into the landscape.
“my hand will not be heavy on you”
the other friends have been pushing Job down when he was already down. Elihu said, “I did not do that”. This is getting Job’s attention. Let the Word of God speak (keep your 2 cents out of it).
Our heart verses God’s heart:
Our heart – full of sinful attitudes verses God’s heart – full of love
Arrogance, disdain, harshness, bitterness, malice verses compassion and brokenheartedness.
Sin is not to be glossed over – just don’t go beyond God.
Luke 15:11-24 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The father had daily watched for his son – he met him with open arms – he did not enjoy, condone or condemn the sinful life of his son. He held his arms open, hugged his son, heard his son repent and took the son back as his son.
By identifying with Job, Elihu has formed a connection with Job that no amount of accusations or “preaching” would ever do.
Looking down on someone will not get them to listen to you.
Elihu got eye – to – eye with Job.
Job 33:8-11
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard these very words:
9 "I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean and have no guilt.
10 But He finds reasons to oppose me;
He regards me as his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks;
He stands watch over all my paths."
Elihu repeats what Job has been saying – Job hearing his own words was getting through to Job.
Technique for communication – repeat what you have heard from the person you are communicating with. Repeat it and clarify “is this what you said?” “this is what I heard?” “what did you mean to say?”
Elihu was showing Job his pride and arrogance. (Job has wallowed in himself – it has been all about him). Job was righteous before God, but he was still a man with sins that needed to be uncovered.
When sin is revealed – we are obligated to confess and repent.
God likes to “hang out” with us just like a father “hanging out” with his boys, kicking anthills in the woods.
Job was saying that God had not dealt justly with him – he was not allowing God to “hang out” with him because he was focusing on himself and his circumstances.
Job 33:12-33
12 But I tell you that you are wrong in this [matter], since God is greater than man.
13 Why do you take Him to court for not answering anything a person asks?
14 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.
15 In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls on people
as they slumber on [their] beds,
16 He uncovers their ears at that time and terrifies them with warnings,
17 in order to turn a person [from his] actions and suppress his pride.
18 God spares his soul from the Pit,
his life from crossing the river [of death].
19 A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain
and constant distress in his bones,
20 so that he detests bread,
and his soul [despises his] favorite food.
21 His flesh wastes away to nothing,
and his unseen bones stick out.
22 He draws near the Pit,
and his life to the executioners.
23 If there is an angel on his side,
one mediator out of a thousand,
to tell a person what is right for him
24 and to be gracious to him and say,
"Spare him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom,"
25 then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth,
and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.
26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him.
That man will behold His face with a shout of joy,
and God will restore his righteousness to him.
27 He will look at men and say,
"I have sinned and perverted what was right;
yet I did not get what I deserved.
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and I will continue to see the light."
29 God certainly does all these things
two or three times to a man
30 in order to turn him back from the Pit,
so he may shine with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me.
Be quiet, and I will speak.
32 But if you have something to say, answer me;
speak, for I would like to justify you.
33 If not, then listen to me;
be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.
|
|
Posted by sonyalambert on 2008-02-27 11:43:10 | Rating: | Views: 58
|
| |
|
|
