WEBVTT 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:05.679 I want to talk a little bit tonight about struggles. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:12.560 And to kind of start it off, I want to kind of walk you through uh some of the periods of my life where I've had struggles. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:22.480 When I was in grade school, elementary school, the only struggles I ever worried about in my life were the kind that involved a belt and my bear behind. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:33.039 I got a little older, I got into junior high, and the struggles involved girls and fitting in and being Mr. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:34.079 Athletic. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:40.000 Then I got to high school, and then it really involved girls, and it really involved fitting in. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:43.920 Then I got to college and I met my wife. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.719 And I know most of you are thinking that I'm gonna say that marriage is one of my struggles. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:57.520 But I learned, those of you who know me the best, uh, my mother-in-law was here two weeks ago, and she stayed for nine days. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:03.520 After that, I've learned that my greatest struggle in life is spending nine days with my mother-in-law. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:10.959 Saying that, I'm gonna stay over here, away from my wife, so I don't get chased out of here. 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.239 Now my greatest struggle is seeing her after church. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:24.159 But seriously, if I asked everybody to raise their hands who's struggled in their life, I'm pretty sure we would all put a couple hands up. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:30.400 And talking tonight, I wanted to talk about something that we all experience. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:33.840 And God really put Job on my heart. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:40.400 So I want to answer a few questions that we don't really think about when we're struggling. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:46.000 And tonight it's called A Turn for the World. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:51.120 The story of Job is a serious turn for the worst. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:56.239 Here's a guy who was at the pinnacle of prosperity. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.680 And like that, he was in the pit of poverty. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:02.079 Immediately, he lost his family. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:04.159 The Bible says he had a great family life. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:09.039 I want to kind of set up a little bit about Job, his background. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:14.719 The Bible says that he was one of the most powerful, richest men in the East. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:19.680 In Job's time, the people in the East were the Bill Gates of the world. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:23.520 They were the richest, the most influential, the most powerful. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:30.560 So it's pretty safe to assume that Job was a pretty powerful, rich, and influential guy. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:42.400 So you take a guy at the top of his game, and we pick up in the first chapter, and Satan is talking with God, and he says, I could do that. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:47.120 If you gave me all the things you've given him, I could live life. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:48.319 I'd be pretty happy. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:50.159 But what if you took those things away? 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:59.520 Well, when we get into the questions, when we get into struggles, when I get into struggles, I feel buried. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:05.120 I don't know if that's the way you feel, but I feel like I have this weight on my shoulders. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:09.599 And I want to pose a question tonight. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:11.840 Why? 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.199 Why struggles? 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:17.840 Well, to me, there are two purposes for struggles. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:26.240 The Bible says in Hebrews and in Proverbs 3.12 that those whom the Lord loves, he reproves. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:28.240 He disciplines them. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:30.080 So struggles can be discipline. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:32.560 With Job, it wasn't discipline. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:35.280 So why? 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:37.120 He was a great guy. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:41.680 God himself said he hasn't abandoned his integrity. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.120 So why? 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:48.879 Well, a little later we'll talk about that, and there will be two reasons. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.240 But the important reason is to strengthen Job's faith. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:56.000 How easy is it to live life when we got everything going for us? 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:57.919 It's pretty easy. 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.759 I look back in times in my life where things were great. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:05.599 Had a good job, good money, great girlfriend. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:07.120 Things were good. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:10.319 Well, what about when things took a turn for the worst? 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:17.600 With Job, the struggles were a test. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:24.639 And the question that I don't always think about, what is God doing? 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:26.959 I ask him all the time when I get into struggles. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:27.920 Man, where are you? 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:29.040 What are you doing? 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:31.040 Have you forgotten about me? 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:34.160 Well, I want to answer that tonight. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:37.439 I want to let you know that he hasn't forgotten about you. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:43.120 So the first question: what is God doing when life takes a turn for the worst? 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.040 First off, God is watching your every move. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:51.600 I could sit down right now. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:52.720 That's good enough for me. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:53.839 He's watching me. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.439 He hasn't forgotten about me. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:57.519 Even though I feel like that sometimes. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:01.759 He's watching my every move. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:15.920 And in Job 2.3, we see, I want to kind of show you with Job how great an example Job is for periods in our lives where it's just straight struggles. 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:32.160 And it says, Then the Lord said to 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, and still he holds fast to his integrity. 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:35.759 Now they had a prior conversation that went just like this in the first chapter. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:42.480 How did God know what a great guy Job was? 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:45.759 He was watching his every step. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:47.680 He's watching your every step. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:48.399 And you know what? 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:49.759 Sometimes I hate that. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:52.000 I can't stand that thinking. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:54.000 He just watched what I did. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:06:01.519 He just watched how I was impatient with my wife or how I kicked the Nintendo because the game froze up. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:02.800 He's watching that. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:05.040 I can't stand that sometimes. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:07.839 In struggles, leverage it. 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.519 Leverage the fact that he's watching your every step. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:18.560 Is there a better thought in the midst of struggles than God is watching me? 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:21.759 Well, there is, and I'm going to talk about that now. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:27.040 The second answer to the question is God is in control of your situation. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:44.560 Now, this is something that I was really excited to talk about because when I went away to college, I was interacting with people who were not saved, who were just saves, and I came across kind of a theme. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:51.600 There are a lot of people out there who think there's some kind of a power struggle between Satan and God. 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:54.639 I'd never thought about it. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:59.439 That there's some Tyson Holy Field boxing match over my soul. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.639 I'll stand before you right now, tonight, and say, uh-uh. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:06.720 The authority is God's. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.519 The authority is God's. 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:12.240 Well, where do we see that with Job? 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:13.360 Let's look. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:14.959 Job 1.12. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:20.639 And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:23.360 Only do not lay a hand on his person. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:25.120 I love this part. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:28.160 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:29.920 Who's got the authority? 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:31.120 Who's got it? 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.480 Is it Satan? 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.120 No. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:35.439 Why not? 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:37.600 He had to ask. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:43.040 God had to give him the authority. 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:45.279 He had to let him. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.720 Well, do you think that just applies to Job? 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:50.319 No. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:53.920 It applies to you, to me, to all of us. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:56.399 Who are his children? 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:04.959 And sometimes I get caught up thinking, maybe God has forgotten about me. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:10.160 Maybe Satan had a nasty uppercut that kind of stunned God for a little bit. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:11.040 Uh-uh. 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:13.120 It doesn't happen that way. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:16.160 I'm in the midst of a test. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:18.720 God hasn't forgotten about me. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.160 And better than that, he's in control. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.879 Remind yourself of that. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:29.120 Leverage that in a struggle. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:30.639 Who's in control? 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:32.240 I know I'm not. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:35.279 It's like driving with no hands in the wheel. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:37.200 I know I am out of control. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:48.320 But in the midst of a struggle, when I remind myself that he's watching me and that he's in control of my situation. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:51.279 Sounds good to me. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:57.759 And the third answer God has the purpose for your struggles. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:05.279 He has the purpose for my struggles. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.279 What is the purpose? 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.960 You know, we get so caught up in, God, why? 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:14.960 Why are you putting me through this? 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:16.720 Why am I in this situation? 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:18.720 Why are all these things happening to me? 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:20.399 What do you think Job was saying? 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:23.759 Do you think he was sitting back saying, I just lost all that money. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:24.960 I had the best family. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:31.919 You know, the Bible says that his family never missed an opportunity to celebrate with one another. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:36.240 And when they died, they were celebrating with one another. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:37.600 They loved each other. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:42.000 So not only did he have the money, which is great, he had a great family. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:44.720 He had everything going for him. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.399 Well, what about me? 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:52.639 Is it any different with me? 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:53.360 No. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:59.279 God has the purpose for my struggles. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:02.159 Romans 8, 28. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:07.759 For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:12.240 When I was in college, we would have to dissect verses. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.840 And I would have to write 20 pages on a verse this long. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:22.320 And you talk about having to really dig into the meat of this. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.000 This was one of the verses. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:28.240 And my professor, I met with him after we turned in our papers. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:29.600 And I asked him, I said, why? 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.120 Why did you pick this verse? 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.240 And he said, because people don't understand it. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:39.200 Well, after I wrote 20 pages on it, I kind of understood it a little bit better. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:44.480 People think that this means if I'm one of his children, everything's going to be great. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.399 Life will be perfect. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.000 No. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:49.600 The good, the bad. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:54.960 Job says one of the most profound things in one of his speeches to God. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.240 And it's to his wife. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.879 His wife says, hey, listen, we've lost it all. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.960 Just give it up. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:06.879 Just turn your back. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.759 His own wife said that. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:14.799 And Job said, Are you just going to take the good from him? 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.320 Are you not going to accept the bad? 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.279 Profound. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.720 Take them both. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:23.840 You know why? 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:25.519 He knew why. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:30.799 The good, the bad, they all point in the direction God wants you to go. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:37.120 Wherever he wants you to end up, the good and the bad are going to point you there. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:42.080 And I'm the king of not wanting the bad stuff. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.799 Just give me the good stuff. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:54.080 When God tests me, I'm the guy who says, okay, my wife says that I overanalyze everything. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:58.879 God and I will get into these, most of the time, one-sided conversations. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:02.559 And I'll be saying, hey, hey, hey, I figured it out. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.759 I think I know why I'm in this situation. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.679 I've learned my lesson. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:12.639 And you know he's sitting back going, I'm fixing to show you really good. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:14.799 And he does. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.639 But I'm the first one to say, learn my lesson, I'm done. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:20.639 I'm going to walk in this direction. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.080 But God says, No, no, you haven't quite learned it yet. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:29.840 And then he takes me out to the woodshed and rips into me. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:37.360 The good and the bad point to what God has for you. 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:45.279 For Job, the purpose of his suffering was twofold, like I said. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:49.360 The first part was to strengthen his faith. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.519 The second part was to prove Satan wrong. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:54.480 You see the conversation between Satan and God. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:13:01.519 And God's kind of saying, okay, take it out first, man. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.200 You think you can take him out. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.919 But I love that he says, don't lay a hand on him. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.600 Don't take his life. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:08.639 Well, what happened? 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:10.399 He didn't take his life. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:13.919 Satan knows who has the authority. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.440 So he's it's two-part. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:24.879 Strengthen Job's faith, which it does, and to prove Satan wrong. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:30.960 There's a second question that is the most important question when we're in struggles. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:34.320 What should I do? 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:44.000 What should I do when life takes that nasty U-turn for the worst? 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.200 In school, they teach you to have three points for everything, so surprise. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.200 There's three points for this, too. 00:13:55.279 --> 00:14:04.960 The first point, I try not to be uh, you know, you'll see. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.720 Everything starts with an R. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.600 I'd have gotten extra points for that in college. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:16.240 The first answer that I want to look at is remember the omniscience of God. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:20.159 It's a lot like the first point that I've already talked about. 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:22.159 Remember the omniscience of God. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:26.639 Well, he's watching you, and he knows you, and he knew Job. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.799 My dad and my brother are both pilots. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:42.879 And when they have the opportunity to fly a lot, whenever we go out to lunch, uh there's always a lot of talk about flying. 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:53.200 Well, there's a good illustration about omniscience, a good reminder about the omniscience of God. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:15:00.080 Holly and I drove by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport a couple nights ago. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:05.679 And on a clear night, have you guys ever noticed all the planes coming in on final? 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:10.159 I mean, you you can just see six, seven planes coming in. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:13.440 And I got to thinking about that. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:30.480 In a storm where you can't see anything, if you had no contact with the air traffic control, the tower, about the location of any of the other planes, would you be a little scared? 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.960 I'd be afraid me and another plane would just be doing this thing. 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.799 If I was trying to find my own way. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:45.759 But there's a guy that sits over a screen with some blips on it. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:51.440 And he tells me, the pilot, okay, come in here. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.840 You'll fit right in. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.639 Can I see that screen? 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.519 I can't see that screen, can I? 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.960 I don't see it. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:06.480 I can't see the other planes behind me in a storm where I can't even see my hand in front of my face. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:10.480 Which hopefully I wouldn't be trying to do in an airplane, stick my hand out the window. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:12.720 But I can't see the screen. 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:14.399 Well, this guy can. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.279 And I have trust in that guy as a pilot. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.840 That he's gonna help me. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:22.480 Not crash into the guy behind me. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:27.039 We forget about that. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:32.240 Sometimes we convince ourselves that we're sitting atop that screen. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:35.120 And we know what's going on. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.399 Don't tell me. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:38.000 I'm getting in first. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.320 And God says, shuffle back a couple. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.639 Well, why does he do that? 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:50.159 Because if he didn't, we'd probably crash into the plane. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.279 He's omniscient. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.360 He knows what's going on. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.240 Once again, leverage it. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.799 Leverage the fact that he knows you. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:04.400 He knows every hair in your head, the thoughts that you think. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.000 He knows you. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:10.000 And when he watches you, he's knowing you. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:12.000 They go hand in hand. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:19.279 The second part of the answer to this question, oh, let's take a look at this. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:19.920 This is good. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.240 In Job 23, Job kind of has this good day. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:29.200 You know, when we're in struggles and we have like 40 bad days in a row. 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.200 And then there's one good day. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:33.119 And it's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:36.000 And then you wake up the next morning and you're like, oh, back. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.960 You know? 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.960 He was having a good day. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:46.400 He was having a thoughtful day because there were times when he was talking to God, he cursed the day of his birth. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:53.119 And then he went one step further than that and cursed the day he was conceived. 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.519 He was pretty ticked. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.799 But he was having a good day in chapter 23. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:06.799 And he's got some friends that kind of act like friends. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:10.480 You know, he has these three guys come out of nowhere. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:13.680 They they hear Job's losing his money, so they rush to his aid. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:15.039 He loses his family. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:23.279 And for 25-30 chapters, these guys are saying, the problem is in you. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:30.559 You must have done something to ask for the wrath of God the way you have. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:32.160 What have you done? 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:36.960 And all the while, Job says, I will stick to my integrity. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:39.359 I know I didn't do anything. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.480 I'm not being disciplined. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.000 His friends didn't believe him. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:48.559 And they spend all these chapters and all this time telling him, the problem's in your lap. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:55.680 So finally, he kind of sidesteps his three buddies and starts talking to God again. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:01.200 And he kind of shoves this in his friend's face, let's say. 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:06.319 It's chapter 23, verse 10 through 12, but let's look at verse 10. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:09.599 But he knows the way that I take. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.480 He's the air traffic controller. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.799 And this is just the beginning. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:19.920 By the end of this little three-verse section of Job 23. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:27.039 Hopefully you'll be as excited as I was when I realized what Job was actually saying. 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:36.319 Then in the second half of verse 10, he gives us our second answer. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:41.759 What should I do when life takes a turn for the worst? 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:48.799 Realize the outcome of your trials. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:58.079 It's like I was saying earlier, how great I am at being that guy that says, okay, done, done, no more spankings. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.640 You know, my mom used to spank me. 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:09.119 My dad would be at the church working, you know, and my mom, if I'd done something just really ruthless, would spank me before my dad got home. 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:18.319 And I remember a few times where before she even started spanking me, I started screaming at the top of my lungs. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.119 She would say, I haven't even started yet. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:25.119 But I knew, since it didn't hurt that bad, that I had to really work it up. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.960 So she would stop real fast. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:31.599 But then she wasn't stupid. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.160 She knew that. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.279 Because then when my dad came home, she explained to him the situation. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.759 It was over. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.880 It was over. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:42.720 Whatever ruthlessness, it was gone for at least a day. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.480 But it seems like I've been doing that all of my life. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:53.359 Because we all hate to be in the middle of struggles. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:00.319 I'd venture to say, if I asked the question, do any of you enjoy struggles? 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.640 We wouldn't be smelling any deodorant, I promise you that. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.559 Nobody raised their hand. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.920 Unless you're kind of crazy. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.960 But I hate it. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.960 I can't stand struggles. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:24.000 Well, to realize the outcome of the trial isn't to seek with excitement the end. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:26.000 That's not what he's saying. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:33.839 He's actually saying realize what happens when you're in the midst of a struggle, when you're being tested. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:41.279 Sit back, stop whining, stop complaining, and realize what God's doing. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:44.799 And he says this in the second half of verse 10. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:48.240 But he knows the way that I take is the first half. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:53.279 When he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:58.640 Isn't that what realizing the outcome of trials is? 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.799 The good and the bad, point towards where God wants you to be. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:06.079 It's gold. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.759 Pretty sweet, huh? 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.359 It's gold. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:22.480 So for my very scholastic third point to this question, we look at verse 11 and 12. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:29.759 And when I'm in the middle of a struggle, you know, I love to talk about it. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.720 I love to tell everybody what's going on. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:36.880 I'll tell Holly, you know, we'll just talk and talk and talk. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:44.880 Because I always think that if I talk about it enough and God gets sick of me just enough, that it'll pull me out of this struggle. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.240 It hasn't worked yet. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.400 Well maybe it will one day. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:50.880 But Job says something. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:59.359 The first point, remembering the omniscience of God, and the second point, realizing the outcome of trials. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.759 Job's kind of saying, I didn't do it. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.720 I didn't do anything. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:05.200 You guys keep telling me it's my fault. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:08.880 Well, he kind of pushes it in their face a little bit. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.960 And then he comes to verse 11. 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:19.599 And it's kind of a conversation with God, even though it's with these three guys. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:24.319 And it's verse 11 of chapter 23. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:29.200 He says, My foot has held fast to his steps. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:35.119 I have kept his way and not turned aside. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.799 He's pleading his case with these guys, but also to God. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:44.000 Do you think God didn't have a clue about that? 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.160 Do you think God knew? 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:49.200 We've already said he knew. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:24:05.759 And I think that the hardest thing in the midst of a struggle is to remain obedient to the word. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:08.960 And that's the third part of this. 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.359 You know, we get so caught up. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:18.960 I get so caught up in talking about it and feeling sorry for myself. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.480 What is Job saying? 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:27.680 In verse 11, my foot has held fast to his steps. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:30.640 I have kept his way and not turned aside. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:32.720 He's fixing to tell you why. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:36.079 I have not departed from this commandment of his lips. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:41.200 I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:43.759 Why remain obedient to the word? 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:44.960 Why? 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.680 Two reasons. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.119 Extra credit. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.880 First off, because the word guides us. 00:24:56.319 --> 00:25:01.359 He says, I have not turned aside because he was remaining obedient to the word. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:04.480 It was pointing him in the right direction. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:10.480 But what I like even better than that, the second part. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:14.480 Is that it sustains us. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:26.160 And he says, even more so than the food that is necessary to keep this body going. 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.359 Got to be pretty important. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:35.839 It was more important than the necessary food. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.440 It sustained him. 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:48.160 I'll be the first one to admit that in struggles, unless God hits me over the head. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:52.400 I'm not thinking about these six things that I've talked about. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:56.720 The first three are good, but the second three are really good. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:26:02.559 See, the point was to give you three answers to the question of what is God doing? 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:06.160 Because oftentimes we start asking, what are you doing? 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.359 Where are you? 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.359 Well, there's three answers. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.880 Right out of Job. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.799 And Job came up with them. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:14.960 I didn't come up with them, Job came up with them. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:20.640 Then the second question is the important question. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:26.400 What should I, Preston Morrison, be doing in the midst of this struggle? 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.920 Three answers. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:32.400 And Job even told you why. 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:38.880 Because whatever God's got is better than the food that is necessary for this body to live. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:42.799 And remember, he lost it all. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:51.119 This guy isn't the chipper person who used to walk down my high school hall and go, hey buddy, praise the Lord. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:53.279 That wasn't Job right now. 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.799 Job was frustrated. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.480 But he still knew. 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:03.359 What did he know? 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:05.599 He knew that God was omniscient. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:09.519 He knew that God knew all along what was going on. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.079 What else? 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:16.880 He realized the outcome of trials. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:25.119 He knew that whatever he was going through would make him a better person. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:28.720 My best friend in college plays professional baseball. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:32.720 And in professional baseball, there are many steps. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:43.839 Now you got rookie A, single season A, you've got all of these jumps up, and it's really hard work, and they pay you$600 or$700 a month to do it. 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:52.400 This is a guy that lives by the statement that which doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.880 That's what Job is saying. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:28:09.839 He's saying, even though this hurts, even though I am absolutely at a loss over losing my family, I know there's a reason. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.920