THERE IS NO GOD LIKE JEHOVAH-JOB-

SERIES: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD

TEXT: JOB 42:12

There has never been a time for us to have a close encounter like today. These are the days of Elijah declaring the word of the Lord. These are the days of Ezekiel, the dry bones becoming as flesh. There is no God like JEHOVAH. What our church needs is close encounter!

I have been pointing out to you in the course of this series that no matter:-

• Who you are.
• What you have done.
• What life has thrown to you.
• Where you are spiritually this morning.

You can have close encounters with God Almighty. So far we have talked about Adam, Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, Moses and Daniel.

This morning come with me to the harsh hip of a forgotten Middle Eastern town of Uz. Uz was somewhere in Arabia. Here at Uz we hear the moaning and sighing of a man who is suffering like no one before, no one ever since.

This man’s name is Job, his Hebrew name is Iyyob. Iyyob in Arabic means “repent” or “he who turns back to God.” Job is also mentioned in Ezekiel 14:14, 20. This man had close encounters with God. With this in mind, let us read Job 42:12-17. “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning…….. Isaiah 46:9-10.

Without doubt Job had close encounters with God. We live in days of “prosperity gospel.” Wherever you turn on the T.v all your hear is “sow your seed, you’ll drive a Bentley, Mercedes Benz, range etc.

This is a flawed philosophy that-

• If you do right, everything will be great.
• If you do wrong everything will be bad.

But experience and the word of God has taught us that this is not always true.

• Jesus Christ did everything right, yet He suffered greatly, Job did everything right yet he suffered.
• The old question still applies, “WHY DOES BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?”
• The main theme of Job is clear and that is that no matter-
• What happens to you.
• What you face.
• The tragedies of your life.
• The things you might lose.

We can have close encounters with the Lord Almighty. Let us look at the life of Job. Let us break his life into 4 parts. Let us learn:-

JOB’S IDENTITY.

• Who was this man called Job?
• Some people say he was a fictitious man because it is difficult to believe that all this tragedy could happen to one person.
• But that is not true, the opening line to Job says-Job 1:1-3, there was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job.
• Job was a real man according to Genesis 46:13. Job could have been the grandson of Patriarch Jacob, born to his son Issachar.
• The prophet Ezekiel mentions Job alongside of Noah and Daniel. If Noah and Daniel are real then Job was real.
• In the New Testament-James 5:11 Job is mentioned “You know Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.”
• In Job 1:1-3 it tells us three things –

1. He was a great servant of God.
2. He had a wonderful family.
3. He had a thriving business.

• Job lived a prioritized life.

1. God
2. Family
3. Work

• Isaac lived an ordered life-Gen. 26:25.

1. He built an altar.
2. He pitched his tent.
3. He dug a well.

• In other words-God, family, work, anytime you get that mixed up, your life will never ultimately what it can and should be.
• Job had a large family and he offered sacrifices for each of his children in order for them to know the Lord-Job 1:5.
• If you and me are going to impact our children for the kingdom of God, it is going to take sacrifice.
• You may have to sacrifice social clubs and social agenda to get your family to church.

JOB’S ADVERSARY

• The Bible tells us that Satan came before the Lord. The Lord says to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?”
• Satan only operates through the “Permissive will of God Almighty.”
• Satan has only the power God allows him to have- Job 1:9-11.
• The following truths emerge:-

1. First of all, we all have an ADVERSARY.

• 1^st Peter 5:8- “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom to devour.”
• In Rev. 12:11- The accuser of the brethren.
• Satan accuses us to God and to ourselves.

2. Second of all, are you like that, will you serve God?

• Will you just serve God in good times?
• Will you serve Him only when the bills are paid?
• Only if marriage works out?
• Only when He heals you?

There are those who would not serve God if their family member dies or if the economy collapses.

• God is looking for people who will prove that the devil is a liar. People who would serve God- come what may, come hell or high water, come death come life.

JOB’S AGONY

• God set limits as to what Satan could do.
• God told Satan, “You can have job, but don’t touch his life.”
• Satan is on the leash but we must get permission to move against you and me.
• There is also such a thing as giving place to the devil-Eph. 4:27.
• You give place to the devil when you get offended, when you refuse to come under authority, when you gossip, murmur and complain, when you go your own way and when you sin.
• Unless you give the devil a place in your life, the only other way for Satan to get to you is through the permissive will of God.

1. Job loses his business and all his children in one day. But how did Job respond?- Job 1:20-22- Job worshipped.
2. Job loses his health. In Job 3:2-3, Job says three things:-
3. Why was I born? – Job 3:2-3.
4. Why did I not die when I was born? – Job 3:11.
5. Why can’t I die now? – Job 3:20-21.

• It is ok to ask God why? Jesus Christ asked, why?
• Please notice that Job did not say, “I will kill myself.” Job was not suicidal.
• Suicide is a wrong choice.

There is response of Job’s wife.

• Now we need to empathize with Mrs. Job, she has lost her children, property and husband is very sick.
• But what she said was totally wrong and hurtful and faithless.

Job’s friends came.

They said three things:-

• You have sinned.
• You are to blame.
• You are a hypocrite.

They were far from the truth.

• Always be careful what you say to people when they are suffering.
• Job was suffering as a test of faith.
• Throughout this test, Job said some remarkable things.

Job 19:25-27- Job knew a Redeemer.

Job 19:25- Job knew a Returner.

Job 19:26- Job knew of a resurrection.

• Job 23:8-10- his faith was not based on the invisible God.
• Job 23:12- Job depended on the word of God. God gets into trouble with us. When we suffer, God suffers with us.

JOB’S RECOVERY

Job’s recovery started by rediscovering God’s attributes.

• God is God- Job 38:4-7.

1. Job’s recovery started by realizing God’s perspective- He realized God’s power.
2. Job’s recovery started when Job received God’s provision- Job 42:10.

• Job prayed for his friends that hurt him.
• Great things happen when we are not offended- Job 42:12-13.
• Job was 70 years when was tried- he lived another 140 years.

CONCLUSION

• Never doubt in the dark what God has spoken to you in the light.
• God declares the end from the beginning.
• Both Christians and non- Christians will suffer in this life.
• The only suffering Christians will undergo will only be in this life. We are going to heaven. Job 3:17- “There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.”
• Do you know your Redeemer? If not, come to Him now.