1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Elevation Church Podcast. Today we have the 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: privilege of welcoming Pastor Darius Daniels from Change Church and 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: we're excited for you to hear what you shared with 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: our church. We hope you enjoy this message. Well listen. 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: I love God's word. I'm excited to share it today. 6 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: And you know, I'm thinking around this whole idea of 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: questions and questions from the Bible, questions that people in 8 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: the Bible had about God. This is what I've learned. 9 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: It's one thing for us to question God. We see 10 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: some of that in the Bible. It's another for God 11 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: to have questions for us. And when God asked us 12 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: a question is not to gather information, is to give it. 13 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: When he asked us a question, he doesn't need to 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: see something. He's trying to show us something. And it's 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: around that thought that I want to read a few 16 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: verses in the Book of Job Job, chapter forty two, 17 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: verse number one, we see Job responding to a question 18 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: God asked him. It says, then Job replied to the Lord, 19 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: I know you can do all things. No purpose of 20 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: yours can be thwarted. You asks Job is saying God, 21 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: you ask who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge? 22 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 1: Then Job says, surely I spoke of things I did 23 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, 24 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: listen now and I will speak. I will question you 25 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,559 Speaker 1: and you will answer me. Listen to what Job says 26 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: in verse five, he said, my ears had heard of you, 27 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: but now my eyes have seen you. I last time 28 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: I was here, I taught from the subject. I didn't 29 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: see that coming. I want to talk from this subject 30 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: and our time together today I see it now. Clap 31 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: your hands in the house, and in your house if 32 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: you're ready for God's word, you could be seated. A 33 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: Danish philosopher and theologian Soaring Kirca Gard is credited with 34 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: this quote. He says life is lived forward but only 35 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: understood backwards. He seems to be suggesting that there are 36 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: some things that are going on or that will go 37 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: on in your present that will only make sense in 38 00:02:55,520 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: your future. In other words, just because something doesn't make 39 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: sense now doesn't mean it doesn't make sense. It may 40 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: mean you have not gotten to the place, space or 41 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: season in your life where God makes sense out of it. 42 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: And I'm wondering if any of us can pause for 43 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: the cause and do some reflecting in our own life. 44 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: And if we reflect objectively, I believe we have to 45 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: honestly admit that there were some things in our past 46 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: that we did not understand then, that we did not 47 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: value then, that did not make sense to us. Then, 48 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: That felt damaging then, But now when we look back 49 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: in retrospect, we gain respect for that season because the 50 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: thing I thought that was destroying me was the thing 51 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: God was using to develop me. Come here, Joseph, and 52 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: my pit and my prison became the pathway to my palace. 53 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: Life lived forward but understood backwards. Kireker Gard is articulating 54 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: the essence of this principle I call the principle of perspective. 55 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: What does that mean? Where you sit determines what you see, 56 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: and what you see determines what you do. Where you 57 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: sit determines what you see, and what do you see 58 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: determines what you do. There are some things you can 59 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: see that I can't see, not because they don't exist, 60 00:04:55,839 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: but because we aren't sitting in the same place. Because 61 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 1: where you sit determines what you see, and what you 62 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: see determines what you do. And this is why some 63 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 1: individuals become confused, dumbfounded, flabbergasted when they look at your 64 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: life in the midst of this uncertain season, you're still 65 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: living with a degree of conviction and certainty that they're 66 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: looking at you when everything seems to be crumbling all 67 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: around us, but somehow you're still being held together. They're 68 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: looking at you when everyone else seems to be having 69 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: pity parties. You're having praise parties in the closet, in 70 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: the car, in the living room, on the iPad with 71 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: the desktop. Come on, talk to them. We're having praise parties. 72 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: And people feel like, well, maybe they're just in engauge 73 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: in some religious fanaticism. Maybe they're just denying the reality 74 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: of what's going on. Maybe they're operating with some sense 75 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: of intellectual inferiority. No, no, no, no, no. You don't 76 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: understand what I'm doing because you don't see what I'm seeing. 77 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: And you don't see what I'm seeing because you're not 78 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: sitting where I'm sitting. When I got saved, I was 79 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: raised to life in Christ, seated in heavenly places, and 80 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: so now I see things from a different perspective, and 81 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: I see what the enemy means for evil God's gonna 82 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: work for good, so I don't have to wait until 83 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:44,799 Speaker 1: the battle is over. But I can praise God right 84 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: now because where you sit determines what you see, and 85 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: what you see determines what you do. And this is important, 86 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: essential when we find ourselves, listen to me, please. In 87 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: job like seasons, Pasadarius, what is that? What do you 88 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: mean by that a job like season? I'm referring to 89 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: a gentleman in the Old Testament named Job. There's a 90 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: part of his story situated in a section of the 91 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: Bible called wisdom literature, meaning that this part of the 92 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: Bible contains books that God wants us to gain wisdom from. 93 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: And Job's story is put in the pages of scripture 94 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: because God wants us to gain wisdom from Job. On 95 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: how to handle job like seasons, Darius, what is a 96 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: job like season? A job like season is a season 97 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: of ambiguity. It's a season where you have to watch this, 98 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: where you have to keep advancing without some answers. It's 99 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: a season where you want answers God refuses to give you. 100 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: It represents seasons where where you have to move on 101 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: without closure. It's the season where God separates and differentiates 102 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: between what you think you need and what you actually need. 103 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: It's God's way of saying, you think you need an 104 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: answer to advance, and because I'm committed to supply all 105 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: of your needs, if you really needed an answer right now, 106 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: I give you one. But because I haven't given you one, 107 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: it's an indication that you got the ability to advance 108 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: without it. And I need to pause today, and I 109 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: need to speak to somebody who feels like you're waiting 110 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 1: on some answers and you're trying to make sense out 111 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: of some things that don't make sense. If God hasn't 112 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: given you an answer now, it's because you don't need 113 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: an answer now. And maybe God's encouragement to you is 114 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: to move on anyway, is to advance anyway, it's to 115 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: thrive anyway. Maybe you don't need what you think you 116 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: need to do what God is calling you to do. 117 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: Maybe God's trying to wean you off of something that 118 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: you become code dependent on that he gave to you. 119 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: But you used the gift as a crutch, and you 120 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: became more confident in the crutch than you did in 121 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: your crisis. And he says, in this season, let me 122 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: take that crutch to reveal to you. Sometimes you don't 123 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: know I'm all you need until I put you in 124 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: a situation. Well, I'm all you got, job like Caesars. See, 125 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: this principal perspective is incredibly important because it helps me 126 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: manage wisely job like seasons. It helps me manage those 127 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: seasons with wisdom so that our anxiety about ambiguity does 128 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 1: not cause us to act impulsively. You understand what I'm 129 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: saying that, right, So the damage that anxiety about ambiguity 130 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,079 Speaker 1: can cause is not just what we feel, it's what 131 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: we do as a result of those feelings. Right. It's 132 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: like an Old Testament character named Abraham who was very 133 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: old in age and his wife was old also, and 134 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: God says to them, Okay, you guys are gonna have 135 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: a child in the old age. And so they were 136 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: already old when they got the promise, and watch this 137 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: and watch this. While they're waiting on the promise, they 138 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: deal with a season, I believe, a season where they 139 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: get to the point and they something causes them to 140 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: act impulsively. So Sarah recommends that Abraham hook up with 141 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: someone named Hagar, and as a result of that, she 142 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: gives birth to a child named Isaac. What does Isaac represent. 143 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: Isaac represents the fruit of impulsive activity. It's what you 144 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: produce when you get ahead of God. And it didn't 145 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: stop Abraham from getting to the place God had for him. 146 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: It just made the journey much more difficult than it 147 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: had to be. This principal perspective helps us manage these 148 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: seasons with wisdom, because where you see determines what you see, 149 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: and what you see determines what you do. So maybe 150 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 1: there are times I don't understand what God is doing 151 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: because I'm not seeing what God is seeing, and I'm 152 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: not seeing what God is saying because I'm not sitting 153 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: where God is sitting. I see to the corner, he 154 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: sees around the corner. I see to the hill. He 155 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: sees over the hill. I see today, he sees tomorrow. 156 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: I see the crucifixion on Friday. But it lets me 157 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: hang on the cross because he sees a resurrection coming 158 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: Sunday morning. And maybe God's not behaving the way we 159 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 1: feel like we should he should be behaving. Maybe God's 160 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: not intervening in the way we feel like God should 161 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: be intervening because we're looking at the same thing. But 162 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: we don't see the same thing right. An example of 163 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: this is in John eleven when the Bible says there 164 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: was a man named Lazarus who was dead, and the 165 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: scriptures say who was Yeah, who is dead? And the 166 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: scripture says that Jesus gets word of his death and 167 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: he says these words, Lazarus has fallen asleep. Now everybody 168 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: else is saying he's dead, but from Jesus's perspective, he's 169 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: so everybody else is expecting the Jesus to rush because 170 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: Lazarus is dead, But Jesus doesn't rush because in his mind, 171 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: Lazarus is sleep. They looking at the same thing, but 172 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 1: they aren't saying the same thing. And Jesus is like, 173 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: I'm not rushing because you think what I'm actually doing 174 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: is performing a resurrection. But in my mind, I'm just 175 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: wakning them up from a nap. Because where you sit 176 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: determins what you see, what you say, determins what you do. 177 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: Maybe that opportunity didn't manifest itself. Maybe that that promotion 178 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: didn't happen, Maybe that transfer didn't happen, Maybe that contract 179 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: didn't have Maybe you being positioned at the department in 180 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: that department didn't happen six months ago, because God knows 181 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: six months from now that department's gonna phase out. See 182 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: where you sit determines what you see, and what you 183 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: see determines what you do, and Job's story is an 184 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: incredible example of this reality. We are introduced to this 185 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: gentleman named Job with these words. In Job one, verse one, 186 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: it says, in the land of us there lived a 187 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: man whose name was Job. He was blameless and upright. 188 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: He feared God and shunned evil. I very rarely have 189 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: I seen the Bible speaks so favorably about a man, 190 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: and very rarely have I seen the Bible give such 191 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: detail about the character of a man. So the writer 192 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: of this narrative is trying to get us to see 193 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: that if anybody should have been able to avoid seasons 194 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: of ambiguity and uncertainty, it should be this man. It's 195 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: trying to get us to see, if anyone should be 196 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: exempt from unfavorable ccumstances and inconveniences, it should have been 197 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: this man. But this man starts experiencing this downward trajectory 198 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: of tragedy, and so the writer, rather literally or metaphorically, 199 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: gives us some behind the scenes spiritual backstory to see 200 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: what is happening to facilitate this tragedy, and so, whether 201 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: literally or metaphorically, the writer says that one day angels 202 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: will lined up to have conversations with God, and one angel, 203 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: a fallen angel named Satan, had to stand in line 204 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: just like everybody else. So he standing, uh huh. That's 205 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: how much of a defeated foe he is. He's got 206 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: to stand in line just to get an audience with 207 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: the Father. He overinflates his ability because he wants to 208 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: intimidate us into believing he's got more power than he has. 209 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: But my Bible tells me Jesus gave us power, all 210 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:05,360 Speaker 1: the power up the endemy, he got a stand in line. 211 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: He's standing in line, y'all. He's standing in line, and 212 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: he gets he finally, he finally gets his turn, and God, God, 213 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: such a boss. He gets his turn. God say, what's up? 214 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,479 Speaker 1: He said, nothing? So where you've been? I've just been 215 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 1: to Valentine and Roanoke and Melbourne and Greenville and rock 216 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: Hill and University City, just trying to find somebody's life 217 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: to mess up. And God says, have you considered job? 218 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: Wait a minute, God, wait, a minute. I just read 219 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: in the Land of Us that lived a man named Job. 220 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: He was blameless and upright. He feared God has shunned evil, 221 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: and God says, yeah, hell you consider Joe. Wait a minute, 222 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: there are some other people in my Bible that I 223 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: think might be better recommendations. I'm gonna see if I 224 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: can find anybody that's honest. Have you ever felt like God? 225 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: I don't want this to happen to anybody, but I 226 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: am wondering why this happened to me and not the 227 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: person down the street. It's a powerful picture, right of 228 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: just ambiguity won't have an answer. I can give you 229 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 1: some hypothesis. I don't have an answer this. It rains 230 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: on the just and the unjust. That's the declaration of 231 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: a reality that exists in the world. But I do 232 00:18:56,040 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: not have the rationale for that reality. It's like, man, 233 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 1: sometimes the worst stuff happens to the best people. That's tough, 234 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: isn't it. So he says, have you considered my servant, Joe? 235 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: And watch what Satan says. He says, well, does Job 236 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: fear God for nothing? He says, have you not put 237 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: a hedge around him and his household and everything? He has. 238 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: Hold up, Wait a minute. The text says that Satan says, 239 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 1: have you not put a hedge around him? His household 240 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: and everything he has? It didn't say that. God said, 241 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: I put a hedge around him, his household and everything 242 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: he has, and I'm follow the floor donary time. He says, 243 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: where are you been? I've been all over trying to 244 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:56,919 Speaker 1: find somebody's life to mess up. Have you considered my 245 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: servant Joe? Yes, but you put a head hedge around him, 246 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: his household and everything he has. Wait a minute, You 247 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: not only Satan know who job is, but you also 248 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 1: know there's a hedge around him. Here's my question. If 249 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: God didn't tell you that was a hedge, how did 250 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: you know unless you try to get to him previously 251 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: and you couldn't because of the hedge. And maybe we 252 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: ought to pause and thank God for hedges you don't 253 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: know about. Maybe sometimes we are so focused on the 254 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 1: things that got to us, not realizing that every day 255 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 1: there are some things that don't get through because of 256 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: a hedge. I want to tell you, for every time 257 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: the devil got through, there were more times he couldn't 258 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: get through because of a hedge of protection that was 259 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 1: around you. Now. Listen, I know what it's like to 260 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: praise God for things we know about that he did. 261 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: I want us wherever we are, in the car, in 262 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: the living room, in the kitchen, I want us to 263 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 1: praise God for the things he blocked that we don't 264 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 1: know about. Has hedge, he says, He says, have you 265 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,119 Speaker 1: not put a hedge around him and his household and 266 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: everything he has? It means you've been trying, not just 267 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: to get to me, you've been You've been trying to 268 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: get to my house. Some people in your house are 269 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:44,880 Speaker 1: being blessed by your hedge. That's a result of your 270 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 1: faithfulness to a god. They want nothing to do with 271 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: you what I just said. There are times of people 272 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: like why are you so committed to that church? Or 273 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,479 Speaker 1: why are you so committed to that God? And they 274 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: don't even realize that the reason I'm able to be 275 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 1: who I am to you, and the reason I the 276 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: reason I am to able to handle you in a 277 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: responsible manner is because of this very church you're complaining about, 278 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: and you're benefiting from a heads that is protecting you. 279 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: That's a result of my commitment to God's church that 280 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: you're complaining about. Complaining about what they benefiting from don't 281 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: even know they benefit from your heage. So the Bible says, 282 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: Satan leaves presence of God and begins to engage in orchestrating, 283 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: so influencing some people to do some interesting things. And 284 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:05,479 Speaker 1: then there are some unexplainable natural disasters that happen that 285 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: also directly impact Joe. So this is one of the 286 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: things that happens. The Bible calls it a windstorm, so 287 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 1: we don't know. During these times, there weren't meteorologists and weathermen, 288 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 1: and so we don't know if this was a tornado 289 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 1: or a hurricane. But some natural disaster happened and it 290 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: hit his children's house and he lost his kids. Now, 291 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: this was the text says, and it says while someone 292 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: was giving him that news, while they were still giving 293 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: that news, somebody else came and said, listen, all of 294 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: your assets, which were agricultural back in that day oxen 295 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: cattle says, a group of people named the Sabians have 296 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: just come. They've stolen that from you, and are you 297 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: following me? And while that person, the Bible says, while 298 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 1: they were still speaking, someone else comes and gives some 299 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 1: bad news. I want you to see how the enemy 300 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 1: is at work here. It is sequential, it is cumulative. 301 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: Have you ever felt like, if it's not one thing, 302 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: it's another. Have you not felt like when it rains, 303 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: it pours. This is a strategy of the adversary to 304 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: get us out of our anxiety, because when it before, 305 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: the enemy takes us out. He tries to wear us down. 306 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: Did you hear what I'm saying? So the sequential nature 307 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: of what's happening weakens your resolve. Have you ever felt 308 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,199 Speaker 1: that way that, Okay, I got big faith and I'm 309 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: believing God, and then you just get hit with blow 310 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: after blow after blow, and then your resolve is weakened, Samson, 311 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 1: your hair is cut. And then when you lose your strength, 312 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: here come the Philistines, and the Bible says, in the 313 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: midst of ball all of this job did not charge 314 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: God with any wrong doing. It's amazing. But what I 315 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: love about this story is that that very often is 316 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:19,479 Speaker 1: where teachers and preachers stop. But in chapter two, the 317 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: Bible says, Satan comes back to God and says, yeah, 318 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: I need another round. Here's my question. If you took 319 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:33,160 Speaker 1: his kids, if you took his assets, if you disrupted 320 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,239 Speaker 1: the course and the quality of his life. Why are 321 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: you coming back in chapter two trying to get more 322 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: access to Job. Maybe it's because everything you took in 323 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: chapter one was not what you were really after. Because 324 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 1: Satan's exchanged with God initially said if you take his stuff, 325 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 1: then he will curse you to your face and break 326 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 1: his level of commitment. So maybe Satan is coming back 327 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: because he's frustrated that no matter what he took, he 328 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: still didn't get the one thing he was really after. 329 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 1: He was after Job's commitment. And I want to tell 330 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 1: somebody that's listening to this and watching this that the 331 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 1: enemy is equally as frustrated with some of you because 332 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: he's been coming after this and messing with that and 333 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: infiltrating this and stealing that. But he's upset because he's 334 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: not getting the thing that he's after. He wants your 335 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 1: commitment to God, but you got a job like resolve 336 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: that says, though he slay me, yet, will I trust him? 337 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: You can take everything, but you cannot have my commitment. 338 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: So Satan says, all right, I got all this stuff, 339 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: but let me get access to him, and Joe gets 340 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: inflicted with personal sickness. And suffering. His wife is his 341 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: only caretaker because his children are gone, his assets are diminished, 342 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: he can't hire any help. He's not used to living 343 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:35,439 Speaker 1: this way. Listen. His quality of life has diminished relationally, 344 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 1: financially and now physically. And his wife, who I don't 345 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: believe was a bad woman. I believe she got caretakers fatigue. 346 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: I don't think we should judge her whole story on 347 00:27:53,840 --> 00:28:00,880 Speaker 1: a statement. I think we at times pain and unfair 348 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: picture of Job's wife, not excusing or affirming or endorsing 349 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: what she said. But stress will make you say things. 350 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 1: Let me see if I can find the honest section. Uh, 351 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: if I'm teaching. If if you're honest, say you teaching? 352 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: Passor put it in the chat. Listen to this. Listen, 353 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: stress and pressure will make you say things. Listen to this. 354 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: You don't mean two people you really love? And that's 355 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: what she said. She said, It's interesting the coincidence. She said. 356 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: She recommends to job that job do the same thing 357 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: that God said he wouldn't do. She said, why don't 358 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: you just curse God and die insensitive? So everything in 359 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 1: Joe's life seems to be unraveling at the same time, 360 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: and he did nothing wrong. Then all of a sudden, 361 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: his pseudo spiritual friends come over, his friends come over, 362 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: one comes over, all deep. You know, I had a dream, right, 363 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: And everybody's giving him. All of his friends, they're either 364 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: trying to give him spiritual answers or religious platitudes that 365 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: you don't want to hear in a season of him ambiguility. 366 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 1: God's got a plan. I know God's gonna work it 367 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: all together for your good. I know they miss UNDERCID. 368 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 1: They didn't have relational lif intelligence. They misunderstood the power 369 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 1: of the ministry of presence that when there is trauma 370 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 1: and ambiguity and pain, you don't always have to offer words. 371 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: You give the gift of your presence. The Bible refers 372 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: to the Holy Spirit as a comforter. There are times 373 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: where God helps us with strange and suffering seasons, not 374 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: by saying anything, but by giving us the gift of 375 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: His presence. And sometimes many of you may feel like 376 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: I don't know what to say, I don't know what 377 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 1: to do, and it's like no, Sometimes the doing is 378 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 1: in the being. And Joe now at this point, he's deflated, 379 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: he's confused, and what he didn't do in chapter one, 380 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 1: he did. He starts to question God, and God sits silently, 381 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: and he listens. From chapter four all the way to 382 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: chapter thirty eight, God says nothing. Job questions God. I 383 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 1: love this. You know why I love it? The fact 384 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: that Job questioned. God says to me, he has a 385 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: healthy view of God because you cannot hide your real 386 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: thoughts from a God who knows them. And there are 387 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: times we deny what we feel right. And so all 388 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: these chapters God just listens to Job, and then all 389 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 1: of a sudden he says, all right, I'm kind of 390 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: tired of this. And in chapter thirty eight God speaks 391 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: to Job, and in verse three this is what he 392 00:31:52,640 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: tells Job. He says, brace yourself like a man. He says, 393 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 1: all right, He says, now I will question you. You've 394 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 1: had questions of me, but now I have a question 395 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: of you, and I want you to answer me. Gone, Jesus, 396 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 1: where were you when I laid the Earth's foundation? Tell 397 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: me how I did that? Right? He's talking about what 398 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 1: Calvin would call natural creation that demonstrates the genius of God. 399 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 1: That just creation itself is evidence of intelligent design. It 400 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: takes more faith not to believe in intelligent design than 401 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: it does to believe in a god. Watch this, who 402 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: put the sun close enough to the earth where you 403 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: can get his heat, but far enough away where you're 404 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: not consumed. A God who puts just the right amount 405 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 1: of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere so that 406 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 1: you can breathe in a way. A God who allows 407 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:02,240 Speaker 1: clouds to be feeled with water, the water to release 408 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 1: itself in the form of rain, to irrigate the land, 409 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: to grow what we need to grow, to eat, to 410 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: feed the cattle that we need to sustain us, and 411 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: then evaporate back up in the atmosphere. He says, who 412 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: marked off his dimensions? Surely you know, since you know everything, 413 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: who stretched the measuring line across it, or on what 414 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: footings where it's set, or who laid its cornerstone? While 415 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: all the morning stars sing together and all the angels 416 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 1: shout it for joy, you know what God's trying. God 417 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: is asking Joe a question, and he's not trying to 418 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:54,800 Speaker 1: get information, He's trying to give it. When God asks 419 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 1: a question, he's not trying to see something. He's trying 420 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 1: to get us to see something. What is he trying 421 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: to get? Job? To see. He's trying to get Job 422 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 1: to see I am the ultimate expression of intelligence. And 423 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,919 Speaker 1: just because this wat's this, just because this doesn't make 424 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 1: sense to you, doesn't mean this doesn't make sense. It's 425 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: not that my ways job contradict reason. It's my ways 426 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 1: transcend your reasoning. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. 427 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 1: I see something you don't see. You looking at chapter 428 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 1: thirty eight, but I'm looking at chapter forty two. Well, 429 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,279 Speaker 1: I'm getting ready to give you double for all of 430 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: your trouble. What's this? This is what I want you 431 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:41,840 Speaker 1: to see. In the midst of uncertainty, God ask Job 432 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:46,719 Speaker 1: a question because he's wanting Job to get something. He's 433 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:52,719 Speaker 1: wanting everything God said was about him. He never told 434 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 1: him why the sabans. He never told him why the sickness. 435 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:57,279 Speaker 1: He never told him why your wife said that He 436 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:01,600 Speaker 1: didn't give him assurance about it, but he gave Job 437 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: assurance about him. In the midst of uncertainty, he says, Joe, 438 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: you don't have to be certain about it as long 439 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 1: as you're certain about me. And so when you hit 440 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 1: seasons where you're filled with angst and anxiety about what 441 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 1: you don't know, Job teaches us to lean on what 442 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 1: you do know. And I do know God is good. 443 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:26,600 Speaker 1: I do know God is faithful. I do know God 444 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: will come through. I do know no weapon for m 445 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:32,399 Speaker 1: that gets me shall prosper. I do know I'm more 446 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,840 Speaker 1: than a conquerer. I do know he will restore unto 447 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:42,399 Speaker 1: me the years that the enemy stole from me. He 448 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:49,240 Speaker 1: helps him walk through ambiguity, not by giving him certainty 449 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:58,439 Speaker 1: about it, but by giving him certainty about him. He says, Job, 450 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:01,560 Speaker 1: I know you won't to know the reason for all 451 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 1: of this, and I know you want an answer with this. 452 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: I know you want certainty about this, But right now 453 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 1: you just need to be certain about me. And we're 454 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:22,959 Speaker 1: in an age of uncertainty. When a season of unprecedented uncertainty, 455 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:28,799 Speaker 1: you've got two options to focus on the uncertainty of 456 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:39,239 Speaker 1: it or the certainty of him. You can focus on 457 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 1: what you don't know about it, or you can lean 458 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:49,480 Speaker 1: on what you do know about him. And I love it. 459 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:52,920 Speaker 1: It's in our foundational text, the Bible says. Then, Job 460 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 1: replied to the Lord, I know you can do all things. 461 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,640 Speaker 1: Watch this, and no purpose of yours can be thwarted, 462 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:05,239 Speaker 1: meaning that what you have for me will be performed 463 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: in me and through me, regardless of what happens to me. 464 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:12,000 Speaker 1: That I'm surprised by this, but you are not. And 465 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:14,239 Speaker 1: this may feel like a delay O to me, but 466 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:18,080 Speaker 1: it is not denial. No purpose of yours can be thwarted. 467 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:23,640 Speaker 1: You ask, who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge? 468 00:37:23,719 --> 00:37:26,160 Speaker 1: And then Joe admits. He says, surely I spoke of things. 469 00:37:26,239 --> 00:37:29,200 Speaker 1: I didn't understand. Things too wonderful for me to know. 470 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:32,840 Speaker 1: He said, you said, listen now, and I will speak, 471 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:34,920 Speaker 1: and I will question you, and you will answer me. 472 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: And in verse five he said, my ears had heard 473 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:47,880 Speaker 1: of you. I was blameless, I was upright, I was moral, 474 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:51,320 Speaker 1: I hated evil. But I didn't know that I didn't 475 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:57,080 Speaker 1: know you. That I knew morals more than I knew you, 476 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:01,840 Speaker 1: that I knew ethics more than I knew you, that 477 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:05,279 Speaker 1: I knew religious platitudes, and I knew scripture more than 478 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:08,399 Speaker 1: I knew you. He said, I didn't know how much 479 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:11,360 Speaker 1: I didn't know you until now. He said, my ears 480 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:16,360 Speaker 1: had heard of you, But now my eyes I have 481 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 1: seen you. I see it now. I was complaining about 482 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:36,440 Speaker 1: the mess, but missing the miracle that I was alive 483 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:47,840 Speaker 1: to complain. I wouldn't even be able to complain about 484 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:52,080 Speaker 1: the mess if it wasn't for the miracle of my survival. 485 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:57,880 Speaker 1: You surviving that all your assets gone, You're surviving that, 486 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,000 Speaker 1: all your children gone in an accident. You're surviving that, 487 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:03,640 Speaker 1: your own wife telling you curse God and die. You're 488 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:07,000 Speaker 1: surviving that, your friends turning that back on you, telling 489 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:13,839 Speaker 1: you you need to repent. You're surviving that. And in 490 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:17,239 Speaker 1: the midst of this, Job did something I think we 491 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:20,239 Speaker 1: need to do in your home and your well, not 492 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 1: in your car if you're driving, do it in your 493 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:26,759 Speaker 1: heart if you're driving. As a part of Job's story, 494 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:33,720 Speaker 1: weere it says, and Job fell to his knees. Indie worshiped. 495 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,600 Speaker 1: And this is what I've learned, y'all. Worship is not therapy, 496 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:51,320 Speaker 1: but it is therapeutic. I think it says in Psalms 497 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:55,000 Speaker 1: eight to two, you have established You've established through the 498 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 1: praise of children and infants, you've established a stronghold against 499 00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:03,960 Speaker 1: your enemies. Did you catch that through the praise, the 500 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:09,680 Speaker 1: praise created a stronghold, a fortress offense in my thought realm, 501 00:40:10,560 --> 00:40:15,319 Speaker 1: because praise requires mindfulness on the goodness of God, and 502 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:18,359 Speaker 1: those good thoughts about the goodness of God serve as 503 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 1: a guard and a garrison that blocks some of that 504 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:32,359 Speaker 1: negativity from getting there. Worship is a defense weapon. It's 505 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:41,000 Speaker 1: not just spiritual antics. It's a spiritual weapon because it 506 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 1: reminds me of the real thing I need to know. 507 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 1: In caesars of uncertainty, God is good. God is for me, 508 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:54,600 Speaker 1: and God is faithful. And I'm talking to you wherever 509 00:40:54,680 --> 00:41:00,839 Speaker 1: you are all over the world. God is good for you, 510 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:04,719 Speaker 1: and God is faithful. I don't have any more answers, 511 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:10,800 Speaker 1: but God is good. God is for you, and God 512 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:24,400 Speaker 1: is faithful. And may His favor go before you and 513 00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:31,120 Speaker 1: behind you and besides you, all around you, in your weeping, 514 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:44,160 Speaker 1: in your rejoicing, He is for you. He is for you. 515 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:52,080 Speaker 1: Yes you, thank you for joining us. Special thanks to 516 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:55,000 Speaker 1: those of you who give generously to this ministry. Is 517 00:41:55,040 --> 00:41:58,040 Speaker 1: because of you that this ministry is possible. You can 518 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:00,920 Speaker 1: click the link in the description to give now or 519 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 1: visit Elevationchurch dot org slash podcast for more information, and 520 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can 521 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 1: share it with your friends. You can click the share button, 522 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:13,520 Speaker 1: take a screenshot and share it on your social stories 523 00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:16,320 Speaker 1: and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. 524 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:16,960 Speaker 1: God bless you.