Central Christian Church Lampasas

JOB LESSON 1: TRIALS ARE USED BY GOD TO TEST US AND ALSO TO ALLOW US TO DEMONSTRATE FAITHFULNESS.

JOB LESSON 2: GOD CALLS ON US TO HAVE FAITH IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS.

JOB LESSON 3: A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP

JOB LESSON 4: MY REDEEMER LIVES

MY REDEEMER LIVES

Finding its context in the social, legal, and religious customs of the ancient world, the metaphor of redemption includes the ideas of loosening from a bond, setting free from captivity or slavery, buying back something lost or sold, exchanging something in one's possession for something possessed by another, and ransoming. The nearest living blood relation to a man had certain obligations and offices to discharge, under certain contingencies, in respect of which he received a special name; which is sometimes translated in the Old Testament 'Redeemer,' and sometimes 'Avenger' of blood. Hebrew goel; i.e., one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs

Jehovah is represented as having taken upon Himself the functions of the next-of-kin, and is the Kinsman-Redeemer of His people. This title is peculiarly applied to Christ. He redeems us from all evil by the payment of a ransom.

To Be Announced. Faith points to a future hope even if our present circumstances cause us to fear. Job says an incredible statement of faith. He knows that: .

We have a definition of faith in Hebrews.

We also read in Titus about our blessed hope.

We have a blessed hope, a future assurance, a heavenly home. That is the foundation of our faith and not what we see around us.

Of course, it is easier to encourage someone to be faithful than to be faithful ourselves.

Faith is strengthened through prayer and through our honest conversations with God. The Lord knows what is going on in our lives, and we can be open with God about our fears, our uncertainties, and our faith. Job is the same person who both accused God of trying to destroy him and acknowledged that he will be with God in the afterlife.

However, a prayer of faith is a humble that acknowledges that God is in control. There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

You would think the outcome is absolutely clear. Paul is doing God’s work, and he is being tormented by this particular trouble. Satan is actively involved, so surely we know God’s will here. Paul begins to pray:

Paul’s faith is expressed, not in assurance of the outcome, but in submission to the outcome.

The greatest example of praying with faith in all of Scripture is in the Garden of Gethsemane when our Lord says.

That’s faith: glorifying God by submitting to his purpose.

Cultivate humility in your praying. You may ask, and you may plead, as Paul did, but always remember you are asking, not commanding:

Our faith gets us through dangerous times. No matter how bleak our situation, God always has something up his sleeve. He always has a plan and a purpose for our lives-and for the ages. His plan covers every detail, every need, every problem of your life.

Now, that doesn't mean that you and I will necessarily understand his plan in our lifetime. We could not begin to comprehend his Master Blueprint for the universe or for our individual lives. Our minds are finite and his is infinite. For reasons that are often baffling to us, God sometimes allows us to go through intense pressure and trouble. We all experience good times and bad times in varying proportions. No one understood this principle better than this faithful prophet of the Old Testament