Job 27:3-6
3 As long as my breath is in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils,
4 My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me that I should say you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.
Job was someone in the Bible that in his time he was probably the richest man in town. However, Job went through a tough time where he lost nearly everything he had except his life.
How many of us today feel like we have just about lost everything we have had.
Ø Our car won't start.
Ø Our electricity got turned off.
Ø You can't pay your water bill.
Ø Your fridge goes out.
Ø Your engine on your car locks up.
Ø Your spouse left you for someone else.
At this point you are very down and you no longer have hope. Even in church we get problems.
Ø Sis. Sue gave me a dirty look.
Ø Bro. Ben got on to my child.
Ø Sis. Sue called me out in front of everyone.
Ø Bro. Ben won't shake my hand.
Ø That pastor won't call me to pray over the offering.
Ø They won't sing my song.
Job lost;
1. His oxen, donkeys, and their servants to Sabean raiders.
2. His sheep and their servants to "fire from God from heaven".
3. His camel and their servants to Chaldean raiders.
4. His sons and daughters were killed in a tornado.
Then Job is afflicted with a terrible disease.
1. Possibilities: leprosy, or a leukemia of the skin.
2. Characterized by: a. Boils
b. Itching
c. Drastic change of appearance
d. Worms and running sores
e. Corroding bones and gnawing pain
f. Blackened skin and fever Through all of this Job still did not denounce God.
We need to not give up on God after all He never gives up on us. We live our lives with Satan constantly placing things in our way. We will suffer all kinds of problems in life and yet if we will push through those problems then God will be there for us to see us through. The Bible says this about pushing forward.
Job 17:9
9 Yet the righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.
The more you resist what the devil is bringing your way the more you will become stronger through Christ against the devil.
All of the time that the devil temps us into porn, into cursing, into drinking, into drugs, then we become stronger the next time it comes around.
I did not quit cursing over night, but it took me time to not say the word that I thought in my mind and to get stronger the next time it comes around. If someone that you know in this church or in your family that is a Christian and they fail at something that they are trying to get rid of them don't give up on them. Keep praying for them and praying with them to help them become stronger.
Philippians 3:14
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
You need to let go and keep moving forward for God. Know that God is there for you and He wants to help you overcome your sin that the devil keeps tempting you with.
Isaiah 43:18
18 “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
Philippians 3:13
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,