God's Glorious Gospel Ministry

DEALING WITH LIFE'S WORST-CASES
(Job 3:25-26)

Introduction: Worst-case scenario handbook. You may never face any of these trials in your life, but you might find yourself where Job found himself. What he faced was horrible, but what he learned from it was invaluable. Let's take some time today to look into Job's worst-case to learn the lessons needed to give us the victory when the bottom falls out of our own lives. Let's study Job for help in Dealing With Life's Worst-Cases

THE CHARACTER OF JOB'S LIFE

He Lived A Good Life - 1:2-3;
A Godly Life - 1:1, 5, 8, 20-21; 2:3, 10;
A Grace-blessed Life - 1:9-11; 2:4-5
A godly life is a thing of glorious beauty! It is a life not wasted. It glorifies God and stands as a trophy to God's good grace - Eph. 2:10; Matt. 5:16; 2 Cor. 4:7.
A godly life allows the Lord to say, "Look Satan! Look world! Here's is what I can do through grace and the blood of my son!" A godly life points the way to glory; shows the world a better way to live; and sets a good example for the young. (Ill. $5.00 worth of steel. What kind of life are you living today! 1 John 2:6.)

THE CALAMITIES OF JOB'S LIFE

His Calamities Touched His: Fortune - 1:14-17;
Family - 1:18-19; 2:9;
Fitness - 2:1-8;
Friends - 2:11-13;
Future - Job's life would never be the same!
(Note: Job prayed, worried and tried to fend off trouble, but trouble came to him anyway! Many times we are Worry warts!
A godly life is no hedge against trouble! Paul was afflicted, 2 Cor. 11:23-28;
Daniel - Dan. 6; 3 Hebrews - Dan. 3; David's life full of trouble; Jesus was a "man of sorrows," Isa. 53:3. Why should we feel that we deserve special treatment? Well, we don't deserve it and won�t receive it, Job 14:1; 5:7; John 16:33. Most of the time what we worry about does not happen, but there are times when it does.

THE CLASSROOM OF JOB'S LIFE

Job's calamities worked for him, and will for us (2 Cor. 4:17; Rom. 8:28.)
He Learned Lessons About: The Person Of God - Chaps. 38-41; The Purposes Of God - Chaps. 3-37, 42:1-5 (Job couldn�t see behind the scenes, but God was doing a work that Job could not comprehend.); The Power Of God - Chaps. 38-41; 42:10-12 (Job learned that God was all powerful, Eph. 3:20; Isa. 40:12. (Note: God Himself testified about the good, godly and grace-filled life of Job, but God also knew that there were areas of Job�s life that needed attention. To work on these areas, God sent Job to the classroom of affliction to learn lessons that can�t be learned anywhere else! Here are some lessons Job learned there, and we need to learn!

No Area Of Life Is Safe From Disruption - Be sure your treasure is in the right place. If God is your treasure, then you can lose nothing.
God's Purpose Is Not To Break Us But To Grow Us - We learn lessons we can learn no where else: Disciples; 3 Hebrews; Daniel; Widows; Elijah; Etc. (God was behind every disruption - Job 2:3!)
God's Purposes And Plans For Our Lives Are Often Beyond Understanding - Isa. 55:8-9 Ill. Electricity, useful any way..
God Is Absolutely Sovereign In All The Events Of Life - Eph. 1:11; Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17 (Ill. Psa. 37:23)
In The End, All Things Work Out Right - Rom. 8:18

THE CONCLUSIONS OF JOB'S LIFE

A Time Of Personal Repentance - 42:6, (Ill. Job saw that God had not been first)
A Time Of Personal Revival - 42:7-10a, (Ill. Job got right with God in the valley and God blessed and used his life again. He did not wait until things got better before he repented.)
A Time Of Personal Restoration - 42:10b-17, (Ill. God gave him back twice what he had lost.)
A Time Of Personal Reflection - 42:13-14, (Blessed with more than before.)
(Note: Job's restoration points out a few truths that make the valleys bearable.

Don't wait until you leave the valley to deal with sin in your life. After all, that may be why you are there!
Remember that every valley is merely God's classroom. (He must melt you before can use you.
After you are restored, look for a way to praise the Lord for your time in the valley.(Ill. Heb. 13:5) (Ill. Children are a constant reminder.)
No matter how bad it gets, it did not come to stay!

Conclusion: This study may not address all that you will face as you go through life, but the Bible does! Friend, you are in God's hands today. Wherever you are, you need to know that God is patiently working out His plan for your life, Rom. 8:28. Therefore, do not fear, but learn to cast your burden upon Him, 1 Pet. 5:7. (Revised and edited by Charles Lewallen, 10-26-09)

- C. M. Lewallen