We don’t always understand. Job, in spite of serving God faithfully, suffered intensely. Even though his friends desperately tried to point out a cause to Job they failed. His wife offered nothing but despair and suicide as an answer. Job didn’t know why these calamities came. In the end, Job is restored but God never tells him the provocation for his actions. Until the day when God deems it appropriate for our understanding to be enlightened, we walk by faith and not by sight.

Life is not about me. In contrast to when Job endured his calamities, almost universal compassion is extended to Job. Yet he suffered so intensely that hardly anyone can sympathize with his grief. Why did God allow Job’s life to be tormented by the enemy? It may come as a shock to our sinful hearts, but God is primarily concerned about fulfilling His purposes in the lives of His people—not satisfying our every want. As confidence in God grows, then the believer can rejoice that God knows best – His way is perfect.

God is always in control. This truth is our comfort in the most unbearable calamity. If we don’t know the answers, we can trust. If the burden is too great, we can rest in His mercy. “Whatever Satan’s liberty in unleashing calamity upon us, God never drops the leash that binds his neck.” As Job cried out, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). God’s children often are unaware of the next step in God’s plan, but we can never doubt Who holds the future – and He is Good!

No circumstances excuse us from faithfulness to God. Satan did not believe that Job would be faithful to God during his affliction. Job’s own wife declared that it was worthless to continue trusting God. Job was definitely confused and under intense physical and emotional stress, but he clung to His God. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15). Job’s story not only vindicates Job’s righteous standing before God, but, more importantly, his story vindicates God as worthy of worship, honor, and obedience solely based on Who He is.

Overview of the Book

Job’s Calamities

Job is clearly a remarkable man. Of this, God leaves no doubt: “there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” (Job 1:8). Modern TV evangelists would assume that this man should be healthy, wealthy, and happy. In fact, this is precisely how Job is introduced. Quickly the theme of the book is revealed. Job’s story is not about his prosperity, but his suffering. The key question is not “Will God give those who serve Him everything they want?”, but “Is God worthy of worship regardless of what benefits might be obtained from Him?”After God calls attention to Job, Satan accuses Job of serving God only because of his prosperity. The attack is slandering God as much as Job. “No one would serve You without rewards!” is the attack. God allows Job to endure incredible suffering in response to Satan’s slander. In a very brief time period, Job will lose his family, his wealth, and his health. His suffering was financial, emotional, physical, and spiritual. “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:22).

Job’s Counselors

After a period of mourning seven days, Job’s friends begin making mistakes. While they were silent, they comforted Job, but as soon as they spoke insinuations and accusations began to flow freely. Chapters 3-31 detail Job’s conversations with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. “This alternation of speakers occurs in three cycles, with the order of the friends being Eliphaz (chaps. 4–5, 15, 22), Bildad (chaps. 8, 18, 25), and Zophar (chaps. 11, 20—note that Zophar has no response in the third cycle). Job answers each of them in turn (chaps. 6–7, 9–10, 12–14, 16–17, 19, 21, 23–24, 26–27). Once the friends are reduced to silence, Job contrasts his former happiness (chap. 29) with his present misery (chap. 30) and utters an oath of innocence designed to force God’s hand (chap. 31).”^[1] These rounds of verbal sparring are followed by Elihu’s attack on Job’s friends and on Job himself (ch. 32-37).  While admonishing Job’s other comforters turned accusers, Elihu defends God’s justice to Job.

Job’s Creator

When Job may feel that his entire life is a whirlwind, God speaks to him out of a whirlwind. It is not answers that the LORD brings. Instead Job is met with a series on unanswerable questions. Job is first asked about creation, then God’s control over creation followed by an examination of several specific creatures. God describes many detailed aspects of his creation, praising especially his creation of two large beasts, the Behemoth and Leviathan. Overwhelmed by the encounter, Job acknowledges God’s unlimited power and admits the limitations of his human knowledge.  God returns Job’s health, providing him with twice as much property as before, new children, and an extremely long life.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 4:6

When our family arrived in Arizona several years ago, we were not sure what God had for us next. Little did I know at the time, that I would soon be pastoring the First Baptist Church of Miami, Arizona. I was working full-time and seeking to serve the Lord in a small mining community in the mountians of Arizona.

Back in the summer of ‘05 when I was called to be the pastor, a good day in attendance was about 20-25. Over the next few years we made some progress, but much of it was “two steps forward-two steps backwards” progress. All of that has dramatically changed over the last year. Just before last Christmas I was admitted to the hospital with what would later be diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. What has been a setback for me personally, has been a tremendous boost for our church. God is so good! Over the last few months, multiple families have been saved and added to the church. God is too powerful to allow any circumstances to thwart His will! It is exciting to see His strength in my weakness. Yesterday, it was my privilege to baptize three new believers into our church in front of a record attendance of 82! Another couple was saved after our morning meeting. That means we are going to baptize six more next Sunday!

God is good! He uses His word and His people in spite of our weakness!

Please pray with me about some choices we are making about treatment options. My doctor wants to be very aggressive with a somewhat risky medication in order to give me the best chance at future mobility. We do not know the future, but we know Who holds the future - and HE IS GOOD!

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” -Revelation 4:11

Ultimately, everything on earth is not about us—we exist to the praise of God’s glory, not our own. Too often the gospel is presented as something to make life easier, happier, and fuller. God is often proclaimed (inadvertently) as a very emotionally needy Being instead of the self-sufficient “I AM”. We need to proclaim the basic Biblical idea that God is the rightful authority over us, and whether we like it or not, we are accountable to Him, on His terms, not ours. 

Why Begin With God?

1)      He created all things – Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6; Psalm 90:2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16

2)      He is the Ruler of everything – Job 12:10; Acts 17:25, 28; Proverbs 21:1

3)      He made us to display His glory and rule the earth under His guidance and protection – Genesis 2:7; 1:28

There is a no better way to start explaining what Christianity is about that to begin with God Himself. 

#1 God-the Loving Ruler and Creator - Revelation 4:11
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” It all begins with God. Since He is the Creator, He has the right to set expectations for His creation. Since we are made by God, then we should seek to please Him. That leads to the second point…

#2 Man in Rebellion - Romans 10:10-12
But mankind rebelled and attempted to dethrone God. We didn’t want anyone to rule over us. A clear description of this rebellion is found in Romans 3:10-12- “…there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Not only did we refuse to do what our Creator said, but we didn’t even bother to consult Him most of our lives. We set ourselves up as King and refused to yield allegiance to God.

#3 God won’t let Man Rebel forever - Hebrews 9:27
One day God will call us all to give an account for everything we have done. “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The punishment for rebellion is death and judgment. 

#4 Jesus Dies for Rebels - 1 Peter 3:18 
But God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life and deserved no punishment, but He died on the cross taking our punishment. I Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit.” God accepted Jesus’ death as payment in full for our sins and raised Him from the dead. 

#5 Jesus the Risen Ruler - Philippians 2:9-11
He conquered death, and now gives new life to those who come to Him. One day He will judge the world. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). The resurrection guarantees a future judgment: “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

#6 Which Way? - John 3:36 
Everyone must respond to this message. We can reject God as our Ruler or submit and rely on Christ as our Savior and rightful Ruler. John 3:36 declares, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” 

Which way do you want to live?

In coming posts, I will provide the philosophy behind this presentation.

Facing the future with MS was discouraging. I am happily married with three young children. God has called me to pastor the First Baptist Church of Miami, Arizona. Our assembly is growing numerically and spiritually. I was anticipating a lot of good things for the future. Now MS seemed posed to derail my dreams for the future. It was during this time God comforted me as I asked: “why am I here?”

Revelation 4:11 provides a clear answer: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” I am not here to achieve my dreams. I am not here so I can be fulfilled. God placed me on this ball of dirt to give Him glory.

Even though I don’t have many years under my belt, I have learned that my plans to glorify God are not always His plans for me to glorify Him. It is comforting to know my purpose in life. The reality is I can glorify God regardless of my circumstances. At first I wondered if God’s will for my life was going to be derailed. I planned on serving as the pastor of our church for the rest of my life. But God is too powerful to allow any circumstance to stop His will for my life. He is too wise to mess up His plans for me. No matter what happens to me I can fulfill God’s purpose for my life to the uttermost by glorifying Him!

Why am I here? To glorify God. How is that going to work? TBA. God surely can heal. God can surely give strength and grace. I am asking for all of those things.

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting some thoughts on evangelism, deacons, and anything else I find interesting.

There are several good articles on evangelism over at Jackhmmr.

• How Did Jesus Evangelize? Part One
• How Did Jesus Evangelize? Part Two

Nehemiah was a man of prayer; you will find ten of his prayers in this book. He believed in a great God who kept His promises, forgave sin, and helped His people when they called on Him. Like Ezra before him, Nehemiah identified himself with the sins and sorrows of the nation ( Ezra 9:5).

Nehemiah did more than weep and pray; he made himself available to the Lord to get the job done. He depended on God’s great power to work in and through him (Eph. 3:20–21). He was not content merely to get answers to prayer: he wanted to be an answer to prayer. Has God used you lately to be an answer to somebody’s prayers?

It was a day of reproach for the people of God (Neh. 1:3; 2:17; 5:9; 6:13). The great city of Jerusalem was no longer beautiful (Ps. 50:2), and the Jews were no longer powerful. But one man made the difference! Nehemiah led the Jews from great reproach (1:3) to great rejoicing (12:43). God is still seeking men and women willing to sacrifice to do His work. Are you available?

Nehemiah did not suddenly quit his job and hurry to Jerusalem. He prayed and faithfully worked for four months, waiting to approach the king in the Lord’s time. Waiting may be much harder than working, but it is dangerous to rush ahead of the Lord.

Nehemiah’s “telegraph prayers” were effective because he spent much time alone with God. The throne of grace in heaven has greater authority than any throne on earth (Eph. 1:15–23). Are you in the habit of talking to God during your daily activities?

Nehemiah had been planning his work carefully, so he was able to give the king satisfactory answers. Prayer and concern are not substitutes for clear thinking and adequate organization.

Before enlisting the leaders, Nehemiah became personally acquainted with the needs (v. 11 ; Ezra 8:32). Dedicated leaders are awake when others are asleep, but they see more in the darkness than others do in the light (Prov. 20:18).

NEHEMIAH 3

The workers were involved in building, repairing (the word is used forty times) and fortifying (v. 8), ministries needed in the church today. The walls and gates were important for the protection of the people and the beauty of the city.

There is a place of ministry for everybody who has a mind to work: priests (v. 1), rulers (vv. 12–19), craftsmen (v. 8), and dedicated women (v. 12). God sometimes brings outsiders to help us (vv. 2, 5, 7), and some people are willing to do extra work (vv. 11, 19, 21). The significant thing is that they cooperated as they served the Lord. But don’t be surprised if some people do nothing (v. 5), including the leaders. Just keep on working!

The best place to start working is at your own house (vv. 10, 23, 28). If each of us served the Lord first at home, what a difference it would make in the work of the Lord!

But confession must not be a routine thing that comes only from the lips. We must tremble at God’s Word (Ezra 9:4; 10:3; Isa. 66:2) and truly bring Him a broken heart (Ps. 51:16–17). That explains why Ezra fasted and prayed, for he identified himself with the people in their sins. Note the pronouns in Ezra 9:6–15 .

Not everybody agreed to obey (v. 15), but those who did submit to Ezra confessed their sins publicly, offered a sacrifice, and put away their pagan wives and children. The experience was painful for them, but it was the only way to keep the nation pure (Matt. 18:7–9). There is no easy way to deal with sin.

God’s people have hope because of salvation (Rom. 5:1–2), suffering (Rom. 5:3), the Word of God (Rom. 15:4), and the Spirit of God (Rom. 15:13). Of course, there could be no hope were it not for the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3). He is our Hope (1 Tim. 1:1).

Ashamed (5–9). Ezra used several images to show their plight. They were like drowning men because of their sins (v. 6 ), and yet they sinned more. They were a little peg on which so much future was hanging (v. 8), a remnant that had to serve as a wall against the awful encroachments of sin (v. 9). If the nation was polluted, how could Messiah be born (v. 2)?

Alarmed (10–15). God had revealed His Word, and they did not obey it. God had shown them grace (v. 8), and they did not appreciate it. God had held back punishment (v. 13; Ps. 103:10), and they took advantage of it. All God could do now was punish them even more.

As he prayed, Ezra trembled (v. 4), knelt (v. 5), and bowed down (v. 6) because nobody could stand before God (v. 15; Ps. 130:3).