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TITLE: How to Handle Tough Times (1 of 4)

TEXT: Job 7:4-7
PROPOSITION: Each life will have some tough times.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Responses
SCRIPTURE READING: Same


INTRODUCTION:

  1. The one sermon requested that I did not preach was on Job.

  2. I started to study – I learned too much. I could not get it down into one sermon.

  3. 4 sermons – Sunday AM in June – are about Job.

  4. I am leaving out many items that could be discussed – date, author, real or story?


Outline of the Book of Job

  1. Introduction – 1-2

  2. Job's opening speech – 3

  3. Three cycles of speeches – 4-27

    1. Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, each speak and Job responds

    2. Except Zophar does not make a third speech

  4. Interlude: Praise of Wisdom – 28

  5. Job's final declaration of innocence – 29-31

  6. The young man Elihu speaks – 32-37

  7. God speaks to Job – 38-41

  8. Conclusion – 42


Background Story

  1. Job has 10 children, rich, honor, prestige

  2. Family gets along, love each other

  3. Job is deeply spiritual

  4. Satan challenges God - “hedge about him”

  5. Job loses all – children, herds, flocks, servants, houses

  6. He also loses support of his wife, then his health

  7. Job does not curse God; He blesses God


What was wrong with Job?

  1. Inflamed eruptions – 2:7

  2. Intolerable itching – 2:8

  3. Disfigured appearance – 2:12

  4. No rest – 3:26

  5. Pain is heavier than the sand of the seas – 6:3

  6. Sleeplessness – 7:4

  7. Maggots in his ulcers – 7:5

  8. Pus is breaking out of his skin – 7:5

  9. Terrifying dreams and nightmares – 7:14

  10. Depression – 7:16

  11. Running tears which blind his eyes – 16:16

  12. Putrid breath – 19:17

  13. Emaciated body – 19:20

  14. Erosion of bones, no rest – 30:17

  15. Disfigured appearance – 30:18

  16. Skin black, falling off his body, bones are burning with heat – 30:30



How to handle the tough times in our lives

  1. Job 1:20 – worshiped God

  2. Job 1:21 – God gives and takes, blessed be His name

  3. Job 1:23 – Job did not sin, he did not charge God foolishly

  4. Job 2:3 – Upright, fears God, shuns evil, holds integrity

  5. Job 3:3; 10:18 – Job is in terrible pain, wishes he had not been born

  6. He wants to die – to escape the pain – Job 3:11-12

  7. He questions “Why?” (4 times) - Job 3:11-12



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