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| I am a friend of God |
Introduction
This is from one of the readings from the Streams In the Desert Reading Plan on YouVersion. I seem to find one that fits our study every week.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (HCSB) 14 But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
God wins his greatest victories through apparent defeats. Very often the enemy seems to triumph for a season, and God allows it. But then he comes in and upsets the work of the enemy, overthrows the apparent victory, and as the Bible says, "frustrates the ways of the wicked" (Psalm 146:9). Consequently, he gives us a much greater victory than we would have known had he not allowed the enemy seemingly to triumph in the first place.
The story of the three Hebrew young men who were thrown into the fiery furnace is a familiar one (see Daniel 3:13-27). There was an apparent victory for the enemy. It looked as if the servants of the living God were going to suffer a terrible defeat. We have all been in situations where it seemed as though we were defeated, and the enemy rejoiced. We can only imagine what a complete defeat this appeared to be for Daniel's friends. They were thrown into the terrible flames while their enemies watched to see them burn. Yet the enemy was greatly astonished to see them walking around in the fire … This apparent defeat resulted in a miraculous victory.
Suppose these three men had lost their faith and courage and had complained, saying, "Why didn't God keep us out of the furnace!" They would have been burned, and God would not have been glorified.
If there is a great trial in your life today, do not acknowledge it as a defeat. Instead, continue by faith to claim the victory through him who is able to make you "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37), and a glorious victory will soon be apparent. May we learn that in all the difficult places God takes us, he is giving us opportunities to exercise our faith in him that will bring about blessed results and greatly glorify his name.
Review
Last week in Lesson 10, where we talked about chapters 26-29 of our book, we asked the question Does God Really Love Me? We asked that because often when we are in overwhelming situations and circumstances we ask that question ourselves. We think that if He really does love me then I wouldn't be in this situation and under all this stress and worry.
We described love not only as in 1 Corinthians 13 but also as Perry Noble's description of; “love is determined by what we’re willing to seek out and what we’re will to sacrifice for.” Using that description we can say that God does love us based on Romans 8:32 (HCSB) 32 He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
The problem is us we sometimes have trouble accepting His love. The obstacles causing us to doubt include our past sins, our performance, and our present circumstances.
Then we talked about John, the disciple who said he was the one that Jesus loved. We found out that he wasn't always so lovable. He was a fisherman not one of the elite, he and his brother wanted to wipe out an entire village because the villagers didn't want Jesus and the disciples there, we are pretty sure that he was involved in the argument as to who was the greatest right after Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him. Despite all this yet we know that Jesus did, in fact love him because when Jesus was on the cross he said John 19:26-27 (HCSB)..........” Woman, here is your son.”27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Jesus' Friend
We’re going to continue talking about John, and the other disciples today. John called himself the one that Jesus loved and Jesus called him, the other disciples, and us too, His friends.
1. What is the definition of a friend, what is a friend?
The dictionary says that a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.
Proverbs 17:17 (HCSB) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
We don’t have very many friends like that. Some of them are like those in Proverbs 18:24 (HCSB)24 A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Let’s get back to John and look at some reasons that Jesus may have had second thoughts about calling him a true friend. This may help us in why we think that our past and our performance would keep God from loving us.
2. What did John do when Jesus was arrested and then crucified?
At least he was there. The other guys, with the exception of Peter, took off and Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. John was there at the phony trial, he watched everything and he was the only one of the eleven at the crucifixion. But he didn't say anything to anybody.
3. What would you have done?
Most of us, if we’re honest, wouldn't have done anything either. If we thought speaking up would have only meant that we were laughed at, or maybe kicked out of the place we may have said something. If we thought our lives were in danger or that we would be put in jail, and John may have thought, would we have said anything?
John had gotten close to Jesus but didn't identify with him when times got really difficult. Just like Peter. The same with us sometimes.
4. Can you think of times that you could have and maybe should have spoken up about an unethical or immoral situation or action and you didn't say or anything?
I have many times.
Afterwards you feel horrible don’t you? You think that you failed God. You should have done or said something but you were afraid that you would lose a job, or you would lose a relationship with someone, or you would lose some money, any number of things, but now you feel horrible.
The thing that we should do in that situation is to ask for forgiveness, realize that God does forgive, and then move on.
Falling Back into Our Old Ways
Many times rather than asking for forgiveness we become so stressed and guilty about what we did or didn't do we try to run from God and our guilt. That’s what John and the disciples did they went back to their old ways. They went fishing.
Go to John 20:19-23 (NKJV)19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
5. After Jesus Gave them this pep talk what did John and a few of the others do?
From the Scripture that we just read we know that the disciples now know that Jesus had risen because they have actually seen and heard him, but rather than going out as Jesus had sent them, they went back to their former occupation- fishing.
John 21:1-3 (HCSB)1 After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples were together.3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
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| Going back will not bring satisfaction |
Pastor Noble says, and it may be true, that they went back to their former occupation because they were afraid that because they abandoned Jesus when He was arrested and crucified, that they may not have been convinced that He really forgiven them. So they were going back to something that they were familiar with before they met Him.
We can be the same way. We are fired up about the Lord, wake up in the morning with praise and prayer, in church every time the doors open, witnessing, and testifying, then we blow it, we make a bad decision, we do something that we thought we would never do again. Then we become so guilty that we think, as we said last week, how can God love me after I have done this. And we go back to our old ways, doing the same old things that we now know are outside the will of God.
Then some of us self-righteous Christians will help you along with those feelings of guilt. We will tell you that you couldn't really have been saved in the first place. If you really trust God you would have never gone back to your old ways.
But going back to your old ways won’t solve anything. It won’t take away the stress and anxiety caused by the guilt you feel. Look again at John 21:3 (HCSB)3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
We can walk away and go back to our old ways of doing things but we won’t be satisfied. True satisfaction and joy only come through an active relationship with Jesus
Jesus Still Called Them His Friends
Even after they abandoned him when He was arrested, didn't believe the women when they told them that He had risen, after meeting them and sending them out and they went fishing, Jesus still called John and the rest of the disciples, His friends.
He called them His friends before these things happened and He still called them His friends afterwards. Here is what he said at the Passover meal or what we call the Last Supper, John 15:13-15 (HCSB) 13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.15 I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father (emphasis mine). He called them His friends three times in these three verses.
Here is what He said when they had gone back to their “old ways” John 21:4-5 (NIRV) Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, "Friends, don't you have any fish?" "No," they answered. (emphasis mine)
Jesus never changed His mind about them and He doesn't change His mind about us.
5 How can we know that God never changes His mind about us even if we walk away and go back to our old ways?
Romans 8:38-39 (HCSB)38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, ⌊hostile⌋ powers, 39 height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
The things that we did before we became believers and those things that we have done since then can’t ever separate us from the love of God, but it’s up to us to accept that love. When we do it will help us go through those situations that cause stress and anxiety. God is with and and will never forsake you. Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV)5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
God Loves You so Don’t Give Up
We have talked for several weeks, in fact every week that we have been in this study, about the love that God has for us. I hope that we now realize that He really does love us in spite of what we've done in the past, in spite of what we may think is poor performance in our service, and in spite of our current situations. Knowing that God loves us should encourage us not to give up.
6. What are some of the things that can happen can cause us to feel trapped or hopeless and tempted to give up?
- Loss of a job
- Very serious injury
- Car quits and you have no way to get to work and no money to buy one and bad credit
- Marriage turmoil
- Pressure from creditors
- Rebellious children
When we are in those kinds of stressful and anxious situations we are getting advice from everybody and we don't really want to hear it. We want out of the overwhelming situation.
The example in the book in chapter 31 of the lady who gets trapped in the doors of the train at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta is a perfect example of somebody trapped in a situation and people pulling at one end and people pushing at the other all trying to help but nothing does. We just feel like giving up.
7. Ever been there?
I have many times.
8. What is it that we don’t want to hear at these times?
We don’t really want to hear how much God loves us and that He will never leave us or forsake us, or how powerful God is, and He can take us through all of the situations that stress us out. We don't want to hear it. We just want out of those situations. Although we don’t want to hear that stuff it is true and Scripture encourages us to never give up. One scripture I quote all the time is the one I just mentioned where God says that He will never leave us or forsake us. So no matter how tough it is the Bible says don’t give up.
The Story of a Man Who Didn't Give Up
We are going to talk about the man who, in my opinion, was second only to Jesus in dealing with the most overwhelming circumstances, recorded in the Bible. Paul had some tough ones, and the disciple John had a tough one being imprisoned on the island of Patmos. Peter and many of the early saints were killed but those things are not recorded in the Bible. The man we’re going to talk about is Job.
We did an extensive study in Job last year and while we know that Job complained, and questioned God, and even wished he was dead at times, he never gave up. He never cursed God like the devil thought he would and that his wife encouraged him to do. He never lost his integrity.
With all that Job went through it would have been easy for him to give up and give in but he didn't.
Like Job, none of us plans for overwhelming things to happen to us they just do. Some of it our fault some of it not. Let’s face it because we live in a fallen world life can be hard at times. Just because we are Christians and believers we aren't insulated from those hard overwhelming times.
Job was very successful man before his overwhelming troubles started
9. What do we know about Job before his troubles?
- He was a good man and he feared God - Job 1:1 (HCSB)1 There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil.
- He was rich - Job 1:2-3 (HCSB)2 He had seven sons and three daughters.3 His estate included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.
- He loved his family - Job 1:4-5 (HCSB)4 His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them.5 Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send ⌊for his children⌋ and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought: Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts. This was Job’s regular practice.
10. Then what happened?
God allowed Satan to take everything away from him.
- His wealth - Job 1:9-17
- His children - Job 1:18-19
- His health - Job 2:4-8
- His wife’s support - Job 2:9
- His friends got self-righteous on him Jobe 8-37
11. What was Job’s response to all this did he give up?
No he didn't give up.
After he lost his wealth and his children this is what he said:
Job 1:20-22 (HCSB)20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,21 saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh.22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
God didn't take it away but He did allow Satan to take it away. That is something for us to remember when things happen to us. God either does it Himself or allows it. So as we have said ever since we started this study God is in total control.
After he lost his wife’s support he said:
Job 2:10 (HCSB)10 “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said.
With his friend’s telling to admit that he had done something to deserve all his trouble Job maintained his innocence. While going through all of this pain he didn't give in or give up.
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| Don't Give Up |
Pain Has A Name
Pastor Noble gives pain five names as they relate to what Job went through and which we go through.
12. What are the names Pastor Noble gives pain?
Physical Pain, Emotional Pain, Financial Pain, Relational Pain, and Spiritual Pain
- Physical Pain - Job’s health was shot. We may have had friends or family going through illness that wracked their bodies with pain. Cancer may be the worst. When it happens to us or to a loved one we want God to heal them or us. Physical pain can cause people to question God and ask why? We want him to heal. During these times God encourages us to come to Him. Psalm 69:29 (HCSB)29 But as for me—poor and in pain— let Your salvation protect me, God. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (HCSB)8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. This is very difficult I know but God will always be there with you and loves you even during the pain.
- Emotional Pain - Ruth has gone through this far too many times. I have gone through the deaths of two children but Ruth three children, her parents, and all of her siblings. That was over many many years. Can you imagine losing your entire family in one day as Job did and as we see far too often today. Emotional pain can come from other traumatic experiences as well, sexual abuse, divorce, losing a job, etc. That pain is just as real as physical pain and can sometimes result in physical pain. During these times we doubt God too and ask questions. That’s okay you can talk to God and ask why. Like Job we may not get the answer now, or the answer that we want to hear, but what we do know is that God is bigger than the pain and that He will be with us through it. The pain may never go away but with God we can endure it.
- Financial Pain - Job lost everything. We may have lost a job and have lot’s of debt. We may get sick and not have enough insurance and the medical bills keep mounting up. We soon forget about all the financial blessings in the past. When we have financial pain we should try to remember Philippians 4:19 (HCSB)19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
- Relational Pain - Job’s wife told him to kill himself. That doesn't sound like they were in a great relationship does it. His friends were saying that he deserved to be where he was. We may be at a time where we a marriage of friendship is ending; maybe issues with a child or parent. We've all had relational pain or may be going through it now it’s real and sometimes we just want to give up. It’s at those times that we should really try to remember that we have a relationship with our Savior who actually calsl us his brothers (that includes males and females) Hebrews 2:11-12 (HCSB)11 For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers,12 saying: I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation. (emphasis mine)
- Spiritual Pain
13. What was it that Job’s friends believed that people still believe today?
That God makes good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. If you are good and do everything right God will bless you. If you’re bad or don’t have enough faith then then bad things will happen to you.
14. What’s the problem with that logic?
How did the book of Job start? Job 1:1 (HCSB) There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. So he was good right?
15. Did Jesus disciples have faith?
Many of them were killed because of their faith. What about some of the people in, what I call the Faith Hall of Fame” Hebrews 11:35-40 (HCSB)35 Women received their dead—they were raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, ⌊hiding⌋ in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
16. What did Jesus tell His disciples when He was nearing His crucifixion?
John 16:33 (HCSB)33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
What He was saying is that although things will get tough and you are overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious don’t give up because He is bigger than the problem, circumstance, or situation. God is still good even though this fallen world is bad.
What Can Happen When You Don’t Give Up?
Job has gone through hell. He has lost all his possessions, his children, his wife is disgusted with him and their situation, his friends have said that he must have deserved all this. He is a mess and his situation is in a word, overwhelming. In chapters 38-41 of Job he finally gets God to talk to him, although he never gets an answer to his question of why. What he does realize is that God is
sovereign and that His ways are above our ways Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
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| Your latter will be greate |
16. After all that Job went through what happened in the end when he didn't give up?
Job 42:12-17 (HCSB)12 So the LORD blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.14 He named his first ⌊daughter⌋ Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch.15 No women as beautiful as Job’s daughters could be found in all the land, and their father granted them an inheritance with their brothers.16 Job lived 140 years after this and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.
17 Then Job died, old and full of days.
So let’s take a look. Job was twice as wealthy as before. He had the same number of children as before, his marriage came back together otherwise he wouldn't have had the children, and after Job prayed for them, his friends blessed him with stuff.
The same thing can happen for us although it’s not guaranteed. The only thing that is guaranteed is that God loves us and will always be with us. He wants us to know that although there are times that we are overwhelmed we shouldn't give up.
Here’s the way Pastor Noble puts it at the end of the chapter about not giving up. I’m going to paraphrase what he said. We shouldn't give up on God because God hasn't given up on us. If God really had given up on you then how can you explain how I found first the Reading Plan on YouVersion the “Overwhelmed Challenge” which led me to the book we are studying now. A book that reminds you that God has great plans for you. Is it just a coincidence? Absolutely not. God knew us before we were born. He had a plan for us all along. That lets us know that He hasn't given up on us. So don’t give up on Him.
Let’s try to finish with the book next week. Read Chapters 34 and 35 and the last part titled “A Final Word: The Weight of the World.
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