Sunday School Lesson

INTEGRITY IN GOD'S PRESENCE

Job 38:1-7; 40:6-9; 42:1-6

As great a man as Job was, he was none-the-less a man. Today's lesson draws attention to the misconception of this great man regarding the sovereignty of God and His right to work in Job's life. Leading up to our study today, we need to remember how Job refuted the charges brought against him by his three companions who came to comfort during his trial. Later, a fourth man, named Elihu came on the scene and he tried to help Job see the importance of speaking to God with humility and reverence. Perhaps some of man's pride had manifested itself in Job after he suffered through his test so wonderfully. At any rate, as we look at today's lesson, we must realize that Job wanted to question God about why he was tested.

GOD'S CHALLENGE: Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge. Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me" [Job 38:1-3]. Many of us can recall a time in our youth when we challenged our father. I remember challenging my father when he decided that I needed to stay home and work around the house rather than go out on a date. I learned very quickly that Dad was not going to lose. He exercised his authority without hesitation and I backed down as fast as I could. In the above verse, God had decided to visit Job. However, I'm afraid that the encountered that Job had with the Almighty was very different than he had anticipated. In that time, gird up thy loins like a man meant to get ready to run, fight or toil energetically. God was there to take the challenge. Secondly, we need to see that God spoke to Job from the midst of a whirlwind or a mighty windstorm. I doubt that God was using the still, small voice Job had expected. God reminded Job that he didn't have all knowledge, God did.

REMINDED OF HIS PLACE: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou has understanding" [Job 38:4]. Following verses expound on this thought even more. God recounts to Job the magnificence of His creation. And in recounting, he asked Job to remember what part he had in its creation. Of course, Job wasn't even alive and had he been couldn't have done anymore than any man, which was nothing. God is the all-powerful, all knowing, all present sovereign of the universe and no person can fully understand His ways. We are His creation and we are subject to His laws and will. A friend mentioned to me recently that he was concerned because so many people, church members included, had forgotten the fear of the Lord. God is certainly a God of love, mercy, compassion, long-suffering and much more, but He is also a God of judgment. We should remember our place when approaching God.

REALIZING HIS SIN: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" [Job 42:5,6]. Verses five and six are the close of Job's response to God's challenge. In verse two, Job acknowledged that God is all-powerful and that He knows all things and Job cannot hide himself or his thoughts from God. He responded that he had seen things too wonderful for me, which I knew not [vs. 3], and was in awe of God's power and also His patience in the face of his presumptuous attitude. This realization brought Job to repentance. Perhaps it would be a good reminder to us that we too should not question God in His judgment. He is the Almighty God of creation and our sovereign Lord.

Religious Poetry Contest

A $1,000 grand prize is being offered in a special religious poetry contest sponsored by the New Jersey Rainbow Poets, free to anyone who has ever written a poem. There are 50 prizes in all totaling almost $5,000. The deadline for entering if February 14, 2004.

To enter, send one poem only of 21 lines or less: Free Poetry Contest, 103 N. Wood Ave., PMB 70, Linden, NJ 07036. Or enter on-line www.rainbowpoets.com.

"We think great religious poems can inspire achievement," says Frederick Young, the organization's Contest Director. "Our desire is to inspire amateur poets and we think this competition will accomplish that. Kentucky has produced many wonderful poets over the years and we'd like to discover new ones from among the Leitchfield-area grassroots poets."

"Do you believe this"

Jesus was once here. He left His word and His impact on the world. Jesus is coming again in the clouds. Here are some things that will be true of His coming.

Jesus will come personally. While Jesus' apostles watched Him ascend back to heaven, angels said, "...This same Jesus...will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).

Jesus will come visibly. "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him..." (Rev 1:7).

Jesus will come audibly. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God..." (I Thess 4:16).

Jesus will come gloriously. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory" (Matt. 25:31).

Jesus will come suddenly. "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night" (I Thess 5:2). We can not predict the time. Even the Son and angels do not know (Matt. 13:34-35).

Jesus will come with company. Jesus will bring the spirits of the dead with Him, and their bodies will be raised (I Thess 4:13-14). His mighty angels will accompany Him as well (II Thess. 1:7).

Jesus will come with vengeance. Jesus will be "revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess 1:7-8).

Jesus will come with destruction. Peter says, "...the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10). Jesus is not coming back to earth.

Let us ready ourselves for the Lord's coming. Peter tells the Christian how to be ready. Read II Peter 3:9-18.

"Do you believe this? ...Yes, Lord, I believe"! (John 11:26-27)

A work of the Mill Street Church of Christ meeting at 733 Mill Street (across from the Middle School). Phone: 259-4968. Preacher: Joseph Cooper. Service times: Sunday 10 and 10:55 a.m. and 6: p.m. Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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For the living of these days

By: George W. Smith

Four men were concerned about a man who was paralyzed (Mark 2:1-11). We talked about this story last week. It is a wonderful story. I want to return to the story and make a few more observations.

These four men could be members of a Sunday School class. The paralyzed man was found through a religious census or through a visitation program in the community. The men determined that Jesus was the only one who could help the sick man and they needed to get him to Jesus.

The men made the preparation to take the man to Capernaum where Jesus was. They were disappointed when they got to town and the street was so crowded with people. They were even more disturbed to find that the house in which Jesus was teaching was filled and people were filling the door and windows to the home. There were people in the way keeping them from getting to Jesus.

This brings up an interesting point. Is there someone in the way keeping another person away who needs to get to Jesus? You and I can get in the way. Many a wife is standing in the way of her husband coming to Jesus because she is a member of the church and doesn't act like a Christian should around her husband. There are times she acts like the devil himself. That husband says, "Well if that is what it means to be a Christian, I'm not sure I want to be one."

Many a man is standing in the way of some unbeliever. The unbeliever sees the Christian at work and says, "Well, if that is what it means to be a Christian, I can't have any confidence in that religion or that faith. I know that fellow and what he is outside the church. I know what he does."

We could spend weeks on this point. The four men could not get close to Jesus because of the crowd. People were in the way hindering them from getting their friend to Jesus. I ask you, Are you a hinderer or a helper? Are you hindering people by the testimony you give and by the kind of Christian witness you have? The four men found hinderers all around blocking and cutting them off from Jesus. But they didn't stop. There are hypocrites in the church but we must not let that stop us. You can't stop just because there are Christians who do not live up to the ideals of the Christian life. They stumble and fall and make mistakes. You can't stop witnessing for Christ just because others fail in the Christian life.

One lesson we must not overlook in this story is that our main business as Christians is to bring others to Christ. Everything we do in the church must be pointed to the end of bringing men to Jesus as Lord and Savior.. Your programs in the church exist for one reason and that is to bring people to Christ. Our programs become the "stretchers" used to bring spiritually sick people to Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate answer to every need. The greatest need of this world is to know Jesus and when men come to know Him, He can help us straighten our other problems.