Job #8 Called To Be Encouragers Job 8:1-7

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1 Job #8 Called To Be Encouragers Job 8:1-7 The book of Job contains many statements about God that are untrue. Job s three friends - Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, made these untrue statements. Job's "wise" counselors attributed his plight to secret sin and said in effect, "If you will just get right with God, you will stop suffering." After Eliphaz and his friends had presented their arguments, In Job 42:7 the Lord stated His verdict: "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has." However, the fact that Job's friends missed the point much of the time, does not mean that everything they said was wrong. In Job 22:29, for example, Eliphaz spoke a great and important truth that is verified in other portions of Scripture, "When they cast you down, and you say, Exaltation will come! Then He will save the humble person." Note that Eliphaz said, "When they cast you down," not If. Eliphaz is speaking of a they as if it is enemy forces, and indeed that is exactly what the Bible teaches. The truth of the matter is that we are in a fierce battle with the forces of evil. And one of the techniques that Satan uses is to get us focus on our circumstances instead of the promises of God. And when that happens attacks us with feelings of discouragement, loneliness, depression, defeat, failure, and rejection. Now listen and get this, Satan uses outward circumstances to gain access to your insides. The Bible is very clear on this matter in Proverbs 23:7, For as (a man) thinketh in his heart so is he. Satan will use your circumstances to show you every kind of horrible thing you can think of from financial ruin, to the loss of your family, to the ugliness of your past failures. At the same time he will use your circumstances to stir up hate and fear inside of you at the same time. And I can tell you right up front, it takes real commitment to keep your attention on the Word of God when you look around and everything that your physical senses tells you spell defeat and failure. That is, everything you see, feel, and touch testifies that your situation is hopeless. And on top of all that we have said, Satan many times will use friends and family members (as in Job s case) to cause even more problems in our thinking. The reality is that some of you in this very service are discouraged, disappointed, and at the end of our rope. Nothing seems to make sense. Your plans have been foiled. Your dreams have been crushed. What you were 1

2 fearful of has happened. There seems to be no answers for your confusion, and your heart cries out with Job, "I don t know how much more I can take!" So, what are we to do? There are four major responses that will bring us victory when Satan has convinced you into thinking that you are defeated. First of all, you must capture the thought. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds), casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Notice how the Word of God ties spiritual warfare and our thought life together. Far too often we fail in this area. The truth of the matter is that we just let our thoughts go on and on and on, until our thinking starts to imprison us! Second, after you capture the thought you must challenge that thought with the Word of God. Listen, your victory lies in paying attention to what the Word of God is saying instead of paying attention to what Satan is saying through your circumstances. Remember, Romans 10:17 says, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 8:37 say we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. In other words, we must stay in the Word until faith rises up within us and chases out every thought of failure and defeat. Third, we need to speak out your deliverance. Psalm 91 says, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in him I trust. Surely he shall deliver me Please notice that David did not say, He will deliver me and than I will tell everybody about what God has done. No, he says, I will say it and then, in response to what I have said, He will deliver me. Romans 10:17 says, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. When you speak the Word of God to yourself, your spirit hears it, and the more you hear it, the more your faith grows. Listen to what we have been told in Matthew 12:34-35, A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. Jesus is simply telling us that our words reveal what we have been consistently filling out hearts with. As we fill our 2

3 hearts with the Word of God and believe it, faith will overflow into our words. Those words filled with faith have power and will affect our circumstances. Proverbs 4:23 reads like this in the Amplified Bible, Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Listen to what Psalm we have been told in Psalm 119:11, Thy word have I hid I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. So, keep on planting the Word of God deep in your heart, and as you do begin speaking your faith, not based on your feelings, but based on the truth of God s Word. Fourth, change your thoughts from negative to positive. Listen to what we have been told in Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. One of the great tricks that Satan tries to use to steal your victory is by tempting you to look at the past. He will try to draw your attention off God s Word by reminding you of yesterday s failures, pains and disappointments. When the devil starts telling you things like that, remember this: Faith always looks forward. Faith never dwells on the past. Faith always faces the future full of expectancy with faith in God. Now, once we begin to live by faith, we are called to be encouragers to others that we meet. Barnabas is an excellent example of a person with an encouraging spirit. His real name was Joses, but in Acts 4:36 the disciples called him Barnabas, "which is translated Son of Encouragement." He was given this nickname because he was always lifting the spirits of those who were cast down and discouraged. Whenever Barnabas appeared, everything seemed a little bit better and everyone was a little more lighthearted. Barnabas encouraged Saul of Tarsus when he faced rejection by the Christian community in general and the disciples in particular. The disciples were afraid of Paul because of his activities before he was converted on the road to Damascus. Saul (later known as Paul) had gone on a mission to Damascus to arrest Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem as captives. He had hated Christians. He had cursed them and threatened them. So the church at Jerusalem was less than enthusiastic about his reported conversion. Luke wrote these words in Acts 9:26-27, "When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles." When no one else extended a hand of welcome to Paul, Barnabas - the big-hearted layman with the warm smile put his arm around Paul's shoulder and encouraged him. 3

4 Throughout the book of Acts, we read of Barnabas encouraging people. In Acts 11:23-24 Luke wrote, for example, about the visit of Barnabas to Antioch, where many had turned to the Lord, "When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." Acts 11:25 goes on to say, "Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul." The Christians in Jerusalem had reluctantly accepted Paul, but they were still wary of him and let him go back home to Tarsus in order to get him out of their sight. But when nobody else wanted Paul, Barnabas did. When nobody else trusted Paul, Barnabas believed in him. Barnabas went to Tarsus to encourage Paul to come to Antioch. Acts 11:26 records, "When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people." What a tremendous role Barnabas played! It was a bold step to invite the new convert to such a strategic place. Barnabas brought into active ministry a young Christian brother who would move into a much more prominent role than his own. Paul, who wrote nearly half of the New Testament, might have been a dropout if Barnabas had not encouraged him. Acts 11:26 says, "The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." Christian, which means "little Christ," was a term of mockery. The enemies of the disciples at Antioch were "accusing" them of being like Jesus. What a compliment to Barnabas's ministry of encouragement! Barnabas was such an encourager that he was always sharing the truth of the Word of God. He shared God's Word with believers and with those who were outside the household of faith. For example, the politician Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the Word of God so he sent for Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13:7). Barnabas shared his faith with unbelievers and taught younger believers how to share their faith. He was an encourager who taught others to be encouragers too. Barnabas was also concerned with the spiritual growth of believers. Referring to those who were committed to the Lord, Acts 13:43 says that Barnabas and Paul "persuaded them to continue in the grace of God." Persuasiveness was characteristic of Barnabas and he passed on the trait to his protégé Paul. Ladies and gentlemen, we desperately need gentle and persuasive encouragers in the church today! Perhaps the most outstanding example of Barnabas' encouragement involved his young nephew, John Mark. John Mark deserted Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. Later the missionaries were planning 4

5 another mission trip and Acts 15:37-40 tells us about their conversation, Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed. Thereafter the book of Acts focuses on Paul and Silas, so we know little about the team of Barnabas and Mark. Nevertheless we do know that Barnabas rescued Mark for a life of usefulness to God. In fact John Mark wrote the second Gospel! It is in the New Testament, by the grace of God, because Barnabas gave Mark a second chance and encouraged him along the way. The church today needs individuals like Barnabas! Without the encouragement of Barnabas, the Apostle Paul's training would have been incomplete and John Mark would have been lost to effective service. Yet between these two men, fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament were written. Because Barnabas encouraged them when they were cast down, they were exalted. "Exaltation will come!" That is a promise of God. We need to be encouragers to those who have fallen into sin. I am convinced that we can do that without condoning the sin. When people fall into sin, the church should stand as a reminder that God still loves them and so do we. When believers fall, they need forgiveness and restoration. Paul wrote in Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." Someone who has fallen needs the attention of a forgiving person who will encourage him to go on with the Lord. The one who is downcast does not need to be surrounded by people who dwell on his mistakes and faults. We need to let them know that regardless of past failures and present sins, their situation is not hopeless. Ironically, today when people sin, church is the last place they want to go. That is a tragedy because forgiveness is what the church is all about. Our Lord said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Christ Jesus offers hope to the sinner. He welcomes the fallen. God still loves those who have failed and He offers His forgiveness to them. As His children, we too should offer forgiveness and hope, for there is hope in the message of the gospel. The church needs to find those who have fallen and lift them up. "Exaltation will come!" When we are cast down and discouraged, it is easy to feel that God has forsaken us. It is easy to doubt that God really cares. Without reassurance, 5

6 many of us would fall by the wayside. That is why it is so important for us as Christians to reach out to those who are struggling. We never know how important our reassurance will be to their future ministry. We need to remember that "exaltation will come!" Through my years of ministry I have discovered that when a person is discouraged they become vulnerable to all kinds of sin. Desperation can cause a person to commit immorality, to become dishonest, and to make wild and outrageous claims. Since people are in danger of sinning when they act out of fear or depression or despair, reassurance from us is vital, and we need reassurance ourselves when we are in the valley of discouragement. You would be amazed at how many people today feel that no one caresthat no one is interested in them. They are hurting and they feel isolated and empty. We as God's people must emerge as an army of concerned people who will show them there is hope. We also need to reassure the doubter. Some people have lost the vitality of their faith. There was a time when their faith was vibrant and alive. The name of Jesus brought a thrill to their hearts. But somewhere along the way they have become indifferent to the things of God. They have not lost their faith, they have not lost their salvation, but they have lost their first love. Normally when something is lost we look for it. Therefore, instead of being critical and judgmental, we need to help those who have lost the joy of their salvation to look for that joy. We need to tell them there is hope. Jesus taught us to do this through three stories in Luke 15. The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son in those parables were all found. Someone cared enough to pray. Someone cared enough to look. Some doubters are bogged down in disillusionment with the church and the Christian community. We need to say to them, "There is hope. Don't give up." We also need to offer hope and encouragement to those who grieve. When death intervenes in our lives, people need hope. When divorce breaks our hearts and tears us apart, people need hope. In 2 Corinthians 1:3 Paul reassures us that comfort is available, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." In 1 Peter 5:6-7 Peter reassures us that we will be lifted up, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." No matter what pulls us apart or breaks our hearts, God is there and there is still hope. Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 4:16, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." 6

7 When we reassure those who are discouraged, we are sharing the heart of God. When we declare God's lifting power, we are doing God's business and the words of the old hymn come alive: Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, Cords that are broken will vibrate once more. Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save! Eliphaz was speaking the truth about God when he said in Job 22:29, "He will save the humble person." Listen, regardless of your station in life, God is reaching out to you tonight. 7