Concord Baptist Church

Why Must The Godly Suffer
Job 1

Intro: The book of job is probably the oldest book in the Bible and it is a story of a man that faced as much trouble and heartache as any man has ever faced!

But Job was a Godly man, he loved the good God of heaven, so why did he suffer?

This is the question that permeates this book, one of the hardest and most asked questions in the world. WHY DO THE GODLY SUFFER?

Now, job was not the only one to suffer in this story, his wife suffered as well, yet they handled it totally different!

Jobs wife wanted him to curse god and die but job charged not god foolishly!

There are some things that the devil learned in this story:

I 1 – HE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A HEDGE THAT HE COULD NOT PENETRATE

I 2 – HE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A HEART THAT COULD NOT BE PROVOKED

I 3 – HE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A HARVEST THAT COULD NOT BE PREVENTED

I 4 – HE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A HOMECOMING THAT COULD NOT BE POSTPONED.

We also learn some things in this book about why the godly suffer.

You say preacher, I come to church, pay my tithe, live right, and still I face trouble!

My friend you have listened to much to Benny Hin and Rick Warren, and Rod Parsley.

1 – SUFFERING DEVELOPS FAITH

Job 13:15 though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

My friend if it were not for troubles, and sufferings of this life there would be little need for faith!

The problem with too many Christians these days is that they have no faith!

The bible says: “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Without faith we are told “it is impossible to please him.

2 – SUFFERING DEEPENS FELLOWSHIP

Job 19:25 for I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Too many Christians have shallow relationships with the lord!

Sometimes the lord allows us to suffer so that we will depend more on him a deepen our relationship!

3 – SUFFERING DEGRADES THE FLESH

In chap 2 job is seated in a heap of ashes (picture of sacrifice) his health gone the flesh stripped away!

My friend the bible says: I beseach ye therefore brethren by the mercies of god to present your bodies a living sacrifice.”

Sometimes god brings suffering into our lives so that we would not get puffed up with pride!

It was for this reason that god put the thorn in Paul’s side, to keep him from thinking of himself more highly than he ought to think!

4 – SUFFERING DEMONSTRATES OUR FORTIFICATION

When we face trouble others are watching us! Our friends, our family, the lost and saved!

If we loose it the devil will use that to discredit the word of god!!!!