Category: Prayer Meeting

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Hymns: RHC 360 My God Is Any Hour So Sweet, 351 He Leadeth Me, 243 The Comforter Has Come

Job 5:1-5

1Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? 2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. 3I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. 5Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. (Job 5:1-5 KJV)

A Fool’s Downfall

OUTLINE

(1) Call for Your Righteous Witnesses? (v1)

(2) A Fool’s Judgment (v2-5)

INTRODUCTION

Elilphaz has sought to discomfit and distressed Job into confessing that he has been living a fool’s life and therefore now faces a fool’s destruction.

(1) Call for Your Righteous Witnesses? (v1)

(2) A Fool’s Judgment (v2-5)

(1) Call for Your Righteous Witnesses? (v1)

1Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?

Which holy man of God is going to defend you? Anyone saint is able to vouchsafe for you? Surely there is none. It read like the judgment upon the fool who disregarded God’s reproof and instruction in Solomon’s proverbs.

22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Prov. 1:22-33 KJV)

The simple ones, the scorners and the fools are apt descriptions of those walking on the broadway who, scorn and mock at the truth, enticed by the sinner, consenting to his persuasion. Why do you hate knowledge? Why do you hate the truth? Why should it be so? It is for our good and yet we reject God’s call. Job is such a one!

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Hymns: RHC 41 God Is Still On the Throne, 255 Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart, 256 The Bible Stands

Job 4:12-21

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. 13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, 14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: 16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? 18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: 19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? 20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. 21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom. (Job 4:12-21 KJV)

Unbiblical Vision

OUTLINE
(1) Unbiblically Invoking God’s Authority (v12-16)
(2) Misrepresenting God’s Name (v17-21)

INTRODUCTION
Eliphaz has begun discrediting Job, putting to question his past actions of piety. Mr Counsellor is himself troubled and despondent. It goes to show that his claim of being a God-fearer, one who places his confidence in God and lived a life of uprightness is a vain show. “Look at yourself now,” Eliphaz points out to Job, “you are now fainting and troubled. You are disquieted! What happened to your faith in God? Has it now caved-in? Goes to how shallow is that faith that you profess!” This was how Job was discredited. His testimony in God called to question – “You comforted others but now look at you, do you not now wallow in self-pity too?”

This was to force a confession from Job, a sly ploy of Satan, to persuade Job to confess himself a hypocrite. If Job had capitulated, Satan would have won his case with God against Job.

Because Job was discomfited, he showed himself impatient under pressure, this was brought as evidence against him.

If Job is indeed a good man, why would these afflictions have come to him? It is not logical. He must have sinned against God.

It was a spiritual test for Job. He was not afflicted as a judgment for sin. Eliphaz concluded that Job’s present predicament has been a result of his sin. He is reaping the evil he has sown.

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Hymns: RHC 269 Come to the Savior, 271 Softly and Tenderly, 272 Jesus, I Come

Job 4:3-11

3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5Butnow it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 6Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? 7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? 8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. 9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. 10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. 11The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad. (Job 4:3-11 KJV)

Where Were the Righteous Cut Off?

OUTLINE

(1) Suffering Because of Man’s Wickedness

INTRODUCTION

Eliphaz was the most senior of three of Job’s friend who spoke first after 7 days of silence where they sat with Job during the deepest valley moment of Job’s life. He has just shared his misery in chapter 3, in lamentation, asking vulnerable questions, searching to unravel the mystery of what had befallen him.

Why Was I Born? (v1-10)
Why Did I Not Die Earlier? (v11-19)
Why Am I Still Alive? (v20-26)
Eliphaz began to discredit Job’s past testimony as a man of integrity who gave advice to many during the time of his “prosperity”. If Job is such a good counsellor to others, surely, he must have an answer to his own condition. Why is he reduced to such a troubled state, complaining of his own condition?

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Hymns: RHC 195, O Love Divine, 387 I Need Thee Every Hour, 358 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Job 4:1-12

KJV Job 4:1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? 3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 6Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? 7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? 8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. 9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. 10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. 11The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad. (Job 4:1-12 KJV)

DISCREDIT

OUTLINE

(1) Using Sarcasm to hurt (v1-6)

INTRODUCTION

Here begin the three cycles of speeches between Job and his friends. The first cycle is from chapters 4-14 in response to Job’s first speech in chapter 3.

Eliphaz is the most senior among Job’s three friends, he speaks first. He represents the three, notice in Job 42:7 that God singled out Eliphaz as the leader of the three for rebuke, Job 42:7 “And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.” We can see that Job is the only true theologian in this book.

His friends speak a semblance of the truth but denying the power thereof, they misapplied theology to their shame and deeply hurting, adding more afflictions to Job. They were miserable comforters. It would have been better if they had remained silent.

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Hymns: RHC 335 Keep on Believing, 326 Only Believe, 337 Never Give Up

Job 3:20-26

KJV Job 3:20 20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; 21Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; 22Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? 23Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? 24For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. 25For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. (Job 3:1-26 KJV)

Lamentation of a Depressed Soul (3)

OUTLINE

(1) Why Was I Born? (v1-10)

(2) Why Did I Not Die Earlier? (v11-19)

(3) Why Am I Still Alive? (v20-26)

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Hymns: RHC 327 All Things Work Out for Good; 358 What a Friend We Have In Jesus; 324 Trusting Jesus

Job 3:11-19

11Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? 12Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? 13For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, 14With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; 15Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: 16Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. 17There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. 18There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. 19The small and great are there; and the servant isfree from his master. 20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; 21Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; 22Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? 23Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? 24For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. 25For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. (Job 3:1-26 KJV)

Lamentation of a Depressed Soul (2)

OUTLINE

(1) Why Was I Born? (v1-10)

(2) Why Did I Not Die Earlier? (v11-19)

(3) Why Am I Still Alive? (v20-26)

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Hymns: RHC 10 Still, Still with Thee; 13 Abide with Me; 337 Never Give Up

Job 3:1-10

KJV Job 3:1After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 2And Job spake, and said, 3Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. 4Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. 5Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. 7Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. 8Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. 9Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: 10Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’swomb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. (Job 3:1-10 KJV)

Lamentation of a Depressed Soul

OUTLINE

(1) Why Was I Born? (v1-10)

(2) Why Did I Not Die Earlier? (v11-19)

(3) Why Am I Still Alive? (v20-26)

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Hymns: RHC 109 Jesus Is All the World to Me; 116 Higher Ground; 358 What a Friend We Have In Jesus

Job 2:11-13

11Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. (Job 2:11-13 KJV)

Who Is a Friend?

OUTLINE

(1) Together Mourn and Comfort (v11)

(2) Together Weep and be Silent (v12-13)

INTRODUCTION

It is easy to live life with God when you are bestowed with everything in life, having every reason to feel secure. It is another thing to when these “comforts” are taken away and life bares before us its harsh side. Does it mean God has forsaken us? Easy to conclude that way. As we look at Job’s life and the trauma that has befallen him as he sits there helpless, destitute and vulnerable, alone! Imagine, God’s perfect man’s predicament, makes us sit straight and take a hard look at life. Today, we shall begin to look at the impact on friends upon a suffering saint.

When we are without friends, life can indeed be very lonely. Friendship played a significant part in the lives of men of God.

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Hymns: RHC 106 Christ Liveth In Me, 399 I Am Thine, O Lord, 335 Keep on Believing

Job 2:7-10

7So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:7-10 KJV)

Hold Fast Thine Integrity

OUTLINE

(1) In Adverse Circumstances (v7-8)

(2) With Difficult Loved Ones (v9)

(3) Godly Response to Provocation (v10)

INTRODUCTION

Why do Christians face setbacks in life? Why do we go through trials? Trials are designed to prove our faith in God. That it may become evident whether we truly belong to Him and we truly love Him and whether we fully embrace as the God of our life. For if we belong to Him, this is how the Christian go through trials? With joy and with a steadfast love toward God looking for His approval, holding faith in God without wavering.

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Hymns: RHC 389 I Need Thee Every Hour, 368 From Every Stormy Wind that Blows, 364 ‘Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer

Job 2:1-7

KJV Job 2:1Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. (Job 2:1-7 KJV)

Touch His Bone and His Flesh

OUTLINE

(1) The Adversary’s Adversarial Work Revealed (v1-5)

(2) The Grace of God Does Prevail (v6-7)

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