Willow Ridge Sermons

Sunday, September 7th | Dr. Sam John

Listen to a special message from Dr. Sam John about the book of Job.

–
Podcast: https://pod.link/willowridgechurch

Creators and Guests

Host

Beau Bradberry

Senior Pastor

Guest

Dr. Sam John

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Good morning. I want to welcome you to Willow Ridge Church. We're so glad that each and every

one of you are here, that you chose to worship with us. If you're a first-time guest, we would

love it if you do us one small favor. You'll see there's a QR code on the back of the chair in front

of you. If you could scan that at some point in time during the service, you can do it right now.

You can do it in between. You can do it at the very end. We'd love for you to scan that. Let us know

that you're here so that we can answer any questions, minister to you in any way that we possibly can.

And then at the end of the service, I'll be back in the back here with my wife at our

connections table. We'd love for you to stop by there so that we can formally meet you, learn your

name. Thank you for being here. And again, and invite you back to worship with us if you desire.

Well, today, if you're a first-time guest, if you're a long-time guest, if you're a church member,

today is going to be a definite treat for you. Pastor Sam John is here with us all the way from India.

Aaron and I had the opportunity with them toward the end of this week to get away with Sam and Susan

and to head down to one of our favorite cities in the entire world, Aaron and I's Beaufort, South

Carolina. We love it. We took him out to Harbor Island. Susan, Sam's allergic to shrimp, so pray for

him. He didn't get to experience that. Susan got to experience a shrimp burger with me. And if you've

ever been to the shrimp shack over there, you know how delicious those were in just a wonderful time.

But it was neat as we would travel through and go through different shops as you're, you know,

tourists looking around for different things. People would say, well, where are you from? And in Harbor

Island, you know, it's not one of those international destinations. And so they would look at us like,

well, we're from, you know, Lexington, South Carolina, right up from the road. And then Sam and Susan would

say, we're from India. And the look on their face was like, ooh. So I don't know if you came here this

with your expectation, but you're going to be blessed as Sam opens and teaches from God's word.

I do want to say this to you. Sam has written a book. And so Lights in the Forgotten Places,

A Memoir of Grace, Calling, and the Unreached. And we as a church have purchased some of these books.

And we have, we will have them at the back at the connections table as well. And so if you want to

come by and get one of these, you are more than welcome to. I would ask for right now, we'll possibly

have some more available in the future. But for right now, if we could grab one of these per family

unit, that would be fantastic and pass out around the family and enjoy. And it'll be a wonderful,

a different perspective into understanding the ministry that has taken place, the ministry that

has taken place in all that God is working and all that God is doing. You know, when you, one of the

joys that I appreciate about my friendship with the John family is when we get together, we get to have

opportunities where, where we talk and learn from one another about the cultures that we find ourselves

living in. And, and India and the United States are drastically different in a lot of ways.

In fact, I said to them, like, we're going to go to the beach. And so we took them to the beach and

we do at the beach what probably a lot of you do at the beach, which is nothing, right? We got chairs and a

tent out and we took it down to the beach and we set it up and we sat there for four to five hours and

we read, we took naps, we did nothing. And I, and I asked them toward the end of the day of, of Sam and

Susan, they're very busy, very active. I said, well, what do you think about coming to the beach? And they

say, we now know what Americans mean when they say they're going to go sit out on the beach.

And then Sam said, and I think I could get used to this, you know, um, but, but, but there's,

there's a lot of differences between India and the United States. And I, I think that is what makes

our friendship and our partnership beautiful. But, but there's also a lot that is very similar.

And while, while, while sin and depravity manifests itself in different ways and means,

as we've been looking at the book of Daniel,

we see Daniel, a man of God come from an un, from a rebellious people into an ungodly culture.

In this week, whether you found yourself in India or you find yourself in the United States,

we're reminded of the ungodly culture that we find ourself in and the evil that is sin.

Sometimes, when we walk through seasons like this,

whether it be in our home, in our homes, in our towns, in our communities, or in our nation,

we look for a lot of things.

We look for answers.

We look for news.

We look for justice.

One of my favorite words in the Bible is a word that's used often,

especially in the Old Testament.

It's the word remember.

God calls His people

in their greatest moments

of defeat,

perceived defeat,

their greatest moments of victory,

their greatest moments of sorrow,

their greatest moments of joy

to remember.

And you know what they're called to remember?

His faithfulness.

And so this morning,

before I pray,

and before Sam comes to

share God's word,

I want us to remember something from the truth of God's word.

I want us to remember a time that has not yet come,

but a time that God promises will come.

That when we're surrounded by the death and destruction of this world,

and it will happen again and again and again,

that we will remember

that there will come a time

for everyone who is in Christ

where a time will be different.

In Revelation 21,

John shares the beauty of the prophecy

given by God to him

to share with the people of God.

It says,

then I saw a new heaven

and a new earth

for the first heaven

and the first earth

had passed away

and the sea was no more.

And I saw your holy city,

new Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven

from God,

prepared as a bride

adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice

from the throne saying,

Behold,

the dwelling place of God

is with man.

He will dwell with them

and they will be his people

and God himself

will be with them

as their God.

Will you close your eyes with me

as I'll read this verse

and then we'll go to prayer.

You will wipe away

every tear

from their eyes

and death shall be no more.

Neither shall there be mourning

nor crying

nor pain anymore

for the former things

have passed away.

God, we come to you this morning

and God, we praise you

for who you are.

For what you have done

and Lord, for what you are going to do.

God, as we search for answers,

God, as we look for solutions,

could we come back to Jesus?

And in God, in a world

that is broken,

God, may we be people of compassion,

may we be people of compassion,

of truth,

of love,

of grace,

and mercy.

God, I thank you that your word

rings true

in India

and in the U.S.

and in every corner of the world.

God, may you be made known

and Lord, may you be glorified.

God, as our brother Sam

comes to share

from your word this morning,

God, may you give him the words

to speak.

Lord, may your Holy Spirit

convict our hearts

and may all that is done

and said

be to the glory of your name.

And it's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Would y'all join me

in welcoming my friend,

Sam John.

Thank you.

Thank you, brother.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Thank you for the warm welcome

this morning.

And we just,

Susan and I are so glad

and so thankful

that we are here.

And for possibly

the first time

in the United States

we have experienced

what real vacation is

and how it should be.

And one of the things

that I really like

on my vacation

is just sit

before the nature.

Sometimes in India,

long time ago

we went out there

to the hills

where we had

the beautiful view

of the Himalayas

and we got a room

out there

so I just sat down

on the balcony

of our hotel

and I had a book

in my hand

and the nature

over there

I was it.

And Susan

and the rest of the family

went out to explore

the nature

and guess what?

That's exactly

what I got to do.

Susan and Pastor Bo

and Aaron

went out to explore

the ocean

or the beach front

and I sat down there

with my book

and I enjoyed it.

Thank you so much

Pastor Bo

for carrying us

taking us

me and Susan

along

and allowing us

to intrude

into your privacy.

Thank you for that

and thank you church

for standing with us

always.

We really rejoice

and are so grateful

to all of you

your love

your support

and your willingness

to come alongside us

put your arms around us

and tell us

we're not alone.

We appreciate that.

It really means a lot

to us.

On a personal front

I just want to give you

joyful news

of Susan and me

becoming graduates now

we've promoted now

from just being parents

now we're parents

in law

so our older son

Stephen

God

allowed him

to find a beautiful

Northern Irish girl

and he got married

on the 5th of August

and we thank God

for his provisions

and we were all able

to be there

and on our way

over here

we witnessed

a beautiful wedding.

I appreciate your prayer

on behalf of Stephen

and Emma

that they would establish

a godly home

where Christ is honored

and their beats

of their heart

would be for missions

for the expansion

of the kingdom

of the Lord.

Our younger son

Simon

has also

finished his

physical therapy

and he still has

a few months

of internship.

He's looking forward

to serving the Lord

wherever God

has him

wherever God

wants to take him

and we rejoice

along with our family

for what God

has done.

You know

as Pastor Bo

was talking about

sin

so many things

were going on

in my mind

it is a problem

be it in India

or in Pakistan

or in China

Russia

United States

Europe

anywhere

sin is the problem.

some of you

are aware of it

some of you

perhaps are not

but this is a fact

which you need to know

because you have

a couple from India

that you support

that you love.

In India

they are now

vastly marketing

cow urine.

they say

that it is

a very holy

drink

and you can

drink it

and have

the peace

inner peace

that

only that

urine can give.

During COVID

they also marketed

cow dung

you could apply it

on your body

and

stay away from COVID.

I don't know

how many people

died

with cow dung

but

the term

holy cow

I came across

over here

in the United States

and

when a bunch

of young people

gathered together

and they said

holy cow

and I said

really?

Is it as holy

as it is in India?

But in India

it is holy

and therefore

I've said often

for me to enjoy

my cow

on my plate

I need to come

over here to

Lexington.

I enjoy it.

I mean they've got

the best

and the most

wonderful cows

on the plate.

Those poor people

do not know

what they're missing

out on.

with all that

thing that is

happening over there

we come over here

and we are in

for surprise.

One of the things

that fascinates

Susan

is as we drive

through the roads

are all these

beautiful churches

churches

with those

wonderful steeples

and a cross

up on the top

of that church.

It just fascinates

us because

that's a big

no-no in India

and right now

it's even worse.

We just cannot

have a church

that can boast

of that being

a church building

you know

and so we

always take

pictures and all

that

and so proudly

show it to our

folks back in India

but as we

walked around

we found out

something

very

drastically

crazy going on

over here

in the United

States

where the

children are

allowed to

get up

and be cats

or be dogs

or be whatever

they feel like

you are

what you feel

like.

Strange.

Really strange

and you know

I don't know

whether I am

doing the right

thing by saying

it out or not

but coming

from India

me and Susan

found it really

really very funny

and wondering

where a country

that boasts

of being a

developed country

can go that

far.

And down there

in India

we were laughing

at our folks

drinking cow

urine

and applying

cow dung

and we come

away and find

all that strange

and crazy

things going

on over here.

The heart

of the problem

is in the

heart of man

and that needs

a radical change.

No amount

of psychology

no amount

of good

positive thinking

will take care

of that.

Only Christ

will.

Only Christ

can.

And the need

that is in

United States

over here

right now

or in India

or in anywhere

in the world

is that Christ

be preached.

The gospel

be preached.

People need

to know

Jesus.

The one

who changed

the one

who changed

you

is the only

one who can

change anybody.

And when Christ

starts reigning

and ruling

in our lives

that's when

we are able

to differentiate

between the day

and the night.

But folks

there are

forces

that try

and

will force

you to keep

your mouth shut

from proclaiming

the truth.

That's what

is happening

all the world

over.

And this

morning

as I stand

up to share

what God

has in my

heart

I was initially

thinking about

talking to all

of you

but as I

stand over here

right now

I think I'm

going to change.

Instead of

me talking

to you

I'm going

to talk

to myself

and I'm

going to

talk to

myself

I'm going

to preach

to myself

audibly

so that you

can also

listen to

what I'm

preaching

to myself

and if

the Spirit

of God

talks to

you

you may

respond to

him

and

surrender

your lives

as per

whatever the

needs is.

I have

been

thinking

mostly

about

the

book

Job

book

that

most of

you

many

you

have

probably

gone

through

beautiful book

that talks

about

various

stages

various

colors

of life

especially

the life

of a

person

who is

really

trying

hard

to do

everything

right

to please

God

and yet

things do

not go

their way

things

become

upside down

I don't

know your

case

but I've

been through

recently

quite a bit

the

times

so as I

come to

chapter 1

of the

book of

Job

well before

going there

just want to

tell you

something else

that God

is really

doing a

good

great work

in India

many of

you were

down there

in India

and have

been closely

associated

with our

school

Christian

school

over there

we now

you know

we have

400

children

it's not

a big

school

but

400

approximately

400

kids

are there

right now

and

as I

would just

go on

the top

roof

of our

school

right next

to it

was a

slum

area

where

across

our

street

there's

a big

community

how do

you call

that

a big

colony

we say

apartment

complex

coming up

Pastor Bo

will probably

explain to you

probably

properly

but you

know all

those people

who work

over there

the laborers

they live

there

it's a

small piece

of ground

there

and I

would say

possibly

about

five to

eight hundred

people

live there

in a

ground

that can

just hold

about

60 to

80 people

or 100

people

and as I

was walking

up and down

I saw

little kids

walking

doing nothing

during the

time when the

school was

and I

saw them

moving

aimlessly

playing

wallowing in

the mud

and doing

nothing

and I

said

Lord

I don't

know why

you

exposed

these

kids

but I

wish

I wish

we could

bring them

to the

school

and as I

was talking

to the

Lord

another

thought

struck me

I said

you know

if they

come to

the school

not only

would they

be open

for the

seeds of

the gospel

to be

sown

in their

hearts

but that

could open

a door

for us

to reach

that slum

area

with the

greatest

message

the world

has ever

known

Jesus

saves

and I

said

Lord

if that

is a

possibility

will you

please

show it

to us

we want

to do

that

now

this is

a time

and an

age

where

especially

Jaipur

you go

out and

reach

anyone

who's

not a

Christian

especially

if you

want to

reach

out

Hindus

you know

there

is a

law

that

place

the

anti-conversion

law

which

demands

that any

gospel

exchange

presentation

has to

be in

the

presence

the

magistrate

and

that

are

going

break

the

law

and

said

Lord

please

show

the

way

how

this

want

this

want

this

and

shared

this

with

our

folks

our

team

one

them

couple

volunteered

they

said

will

and

started

moving

now

went

there

reached

out

the

homes

asked

those

parents

send

the

kids

our

school

and

they

said

will

not

able

afford

said

you

don't

have

afford

send

them

the

school

right

there

will

what

can

teach

your

children

how

they

come

they

learn

how

read

they

learn

how

write

and

Mayank

along

with

his

wife

teach

them

how

sing

and

guess

what

they

learn

choruses

they

learn

the

songs

and

they

are

taught

the

Bible

verses

and

that's

one

the

wonderful

ways

the

Lord

doing

now

what

happens

in the

future

not

know

don't

want

know

all

want

know

all

want

let

Christ

known

long

time

ago

father

said

son

don't

fight

for

victory

fight

from

the

victory

which

Christ

has

already

won

the

cross

Calvary

yes

there

battle

are

the

battle

ground

there

will

attacks

from

the

enemy

there

will

forts

that

would

won

all

but

are

not

fighting

for

victory

we're

fighting

from

the

victory

now

the

event

this

battle

there

are

times

when

you

get

hit

good

soldier

the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

not

run

away

from

the

battle

ground

even

the

event

you

getting

hit

you

try

fall

front

gain

another

six

feet

ground

that

thought

was

wonderful

piece

advice

very

wise

piece

advice

and

the

midst

all

those

laws

and

I'm

going

talk

you

about

little

and

showing

off

those

dark

and

needy

lands

ours

also

started

ministry

amongst

the

Sindhi

community

Jaipur

now

Sindhi

considered

one of

the

people

group

Hinduism

and

started

reaching

out

them

and

there

house

church

that

has

been

established

and

are

able

out

there

reach

out

them

there

small

community

people

that

gather

and

guess

what

while

being

that

Beaufort

island

got

some

pictures

and

the

pictures

was

our

co-worker

baptizing

them

and

look

that

picture

and

said

brother

Sushil

you

not

only

are

putting

your

life

the

danger

you

are

putting

well

and

asked

Pastor

how

you

deal

with

people

who

put

your

life

danger

without

knowing

the

context

started

giving me

big

lecture

that

and

that

was

all

good

was

very

nice

and

hope

apply

10%

that

this

particular

case

but

tell

you

he's

great

teacher

and

think

you're

all

blessed

have

pastor

him

who

cares

for

you

who's

got

heart

that

beats

for

all

you

and

you

know

just

praise

God

for

men

and

women

God

who

are

there

serve

the

Lord

Job

chapter

one

and

let

read

out

verse

six

verse

eight

now

there

was a

day

when

the

sons

God

came

present

themselves

before

the

Lord

and

Satan

came

also

among

them

the

Lord

said

unto

Satan

whence

camest

thou

whence

comest

thou

then

Satan

answered

the

Lord

and

said

from

going

and

fro

the

earth

and

from

walking

and

down

sounds

evangelist

and

the

Lord

said

unto

Satan

has

thou

considered

servant

Job

that

there

none

him

the

earth

perfect

and

upright

man

one

that

fears

God

and

escheweth

evil

what

fascinates

me over

here is

what

God

has to

talk

about

Job

introduced

by God

himself

blameless

upright

God

fearing

and the

one who

turns

from

evil

now

you

got

remember

that

these

are

the

words

God

not

Job's

wife's

words

or not

Job's

mother's

words

or not

even the

PR agent

of Job

it is

God

who

talks to

the devil

and says

look

my servant

and I

have

faith

in him

it is

one thing

for us

to say

that we

have

faith

and

trust

God

but

times

I've

been

thinking

when

God

looks

down

life

can

you

look

and

have

faith

have

trust

that

makes

this

Mr.

Job

way

apart

than

you

and

look

Satan's

challenge

verse

Satan

answered

the

Lord

and

said

did

God

that

Job

fear

God

for

not

does

Job

fear

God

for

nothing

other

words

that

word

nothing

Hebrew

implies

out

favor

implying

ulterior

motive

Satan

just

cannot

comprehend

anyone

serving

God

without

personal

benefit

the

real

theme

believe

of the

book

of Job

is not

primarily

why

the

righteous

suffer

but

rather

should

why

people

serve

God

why

people

serve

God

will

serve

God

for

nothing

let

ask

myself

this

question

why

serving

God

there

impending

blessing

there

impending

prosperity

that I

desire

out of

God

or a

special

favor

from

God

that I

serving

him

that I

loving

him

that I

following

him

so the

central

question

that needs

to be put

up before

all of

why

you

serve

God

Sam

why

you

serve

God

you

serve

God

for

blessings

for

protection

prosperity

Sam

what

God

doesn't

give

you

all

that

things

God

doesn't

bless

you

would

you

still

serve

him

God

enough

God

himself

still

enough

for

your

praises

for

your

blessing

and

as I

read

this

you

know

there

are

many

questions

this

book

Job

that

thrown

but

would

talk

myself

and

bring

these

three

questions

mainly

try

and

see

and

have

little

heart

surgery

done

life

before

all

you

have

never

been

surgery

theater

most

you

are

you're

not

doctor

and

see

what

there

heart

and

would

expect

that

from

you

well

question

number

one

that

want

put

forward

before

myself

and

all

you

will

you

still

serve

God

when

your

life

turns

tragic

listen

for

all

those

you

who

have

read

this

book

one

day

you

know

what

happens

Job

loses

all

his

wealth

loses

all

his

servants

and

loses

all

his

children

one

single

day

and

for

what

Job

had

clue

why

all

this

thing

happened

but

all

happened

one

single

day

you

know

what

his

response

was

the

Lord

gave

and

the

Lord

has

taken

away

blessed

the

name

the

Lord

tragedy

strikes

without

reason

we've

seen

that

happen

this

week

before

all

one

the

persons

whom

really

admired

had

tragically

snatched

away

from

all

for

reasons

proclaiming

the

truth

proclaiming

Christ

proclaiming

the

importance

of a

godly

family

proclaiming

the

youngsters

to be

rooted

in the

word

than

rooted

something

else

and

tragedy

strikes

and

all

you

had

this

question

mind

what

would

his

sweet

young

wife

think

what

would

her

course

action

what

she

going

respond

and

bless

her

heart

what

encouragement

she

was

when

she

came

that

national

television

she

said

the

cries

this

woman

going

the

battle

cry

the

whole

world

praise

god

that

she

not

giving

and

as a

result

there

are

many

young

people

many

young

people

across

this

country

and

beyond

have

decided

stand

the

gap

question

myself

Sam

when

tragedy

strikes

will

you

still

serve

him

will

you

still

worship

him

when

your

life

seems

fall

apart

brings

me to

the

second

question

will

you

still

serve

god

when

you

have

stand

alone

now

job

not

only

traumatized

by the

tragedy

and the

loss

of his

material

wealth

and

personal

children

that he

loved

dearly

but

right

now

finds

himself

all

alone

chapter

verse

and

let

read

that

for

you

then

said

his

wife

unto

him

dost

thou

still

retain

thine

integrity

curse

god

and

die

but

said

unto

her

thou

speaketh

as one

of the

foolish

woman

speaketh

what

shall

receive

good

the

hand

god

and

shall

not

receive

evil

all

this

did

not

job

sin

with

his

lips

times

you

know

are

prone

attacking

job's

wife

have

started

thinking

differently

she

was

wonderful

woman

which

think

it's

personal

opinion

you

may

agree

you

may

not

agree

but

think

she

cared

for

her

husband

and

when

she

saw

him

sitting

much

pain

mental

pain

physical

pain

how

could

she

help

him

get

out

mean

this

what

think

the

easiest

way

for

him

say

goodbye

die

was

just

curse

God

and

God

would

God

would

strike

him

with

death

and

that

would

the

end

his

woes

and

worries

whatever

the

situation

was

she

was

not

encouragement

that

point

Job

and

Job

all

alone

and

listen

difficulty

the

time

loneliness

the

time

pain

your

spouse

your

dear

ones

and

what

they

start

saying

contrary

what

you

are

thinking

just

opposition

what

you

want

hear

curse

God

Job

and

die

and

here

all

himself

and

then

doesn't

stop

there

his

friends

heard

the

mishappening

that

happened

Job

and

they

wanted

come

and

try

encourage

him

try

see

him

built

this

time

need

and

when

they

came

Job

the

Bible

says

they

were

shell

shocked

that

they

could

not

even

say

word

for

the

seven

days

for

week

they

were

shocked

and

were

quiet

would

sit

every

day

with

him

mourn

with

him

mourn

for

him

but

the

seventh

day

one

them

started

talking

hey

Job

this

what

have

learned

our

theology

our

times

teach

that

maybe

you

have

done

something

wrong

against

God

and

therefore

God

has

struck

you

with

this

kind

punishment

Job

you

must

have

done

some

sin

you

must

have

done

some

evil

the

sight

God

able

receive

all

this

Job

you

are

all

alone

don't

hide

yourself

Job

said

have

done

nothing

deserve

all

this

and

God

has

still

dealt

with

this

manner

would

you

still

serve

God

you

are

alone

let

talk

you

what

happened

couple

weeks

ago

back

state

Rajasthan

already

mentioned

the

anti

conversion

law

that

place

Rajasthan

they

made

stringent

let

read

little

bit

what

actually

means

now

here

the

new

law

will

have

maximum

punishment

and

imprisonment

fines

up to

lakh

about

thousand

dollars

imprisonment

up to

years

certain

cases

the

new

law

will

have

provisions

for

higher

fines

for

any

group

people

who

are

involved

converting

others

that

law

also

says

that

the

property

will

confiscated

and

the

accused

would

lose

their

ownership

rights

the

government

will

then

decide

what

with

that

property

they

could

either

demolish

they

could

use

anyway

that

the

government

seems

deems

necessary

the

burden

proof

will

the

person

who

says

that

has

not

committed

the

crime

and

goes

list

certain

other

stringent

problems

it's

going to

difficult

it's

going to

tough

now

people

are

texting

from

India

and

they

are

saying

brother

pastor

what

the

road

ahead

don't

know

idea

where

head

out

from

here

are

supposed

quiet

God

has

not

given

mandate

remain

quiet

people

need

the

Lord

and

are

going

out

and

because

stand

before

all

you

not

know

not

know

there

escape

route

for

left

need

committed

the

Lord

the

call

need

committed

God's

people

who

are

there

putting

their

arms

around

and

saying

come

Sam

you

are

there

with

you

pray

for

you

will

with

you

and

look

that

bunch

people

1.5

billion

people

India

most

them

most

them

have

nothing

with

the

gospel

Jesus

Christ

many

them

have

never

heard

about

now

I'm

not

talking

about

reaching

those

1.5

billion

people

I'm

only

concerned

about

reaching

out to

one

person

and

another

person

and

another

person

wherever

God

takes

and

that's

the

desire

all

our

co-pastors

our

young

students

studying

the

college

all

our

team

that's

our

desire

witnesses

the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

but

what

you

have

stand

alone

and

face

the

fury

the

government

and

face

the

fury

those

people

who

call

the

agents

the

West

Sam

will

you

still

serve

God

will

give

grace

may

God

give

you

the

grace

and

the

wisdom

stand

and

serve

Christ

even

when

tragedy

strikes

even

when

you

have

stand

alone

and

finally

one

question

I'm

done

will

you

still

serve

God

when

God

silent

all

this

while

you've

read

the

book

Job

asking

questions

God

he's

asking

questions

his

friends

all

this

God

giving

answer

for

long

time

you

know

folks

silence

one

the

hardest

trial

Elizabeth

Elliot

one

time

said

years

later

she

said

in a

conference

still

not

know

why

God

chose

work

that

way

and

finally

when

you

come

the

book

Job

chapter

you

find

Job

God

finally

speaks

now

did

not

explain

Job's

suffering

only

reminded

Job

who

was

and

who

God

was

now

Job

wants

get

answer

all

the

whys

his

life

and

God

turns

around

and

answers

him

Job

where

were

you

when

was

making

the sky

where

were

you

when

was

making

this

mountains

and the

oceans

and all

those

big

things

that

was

not

what

Job

was

wanting

know

you

know

Job

was

not

upset

was

not

sad

about

the

absence

God

was

tormented

by the

silence

God

the

midst

the

presence

God

wanted

know

why

was

going

through

isn't

that

our

problem

need

explanation

from

God

for

everything

through

mean

don't

know

about

you

that's

problem

want

know

why

God

you

brought

this

way

why

going

through

this

phase

this

valley

why

but

God

had

give

answer

would

never

able

understand

and

therefore

need

learn

that

don't

live

explanations

live

promises

Christians

don't

live

explanations

God

doesn't

owe

explanation

any

one

hold

live

the

promises

God

do you

happen

to see

his

promise

for

you

God

said

hey

the

one

who

created

everything

Job

it's

not

you

who

need

focus

yourself

right

now

you

need

focus

the

midst

all

this

when

everything

wrong

India

when

darkness

not

need

focus

myself

need

focus

God

the

midst

all

your

darkness

the

midst

the

creator

God

the

sustainer

the

majestic

God

the

song

that

you

sang

his

throne

and

look

his

glorious

throne

will

you

serve

God

the

question

now

turns

over

from

will

you

that

for

nothing

God

worthy

worship

God

worthy

serving

him

have

been

privileged

serve

savior

and

let me

that

folks

and

when

start

doing

God

glorified

and

his

glory

our

glory

you

have

met

Lard

that

young

lady

from

our

school

who

helps

everybody

gives

tea

passes

tea

everybody

long

time

ago

when

she

just

converted

she

came

Christ

she

still

wonderful

Christian

believer

who

loves

learn

but

she

came

one

day

and

she

said

sir

will

you

please

pray

for

because

have

village

and

over

there

she

came

from

Hindu

background

the entire

family

Hindu

and so

she

said

if I

over

there

they

will

forcibly

take me

to the

temple

and I

will have

to bow

before

the

idols

don't

want

that

for

God

who

redeemed

who

set

free

from

all

that

bondage

not

want

return

idea

but

was

her

pastor

she

requested

for

prayer

prayed

said

Lord

please

make

way

that

she

not

able

and

God

did

answer

that

prayer

you

know

what

a few

days

later

when

she

came

back

she

was

beaming

she

was

smiling

said

what

happened

she

said

pastor

God

answered

your

prayer

said

how

she

said

soon

got

off

the

bus

little

baby

that

baby

was

about

six

eight

months

age

started

having

diarrhea

big

old

issues

was

throwing

from

the

top

and

down

and

she

said

thank

you

Lord

for

this

which

mother

will

ever

thank

the

Lord

for

the

diarrhea

their

little

baby

and

after

while

her

mother

law

came

and

said

looks

your

child

serious

you

don't

have

the

temple

you

stay

back

we'll

offer

your

prayers

your

behalf

you

stay

take

care

that

child

and

she

said

that's

what

wanted

know

that's

what

wanted

hear

and

she

stayed

back

she

didn't

she

didn't

have

and

she

still

continues

to be

living

witness

she's

paid

big

price

but

she

serves

the

Lord

she

witness

because

who

God

not

because

any

blessings

that

she

expects

will

you

still

serve

God

will

still

serve

God

please

pray

for

much

I'm

going

pray

for

you

would

you

bow

your

heads

dear

Lord

Heavenly

Father

thank

you

for

talking

this

morning

and

stood

before

all

your

people

talking

myself

not

know

how

the

Spirit

God

has

moved

some

their

hearts

but

prayer

there

someone

who

focusing

their

pathetic

situation

their

lives

today

may

they

confess

and

turn

their

eyes

off

from

them

and

turn

their

eyes

you

the

creator

the

sustainer

the

redeemer

now

be with

for the

rest of

the

morning

Jesus

name

amen

you

hear

today

maybe

you've

got

questions

you've

got

struggles

you've

got

burdens

maybe

it's

burden

for

someone

who's

who

you

know

who

lost

and

your

desire

for

opportunity

the

gospel

maybe

your

burden

over

experience

time

period

that

you're

going

through

and

you need

someone

to pray

with you

to pray

for you

whether

you're

a person

here

with

questions

about

who

Christ

whether

you're

someone

here

who's

got

questions

concerns

want

come

alongside

you

and

got

prayer

encouraged

either

side

our

auditorium

just

moment

our

band

will

lead

one

song

response

encourage

you

them

with

them

that

they

can

minister

you

and

pray

with

you

the

God

who

sees

you

the

God

who

hears

you

the

God

who

knows

you

want

encourage

you

continue

lift

the

work

that

happening

India

the

work

that's

happening

places

Nepal

and

Syria

and

China

and

Iran

and

Iraq

want

you

pray

for

the

work

that

happening

right

now

South

Korea

that's

not a

place

that we

talk

about

lot

the

context

the

church

let me

tell you

about

the

work

that's

happened

South

Korea

the

gospel

has

exploded

South

Korea

large

percentages

people

villages

come

into

faith

Jesus

Christ

and

their

churches

have

rallied

together

and

they're

raising

generation

missionaries

with

passports

to go

to share

the gospel

and do you

know what

country

God has

laid on

their heart

what country

of lostness

that God

is sending

them to

the

United

States

America

because what

they see

in spite of

all that God

is doing

they see a

people who are

wandering

be a

part of

the work

through

prayer

through

going

through

raising

be a

part of

the work

that's it

for this

week's

message

be sure

to check

back next

week for

a new

episode

and in

the

meantime

you can

visit us

online at

willowridgechurch.org

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