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God Does Not Forsake His People

Introduction:

        1.   The Bible states in many passages that "God does not forsake His people."
               a.     Shortly before his death, Moses delivered this message to:
                       1)    the Israelites (Deuteronomy 31:6)
                       2)    Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).
               b.    After Moses died, God gave the same message to Joshua (Joshua 1:5).
               c.     Shortly before his death, David gave this message to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:20).
               d.    This message has been given to Christians (Hebrews 13:5-6).
        2.    These passages indicate that this message:
               a.     is very important (by the number of times it was given as well as the situations when it was given)
               b.    is designed to encourage God's people to serve Him faithfully
               c.     needs to be heard often.
        3.    As 2013 concludes we are examining several great servants of God who struggled with this issue.
        4.    As we look at these men we will present information that will help us maintain our confidence in
               God's faithfulness throughout the new year (1 Corinthians 10:13).
        5.    The first man we are examining is Job.

Discussion:

I.                   (Job 1:1-3) JOB  IS  INTRODUCED

        A.   (vs.1) He was a righteous man.
        B.   (vs.2-3) God blessed him abundantly.

II.                JOB  SUFFERED  GREATLY

        A.   (Job 1:13-19) He lost his cattle and children.
        B.   (Job 2:7-8) He also suffered physically.

III.             JOB'S  RESPONSES

        A.   (Job 1:20-22) He responded after losing his cattle and children.
        B.   (Job 2:9-10) He responded after being covered with boils.
        C.   He eventually:
               1.    cursed the day of his birth (Job 3:1-6)
               2.    indicated that God was responsible for his suffering (Job 16:11-12).
        D.   He never stopped believing that God exists, but he seems to have felt that God had forsaken him
               (Job 19:6-11).
        E.   He was unaware of this, but . . .

IV.            SATAN  WAS  JOB'S  TRUE  ENEMY

        A.   (Job 1:6-12) Through the losses Job suffered, Satan was confident that he could cause Job to curse God.
        B.   (Job 2:1-6) Through Job's physical suffering, Satan was confident that he could cause Job to curse God.

V.               GOD  DID  NOT  FORSAKE  JOB

        A.   (Job 38-41) God appeared and called upon Job to answer some questions.
        B.   (Job 42:1-6) Job regretted the things he had said about God.
        C.   (Job 42:10-13) God again blessed Job abundantly.

VI.            APPLICATION

        A.   Job was not aware that Satan was responsible for the suffering that caused him to think that God
               had forsaken him.
        B.   We are fortunate to know that Satan is the adversary of God's people (1 Peter 5:8).
        C.   We must not allow Satan's actions to cause us to think that God has forsaken us.
        D.   Satan is to be resisted (James 4:7).
        E.   Thankfully, the Bible teaches us how to resist Satan (1 Peter 5:9; Ephesians 6:11).
        F.    The Bible also shows us how many of God's servants have resisted Satan.