Would You Curse God When the Pressure Is On?

Sermon: Would You Curse God When the Pressure Is On?

Part Two: Job 1: 11

But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

Satan challenges God by saying Job is only faithful because God had placed a hedge of protection around him. Satan is telling God that if He took away that protection, Job would give up under Satan’s pressure.

What about you? Would you give God up?

Consider what you would be giving up. Eternity with God over something temporal and fleeting.

Revelation 12: 9

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Things will always happen – some good, some bad – and sometimes it is not for you to know why. You must put your faith and trust in God. Experience life as Job did, one day at a time. Thank God for giving you another day to praise Him.

God’s love doesn’t exempt you from life’s challenges.

God loves you but that does not exempt you from life’s calamities. Setbacks, tragedies, and sorrows strike both Christians and non-Christians alike. The difference is in how we deal with them.

Psalms 34: 7

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Satan says that we are fair weather people, only honoring God as long as we get what we want. God gives Satan permission to test Job. However, Satan has no authority other than what God gives him.

God is compassionate toward you.

While God may allow you to suffer for reasons beyond your understanding, He is never caught by surprise by your troubles. There are limits on what Satan is allowed to do; God is compassionate. So do not worry about Satan. Stay faithful to the One and Only God who loves you.

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Job Chapter 1

Revelation Chapter 12

Psalms Chapter 34

Read Part One and Part Three of the Sermon, Would You Curse God?

Part One: Would You Curse God?

Part Three: Would You Curse God When the Devil Is Your Enemy?

Would You Curse God?

Sermon: Would You Curse God?

Part One: Job 1: 8-11

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

Do you have the faith of Job?

Most of us know the story of Job but do we really get the message that God has for us? Job’s life was constructed on a rock solid foundation that could withstand the hurricane-type storm that he was about to face. If Job didn’t have solid faith in God, he would have been like toothpicks flying through the strong wind of the hurricane.

Our faith, like Job’s, must be deep and solid enough to withstand what life has in store for us. We are tested every day just as Job was tested.

Would you curse God if your circumstances changed for the worst?

We tend to look at material things and judge them for their earthly value. Job was a highly successful and prestigious member of his community. He had thousands of sheep, camels and other livestock. And he also had many servants to tend to his, and his family’s needs. Suddenly he was assaulted on every side, devastated, and stripped down to his foundation.

Would you curse God if you lost everything that you had ever worked for, or if you had nothing and all you saw were people you thought had everything?

Read the Entire Chapter

Job Chapter 1

Read part two and three of the sermon, Would You Curse God?

Part Two: Would You Curse God When the Pressure Is On?

Part Three: Would You Curse God When the Devil Is Your Enemy?

Do You See Yourself Clearly?

Scripture: Luke 6: 36-37, 42

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:(36-37)

Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.(42)

Scripture Commentary:

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most blessed of all? Is it I or is it him or her? Have you looked in the mirror and clearly seen yourself?

What do you really see? Be honest! Do you see who you are, or who you would like to be? Can you see your own shortcomings or do you see other people’s wrongdoings?

We often rationalize our sins by pointing out the same mistakes in others. Jesus reminds us that the way we live reveals our true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations.

If you are to serve Jesus, you must forgive.

Treat others generously and with compassion and this will come back to you in full measure. Love others; don’t judge them. God is the judge.

So, what do you see in the mirror?

Read the Entire Chapter:

Luke Chapter 6

Don’t Suffer the Delusion to Believe A Lie

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Scripture Commentary: Don’t believe a lie.

Satan would have you believe a lie that what is wrong is right. Are you doing right in God’s eye, or in just your own eye? Are you doing something that can be done in the daylight or only in darkness?

Satan has a way to make you feel that it’s alright to do wrong. But the Holy Spirit in you will not lie to you.

You need God.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to tell them the dangers of losing hope of the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We, today, are starting to live with no hope. This is Satan deceiving you; however, God gives you the freedom to turn your back on Satan.

Your main defense here is prayer that God will protect you from evil and strengthen you so that you can spread God’s Word.

God’s love for you is your only hope, but you must love God too.

Read the Entire Chapter:

2 Thessalonians Chapter 2

Who Loves Us More Than Christ?

Scripture: Luke 7: 40-42

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Scripture Commentary: Who will love us more than Christ?

He went to the cross for our sins because He loves us all. We, on the other hand, aren’t living a life that is befitting His sacrifice. We are weak and have forgotten why we are here.

Simon committed several social errors when Jesus came to dine with him. Simon did not wash Jesus’ feet, he didn’t anoint Jesus’ head with oil, and he didn’t greet Jesus with a kiss.

Instead a sinful woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, and she anointed his head with oil. Christ forgave her sins just as the moneylender forgave the debts.

God’s grace saves us all.

It is God’s grace through faith that saves us, and only those who realize the depth of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness that Jesus Christ offers them.

Jesus has rescued all of His followers, whether we were extremely wicked or conventionally good. Do you appreciate the wideness of God’s mercy?

Read the Entire Chapter:

Luke Chapter 7

What is Your Duty?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Scripture Commentary:

Solomon covers two ailments in Ecclesiastes chapter 12:

People who lack purpose and direction in life
People who think life is unfair

First, what is your purpose or duty in life? Is it to suit yourself or to serve God? Second, why would you think life is unfair?

Have you been fair or unfair to God?

Think about what God has done and what He is doing in your life. If you are reading this, then God has given you another day. What have you given God?

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, and have asked for forgiveness, then how can God give you direction in your life? We must go to God for purpose and meaning in life. In doing so, we will acknowledge the evil, foolishness and injustice in life and build a stronger relationship with Jesus.

This relationship comes when we pray and study God’s Word. Life is meaningless and futile without God. All of us will stand before Him and be judged. We cannot use life’s inconsistencies as an excuse for failing to live as His child.

Read the Entire Chapter:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+12&version=ESV

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep …

Scripture: Psalms 3: 5-6

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

Scripture Commentary: I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Sleep does not come easily during a crisis. David could have had sleepless nights when his son Absalom rebelled and gathered an army to kill him. But David slept peacefully, even during the rebellion.

What made the difference?

David cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard him. The assurance of answered prayer brings peace. It is easier to sleep well when we have full assurance that God is in control of all circumstances.

Trust God with your burdens.

If you are lying awake at night worrying about things you can’t change or control, pour your heart out to God. Tell Him you trust Him, and give the burden to Him. God will take care of every situation. And by giving your problem to the Lord you are telling Him all your trust is in His hands.

Do this, and leave it alone. If you try to fix it, you’re saying that you don’t trust God. Give it to him, then thank Him and go to sleep.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Psalms Chapter 3

Believers Spread the Aroma of the Knowledge of God

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2: 14-17

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Scripture Commentary

In a Roman triumphal procession, the Roman general would display his treasures and captives amidst a cloud of incense burned to the gods. To the victors, the aroma was sweet, but to the captives, it was the smell of slavery and death.

When Christians preach the gospel, it is good news to some and repulsive news to others. Believers recognize the life-giving fragrance of the message. However, to non-believers it smells foul, like death.

Serving God requires that you focus on what He can do through you.

God has commissioned and sent us with the Holy Spirit, enabling us to speak with Christ’s power. He keeps His eye on us, protecting us as we work for Him. So, if we realize that God makes us competent and useful, we can overcome our feelings of inadequacy. Serving Christ, therefore, requires that we focus on what He can do through us, not on what we can’t do by ourselves.

Some preachers peddle God’s word without understanding God’s message or caring about their listeners. They aren’t concerned about furthering God’s kingdom; they just want money.

God’s word will set you free; the lie will send you to hell.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Corinthians Chapter 2

Who are You to Pass Judgment on Others?

Scripture: Romans 2: 1-4

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Scripture Commentary: We are not to pass judgment on others.

How can you tell another that s/he isn’t living as God intended when you aren’t either? In order to pass judgment (for you do not have that right), you must look at yourself. And when you do this, what do you see? Do you see your true self or do you see the person you think you are?

We have all sinned; we are all sinning.

Don’t pass judgment on others. But do start with yourself. Take a look; find your faults and work to correct them.

We belong to a stubborn race. We know what’s right but we insist on doing what’s wrong. But we must start to do what is right. Even people who have never read The Bible – and who do not know Jesus Christ – know right from wrong. If you travel the world, you find that all cultures prohibit murder, adultery, and stealing. Yet these laws are always being broken.

If we would violate our own laws, what are we doing to God’s law?

There are always people within society who violate the law. If we do not follow the laws we’ve made, what then are we doing to God’s law? If you follow God’s laws and live the life He intended, then as His children your life would become a reflection of Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 2

God Is Not a God of Confusion but of Truth

Scripture: Galatians 1: 6-10

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Scripture Commentary: Avoid the confusion of a lie by knowing The Bible.

Twisting the truth is more difficult to spot than an outright lie. How can we eliminate the confusion and tell when someone is lying?

Before you accept the teaching of any group, find out what that group teaches about Jesus Christ. And if their teaching does not match the truth of God’s Word, found in The Bible, then it is a perversion.

Paul warned that Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Paul said that even if an angel from heaven comes preaching another message, that angel should be “eternally condemned.” Paul extended that curse to include himself if he should pervert the gospel.

God’s truth is eternal and never changes.

God’s message must never change, for the truth of the gospel never changes! God does not accept man-made religion as a substitute for faith in Jesus Christ. He has provided just one way to him, and that way is Jesus Christ.

Are you a servant of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 1