*Scripture: Job 36:1-21 (NKJV)* 1 Elihu also proceeded and said: 2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you that there are yet words to speak on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. 5 Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the oppressed. 7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, for He has seated them forever, and they are exalted. 8 And if they are bound in fetters, held in the cords of affliction, 9 then He tells them their work and their transgressions--that they have acted defiantly. 10 He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they turn from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12 But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 "But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them. 14 They die in youth, and their life ends among the perverted persons. 15 He delivers the poor in their affliction, and opens their ears in oppression. 16 Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness. 17 But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you. 18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it. 19 Will your riches, or all the mighty forces, keep you from distress? 20 Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, for you have chosen this rather than affliction." *Devotion* Elihu remains the voice of a "prosperity gospel," which says, "Do good and God will do good to you." The voice of Elihu condemns us when we suffer any sort of affliction in this life. "If you are suffering, what have you done to deserve such wrath?" The idea of what Elihu says today is that one suffers as punishment for one's sin, but when one turns from sin, the Lord will stop punishing. However, this is not the true gospel. The Scriptures teach us instead that suffering is part of the life of the baptized. If you are in Christ, you will suffer, because Christ your Lord suffered while in the flesh. Your suffering is not to atone for your own sins. Your sins have been atoned for in Christ's death, and that atonement is given to you by faith, which is itself a gift of God. Rather, your suffering is part your heavenly Father's good will to conform you into the image of His Only-Begotten Son. St. Peter says, "Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:13) St. Paul tells you that, "as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation." (2 Corinthians 1:7)
_______________________________________________ Sermons mailing list Sermons@cat41.org http://cat41.org/mailman/listinfo/sermons
