100:00:00,640 –> 00:00:02,640Questions.200:00:03,720 –> 00:00:06,320Let me ask you this question, how much do you know God?300:00:06,320 –> 00:00:12,100See if you know God a little, you will change a little.400:00:13,240 –> 00:00:18,240As you come to know God more, you will change more.500:00:19,680 –> 00:00:26,100And if you come to know God much, you will be changed much.600:00:26,180 –> 00:00:29,379Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.700:00:29,379 –> 00:00:33,840Glad you could join us today, and Colin that’s an important truth for us – that the more800:00:33,840 –> 00:00:36,560we know of God, the more our life will change.900:00:36,560 –> 00:00:39,279Yeah, and we find that in the story of Job.1000:00:39,279 –> 00:00:42,840You know it’s absolutely fascinating, at the beginning we’re told that Job was a1100:00:42,840 –> 00:00:49,560righteous man, nobody like him on the face of the earth, and God honours his integrity.1200:00:49,560 –> 00:00:54,880At the end of the book, Job says I repent in dust and in ashes.1300:00:54,880 –> 00:00:57,500What did he repent of if he’s such a righteous man?1400:00:57,500 –> 00:00:59,860That’s really the question at the heart of the book of Job.1500:00:59,860 –> 00:01:07,540And the answer is, that this man came to see the glory of God in an entirely new way – and1600:01:07,540 –> 00:01:13,180in seeing more of the glory of God, he’s beginning to change more deeply from the inside.1700:01:13,180 –> 00:01:20,559So, that’s in 2 Corinthians 3, we are changed into the likeness of Christ as we behold His1800:01:20,559 –> 00:01:21,559glory.1900:01:21,559 –> 00:01:25,139So the more I see of the glory of God the more I’m really going to change.2000:01:25,160 –> 00:01:27,860And this is a huge principle of Christian growth.2100:01:27,879 –> 00:01:29,120It certainly is.2200:01:29,120 –> 00:01:33,800And it’s one we’re looking at today in Job 42 and verses 5 and 6.2300:01:33,800 –> 00:01:35,339Here is Pastor Colin.2400:01:35,339 –> 00:01:42,260Now we’re continuing our series this morning – repentance, the hidden path to a transformed2500:01:42,260 –> 00:01:43,800life.2600:01:43,800 –> 00:01:50,239And we begin this morning with this great theme – that repentance really flows from2700:01:50,239 –> 00:01:53,480your knowledge of God.2800:01:53,480 –> 00:01:56,959It’s turning from as much as you know of sin to get as much as you know of yourself2900:01:56,959 –> 00:02:00,660too, as much as you know of your God.3000:02:00,660 –> 00:02:07,940And as you come to know God more, then change will advance in your life.3100:02:07,940 –> 00:02:13,100Now we’re going to look at this in a very practical example from the book of Job.3200:02:13,100 –> 00:02:18,679And so I want to invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Job, which we’ll be moving3300:02:18,860 –> 00:02:23,600through and focusing particularly on the last chapter together.3400:02:23,600 –> 00:02:25,100But let’s begin right at the beginning.3500:02:25,100 –> 00:02:26,399Job chapter 1.3600:02:26,399 –> 00:02:31,199There’s the first thing to say about Job is that he is one of, was one of the finest3700:02:31,199 –> 00:02:34,100men who has ever lived.3800:02:34,100 –> 00:02:37,759You look at chapter 1 in verse 8, here’s what God says about him.3900:02:37,759 –> 00:02:43,039There is no one on earth like him.4000:02:43,039 –> 00:02:48,279He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.4100:02:48,300 –> 00:02:51,899Can you imagine God saying that about you?4200:02:51,899 –> 00:02:55,360What an extraordinary description for God to say about this man.4300:02:55,360 –> 00:03:02,080There’s no one on the earth like him, who fears God, shuns evil, blameless, upright.4400:03:02,080 –> 00:03:09,059Now the story of Job, of course, is about how this man became the target for a focused4500:03:09,059 –> 00:03:16,059attack from Satan, and God allowed it to be so.4600:03:16,059 –> 00:03:21,220Chapter one of the book tells us how the botton fell out of Job’s life all in one day.4700:03:21,220 –> 00:03:24,619It was a day of complete catastrophe.4800:03:24,619 –> 00:03:31,240Verse 14 and 15, his servants and animals were attacked and killed by a gang called4900:03:31,240 –> 00:03:33,179the Sabians.5000:03:33,179 –> 00:03:37,779In verse 16 there was on the same day, some kind of lightning strike I guess.5100:03:37,779 –> 00:03:43,660It says the fire of God fell from heaven and burned up sheep and another group of servants.5200:03:44,360 –> 00:03:48,279Verse 17 then another messengers comes with a report that a group called the Chaldeans5300:03:48,300 –> 00:03:53,000had swept down in raiding parties and had taken all the camels and put another group5400:03:53,000 –> 00:03:54,820of servants to the sword.5500:03:54,820 –> 00:04:01,619Then at the end of the chapter, most devastating of all, verses 18 and 19 Job’s sons and daughters5600:04:01,619 –> 00:04:07,660have all got together for a party and the house in which his entire family is gathered5700:04:07,660 –> 00:04:15,899is struck by a hurricane, a strong wind, and the walls collapse and all of Job’s sons and5800:04:15,899 –> 00:04:19,700daughters are killed.5900:04:19,700 –> 00:04:28,320Now it is hard to imagine a greater disaster that could befall any man in one day, or perhaps6000:04:28,320 –> 00:04:30,739even in a lifetime.6100:04:30,739 –> 00:04:39,320It seemed as if all hell were let loose, and in a sense that’s probably a fair description6200:04:39,320 –> 00:04:41,899of what happened.6300:04:41,899 –> 00:04:48,100So this book then is about a man who experienced unspeakable suffering and it tells us about6400:04:48,100 –> 00:04:55,579his struggle with himself and then his struggle with his friends, and then most of all his6500:04:55,579 –> 00:04:58,420struggle with God.6600:04:58,600 –> 00:05:03,600And it’s such a marvelous thing that God has given us this book in the Bible, isn’t it?6700:05:03,600 –> 00:05:10,260Because all of us have suffered, even if we’ve not suffered as Job did, all of us have pain6800:05:10,260 –> 00:05:16,700in our lives in some ways, and when that becomes intense you too will struggle with God.6900:05:16,700 –> 00:05:21,940You will have your questions, you will have your complaints just as he did.7000:05:21,940 –> 00:05:26,459You may find yourself in points even wishing that you were no longer alive.7100:05:27,279 –> 00:05:33,220And Job was there, finest man who ever lived, and God has given us this book in the Bible7200:05:33,220 –> 00:05:38,399that directly addresses these experiences.7300:05:38,399 –> 00:05:43,100Now Job had some friends who came to comfort him.7400:05:43,100 –> 00:05:46,000By the way, they should be commended for that, shouldn’t they?7500:05:46,000 –> 00:05:49,859It’s a good thing where friends care enough to come.7600:05:49,859 –> 00:05:53,779And they were concerned about his spiritual condition.7700:05:53,779 –> 00:05:55,579And they should be commended for that.7800:05:55,700 –> 00:05:58,619It’s a good thing when friends care7900:05:58,619 –> 00:06:01,339about where you are before God.8000:06:02,200 –> 00:06:04,260And these friends felt quite sure8100:06:04,260 –> 00:06:08,140that Job’s suffering must be a consequence8200:06:08,140 –> 00:06:10,739for some things that he had done wrong in his life,8300:06:10,739 –> 00:06:14,380and they wanted him to come clean and tell them the secret.8400:06:14,380 –> 00:06:15,380What is it, Job?8500:06:15,380 –> 00:06:17,420You must have been up to something.8600:06:19,420 –> 00:06:23,820But Job throughout the book, in which he speaks 10 times,8700:06:23,820 –> 00:06:26,779maintains his innocence.8800:06:26,779 –> 00:06:29,980And this is never clearer than in chapter 31,8900:06:29,980 –> 00:06:31,359if you’d like to turn to that.9000:06:31,359 –> 00:06:33,720Job chapter 31.9100:06:35,040 –> 00:06:38,899And here, Job goes through a catalog of sins,9200:06:38,899 –> 00:06:43,299he has examined himself, as we’ll be encouraging9300:06:43,299 –> 00:06:46,459one another next Sunday, God willing, to examine ourselves.9400:06:46,459 –> 00:06:47,500He’s done that.9500:06:47,500 –> 00:06:51,420And in this particular case, the point that he makes9600:06:51,420 –> 00:06:53,480is he says, I’ve looked into my own life9700:06:54,019 –> 00:06:56,440and as far as I can reasonably tell I,9800:06:56,440 –> 00:06:58,040there is not something there9900:06:59,140 –> 00:07:03,720that is the cause of the suffering in my life.10000:07:03,720 –> 00:07:05,440It remains a mystery to me.10100:07:05,440 –> 00:07:09,679And look at verse 30, 31, in which chapter 31, I’m sorry,10200:07:09,679 –> 00:07:14,160in which he calls down judgments on himself10300:07:14,160 –> 00:07:17,959if he had been guilty of any of these sins.10400:07:17,959 –> 00:07:19,559And the point he makes throughout the chapter10500:07:19,559 –> 00:07:21,519is that he was not guilty of them.10600:07:21,559 –> 00:07:23,579Look for example at verse 5.10700:07:23,579 –> 00:07:26,239If I have walked in falsehood10800:07:26,239 –> 00:07:28,119or my foot has hurried after deceit,10900:07:28,119 –> 00:07:30,260let God weigh me in honest scales,11000:07:30,260 –> 00:07:31,619he will know that I am blameless.11100:07:31,619 –> 00:07:35,079Verse 7, if my steps have turned from the path,11200:07:35,079 –> 00:07:37,559if my heart has been led by my eyes,11300:07:37,559 –> 00:07:39,519if my hands have been defiled,11400:07:39,519 –> 00:07:41,799then let others eat what I have sown11500:07:41,799 –> 00:07:43,980and may my crops be uprooted.11600:07:43,980 –> 00:07:45,279And it goes on, verse 9,11700:07:45,279 –> 00:07:47,880if my heart has been enticed by a woman.11800:07:47,880 –> 00:07:51,720Verse 13, if I have denied justice to my men servants11900:07:51,720 –> 00:07:53,019or my maid servants.12000:07:53,019 –> 00:07:56,459Verse 16, if I have denied the desires of the poor.12100:07:56,459 –> 00:07:59,839Verse 17, if I have kept my bread to myself.12200:07:59,839 –> 00:08:01,179I’ve got all this food12300:08:01,179 –> 00:08:02,640and there are hungry people out there.12400:08:02,640 –> 00:08:05,640If it were the case that I hadn’t shared what I had,12500:08:05,640 –> 00:08:07,019then let judgment come upon me,12600:08:07,019 –> 00:08:08,700but I have shared what I have.12700:08:08,700 –> 00:08:09,679That’s his point.12800:08:09,679 –> 00:08:12,600If I’ve seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing12900:08:12,600 –> 00:08:14,440or the needy without a garment,13000:08:14,440 –> 00:08:16,079and his heart did not bless me,13100:08:16,220 –> 00:08:19,859verse 19, for warming him with the fleece from my sheep.13200:08:19,859 –> 00:08:23,399Verse 21, if I’ve raised my hand against the fatherless.13300:08:23,399 –> 00:08:26,600Verse 24, if I have put my trust in gold.13400:08:26,600 –> 00:08:30,640Verse 25, if I have rejoiced over my great wealth.13500:08:30,640 –> 00:08:33,020Verse 29, if I have rejoiced13600:08:33,020 –> 00:08:35,559at my enemy’s misfortune, and so it goes on.13700:08:35,559 –> 00:08:39,679Verse 33, if I have concealed my sin, as men do.13800:08:39,679 –> 00:08:43,719Or verse 38, if my land cries out against me13900:08:43,719 –> 00:08:46,039and all its furrows are wet with tears.14000:08:46,940 –> 00:08:48,719If I have devoured its yield without payment14100:08:48,719 –> 00:08:50,520or broken the spirit of its tenants,14200:08:50,520 –> 00:08:53,059then let briars come up instead of wheat14300:08:53,059 –> 00:08:55,080and weeds instead of barley.14400:08:55,080 –> 00:08:57,640The words of Job are ended.14500:08:59,039 –> 00:08:59,880You see, that’s the ending point14600:08:59,880 –> 00:09:00,960of everything he has to say.14700:09:02,200 –> 00:09:04,640I have looked honestly at my life,14800:09:06,200 –> 00:09:10,679and I cannot see what I have done14900:09:11,599 –> 00:09:14,679that has been somehow the cause15000:09:14,679 –> 00:09:16,840of what has befallen me.15100:09:16,840 –> 00:09:21,840Therefore, my suffering remains a mystery to me.15200:09:24,239 –> 00:09:26,280Now what Job really wants, you see,15300:09:26,280 –> 00:09:29,000is an audience with God.15400:09:30,820 –> 00:09:34,760What he would like is the chance to ask God some questions.15500:09:35,919 –> 00:09:37,880I mean, it would make sense to Job15600:09:37,880 –> 00:09:40,559if he had been living some double life15700:09:40,559 –> 00:09:42,559that judgment would come upon him.15800:09:42,559 –> 00:09:44,919Nobody would be surprised at that, but he’s not.15900:09:44,919 –> 00:09:49,799So why, you see, that’s where he is.16000:09:51,960 –> 00:09:54,760And at the end of the book Job gets what he asks for.16100:09:56,239 –> 00:10:00,700He experiences a remarkable encounter with God16200:10:00,700 –> 00:10:05,700and it’s recorded for us in 38-41.16300:10:06,580 –> 00:10:11,580God speaks to this man clearly, audibly, directly.16400:10:11,739 –> 00:10:13,520In fact, we should probably describe16500:10:13,520 –> 00:10:16,539what happened to Job here as a theophany,16600:10:16,539 –> 00:10:20,419that is a visible appearance of God.16700:10:21,760 –> 00:10:24,140Now after this encounter, and we’ll come back to it16800:10:24,140 –> 00:10:27,260in a few moments time, at the very end of the book,16900:10:27,260 –> 00:10:29,260Job speaks for a final time.17000:10:29,260 –> 00:10:31,979This is the only time he speaks after chapter 31.17100:10:33,059 –> 00:10:37,340And in chapter 42, he speaks after this encounter17200:10:37,340 –> 00:10:40,179with God, and in verses five and six he says this,17300:10:41,859 –> 00:10:46,859my ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you,17400:10:49,239 –> 00:10:53,099and therefore I despise myself17500:10:53,099 –> 00:10:58,099and repent in dust and ashes.17600:10:59,780 –> 00:11:01,020Now here’s my question.17700:11:02,940 –> 00:11:07,419Of what, then, did Job repent?17800:11:07,619 –> 00:11:10,979See, we’ve just gone through a whole catalog of sins17900:11:10,979 –> 00:11:16,320of which Job says, I am innocent,18000:11:16,320 –> 00:11:21,979then he encounters the living God in this theophany18100:11:21,979 –> 00:11:26,260and from that suddenly now he says18200:11:26,260 –> 00:11:30,099my ears have heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you,18300:11:30,099 –> 00:11:35,099therefore I repent in dust and ashes.18400:11:35,119 –> 00:11:37,020And ashes.18500:11:37,020 –> 00:11:39,000So of what did Job repent?18600:11:41,940 –> 00:11:47,179Now, when God speaks to him in chapter 38 to chapter 41,18700:11:47,179 –> 00:11:51,340God does not accuse him of any sin.18800:11:51,340 –> 00:11:53,940And at the very end of the book, if you look at chapter 4218900:11:53,940 –> 00:11:58,479verses 7 and 8, you’ll see there that God vindicates Job19000:11:58,479 –> 00:12:01,580and says that Job must pray for his friends19100:12:02,099 –> 00:12:06,200because Job got it right and his friends got it wrong.19200:12:06,200 –> 00:12:08,739Job spoke rightly about me, God says.19300:12:08,739 –> 00:12:12,080It was his friends who had it wrong.19400:12:14,179 –> 00:12:15,820So when the man is vindicated,19500:12:15,820 –> 00:12:19,900what does he mean when he says I repent.19600:12:22,659 –> 00:12:25,219Now, let’s come back to our definition of repentance19700:12:25,219 –> 00:12:28,760because I think we have light from the scriptures19800:12:28,760 –> 00:12:30,140on it right here.19900:12:30,140 –> 00:12:31,340What is repentance?20000:12:32,580 –> 00:12:34,880It is turning from as much as you know of sin20100:12:35,799 –> 00:12:38,320to give as much as you know of yourself20200:12:38,320 –> 00:12:43,320to as much as you know of God.20300:12:46,280 –> 00:12:49,059And what changed at the end of the story of Job20400:12:50,280 –> 00:12:53,179was that Job saw God’s glory20500:12:53,179 –> 00:12:56,340as he had never seen it before20600:12:57,820 –> 00:12:59,559and that changed him.20700:13:00,500 –> 00:13:04,520It was not that Job discovered some sins20800:13:04,520 –> 00:13:06,080that he hadn’t seen before,20900:13:06,080 –> 00:13:08,359if that had been the case then Job’s friends21000:13:08,359 –> 00:13:09,320would have been right21100:13:09,320 –> 00:13:11,419and God says Job’s friends were wrong.21200:13:13,640 –> 00:13:17,020It was that Job saw the glory of God21300:13:17,020 –> 00:13:19,580as he had never quite seen it before21400:13:19,580 –> 00:13:24,580and that changes a man or a woman,21500:13:26,299 –> 00:13:27,440and that’s what repentance is,21600:13:27,520 –> 00:13:31,059it is the hidden path to a transformed life.21700:13:33,500 –> 00:13:35,900Repentance is turning from as much as you know of sin21800:13:35,900 –> 00:13:37,380to give as much as you know of yourself21900:13:37,380 –> 00:13:38,780to as much as you know of God,22000:13:38,780 –> 00:13:41,700therefore the first direction22100:13:41,700 –> 00:13:46,419for finding the path of repentance is knowing God.22200:13:46,419 –> 00:13:48,020That’s what we’re learning from the book of Job.22300:13:48,020 –> 00:13:50,219And as you grow in the knowledge of God22400:13:50,219 –> 00:13:52,039that is how you will change.22500:13:53,900 –> 00:13:56,380See, so often we get the idea22600:13:56,380 –> 00:14:00,419that the way to change is to decide to change.22700:14:00,419 –> 00:14:03,820No, actually change comes as a by-product of knowing God.22800:14:04,900 –> 00:14:06,440And as you come to know God more22900:14:06,440 –> 00:14:07,979you will find yourself changing23000:14:07,979 –> 00:14:10,880that’s what happened to Job.23100:14:12,460 –> 00:14:15,359Let me ask you this question, how much do you know God?23200:14:16,359 –> 00:14:21,099See, if you know God a little you will change a little.23300:14:22,780 –> 00:14:25,880As you come to know God more23400:14:25,880 –> 00:14:27,979you will change more.23500:14:29,559 –> 00:14:32,260And if you come to know God much23600:14:33,099 –> 00:14:35,739you will be changed much.23700:14:36,739 –> 00:14:39,460For repentance the path of a transformed life23800:14:39,460 –> 00:14:41,760is simply a reflection of our knowledge of God.23900:14:43,500 –> 00:14:45,919That’s its first dimension.24000:14:46,979 –> 00:14:48,239You’re listening to Open The Bible24100:14:48,239 –> 00:14:49,440with Pastor Colin Smith24200:14:49,440 –> 00:14:51,640and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there24300:14:51,640 –> 00:14:53,080but we’ll be back very shortly24400:14:53,080 –> 00:14:55,080so stay with us.24500:14:55,080 –> 00:14:56,179The message is called24600:14:56,179 –> 00:14:59,479Worshipping As Much As You Know of Your God.24700:14:59,479 –> 00:15:01,520Part of our series Repentance,24800:15:01,520 –> 00:15:04,239the hidden path to a transformed life.24900:15:04,239 –> 00:15:06,020If you ever miss one of the messages in the series25000:15:06,020 –> 00:15:08,359or if you have to leave early25100:15:08,359 –> 00:15:09,739don’t forget you can catch up25200:15:09,739 –> 00:15:12,760or go back and listen again online at our website25300:15:12,760 –> 00:15:14,219openthebible.org.uk25400:15:16,059 –> 00:15:17,359Back to the message now25500:15:17,359 –> 00:15:19,559here again is pastor Colin.25600:15:19,559 –> 00:15:21,440Now I want to make just two observations25700:15:21,440 –> 00:15:23,200from Job’s repentance this morning25800:15:23,440 –> 00:15:26,200and then to try and apply it briefly to our own lives.25900:15:26,200 –> 00:15:27,760The first very obvious statement26000:15:27,760 –> 00:15:29,400is simply that knowing God26100:15:29,400 –> 00:15:31,440then will change your life.26200:15:31,440 –> 00:15:33,419And I want us to try and take this in,26300:15:33,419 –> 00:15:36,559knowing God will change your life.26400:15:36,559 –> 00:15:38,239There are a lot of people26500:15:38,239 –> 00:15:42,099who really want to know how their lives can be changed26600:15:42,099 –> 00:15:45,159and really have no clue that knowing God26700:15:45,159 –> 00:15:48,700is the first way in which that will happen.26800:15:49,039 –> 00:15:53,440Knowing God will change your life.26900:15:53,440 –> 00:15:56,900Now, remember that Job was a man of faith.27000:15:57,940 –> 00:16:00,500He was a strong believer,27100:16:00,500 –> 00:16:03,460but this faith had been stretched to the limits.27200:16:04,580 –> 00:16:06,979He had believed God, but he had struggled with God,27300:16:06,979 –> 00:16:09,340and throughout the book he has been pouring27400:16:09,340 –> 00:16:12,960out his questions and his complaints.27500:16:14,119 –> 00:16:17,500If you look back at chapter 10 and verse one, for example,27600:16:17,619 –> 00:16:21,479he says, 10-1, I loathe my very life,27700:16:21,479 –> 00:16:25,460I will give free reign to my complaint27800:16:25,460 –> 00:16:29,599and speak out of bitterness of my soul.27900:16:29,599 –> 00:16:30,619That’s chapter 10 verse one.28000:16:30,619 –> 00:16:32,940Now, chapter 21 verse four,28100:16:32,940 –> 00:16:35,780Is my complaint directed to man?28200:16:35,780 –> 00:16:36,659No, obviously not.28300:16:36,659 –> 00:16:38,500It’s directed to God.28400:16:38,500 –> 00:16:40,520Why should I not be impatient?28500:16:40,520 –> 00:16:42,419He says he frustrated,28600:16:43,419 –> 00:16:46,580doesn’t understand he’s running out of patience.28700:16:48,239 –> 00:16:52,299And job is not the only believer28800:16:52,299 –> 00:16:54,780to go through an experience like this.28900:16:54,780 –> 00:16:58,460Some of the Psalms express a very similar outpouring29000:16:58,460 –> 00:17:03,460of complaint by a believer to God.29100:17:03,460 –> 00:17:05,020You might like to check these out later.29200:17:05,020 –> 00:17:06,260Let me just give you a list.29300:17:06,260 –> 00:17:11,260Psalm 10, 13, 55, 64, 69, 77, 102, 14229400:17:13,939 –> 00:17:16,680are all Psalms of complaint29500:17:16,760 –> 00:17:21,000and they’re all spoken by a man of faith.29600:17:21,000 –> 00:17:22,880Psalm 64 is fascinating.29700:17:22,880 –> 00:17:26,520It begins, here, O Lord, as I voice my complaint.29800:17:26,520 –> 00:17:27,599And it ends by saying,29900:17:27,599 –> 00:17:29,800Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord.30000:17:29,800 –> 00:17:31,520This is a believing man30100:17:31,520 –> 00:17:34,219and yet he’s got a problem with God.30200:17:34,219 –> 00:17:35,260I’ve all been there.30300:17:37,880 –> 00:17:40,400Times when, though you believe30400:17:40,400 –> 00:17:42,719you have more questions than answers,30500:17:43,719 –> 00:17:48,719you have a complaint that you would like to make to God,30600:17:50,719 –> 00:17:52,300and though you love the Lord,30700:17:52,300 –> 00:17:55,219your faith is stretched to the limit.30800:17:57,099 –> 00:17:59,040You’ve not been there yet as a Christian believer,30900:17:59,040 –> 00:18:00,300you will be there one day.31000:18:02,319 –> 00:18:04,680Most Christians have been there.31100:18:04,680 –> 00:18:07,680No Christian wants to stay there.31200:18:08,660 –> 00:18:12,359It’s like a marriage in which there’s an unresolved tension.31300:18:12,359 –> 00:18:14,280It’s not that the marriage is breaking up,31400:18:14,280 –> 00:18:15,760the couple love each other,31500:18:15,760 –> 00:18:17,280they’re committed to each other.31600:18:18,319 –> 00:18:19,699Healthy couples have been there,31700:18:19,699 –> 00:18:21,859no healthy couple wants to stay there.31800:18:24,619 –> 00:18:27,380Now the breakthrough in Job’s life31900:18:27,380 –> 00:18:31,319as a believing man who has issues with God32000:18:31,319 –> 00:18:34,160comes in this great encounter32100:18:34,160 –> 00:18:36,619that’s described in Jefferson’s Tablets.32200:18:38,079 –> 00:18:41,660Job chapter 38 through 41.32300:18:41,660 –> 00:18:43,300And if you turn to these chapters32400:18:43,300 –> 00:18:44,939for a moment now, if you would,32500:18:44,939 –> 00:18:46,719Job chapter 38.32600:18:49,599 –> 00:18:51,579You’ll see there, if you just glance through it,32700:18:51,579 –> 00:18:56,579that God asks of Job nearly 40 questions32800:18:57,760 –> 00:19:00,020and Job can’t answer a single one of them.32900:19:01,099 –> 00:19:04,199Imagine an exam where you’re faced with a paper33000:19:04,199 –> 00:19:06,119on a subject you know absolutely nothing about33100:19:06,119 –> 00:19:08,099and you go down all the questions.33200:19:08,099 –> 00:19:10,040I can’t answer that one, or that one,33300:19:10,040 –> 00:19:11,160or can’t answer that one.33400:19:11,160 –> 00:19:12,439That’s how it was for Job.33500:19:14,079 –> 00:19:15,760Verse one of chapter 38.33600:19:15,760 –> 00:19:19,819Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?33700:19:21,540 –> 00:19:23,680Verse four, who marked off its dimensions,33800:19:23,680 –> 00:19:26,079who stretched a measuring line across it?33900:19:26,079 –> 00:19:26,920Don’t you know?34000:19:30,239 –> 00:19:32,160On what would its footing set?34100:19:32,160 –> 00:19:33,979Or who laid its cornerstone34200:19:33,979 –> 00:19:35,880while all the angels sang for joy?34300:19:36,900 –> 00:19:39,359Verse 12, have you ever given orders to the morning?34400:19:39,359 –> 00:19:42,099Have you ever said, morning, time to come up now.34500:19:42,099 –> 00:19:44,260Do it an hour early, make it an hour late.34600:19:45,619 –> 00:19:48,300Verse 16, have you journeyed to the springs of the sea34700:19:48,300 –> 00:19:50,260or walked in the recesses of the deep?34800:19:51,459 –> 00:19:54,939Verse 22, have you entered the storehouses of the snow34900:19:54,939 –> 00:19:57,599or seen the storehouses of the hail?35000:19:58,900 –> 00:20:01,859Verse 35, do you send the lightning bolts on their way?35100:20:01,859 –> 00:20:03,520Do they report to you?35200:20:04,819 –> 00:20:07,979And Job can’t answer a single question,35300:20:07,979 –> 00:20:11,119it goes on and on through Chapter 39 through Chapter 40.35400:20:13,479 –> 00:20:17,219God raises the mysteries of the hippopotamus,35500:20:18,500 –> 00:20:19,319the crocodile.35600:20:21,660 –> 00:20:25,339And Job, in the presence of this God of wonders35700:20:25,339 –> 00:20:28,300who’s beyond our galaxies and is holy,35800:20:28,500 –> 00:20:32,239today finds himself absolutely lost for words.35900:20:36,640 –> 00:20:39,400He’d been a worshiper of God all his life.36000:20:41,680 –> 00:20:44,880But now he’s seeing that God is far greater36100:20:44,880 –> 00:20:49,359and far more glorious than he had ever imagined.36200:20:50,880 –> 00:20:54,180And he realizes that all of his big questions36300:20:54,180 –> 00:20:57,540about what he doesn’t understand in his own life,36400:20:57,540 –> 00:21:01,339all these questions are only a tiny fraction36500:21:02,579 –> 00:21:04,680of what he does not know.36600:21:06,560 –> 00:21:09,000There are more mysteries in God’s vast universe36700:21:09,000 –> 00:21:11,119than he could begin to comprehend.36800:21:12,920 –> 00:21:16,219Job had been trying to make sense36900:21:16,219 –> 00:21:18,180of the mystery of his suffering.37000:21:19,439 –> 00:21:21,099He’d been at odds with God,37100:21:21,099 –> 00:21:22,699though he were a faithful man,37200:21:22,699 –> 00:21:24,359the finest man who ever lived.37300:21:25,300 –> 00:21:29,959But when he saw the glory of God,37400:21:31,400 –> 00:21:35,119he found that he could live with his pain.37500:21:36,119 –> 00:21:40,020And he could live with his unanswered questions37600:21:40,020 –> 00:21:43,420because he knew this God.37700:21:44,719 –> 00:21:46,119You’ve been listening to Open the Bible37800:21:46,119 –> 00:21:47,439with Pastor Colin Smith37900:21:47,439 –> 00:21:50,400and a message called Worshipping as Much as You Know38000:21:50,400 –> 00:21:53,560of your God taken from the book of Job.38100:21:53,560 –> 00:21:56,339It’s true that many of us at some point in our lives38200:21:56,339 –> 00:21:57,319will come to a point38300:21:57,319 –> 00:22:00,219where we have more questions than answers.38400:22:00,219 –> 00:22:01,800When we’re in a situation in which38500:22:01,800 –> 00:22:04,780we don’t understand what God is doing.38600:22:04,780 –> 00:22:08,739We love God, but our love is being stretched to the limit.38700:22:08,739 –> 00:22:10,780It’s a difficult place to be in38800:22:10,780 –> 00:22:12,739and we don’t want to stay there.38900:22:12,739 –> 00:22:14,300How do we break out of that?39000:22:15,459 –> 00:22:17,939That’s what we’ll discover in the life of Job39100:22:17,939 –> 00:22:19,119and in this message,39200:22:19,119 –> 00:22:22,560worshiping as much as you know of your God.39300:22:22,560 –> 00:22:24,020It’s part of the series,39400:22:24,020 –> 00:22:27,359repentance, the hidden path to a transformed life.39500:22:27,359 –> 00:22:30,760Looking at how real and lasting change is possible39600:22:30,760 –> 00:22:32,459by the grace of God.39700:22:32,459 –> 00:22:34,020If you’ve missed any of the series39800:22:34,020 –> 00:22:36,099or if you ever want to go back and listen again,39900:22:36,099 –> 00:22:38,959you can do that by coming online to our website40000:22:38,959 –> 00:22:41,979at openthebible.org.uk.40100:22:43,060 –> 00:22:45,380Open the Bible is supported by our listeners40200:22:45,380 –> 00:22:48,760and we’re very grateful for the support we receive.40300:22:48,760 –> 00:22:50,640So if you already give to support,40400:22:50,680 –> 00:22:53,119Open The Bible, thank you so much.40500:22:53,119 –> 00:22:55,520If you’re considering beginning to support40600:22:55,520 –> 00:22:57,060Open The Bible this month,40700:22:57,060 –> 00:23:00,300we’d like to thank you by sending you a free gift.40800:23:00,300 –> 00:23:02,640Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham40900:23:02,640 –> 00:23:03,859to tell us about it.41000:23:03,859 –> 00:23:06,099Hi David, thanks so much for having me.41100:23:06,099 –> 00:23:09,540This May, we’re really pleased to be giving away41200:23:09,540 –> 00:23:12,339a beautifully encouraging book called41300:23:12,339 –> 00:23:15,859I’m Praying for You by Nancy Guthrie.41400:23:15,859 –> 00:23:17,780When we hear that a friend is struggling,41500:23:17,780 –> 00:23:19,520it’s often easy to say,41600:23:19,520 –> 00:23:21,079I’m praying for you.41700:23:21,079 –> 00:23:23,319But sometimes, much harder to know41800:23:23,319 –> 00:23:24,959what to actually pray.41900:23:24,959 –> 00:23:28,479And that’s exactly where this book is so helpful.42000:23:28,479 –> 00:23:31,839Through 40 carefully chosen scripture passages,42100:23:31,839 –> 00:23:34,760Nancy Guthrie shows us how the Bible provides us42200:23:34,760 –> 00:23:36,880with the vocabulary for prayer42300:23:36,880 –> 00:23:39,400that enables us to ask God to achieve42400:23:39,400 –> 00:23:42,880what he intends in and through suffering.42500:23:42,880 –> 00:23:46,260Nancy teaches us to see how God’s purposes are revealed42600:23:46,260 –> 00:23:48,400even in our darkest days42700:23:48,500 –> 00:23:51,859and encourages us to pray for his will to be done42800:23:51,859 –> 00:23:54,339in difficult situations.42900:23:54,339 –> 00:23:57,219Each chapter includes a short Bible passage,43000:23:57,219 –> 00:23:58,780a clear explanation,43100:23:58,780 –> 00:24:01,339and a prayer you can use for a friend.43200:24:01,339 –> 00:24:04,099And there’s also a really thoughtful feature,43300:24:04,099 –> 00:24:07,219a QR code, that allows you to send a message43400:24:07,219 –> 00:24:08,339to let someone know,43500:24:08,339 –> 00:24:10,160not just that you’re praying for them,43600:24:10,160 –> 00:24:12,359but exactly what you’re praying.43700:24:12,359 –> 00:24:13,699It’s practical,43800:24:13,699 –> 00:24:15,219deeply rooted in scripture,43900:24:15,219 –> 00:24:19,520and a wonderful way to care for others more intentionally.44000:24:19,520 –> 00:24:22,579We would love to send you a copy as a thank you44100:24:22,579 –> 00:24:25,859when you give a one-off gift of 60 pounds44200:24:25,859 –> 00:24:29,579or set up a new monthly direct debit of five pounds.44300:24:29,579 –> 00:24:32,040Just please remember to leave your name and address44400:24:32,040 –> 00:24:35,199when you donate, so that we can send you your gift.44500:24:35,199 –> 00:24:37,920So, Nancy Guthrie’s book, I Am Praying For You,44600:24:37,920 –> 00:24:39,839is our gift to you when you begin44700:24:39,839 –> 00:24:43,040to support Open The Bible financially this month.44800:24:43,040 –> 00:24:45,199Full terms and conditions are on our website,44900:24:46,140 –> 00:24:48,459that’s at www.openthebible.org.uk,45000:24:48,459 –> 00:24:50,339and you can give online.45100:24:50,339 –> 00:24:51,680And as Amanda says,45200:24:51,680 –> 00:24:55,020please don’t forget to leave your full name and address.45300:24:55,020 –> 00:24:57,479For Open The Bible and pastor Colin Smith,45400:24:57,479 –> 00:24:58,599I’m David Bick.45500:24:58,599 –> 00:24:59,979Thanks for being with us today45600:24:59,979 –> 00:25:02,140and I hope you’ll join us again next time.45700:25:02,979 –> 00:25:08,040♪ Music ♪45800:25:08,079 –> 00:25:10,079♪ Music ♪45900:25:10,119 –> 00:25:12,119♪ Music ♪46000:25:12,140 –> 00:25:14,939♪ Music ♪46100:25:14,959 –> 00:25:17,400..46200:25:17,439 –> 00:25:19,739What do you think your prevailing attribute46300:25:19,739 –> 00:25:21,219to God would be46400:25:21,219 –> 00:25:24,280if you were able to see His glory?46500:25:24,280 –> 00:25:27,160Find out next time on Open The Bible.