Job 42:1-2 "Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the sixteenth and final sermon in the series on the Book of Job, Job Chapter 42, chronicles Job's confession to the Lord and the Lord's restoration of Job: “Once a man has been sufficiently hum­bled, then all the agitation that previously existed in his soul subsides. Faith in God, and submission to God’s sovereignty, brings calmness to the heart, where pre­viously there was contention and confu­sion. How wonderful it is when erring and rebellious men confess their sin and admit their guilt before God. This is what God demands of sinners, and it is the only way reconciliation with the Lord can be achieved.

“It is not until we are able to see God’s greatness that true humility will be evi­denced. This is because man is not made humble by merely seeing personal error, but also, and perhaps more importantly, by coming to spiritually realize the beauty and majesty of God.

“Job’s confession to God, revealed his new understanding that no thought can be hidden from the Lord, since part of God’s splendor is His supernatural abil­ity to see both the thoughts and hearts of men.

“Sin lies not simply in what men do, but is equally convictive in what they think. It is the inside of the cup that is the most unclean. As the thoughts sinners think, are generally far more sinful than even the deeds they do, or the words they speak.

“Job confesses to uttering things he understood not, and things so wonderful, that he knew not. The “I” is repeated and used with force, simply because Job had come to know that the source of his sin, was himself. His friends were not blamed, because when men are truly repentant, it is not others’ sins that are brought to the altar of God, but only our own.

“Where many will remain content with simply hearing, God’s true children cannot cease in their search for the Lord, until they by grace are brought to see Him for themselves. It is sight of Christ also which will be the ul­timate reward of faith, for those who have believed upon the Lord Jesus.

“Here we see that it is no longer self-righteousness, but rather self-incrimina­tion, that Job utters. Through then God’s influence on his life, Job’s evaluation of himself had changed. With accurate spir­itual sight, came Job’s repentance. True repentance also will not merely consist of confession of sin, but will go so much further, ultimately resulting in an abhor­rence of self. Hence, if men say they have repented but do not despise themselves, then we know that there is still great lack in their acknowledgement of sin. For true repentance will always touch the soul of a man, and not merely be a mental thing. Sin therefore pangs the sinner, whereas casual confession surely will not.

“Though God’s children must undergo trials in this life, God’s pity and mercy shall help them overcome them. Hence, though spiritual lessons are necessary to be taught, God’s pity will remain with the afflicted while under their trial, and God’s mercy shall in the end, await them after it. And just as with Jesus’ trial in the wilderness, when it was necessary that He be tempted of the devil for forty days and forty nights, after His trial the Lord sent angels to minister unto him. Ultimately, all trial has an end, and it is after the trial that God’s love will be fully evidenced.”

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 42:1-17.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 11/28/2021

Job 40:5 "Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the fifteenth in the series on the Book of Job, Job Chapter 40:5 to 41:34 chronicles the Lord's reproof of Job and Job's response: "Job’s words and thoughts have gotten him in trouble with the Lord, and now he has gained sufficient wisdom to hold his peace and quietly humble him­self to the Lord’s correction. No longer will he speak of the perceived errors of God’s ways; instead, he will confine his speech to the subject of his unworthiness. Contrite, he rejects saying anything that might tempt him to be lifted with pride again. It is in humility that men find God and learn more about Him, whereas in human pride, the Lord will not be found at all.

“Every man will have to stand and give an account of himself before God, as Job must do here. Human cowardice will not be tolerated, nor will any be able to plead weakness to escape God’s correction or judgment for their sin. Like with Adam and Eve, no matter what effort is made to hide, a full account for transgressing God’s Word will have to be given.

"For the believer, it is God’s hand and the Lord’s mighty arm, that gains victory in his life. Because without God’s strength being exhibited in the Christian’s life, there would be absolutely no chance of victory. This includes victory over death, and sin, as well as all other earthly afflictions.

"Because they lack this heavenly glory and are merely corrupted flesh, they are unworthy of entering God’s presence. A naked man is completely vulnerable; he cannot protect himself from God’s judgment nor defend himself in God’s courtroom. Because of his destitute condition, he is estranged from the Lord’s holy presence. Unless God clothes sinners in His righteousness, they will be found unfit to enter His celestial presence.

“To a proud and rebellious man, his strong internal and unchanging confidence is, that God should receive him as he is. Even if, how he is, is only fleshly and carnal. Hence, for the pretentious, they think they need not to repent for sin, simply because, they are not themselves unrighteous. Instead, when challenged by the Lord for sin, they deem God’s correction itself as sinful.

“The reason God draws such attention to this mighty beast’s strength is to fur­ther impress upon Job His own strength. All this is meant to produce humility in Job so he might consider the vastness of the power of the One he so foolishly con­tended against. Men would never even consider wrestling with a creature such as behemoth, so why would they imagine they could successfully strive against God and be successful?

“Pride also can so inflate a man, that he loses all real touch with reality. To then be reminded of his inability, is purposed to bring back some sensibility to his true strength. Until then Job could subdue and domesticate fierce creatures in the earth, he should not think himself as equal to the Lord. Sinners also frequently manifest characteristics of megalomania, whereby grandiose thoughts of themselves, tempt them, to foolishly believe that they are at least minimally, co-equal with God in wisdom and strength. For none will resist God’s will, unless they first think themselves strong enough, to not do God’s will in their life. Hence, whenever men buck the truth, they believe themselves sufficiently strong enough to not have to submit to it.

“There are so many creatures in this world, including the hippo, the elephant, the crocodile, the lion, the tiger, and even the North American grizzly, that men have the natural sense not to stir up and disturb, lest the creature’s great power and strength be exerted towards them. Yet, it is astounding how seldom this same fear is attributed to God. So that where men are rightly afraid of the fierceness of so many of the earth’s creatures, stunningly, most share not the same fear of the Lord. This is evidenced by the casualness in which they break God’s laws, and lightly esteem His commands. Divine wisdom should also teach us, that just as it is foolish to stir up the anger of creatures like the crocodile, how much more foolish is it to stir up God’s anger?”

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 40:5-41:34.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 11/14/2021

Job 38:37 "Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,"

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the fourteenth in the series on the Book of Job, Job Chapter 38:37-40:4 explores the power and wisdom of the Almighty through creation and Job's response to the Lord's questioning: "Shifting from the heavens, the Lord now directs Job’s attention to the creatures of the earth, that solely by God’s providence are cared for. Lions are mentioned, which are regarded by many as the most regal of nature’s animals, to show that even towards them, through either natural instincts or patience, their needs are provided for. And just as man cannot, through his own power, care for himself, without an environment supplied by God, likewise man does not care for, nor does he sustain the well-being of any other of earth’s creatures. This is the Lord’s work, and He alone should be praised for it.

"Moving to the wild goats which live in the high mountain, the Lord asks Job what he really knows about these majestic creatures. If Job could speak very little about the wild goat, which inhabits the highest regions of the earth, how could he really know a God, Whose habitation is Heaven? If also the mountain goat, which makes its home in the highest peaks of the earth, cannot be fully known, without great and extensive human effort, how could the God of Heaven, Whom no man can approach, thought to be so easily understood?

"Speaking pointedly to Job, the Lord now asks him, if the hawk has gained its extraordinary power of flight by Job’s wisdom. When one examines the prominent features of birds like the hawk, their gift of flight, as well as the great speeds and distances they fly, you have to wonder if men ever really even consider, that God is the Creator of all things living. Simply because no man can deeply ponder the gifts and abilities given to God’s creatures, and not be spellbound by God’s wisdom. So that if men refuse to attribute glory to God, it is only because they have removed themselves from believing in the evidences of Himself, in creation.

"From the hawk to now the eagle, another glorious creature is brought to Job’s attention, highlighting the Lord’s spectacular wisdom in creating birds such as this. Like with the mountain goat, which lives in the highest regions of the earth, the eagle ascends to the highest atmosphere of the earth. The Lord, no doubt, chooses majestic creatures like these, simply because His own home is high, and unobservable by earthly men.

"Here we see a dramatic change in Job’s demeanor, for now instead of confessing personal self-righteousness, he openly confesses his own vileness. No doubt the vileness that Job experienced in his soul, was directly related to his understanding of being proud of heart. Such pride also that was previously willing to condemn God, in order to justify self. Ultimately, Job’s entire view of life changed. Whereas before he thought God was at fault, and himself righteous, now he sees God as righteous, and himself as vile. Through then God’s Spirit, via the entrance of God’s Word, Job had come to realize the true condition of himself. No longer would he lodge false claims against the Lord, accusing God of injustice. No longer would he complain against God’s government. For now he fully realized, that it was not God who had sinned against him, but he against God."

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 38:37-40:4.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 10/24/2021