THE MESSENGER The Weekly Newsletter of the Mountain Home Church of Christ February 26, 2017 WHEN THE DREAM BECOMES A NIGHTMARE JOB 1:13–22 INTRODUCTION: With the exception of our Lord Jesus, no one in Scripture suffered more than Job. Job’s sufferings were the result of a spiritual test, unseen and unknown by Job. His character was at stake. Was Job “good to the core,” or was he good only so long as God’s good hand bountifully blessed and prospered him? “Does Job fear God for noth- ing?” was the challenge of Satan. I. JOB’S LOSS OF _____________ A. Job’s oxen and ___________ are stolen by the Sabeans, and the servants tending them were killed (Job 1:14, 15). B. Job’s sheep and the ____________ tending them were destroyed by “fire of God from heaven” (Job 1:16). C. Job’s camels were stolen by the _______________, and the servants who looked after them were killed (Job 1:17). D. Bankruptcy in one moment—worse than the stock market crash of 1929 (see 1 Timothy 6:17; Luke 12:16–21). II. JOB’S LOSS OF ________________ A. Job’s seven sons and three daughters were killed in a “______________” (Job 1:18, 19). B. The “rapid-fire” report of these losses must have been like a series of punches from a heavyweight boxer, or like being hit by bullets from a machine-gun. Job had to have been _______________. C. By far the greatest of these losses was the children! All ten killed in one tragedy! D. A problem has been found here in the “innocent” loss of life—not only the children of Job, but also the servants! But remember, Satan plays “______ _________!” When eternity is at stake, everything is “on the table” and is “fair game.” III. JOB’S _______________ TO THESE LOSSES A. Job’s actions (Job 1:20)—“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and _____________.” B. Job’s words (Job 1:21)—“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; _____________ be the name of the LORD” (cf. 1 Timothy 6:7). C. Job’s approval (Job 1:22)—“In all this Job did not _________ nor charge God with wrong.” IV. JOB’S LOSS OF _______________ A. Satan’s _______________ in Job 2:4, 5 is a point worth considering! (Note how Jesus uses similar reasoning in Matthew 16:26; and then see Luke 16:19–31 [The Rich Man and Lazarus] for a vivid illustration of this point!) B. “If you have your health, you have ______________!”—a common observation, often made by those who no longer have good health! C. In Job 2:7, 8 we see the extent of the physical misery Job suffered! Pain-wracked and loathsome to see, Job be- came an __________________! D. Look at the one thing Job did not lose—his wife! (continued on page 2) ARTICLES.....NOTES….. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) V. JOB’S RESPONSE TO ______________ OF HEALTH A. He is challenged by his _____________ (Job 2:9). B. His ________________ of his wife—“You speak as one of the foolish women would speak” (Job 2:10). C. His stalwart ____________—“Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). D. Job’s approval—“In all this Job did not sin with his _____________” (Job 2:10). CONCLUSION: As the book of Job unfolds, we will see that Job has a lot on his mind and in his heart. He will ask many of the same questions we ask when adversity seems to overwhelm us. He will endure unfounded accusations from his friends, due to their faulty view of God and His dealings with His creation. He will argue his case, realizing that there must be something he and his friends are missing in their thinking! TODAY’S LESSONS A.M.: “When the Dream Becomes a Nightmare” P.M.: “Worthy is the Lamb” Job 1:13-22 Revelation 5:11-14 Tuesday morning ladies’ class will have their monthly Congratulations to Leland & Johnnie Green who will celebrate luncheon this week following class. their 68th wedding anniversary on March 3. SHEPHERD’S CORNER….Dennis Tindall So you want to be in charge…! Picture a young man signing up for the army. As he appears for boot camp, he walks up to the sergeant and says, “All right, buddy, I’ve signed up to be in your army, but this is the way it’s going to be. I’m not going to march. I’m not going to pull KP duty. I’m not going to clean my gun. I’m not going to spit-shine my boots. I’m not going to make my bed so you can bounce a coin on it. And I’m certainly not going to fight. I’m just going to lounge around the PX and read and listen to my radio.” What would happen to that young man? I’m guessing he would be whipped into shape so fast, his head would spin. When you read this story you are probably laughing because you know that in the army the private is never in charge, and the fact that he thinks he can be in charge is utterly ridiculous. Before you finish laughing, let me point out that when we are dealing with God, many today are quickly to be found guilty of wanting to be in charge and even worse, thinking they are in charge. You might be saying, “Well everyone knows better than that!”. Yet everyone does not know better than that! Take for example, the topic of salvation. People want to be in charge. They say, “I love your concept of salvation God, but all I want to have to do is believe. You’re going to save me by faith alone. I won’t be completing any of your other requirements to obtain my salvation.” Take for example, the topic of worship. People want to be in charge. They say, “I’m busy on Sunday, I’m not going to worship you on Sunday. You’ll accept my worship on Saturday. Oh, and by the way, I don’t like to sing. I’m going to play my ______ (insert a mechanical instrument of music here) and that will be acceptable to you.” Take for example, living the Christian life. People want to be in charge. They say, “I’ll be happy to live for you God, but just so you know, it’s not going to cost me anything. I won’t be sharing with others and I won’t be going out of my way to serve someone. Also, just so you know, I won’t be teaching anyone about you. That’s not my job. You’ll accept this is how my life should be lived.” The truth is that just as the private in the army isn’t in charge, we aren’t in charge in God’s army. When we come to God, it has to be on God’s terms or not at all. What are God’s terms? Jesus spelled it out in his call to discipleship in Mark 8:34. He said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” So you want to be in charge, then ensure that you put yourself in charge of submitting your life to Christ! As we “Go” together, Dennis PRAYER LIST......ACTIVITIES….. Please keep these people in your prayers as they contend with illness and other situations: Baxter Retirement Village Betty Caldwell was in a car accident on Thursday. Her ankle was broken. There were also Troy Massey some issues with her blood pressure. Mike Nash Shelbye Walker, Christine Cordial, Virdo Anderson, Darrell Lute, Betty Ripple, Barney Barn- Danny Phelps Deidree Smalec hart, Dick Young, Michael Mount, Jane Maynard, Leo Fortenberry, Cindy Shaw, Leslie Cones, Dorothy Kitchens, Carolyn McCullough. Care Manor Lindel Anthony Family and Friends…. Charlotte Burton Robbie Aufhouse (Debi Carr’s son), Eulah Anderson (Richard Morris), Jessica Thelen (Sylvia Hard- Lozell Pitchford en), James Carl Campbell (Jackie Jones), Bill Hill (Evelyn Osborn), Paul Cox (Jane Maynard), Buddy Mary Scheer Stanley (Elise Nichols), Miranda Szaloy (Rector & Jana Jones), Mike Townsley (Terri Holsonbake), Billy Conn (Jewell Pendergrass), Aubrey Williams, Margaret James (Bertha Kitchens), Roxanne Good Samaritan Carson (Jessie Camp), Barbara Van Buren (Donna Smith), Howard Jones (Adam Jones), Larry Spur- Naomi Britt lock (Jim Estes), Bessie Richey (James Richey), Gayle Smith (Tracie Gilliland), Mona McFall, Alan Homebound Sheckell (Chip Smith), David Burleson (Jessie Camp), Kerry Gilbert (Jo Rainey), Alice Clark (Mary Veneda Hayes Ann Dillard), Brenda Brock (Jim Gilliland), Jim Gilliland’s dad, Margaret Ellis (Brad Ellis), Larry T.J. Henderson Davenport (Linda Rucker), Douglas Jones (Rector Jones), Harley Roswell (Kyle Camp), Thelma Pen- Charlene Messick dergrass (Mickey Pendergrass). Monroe House Doyle Hammack Sympathy… We offer our condolences to Angie Nix and her family in the passing of her father, Donald Hudson. Pine Lane Funeral services were held Wednesday in Yellville. Fay Miculka Juanita Stone Wild Game Dinner Copies of the church directory will Uneda Watters Saturday, March 4, 5:00, Building B. be in the foyer, Sunday, March Sign-up lists are posted 5th, after morning services. SPRING QUARTER BIBLE CLASSES on the bulletin board. Please stop by to check your infor- BEGIN NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 5 mation if you haven’t already.