When Trouble Comes Knocking

Rev Gideon Lee

In our cells we have been talking about the trials of life and how we response to it.

If we talk about the trials of life we cannot but look at the book of Job.

Job 1:1-5
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

One of the most realistic stories of trouble comes from the book of Job. Job was blessed as we read the beginning of the book. Blessed with 7 sons and 3 daughters. He has 10 children in his family and it signifies completion. God has blessed Job with completion. Likewise God blessed Job with 7,000 sheep and 3,000 camels, a total of 10,000. He had 500 oxen and 500 donkeys, a total of 1000. He had everything.

He was so rich each of his children had their own homes and they feast everyday in each home. The children were all in harmony, another example of God's blessing.

The writer is trying to say that God blessed Job with not only his possession but also relationships. Sometimes it seems that when a rich man die, his family fights over the inheritance. Not in the case with Job. There was harmony in his family.

He was rich yet the bible says he is both rich and righteous. He had everything and no reason that he had to go through any trouble. You would think that nothing bad would happen to him.

But when you read the book further you find that Satan spoke to God to trouble Job. Four things came upon Job. the first messenger came with the news that his goats were stolen. Twe're is sheep were burned. Then all his camels stolen and his servants slained. Then the fourth messenger said each of his sons and daughters were killed in a hurricane as they were feasting in the eldest son's home.

You know sometimes we say if things are taken away they can be replaced. But not children. How to replace them? What comes to your mind when you read all this? WHY?

Look at Job, the wife said to him to curse God and die. I thank God he didn't listen to his wife. His wife challenged Job. What was his response?

Job 2:10
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

What I'm trying to say is not why Job had to go through these problems but how he responded. That's my title this morning "When trouble comes knocking". Not if but when. Storms comes whether we like it or not.

What happened to Job you may think, it's because he sinned, but the bible says he is a righteous man. God even bragged about Job that there is non righteous like him.

When we talk about blessings, we will also have to talk about storms and trouble. And more important how we respond to them. I pray that all of us understands what Job was saying. We have to accept the good and the bad. He could easily just resign to it but he didn't.

I remember this story about the negros that came to America. No disrespect but they were called the blacks or negros. They came in slave ships. If you have seen the movie Amazing Grace and Roots, the whites would go there and round up the natives by force, bringing them over the oceans. They were treated like animals and many did not survive the trip. The conditions were deplorable. They were sold as slaves and became a property. Their children will also become slaves.

In America there are the black churches and they are on fire for God. Some of the best speakers are African American. They came and got saved and they saw their masters who were Christians treating them badly. Some of the preachers were preaching for slavery. John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace was a slave trader. There was even one of those ships called Jesus.

If you see the despairing reason for them to turn away from God, this would be one of it. But they hung on to God and things turned around. And today the legacy is that black churches are doing well in America. How we response to trials is important.

Most of the time when we response it would be in the flesh. A tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye. If we do that we would have a toothless and eyeless society. What would Jesus do? Would he strike or turn the other cheek.

It is important that when we response to God, it does not contradict our faith. The bible says that his rod and his staff comforts us. Psalms 23, read it. The staff represent his security and discipline, and we have God on our side. God most of the time allows us to go through trouble. Not because he is a sadist that likes to see us suffer but the scripture in the proper context tells us it is to mould us. When we response correctly, we become more and more like Jesus. Smooth seas don't make good sailors. We have to go through some rough seas.

And here's the difference between a Christian and a non Christian. The rain and sun falls on both good and bad people. But here's the difference, we have God with us. When it rains put out the umbrella. When it shines put out the umbrella. Who is the umbrella? Jesus.

I want to end with a story.

It's about Arthur Ash. He won Wimbledon and the US Open and is a star in tennis. The story goes that one day he needed an operation. And he needed blood and when he came out he found out he had HIV. There were no screening then.

When the news broke many reporters wanted to interview him and how he dealt with this news. Remember, he didn't ask for this. Finally one reporter managed to track him down and he asked him, how he dealt with the situation. Do you blame God. And here was his response.

I was tempted to ask God why me. But if I was to ask God why me for this bad thing, then I should also ask God why me for all the good things. If we can receive good from God, why not also the bad.

Look at the last Chapter of Job. The blessings he had on the later part of his life was much more than what he started of with. His children was still the same, 10 and wife 1. The bible says his daughters were the most beautiful in the land.

As you respond rightly to God in your troubles, you will have the assurance that he will be with you. It will not be easy but the bible says Job never sinned against God.

This morning I want to ask you, are you going through a storm and feel like sinking? Do not let this storm drive you away from God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Give thanks for both good circumstances and bad circumstances because in both circumstances He is with you. And when you get out of it, you will become a stronger Christian.

TOP students sitting for their PMR being prayed for.