Everything is Going to Work Out -- Romans 8:28-29

Sometimes it's nice to be on the other side of the pulpit. I heard a sermon from James Merritt on TV tonight. Scripture and outline below.

Romans 8:28-29
²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

I will believe God's word to me.
We Can know everything is going to work out because we have God's word on it.

I will Receive God's work for me.
All the things that happens in our lives are not good but if we love God, and we have been called according to his purpose (called to salvation, not a vocational call), then we can know he is working everything out.

I will Acheive God's will for my life.
His purpose is that I be like (conformed to) the likeness of Jesus.

International Mission Study - Part 1

Instead of bringing a traditional sermon on Sunday night I shared a scripture reading from Psalm 67.

Psalm 67 NIV Listen to this passage.

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
Selah

2 that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

3 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.

4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
Selah

5 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.

6 Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.

7 God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

After we read and had a brief devotion on the scripture, we talked about the work being done by our International Mission Board Missionaries in Moldova.

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Make Your Move: Let the Church Move Out

Although I did not post earlier sermons in this series out of concern for copyright infringement, I felt that I had changed and adapted this one enough that it did not infringe on John Maxwell's copyright. He does follow the same order of going through the companions of Paul, but that portion of the outline is dictated by the passage and is not original to Maxwell. As for the content about each person, I tried to use a concordance, and a topical Bible as well as a commentary to gather information on these characters, and again did not allow myself to be dependent on Maxwell's notes. I hope these notes are a blessing to some of you.

Colossians 4:7-14 (NIV) Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. ⁸I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. ⁹He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹²Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. ¹³I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. ¹⁴Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.

Introduction

There is no room for the superman mentality in the church. In the church with a superman mentality, the pastor or some other leader becomes the center of a personality cult. The people sit back and cheer for the superman. They rejoice in his successes and are shocked and dismayed by his defeats. You see, Superman is not supposed to be defeated, not ever. In the Superman church the pastor is seen as the minister, and the church is seen as the fans. This arrangement might work out all right except for one small problem. Pastors are not supermen. If you cut us we bleed. We have 24 hours in a day, just like everyone else. We make mistakes, just like everyone else. We have certain gifts, and are woefully lacking in others, just like everyone else. Therefore the people are bound to see us fail from time to time. In the superman church failure is devastating.

If ever there was a Christian Leader we might think was a superman it was the apostle Paul. Paul overcame a past of persecuting the church to become a great leader in the church. Paul dared to disagree with the leaders in the Jerusalem church about whether the Gentiles had to become Jewish to become Christians, and prevailed. Throw Paul in prison, and he sings until angels come and deliver him. Shipwreck him, and he saves others on the ship. Let a poisonous snake bite him, and he shakes it off in the fire and keeps on preaching. Stone him and leave him for dead, and he survives. Paul started churches all over the known world. He was used by God to write about 2/3 of our New Testament. Certainly if there was ever a superman among Christian leaders, Paul would qualify. But Paul knew that he wasn't a superman. He knew that he was just one member in the body of Christ, and as such was dependent upon other members with differing gifts and abilities.

Even in our families we recognize that different members have different strengths, and we need each other. One woman out of town with her friend expressed her concern that it was trash day and she wasn't there to take it out. Her friend asked, "Isn't your husband there to take it out?" The lady replied, "It takes both of us to take out the trash, I can't carry it, and he can't remember it."

Paul knew he needed other people and he recruited all kinds of people to be a part of his team. Notice some observations from this passage.

Observations

1. Paul surrounded himself with several different team members.
2. Paul's team members came from various backgrounds and experiences.
3. Paul encouraged his team to work together.
4. Paul praised his team publicly.
5. Not everyone on his team was productive.

I'm encouraged by Colossians 4. It says that I dont' have to be like someone else to be useful in the body of Christ. I went to college with a guy who is now president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, but I don't have to be that well known to be useful in God's kingdom. I dont' have to preach to tens of thousands in large stadiums to be used in God's kingdom. I only have to be a faithful member of the team, and be willing to use the gifts God has given me. I hope that Colossians 4 can be an encouragement to you. I hope you are encouraged to know that you don't have to be like the pastor, or like any other leader in our church to be used by God. What you do have to do is just be the best you that you can be. You have to be willing to use the gifts God has given you, not try to emulate the gifts that you see in someone else. God can use you just as he used this group of people that surrounded Paul in his ministry.

When the Pastor Ministers, the church adds to the kingdom of God.
When we all minister, the church multiplies the kingdom of God.

Let's take a look at Paul's Companions

Tychicus -- The Faithful One

Acts 20 tells us that Tychicus was one of the men who accompanied Paul as he traveled from Greece back to Jerusalem. Paul was leaving Ephesus in Asia, where there had been a great riot. Some of the businessmen who made their living selling idols, had organized a riot against Paul and his followers because when the people believed in Jesus they stopped buying idols. Paul had to leave that area, and headed back to Jerusalem. But Jerusalem was not necessarily any safer for him. He heard that the Jews were plotting against him, and so he changed his travel plans to go through Macedonia rather than Syria on his way back to Jerusalem. On this long journey Paul needed companionship and likely he also needed protection. Tychicus was from Asia, but was willing to leave his home to travel back to Jerusalem with Paul.
In his letter to the Ephesians (6:4) Paul says that Tychicus is a "dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord." We see in this passage that Paul entrusted Tychicus to deliver his message, letting the Ephesians know how he was doing. Paul was in prison in Rome at this time, and was sending Tychicus out with this letter. He trusted him to get the letter there. He also knew that Tychicus would encourage the church at Ephesus.
Paul also sent him to Colossae, which lay beyond Ephesus from Rome. He charged Tychicus with telling the Colossians "all the news" about him. He refers to him again as a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant. Paul makes mention of Tychicus in his letters to Timothy and Titus, saying that Timothy was sent out as his messenger.

Onesimus - The Useful One

We perhaps know more about Onesimus than we do almost any of the characters in this list, save perhaps Mark. Onesimus is only mentioned here in Colossians 4 and in Philemon. Paul wrote to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. He must have heard Paul's preaching and gotten to know him while Paul was ministering in Colossae. Philemon was a believer at the church in Colossae, and Onesimus was his slave. For reasons we do not know, Onesimus had run away from Philemon, and had found Paul in prison in Rome. Paul says that Onesimus became his son while he was there in prison. Likely Paul means by this that Onesimus became a believer after he found Paul in prison. Evidently before becoming a believer Onesimus wasn't a very good servant. Perhaps he was even a troublemaker. That would explain his running away. But Paul says that his character had changed. He says that now Onesimus is useful both to Paul and to Philemon. He asks Philemon to not only forgive the sins of Onesimus, but to send him back to Paul to help him in his ministry. Evidently Philemon did as Paul asked. He must also have seen the change in Onesimus character. Onesimus had come back to Philemon, carrying Paul's letter, and submitting himself to Philemon's authority. His respect for authority and willingness to serve made him very useful in the ministry.

Aristarchus - The Burden Bearer

Aristarchus is mentioned as a fellow traveler of Paul in Acts 19-20. He was a native of Thessalonica and likely became a believer during Paul's ministry there. When Paul had taken up an offering for the believers in Jerusalem, he had trusted Aristarchus to accompany that offering back to Jerusalem. Aristarchus accompanied Paul to Rome, and was there with him in prison. He was faithful to serve with Paul even if it meant he shared Paul's fate. I have to wonder if Paul did not have a friend like Aristarchus in mind when he told the Romans in chapter 12 to offer themselves as living sacrifices. Paul was greatly comforted because he did not have to endure his imprisonment alone. Aristarchus was there with him even at great cost.

Mark -- the man who needed a second chance.

John Mark is probably the best known of all the people in Paul's list of friends. He was discipled by another of Paul's companions, Barnabus. He accompanied Paul and Barnabus on their first missionary journey, but he did not complete the trip. When they reached Asia he had turned around and gone back home to Jerusalem. We don't know why, but Paul must not have thought it a good reason. When Mark wanted to go on the next journey, Paul wasn't willing to take him, resulting in a conflict between Paul and Barnabus. Paul went one way and Barnabus went another. The next time we read about Mark is in this passage in Colossians 4, and we find him comforting Paul. Mark could have been bitter that Paul didn't give him a second chance. He could have held a grudge. Instead he traveled to Rome and was ministering to Paul.

Jesus-Justus -- the man who lived up to a great name.

Lot's of Jews named their children Joshua, the Hebrew form of Jesus. Likely this Jesus started going by Justus because he did not consider himself worthy to share the name of the Lord. But Paul says that Justus, along with Aristarchus and Mark, is a fellow worker with him and a great comfort. While very few of us in Christian culture would name our child Jesus, we all bear the name "Christian" which means "little Christ." We need to realize that we have a great name to live up to. All of us that call ourselves Christians have the responsibility to be fellow workers in the work of the church and the kingdom of God.

Epaphras -- The One Who Wrestled in Prayer

Paul mentions Epaphras in chapter one as the one whom was sent to him by the church at Colosse. He was the evangelist who had taken the gospel to the people at Colosse. They had sent him to comfort and encourage Paul. Perhaps they had sent him with questions they wanted Paul to answer. But if so Epaphras was not able to return with the answers. He had become a fellow prisoner with Paul. Paul says he is a companion, a fellow worker, and that he wrestled in prayer for the church in Collose. One of the great needs we have in our church is people that will pray. Pray for the pastor. Pray for the sick. Pray for the ministries. Pray that God will raise up laborers from our church that will go into the community and reap the harvest God has prepared.

Luke -- A man who used his skills for the kingdom

Luke was a physician who traveled with Paul and Barnabus on their missionary journeys. He is the author of the gospel of Luke and of the book of Acts. Obviously Luke was a writer in addition to being a physician. Paul had trouble with his eyes and was not able to do his own writing. It is likely that Luke may have penned some of Paul's letters for him. No doubt he also tried to provide Paul comfort from whatever physical ailments might have troubled him while traveling, and during his imprisonment in Rome.

Demas -- A man who turned his back and quit

Paul says nothing about Demas in this passage save that he sends his greetings along with Luke. In the light of his praise of all the others he does not mention that Demas is a fellow servant or minister. Evidently Demas was from Colosse, and had traveled with others to visit Paul in Rome, but he might not have been doing anything in the way of ministry once he arrived there. In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul states that, "Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica." Being a spectator church member is a short step away from being a member who leaves the church and pours his life into the world.

Conclusion

God used all kinds of people to minster with, to, and alongside Paul. No matter what your age, your skills, your education, or your past failures, God can use you to build his kingdom.

Make Up Your Minds

A lesson supplement for Bible Study Teachers using Lifeway's "Life Answers" curriculum.
Matthew 7:13-29 (NIV)

The Two Gates
¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The Two Types of Prophets
¹⁵ "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. ²¹ "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The Two Types of Faith
²⁴ "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

The Two Types of Authority
²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Introduction

This week we finish our study on The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus concludes his sermon by challenging his hearers in Matthew 7:13-14 to choose the right path. The rest of the chapter illustrates why so many choose the wrong path, and the perils of taking that path in life.

The Narrow and Wide Gates (vv. 13-14)

The "Wide" gate in this passage is the default gate that everyone finds himself on unless he makes a decision to find the narrow gate and go through it instead. As Christians, it is easy for us to make the numbers of this passage our focal point. We say to ourselves, "Yes, most people are going on the wide easy path, and only a few of us are going the right way." We warn those on the wrong path to come join us on the right path. That's all fine. But sometimes I think we are took quick to find ourselves on the "right path." The word translated narrow in verse 14 is the Greek word thilbo, meaning "suffering or affliction." When Jesus says that the way that leads to life is narrow, he is saying that the path to life rather than destruction is paved with suffering and affliction along the way. We as Christians might do well to ask ourselves as we read this questions, "How am I suffering for the cause of Christ?" If we are not, then we might question whether we are on the right road after all.

All of us suffer. Everyone goes through times of sickness, grief and loss. That is not suffering for the cause of Christ, that is simply suffering as a result of being born into a world of sin and its consequences. Suffering for Christ means we sacrifice wealth, friends, family, reputation, power, privilege, and even health and life in order to obey the teachings Jesus has given in The Sermon on the Mount. If we are turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, praying for our enemies, then we will at times suffer at the hands of the world. But Jesus says that this suffering leads to life. If we shun this suffering, claim our rights, love only our friends and hate our enemies, we may have an easier path through this world, at least for a season, but it is a path that leads to destruction.

The True and False Prophets (15-23)

"False Prophets" in this passage refers to anyone who encourages people to ignore Jesus' petition to choose the "narrow" gate. False Prophets may be the messengers of our culture that say we should do whatever feels good. They are those who say that there are no moral absolutes, but that we each have to decide for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. False Prophets are also those who call themselves Christian ministers, but who preach a gospel that doesn't demand sacrifice, service and obedience.

They are wolves in sheep's clothing. This has become a common expression in our culture for anyone who promises something good and delivers harm instead. Those who would send us down the wide path tell us that there is pleasure to be had there. There is easy gain, easy profit, power, fame and fortune. But they do not warn us about the destruction that is at the other end. Jesus says we will be able to discern the false prophets by their fruits, but he is not clear what those fruits are. As a matter of fact, he warns us that some of them may have appeared for a season to be fruitful. They might cry out "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy, heal the sick, and perform miracles in your name?" As Christians we need to be careful fruit inspectors. Just because someone is preaching to great crowds, building huge hospitals to heal the sick, or even performing miracles of healing on television does not necessarily mean that what they are preaching is true! The question is this, "Does their teaching produce the fruit of eternal life, or the fruit of destruction?"

The Test of Life. One way to determine their fruit is took look at those who have lived their lives according to the teachings of these people and see how their lives ended up. We can't always judge bysomeone's temporary fame or wealth in their youth or middle years. But look at those who are at or near the end of life's journey. Have those who have lived according to this way of teaching ended up with a full life, or even destruction. One of the best examples of this may be some of the young actresses and singers in Hollywood today. If we had looked at Britney Spears or LindseyLohan two or three years ago, we may have said that the broad road was was bringing them life. But this path has brought them destruction. They are dealing with broken marriages, broken families, addictions, automobile accidents, ruined reputations and careers.

The Test of the Word. The Life Test is effective, but is often subjective. We can look around us and find exceptions to any rule. We can even find those who lived according to the wide way and seemed to have escaped destruction for a lifetime. Without seeing the justice that each one will receive in eternity, the life test will always seem to have its exceptions. But the Word Test never fails. If you want to know if a prophet's teachings lead to life or to destruction, you must take time to read God's Word for yourself. You don't have to become a biblical scholar, fluent in Greek and Hebrew with a mastery of ancient times and customs. But you should be thoroughly familiar with some key passages such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). These passages clearly challenge us to live our lives in a way that most people miss, in way that subjugates our own desires and will to serve God. If you familiarize yourself with God's Word, then you will easily begin to recognize false teaching when you hear it.

A warning for the false prophets. Jesus said that a tree that does not bear fruit, like thorns and thistles, is cut down and thrown into the fire. Those who lead others to stay on the wide, easy, densely populated path are warned that they are in danger of God's judgment, of being cut down and thrown into the fire. There are many today that are preaching messages designed to make people feel better. They encourage positive thinking and good attitudes. While true prophets do comfort the afflicted, they also know that God calls them to afflict the comfortable. True prophets are called to warn people of the destruction of the wide path, and invite them to believe in Jesus, who is himself the narrow gate, and the only way that leads to life.

Two Types of Faith (24-27)

It is not enough to say we believe in Jesus. The way we live our lives demonstrates whether we truly believe. Our works do not save us, but they do indicate whether we have been saved. Our works are the indicator of which path we are on. James said, "Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18). Someone has said that there can no more be faith without works than there can be warm snow. When snow gets warm it melts and ceases to be snow. When faith has no works then it is demonstrated to be a false profession or wishful thinking, but certainly is truly no faith at all.
Jesus challenges his hearers that those who hear his words and do them are like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Yet many who would hear that day might have enjoyed the message, they might have even bragged on the messenger, but they continued to go down the wide road leading to destruction, and when the storms of life came they would indeed be destroyed. Is your faith a real faith that does what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount, or are you following the crowd down the path to destruction?

Two Types of Authority (28-29)

The people were amazed because Jesus taught as one with authority, not like the teachers of the law. That is an interesting statement because the teachers of the law were certainly considered to be "authorities" in their time and culture. But Jesus authority is of a different type. Human authority comes about as a consequence of attaining power through appointment, election, or even the use of force. Human authorities can decree one thing as policy one day, and change the policy the next day. Jesus' authority was different because it was eternal. Jesus authority was from God, and God was never appointed or elected, nor did he ever seize power by force from anyone else. He has always been the Authority, and always will be because he is the creator of all things. Jesus authority is also unchanging. The scripture tells us that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If something was sin in the Old Testament, it was also sin in the New Testament, and it is sin today. But probably the thing that impressed the people was that Jesus authority was internal rather than external. Worldly authorities make rules that are external to us, and we understand that we must obey those rules or face consequences for not doing so, whether we agree with the rules or not. But Jesus' authority came because he was teaching truth, and truth is found within all of us who have been created in God's image. It has been scarred and perverted by sin and culture, but when Jesus speaks the truth there is something inside us that recognizes it as such.

Conclusion

Are you going through the right path? If life seems a bit too easy, ask yourself what you have given up lately for Jesus' sake. What has it cost you to not only hear his commands, but to obey them? If you don't have an answer to that question you may be building your life of a foundation of sand, and destruction is certain when life's storms come.

Additional Resources

Extra! Lesson supplements for Adults and Students
Bible Study Commentary from The Christian Index
BibleGateway.com

The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

Psalm 116:16-19 (New International Version)

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;
you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.

Outline

We should be thankful because:

1. Of our relationship with God. "I love the LORD." Love implies a personal relationship. We might like or admire someone we do not know personally. But to truly love someone, we must have a relationship with them. The psalmist had that type of relationship with God. "LORD" refers to God's covenant name, YAHWEH. He calls him by name and declares his love because God has made a personal relationship a possibility, and even a reality.
   
2. God hears and answers our prayers. "He heard my cry for mercy. He turned his ear to me...." The psalmist knew that when he called out to God, God listened and responded. He knew God was not too distant or too busy to hear him when he called.
3. He is with us in our deepest troubles. "I was overcome by trouble and sorrow." He was so overcome that he felt he was near death, or might have preferred death to what he was experiencing. Perhaps he was ill. Perhaps he was being pursued by an enemy. Perhaps he was just heartbroken and depressed over some circumstance of life. Whatever it was, he cries out, "When I was in great need, he saved me." Jesus told us in the New Testament that he would never leave us nor forsake us. He sent the Holy Spirit in order that God might always dwell with his people. We can always be assured that even in life's most painful and difficult trials, that he is with us, and he provides us the grace and strength we need.
   
4. He is both gracious and righteous, resulting in his provision for our salvation. In God's graciousness he desires to give us better than we deserve. But in his righteousness he must punish sin. He sent Jesus to pay for our sin, in order that he might be gracious with us. We can have a relationship with God, know that he answers or prayers, know that he stays with us in times of trouble, because God's graciousness and righteousness intersected in the person of Jesus Christ on the cross..
   

We demonstrate our gratitude to God by:

1. Selfless Service. Because of the great blessings he has received, the psalmist declares his servitude to God. He says three times that he is God's servant. By saying that the is "the son of your maidservant" he is saying that serving God is the purpose for which he was born. He says God has freed him from his chains, and he graciously surrenders his freedom and makes himself a servant of the LORD.

2. Gracious Giving. "I will sacrifice a thank offering to you." Generosity is always a sign of gratitude. The psalmist wanted to give God back some portion of what God had given him.
   

3. Consistent Character. He committed that he intended to fulfill his vows. In the New Testament, James calls people who make vows and do not fulfill them double-minded. The psalmist makes a commitment to be single-minded, and not to sway from his commitments to God. He would not be found serving God on the day of worship, and serving himself the next day.
   

4. Public Proclamation. The psalmist says that he will fulfill those vows "in the presence of all [God's] people." His commitment to God is a very public thing. This is not something he does for his own glory, so that men might now how committed he is, but for the glory of God, so that they might no how good God has been to him.

5. Wholehearted Worship. He said all this will take place in "the courts of the house of the LORD." He is committing himself to gather with God's people, to serve God, to give to God, to live for God, and to proclaim God's blessings. Let us show our gratitude to God this Thanksgiving by doing the same thing.
   

Oh, That I Had Someone to Hear Me!

Job 31:35 Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

Hebrews 7:22-24 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

²³Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

Introduction

One of my favorite movies is "Castaway" with Tom Hanks. He plays a Federal Express executive who is the sole survivor of a plane crash and lives alone on a deserted island for five years. During that time he makes use of some of the cargo from the crashed plane that washes ashore. Among the things that wash up is a Wilson brand volleyball. Hanks character paints a face on the volleyball and has conversations with it throughout the movie. At one point he gets angry and tosses it out of the cave that he is living in. Almost immediately he panics, retrieves the ball, and begins to apologize profusely to "Wilson."

When he finally crafts a raft to attempt to get off the Island, he takes Wilson with him. One of the saddest moments in the movie is when Wilson is blown off the raft in the storm, and Hanks cannot retrieve him. God made us to need someone to talk to, especially in life's most difficult moments. Job had three friends who came to comfort him. However, as we near the end of his story, we find that he never really felt like they heard him. He cries out for someone to hear him. He doesn't feel like his friends have heard him, and he doesn't feel like God has heard him.

I. The Setting (Job 26-30)
A. Job acknowledges God's Sovereignty (Job 26).
B. Job affirms God's justice (Job 27).
C. Job appraises God's wisdom (Job 28).
D. Job appreciates God's blessings (Job 29).
E. Job agonizes over God's absence (Job 30).

II. The Summary (Job 31)
Job cries out for a hearing. He uses the language of the legal system of his day. Normally the accuser would read a written indictment, and the accused would have an opportunity to make a rebuttal. Job is saying that he has not heard the charges, no one has told him what he has done wrong, yet he has been attempting a rebuttal just the same. He feels that he is already suffering God's discipline, without ever knowing what he did wrong.

III. The Solution (Hebrews 7:22-24)
As the High Priest, Jesus provides our access to God. Because of him we can come boldly before God's throne of grace.
A. God's Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and calls us to repentance.
B. God's Son is our advocate before God's throne of justice, proclaiming our sin debt paid by His sacrifice on the Cross.
C. God the Father hears our prayers, and receives us to himself, because our sins are forgiven.

Conclusion
Even today we may not always feel like God hears us when we pray. But we know by faith that we can come into his presence because the sacrifice of Jesus takes away our sins.