Synopsis of Sermon 11.29.23

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Job 14:7-9 NKJV 
7 “For there is hope for a tree, 
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, 
And that its tender shoots will not cease. 
8 Though its root may grow old in the earth, 
And its stump may die in the ground, 
9 Yet at the scent of water it will bud 
And bring forth branches like a plant.

        I.            INTRODUCTION 

1. One of main things we should remember is we should not underestimate the the resilience of a Child of God. Their survival is a testimony. They’ve endured because they knew better was coming.
2. In the story, God offers up Job to Satan. The revelation is, God sees something in Job and as a result, God is willing to put it all on the line. He knew Job would make him look good. He knew He could trust Job with trouble. Can God trust you with trouble? Can God trust that you will make him look good?
3. Our reason for preaching this word today is because many of you don’t know how strong you are. It takes more than what has occurred to take you out! You show up looking like you’ve never been through anything. The enemy is confused by this.
4. In the scripture, Job likens himself to a tree. Job gives us the assurance that though the tree has been cut down, it will sprout back again. The enemy is trying to convince you that you will never bounce back!
5. Job is a book that we encourage you to study. It is one of the older books in the Bible. In fact, it is older than Genesis. It takes place during the Babylonian Exile. The book of Job reflects the questions of suffering that arise during that period.
6. Not only did the Babylonian insult God’s people. The Persians did also. The book of Job gives us a story of a man that experiences great tragedy. Job was so wealthy, he would be like the Bill Gates of our day. He was so righteous, he communed with God regularly.
7. As Satan goes up and down the earth, God asks him what he is doing? Satan says he was seeing what he could devour. God asks Satan if he had considered his son Job? The devil says he had thought about it, but explains that God had a hedge round him. He explains that if God would remove it, then it would be a different story. God then allowed Satan to test Job.
8. As a result of Satan’s test, Job experienced one thing after another. In addition to all that he had lost, he is afflicted with sores that drained constantly. It was a horrid disease. Job’s kids died too. It was so bad, his wife told Job to curse God and let it be over. Even Job’s friends were questioning him, saying that it had to be something that he had done, that caused all of this misfortune.
9. Job tries to figure out what God is doing, by questioning Him. Job 38:4 NKJV says ⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. – God assures Job that He knows what he is doing. This is an example of how we go through tragedies, yet God brings about restoration.  

     II.            THE POWER OF SELF-REALIZATION 

• Once you come to the realization of who you are, you can confront any issue that comes to you. Job says he is like a tree.
• Isaiah 61 compares us a tree. Isaiah 61:3 NKJV says ³ To ^[a]console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” – Trees of righteousness. There is something about Trees and a believer’s strength.

A.     I Can’t Help I Stand Out 

1. This is what trees do. We stand out! When you know who you are, you can’t help but stand out!
2. People’s insecurities show up when you show up, because:
   1. They Can’t Control Your Statue– They don’t worry about you as long as they can control you.
   2. They Can’t Control Your Season– Some people would love to hold back your blessing if they could. They would love to legislate your season. God is always leaning in your direction.
   3. They Can’t Control Your Seed – They can’t control what’s inside of you. Whatever you produce, produces seeds. Whenever you show up, you produce seeds.

B.     The Enemy Wants to Cut You, to Control You 

1. Job is blessed tremendously and that’s just the beginning of his blessings.
2. The enemy wasn’t after Job’s right now, he was after his not yet.
3. Satan began to cut Job down, economically, domestically, socially, psychologically, and theologically. Satan tries this with us, but he miscalculates who you are. There is yet hope of a tree.

  III.            THE POTENTIAL IN SPIRITUAL RESILIENCE 

• Job says there is hope of tree. We don’t realize how strong we are until we get into certain situations. At our worst, we discover the best inside of us.
• Job’s relationship was on trial. Sometimes your relationship will be placed on trial. Satan thought if he went after all of Job’s blessings, he would curse God. When you are spiritual, you know that whatever ever God gave you before, he can give you again.

A.     You Can Chop Me Down, But I Still Have a Chance 

1. You got a chance. Job says, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust him”.

B.     Through It All, I’m Still Here 

1. In the midst of all this, Job is still there. He could have had legitimate reasons to give up. People don’t realize your mere presence is a blessing. You are sitting next to a miracle!
2. Even though the tree has been cut down, it has strong roots.

   IV.            THE PRESENCE OF STRONG ROOTS 

• Job says the roots are old in the ground. He hasn’t just been planted. Don’t act like you’ve just been planted. We have some roots. You ought to thank God for deep roots.
• When you have roots with God, it means:

A.     It’s Genuine 

1. It’s real.

B.      It’s Grounded 

1. There are times that life wants to move me, but I will be steadfast and unmovable.

C.      It’s Growing 

1. There are moments where I realize that years ago, I wouldn’t have reacted like I am now.
2. What the reality is:
   1. There is More to Me Than You Can See– People try to measure your blessings by what you post, or what you wear, or what you drive. God wants you to be blessed, but this isn’t the sum total of who you are. There are people with more money than you that are miserable. There are some people with big houses, but they’re houses is in disarray. You can build your life all the way up without building yourself all the way down.
      1. It was your prayer life. God was keeping you because you had deep roots.
   2. My Connection is What Sustains Me– Our roots kept getting nutrients. Job said he has some roots that are old in the earth.
3. The question becomes, how is the tree going to come back? Some people say they are praying for you, but they really aren’t. They just want to see how you will react. So how will the tree come back?

     V.            THE PROMISE OF THE SCENT OF RAIN 

• Rain is very important in scripture. Nothing could live without the rain. That’s why God would withhold rain when a land was disobedient.
• Job says he knows he is coming back, because of the scent of rain. The scent before rain is called Petrichor. It is a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. The scent of rain releases certain oils from plants. God may be releasing oil over your life.
• The rain represents the abundance that the tree needs to get back. Job says yet to the scent of rain… We don’t have to wait until the rain comes. Petrichor impacts everything. Both our psychology and our theology is affected. Remember grandma used to say, it must be going to rain, because her joints were hurting. The scent of rain creates a reaction because you know the rain is on the way.

A.     Can You Shout for What’s on The Way? 

1. Can you give God glory that your breakthrough is on the way?

B.     My Comebacks Are Always Greater Than My Setbacks 

1. I may be down, but I’m not out. I’ll come back, because of my deep roots and the mere scent of rain.