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God created men to live under His authority and exercise dominion by leading themselves, their families, and the responsibilities He has entrusted to them. When men surrender to passivity, sin, and addiction, they lose dominion.

There are people today who claim that God has a split personality. They say that in Old Testament times, God was vengeful and full of judgment, but in the New Testament He is gracious and merciful. What do you think? Did God change? Did He become more loving after Jesus came to earth? Consider that with John MacArthur in his study titled Without Excuse.

Jodi Jackson Tucker, Lisa C. Qualls, and Betsy Kylstra share their stories as an adoptive mother, adopted child, and birth parent to equip those affected by adoption to experience healing from the wounds caused by broken families. Hear about God’s redemptive and transformative work through adoption.

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In this program, Chip reveals how Jesus modeled His relationship with His heavenly Father. He trusted that God would provide generously, without condemnation. Chip tells us that’s how God wants us to love others. But we’ll need some help – don’t miss this encouraging message.

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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Job 13:15

We have all faced devastation at some point in our lives; it is in those difficult seasons we often ask ourselves if God is enough. Can God be trusted in our troubles?

This is what Job learned in his suffering. God allowed the devil to bring hardship on Job because the devil didn’t think Job could love God just for who He is.

Yet, in Job 13:15, Job says, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” The Book of Job shows us that God Himself is not only necessary, but He is enough.

First, we can trust God even when we’re submerged in suffering.
Job’s troubles began with the seemingly instant loss of his livestock—his financial security. While Job was still reeling over the news, a second messenger informed him that he’d lost his ten children. His body was infected with a horrible disease, and as a result, his reputation was tarnished. But in the midst of this overwhelming devastation, Job continued to praise God.

Adrian Rogers says, “You can have faith and calamity all at the same time. Faith is not receiving from God what we want; faith is accepting from God what He gives.”

We can also trust God when we are forsaken by our friends.
Job 19:14 says, “My relatives have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me.” Job’s friends were perplexed by his hardships; because they didn’t understand, they assumed he was at fault and left him. Being abandoned by friends is one of the deepest hurts we could face. God understands every part of us and promises He will not leave us.

Third, we can trust God when we are dismayed by darkness.
Job had no idea what was happening to him, or why. When we find ourselves in this kind of complete darkness, we should remember to lean upon God, the guiding light of our soul’s darkest hours.

As Job pleaded his case to God, God reminded him of His sovereignty, sufficiency, and sympathy. Job learned that in his suffering, abandonment, and dismay, God was nearest to Him. God was necessary to live through the trial; He was enough to get Him through it.

Apply it to your life
Are you experiencing suffering, abandonment, or dismay? Remember that God is with you. He is sovereign, sufficient, and sympathetic. Pray today that He would reveal His presence to you.

The impact of the first moon landing in 1969 was monumental. And that same year—just a few months before the launch of Apollo 11—John MacArthur launched his pastoral ministry that would last fifty-six years, and with it, the Bible-teaching ministry of Grace to You. So be here for timeless biblical truth in John’s study called Without Excuse.