Because of our Adamic nature, we all are born slaves to our sinful nature. Try as we might, we will never be holy. We will never be able to keep the Ten Commandments on our own. Pastor Terry teaches us from today’s message in Ephesians chapter 1 that while we were still slaves to sin and enemies to God, Christ paid the great purchase price of His life on the cross to free us from our prisons. When we trust in Jesus, we are redeemed from sin and granted Christ’s perfect righteousness. Incredibly, when Abba Father looks at us, He sees His Son, Jesus.

Sometimes when we are in the midst of extreme trial and hardship, it can be difficult to sense God in our circumstances. Pastor Terry teaches us through our continued study in Job today that even Job struggled to believe that God hadn’t abandoned him as he suffered. However, we need to always remember that our faith in God is not based on subjective fickle feelings. Instead, our faith is based on the rock solid promises of Scripture. In the Bible, Jesus promises to never leave or forsake us. We can trust Jesus to keep His Word and to walk with us as we are tried and tested.

Pastor Terry continues our study in the book of Job today. Throughout the book of Job, God is silent Job laments and asks questions aimed toward heaven. Though God is quiet, Job patiently endures suffering and proves himself to be faithful even under the blazing furnace of intense personal loss, sickness, and pain. Finally, at the end of the book of Job, God shows up. Pastor Terry points out that instead of answering Job’s questions, God poses many questions to Job that cannot be answered by mere men. Through their intensely meaningful dialogue, Job is forever humbled and changed.

At the end of the book of Job, God shows up in a mighty whirlwind and displays His awe inspiring power, creativity, and sovereignty through a set of thought provoking questions. In response, Job repents for rash words spoken in pride. Pastor Terry asks us to remember today that we are mere men and woman that can only see God’s plan in part. Because of our limited view, we are required to trust the Lord when we don’t understand His purposes. When trials inevitably come, we need to remember that Jesus is good and His purposes and plans for our lives are not only good, but will always prevail.

At the end of the book of Job, God brings Job’s long season of intense suffering and trial to a mighty end. What the Lord took away at the beginning of Job’s suffering, God gave back to him double fold. Job’s health is restored by the Lord’s miraculous healing powers, his wealth is returned, and he is consoled by friends. The book of Job ends with the happy declaration that he lived a beautiful full life filled with family to share his many blessings with. Pastor Terry teaches us that while we will endure seasons of suffering, there will come a time in this life or the next when trials finally come to an end.

You're listening to Summons, the daily radio ministry of Terry Gray, senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Sun City in El Paso Texas. Summons is a gathering of God’s people via the airwaves to study the Word of God. We gather to worship. We gather to be equipped for ministry. We gather to reach the world for Christ. Just as God's chosen people knew how to respond depending on the tone of the shofar, so we need to be ready and equipped by the Word of God to walk in obedience, bringing forth fruit unto God.

As Job is in the throws of unimaginable suffering, he asks this heart-wrenching question: “If a man dies, will he live again?” Pastor Terry gives us a sober reminder today that all of us will one day face death. Because death is a mathematical certainty, it would behoove us all to be spiritually prepared for that day which can come at any moment. Jesus says that He is the resurrection and the life. Those that put their faith and trust in Jesus and make Him the Lord of their lives will be rewarded with eternal life. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we who are in Christ will be raised with Him to live forever.

The world is tough, but God never intended it to be this way. When the Lord created the earth, everything was pristine and perfect. However, when sin entered into the world, the fall brought with it death and decay. Jesus came to earth and defeated death first at Lazarus’s grave and then again and for always at the empty tomb. Pastor Terry teaches us that just as Jesus called out to Lazarus to “come forth”, those that die knowing Jesus as their Lord as Savior will also one day hear the Lord’s voice call out to them. Those that are still alive at Christ’s return will be caught up and raptured away with the Beloved.

Pastor Terry preaches another powerful message from the book of Job today. We learn that as Job endures great tragedy and suffering, he gains much wisdom and insight. He also is gifted an eternal perspective that helps him see through his pain. If these fruits of suffering were granted to Job, then we who are in Christ can expect no less. As we face trials and are refined, we look more and more like our Savior. What’s more, Pastor Terry reminds us that we never walk through trials and suffering alone. Jesus can and does sustain His people as they walk through the shadowlands.

As we continue through the book of Job, we learn that suffering Job longed for a day and even foresaw it when a redeemer would come to help mankind. Pastor Terry preaches the Good News that Jesus is that Redeemer. Christ willingly left His heavenly station to become a lowly baby. God became one of us so He could pay the purchase price and free us from our slavery to sin. Christ did not do this begrudgingly, but He willingly became our Brother out of His great love. Those that would just put their faith and hope in Jesus are given the right to become co-heirs to Christ’s Kingdom.