{"id":7531,"date":"2020-02-07T20:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T03:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?p=7531"},"modified":"2020-02-07T23:32:29","modified_gmt":"2020-02-08T06:32:29","slug":"job22_21-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/job22_21-30\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Keys to a Blessed Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Job 22:21-30\u00a0Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

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Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Job 22:21-30.\u00a0These are Eliphaz\u2019s final recorded words in the book of Job.\u00a0\u00a0If we had to separate the wheat from the chaff in all the words Eliphaz has spoken throughout this book, there would be much unhelpful chaff, but these final words in verses 21 to 30 would be the wheat worth keeping.\u00a0\u00a0If looked at in isolation, verses 21 to 30 might be a helpful sermon for us to hang onto.\u00a0\u00a0But given the context, seeing as these words follow a whole bunch of unfair accusations and judgments Eliphaz has already made against Job, it is likely that Job was not encouraged or helped when Eliphaz spoke these words.\u00a0\u00a0But here let\u2019s give Eliphaz some slack and treat Eliphaz\u2019s words in verses 21-30 as a sermon for us today on how to live a life that God blesses.<\/p>\n

Job 22:21 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 21:\u00a0\u00a0The first point Eliphaz gives on how to live a blessed life is: surrender to God.\u00a0\u00a0When we keep demanding our own way, we have no peace.\u00a0\u00a0When we surrender to God, the result is peace.\u00a0\u00a0My soul prospers and is at peace when I lay down my agenda and say, \u201cGod, Your will be done.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Peace in my life is not dependent on me figuring everything out, or me getting my way; rather peace comes when I willingly submit to God and surrender to His way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job\u00a022:22\u00a0(NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n22\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 22:\u00a0\u00a0The second key to living a blessed life:\u00a0\u00a0Be teachable before God.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t just be one who rants and raves against God when things don\u2019t go your way.\u00a0\u00a0Instead, be willing to be taught by God.\u00a0\u00a0Store His words in your heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job 22:23-25 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n23\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent
\n24\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
\n25\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 23-25:\u00a0\u00a0The third key to a blessed life is:\u00a0\u00a0Return to God and find restoration (v23).\u00a0\u00a0Lay aside everything else that might compete for the throne of your heart.\u00a0\u00a0Treat God as your greatest gold, your choicest silver and your most precious treasure.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job 22:26-30 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n26\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.
\n27\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
\n28\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.
\n29\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast.
\n30\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 26-30:\u00a0\u00a0These verses describe the benefits that flow into your life when you treat the Lord as your greatest gold and most precious treasure:<\/p>\n