Sermon Tone Analysis

job

Introduction

This weekend we take time out of our busy lives to focus on Memorial Day.

We remember, honour, and give thanks for those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

Flags wave, parades are held, speeches are made, and taps are played to remind us of the brave soldiers who willingly laid their lives down in order to preserve the freedom that we hold dear.

As we think through the stories we have heard from WWII veterans, Vietnam Soldiers, and Middle East Heroes, we are moved at their tenacity, grit, and love for country that they displayed in their darkest hours, in their midnight hours.

All through out history, man has viewed midnight to be the time of fear, uncertainty and death.

It is a time when the normal pattern of sweet sleep can be disturbed with unexpected and unwelcome trouble.

In our passage this morning we read the words of Elihu, one of Job’s “friends”.

He is waxing eloquent about the way God judges folks who deserve it.

Job’s well meaning, but ill-advised advisor uses a very powerful word picture.

He tells about the terror that comes to those under the mighty hand of God when they face trouble at midnight.

Are you facing a dark hour in your life?

Are you, like the soldiers that we honor this weekend, facing trouble at midnight?

Brothers and sisters, I have good news based on God’s word and what it says about the midnight hour.

God is always in control!

The light of God’s love is not dimmed by the blackness of the midnight hour or the trouble it contains.

God uses the dark and foreboding hour of midnight to reach us when we need Him the most and call us to take action in order to benefit from Trouble at Midnight.

Heed the Warning of Trouble at Midnight

Samson had been given marks of distinction as God’s chosen deliverer.

He kept surrendering these marks of distinction one by one.

His lust would eventually be his downfall.

This was a warning from God to try to wake him up and get him to change his ways before it was too late.

5. His last mark of distinction to surrender was his hair.

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Once he surrendered his distinction, God took his power away.

It could be that your trouble at midnight is designed to get you to rethink your choices, repent, and go in a different direction before it is too late.

Escape the Trouble at Midnight

Exodus

The firstborn of every household was condemned to die, regardless of race or background.

The only way to escape the trouble at midnight was to apply the innocent blood of the lamb to the doorpost.

3. Jesus is coming back like a thief in the night and only those who are covered in His blood will go with Him to escape trouble at midnight.

4. Death comes to us all, after that the midnight hour of judgement.

Only those covered in the blood of Jesus will escape.

There is coming a time of reckoning., whether it be the rapture or death, there will come a time that we will all be judged.

Only those who have transferred their trust from their works to Christ’s finished work on the cross alone will be able to escape that kind of trouble at midnight.

Sing Praises During the Trouble at Midnight.

Paul and Silas sang praises during their darkest hour of persecution.

Every condemned and suffering soul heard the power of their praise.

When the jail doors opened, the prisoners did not dare leave, because they were spell bound by this kind of powerful praise.

It is because of this singing during the trouble at midnight, the jailer wanted to know how to be saved.

It may be that God has brought you to this trial in order for you to give thanks in spite of your situation.

Perhaps you are commissioned to sing praises through your trouble at midnight.

Find Hope in the Midst of Trouble At Midnight

There comes a time when all human hope is lost.

acts 27 14-20

2. This hopelessness should drive us to seek God

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3. God gives grace to endure the storm.

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It is said that the world’s best supply of perfume comes from roses on the Balkan Mountains.

The flowers from which the lovely fragrance is distilled must be gathered in the darkest part of the night!

The laborers therefore start shortly after 12 o’clock and conclude their picking within two hours.

The brevity of the work period is based on scientific tests which have proved that during this gloomy interval the blossoms give their most pleasing scent, while 40 percent of their aroma disappear in the light of day.

Are you, like the folks we remember on Memorial Day, going through a dark and terrifying Midnight experience?

This did not happen randomly.

God has a purpose for your travel through this valley.

Perhaps there is a warning you must heed.

Perhaps it is escape through the Blood of Jesus you need.Perhaps you have a song to sing.

Perhaps it is the light of hope that you are meant to see.

Whatever the design, there is something you can learn from your trouble at midnight.