Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening

Last Wednesday while on our way to Kuya Sam at his office in National City, we were stopped by the light down the ramp exiting to Plaza Blvd

While waiting for the light to turn green, a guy with a plastic container came walking towards us gestured if we want to donate to their cause

There was something about the guy’s smile in his face that prompted my wife to draw some cash from her purse and gave it to me to give to the guy

I cracked my window open and he handed me a piece of paper that contains some information about what they’re doing

I discretely dropped few bucks in his container and asked him a quick question

I asked him the name of their ministry, and right before the light turned green, he quickly replied and said, “True Vine”

In John chapter 15:1 Jesus Christ said...

He explained that as branches, we can only bear fruit if we are attached to the vine

But when the branches are apart from the vine, they cannot bear fruit

Same is true for us, apart from the Lord, we can do nothing

He said to be attached to the vine, His words must remain in us, and we must keep His commands

He called us “Friends”

Do you guys remember the song “That’s what Friends are For?” by: Dionne Warwick?

“That's What Friends Are For" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.

It was first recorded in 1982 by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of the film Night Shift

But it is better known for the 1985 cover version by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.

BREATHE!

It goes something like this… (play karaoke)

It goes something like this… (play karaoke)

If you know the song, please indulge and join me...

“That’s What Friends are For”

And I never thought I'd feel this way

And as far as I'm concerned

I'm glad I got the chance to say

That I do believe, I love you

And if I should ever go away

Well, then close your eyes and try

To feel the way we do today

And then if you can remember

Keep smiling, keep shining

Knowing you can always count on me, for sure

That's what friends are for

For good times and bad times

I'll be on your side forever more

That's what friends are for

Well, you came in loving me

And now there's so much more I see

And so by the way

I thank you

Oh and then for the times when we're apart

Well, then close your eyes and know

The words are coming from my heart

And then if you can remember

Keep smiling and keep shining

Knowing you can always count on me, for sure

That's what friends are for

In good times and bad times

I'll be on your side forever more

That's what friends are for

Jesus is our one “true friend”

For good times, and in bad times, He will be on our side forever more

Because that’s what friends are for...

BREATHE!

If you’re experiencing some sufferings, what could it be?

Not necessarily the kind of sufferings of the early christians and christians living in the “10-40 window” where their lives are actually threatened

We are so very blessed here in America that we don’t have to go through what other christians have gone, or going still going through

erhaps you’re suffering about something, but you do not exactly know what’s causing it Or you totally know the cause of your sufferings but you’re living in a perfect fantasy and opt to deny that you’re going through something It could be that your suffering is financially related?

Or it could be some major or minor health issues that causes you to worry?

Or maybe it is your “lifetime frustrations” piled up inside your chest?

Or it could be your marriage or other relationships?

Perhaps you’re suffering about something, but you do not exactly know what’s causing it

Or you totally know the cause of your sufferings but you’re living in a perfect fantasy and opted to deny that you’re going through something

It could be that your sufferings are financially related?

Or it could be some major or minor health issues that causes you to worry?

Or maybe it is your “lifetime frustrations” piled up inside your chest?

Or it could be your marriage or other relationships that causes you to suffer?

BREATHE!

As we continue with our series for February entitled, “A Journey with Job”, let’s take a look on the second chapter of the book of Job

Let’s find the answer to the question...

Why do we have to suffer?

Go ahead and ask the person next to you… Why do we have to suffer?

And as you turn your Bibles to Job chapter 2, let me give you a quick overview of this chapter in the life of Job

Text: “That’s what Friends are For”

For the second time, Job’s faith was put to test Satan was roaming throughout the earth Then the Lord said to Satan, “have you considered my servant Job?”

There is no one on earth like him, God said of Job He is blameless and upright He fears God and shuns evil He maintains his integrity despite his sufferings for no reason skin for skin Satan replied, he dared God to strike Job flesh and bones and he will surely curse Him So, God gave Satan a permission to afflict Job anew Job contracted some kind of skin disease that he had sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head He took a a piece of broken pottery, and used it to scrape his skin as he sat among the ashes Witnessing all these was Job’s wife She told Job, “are you still maintaining your integrity, curse God and die!”

But Job strongly disagreed with his wife, and said, “ (GNB) “You are talking nonsense!

When God sends us something good, we welcome it.

How can we complain when he sends us trouble?”

In spite of everything he suffered, Job said nothing against God.

Job is not calling his wife a fool or a non-sense person, instead, Job is saying that her advice is what is foolish and non-sense At this point, Job’s Life Group came to the scene When Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite heard about all the troubles of Job They set out from their homes, and agreed to meet and go to Job They are off from whatever they’re doing They willingly departed from the cycle of their daily lives to comfort a friend, a Life Group Member They weep together They mourned together Noticeably, none of them said a word, they just sat with Job for seven days and seven nights

For the second time, Job’s faith was put to test

Satan was roaming throughout the earth

Then the Lord said to Satan, “have you considered my servant Job?”

There is no one on earth like him, God said of Job

He is blameless and upright

He fears God and shuns evil

He maintains his integrity despite his sufferings for no reason

BREATHE!

Is God punishing me when I experience sufferings?

People loves to reason out

We always try to find reasons for everything

We tend to justify ourselves by reasoning out at every situation and circumstances

But look on the second part of verse 3 of our text today, it says

For no reason at all, the life of Job was ruined

There are times when we go through sufferings

BREATHE!

We don’t need to find the reason why

It is not actually God that inflicts us with sufferings

It is Satan who roams the earth who does.