Job’s latter end was blessed more than his beginning, but he had to learn a hard lesson - that God is worthy to be trusted and honored no matter what He does to us. Job also learned to love, and he was restored thereby.

First, Job had to repent. vs1-6

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

Therefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes.” vs5-6

He was the holiest man, but he must repent before God, and so must we. The murmuring, thinking that we deserve better, and contempt of God must be vomited out like the vileness that it is. We must see Him on the throne as worthy of worship - the Absolutely Just God, the Ruler of All Creation.

Job learned to HATE HIMSELF. How about you? This is too much for most people, but they’ve never seen themselves before God. Isaiah, the best man of his day, said that he was a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips [Isa 6]. His offence? He saw the Lord in His holiness!

If you ever get a glimpse, the vileness of your flesh - that you deserve hell, right now, and whatever He does is absolutely just, whether he hurts you and takes everything away or destroys the world by the brightness of His coming - then you will fall down in thankfulness and worship for the forgiveness of sins - that this Great God has pardoned you. You’ve heard the saying, “A big fish in a small pond?” We are in a small pond, until we see God, and He keeps doing things against our will to show us His greatness.

Brothers, we must be humbled to be exalted and humbled to reach new heights.

Secondly, if you want restoration, then pray for others! vs7-10a

“And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.” vs10

I’ve had a difficult time getting a message from God these last few days in Warri. I see my own sin, my haughtiness, and my pride. I see that I’ve possibly offended someone and caused them to stumble, which is far worse than sinning privately. I also see that as I prayed for this person's sins - something that I believe troubles their conscience - the Lord led me to Job 42 and gave me something to preach.

Let us learn the lessons:

1. We are to love others. The Christian gospel is love to your neighbor because God loves you!

2. We are to love tangibly, doing good to others with our finances. It can’t be in lip only; it has to be in deed and truth - loving the widow, the orphan, supporting preachers, and helping poor saints [Rom 15:23-27].

3. We must forgive and treat people right, or we can’t pray. If we don’t forgive, then we can’t be forgiven. If husbands don’t love wives, then their access to God is hindered [1 Pet 3:7]!

This is a strange thing, but it is the truth of the gospel: As we live to SERVE OTHERS, we live rightly: As we give, we receive!

Thirdly, we are blessed more after we’ve gone through our trial. vs10b-17

“Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning;” vs12

God is good, just, and He knows what He’s doing! If He brings adversity, then it is best. It is better for Jonah to suffer the hot sun, rather than Nineveh be destroyed. His purpose is always better than our own.

It is good for us to be chastised and afflicted, so we might learn. It is good for us to be humbled, so we can be exalted.

I’ve gone through the ringer. How about you? Have you tasted the Lord is gracious by what He’s denied, and how HE’S HURT YOU?

Bless God, we can always trust His love, wisdom, and absolute sovereignty - that He has power to change every situation, and He will hear our prayers [Phil 4:6]. Bless God that you have access unto the heavenly Father!

We are blessed beyond comprehension because we have Him, and He lets us see it in this life.