The teaching team at 514 Grace Church explores righteousness through Job 17:9, defining it as moral integrity and steadfastness in suffering, not prosperity. They argue that clean hands become an "atom bomb" for believers, using Job's response to catastrophic loss and examples from Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers to show how suffering rooted in righteousness produces strength.
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In this series, talking about releasing the champion inside. Amen. And the topic of this particular lesson, part 4, and the final part of this series of releasing the Champion Inside. Champion Inside. The title is Grow in Righteousness and Seek for the Good of Others. One more time: Grow in Righteousness and Seek for the Good of Others. A true champion truly seeks the good of others, and we have that perfect example in Jesus Christ. our Lord and Savior. Amen. He perfectly, uh, sought for the good of others. Amen.
Amen.
Let's get started using the word righteous as it is used in Job chapter 17, verse 9. Let's go to that, please. Job chapter 17 Verse 9. The word righteous may seem like a small, common, quaint word, but it packs a lot of power in the application of righteousness.
Yes.
Because one thing that happens very importantly that a believer and a Christian really needs By applying the meaning of righteous, righteous truly means doing the right thing at the right time. In a nutshell, doing the right thing at the right time. That's a simplified definition of righteous. We're going to go over some more, a couple of points. But as it relates to Job chapter 17, verse 9, That's the perspective we're going to be coming from for the meaning of righteous, uh, for this particular part of the message of Grow in Righteousness. Everyone there?
Yes.
Job 17, verse 9 reads, yet— I'm reading out of the ESV, the English Standard Version— yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger. The B part of that verse we're going to be going on, um, over in the process of this message right here. But that is so powerful, my friends. We're going to dissect that last phrase and the first part as well. But when we dissect, he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger, You will see that's like an atom bomb, a hydrogen bomb, a power released for the believer, and it's in our hands to have it released. Amen.
Amen.
As it is used in Job 17:9 for our principal meaning in the context of this lesson, let's examine the hermeneutical definition. Hermeneutical is not a strange word to be intimidated with. It's just meaning interpretation.
Amen.
Amen. The interpretation, hermeneutical definition of this key word. What is that key word? Righteousness. We define this word in 2 parts as it relates to Job 17, verse 9. Righteous, the A part, Refers to someone who lives in moral integrity and uprightness before God.
Yes.
Not merely in legal or ceremonial, ceremonial purity, but in ethical commitment to justice, truth, and faithfulness. Part B, in Job's context for this chapter, again, 17, verse 9. In Job's context, righteousness is not proven by prosperity or vindication, but by steadfastness.
Yes.
But by steadfastness in the face of suffering. The Lord shared with me several years ago when I was murmuring and complaining about suffering at one time, if I remember correctly. He was putting things in perspective and saying that great glory comes out of great pain. That's right.
Wow. Wow.
Let's go over that one more time. Great glory comes out of great pain. Let's look at the civil rights movement. Countless, and I mean countless, that we don't know.
That's right.
Now other people have suffered too, so I'm not— don't get me wrong, I'm not saying, uh, the African-American or Black people are the only one who has suffered in this country. So please don't, uh, take that in the wrong perspective, but I'm using this to make a point. Countlessly Black people have been treated in a way that was in the early days of coming to America Supposedly in Jamestown in 1692, if I remember correctly, the first Africans for slave trade, for the purpose of slave trade, coming to Virginia have been treated in a reckless and a harmful and a shameful way. Now, people such as Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Those people went through great pain to do what? For deliverance, to get equal rights, for the right to vote. That's why I think about sometimes when I go to make my vote, the people who have died just trying to get people registered to vote. You could have been killed easily.
I'm sorry.
Emmett Smith in Money, Mississippi. The week before he came to Money, Mississippi, there was a Black man— I don't remember his name— who was trying to register Black people to vote. He was shot and killed. Medgar Evers in Mississippi. Trying to get people registered to vote and do other things as he was the, I think, the leader of the NAACP in that particular area of Mississippi, that township. Shot in the back. Great suffering. Great glory.
Wow.
Now we have more and more people, not everyone, but more and more people. who respect and try to give honor and try to look at things on an equal basis for the African American. Not everybody, but many people, because they see the— praise God— the, the, uh, the unfairness at that particular time that we're going through, that people were going through. Amen.
Amen.
Let's prove this point in the life of Job. We can observe by reading the beginning of the book of Job that he walked in, in a, in what I term as the greatest position a Christian can walk in. That is having a rich relationship with the Heavenly Father. Now this is called polar opposites. Are you familiar with that term? A 180-degree angle is simply a straight line. Here's the line pointing that way, and the opposite end pointing that particular way, 180-degree angle. The best position to be in is on the side of the line where it is a rich relationship. A Christian has a rich relationship with God.
Yes.
How do you have that rich relationship? This is when, uh, it does not— no longer becomes a chore to spend time with the Father in studying the word, in praying to God, in worshiping God. Instead of it becoming a chore, it becomes a delight.
Yes.
And as it becomes a delight, God reveals more and more secrets of the kingdom to that individual. Just think Elijah, who spent so much time with God, enjoying his time, taken up by the Father.
Yes.
So many people who will, praise God, have that time with the Father, they see that power and that strength that comes from being with the Father. Think of Martin Luther King. How he would have easily given up if he didn't sense that hope by his time, by spending time with the Father in prayer and seeking and pleading for the Father and seeing the Father answer prayer. That kept him going.
Amen.
We can see the evidence of this position Job walked in in verse Uh, 1, uh, Job chapter 1, verse 1. Let's go there. Job chapter 1, verse 1 in the ESV. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Now, to be in that— to meet that description, you could not have a weak relationship with God. This man was blameless, upright, and turned away. He made the decision to stay away from evil. You must be delighting in spending time with the Father. Amen.
Amen.
So he had a rich relationship with the Father.
Yeah.
Folks, to meet this description, you really, truly could not be weak in your relationship with God. Job was enormously wealthy, but his riches didn't come from owning large tracts of land, but from owning many herds of livestock.
Wow.
Livestock was an important measure of wealth in ancient days. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants. If your Bible translation uses, uh, the word donkey instead of female donkey, well, the Hebrew for the donkey in this particular instance In this particular chapter is a feminine form. That's what the donkey is here. It's talking about a female. Why is that important? Female donkeys, which could produce offspring, were more valuable than male donkeys.
Oh.
That's why Job had so many female donkeys. They were more valuable. What can we turn to today's time to look at an animal that is chosen, whether male or female, that's more valuable? We can easily go to horse racing. I know we don't gamble here, but it makes the point that many trainers and whatnot and breeders, they're looking for what's called as a stud.
Yes.
Someone who can make, um, horses, but of course by being together with another female horse, and hopefully they would have an offspring that can be a winner like their father. So that's a very valuable horse, someone who has a reputation of winning the, the Triple Crown, the Belmont, the Preakness, the Kentucky Derby. If that owner has that particular horse, when it retires, he wants him to breed other horses, hoping that that DNA, hoping that what's inside that father horse will translate into the baby horse and they can raise him to be a champion, to win maybe the Preakness, to win maybe the Belmont or the Kentucky Derby. Does that make any sense?
Yes, sir.
Same principle as Job having female donkeys. They were much more valuable. Amen.
Amen.
Additionally, having many male and female servants was a great indication of wealth, which Job had in verse 3 of chapter 1. Now let's observe how Job responded to intense pressure when it was a challenge to hold on to your commitment to the Heavenly Father. Did he still want to show reverence for the Father God? It's one thing for us to be, uh, reverent and have a joyous smile and a joyous time and praise and worship when everything goes well. But when everything is breaking loose, yes, when the water's above your head, when it's a challenge with relationships, with, with family members, or bills, or relationships on the job or whatnot. What are we going to do then? Are we still going to be worshiping and praising God? Are we going to say, uh, Pastor, I need to take a break, I'm going to stay home this, this weekend? No, Pastor say come on and worship God.
Amen.
Praise God, that's your breakthrough.
That's right.
That's what makes Satan the enemy mad. That's right. Amen. See that you cannot be broken down and, and taken away from worshiping and praising God even though you're going through a difficult time.
Amen.
We see that with our enemies now.
That's right.
When a person that we're working with, some— a coworker or someone in the neighborhood, through all the things that they try to do to get you discouraged, try to bring you down, they still see you what? Happy anyway. They go to the refrigerator and throw all that beer away. Say, praise God. Say, this thing ain't working. I'm trying to do everything I can to discourage this man. This man and this woman are still happy.
Yes.
They said the joy of the Lord is their strength. That— those few words that you're giving of insult and whatnot don't mean nothing to me. I got a what? Rich relationship with the Father. That rich relationship means a whole lot.
That's right.
We can see this, uh, Job taking this test and staying true to our God in his trials in verses chapter 1 starting at verse 6. Let's go to that, chapter 1 starting at verse 6. I'm gonna do that in the NIV. Chapter 1, verse 6, the New International Version. One day the angels of— one day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. I'm going to 6 through 22. The Lord said to Satan, where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord, from roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied, Satan replied, have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands so that his flocks and his herds are spread— or herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face. The Lord said to Satan, very well, Then everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger. Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job and said, the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attack made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am only one— and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, the fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, another messenger came And said, the Chaldeans formed 3 raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at their oldest brother's house. When suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the 4 corners of the house. It collapsed on them, and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship. We just talked about not feeling good and staying at home, but Job, after seeing his children killed, livestock and things that he owned just destroyed, instead of getting in a pity party and whatnot, he fell down and did what? Worshipped. You got to have a rich relationship, my friends, at this point right here.
That's right.
Lose your son, lose your daughters, things that you own, the livestock, the things that meant that you were a wealthy man.
Right, right.
Losing all that by raiding parties, it's almost like some people say, what next, God? What have I done? Instead of that, Job tore his clothes and fell down to worship God. Look at the difference. What can cause a man to fall down and worship God compared to another man that's starting to complain, what have I done, God? Where were you, God? God, I'm angry at you. Why were there two different reactions? One has a rich relationship with God, and one does not. Does that make any sense? Who has escaped it to you? At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said. Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. May the, the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, my Lord— losing your children, losing your livestock, things that said you're a wealthy man— in all this, Job what? Did not sin. My Lord, you got to have a relationship with God. Talking about tests, this is the test right here. This is not something that someone spoke about or someone shunning us or whatnot, someone, uh, refusing to speak to us at work that we're worried about or whatnot. Nah, you've lost your dearly beloved heart. That your children are usually the apple of your eye. He lost them. His way of earning money, he lost it with the livestock. He didn't say, God, where are you? He fell down and worshiped God.
Wow.
In all this, Job did not sin. By what charging God with wrongdoing. You have got to have a rich relationship with the Father to do that. There's no way in the world— is this making any sense? Yes, sir.
Amen.
You have a brand new house, a brand new car, and you lost it. One of your children have died in an accident, tearing you apart. You just got laid off from your job. People speaking terrible things about you. Can we honestly say in all this we did not charge God with wrongdoing?
Wow.
Don't say anything, just think about it in our hearts. Amen.
Amen.
You have got to have a rich relationship with the Father for a man or a woman to not charge God, God, and to not sin at this particular point. Let's look at another example, chapter 2. Job chapter 2. Amen.
Amen.
Starting at verse 1. On another day, the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the Lord said to Satan, where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord, from roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil, and he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. God said, this is my servant. You incited me to ruin this man, and he still did not lose his integrity of saying that I am God, did not charge me with wrongdoing. He still worshiped me. Can you see the weight that this man was faced with?
Yes.
And we can compare it to what things that we go through. Can we still have that conversation? Can we still let that out of our mouth?
Yes, sir.
After all the discouragement, all the things that we give ourselves excuses to be down in our relationship with God, to not come to church, to not read the Bible, to not pray, to not worship because we're hurt, we're mad, we're angry, we're teed off.
That's right.
Mad at God.
That's right.
Let's keep it real.
That's right.
Can we say like Job did not charge God with wrongdoing but worshiped him? And still he maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. Skin for skin, Satan replied. A man will give all he has for his own life. Verse 5. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face. The Lord said to Satan, very well, then he is your hand— he is in your hands, but you must spare his life. Now, we can't go over this too fast. Satan is presenting a challenge to God about one of his servants, one of his children. And God is saying, very well, he's in your hands. Now, this is not a trick question.
Right.
Don't you think God knew the type of relationship, the type of heart, God that Job had towards him?
Yes.
He knew his son because his son was spending time with him in the person of Job, worshiping him, honoring him, reverencing him. God knew what he was about, knew he could take it. Remember we said in the earlier message that 30 Was the number meaning maturity and readiness?
Yes.
Daniel had that edict against him for 30 days, meaning he was ready for the test. Job was a grown— a grown-up at this particular point. What is that telling us? We need to grow up. My Lord, as well as my Savior. Yes, sir. Wow. Not give up and cave in because someone has said something bad about us, because something didn't go our way. We're ready to give up. I think the scripture says if we faint In the day of adversity, our strength is what? Small, weak. Amen. Jesus was faced with many trials. Death threats everywhere. Apostle Paul, death threats everywhere.
My goodness.
They still didn't give up on the battle. Apostle Paul said, I fought the good fight. He didn't give up. It takes a grown-up to make a statement like that, grown up in the Lord. Have I wanted to cave in and give up? Yes, I have.
Yes.
Have I had to have encouragement and being encouraged by the Lord? Yes, I have had the Lord to encourage me to keep going. But that's the thing that we can expect and And look forward to with the Father to encourage us, to help us. He just want us to admit, come to him and say, Lord, I'm weak at this time. I feel like giving up. I feel like throwing in the towel. Help me to stay with you. And God said, that's what I need to hear, that you're dependent on me, you need me.
Amen.
I can refresh you, son. I can refresh you, daughter. Does that make any sense?
Amen.
Verse 7. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then took— then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself With it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die. His wife was looking at situations and things from the natural.
Yeah.
Job, you in bad shape. You might as well give up.
Yeah.
I hate seeing you go look like this bad. Are you still going to hold to your integrity? You're better off dead than alive. Curse God and what? Die. He replied, you are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble? Job is saying it again. put it in perspective of a grown-up. I received many blessings from God, much livestock, beautiful children. Can I receive all these blessings from God and sometimes never expect any trouble to happen?
Wow.
That's saying we have to grow up.
That's right.
Amen. Shall we accept good from God and not, uh, trouble? In all this, Job what? Did not sin in what he said. My Lord, this is challenging to all of us. It is. It's also true that Job humbly admitted that he wasn't perfect and that he was not sinless perfect. In chapter 6 of Job, verse 24, Chapter 6 of Job, verse 24, in the NIV. He admits that he's not perfect. He says, teach me. And in the NIV, teach me and I will be quiet. Show me where I have been wrong. This is a wealthy man, the wealthiest man of the East, out of the, the land of Uz. Humble himself. That wealth didn't mean nothing to him compared to relationship with God. He humbled himself. God, show me where I've been wrong. He wanted relationship with God more than the money. Amen. Wow. Or he had his relationship with more importance than he had the, uh, money.
Amen. Amen.
We've seen examples of Job being steadfast in the face of suffering, but let's not rush past the importance of the B portion of Job 17:9 and its benefits. The phrase, he, he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger, I suggest to you is one of the most powerful building blocks for a Christian to place in his or her foundation for the purpose of erecting a fortress for spiritual success in the entirety of the Bible. This is one of them. Once again, we can look at the hermeneutical explanation for this powerful phrase. In biblical literature, clean hands often symbolizes innocence and ethical purity. Let's cross-reference this with Psalms 24, verse 4. Let's go there. Psalms 24, verse 4. And it says, Psalms 24, verse 4, the one who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not trust in an idol or swear before a false god. Clean hands is a very important position with God. How do we maintain clean hands? Integrity. Yes.
Amen.
It's not getting a bar of soap and going to the bathroom and washing the hands for 20 seconds to be safe from COVID That's not the clean hands. No, that's right. The clean hands is more spiritual with the heart. Integrity is how we have clean hands. Continue to walk in integrity. This phrase—
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