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JOB 23:3

"THE QUEST FOR GOD"

Intro: Eliphaz has just spoken for the third time, advised Job "Acquaint
       now thyself  with God and be at peace." J0b replies, "Oh that I
       knew where I might find Him."

I. JOB BELIEVED IN THE FACT OF GOD'S EXISTENCE.
        A. As do all except fools. "The fool hath said . . ."
           "Professing to be wise . . ."
        B. Job desired God, supremely.
                1. Spiritual vacuum, spirit's need.
        C. How to find God?  This is the problem.
                1. Vs. 8, 9.
                2. This is the consciousness of men who seek God on the
                   human level.
                        a. Their search as Job's may result from pressure.
                        b. The quest of the intellect to understand the
                           mystery of the universe.
                        c. We cannot make satisfactory contact with God
                           with earth- bound efforts. "I worship God in
                           nature."
                                1. "Heavens declare glory."
                                2. Final truth not discovered in nature.
                                3. "Worship and serve creature more
                                   than . . ."
        D. Job's cry "Oh that I knew . . ." declares necessity of a
           special revelation of God.

II. THE ANSWER TO JOB'S CRY.
        Gather with me into an upper room-men like ourselves they are
        human, but they desire the spiritual life of God.
        A. Our attention centered on one in the middle of the group. He
           looks like them but . . . in Him the eternal has become
           visible.
                1. Obvious that they respect him highly.
                2. He has been speaking strange things lately. They
                   don't quite understand Him.
                        a. Talking about being put to death and rising.
                        b. Now He has stated "Let not your hearts be
                           troubled..."
        B. Now we see the anxious concern of another man a quiet man
           with a Greek name, "And Philip saith unto Him, Lord show
           us..."  "Oh that I knew where I might find Him."
        C. Jesus answered "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
                1. Which of you could say that? And not sound totally
                   blasphemous?
                2. "I am a child of God by creation, He is the Father
                   of us all." Ye are of your..."
                3. You only become a child of God by new birth.
        D. How did Philip see Jesus?  One of first disciples.
                1. John 1:43-He called Philip "Come, follow Me."
                2. John 6 -The hungry multitudes--Jesus said He saw
                   Him break the loaves and fish and feed the multitude.
                3. John 12-Certain Greeks came to Philip.
                        "Now is the hour come when the son of man is to
                         be glorified."  A corn of wheat except it fall
                         into the ground and die. He saw Jesus facing this
                         great sorrow by looking beyond to the victory.
                4. Now in upper room Jesus had taken a towel, washed His
                   disciples feet.
                5. He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.
                        a. Seeking and calling men.
                        b. Feeding the multitudes satisfying their needs.
                        c. Looking ahead through sorrow to ultimate
                           triumph.
                        d. Serving His disciples. Temple eyes flashing,
                           crying over Jerusalem.