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JOB 23:3

"THE SEARCH FOR GOD"

Intro: Job's cry, "Oh that I knew where I might find Him" is a response
       to the last  speech of Eliphaz who advised "Acquaint now  . . ."

I. THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING GOD.
        A. Job speaks of his search.
                1. vs. 8, 9.
                2. Searching for some material form.
                        a. Hard to find something you cannot see.
                        b. Man seeks to visualize God, form.
                        c. God forbade idols.
                        d. Most false worship involves material things.
                                1. The common mistake is to stop too short
                                2. Worship and serve the creature, rather
                                   than the creator.
                3. Searching for a material form destined for failure "God
                   is a Spirit..."
        B. There are so many religious huxters.
                1. You can find God by meditating on your naval.
                2. You can find God by paying me $400.00, for my special
                   courses.
                3. Everybody else is wrong, we are the only ones who know
                   the truth.
                4. Poor searching man stands in the center of the midway
                   as the religious huxters appeal to him-Confusion.
        C. Job's basic error.
                1. Looked forward, backward, right & left, somehow looking
                   for God on his own level.
                2. Why didn't he think to look up?
                        To the cry of Job "Oh that I knew where I. . . ?"

II. JESUS ANSWERS "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO MAN COMES TO
    THE FATHER BUT BY ME."
        A. To the man searching for the way to God.
                1. Jesus says "I am the Way."
                        a. How can I know He is not just another huxter?
                                1. No other man in history had so much
                                   written about him before he, was born.
                                        a. Manner and place of birth.
                                        b. Early travels.
                                        c. Specific details of His life.
                                2. He said many incredible things.
                                        a. I AM the bread of life.
                                        b. I AM the door to the sheepfold.
                                        c. I AM the resurrection and the
                                           life.
                                        d. I AM the Way.
                                        e. I and the Father and one.
                                        f. They will kill Me but on the
                                           third day I will rise again.
                                        g. Many of His claims can only be
                                           verified by subjective
                                           experience.
                                        h. He said receiving Him would
                                           bring peace, joy, love, and life.
                2. To the man searching for truth Jesus says, "I am the
                   Truth."
                        a. This is a radical claim.
                                1. Thousands of great intellects have
                                   sought to disprove it.
                                        a. Carefully analyzed every word,
                                           they have scrutinized all the
                                           evidence.
                                        b. They have not been able to
                                           provide any proof that He is
                                           wrong.
                                        c. They may offer theories or
                                           conject.
                3. To the man thirsting for true life, Jesus says, "I
                   am the Life."
                        a. Rich young ruler came to Jesus one day.