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JOB 42:5,6

"THE DISCOVERY OF GOD"

I. MAN'S QUEST FOR GOD.
        A. Book of Job illustration.
                1. Zophar asked "Can you by searching find out God?"
                2. Eliphaz counseled "Acquaint yourself with God and be at
                   peace."
                3. Job responded "Oh that I knew where I might find Him."
                        a. The circumstances of his life had caused him to
                            cry "God where are you?"
                        b. Many times our circumstances provoke similar
                           cry.
        B. Throughout the world we observe man in his quest for God.
                1. His search often takes on weird forms.
                2. Every culture, even most primitive has some form of
                   worship.
        C. Scripture says, "None that seeketh after God."
                1. What are they seeking?
                        a. The appeasement of their own conscience.
                        b. Seeking to fill inner void.
                2. Man's gods always involve the worship of the creature
                   rather than the creator.
                        a. Sacred cow of India.
                        b. Worship of alligators.
                        c. Worship of moon - constellations.
                        d. Worship of man.
                                1. The creative forces of your mind.

II. GOD MUST BE REVEALED. "I HAVE HEARD OF THEE BY THE HEARING OF THE EAR:
    BUT NOT I SEE THEE."
        A. Though he had heard of God he had not discovered God.
                1. Many have heard yet do not know.
                        a. They reject what they hear.
                        b. God, as yet, has not revealed Himself.
                2. There surely cannot be very many in the U.S. who have
                   not heard of Jesus Christ.
                        a. Yet majority do not believe or follow.
                3. There is that Point of revelation that must come.
                        a. Where it goes from theory to reality.
                        b. From head knowledge to heart experience.
                4. Necessity for the step of faith.
                        a. "Believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ..."
                                1. I can't believe.
                                2. I will believe.

III. IN SEEING GOD, HE SAW HIMSELF. "I ABHOR MYSELF AND REPENT IN DUST AND
     ASHES."
        A. 27:6 "My righteousness I hold fast, I will not let it go:  my
                 heart shall not reproach me as long as I live."
                1. At this point prone to give up on Job.
                2. We are prone to give up on people.
                3. All Job needed was one glimpse of God.
        B. We too often view ourselves in the light of man. We need to see
           ourselves in the light of God.