THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE

THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES LIFE
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Job 33:4 4The Spirit of God has made me; the breath
of the Almighty gives me life.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The Inspiration Of Creation
Job 33:4
W.F. Adeney
Elihu assures Jobthat he is a man, made by God, and by his very creation
having the Spirit of God in him. There is some pretentiousness in the manner
of Elihu. Yet what he says is important, because it is not true of him alone, but
of every man.
I. MAN IS MADE BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
1. His origin is outside himself. Whatever man can do for himself, he certainly
cannot make himself. When we come back to the question of origins, the most
self-reliant personmust confess that he could not have causedhis own being.
2. His origin is from God. Man derives his life originally from the First Cause
of the whole series of living creatures. Whetherman was createdimmediately
out of the dust of the earth, or, as evolutionists teach, mediately, through other

creatures, he in common with all things living derives his being from the great
Parent of nature. Evolution does not destroy creation;it only describes the
process, andthrows back the time of the beginning of creation.
3. His origin is in the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God at first brooded over the
face of the waters (Genesis 1:2). When man appearedGod breathed into him
the spirit of life (Genesis 2:7). The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of life. In
his spiritual nature man is especiallyrelatedto the Spirit of God. He is a
spark from the eternal Sun.
4. His very existence is maintained by the Spirit of God. Man lives only
because Godlives in him. By nature his life is an inspiration from heaven. At
any moment, if God were to withdraw, man would perish. "In him we five,
and move, and have our being." Thus not only the original creation, but also
the presentlife, should be regardedas inspired by God.
II. THE INSPIRATION OF CREATION IS A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.
1. The Makermay be known by his work. All creationreveals God; but man,
the highestcreature, most fully expresses the Divine. To us there can be no
higher revelationof God than that which is made through a perfect man.
Therefore the incarnation of Christ is our most complete vision of the Father.
But all men are in a measure revealers ofthe hand that made them.
2. The spiritual nature of man is a type of God. All nature reveals God; suns
and stars, trees and flowers, birds, beasts, andfishes, give lemons of the
Divine; but they do so through their material structures. Man reveals God in
the constitution of his spiritual nature. He is not merely the building that sets
forth the ideas of the Architect; he is the child, himself made in the image of
the Father. His spiritual nature is essentiallylike God. who is Spirit. Thus he
is made in the image of God.
3. The indwelling of the Spirit of Godis a permanent revelation of God. God
not only makes himself knownby what he has done, he is daily revealing
himself by his presentlife in our midst. Nature is not like a fossilthat shows in
its dead lineaments the traces ofan old-world life; she is a mirror of the
Divine activity. Our own souls are witnessing to God by their vitality. The

dwelling of God within us is a continuous proof that he lives, that he works,
that he loves. We know what God is now by what God is now doing in our
hearts and lives. - W. F. A
Biblical Illustrator
The Spirit of God hath made me.
Job 33:4
On the generaldispensationof the Holy Spirit with respectto the new creation
J. Kidd, D. D.
The Holy Spirit completed the work of creationin all its parts. With respectto
the new creation, the work is threefold.
I. HIS RICH AND COPIOUS INFLUENCES AND OPERATIONS. The
dispensationof the Spirit with respectto the new creationmay be considered
as follows: —
1. The plentiful effusion of the Spirit's influences.
2. The ministry of the Spirit, in the Gospel, is calledthe ministry of the Spirit
by way of eminence.
3. In the Gospelthe Spirit is promised to all ranks and degrees ofmen.
4. Our Lord teaches allHis disciples to pray for the Spirit (Luke 11:13).
5. The chief comfortwhich our Lord left to His disciples at His departure was
the Spirit.
II. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT WITH RESPECTTO THE HUMAN
NATURE OF CHRIST, THE HEAD OF THE NEW CREATION.
1. Spirit miraculously formed our Lord's human nature, soul and body, in the
womb of the Virgin.

2. He filled the human nature of our Lord with holiness;He sanctifies the new
nature of the believer.
3. He carried on the progressive work ofgrace in our Lord's soul and body;
He carries on the sanctificationof the believer unto perfection.
4. He anointed our Lord with all extraordinary powers necessaryfor the
discharge of His offices;He anoints the believer for the discharge of every
duty
5. He enabled our Lord to work miracles. He enables the believer to conquer
sin and Satan: and are not these greatmiracles?
6. He directed and comforted our Lord in all His troubles. He directs and
comforts believers in all their troubles.
7. He enabled our Lord to offer Himself without spot to God. He enables the
believer to meet death in peace and purity.
8. He preserved our Lord's dead body that it saw no corruption. He will
gather the remains of the believer's body, whereverthey are.
9. He raised our Lord from the dead. He will raise the believer at the last day.
10. He glorified our Lord's human nature. He will glorify the believer, when
raisedfrom the tomb.
II. He has borne witness concerning our Lord ever since He raised Him from
the dead. He will write the name of the believer in the Book ofLife.
III. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT UPON THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S
MYSTICAL BODY.
(J. Kidd, D. D.)
The breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
The value of life
T. L. Cuyler, D. D.

There are two conflicting theories of the origin of man. One brings him
upward from the brute, the other downward from God.
1. Life, in its origin, is infinitely important. The birth of a babe is a mighty
event. The Scandinavians have a very impressive allegoryof human life. They
representit as a tree, the "Igdrasil," ortree of existence, whose roots grow
deep down in the soil of mystery; the trunk reaches above the clouds; its
branches spread out overthe globe. At the foot of it sit the past, present, and
future, watering the roots. Its boughs, with their unleafing, spreadout
through all lands and all time; every leaf of the tree is a biography, every fibre
a word, a thought, or a deed; its boughs are the histories of nations; the rustle
of it is the noise of human existence onwards from of old; it grows amid the
howling of the hurricane — it is the great tree of humanity.
2. Human life is transcendently precious from the services it may render to
God in the advancementof His glory. Man was not createdas a piece of guess
work, flung into existence as a waif. There is purpose in the creationof every
human being. What is the purpose of life? Man was createdto be happy, to be
holy! That is the double aim of life — duty first, then happiness as the
consequence.The higheststyle of manhood and womanhoodis to be attained
by consecrationto the Son of God.
3. Life is infinitely valuable from the eternalconsequencesflowing from it.
This world is a solemn vestibule of eternity.Practicalthoughts —
1. How carefulwe ought to be to husband life.
2. What a stupendous crime wanton war becomes!
3. How short life is, yet infinite in its reachand retribution! What sort of life
are you living?
(T. L. Cuyler, D. D.)
STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES

Adam Clarke Commentary
The Spirit of God hath made me - Another plain allusion to the accountof the
creationof man, Genesis 2:7, as the words ‫תמשנ‬ nishmath, the breath or
breathing of God, and ‫יניחת‬ techaiyeni, hath given me life, prove: "He
breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives, and he became a living soul."
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on Job33:4". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/job-
33.html. 1832.
return to 'Jump List'
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
The Spirit of God hath made me; - see the notes at Job32:8. There is an
evident allusion in this verse to the mode in which man was created, when
God breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living being;
Genesis 2:7. But it is not quite clearwhy Elihu adverts here to the factthat
God had made him, or what is the bearing of this fact on what he proposedto
say. The most probable supposition is, that he means to state that he is, like
Job, a man; that both were formed in the same way - from the same breathing
of the Almighty, and from the same clay Job 33:6; and that although he bad
undertaken to speak to Job in God‘s steadJob 33:6, yet Job had no occasion
to fear that he would be overawedand confounded by the Divine Majesty. He
had dreaded that, if he should be permitted to bring his case before him
(Notes, Job33:7), but Elihu says that now he would have no such thing to
apprehend. Though it would be in factthe same thing as carrying the matter
before God - since he came in his name, and meant to state the true principles

of his government, yet Job would be also really conducting the cause with a
man like himself, and might, unawed, enter with the utmost freedom into the
statementof his views.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert. "Commentaryon Job 33:4". "Barnes'Notesonthe New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/job-33.html.
1870.
The Biblical Illustrator
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God hath made me.
On the generaldispensationof the Holy Spirit with respectto the new creation
The Holy Spirit completed the work of creationin all its parts. With respectto
the new creation, the work is threefold.
I. His rich and copious influences and operations. The dispensation of the
Spirit with respectto the new creationmay be consideredas follows:--
1. The plentiful effusion of the Spirit’s influences.
2. The ministry of the Spirit, in the Gospel, is calledthe ministry of the Spirit
by way of eminence.
3. In the Gospelthe Spirit is promised to all ranks and degrees ofmen.

4. Our Lord teaches allHis disciples to pray for the Spirit (Luke 11:13).
5. The chief comfortwhich our Lord left to His disciples at His departure was
the Spirit.
II. The work of the Spirit with respectto the human nature of Christ, the head
of the new creation.
1. Spirit miraculously formed our Lord’s human nature, soul and body, in the
womb of the Virgin.
2. He filled the human nature of our Lord with holiness;He sanctifies the new
nature of the believer.
3. He carried on the progressive work ofgrace in our Lord’s soul and body;
He carries on the sanctificationof the believer unto perfection.
4. He anointed our Lord with all extraordinary powers necessaryfor the
discharge of His offices;He anoints the believer for the discharge of every
duty
5. He enabled our Lord to work miracles. He enables the believer to conquer
sin and Satan: and are not these greatmiracles?
6. He directed and comforted our Lord in all His troubles. He directs and
comforts believers in all their troubles.
7. He enabled our Lord to offer Himself without spot to God. He enables the
believer to meet death in peace and purity.
8. He preserved our Lord’s dead body that it saw no corruption. He will
gather the remains of the believer’s body, whereverthey are.
9. He raised our Lord from the dead. He will raise the believer at the last day.
10. He glorified our Lord’s human nature. He will glorify the believer, when
raisedfrom the tomb.

II. He has borne witness concerning our Lord ever since He raised Him from
the dead. He will write the name of the believer in the Book ofLife.
III. The work of the Spirit upon the members of Christ’s mystical body. (J.
Kidd, D. D.)
The breath of the Almighty hath given me life.--
The value of life
There are two conflicting theories of the origin of man. One brings him
upward from the brute, the other downward from God.
1. Life, in its origin, is infinitely important. The birth of a babe is a mighty
event. The Scandinavians have a very impressive allegoryof human life. They
representit as a tree, the “Igdrasil,” ortree of existence, whose roots grow
deep down in the soil of mystery; the trunk reaches above the clouds; its
branches spread out overthe globe. At the foot of it sit the past, present, and
future, watering the roots. Its boughs, with their unleafing, spreadout
through all lands and all time; every leaf of the tree is a biography, every fibre
a word, a thought, or a deed; its boughs are the histories of nations; the rustle
of it is the noise of human existence onwards from of old; it grows amid the
howling of the hurricane--it is the greattree of humanity.
2. Human life is transcendently precious from the services it may render to
God in the advancementof His glory. Man was not createdas a piece of guess
work, flung into existence as a waif. There is purpose in the creationof every
human being. What is the purpose of life? Man was createdto be happy, to be
holy! That is the double aim of life--duty first, then happiness as the
consequence.The higheststyle of manhood and womanhoodis to be attained
by consecrationto the Son of God.
3. Life is infinitely valuable from the eternalconsequencesflowing from it.
This world is a solemn vestibule of eternity.
Practicalthoughts--

1. How carefulwe ought to be to husband life.
2. What a stupendous crime wanton war becomes!
3. How short life is, yet infinite in its reachand retribution! What sort of life
are you living? (T. L. Cuyler, D. D.)
Copyright Statement
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Exell, JosephS. "Commentary on "Job 33:4". The Biblical Illustrator.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tbi/job-33.html. 1905-1909.
New York.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
The Spirit of God hath made me,.... As a man; so every man is made by God,
and not by himself; Father, Son, and Spirit, are his Makers or Creators, as we
read of them in the plural number, Psalm 149:2;and this is a proof of the
deity of the Spirit, who was not only concernedin the creationof all things,
garnishing the heavens, and moving upon the face of the waters on the earth;
but in the formation of man:
and the breath of the mighty hath given me life; the same with the Spirit of
God, the allusion is to the creationof man at first, when God breathed into
him the breath of life, and he became a living soul: life natural is from God, he
is the God of our life, he gives all the mercies of life, and by him is this life
preserved; and the whole is the effectof almighty power:now this is observed

by Elihu to Job, to encouragehim to attend to him without fear, since he was
a man, a creature of God, as he was:it may be understood of his spiritual
formation, the Spirit of God remakes men, or makes them new men, new
creatures;this is done in regeneration, whichis the work of the Holy Spirit;
hence regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, are put together;and
being a work of almighty power, is proof of the deity of the Spirit of God; it is
he that quickens men when dead in trespasses andsins, and makes them alive
to God; which appears by their spiritual breathings after divine things, and by
the exercise oftheir spiritual senses,and by their performance of spiritual
actions;and now Elihu, being a man regeneratedand quickenedby the Spirit,
might more justly claim the attention of Job, since what he should saywas
what he had heard, felt, and seen, as goodman, one that had an experience of
divine and spiritual things.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on Job 33:4". "The New John Gill Exposition of the
Entire Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/job-
33.html. 1999.
Geneva Study Bible
The a Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given
me life.

(a) I confess the powerof God, and am one of his, therefore you should hear
me.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Beza, Theodore. "Commentaryon Job 33:4". "The 1599 Geneva Study
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsb/job-33.html. 1599-
1645.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The Spirit of God hath made me — as He did thee: latter clause of Job33:6
(Genesis 2:7). Therefore thou needestnot fear me, as thou wouldestGod (Job
33:7; Job 9:34). On the other hand, “the breath of the Almighty hath inspired
me” (as Job 32:8); not as English Version, “givenme life”; therefore “I am
according to thy wish (Job 9:32, Job 9:33) in God‘s stead” to thee; a
“daysman,” umpire, or mediator, betweenGod and thee. So Elihu was
designedby the Holy Ghost to be a type of Jesus Christ (Job 33:23-26).
Copyright Statement
These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text
scannedby Woodside Bible Fellowship.
This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-BrownCommentary is in the
public domain and may be freely used and distributed.
Bibliography

Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on Job
33:4". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/job-33.html. 1871-8.
Wesley's ExplanatoryNotes
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given
me life.
Life — I am thy fellow creature, and am ready to discourse with thee upon
even terms, according to thy desire.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.
Bibliography
Wesley, John. "Commentary on Job 33:4". "John Wesley's Explanatory
Notes on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/job-33.html. 1765.
John Trapp Complete Commentary
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty
hath given me life.
Ver. 4. The Spirit of God hath made me] That is, I am God’s creature no less
than thou art, made and maintained by the word of his power, by the breath
of his mouth; why then may I not utter pure and holy doctrine? since I also
am a rational creature;and if the Holy Spirit please to blow upon me, I can
turn about like the mill; if to tune and touch me, I can move to make music; if
to infuse goodnotions, I can utter them. Hear me therefore.

And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life] This some will have to be a
metaphor taken from the blowing of glasses into this or that shape. It hath
been before noted, that the Egyptians worshipped a godwhom they knew not,
under the shape of a man blowing an egg out of his mouth, to signify that he
made the round world by his word (Plut. de Isid. et Osirid.). "By the word of
the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his
mouth," Psalms 33:6. Where some wellnote the mystery of the Trinity; as
others do, not so well, out of this text; by God, understanding the first person;
by Almighty, the second;and by the breath of the Almighty, the third. Sed hoc
subtilius, saith Mercer.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Trapp, John. "Commentary on Job 33:4". John Trapp Complete
Commentary. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/job-33.html.
1865-1868.
Sermon Bible Commentary
Job 33:4
The value and powerof human life.
I. Life in its origin is infinitely important.
II. Life is transcendently precious from the service it may render God in the
advancementof His glory.

III. Life is infinitely valuable on accountof the eternalconsequencesflowing
from it.
T. L. Cuyler, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxviii., p. 49.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Nicoll, William R. "Commentary on Job 33:4". "SermonBible
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/sbc/job-
33.html.
Matthew Poole's EnglishAnnotations on the Holy Bible
I am thy fellow creature, made by God’s Spirit, Genesis 1:2, and quickened by
that soul which God breathed into man, Genesis 2:7, and therefore fit and
ready to discourse with thee upon even and equal terms, according to thy
desire.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography

Poole, Matthew, "Commentaryon Job 33:4". Matthew Poole's English
Annotations on the Holy Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mpc/job-33.html. 1685.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
4. The Spirit of God hath made me — See note on Job 32:8. In the origination
of every man is thus repeated, according to the view of Scripture, a work as
divine as that of Adam’s creation. (Compare DELITZSCH. Psych., 249.)This
passageis cited by Theodoretas a proof-text of the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
Hath given me life — Giveth me life, quickeneth me. The manifestations of
divine power in upholding all things, “cannotbe better explained than by
calling it a continuous creation.” — Leibnitz.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Whedon, Daniel. "Commentary on Job 33:4". "Whedon's Commentary on
the Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/whe/job-33.html.
1874-1909.
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary
Spirit. We are therefore equal. (Menochius) --- Thou canstnot fear being
overpoweredwith the divine majesty, in this dispute, chap. xiii. 21. (Calmet) --
- Life. Septuagint, "instruction." (Haydock)
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Haydock, George Leo. "Commentaryon Job 33:4". "GeorgeHaydock's
Catholic Bible Commentary".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hcc/job-33.html. 1859.
Mark Dunagan Commentary on the Bible
Like Job, he is God"s creation(33:6) as well. "One"s view of his genesis will
be reflectedin his conduct" (Jacksonp. 70). Jobhad also claimed that God
had createdhim (31:15).
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Dunagan, Mark. "Commentary on Job 33:4". "Mark Dunagan
Commentaries on the Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dun/job-33.html. 1999-2014.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.
breath. Hebrew. neshamah. See App-16.
THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on Job 33:4". "E.W. Bullinger's
Companion bible Notes".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bul/job-33.html. 1909-1922.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given
me life.
The Spirit of God hath made me - as He did thee: latter clause ofJob 33:6
(Genesis 2:7). Therefore thou needestnot fear me as thou wouldestGod (Job
33:7; Job 9:34). On the other hand, 'the breath of the Almighty hath inspired
me' (as Job 32:8); not, as the English version, "givenme life:" therefore "I
am, according to thy wish (Job 9:32-33), in God's stead" to thee; a
"daysman," umpire, or mediator betweenGod and thee. So Elihu was
designedby the Holy Spirit to be a type of Jesus Christ (Job 33:23-26).
God's Holy Fire: 'His Breath Is My Life'
Friday, March 1, 2019

[Elihu said,] "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty
gives me life."
— Job 33:4 NIV
Key Thought
While those words were spokenby one of Job's critics, they echo the truth of
Scripture. God makes us intentionally, purposely, and personally(Psalm
139:13-16). Godputs his breath in us, and we live. God's creativity is the
handiwork of the Spirit — the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at
creation(Genesis 1:2) waiting for God's creative word to bring his creationto
completion. This understanding should humble us, recognizing that God's
breath is what sustains us. This understanding should empower us — we are
the personaland intentional handiwork of God's Spirit. This understanding
should awakenus to our purpose in the world. And as believers, those in
whom the Spirit lives and who are gifted by the Spirit, we understand all these
things more fully (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7). Let's use who we are
to honor God and bless others!
Today's Prayer
O Father, I confess that at times I lose sight of my heavenly calling. I forget
that you have made me and positioned me to make a difference in the circle of
people in which you placedme. Make me continually aware of your divine
intention in creating me, your Spirit's powerthat is shaping me and
transforming me, and the strategic place you have put me to bless others with
your grace. In Jesus'name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer from Job33:4,12
March 05, 2017

Song by VashauwnMitchel
I climbed up to the highest mountain
I lookedall around, couldn't find nobody
Way down into the deepestvalley
Lookedall around down there,
couldn't find nobody
I went across the deep blue sea
Couldn't find one to compare to your grace your love your mercy
Nobody greaternobody greaterthan you
Searchedall over couldn't find nobody
I lookedhigh and low still
couldn't find nobody
Nobody greater, nobody greaterno, no nobody greaterthan you
"The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given
me life. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answerthee, that God is
greaterthan man." Job 33:4, 12 KJV
Prayer
Father I thank You for this day and breath of life in Jesus name
Heavenly father have mercy on me and forgive all my sins in Jesus name
Lord Jesus no one is greaterthan You in heaven or earth I worship Your
majesty in Jesus name
My father I bow before Your throne and give You the praise due to You alone
in Jesus name

Mighty God continue to show Your great powerin my life and all i do in Jesus
name
Eternal Rock ofages overevery power, authority be it of human or not trying
to frustrate my life/destiny, proof to them that I serve a big Godin Jesus name
Everlasting king let my life be evident that You are indeed faithful and
powerful to safe and deliver man from every situation in Jesus name
Lord over all my fears and worry proof that You are greatand make me
victorious in Jesus name
Lord Jesus anoint me for the next and greaterlevel in life in Jesus name
Jehovahlet a new dawn of greatnesslaunch over my destiny and householdin
Jesus name
Father open the eyes of my heart let me see You and as I focus on You never
let me be put to shame in Jesus name
Mighty warrior You are greatin battle and greaterthan the greatestelevate
me in life to a position that will glorify Your holy name in Jesus name
Thank You eternalrock of ages for answeredprayers in Jesus name
Happy Thanksgiving Sunday
Today's Prayer By Be Inspired(By His word) 5th March 2017©
The Work of the Holy Spirit – Job 33:4
Jan 25, 2015 | Bible Doctrine
Introduction:

What is the relationship betweenGod the Fatherand the Holy Spirit?
(Friends, relatives, co-equals, inseparable)
Does the factthat certain deeds are first ascribedto one Personofthe God-
head and then to one of the others prove the inconsistencyor inaccuracyof
the Word of God?
What does that prove? (The Father, the Sonand the Spirit are one Person;
that the Father and the Spirit are one in essence;that the God-headacts in
unity; that the Spirit is the powerof Goddisplayed)
If the Holy Spirit does the same things as God the Father it proves that (the
Holy Spirit is divine; the Holy Spirit is deity; the Holy Spirit is God; the Holy
Spirit is obedient to the Father)
In which of these areas does the Holy Spirit never work (the universe,
salvation, the wicked, the believer)
The work of the Holy Spirit in the universe.
How might Psalm 33:6 be interpreted to say that the Holy Spirit createdthe
Heavens? (God commanded the Holy Spirit to create;the word of the Lord is
the Holy Spirit; God spoke the world into existence;the breath of God is the
Holy Spirit) Gen. 1:2 has the same Hebrew word.
What does Job 33:4 sayis the Holy Spirit’s relationship to Job? (Teacher,
Judge, Creator;Executioner.)
Who did not participate in creation? (Lucifer, God the Father, God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit) Lucifer witnessedand rejoicedin at leasta part of the
creation.

How might Isaiah 40:7 be interpreted to say that the Holy Spirit is active in
the maintenance of God’s creation? He bloweth upon the grass and flower.
Does the Holy Spirit have any sort of ministry among the wicked? Yes.
According to John 16:8-11, what is it that the Holy Spirit does witness to the
lost? (Sin, righteousness, judgment, Himself)
Of whose judgment does He witness? (Man’s;the human judge’s; God’s;
Christ’s)
Of whose righteousness does He witness? (Man’s;the human judge’s; God’s;
Christ’s)
What is it that the Holy Spirit witnesses in regardto judgment?
The work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
According to John 3:3-5, the saints (Christians) are (judged, helped, taught,
born again) by the Holy Spirit.
According to Titus 3:5, the saints are (renewed, reborn, regenerated,
rejuvenated) by the Holy Spirit.
Which of these verses does not teachthat the Holy Spirit indwells the believer
(I Cor. 6:19; John 3:5; I Cor. 3:16; II Cor. 6:16).
Are only sinless Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit?
Why did Paul ask the disciples of Acts 19:2 whether or not they were indwelt
by the Holy Spirit? (Becausehe was curious; because he was doubtful;
because he wanted to know if they were true saints; because he wanted to
know if they had been properly ordained to the ministry)
Are there any saints of God who are not indwelt by the Spirit?
How does Eph. 1:13-14 encouragethe believer? (Assurance of salvation;
victory over sin; victory over Satan;accessto God through prayer)
What is an “earnest”?(An act of sincerity; a guarantee;a down-payment; a
problem)

When Eph. 4:30 says that believers are “sealedunto the day of redemption”
by the Holy Spirit, what does it mean? (We are enveloped; we are
incarcerated;we are owned;we reserved)
Which of the following is not true? To every believer He is the Spirit of
(adoption; life; glory, promise, wisdom)
Is every Christian indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Yes.
Is every Christian filled with the Spirit? No.
Which of these scriptures indicates that? (Acts 2:4; Eph. 5:18; Acts 11:24;
Gal. 5:25)
Is every Christian equally empoweredfor service? No.
What enables the saint to possessthe blessedfruit of the Christian life? (Bible
study, Bible preaching, goodintentions, the Holy Spirit) Gal. 5:22-23
Paul’s exhortation to “walk in the Spirit” suggests thatthe Holy Spirit (is a
goodplace to walk, guides us; strengthens our muscles;the Spirit can be
trampled)
According to Romans 8:14, if someone neverfeels led of the Spirit what might
we assume (he is stubborn; he is insensitive; he is Satanic;he is lost)
According to Eph. 5:16 what is the key to “not fulfilling the lust of the flesh?”
(Bible study, Bible preaching, goodintentions, walking in the Spirit)
If we live ——- ——- —————, let us also walk ——- ——- —————. In
the Spirit
Is the Lord, if some Christian is not filled with the Spirit?
Do all Spirit-filled saints possessthe same spiritual gifts?
The Old Testamentscriptures were written by men who were ——————
by the ————— —————. Movedby the Holy Ghost
What sort of men did the Holy Spirit use to pen the scriptures? (Educated
men, clevermen, spiritually observant men; holy men) I Peter1:21

What is the meaning of “inspiration of God” in II Timothy 3:16?
(Encouragementof God, divine revelation;divine breath; enlightenment of
God)
Who is speaking to the churches in Revelation2 & 3? Hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches
Who is the best interpreter of something which has been written? (The priest,
the printer, the Holy Spirit; the author)
The work of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus.
What was the relationship of the Spirit to Jesus’birth? (Preparation,
miniaturization, conception, completion)
What did the Spirit have to do with Christ’s temptation? (Preparation,
leadership, victory, deliverance)
According to Acts 10:38, in regard to Christ’s ministry, He was (anointed,
filled, satisfiedblessed)by the Holy Spirit.
According to Hebrews 9:14 what did the Spirit have to do with the
crucifixion? It was through Him
Did the Holy Spirit have anything to do with Christ’s resurrection? Yes.
Romans 8:11
How can it be said that the Holy Spirit and the other Persons in the God-head
did eachof these things?
Sins againstthe Holy Spirit.
By the unbeliever.
Since the Holy Spirit is divine, it is impossible to resistHis will, right?
Scripture? Acts 7:51
What is it to do “despite” unto the Spirit (Heb. 10:29)? (Something contrary,
wickedness, insult, attacks)

What appears to be the worst thing that a sinner can do againstthe Holy
Spirit? (Despite, blaspheme, sin, grieve)
By the believer.
What is it to grieve the Holy Spirit? (To insult, blaspheme, make sad, kill)
Is it possible to lie to the omniscientHoly Spirit? Proof? Acts 5:3-4
Is it possible to successfullylie or deceive the Holy Spirit?
What is it to quench the Holy Spirit? (To insult, make sad, silence, put out like
a fire).
Eachof these things might called an “anthropomorphism,” which means
what? (Nickname, humiliation, humanization, scientific description)
Can someone sin againstthe Holy Spirit without sinning againstChrist or the
Father?
Is a sin againstthe Holy Spirit less important than any other kind of sin?
idahobaptist.com/
Questioning God
December17, 2016
Brandon Grubb
Leave a comment
There are moments in life where we would have rather died than take even
one more breath. Moments where the emotional, mental and physical pain
have become so overwhelming, we cannot imagine going on for one more
second. We cry out to God for resolutionor relief. Sometimes even atheists.
There is no other recourse and we are not capable of carrying the weight. We
cry out in tears and torment. Begging forsleep. Begging to wake up. Begging
to die. We ask for all of these things, and none of them come. There is no

audible response and generallyno immediate feeling of peace. It appears to
us, in those moments, that God is either busy or thinks that we need to just
deal with it. We start questioning His nature. His abilities. His existence. If
you are familiar with this scenario, youare either going through it or have
gone through it. If you have gone through it, you are still here and likely in a
better place. If you are going through it, the moments it took you to readthis
have passedand you have put that many more behind you. You are that much
closerto coming out of it.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have
understanding.” – Job 38:4
Perhaps what you are going through is just random circumstance. You have
lost someone orsomething that was irreplaceable just by consequence ofthe
nature of life. No one is to blame. You knew this day was possible or coming,
but that didn’t help you prepare or cope with it. Perhaps what you are going
through isn’t random circumstance. You are dealing with a cause and effect
scenario wherebysomeone did something that affectedyou adversely. There
was an act of selfishness ormalice, and now you are unjustly left to pick up
the pieces. Disproportionatelywe wonderhow the God who created and
defined love could allow such a traumatic life changing event when He knows
the condition of our heart. Why would He allow our faith to be shakenand
potentially lostover something that we didn’t even elicit or deserve? These
thoughts come fast and furious in our desperation.
As Christians, we hear a lot about the conceptand effects of sin. We conceive
of it as some eerie translucent residue that creeps around slowlyin the
shadows, waiting to be harnessedand redistributed at will. That may be the
case. Idon’t know. However, perhaps sin is simply the act of making decisions
outside of the waythat reality was designedto operate. Picture if you will an
assemblyline. It has multiple stations with various tasks, alldesigned to work
in relation to eachother. If one piece is assembledimproperly, or the wrong
piece is applied, it will throw the entire process offand the finished product
will be defective or dangerous. No one may know until the finish product is
applied that something erroneous even happened in the process. Thus, we can
look at sin in a practicaland applicable way. One wrong decisionin the

process effects the results, and the results could affectany unsuspecting or
innocent person. We love our free will. We don’t want God to be a puppet
master. That is until we can’t pick ourselves up.
At some point, whether we admit it to ourselves or not, we have made a
decisionfor our own interests that affectedsomeone else. It may not have been
on a level that seemingly destroyedsomeone else’s life, but it affectedthem in
some way. We disrupted the process, and the result was that someone ended
up with a useless orharmful product. It’s possible that if we had knownthis
we may not have tinkered with the system, but we did. This was the waythe
world changedback nearthe beginning when the first decisionwas made to
operate outside of the way God said it was supposedto. Despite whatever
other forces are out there working againstus, we as humans have since the
beginning of our allotted time on earth generallychosento rely on our own
understanding of how things work or how they canbetter benefit us. Wrong
pieces getadded. Some pieces don’t getadded. Too many pieces getadded.
The result will still be the same. A broken system and a broken result.
Laborers don’t always oreven usually understand all the parts of the
machinery they are working with. They are simply paid, or rewarded if you
will, to stand at their place in the process and conduct their activity. Without
the contextof knowing the equipment or the parts of the process before or
after them, things will go wrong if they start altering their role.
Report this ad
Job was a righteous man. If we read the contextof the book, it is likely he was
unlike any we know these days. He was so spectacular, in fact, that God
singled him out when the accusercame to report on his activity. After all he
went through, and howeverlong that lasted, when he finally heard directly
from God it wasn’t what he expected. It was enough to humble him, however,
as God reminded him that he simply didn’t have the context to understand
events and the way they unfold. Job’s reactionwas a positive one, and despite
all he went through, his story has servedas an inspiration and source of
strength for countless thousands and beyond over the course history. He could

have listened to those around him or lost his faith completely, but he didn’t.
As a result, we have one of the most inspiring and beloved books in the Bible.
We canquestion God, but let’s not forget others are too, and sometimes that is
because we disrupted the process
Question:"What was Elihu’s messageto Job?"
Answer: Elihu was one of Job’s friends—not one of the three who had come to
comfort Job at the beginning of the book, but one who arrives later and offers
the lastand longestsingle speechto Job. Elihu is identified only as the “sonof
Barakelthe Buzite, of the family of Ram” (Job 32:2). In Job32—37 Elihu
offers a response to Jobthat lifts up the Lord, condemns Job’s three friends,
and rightly confronts Job.
In Job 32 Elihu focuses his response onrebuking Job’s three friends, Eliphaz,
Bildad, and Zophar. In verse 12 he notes, “I gave you my full attention. / But
not one of you has proved Jobwrong; / none of you has answeredhis
arguments.” BecauseElihu was younger than the other friends of Job, he had
held his peace during their conversationto that point (Job 32:4–7). But he
could finally take no more. Elihu speaks up because he is “very angry with
Job forjustifying himself rather than God” and with Job’s three friends,
“because theyhad found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him”
(Job 32:2–3).
In Job 33 Elihu turns his attention to Job. He declares Jobwrong in saying he
was without any sin and that Godwould not answer. Elihu says, “But I tell
you, in this you are not right, / for God is greaterthan any mortal” (Job
33:12).

In Job 34 Elihu shifts to declaring God’s justice. Verse 12 specificallystates,
“It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, / that the Almighty would
pervert justice.”
In Job 35 Elihu turns againto Job in condemnation. In verses 13–14Elihu
says, “Indeed, God does not listen to [the arrogantperson’s]empty plea; / the
Almighty pays no attention to it. / How much less, then, will he listen / when
you saythat you do not see him, / that your case is before him / and you must
wait for him.”
In Job 36—37 Elihu highlights God’s greatness.This lengthy portion declares
many of God’s attributes. In Job 36:26 Elihu states, “How greatis God—
beyond our understanding! / The number of his years is past finding out.”
Elihu rightly points Job to God’s might, saying, “Listen to this, Job; / stop and
considerGod’s wonders” (Job37:14).
In short, Elihu condemns Job’s friends and Job’s claim of being without sin,
declares God’s justice, condemns Job’s attitude toward God, and exalts God’s
greatness.Elihu’s four-part speechis followedby God breaking His silence to
directly answerJob. In Job 42:7 the Lord condemns Eliphaz, Bildad, and
Zophar. Elihu is not mentioned again after he finishes his speech, but,
significantly, he is not rebuked by God.
Elihu’s life and speechoffer many insights for today. First, he dealt with the
real issues ofthe situation rather than looking at the situation from a human
perspective. Second, he emphasized God and His greatnessrather than focus
on a human response to problems. Third, he responded with respect, allowing
others to speak first before offering his own response. Thesetraits can help us

today as we seek to understand why God allows suffering and as we attempt
to help others who face suffering. GOTQUESTIONS.ORG
Youth answers Age
Author: Ray C. Stedman
Readthe Scripture: Job 32 - 33
In Chapter 32 we come to a rather sudden and unexpected turn in the
development of the book of Job. A new voice is heard, a new name appears
without much introduction, but the program notes of this cosmic drama let us
in on some further information in the opening verses of the chapter:
So these three men ceasedto answerJob, because he was righteous in his own
eyes. Then Elihu the sonof Barachelthe Buzite, of the family of Ram, became
angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; he
was angry also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer,
although they had declaredJob to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to
speak to Jobbecause they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there
was no answerin the mouth of these three men, he became angry. (Job 32:1-5
RSV)
Some of you who remember the days of the radio broadcastcalledThe Lone
Ranger, remember the question that was askedso many times on that
program, "Who is this maskedman?" One is tempted to ask that about this
young man, Elihu. Who is this fellow? Where did he come from, and why does
he speak at this moment? We learn from this account, ofcourse, that there
were others who were listening to this dialogue betweenJoband his three
friends, and among them is Elihu, which means "My God is he." He is also
identified as the son of Barachel(that means "Godblesses"),the Buzite. In the

opening of the book we saw that Job lived in the land of Uz, but there was also
another land nearby calledBuz (these lands were named for two brothers
back in the days following Noahand the flood), and Elihu came from the land
of Buz; we know nothing more about him. In Chapter 32 we get, basically, the
introduction to his message, andhe opens it with a word of courteous
explanation for his silence:
And Elihu the sonof Barachelthe Buzite answered:
"I am young in years,
and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
I said, 'Let days speak,
and many years teachwisdom.'
But it is the spirit in a man,
the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
It is not the old that are wise,
nor the agedthat understand what is right.
Therefore I say, 'Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.'" (Job 32:6-10 RSV)
Commentators seemto differ very widely as to what to do with Elihu. Some
regard him as a rather brash young man with the cocksure arrogance of
youth who speaks up to tell the older men what they were doing that was
wrong, while others seemto see him as merely repeating in other words the
arguments of these friends, without adding much. And still other
commentators view this as a kind of meaningless interruption in this dialogue,
of which God takes no notice at all.

But I would like to differ somewhatwith these and agree with those
commentators who see Elihu as a very important part in this book. Let me
point out certainthings about this young man as we are introduced to him:
First, when you come to the end of the book and you read the rebuke that God
gives to the three friends of Job, you will note that Elihu is not included. He is
not rebuked for what he says, and he does not have to ask Job to pray for him,
as they have to do. The secondthing is that he is given an obvious, prominent
part in this drama. His messageoccupiesthe next five chapters, and he is
allowedto give one of the major discourses ofthis book. And third, he always
speaks with courtesyand sensitiveness to Job, despite the strong feelings
which he admits he has. The other friends were caustic and sarcastic in their
approachto Jobbut this young man is very courteous when he addresses him.
He recognizes the depth of Job's suffering, and he always speaks with
understanding.
The fourth, and probably most important, thing is that Elihu claims to speak
not as the other men did from their experience, but he claims to speak from
revelation. That is what we read in Verses 8-9. Elihu says, "It is the spirit in a
man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand." This is in line
with what we have seenpreviously in Job, that knowledge is something you
gain by the years as they go by, but ng and wisdom is something only God can
give, and he cangive it to the young as well as the old.
It is not the accumulation of the years of experience that makes people wise;it
is what God has taught them through the years. And this is a very important
point. God canteach a young man or woman as much as an older man or
woman. And when we speak from the wisdom of God then we can truly be
wise, regardless ofwhat our calendarage may be. I know we who have been
young a long time tend to think it is the years that have made us wise!If we
are wise at all, it is not.
I am reminded of a schoolteacherwho applied for a job and was turned down
in preference to another younger teacherwho only had three years of
experience. The first teacherprotestedto the principal, "I've had 25 years'

experience and why was I passedover in favor of this younger one?" And the
principal said, "Well, I have to disagree with you. You haven't had 25 years'
experience. You've had one year's experience 25 times." It is quite possible to
go through life repeating the same way of thinking over and over again, and
never learn wisdom. So Elihu is right here. It is not the old that are wise, nor
the agedthat understand what is right; it is the spirit of the Almighty that
teaches us wisdom.
Now I believe that Elihu therefore comes into the book as the answerto Job's
cry for an explanation. God has been silent, it seems, and though Job is
suffering and cries out for help, no answeris given. But, in God's wonderful
way of answering, I think this is his reply to Job, and he replies in a waythat
Job did not expect. This young man who has been listening all along suddenly
speaks up, and he appears as a witness to a mediator for whom Job has been
crying out all through the book. I see Elihu as a kind of John the Baptist of the
Old Testament, if you like, in the book of Job. He gives witness to the
Mediatorwho is God himself, and, just as John said, he was a voice crying in
the wilderness, pointing to one who would make a ransombetweenman and
God. So Elihu appears as the one who gives a witness to what Job is crying out
for, an umpire who can lay his hand upon both man and God. This is the part
he plays in the book. He begins where the friends began, and he ends with
words very similar to the voice of God when God appears on the scene.
So now in this introduction, in Verses 11 and on, he speaksofhis patience that
is now rather exhausted:
"Behold, I waitedfor your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searchedout what to say.
I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none that confuted Job,
or that answeredhis words, among you.
Beware lestyou say, 'We have found wisdom;

God may vanquish him, not man.'
He has not directed his words againstme,
and I will not answerhim with your speeches."(Job32:11-14 RSV)
Then speaking of the friends, he says,
"They are discomfited, they answerno more;
they have not a word to say.
And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answerno more?" (Job 32:15-16 RSV)
So, with that courteous wordof explanation, he begins to speak. He says he
has to saysomething; he feels the pressure within:
"I also will give my answer;
I also will declare my opinion.
For I am full of words,
the spirit within me constrains me.
Behold, my heart is like wine that has no vent;
like new wineskins, it is ready to burst." (Job 32:17-19 RSV)
Have you ever felt that way listening to an argument? You just had to say
something because yousee it is going astray, or it is illogical, and you can
hardly restrain yourself from speaking. Elihu says "I must speak, that I may
find relief." Then he reassuresJoband the friends, Verse 21:
"I will not show partiality to any person
or use flattery towardany man.
For I do not know how to flatter,
else would my Makersoonput an end to me." (Job 32:21-22 RSV)

Chapter 33 is Elihu's address to Job. It opens with an invitation to dialogue:
"But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
Behold, I open my mouth;
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
and what my lips know they speak sincerely." (Job33:1-3 RSV)
Here is his promise that he is going to give honest words. He is not going to
flatter and he is not going to speak out of experience;he is going to speak
from what he has been taught. His words will be honestand without
partiality. And further, he goes onto say they will come from a humble heart,
Verse 4:
"The spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Answer me, if you can;
setyour words in order before me; take your stand.
Behold, I am toward God as you are;
I too was formed from a piece of clay.
Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
my pressure will not be heavy upon you." (Job 33:4-7 RSV)
What a difference that is from the way the friends came on Job! This young
man says "No, I'm just a man like you. What I may say to help has come from
what God has taught me. But I'm just like you are, and I'm not going to
accuse youor come on heavy againstyou. I'm speaking merely as God has
taught me as the spirit of God has given me life."

Then, beginning with Verse 8, he begins to analyze Job's view of God. That is
the problem all through this book. Job, like the friends, had a narrow, limited
theologywhich did not include room for God's waybeyond the normal
thinking of men. This is what often happens with our theology. We try to
narrow God down to our way of thinking and what this book teaches us, more
than anything else, is to see that God is always beyond man.
Now, Job's first view of God, according to Elihu, is that he saw God as
capricious, i.e., he actedwithout any goodreason, he actedjust out of his
feelings (like people do), according to his mood. Many people see Godthis
way. I think they projecttheir view of themselves into infinity and they say,
"Godacts the waywe do. He can get up in the morning and be grouchy and
hard to live with and you have to live with that kind of a God all day." And
Job felt that way about him. Elihu points this out. He says, Verse 8:
"Surely, you have spokenin my hearing,
and I have heard the sound of your words.
You say, 'I am clean, without transgression;
I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
Behold, he[God] finds occasionsagainstme,
he counts me as his enemy;
he puts my feet in the stocks,
and watches allmy paths.'" (Job 33:8-11 RSV)
Here he summarizes all that Jobhas been saying -- that God mistreats him
without a reason;that he is doing these things without justification in a
capricious way. Now Elihu's answeris in one short word, Verse 12:
"Behold, in this you are not right. I will answeryou." (Job 33:12a RSV)
And here is his answer.
"Godis greaterthan man." (Job 33:12b RSV)

That is what we must always remember about God: He is beyond us. His
range of understanding is so much greaterthan ours. Man is too ignorant, too
limited, too easilydeceived(his history proves it), to everlay a charge of
capriciousnessagainstGod. Godalways acts in accordancewith his nature of
love. Behind every act of God is a loving heart. And when we do not think so,
it is we who are deceived, it is we who are misjudging; we do not see whathe is
after.
This is the continual argument of the Bible from beginning to end. In the
ninth chapter of Romans Paul says the same thing. He says, "Who are you O
man, that replies againstGod? Why, you're nothing but a creature with a
very limited experience with very limited understanding. You don't even
know all the facts involved. How then can you raise a challenge againstthe
Creatorwho sees so much more?" God is greaterthan man. So with that brief
word Elihu puts that to rest.
Then he moves to the secondthing Jobsaw about God and that was his
problem with the silence ofGod, Verse 13:
"Why do you contend againsthim,
saying, 'He will answernone of my words'?
For God speaks inone way,
and in two, though man does not perceive it." (Job 33:13-14 RSV)
Once again, one of the major problems we have is the silence of God --
unansweredprayer, as we see it. We say our prayers are not answered
because we prayed ten minutes ago and the answerhas not come yet. We
think God is responsible to come back with an immediate answer. But Elihu
helps us here with this. He says God does speak, but in ways sometimes we do
not understand. There are two ways, Elihu suggests. First, Godspeaks in
dreams, Verse 15:
"In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleepfalls upon men,

while they slumber on their beds,
then he opens the ears of men,
and terrifies them with warnings,
that he may turn man aside from his deed,
and cut off pride from man;
he keeps back his soul from the Pit,
his life from perishing by the sword." (Job 33:15-18 RSV)
Notice how clearly he states that God's objective with man is always to stop
him from destroying himself. It is man who is bent upon destruction, and
God's efforts that cause distress and pain and warning are designedto keepus
from hurting ourselves and eachother -- "to keepback his soulfrom the Pit,
his life from perishing by the sword." One of the ways God does that is to
speak in dreams. Now, you say, "Surely you're not going to tell us we have to
start analyzing all our dreams."
And it is true that not all dreams representGod speaking to us. (Some of them
come from eating pizza too late at night, indigestion, or other causes!)But
psychologists tellus, as one voice, that dreams are a way by which reality
suppressedcomes into our consciousness,whetherwe like it or not.
We all tend to deceive ourselves. Things that we do not like we put away, we
shove down into the subconscious,and so they appear in our dreams.
Oftentimes they do take the form of warnings in which we see ourselves doing
things that we are ashamed of or horrified by, and it is a warning that the
tendency, the possibility of doing that, is deep within us all. Watch out what
you are thinking; it is beginning to show up in your dreams! And though I am
not trying to lay a case forinterpreting dreams, the Scriptures are full of
instances where God does speak to men in dreams. Daniel, and Ezekiel, and
others of the prophets, understood much from God by means of dreams. And
I believe that this is indicating that God does speak to us sometimes, not so
much in predicting the future, but in showing us what we are trying to hide

from ourselves in the present. Then the secondthing Elihu says is that God
also speaks throughpain, Verse 19:
"Manis also chastenedwith pain upon his bed,
and with continual strife in his bones,
so that his life loathes bread,
and his appetite dainty food.
His flesh is so wastedawaythat it cannotbe seen;
and his bones which were not seenstick out.
His soul draws near the Pit,
and his life to those who bring death." (Job 33:19-22 RSV)
Here Elihu's argument almost seems to describe all that Jobhas gone
through. The young man is saying, "Godis speaking to you, Job. You think he
is not saying anything? He is! Your very sufferings are speaking to you; but
not so much, as the friends were arguing, to punish you for something you did
that you're trying to hide, because thatisn't true. God is helping you to
understand something that you don't understand, and pain is what makes it
possible."
I think many of us have had the experience of feeling a threat to our life from
some illness, and it tends to do marvelous things to our view of life; our value
system changes instantly. We begin to think of certain things as far more
important than we had ever thought before. C. S. Lewis says this about pain:
We canrest contentedly in our sins and in our stupidities, and anyone who has
watchedgluttons shoveling down the most exquisite foods as if they did not
know what they were eating, will admit that we canignore even pleasure. But
pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures,
speaks in our consciences,but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to
rouse a deaf world.

Have you ever had Godshout at you through pain? A man said to me the
other day, "I lived for a long time thinking that business was the most
important thing in life, but then I had a heart attack and, believe me, Godgot
my attention." Why do we have to wait until after our secondheartattack
before God gets our attention? God in love brings these things upon us that he
might speak to us, that we will hear what he has to say.
Now Elihu goes on to bring out a secondthing, Verse 23:
"If there be for him an angel,
a mediator, one of the thousand,
to declare to man what is right for him;
and he is gracious to him, and says,
'Deliver him from going down into the Pit,
I have found a ransom;
let his flesh become fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.'" (Job 33:23-25 RSV)
Those lastwords seemto describe the experience that we would call today
being born again, a return to the freshness and vitality of youth. And what
brings it about?
Well, as Elihu says, it is the presence in our pains of a mediator, one of the
thousand, who declares to man what is right and provides a ransom for him.
What an amazing fore-view this is of the gospelofthe grace ofGod!
Remember Paul argues this in Romans 5. He says, "We rejoice in our
sufferings," (Romans 5:3 RSV). Why? "Becausein our sufferings we're being
taught by God that he is working out purposes that we do not understand but
are for our good. And through the love of God shed abroad in our hearts we
can realize that God's love is training us, steadying us, and teaching us
through the time of stress,"(Romans 5:3-4). That is why suffering, when it is
interpreted by the mediator that God provides, is a blessing to us. But
suffering without that mediation produces bitterness, resentment, anger,

frustration, revolt and rebellion againstGod's will. Therefore there must be a
mediator, Elihu says.
Now I think this is a reference to the slow and certain light that has been
growing in Job's heart all through this time of suffering. He is beginning to
understand something about life that he never knew before, and there are
references to it we have seenall along. Remember, in Chapter 9 he cried out,
"There is no umpire betweenus that may lay his hand upon us both, man and
God."
Then, in Chapter 16 he said, "Even now, behold my witness is in heaven, and
he who vouches for me is on high." God is going to be the mediator. In
Chapter 19 he comes out clearlyand cries, "I know that my redeemerlives,
and on the earth shall stand. And though the skin worms destroy(my body),
yet in my flesh shall I see God face to face." And then in Chapter 23 he has
learned, as he cries, "He knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I
shall come forth as gold."
Now here Elihu reminds him of that ministry of the mediator and tells him
that if he allows that mediator's work to guide him through this time, he shall
be restored, his flesh will come fresh with youth, and he will return to the days
of his youthful vigor. And then he gives him the means of doing it, Verse 26:
"Then man prays to God, and he accepts him,
he comes into his presence with joy.
He recounts to men his salvation,
and he sings before men, and says,
'I sinned, and perverted what was right,
and it was not requited to me.
[God did not punish me for what I did.]
He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit,
and my life shall see the light.'" (Job 33:26-28 RSV)

Now pain did that, and so Elihu exhorts Job, Verse 29:
"Behold, God does all these things,
twice, three times, with a man." (Job 33:29 RSV)
How patient God is! How long he waits, and allows us to meditate on, and
struggle with these things. And he will sometimes bring us back to them again
and again-- till we understand. So Elihu cries, Verse 31:
"Give heed, O Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
If you have anything to say, answerme;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
If not, listen to me;
be silent, and I will teachyou wisdom." (Job33:31-33 RSV)
And the silence of Job at this point seems to indicate that at lasthe is ready to
listen. God is able to teachhim what the heart and the meaning of all his
suffering has been in his life. When Elihu finishes, God himself begins to
speak, as we shall see.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your loving care of us. We thank you for
the ministry that has mediated on our behalf before you. We thank you for the
Lord Jesus who came as the greatMediator, who found a ransomfor us in his
own life's blood poured out on our behalf; who has found a way to set aside
the daily contamination of our sins and helps us to face every day fresh and
vital, forgiven, alive, without guilt, without a sense of rejection, having found
an adequate powerby which to live, by which to do the things we ought to do.
Lord, we thank you for him, for this marvelous ministry, for the peace, the
joy, the hope and the love that he has brought into our lives. In Jesus'name,
Amen.
Youth answers Age

Series:Let God be God
Date:November 27, 1977
Author: Ray C. Stedman
Breath » Of God
Psalm33:6
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His
mouth all their host.
Verse Concepts
2 Samuel 22:16
"Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were
laid bare By the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His
nostrils.
Verse Concepts
Job 4:9
"By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His angerthey come to
an end.
Verse Concepts
Psalm18:15

Then the channels of waterappeared, And the foundations of the world were
laid bare At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your
nostrils.
Verse Concepts
Job 15:30
"He will not escape from darkness;The flame will wither his shoots, And by
the breath of His mouth he will go away.
Verse Concepts
Job 33:4
"The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me
life.
Verse Concepts
Job 37:10
"From the breath of God ice is made, And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
Verse Concepts
Isaiah30:33
For Topheth has long been ready, Indeed, it has been prepared for the king
He has made it deep and large, A pyre of fire with plenty of wood;The breath
of the LORD, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire.
Verse Concepts

Isaiah11:4
But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for
the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His
mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
Verse Concepts
Isaiah30:28
His breath is like an overflowing torrent, Which reaches to the neck, To shake
the nations back and forth in a sieve, And to put in the jaws of the peoples the
bridle which leads to ruin.
Verse Concepts
Creator» God as » Creatorof man
Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Verse Concepts
Malachi2:10
"Do we not all have one father? Has not one God createdus? Why do we deal
treacherouslyeachagainsthis brother so as to profane the covenantof our
fathers?
Verse Concepts

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and
over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that
creeps on the earth."
Verse Concepts
Job 33:4
life.
Verse Concepts
Genesis 5:2
He createdthem male and female, and He blessedthem and named them Man
in the day when they were created.
Verse Concepts
Deuteronomy 4:32
"Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since
the day that God createdman on the earth, and inquire from one end of the
heavens to the other Has anything been done like this greatthing, or has
anything been heard like it?
Verse Concepts
Psalm8:5

Yet You have made him a little lowerthan God, And You crown him with
glory and majesty!
Verse Concepts
Psalm100:3
Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we
ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Verse Concepts
Isaiah51:13
That you have forgottenthe LORD your Maker, Who stretchedout the
heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all
day long because ofthe fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy?
But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Verse Concepts
Acts 17:28
for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have
said, 'Forwe also are His children.'
Verse Concepts
Creator» God as » Holy spirit as
Job 33:4

life.
Verse Concepts
Job 26:13
"By His breath the heavens are cleared;His hand has piercedthe fleeing
serpent.
Verse Concepts
Psalm104:30
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;And You renew the face of the
ground.
Verse Concepts
Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and void, and darkness was overthe surface ofthe
deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Verse Concepts
God » Creator» Of man
Genesis 2:7

Verse Concepts
Malachi2:10
fathers?
Verse Concepts
Genesis 1:26
Verse Concepts
Job 33:4
life.
Verse Concepts
Genesis 5:2
Verse Concepts

Deuteronomy 4:32
Verse Concepts
Psalm8:5
glory and majesty!
Verse Concepts
Psalm100:3
Verse Concepts
Isaiah51:13
Verse Concepts
Acts 17:28

Verse Concepts
the personalityof Holy Spirit » He creates andgives life
Job 33:4
life.
Verse Concepts
Life » The lord being the creatorof all life
Genesis 2:7
Verse Concepts
Isaiah42:5
Thus says God the LORD, Who createdthe heavens and stretchedthem out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on
it And spirit to those who walk in it,
Verse Concepts

John 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being
through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into
being. read more.
Acts 17:23-25
"Forwhile I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship,
I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD '
Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. "The God
who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heavenand earth,
does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands,
as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and
breath and all things;
Job 33:4-6
life. "Refute me if you can; Array yourselves before me, take your stand.
"Behold, I belong to Godlike you; I too have been formed out of the clay.
Man » A socialbeing » Creationof
Genesis 2:7
Verse Concepts

Malachi2:10
fathers?
Verse Concepts
Genesis 1:26
Verse Concepts
Job 33:4
life.
Verse Concepts
Genesis 5:2
Verse Concepts
Deuteronomy 4:32

Verse Concepts
Psalm8:5
glory and majesty!
Verse Concepts
Psalm100:3
Verse Concepts
Isaiah51:13
Verse Concepts
Acts 17:28

Verse Concepts
Man » Quickenedby the breath of God
Genesis 2:7
Verse Concepts
Job 33:4
life.
Verse Concepts
Genesis 7:22
of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit
of life, died.
Verse Concepts
Man » Created» By the holy ghost
Job 33:4
life.

Verse Concepts
Titles and names of the holy ghost» Spirit of God
Job 33:4
life.
Verse Concepts
Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and void, and darkness was overthe surface ofthe
deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Verse Concepts
1 Corinthians 2:11
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man exceptthe spirit of the man
which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows exceptthe Spirit
of God.
Verse Concepts
Titles and names of the holy ghost» Breathof the almighty
Job 33:4

life.
Verse Concepts
God, Trinity » Eachperson in, describedas » Creator
Colossians 1:16
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things
have been createdthrough Him and for Him.
Verse Concepts
Job 33:4
life.
Verse Concepts
John 1:3
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came
into being that has come into being.
Verse Concepts
Job 26:13
"By His breath the heavens are cleared;His hand has piercedthe fleeing
serpent.

Verse Concepts
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God createdthe heavens and the earth.
Verse Concepts
Psalm148:5
Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were
created.

THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (18)

Similar to THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE

Similar to THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE (20)

More from GLENN PEASE

More from GLENN PEASE (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE