Job 42:1-2 "Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the sixteenth and final sermon in the series on the Book of Job, Job Chapter 42, chronicles Job's confession to the Lord and the Lord's restoration of Job: “Once a man has been sufficiently hum­bled, then all the agitation that previously existed in his soul subsides. Faith in God, and submission to God’s sovereignty, brings calmness to the heart, where pre­viously there was contention and confu­sion. How wonderful it is when erring and rebellious men confess their sin and admit their guilt before God. This is what God demands of sinners, and it is the only way reconciliation with the Lord can be achieved.

“It is not until we are able to see God’s greatness that true humility will be evi­denced. This is because man is not made humble by merely seeing personal error, but also, and perhaps more importantly, by coming to spiritually realize the beauty and majesty of God.

“Job’s confession to God, revealed his new understanding that no thought can be hidden from the Lord, since part of God’s splendor is His supernatural abil­ity to see both the thoughts and hearts of men.

“Sin lies not simply in what men do, but is equally convictive in what they think. It is the inside of the cup that is the most unclean. As the thoughts sinners think, are generally far more sinful than even the deeds they do, or the words they speak.

“Job confesses to uttering things he understood not, and things so wonderful, that he knew not. The “I” is repeated and used with force, simply because Job had come to know that the source of his sin, was himself. His friends were not blamed, because when men are truly repentant, it is not others’ sins that are brought to the altar of God, but only our own.

“Where many will remain content with simply hearing, God’s true children cannot cease in their search for the Lord, until they by grace are brought to see Him for themselves. It is sight of Christ also which will be the ul­timate reward of faith, for those who have believed upon the Lord Jesus.

“Here we see that it is no longer self-righteousness, but rather self-incrimina­tion, that Job utters. Through then God’s influence on his life, Job’s evaluation of himself had changed. With accurate spir­itual sight, came Job’s repentance. True repentance also will not merely consist of confession of sin, but will go so much further, ultimately resulting in an abhor­rence of self. Hence, if men say they have repented but do not despise themselves, then we know that there is still great lack in their acknowledgement of sin. For true repentance will always touch the soul of a man, and not merely be a mental thing. Sin therefore pangs the sinner, whereas casual confession surely will not.

“Though God’s children must undergo trials in this life, God’s pity and mercy shall help them overcome them. Hence, though spiritual lessons are necessary to be taught, God’s pity will remain with the afflicted while under their trial, and God’s mercy shall in the end, await them after it. And just as with Jesus’ trial in the wilderness, when it was necessary that He be tempted of the devil for forty days and forty nights, after His trial the Lord sent angels to minister unto him. Ultimately, all trial has an end, and it is after the trial that God’s love will be fully evidenced.”

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 42:1-17.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 11/28/2021

Job 40:5 "Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the fifteenth in the series on the Book of Job, Job Chapter 40:5 to 41:34 chronicles the Lord's reproof of Job and Job's response: "Job’s words and thoughts have gotten him in trouble with the Lord, and now he has gained sufficient wisdom to hold his peace and quietly humble him­self to the Lord’s correction. No longer will he speak of the perceived errors of God’s ways; instead, he will confine his speech to the subject of his unworthiness. Contrite, he rejects saying anything that might tempt him to be lifted with pride again. It is in humility that men find God and learn more about Him, whereas in human pride, the Lord will not be found at all.

“Every man will have to stand and give an account of himself before God, as Job must do here. Human cowardice will not be tolerated, nor will any be able to plead weakness to escape God’s correction or judgment for their sin. Like with Adam and Eve, no matter what effort is made to hide, a full account for transgressing God’s Word will have to be given.

"For the believer, it is God’s hand and the Lord’s mighty arm, that gains victory in his life. Because without God’s strength being exhibited in the Christian’s life, there would be absolutely no chance of victory. This includes victory over death, and sin, as well as all other earthly afflictions.

"Because they lack this heavenly glory and are merely corrupted flesh, they are unworthy of entering God’s presence. A naked man is completely vulnerable; he cannot protect himself from God’s judgment nor defend himself in God’s courtroom. Because of his destitute condition, he is estranged from the Lord’s holy presence. Unless God clothes sinners in His righteousness, they will be found unfit to enter His celestial presence.

“To a proud and rebellious man, his strong internal and unchanging confidence is, that God should receive him as he is. Even if, how he is, is only fleshly and carnal. Hence, for the pretentious, they think they need not to repent for sin, simply because, they are not themselves unrighteous. Instead, when challenged by the Lord for sin, they deem God’s correction itself as sinful.

“The reason God draws such attention to this mighty beast’s strength is to fur­ther impress upon Job His own strength. All this is meant to produce humility in Job so he might consider the vastness of the power of the One he so foolishly con­tended against. Men would never even consider wrestling with a creature such as behemoth, so why would they imagine they could successfully strive against God and be successful?

“Pride also can so inflate a man, that he loses all real touch with reality. To then be reminded of his inability, is purposed to bring back some sensibility to his true strength. Until then Job could subdue and domesticate fierce creatures in the earth, he should not think himself as equal to the Lord. Sinners also frequently manifest characteristics of megalomania, whereby grandiose thoughts of themselves, tempt them, to foolishly believe that they are at least minimally, co-equal with God in wisdom and strength. For none will resist God’s will, unless they first think themselves strong enough, to not do God’s will in their life. Hence, whenever men buck the truth, they believe themselves sufficiently strong enough to not have to submit to it.

“There are so many creatures in this world, including the hippo, the elephant, the crocodile, the lion, the tiger, and even the North American grizzly, that men have the natural sense not to stir up and disturb, lest the creature’s great power and strength be exerted towards them. Yet, it is astounding how seldom this same fear is attributed to God. So that where men are rightly afraid of the fierceness of so many of the earth’s creatures, stunningly, most share not the same fear of the Lord. This is evidenced by the casualness in which they break God’s laws, and lightly esteem His commands. Divine wisdom should also teach us, that just as it is foolish to stir up the anger of creatures like the crocodile, how much more foolish is it to stir up God’s anger?”

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 40:5-41:34.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 11/14/2021

Job 38:37 "Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,"

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the fourteenth in the series on the Book of Job, Job Chapter 38:37-40:4 explores the power and wisdom of the Almighty through creation and Job's response to the Lord's questioning: "Shifting from the heavens, the Lord now directs Job’s attention to the creatures of the earth, that solely by God’s providence are cared for. Lions are mentioned, which are regarded by many as the most regal of nature’s animals, to show that even towards them, through either natural instincts or patience, their needs are provided for. And just as man cannot, through his own power, care for himself, without an environment supplied by God, likewise man does not care for, nor does he sustain the well-being of any other of earth’s creatures. This is the Lord’s work, and He alone should be praised for it.

"Moving to the wild goats which live in the high mountain, the Lord asks Job what he really knows about these majestic creatures. If Job could speak very little about the wild goat, which inhabits the highest regions of the earth, how could he really know a God, Whose habitation is Heaven? If also the mountain goat, which makes its home in the highest peaks of the earth, cannot be fully known, without great and extensive human effort, how could the God of Heaven, Whom no man can approach, thought to be so easily understood?

"Speaking pointedly to Job, the Lord now asks him, if the hawk has gained its extraordinary power of flight by Job’s wisdom. When one examines the prominent features of birds like the hawk, their gift of flight, as well as the great speeds and distances they fly, you have to wonder if men ever really even consider, that God is the Creator of all things living. Simply because no man can deeply ponder the gifts and abilities given to God’s creatures, and not be spellbound by God’s wisdom. So that if men refuse to attribute glory to God, it is only because they have removed themselves from believing in the evidences of Himself, in creation.

"From the hawk to now the eagle, another glorious creature is brought to Job’s attention, highlighting the Lord’s spectacular wisdom in creating birds such as this. Like with the mountain goat, which lives in the highest regions of the earth, the eagle ascends to the highest atmosphere of the earth. The Lord, no doubt, chooses majestic creatures like these, simply because His own home is high, and unobservable by earthly men.

"Here we see a dramatic change in Job’s demeanor, for now instead of confessing personal self-righteousness, he openly confesses his own vileness. No doubt the vileness that Job experienced in his soul, was directly related to his understanding of being proud of heart. Such pride also that was previously willing to condemn God, in order to justify self. Ultimately, Job’s entire view of life changed. Whereas before he thought God was at fault, and himself righteous, now he sees God as righteous, and himself as vile. Through then God’s Spirit, via the entrance of God’s Word, Job had come to realize the true condition of himself. No longer would he lodge false claims against the Lord, accusing God of injustice. No longer would he complain against God’s government. For now he fully realized, that it was not God who had sinned against him, but he against God."

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 38:37-40:4.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 10/24/2021

1 Corinthians 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth teaches the importance of building your spiritual life upon only one foundation, Jesus Christ, in No Other Foundation: "Men often look for foundations to build their faith upon, searching for the right preacher, denomination, or doctrine. But unless they are directly led by God’s Holy Spirit, they rarely seek Jesus Christ as their foundation. Yet there is only one true foundation upon which any man can properly build his spiritual life, and that is the Son of God. In Him lives the foundation of all true religion, and without Him, one will only find sinking sand.

"The apostle Paul warned Timothy that men would eventually abandon the true Gospel of Jesus Christ simply because they would look for a more pleasing doctrine, one more adaptable to their fleshly lusts. Even in the very early years of Christianity, Paul realized that the practice of true Christianity would ultimately be lowered to the carnality of sinful people. Religion, Paul states, would grow worse and worse simply because carnal and unspiritual men would begin to practice it. They would leave the proper foundation of Jesus Christ to form religions more pleasing to themselves. Such is the depravity of men that even though God has set His Son as the base of everything, men will still abandon Him and His words to form their own religions, ones more appealing to their own fleshly lusts.

"Paul’s words also teach that the Church of Christ, or at least those who profess to be in it, will not grow better but will actually develop more resistance to the truth. According to Paul, as the years passed, Christianity would decline and move further and further away from the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ. Because men’s lusts are many, false teachers would be multiplied in abundance; for every human desire, a new corrupt teacher would arise to nurture and care for it.

"This verse speaks to the corruptness of man—that he does not want nor desire to be taught the right things that come from God but prefers the smooth and delusional things of man. This was Israel’s sin, and it is still common today, as men do not desire the true Word of God but prefer words not grounded in truth. In short, because of their fleshly appetites, carnal men prefer false prophecies so they can remain deceived.

"Observe as well that if sin remains unaddressed by those who say they speak for God, then you can know that whatever godly ministry is being promoted is not really what it claims to be. For God endorses no true ministry that endeavors to keep people blind to sin and its dreadful consequences.

"Again, there is but One religious foundation and One Solid Rock that any can build upon to secure themselves from a future fall. This foundation is Christ and obedience to His words. When under the storms of this life, all other human thought will quickly reveal itself as insufficient for maintaining proper religion. Consequently, if Jesus Christ and His words are not the foundation of a man’s faith, it is sure to inevitably crumble under Him. Every man, therefore, should be warned that if Jesus Christ and obedience to His words are not the foundation of faith, then nothing but a great collapse of religion is both guaranteed and promised in the future, since none can reject the words of the Lord Jesus and not eventually have to pay a great personal consequence and cost for it.

"Through Christ, a world that has departed from God will become subject to God again. So great is Jesus Christ as God’s foundation that a brand-new world of willing subjection to God will be produced. This world shall be much different than the one we live in now, for it shall adore God and not rebel against Him. It shall embrace His sovereignty and not despise it. Ultimately, the God of creation will fill and completely reside in all His created beings. God will be all in all, with His people greatly desiring Him to be."

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: 1 Corinthians 3:11, 2 Timothy 4:3, Isaiah 30:10, Lamentations 2:14, Matthew 7:24-29, 1 Peter 2:6, Isaiah 8:14, Ephesians 2:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:28.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace on 10/10/2021.

Job 34:35 "Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the thirteenth in the series on the Book of Job, Elihu: Job 34:35 to 35:16, teaches the importance of bridling the tongue and the significance and necessity of suffering in the Christian life: “What Job both said of himself, as being righteous, and what he said of God, as denying him justice, were both notably in error. It is also common among men that when they speak of God, the words they utter, and the ideas they infer, are rarely inspired of the Lord. Yet, a lack of any true wisdom and knowledge of the Lord, does not stop most from speaking about a God they know little of. Much confusion also would leave the Church, if those not inspired by the Holy Spirit would hold their peace until they possessed true spiritual enlightenment.

“Nothing is more important to keep in its original and unadulterated form than the spoken Word, either written or inspired through the power of the Holy Spirit. For by it men are saved, and by it, is God made known. Job therefore was worthy of be­ing corrected for his words, since both life and death, lay in the power of the tongue. Observe as well that only right and good speech, will produce for a man or woman, a path to a blessed and good life.

“What Job did not know, was that no sin can be properly confessed, or atoned for, until it is known. Thus, where there is ignorance of sin, there cannot be full and complete repentance, which alone will produce forgiveness. It is also a very foolish thing to judge anything as being right or wrong, simply by wheth­er or not, it is profitable to us. Observe as well, that many have been called by the Lord to suffer for His sake, and surely not to have a more blessed physical existence. Moses was called to suffer affliction with the people of God. The Apostle Paul also was called by the Lord Jesus to suffer for His name. Simply because most heavenly calls, will entail with them, a large degree of human suf­fering, though at the end of them, there is promise of eternal blessing.

“Though God remains invisible, still He should be trusted. Though Job could not see God overseeing his life, this did not mean that justice would not prevail. It is good then to place our trust in an invis­ible God, Who though He is not seen to us by the human eye, still retains the power to execute proper justice and judg­ment in the earth. Consider as well that there are so many spiritual problems that can be overcome, simply by trusting in the Lord. So much peace in the heart that can be gained, by trusting in God’s plan of predestination, and protection for our lives. He also, who will keep his soul trusting in the Lord, will save his heart from much spiritual confusion.”

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 34:35-Job 35:16.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 08/01/2021

Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth teaches on a topic that is essential to the Christian's spiritual peace, The Righteousness of God: "Few things are more important to a Christian’s spiritual peace than being made righteous by God. This act of divine grace is so beyond the realm of human thought that few can fully relish how glorious it is: sinners, worthy of condemnation, are made righteous by God because of their faith in His Son. It makes no difference, then, what the world thinks of God’s elect, because their righteousness makes them both cleansed and forgiven in Heaven.

"God does not justify a man because He finds him pure. There are no such men. Hence, sinners should not think that justification is the result of their own purification process. It is not. If this were the case, then the righteousness would be man’s. Only when men become spiritually enlightened enough to realize that they cannot produce righteousness on their own will they turn to Christ.

"There is no middle ground between reverence for the Lord Jesus and rejection of His God-given lordship over all creation. When men do not yield to the Son of God and the grace of God brought through Him, they prove themselves unworthy of reform. When Jesus is rejected, all divine mercy for sin vanishes. However, for the saint who believes in the Son of God and yields himself to the Spirit and Word of God, a much different future lies ahead: he is justified, and sin can no longer prevent God’s blessings from being imparted to him. Righteousness also means that many good things await the believer in the future, just as certainly as judgment awaits the God-rejector.

"Lastly, let us emphasize the great reality that the righteousness the believer receives through Christ is solely God’s. It does not come from man, and there is nothing in him to make him as God makes him in Christ, so we should not think that it is because of any part of our fleshly nature. Faith in Christ is how we are made righteous; consequently, to look for righteousness in any other place than Christ will only result in doubting its existence. By faith, we believe in God’s Son, and by faith, we should also trust in the righteousness given to us through Christ."

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Isaiah 54:17, Philippians 3:9, Romans 10:4, Hebrews 10:28-29, Romans 8:29-31.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 07/11/2021

Job 34:5-6 "For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the twelfth in the series on the Book of Job, Elihu: Job 34:5-35, continues to chronicle Elihu's response to Job: "Whenever we have improper beliefs of our own righteous character, it is wrongly assumed that tragic events in our life are divinely unfair. So that if we lack faith in God’s greater plan for our lives, then all we can see is our present misery. Job’s words contain an absoluteness on two accounts: first, in his own pure righteousness; secondly, in his wound being incurable. Both assumptions were proved wrong by the Lord. For Job was not as righteous as he thought and God did restore his life back to health. Sickness and pain can easily cause men to view themselves as overly pure, and their hope of recovery as potentially unrecoverable. But like with Job, neither of these conclusions will prove true.

"The sin in a man, no doubt, causing him to believe himself, so much more pure than he really is, and because of this, he will often lack the perception to know, that his own heart, life, and actions, are the cause of his misery, and not God.

"Elihu’s argument is thus, if men think they have a right to challenge God in earthly judgments, and/or the trials they might need to endure, then they have completely forgotten that their entire existence, is dependent on God’s grace. Elihu’s position then is, do not question God in smaller judgments, lest a far greater judgment be administered. For if God set His heart upon man, to fully execute judgment for his sins, then God could gather all breath life, and return it solely to God’s own possession. Teaching us that all life is God’s, whether it is flesh life, or spirit life. Even as all life is either extended or shortened, according to God’s will. For He Who first gave man life, can just as easily, if He so wills it, remove it from him.

"It is not man who makes the rules regarding sin, but God. Not man who sets the terms for chastisement, or its duration, but the Lord alone. Not until men realize that God sets the terms for all things, will they then humble themselves sufficiently enough to learn and yield to Him. How often also do men get lost in the lie, that they can set the terms for either salvation, or blessing. The pride of man often assuming that God must meet his terms, and not he, God’s."

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 34:5-35.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 07/04/2021

Job 32:15-16 "They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)"

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the eleventh in the series on the Book of Job, Elihu: Job 32:15 to Job 33:3 examines the characteristics between true and false prophets and whether they have been sent by the Lord to speak on His behalf: "Immediately we see the effectiveness of Elihu’s spiritual ministry. As Job’s friends were: 1) amazed, 2) ceased to formulate reasons in their minds to refute any of his words, and 3) left off, no longer speaking. Teaching us that there is hardly anything more effective in stopping men’s mouths from presuming they know, than when one sent from God, begins to deliver revelation from God. Then, even the most imperceptive men seem to be able to detect that God has entered the room.

"Where human wisdom is anything but pure, heavenly wisdom is. And because the wisdom from above has as its source in God, it will be felt to possess the very same holy attributes as the Lord. Hence, where carnal and human wisdom will agitate further the confused, the Lord’s wisdom will promote peace. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar’s words had done nothing but to provoke Job and cause him internal unrest. Yet now Elihu’s message would do just the opposite. Having its origin from above, it would prove itself as easy to be entreated. Elihu therefore would become a breath of fresh air to Job, whereas previously debate and strife had ruled the day. Job’s friends had spoken of their own will, but Elihu would speak under the direction of God’s will.

"Job’s friends, unintentionally, had carried themselves no differently than false prophets. God did not send them to speak for Himself, yet they ran, egotistically thinking they could perform service for the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:21) "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied." It is easy to see why Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar’s words manifestly failed, simply because they spoke to Job, things not of the truth, and focused on arguments devoid of God’s Spirit leading them. It is not enough then to claim that we come in God’s name, if God has not commissioned us to speak for Him. Job’s friends, unintentionally, had carried themselves no differently than false prophets. God did not send them to speak for Himself, yet they ran, egotistically thinking they could perform service for the Lord. It is easy to see why Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar’s words manifestly failed, simply because they spoke to Job, things not of the truth, and focused on arguments devoid of God’s Spirit leading them."

This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 32:15-Job 33:2-3.

Broadcast live from Castle Grace 05/30/2021