Seeking for the help of the Lord, I direct your prayerful attention to the book of Job, Job chapter 36 and verse 24. Remember that thou magnify his work which men behold. Job 36 and verse 24. We have a similar word in Psalm 145 verse 9 and 10. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee.

One of the great blessings of being called by grace and to have our eyes opened is to not only see the works of God, but ascribe them to God. See that they are God's works. And then when we do that, to be in a position to magnify those works and to highlight them before men that as yet just see his work but don't actually see it is the Lord's work or what a wonder that it is. This is the exhortation here. Remember that thou magnify his work which men behold He's saying this to Job and Job must have already seen and known the work of God for him to be able to magnify it. The book of Job begins with the Lord clearly stating that Job was an upright man He was one that feared God.

He was not walking in a path where he needed the chastisement of God. And God said to Satan, had he considered his servant Job. And Satan, he accused Job really of only serving the Lord because the Lord had set a hedge about him and he'd prospered his way, he'd given him many riches, and Satan said that if the Lord was to touch those things, he would turn round and he would curse God. Now you would remember that Satan, as at this time, has had 6,000 years of experience, and at that time too, some thousands of years of experience in nature, man's nature, and he knew that that is what men do, and they do today. They are what you call fair-weather Christians. They go with The Lord, while everything goes well, if it's an insurance policy to get a good job and a house and a wife and to have a hope of heaven, but when things go wrong, this is why grace must be tried, why there must be a trial of faith to sort out whether we are truly trusting and believing in the Lord or that we're just serving him, as our Lord would say, for the loaves and for the fishes.

So the Lord gave Satan permission to fry Job and to take away those things that he had. And so then there comes a day and Job has these messengers that are coming and saying that his oxen and his asses have all been taken, the Sabaeans have taken them and they've killed their servants with the edge of the sword and only one escaped to bring the tidings. Then his sheep, his flocks go and the same thing and then his camels and each there's a different one that has attacked them and then a wind comes from the wilderness and flattens the house where his children are And only one again escapes to tell him. But dear Job, how does he respond?

He says, the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Naked came I into the world. You know, he humbled himself. He did not charge God foolishly. He did not reply, he did not do what Satan thought he should have done. Why? Because of the grace of God. Because of what God had done in his soul and in his heart. Because he truly did believe in God and fear God.

But then Satan says, well, everything man has he'll give for his health, for his life. You touch his health, you touch his life, And then you'll see. So he's given permission to do that. Poor Job was then so afflicted with the boils and everything that he had.

And even then, he doesn't curse God. His wife says, how long dost thou retain thy integrity? Curse God and die. And he says, reprove, sir, thou speakest as a foolish woman does. Shall we not receive good at the hand of the Lord and shall we not receive evil?

In all this, Job sinned not with his lips. What a path, dear Job, walked. But in a way, the worst was yet to come. With his friends that came first with the intention to comfort him, and they sat down seven days without saying anything, But then their thought was that Job must have done something terribly wrong. There must be a reason why God has visited Job like this.

And so then they seek to lay grievous charges at Job. False accusations. Right words but wrongly applied. Wrongly applied to him. Job's words to them, miserable comforters are ye all. God's words concerning them, at the end of the book of Job, ye have not spoken of me that which was right concerning my servant Job. They had to come, they had to bring an offering, and he had to make intercession for them. But Job was left to try and to justify himself and to try and speak that he was just and upright.

And in the end, when his friends couldn't find any answer at all, then Elihu comes. And Elihu reproves his friends first, then he reproves Job, and then he turns, as in these two chapters, to really magnify the Lord, justify the Lord, speak well on the behalf of the Lord. And that is what is in these chapters. As Elihu is taking all the works of the Lord in these chapters that we've read, he's pointing out one thing after another in creation, in the clouds, the sky, all of these things, and he's magnifying the Lord.

And then he has this word to actually say to Job and to say to us as well. remember that thou magnify his work which men behold. And that is what I desire to speak of this evening. So firstly we need to think what is the work which men behold. So our first point is work which men behold. And then secondly, how we are to magnify it. If we are to fulfil this word, remember that they magnify His work, which men behold, how do we magnify it?

And then lastly, an exhortation that is liable to be forgotten, because it says here, remember. So wherever that is, you can imply this, that this is something we are liable to forget to do. Firstly then, we have the work of our Lord. I want to begin where Elihu is beginning and where his main emphasis is here.

Because he says, which men behold So this is not something hidden, it is something that is actually seen. And he gives us the illustration here of the creation. And of course we remember in Romans 1 that men, even though they do not have the Word of God, even though they may never have heard any of the writings of the Word, Yet they shall be without excuse because of the creation and because of our own bodies that are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are made in the image of God and in one sense all of those that see us and that we know ourselves, we cannot but see there is a wonderful creation, so much contrasted to the animal creation, a rational being that can learn, that can apply that learning, that can grow in understanding and perform many wonderful, wonderful things. So the creation is that which man sees. And it's no wonder that we find in our schools that, no, you are not allowed to teach creation. as a fact, as that God has done it, just as a theory, but it is a fact.

And Satan has tried, and the world has tried, as much as possible, the main thing that men see that's right before them, they've had it instilled into them, this is not the work of God, this is not God's work, this is evolution, and that is instilled into them. So even more necessary such an exhortation here But to realise it is something that men see, that men behold.

They see the sun, the moon and the stars. They see those great things. They see the small things. And some, they see it like David Attenborough. They see it, they marvel and enthuse at the creation. But they cannot see, they don't see the Creator. We've seen it in medical professionals, where we've had scans, or my wife has, and they've marvelled, they've said why they've gone into these studies, because the brain is so wonderful, because the heart is so wonderful, and you point out that that's the work of God, and a shudder comes down, they don't want to hear it.

But they have seen it. Men are beholding it. God has not hid his work. You need to remember this. This is what is said here. God's work is not hidden in a corner. It is for all to actually see. And so that first one is the creation. Blessed are we if we can see that this is God's work. Another one is providence. God ordering all things in this world.

Now man's take on that again is just luck and chance, just coincidence. But they cannot avoid that there are remarkable things, there's remarkable timings, and things that happen. And they notice that, they speak of it, they ascribe it to something different, but it is actually seen. No, we see things that are made crooked. Who can make that straight? Consider, who can make that straight that God has made crooked? None can. And we see those things that man cannot change, cannot remedy at all.

And we see things have begun with great trial, like with how Ruth came to be in the line to Christ. how she came to be united to Boaz, it was first with Naomi and her husband going to escape the famine, going into Moab, and then their two sons marrying, and their two sons dying, and her husband, Ocana, passing away, and those things that happened.

And yet through that book we see a wonderful opening up of providence and at the end a real line to Christ. And of course the book of Esther as well, in the remarkable things that were happening, you might say God's name is not mentioned in that book, but His works are there, men are beholding His works, they are seeing, they are seeing the works of God. We think of Psalm 107, at the end of that psalm, who so is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. And throughout it we see the people of God going into depths and into trials, they fall down, there's none to help, and then they cry unto the Lord and the Lord delivereth them out of their destructions. And you see all of this is providence, things that are happening in the lives of the people of God, and they're going from one trial to another, one deliverance to another deliverance. And we are told if we are to understand the loving kindness of the Lord, then we are to observe those things.

We think of mercies that happen. you have a car accident and so called. But you see in the timing of things, and though it is a great trial, you can see many mercies, many providences that have made it to not be as bad as it was. A nurse appears on the scene, men appear to be able to help, where the car was hit it meant that not serious damage to the occupants, and many things could be added like that. And the world notices it. They actually speak about these things, and we can see these things. This is Providence. This is the things that men see. And they may speak about it, but describing it to something different.

His Word. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? To be mindful of the Lord's work in that way. But then think of another work. We mentioned the blessing of a work of grace that brings us to view God's work and to actually know ourselves that these things that men behold are the works of God. Men cannot go back, we cannot, as it were, with our eyes go back to Calvary, we cannot see the cross, we cannot see Christ in heaven, we have his word, but what the world sees is the effect of the cross, the work of grace.

The Lord says of his people, this people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise. And if you think of creation as a wonderful work and God gave us the Sabbath, the rest, as after all the creation that he'd done, but when a greater work was done, the work of redemption, at Calvary. He gives us the Lord's Day. He gives us the first day so that we rest and then we work out the rest of the week what God has brought in.

That great work, a greater work than creation, can really only be observed by the world through the people of God, the church which is Christ's body. He is the head, the church is its body, and the world sees that body. We have in Peter that we are to be ready to give a reason of the hope that is within us to everyone that asketh us, and it is to be with meekness.

Why do they ask us that reason of the hope? because they see us doing things that they don't do and not doing things that they do. They see the difference. Why has that person changed? Why have they stopped walking in the ways of sin? Why have they taken up with the things of God? Why are they seeking those things that are above? Why are they a new creature, a changed creature? Why has Saul, the persecutor of the people of God, become Paul, the apostle, the preacher of Jesus Christ? What has made the difference?

When he rehearses it in Acts 26, before Agrippa and Festus, Festus, he says, thou art mad. Much learning hath made thee mad. But he says, I am not mad. Most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and of soberness. They couldn't but realize a difference had been made, a change had been made. just by observing that change, they cannot see what is behind it. And that's why we have the exhortation to magnify that work. And we'll come to that in a moment. But the work of grace should be a change that men see. It would be a sad thing if there was a profession of faith But the world says, well, I can't see any difference in that person. I can't see a difference in how they speak and what they like and where they go. That would be a sad thing.

You know, if there is already a change that men behold and see, and then they ask a reason, you can never be charged as being a hypocrite, can you? He is a hypocrite, says and does not do. But if they've seen the doing and then want to know why, then they can never turn around and say, you're trying to ram religion down our throat, you're trying to be what you're not.

You say, well, you've asked me because you've seen. And I'm telling you because you've asked me to. May we be those who have known and read of all men, or like the apostles, they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Another way, another thing that men behold, and you might think this a strange thing, it is the judicial blindness of man.

Paul says, writes to the Corinthians, that after the wisdom of God, it pleased God that man by wisdom should not be able to find out God. I haven't quoted it exactly. But then he puts it the other way, that it hath pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. And we cannot help, men cannot help noticing that natural man has been given wonderful wisdom in things of medicine, electronics, wonderful inventions that man does. But when it comes to spiritual things, there is a block. They cannot get past that. They cannot use that wisdom to find out God. or to understand the things of God. No amount of arguments, no amount of scriptures.

Our Lord says they have Moses. If they believe not Moses, neither will they believe if one rose from the dead. It is judicial. God has said, in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. And we are dead spiritually. Natural man cannot know or find out God. though he is all around him and all in front of him, that God has been pleased to use those things that are seen and especially use his people for the conversion of others. Every one of God's people has begun first as one that does not believe, cannot believe, cannot see, and I don't care how much you've been brought up under the sound of the truth, a natural man. He remains a natural man until he is converted by divine grace, because he'd be killed before he has a new birth.

And that is a judicial thing. And when we notice and we see that, Men see that, they will turn it round and say this, well you look at all of these wonderful skilled men, all with wisdom, all these scientists, they don't believe these foolish things, they don't understand those things, it's only these foolish people, they go after the things of God. But God's people interpret it differently, they interpret it according to the word of God. But the world notices and they say it, but they ascribe it wrongly and differently. And this is where God's people come in, to magnify His work. Time to look then secondly at this word, to magnify the work of God.

Your children will know what it is to get a magnifying glass, a round magnifying glass, and hold it over something, and it makes it look bigger. Has it actually changed the thing? It hasn't, hasn't. It's still the same size. But it looks bigger. It's easier to see.

If perhaps you've seen something, and maybe you've used binoculars to magnify something, And sometimes I've done this, I've seen a ship out at sea and I've taken the binoculars and I've looked at the ship. But I've found out that instead of seeing the whole ship big, it's magnified it so I can only see a little bit of it at a time. So to see it all I've got to move it along to see the whole thing. So magnifying is making it bigger or certain aspects, part of that ship or part of the thing you're looking at is now getting much bigger. Perhaps at the beginning it couldn't even be seen, but as you begin to magnify it you see things that were already there, but until you used the magnifying glass you couldn't even see them.

It is highlighting what is there, making it to be seen, making it to be really what it is. You might look at something in the distance, you say, I'm not sure what it is. You use a magnifying glass or binoculars and then you can see what it is. You might say, see who it is, or some aspect of that thing.

And this is the idea here, is not changing it, is not making God's work more than what it actually is, is not trying to do what men might do with each other, make out there's something that they're not, magnifying them in a wrong way. This is what is already there. You cannot make God's work greater or bigger than it is. But it's God using his people using those that are called by grace, who do see these things as in a glass, and they are like the magnifying glass.

They are in words, or in works they are describing what actually is there. They are showing these things. So let's think of some of those ways that that actually could be done. You think of what we said with creation. When men are ascribing that to evolution, when they're speaking of it as something else, we know different.

Till we're able to speak of what it really is and to tell them this is God's work. It is He that has brought our bodies to be what they are, and all parts of our bodies working together in full harmony, able to heal itself. Yes, we have interventions of medical, but without the healing capabilities of the body that God has given, no amount of operations would ever do any good. It is pointing out to others, when they see and especially when they comment on what they see, to actually set forth the truth.

This is God's work. This is His creation. This is the work of God. It is a testimony toward men. We ought to do that and that applies to providence as well. When men are ascribing it to luck and chance, then speak and say, no, this is God's work. This is what He has done. And they may or may not see it, receive it, but the testimony and witness really is there. And men cannot see it. but God has called his people to highlight it.

I remember one time, and I may have mentioned this before, of one employer that I was working for, and his wife said about their daughter coming back on a train from London, not having enough money for the fare all the way, getting off at a station, going to phone up, she'd just got enough money to phone home, and when she came to the phone booth, Someone had been before and left the change there. And there was change enough to pay for the fare to get home.

And she ascribed it, even though she was a professing Christian, to just wasn't that lucky. I said there was nothing bad luck about that. That was God's providence. He ordered that. The money was there. That was the provision. She couldn't see it. However much I tried to explain as that was the work of God, she couldn't see it. But the testimony was there and it's necessary to do it for God's honour and glory. This is the work of God.

You know, you think of those times like when we have Abraham's servant going to get a wife for Isaac and when he explains to Laban Bethuel what had happened They say the thing proceedeth from the Lord. They are able to discern that. And it's good for us to discern and to testify to others. It's very necessary as well with, especially the work of grace, that we be ready to give a reason of the hope within us. that we're able to say to the Apostle Paul, what I am, I am by the grace of God.

That this is not me, but God has made the change. He changed my heart. Why did He? Because He chose me from eternity. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered on Calvary's tree. He shed His blood. He paid the debt of my sin. He redeemed my soul. He gave me life. and to testify of that work of grace, why it is, how it is, that a sinner can be changed and to be brought to spiritual life such that men notice it and ask that reason. This is how God is glorified.

This is how his name is proclaimed and set forth. And I would say this, how do we do it? How do we? As families, in families, very important, you know. It's a good thing where the children notice with the parents that the parents act as if they believe in God. And then when trials come in the family, and in the family also when prayer is made and there's asking for help, asking for guidance, The children, you children, you're listening to those prayers. And then it may be answers are given. Then you listen to the thanksgiving. You listen to where that is ascribed. And sometimes it's important that that thanksgiving is, you might say, almost instant.

Remember the One month in my life over here that I was without work since I, secular work, when we still needed it before it was fully in the ministry. I'd been at works in 16, I never knew what it was to have a time that I did not have work. And I applied for a job, an engineering job, applied for many jobs, earned nothing at all. And it was the most perplexing, one month that I've spent.

Then we went and heard Gerald Bass at Matfield, and he preached from the city, Shushan was perplexed. And you know, we were there with our children. And that sermon was so... it was so blessed to us. We came out in the car afterwards. We sat in the car. And we said, before we go home, we're going to give thanks to the Lord. And we sat. We gave thanks to the Lord.

And you know, within a day or so, we heard from the very first job I ever applied for. And they said, well, I was overqualified for it. So they tried to get someone else, but couldn't. So could I come? And that proved a very timely, excellent position I had for the, I think, two or three years I was there. But before even we had the answer, we had the answer through the blessing, through the ministry. And you know, it's right. Children will see that, they notice that.

You live your faith, you live your religion. And it is in that way you're magnifying the work of God. You're putting together what happens in the Church of God, the blessings through the ministry, and then the Lord brings to pass in Providence, and the children see and we see. The Lord has already answered, given faith in the house of God, and then he's moved in Providence afterwards.

In that way we are to magnify. It's a great privilege as a parent to all the time you're in a wonderful position where you can see the work of God and perhaps your children cannot and you can be instructing them and showing them the work of God and magnifying that work. We magnify Him. in prayer to God in private. In one sense, that's good to begin there. Good to begin to return and praise God, bless God, thank God.

Sometimes we might look at something as an overall and think we've got one thing to bless the Lord with. But when we start to magnify it, we find all sorts of aspects in that one thing. You think of Psalm 136, which finishes, for his mercy endureth forever, every verse.

And it speaks about the children of Israel going out of Egypt, how he brought them out. And he brought them out by a high hand. and he brought them to the Red Sea, divided the Red Sea, and he brought them through the Red Sea. And he's splitting these things up. He speaks of the heavens, how he made the heavens, the sun to rule by day, the moon to rule by night, and each time for his mercy endureth forever.

It's not just lumping all together, it's looking, magnifying at each aspect And then we see much more cause to give thanks and praise to God. And if we do that in private prayer, we do that in secret before the Lord, it strengthens our faith. It encourages us in the Lord our God.

And it is a returning to give thanks. Our Lord healed those 10 lepers. It was a work that was to be whole. It made real difference to them. but only one return to give thanks, only one return to magnify God that this was His work and He could see it and He could give thanks for that. We are to give God the glory for those things that He's enabled us to do, those things that He's wrought in us and for us. We are to give Him the glory for that. Before men, and before God. It explained things to men, to children, to open them up.

You know, the apostles, the first beginning of the Church of God, they wrought the miracles, the crowds gathered, how is it? The dead are raised, how is it? These lame are walking, and they immediately said that, don't look on us, there is nothing in us.

These are done by the holy child Jesus. It is through his name. And you read those accounts in the Acts, and that's what they're doing. They're magnifying the work of God. They're saying this is the work of God. What men cannot see and we can, we through our words, our actions, our explanations, we show them and magnify that work. This is what is set before us here. Remember that they are magnifying His work which men behold. I believe there's a real benefit and blessing for the magnifier, for those that are doing that. It's a wonderful thing to be given the privilege of doing it.

I remember years ago when I first started with the firm over in Australia and I had to go to meet the manager. And I would much rather have gone from the work, it was a couple of hundred miles away from my normal place of work, I would rather have gone back to my motel for the night, had a quiet night. I was invited to tea with the manager, so I went.

And almost from the very beginning he started quizzing me on my faith. And for that whole evening I was able to speak, answering his questions about what I believed and to set forth the things of God. When I came back to the motel room the lines of the hymn dropped in, O the happiness arising from the life of God within. And I felt it ordered of God. I felt it a privilege. I didn't want to at first, but God ordered it, and I've never forgotten it. That man's passed away now through cancer, and I often think, did the Lord bless that? Did anything really sink in?

You know, some of the things he said was, well, you're very narrow-minded. If you think that the only way of salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ, I said, if he testifies it is, then it is. And if I said it was any other, then I wouldn't be a believer. And I wouldn't rightly be following him, would I? He could understand that. But it's good to be able to notice as well God's providence bringing us into places, especially if you've got unbelieving relatives. Rather than trying to manufacture situations or ram religion down their throat, Pray for opportunities, pray for openings, where they will see things which men behold, and they'll ask, and an opening might be given. Maybe only one or two words you'll be able to say, but remember this text. This is my last point. Remember. It's an exhortation which is liable to be forgotten. Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold."

Why? Why do we forget? Sometimes perhaps the fear of man might do it. Maybe we're also like the butler in Joseph's case. Of course, ordered by God, but Joseph had said to remember him, and his dreams had been told and explained, but he just forgets it, this work of God. There was a point in time for him to remember, of course. And so we think of Psalm 107 again. So often, O that men would praise the Lord. Almost a plea by the psalmist again and again, O that they would. O that they would speak.

Why are we so slow to speak? The Lord says His people are the salt of the earth. The salt has lost its savour. Wherewith shall it be salted? Salt is just a few grains sprinkled in. Disappears. But it changes. Changes the taste. Changes the savour of something.

You are the light of the world, if you've ever thought. Why is it in the Revelation, why is it through the Word of God that the church is likened to a candlestick? In Revelation 1, we have the candlesticks are the churches. The stars are the angels of the churches. The Lord is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Why candlesticks? Because candlesticks give light. Ye are the light of the world. A church should give light to the world, to those that are round about. Not hide it under a bushel.

I fear sometimes, if we went to some of our people, and some even that make profession, and we went to their employment, and we said to those they work with, do you know that the person you work with is a Christian? And they'd say, no, I didn't know that. Do you know that they go to the House of God and say, no, I don't know that. How many of you? If you went to those you work with who know much of your faith, what you believe and what you see of God's work, how much have you actually shared or spoken with them?

Sometimes it might not be received at all, sometimes not appropriate to speak. But as I said, we watch for the openings. And one of the key things here is what men behold. And often what men behold of God's work, they will speak about it. And they'll ascribe it to something other than God. Ascribe it to something different. But we are those that will say, no, this is God's work. This is God's hand.

This is his work. Remember that thou magnify his work which men behold. And of all the things that we mention this evening, may what rests most upon us is the work of grace in the heart. What do men behold of that work? He which hath begun a good work in you. We'll perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.

You that are afflicted, maybe with pains, great trials in your life, perhaps you have people say to you, I don't know how you cope with that. I don't know how you keep going. I don't know how you keep with a smile and cheerful with what you have. may be able to say, the Lord has given me grace and help. It is painful. I feel the burden.

But maybe you can say with the Apostle Paul, the Lord has said my grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness. And it's a privilege to be able to say when people notice that, it's not just my resolve. It's not that I am better or stronger or strong-willed than any other, but the Lord has helped me and he has given me this help. And it applies to many things that men might say. Oh, you're brave. Oh, you can do that. I couldn't do that. Oh, aren't you skilled? Haven't you got wonderful ability to do this or that? Or maybe stop before taking that all to ourselves.

So the Lord has given me that wisdom. Would Bezalel, who made all of the furniture and all of the tabernacle, if someone said, well what a wonderful tabernacle you've built, would he not say, God endued me with all wisdom and ability and helped me to do that?

We need help to give the honour and glory unto God, praise to Him, And of course the Lord Jesus Christ has given a way for his people in the Church of God to give that honour in open profession with baptism and with the Lord's Supper month by month as we customary do it.

We show forth his death till he come. The Church is all the time testifying This is why we are what we are. Christ has shed his blood for us and we desire to show this forth and to observe in the way that he has prescribed. And when we see it like that, it's a beautiful way, isn't it?

Ordained by God to magnify his work. His work, buried with him by baptism into death, risen again in newness of life. and then showing forth his death, uniting with the people of God. This is magnifying the best, the greatest, the most sacred work the Lord does in a poor sinner's heart and life and in the Church of God. May the Lord make us partakers of that work and able to magnify it to others and maybe some also will say It was because of the Lord's people magnifying His work to me that I have been blessed, and the Lord blessed it to me and called me also by grace. Amen.