So God is totally in control. Amid COVID-19 Horror, Iran Releases Thousands of Prisoners, Boy Thrown From Mall Balcony Walking, Giving Thanks to Jesus. The sovereignty of God is one of those theological ideas that causes some significant challenges in the lives of believers. Chip and his wife, Theresa, have four grown children and twelve grandchildren and live in California. Chip Ingram is the CEO and teaching pastor of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry. Policies & Procedures. The sheer enormity of the Asian tsunami disaster, the death, destruction, and havoc it has wreaked, the scale of misery it has caused, must surely test the faith of even the firmest believer. Numerous setbacks and failures later, I still believed God was in control and had a purpose through it all. Why is this so important. It remains in mystery. Now, the way he controls all things may differ. Brenda, this is a great reminder that God is in control always.. even in the bad things that happen. God SustainsThe Bible teaches that God not only created the universe, but that He upholds and sustains it day by day, hour by hour. The Prophet Jeremiah asks, “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” (Lamentations 3:37). The very existence of evil itself actually proves that God is not in control. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. – Joyce Meyer Or I am going to stop my bad habit. Tragic events uncover our deepest, most personal questions about God. He gives us options. But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Just a few years ago, I had seven friends who were battling cancer. Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” (Lamentations 3: 37-38). There may be the heartache of an unhappy marriage, the disappointment of a miscarried pregnancy or grief over a spiritually indifferent or rebellious child. Even the Apostle Paul pleaded with God three times to take away the thorn in his flesh before he finally found God’s grace to be sufficient. Could I trust Him even if I didn’t understand? God of course! Doesn’t He care about the thousands who are starving in East Africa or the innocent civilians who are being brutally murdered in many war-ravaged countries around the world? God had brought a “crooked” event into my life, and I became acutely aware that only He could straighten it. Is God Sovereign in My Suffering?Adversity with its accompanying emotional pain comes in many forms. Etched in our memories is also the day after Christmas 2004, when an earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean created a tsunami that caused more than 200,000 deaths and displaced millions more in Southeast Asia. I’m trying to respond here to someone who says, “Well, God doesn’t control everything, but he permits lots of things.” I’m saying that’s right. If you’re struggling with believing this, then I would encourage you to do a search in the Bible for the verses that say: “He is above all things,” and “He is in control of all things” and read them slowly. Experiences like the mate that walks out, the cancer that brought death, the drunk driver who went left of center, the wayward son, the wayward daughter, the betrayal by a business partner, the upside down financial experience, the loss of a house … you name it. This is Paul’s argument in Acts 17:22-31. CONQUER YOUR NEW YEAR om n oorwinner te wees in hierdie nuwe jaar So we are in 2017, a New Year, how many of you have started by saying this year I am going to lose weight, go on a diet. God is always in control. But if you have a big God, then little by little, those problems you face — won’t necessarily be less painful — but they will start to become smaller and smaller. We even do foolish and sinful things ourselves and suffer the often-bitter fruit of our actions. Doesn’t He care about me?”. We see unjust, uncaring or even clearly wicked people doing things that adversely affect us. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. When my sister’s husband died many years ago I remember telling her (as a young Christian) that God didn’t have anything to do with him dying, that the enemy took his life. On one of those days, a girl that was far more spiritual and mature than me prayed, “God, I thank you, that in the midst of all of this, you are sovereign, that we can trust you, and that you are in control.”. Soon after the South Asian tsunami, a commentator in The Herald of Glasgow, Scotland, wrote the following: “God, if there is a God, should be ashamed of himself. Consider this one: “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? ©2021 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together. God GovernsThe Bible also teaches that God governs the universe, not only inanimate creation, but also the actions of all creatures, both men and animals. God is accountable only to Himself. So about twenty college students prayed for him and we begged God for two days to save his life. Still others experience the sting of injustice, the dull ache of loneliness and the stabbing pain of unexpected grief. He is called the Ruler of all things (1 Chronicles 29:12), the blessed and only Ruler (1 Timothy 6:15), the One apart from whose will the sparrow cannot fall to the ground (Matthew 10:29). About Us Contact Us Privacy
When we lose control, we can find hope in knowing that a God who loves and cares for us and who deeply cares about our welfare is in control. Joseph pleaded with Pharaoh’s cupbearer to “get me out of this prison” (Genesis 40:14). When adversity strikes, even the Christian is tempted to ask, “Where is God? Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. It was difficult for me to believe that God was still in control even when my college friend was battling his life in intensive care. Because God’s sacrifice of His Son for our sins is such an amazing act of love toward us, we tend to overlook that it was for Jesus an excruciating experience beyond all we can imagine. But in the midst of crazy seasons of life (and there are many), there are Scripture verses in Psalms that remind me that I do not need to be in control of it all. Passages like…, Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. And God is in control of history. Packer defines providence as “the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill, He u ", "Why are imperfect people a part of God's plan? We experience the … But the Bible is clear. All people–believers in God as well as unbelievers–experience anxiety, frustration, heartache and disappointment. If God is in control of everything that happens in the universe, then He is in control of everything that happens in your life as well. God never pursues His glory at the expense of the good of His people, nor does He ever seek our good at the expense of His glory. In my biblical research on this topic, I have never felt completely finished with compiling the list of verses on the sovereignty of God. In other words, all things are indebted for their existence to the continuous sustaining action of God exercised through His Son, Jesus Christ. Bible verses related to God Is In Control from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order Proverbs 19:21 - [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the … For if there were, then he’d have to shoulder the blame. Here are seven scriptures that we should turn to when we lose control and need God to take control of our lives and circumstances. God Is in Control God is the creator and controller of the universe and all that is in it, whether animate or inanimate. Some suffer intense physical pain and catastrophic tragedies. If we will cooperate and trust Him, He will actually take the very worst that can happen in our experience and work it out for good. God promises to always be by your side. Get free sermon MP3s, devotionals, blog content and more. Sproul. I let God be in control. LESSON 13: HOW DO I KNOW GOD IS IN CONTROL? “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” By definition, a refuge … People often ask the question, “If God is a God of love, how could He allow such a calamity?” But Jesus Himself affirmed God’s sovereignty in calamity when Pilate said to Him, “Don’t you realize that I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus replied, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:10-11). Is God in control of all death whether it be from sickness, illness, accident, murder and overdoses from drug addiction? Maybe I had just been fooling myself. For my own sake, I have developed a slightly shorter definition that I can more easily remember: God’s providence is His constant care for and His absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of His people. This Scripture passage offends many people. The Bible is pervaded by teachings that God’s sovereign control is complete, not partial. He’s in control even in our fallen world where terrible things happen and people do terrible things. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, … All of these circumstances contribute to the anxiety and emotional pain we all experience at various times and in varying degrees. Audio Message by R.C. Again, note the absolute terms: constant care, absolute rule, all creation. See more ideas about god, words, christian quotes. The Scriptures teach us that we must believe that God is completely sovereign if we are to trust Him in adversity. People were looking for answers. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.” Notice how encompassing this statement is: Nothing happens without God either permitting it or directing it to happen. “The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand’” (Isaiah 14:24). Lastly, God’s permission for Satan or man to act is nevertheless part of God’s ultimate design and final control. And also when he did survive but ended up paralyzed from the waist down. He’s in control even when there are things we don’t understand. The truth is: Nothing will come into my life or your life today that God did not either allow or decree for our ultimate good. The truth is, all of us face adversity in various forms and at different times. Starter Set. New references to it kept appearing almost every time I opened my Bible. He does not give us free will then take it away. Ministry never ends... & … No one can act outside of God’s sovereign will or against it. There is the anxiety of the family breadwinner who has just lost his job and the despair of the young mother who has learned she has a terminal illness. Anything that God leads you to do, He will give you the grace to do. When we struggle to give up control, it’s usually out of fear … The first is that He is intimately involved in our daily life. “[He] is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes” (Daniel 4:17). He knows every situation of every person in every circumstance and every motive so that He will weave it in a way that will work out for our ultimate good. Designed to foster open and authentic discussion, Is God in Control of My Life? The most common way we use the word today is to mean a desire or a wish. Instead of God being in control, maybe my life’s course had no real purpose after all. Whenever we face out-of-control situations, we tend to go to one of two extremes. My headaches and tight stomach went away and I began to experience peace as I trusted God and no longer had the burden of trying to perfect my own life experience. Faith is always rooted in the character of God and the promises that He makes. You have nothing to hang on to.” “If God chooses not to control all things, however, then there is something you can do about it. … I hope I am right that there is no God. When we trust in the Father’s sovereignty, we stand on two assurances. Psalm 46:1. Free Shipping Details. They find it difficult to accept that both calamities and good things come from God. Finally, there is the despair of realizing that some difficult circumstances–a physical infirmity of your own or perhaps a severely handicapped child–will never change. But what should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God; our suffering has meaning and purpose in God’s eternal plan, and He brings or allows into our lives only what is for His glory and our good. All rights reserved. The idea that “God is in control” seems like it honors God because many mistakenly think that absolute control over everything at every moment is a fundamental requirement for God to be God. God’s promises demand that He is sovereign. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26). Perhaps you have a hard time seeing His power because life is full of storms, swelling and threatening everything you hold dear. Put your trust in him. He will provide for me. So I asked a friend and then did a word study on it. And spare my people—this is my request. Some of you do the exact opposite: You just give up! in order to be a conqueror of your life then God needs to be in control of your life. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your … Group's Fearless Conversation: Is God in Control of My Life? God is in control from the moment of your conception to the moment of your death and beyond. Nothing, not even the smallest virus, escapes His care and control. A pastor for over thirty years, Chip has a unique ability to communicate truth and challenge people to live out their faith. 91. Whether the difficulty is large or small, whether it strikes us personally or unfolds unemotionally on our TV screen, in times of adversity we look for answers to our most profound questions. Let go of control, and know that God is in control. Because God is in control we can trust him for our future. Let’s take a look at the nature of God; He tells us through His Word that He is love, light, and all things good. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). Aug 31, 2013 - God is in control of my life!. And those things never change. Romans 8:28, a very familiar passage, says, “For we know that God works all things together for the good, for those that love Him and that are called according to His purposes.”. Any use or disposition He chooses to make of any part of His creation is His sovereign right. Is God Responsible for Human Wickedness? 4 . It came at a very inconvenient time and for several weeks it would not respond to any medical treatment. For me it was a relief to understand that God did not carry out every bad thing that happened to me in my life. He is, in fact, the Lord of lords and the King of kings and in absolute control of time and eternity. The stars continue in their courses because He keeps them there. Free Shipping on orders $50 & over! It was for Jesus in His humanity a calamity sufficient to cause Him to pray, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Matthew 26:39); but He did not waver in His assertion of God’s sovereign control. ", "Why does God's plan seem so complicated?" If God is the sort of God who is capable of ordaining such evils, then you can’t trust God’s character. “I hope the pandemic ends soon.” “I…, Sometimes the Christian life feels blessed and rewarding. pholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstances, and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goal, for His own glory.”. We do not want God to have control because that’s more scary and requires really, truly trusting God with our lives. I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it but there are two kinds of hope. I committed my life to God and allowed Him to shape my life as He wills, and not as I think it should be. Jesus acknowledged God’s sovereign control over His life. The sovereignty of God is asserted, either expressly or implicitly, on almost every page of the Bible. Therefore we need to walk in faith that what ever happens in our lives God can and will use it for our eternal good. The Providence of GodGod’s providence is a term we sometimes casually use to acknowledge God’s seemingly periodic intervention in our affairs. But just as headline news raises questions about God’s involvement, so does personal tragedy–perhaps even more so, because we often suffer alone with our questions and anxieties. In our pain and difficulty and betrayal, it is really difficult to believe this. Learn More >>, Copyright © Living on the Edge. Now, who determines who I am and what my circumstances are? Other adversities are chronic, persistent and seemingly designed to wear down our spirits over time. He certainly does permit lots of things. I remember thinking I have no idea what it means for God to be sovereign. Is He trustworthy? Therefore, if God was in absolute control of the world, where would there be any place for evil in it? God sets the circumstances of our lives and so influences things that our choices are made in accordance with his plans. When I was a new Christian in college, a good friend of mine was involved in an accident on campus. And the writer of Hebrews very honestly states, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful” (Hebrews 12:11). Could I trust God whether or not He straightened my “crook” and relieved my distress? One of the best-selling books in recent years, written by a psychiatrist, put it very well with this opening statement: “Life is difficult.” In fact, sometimes it is downright painful. Life and death are in the hands of God. So when we say, “God is sovereign,” we declare that by virtue of His creatorship over all of life and reality He is an all-knowing, all-powerful and benevolent ruler. But notice also the twofold objective of God’s providence: His own glory and the good of His people. Later, I learned that the sovereignty of God is that which separates the God of the Bible from all other religions, truth claims, and philosophies. God loves me. The so-called laws of nature are nothing more than the physical expression of the steady will of Christ. If you have a small God, you will always have big, overwhelming problems. Note the absolute terms Packer uses: “unceasing activity,” “all events … all acts,” “directs everything.” Clearly there is no concept of now-and-then, part-time governance on God’s part in this definition. We want to think we have control to feel safe and secure. One of our problems with the sovereignty of God is that it frequently does not appear that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. Put God in the driver’s seat of your life, beacause anything under His control will never be out of control. God is in complete control of every molecule in the universe at every moment, and everything that happens is either caused or allowed by Him for His own perfect purposes. The question on many people’s lips is, “Where is God in all of this?” And perhaps even more urgently they ask, “Where is He concerning the adversities in my personal life?” In the midst of such questioning, it is time to ask a question of the Scriptures: Is God really in control? If God was controlling everything, we would not se… Is God really in control? Scripture says, He “brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.”. He’s in control even in our fallen world where terrible things happen and people do terrible things. But because God gave Man free will to choose—and because there is a Devil, a creature of hate and darkness, and Man chose to listen to him—evil was able to come into the creation. Historically, however, the Church has always understood the providence of God to refer to His care and governance over all of His creation at all times. Yet other kinds of tragedies haunt our time. But it is the ability of God to so arrange diverse human actions to fulfill His purpose that makes His sovereignty marvelous and yet mysterious. The doctors told us that there was very little chance he would live. PARTICIPANT GUIDE. But I was definitely not going to ask the girl! If you’re wandering in a dark season and not feeling much like a resilient Christian, please remember that God wants to help you grow in maturity until…, Living on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. The law of gravity operates with unceasing certainty because Christ continuously wills it to operate. Someone has expressed it this way: “God in His love always wills what is best for us. During those weeks, as I continually prayed to God for relief, I was reminded of Solomon’s words, “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten out what he has made crooked?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13). 3 . Centuries ago, St. Augustine said, “Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12). Let go, and know! helps your small group have thoughtful conversations on the books of Joshua, Ruth, and Esther. His judgments are unsearchable, and His paths are beyond tracing out (Romans 11:33). It was the worst terror attack in Britain since World War II. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. These two objectives never work against each other; they are always in harmony. Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 3,623 helpful votes. In my book, he would be as guilty as sin and I’d want nothing to do with him.”, An online poll that ran for many months following the tsunami on the Web site beliefnet.com asked, “Does God have a role in natural disasters?” The results consistently showed that almost half of those polled agreed with this statement: “Although I believe in God, the supernatural had nothing to do with this tragedy.”. To learn more about the sovereignty of God and His other attributes, check out Chip’s series and group study, The Real God. A similar incident, though even more deadly, occurred in Madrid, Spain, in March 2004. Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. But we also need to remember from the example of Noah’s flood that people will die because they have sinned, including Christians (1 … all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day’ (v.16, MSG). Many observers noted, for example, that church attendance in the United States rose just after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Over lunch one day, a businessman friend confided that his company was perilously close to bankruptcy; another experienced heartache over a spiritually rebellious teenager. Some pain is sudden, traumatic and devastating. There is a plan. Mine happened to be a physical ailment that exacerbated a lifelong infirmity. There is the humiliation of rejection by others, the smoldering hurt of racial bias and the anguish of failure that is one’s own fault. Of course, some people are dismissive of God, even expressing anger at Him. Did I really believe that a God who loved me and knew what was best for me was in control of my situation? On July 7, 2005, four powerful explosions rocked London’s transportation system, killing more than 50 people and injuring at least 700. Just as God’s rule is invincible, so it is incomprehensible. The more you focus on this truth the more you will develop a larger picture of God. Topics include "Does God expect me to be strong and courageous? Considering these questions in this message, Dr. Sproul explains the extent of God’s control over His creation. During the time that I was writing a book on this very topic, I experienced adversity that made it difficult to trust God. Will He help? Do you believe that today? Not only is He in control of the world, not only is He in control of history; God is also in control of our lives. God’s Eternal PlanOne of our problems with the sovereignty of God is that it frequently does not appear that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. Join our email list. In the dictionary, the word sovereign means above all, superior to all, the greatest, the supreme in rank in power; holding a position of authority; a ruler, excellent, reigning; a person who possesses sovereign authority, and specific like a monarch or a ruler. And because God is good, we can have full confidence in His absolute and loving control over every aspect of our existence. God is both all-knowing and all-powerful. Other times it’s a struggle. 48 contiguous United States only. If we are going to learn to trust God in adversity, we must believe that just as certainly as God will allow nothing to subvert His glory, so He will allow nothing to spoil the good He is working out in us and for us. God is in control of my life, but still I have freedom to control my body and feelings. Will Graham Q&A: Should the Faithful Heed COVID-19 Warnings? We experience the consequences of other people’s mistakes and failures. The answer is yes. But as my career, ministry, relationships, and spiritual life hit a series of dead ends, I wasn’t so sure. This is the first step to serenity in your life. Scripture says, “The Son is … sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3), and “in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). He is the author of many books, including The Real God, Culture Shock and The Real Heaven. He’s in control even when there are things we don’t understand. It is an important thing for we Christians to know how to control our body, the flesh can deceive but we must be able to tame it and make it bow to our wish. And even more devastating to human lives and property were the horrific Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. God does not control us. We see unjust, uncaring or even clearly wicked people doing things that adversely affect us. Remembering these verses doesn’t mean that my to-do list will go away, or even that my anxiety will evaporate. Theologian J.I. He offers us blessing and cursing, life and death. Lord, thank you for your sovereign love for every human being. It governs every aspect of nature, every aspect of history, national life, personal life — nothing, absolutely nothing, is outside God’s sovereign governance. What comfort and encouragement this should be to us! The truth is: Nothing will come into my life or your life today that God did not either allow or decree for our ultimate good. View Resource. For some of you, the more out-of-control your life gets, the harder you try to control it. To feel safe and secure at different times world, where would there be any place for in. Spirits over time pain comes in many forms the King of kings and in His wisdom he knows... 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And suffer the often-bitter fruit of our lives involved in an accident on campus and cursing life! God, Culture Shock and the promises that he is sovereign us Contact us ©2021! The anxiety and emotional pain comes in many forms & a: should Faithful. Is Paul ’ s sovereign will or against it anger at Him for me was in absolute control all... Daniel 4:17 ) he offers us blessing and cursing, life and death controller of the will! And annihilated life then God needs to be a conqueror of your death and beyond wishes. These verses doesn ’ t know if you have a small God, Culture and... Encouragement this should be to us a registered 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit organization what circumstances! Things ourselves and suffer the often-bitter fruit of our lives and so influences things that adversely affect.. Out-Of-Control your life gets, the way he controls all things may differ again, note the absolute:! 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