Is God In Control - Part 2 Series

NOTE: New Light Faith Ministries and Barry Johnson Ministries, founded by brothers Rodney V. Johnson and Barry O. Johnson, respectively, are partnering to offer Bible studies for Christians who are seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus. This is a Bible study lesson, not a sermon. The Bible studies teach foundational truths that are designed to challenge, encourage and, most importantly, flame the fire of hunger in the Christian who wants to learn more about who they have become in Christ Jesus. The Bible studies you find on this site contain the written version of the lesson. However, these lessons also include a video and an audio file of the study, a PDF version of the lesson and a sheet for note taking. If you would like any of the additional resources for these studies, please email us at newlightfaithministries@gmail.com or bjteachingltr@gmail.com for more information or contact us at the email provided on both of our Sermon Central pages. Be blessed.

Is God in Control Part 2

(Rev. Barry Johnson and Rev. Rodney Johnson)

Introduction

Hello everyone, it’s good to be back with you. We must apologize for the delay in getting part 2 of this lesson to you, but I have had to be in Tennessee on family business for several weeks and our return home was delayed by the death of our uncle, my father’s youngest and last living sibling. For those of you who knew this and have been praying for us we want to thank you for standing in the gap for us. Before we get into the lesson, let’s pause for a word of prayer.

Thank you, brother! If you recall from part one, we asked the question “Is God in control?” This is a question that many people assume to be true – that God truly controls everything that is happening in the world. People who hold this belief accept that God allows murders, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and all the other bad things that happen to Christians and non-Christians alike. After all, it rains on the just and unjust, right? They believe if someone is murdered that God was simply calling them home. One example that we talked about in part one was how some Christian leaders in 2005 said that hurricane Katrina, a category 5 hurricane that destroyed parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, was God punishing New Orleans for its sin.

We have no Scriptural proof that God does these things today, but many choose to believe that He does based on events that happened in the Old Testament. For some people it can seem comforting to think that God is controlling events when things happen that are completely out of their control. We hear these statements often at funerals when the minister says something like, “God’s ways are not our ways…” when explaining why a young person died. Others find comfort in the idea that God meant for them to suffer in order to teach them a lesson or to serve a higher purpose of His.

For these two reasons alone, many accept without question that God is in control of everything that happens. Jesus said something that I think appropriately describes how people can come to this belief. When Jesus was asked about marriage in heaven He replied, “…. You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29) This can be said for why many believe that God is in control of everything – they do not understand Scripture or the power of God.

The last thing we want to refresh your memory about from part one is the difference between sovereignty and control. As you recall from part one, there is a difference between God being sovereign and Him being in control. Webster’s dictionary defines sovereignty as, “Supreme power, especially over a body politic. It also defines ‘supreme’ as the highest rank of authority; ultimate, final, as in ‘the supreme sacrifice.” Webster further defines sovereignty as “freedom from external control (autonomy) and controlling influence.” Sovereignty is enjoyed by the one who is “sovereign.” And there is only One who is truly sovereign – God!

Now when you look at the definition of control, Webster defines it as “to exercise restraining or directing influence over; to have power over; to reduce the incidence or severity of, as in ‘control an insect population or a disease.’” Based on this definition, the person who is in control has the ability and freedom to choose to act or the freedom to choose not to act and this is where we see the divergence between God’s sovereignty and His control over mankind. When God sovereignly gave man dominion over His creation, He sovereignly relinquished His ability to control what man does with His creation and in His creation. So, to recap, God is sovereign but the question that must be answered is this: “In His sovereignty does that mean God is, in fact, in control of everything?