When Bad Things Happen? Is God Really In Control? Series

Video from BluefishTv: “Faith Tested”

When Bad Things Happen?

Is God really in control?

Opening thought: My sermon today is in response to a questions that was asked me a while back.

Thesis: The Body of Christ needs to learn how to administer “Good Grief” in loss, in crisis and in trauma situations of life. We need to build our lives on the right foundation so that when crisis and trials come we stand strong in Him and not fall. The question is not really “Where is God when it hurts because we are told in Scripture He is right there with us.” But the question we must answer is, “How will I respond?”

Scripture Texts:

James 1:2-5:

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

1 Peter 1:6-7:

6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 4:12, 13:

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Acts 7:54-60:

54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

56“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,

58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Romans 8:28-30:

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Matthew 7:24-27:

24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

John 10:10:

10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Introduction:

The Bible texts which we just read do not point to “Is God to blame for my tragedy?” but they teach us that the important question is, “How will I respond to this crisis, trauma, or loss?”

These verses do not answer the question about why something happens but they do answer the question about how we should respond to the crisis? The how I will respond? Really becomes the most important question that needs to be answered in the journey of grief. This answer determines how we will recover.

Years ago I did a series Called “Good Grief” and I looked at grief, crisis, trauma, trial and tribulations and came to the following conclusions from the Bible:

Good Grief:

Death is part of the Life cycle we all live in. But in spite of dealing with death and tragedies we still need to believe have faith! We need to understand that death is not the end of life but the beginning of a “Great Story of everlasting life!”