Who's In Charge Here? A Christian Response To The Tsunami Series

Illustrations

· A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher.

· The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

· The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. But because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible it was to do so.

· Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

UNFOLDING THE ROSEBUD

It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of GOD’s design;

But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so sweetly, When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud, This flower of GOD’s design,

Then how can I think I have wisdom To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Him for His leading Each moment of every day.

I will look to him for His guidance Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me, Only my Heavenly Father knows.

I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose.

Assurance #3: God Is In Control - It Is OK To Ask Questions

· We need to ask questions at this time.

· Careful not to

· There is a mystery to human suffering. And a natural response is to come to God and ask the question, “Why?”

i) In your questioning, don’t try and make yourself look good.

· When we turn to chapter 32, we see a young man’s response (Elihu) and his response to Job, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.

Then the wrath of Elihu… was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Job 32:2 (NKJV)

· It is ok to ask the questions, because it is through the questions, that we can draw close to God and see.

· God in his sovereignty is big enough to listen to the questions that concern your heart with all of this.

· Of course we may not get all the answers, but we need to know that the questions need to be asked.

· In the quietness of your intimate moments with God, ask the questions why?

· Read through Habakkuk. He asks questions like, “How long, Why, Are you not from everlasting, WHY WHY WHY????

Assurance #4: God Is In Control – We Need To Come To Him In Repentance (Job 42:6)

“I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” Job 42:5-6 (NLT)

· At the end of this whole scenario, we find Job in a time of repentance.

· Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God for the living to repent. (John Piper) That was Jesus stunning statement to those who brought news of calamity.