This message explains why we should replace “God is in Control” with “God is in Command”.
We will also look at “control” through the perspective of our heavenly Father looking after His children.
There are three stages of our Christian life (children, including babes, adolescents, and adults).
The Power of the Tongue
Language is persuasive in developing or diminishing our faith. When we verbally declare a statement, we hear it with our ears, and beliefs grow in our minds.
If it is negative, Jesus calls it a defilement:
MATTHEW 15:11 NOT WHAT GOES INTO THE MOUTH DEFILES A MAN; BUT WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH, THIS DEFILES A MAN.”
The Statement ‘God is in Control’ is a Stronghold to Pull Down
I hear the non-biblical phrase, “God is in control”, used in many Christian circles. Because this statement is not valid, as we grow in maturity, it becomes an opposing stronghold:
2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 CASTING DOWN ARGUMENTS AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST,
When we have a stronghold in our minds, we need to eliminate it by casting them down and captivating those thoughts.
We need to replace it with the truth.
To do this we meditate on the word of God which produces new neural pathways in our brain and strongholds that are godly, faith-filled and based on the Bible.
New Neural Pathways
God has provided powerful methods to build new neural pathways based on truth and faith that comes from the word and Spirit of God. We will look at these in Studying the Bible.
Teaching God is in control came from John Calvin, who received it from Augustine’s teaching.
Besides God’s control, Augustine had several other heresies he held onto until his death, including Mary never sinned, and sex within marriage is a sin.
He also taught the heresy of original sin.
Augustine received the understanding that God is in control from Plato and other Greek philosophers who had no upbringing or knowledge of Yahweh Elohim.
The teaching that God is in control carried onto the second (Pentecostal) reformation of the 1900’s.
That God is in control is being challenged in the current third great reformation of tabernacling with our Father.
We will go through the different stages of Christian maturity, starting with spiritual childhood.
STAGES OF MATURITY
1-little children 2- young men 3-fathers.
1 JOHN 2:13 NKJV I WRITE TO YOU, FATHERS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE KNOWN HIM WHO IS FROM THE BEGINNING. AND, I WRITE TO YOU, YOUNG MEN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE. I WRITE TO YOU, LITTLE CHILDREN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE KNOWN THE FATHER.
As part of the move of God in the earth, instead of the false precept God is in control, I would like us to look at God in command through the eyes of a loving Father rather than a distant God.
The Father’s Heart for His Little Children, is it Protection or Control?
Suppose we think about how we, as natural parents, look after our children. We are protective of them by nourishing and sheltering them. We care for every aspect of their lives, maybe appearing as control but more correctly termed protection.
A wise father or mother protects their children and what they are exposed to, molding their will without interfering with their free will.
When we are spiritual babies, it is like being a passenger in an aircraft.
So, let’s think of God as the pilot and us being the passenger.
Hopefully, it is not long before we grow to become a young adult, and God encourages us to sit with him on the flight deck, just as we are seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ Jesus and go through, passing various tests. It is the same in our Christian walk, carefully studying the word of God, and learning how to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
EPHESIANS 2:6 AND RAISED US UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS
We watch what the pilot (God) does, but we don’t have any involvement in piloting the aircraft.
From Toddler to Child Parents want their children to grow up and eventually become fully independent, making wise decisions as the toddler grows up. It is the same with God; He wants us to progress from Him, “controlling” many aspects of our life, to eventually having the freedom to move with Him as a co-laborer.
To do this, He starts giving opportunities for us to develop our spiritual gifts.
The process of raising children is like the process of learning to fly. We learn through an instructor. The flight instructor places us in the pilot’s seat. A wise instructor will clearly explain to the student pilot what will happen on the flight. He will say something like this: For this flight, I will demonstrate some turns. Then, I will hand the aircraft over to you so you may practice turns. When I want to show something further, I will say, “Taking over”, You will then repeat back to me,” You have control, handing over”.
When I want you to practice, I will say, “Handing over, you have control”, and you will reply to me, “I have control”. If there is an emergency during the flight, I will take command of the aircraft by saying, “Taking over”.
As we grow God Increases our Responsibility
Using this methodology, the instructor pilot teaches the student pilot how to fly until they get a license to fly. After 5 to 15 hours, the student pilot will fly solo with the instructor staying on the ground.
Flight training is like early discipleship. For example, there are a lot of examinations in the spirit to go through, passing various tests. God gives us opportunities to practice what we have learned by ourselves.
Therefore, we need to carefully study and meditate on God’s word and build a friendship with God in prayer.
Eventually, through study, practice, and determination, the student pilot achieves a private pilot’s license after around fifty hours of flying the aircraft. Just as God gave Adam and Eve choices in the garden of Eden, God Gives us choices, and, when we make the right choices, He rewards us.
God acts similarly to the instructor pilot, placing boundaries around young believers in safe places like small groups or churches. He only lets us go through situations He knows we can handle.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU EXCEPT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN; BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL ALSO MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT
In small groups or church situations, the Christian child is given limits and given a certain amount of freedom by the group leader. They need to use their spiritual gifts and allow God to address the necessary changes within their character.
Leaders teach from the Word of God a principle. He then expects us to use that principle. We learn these principles by meditating on scripture or following a successful person’s example as Paul says:
CORINTHIANS 4:16 THEREFORE I URGE YOU, IMITATE ME
Thessalonians teaches this principle, where God wants to entrust us with the gospel message and its power.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:4 BUT AS WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY GOD TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL, EVEN SO WE SPEAK, NOT AS PLEASING MEN, BUT GOD WHO TESTS OUR HEARTS.
We need to show Him we are approved.
Maturing in Your Authority
Eventually, we mature and become fruitful in the kingdom of God. If we are going to be productive, we need to go through water and Spirit baptism and fire baptism.
These steps are necessary because, through these, God starts to let us take on the responsibility of expanding His kingdom.
Jesus had to go through the huiothesia at His water and Spirit baptism and testing in the wilderness.
We likewise go through our adoption and readiness to start doing the Father’s business.
MISTAKING PROTECTION FOR CONTROL
Sadly, many Christians never get past being a little child, as they are happy to be forgiven of their sins but not prepared to obey the Great Commission or grow to be young men and women. As a result, they never experience the next stage, where God starts to groom them to be fruitful in God’s vineyard:
MATTHEW 20:6-7 AND ABOUT THE ELEVENTH HOUR HE WENT OUT AND FOUND OTHERS STANDING IDLE, AND SAID TO THEM, ‘WHY HAVE YOU BEEN STANDING HERE IDLE ALL DAY?’ THEY SAID TO HIM, ‘BECAUSE NO ONE HIRED US.’ HE SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ALSO GO INTO THE VINEYARD, AND WHATEVER IS RIGHT YOU WILL RECEIVE.’
The Father’s Heart for His Young Adults
The second phase of Christian development is being young men and women. Spiritual adolescence is when God is preparing them to co-labor with Christ and bring heaven’s kingdom to earth.
As Young Adults we overcome the Enemy.
1 JOHN 2:13-14 I WRITE TO YOU, YOUNG MEN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU, YOUNG MEN, BECAUSE YOU ARE STRONG, AND THE WORD OF GOD ABIDES IN YOU, AND YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE.
A natural father or mother will give their adolescent children more freedom. It is always our heavenly Father’s desire to see His sons and daughters grow through this stage into the last stage of being fathers and mothers in God.
It is essential for young adults to grow into maturity. During this stage, boundaries are in place to protect them from behavior that could harm them. There are more areas of freedom than for a child.
Young Believers Mistaking Protection for Control
During this time, young adults may complain about too much “control”.
Spiritual young men and women need to be careful not to misinterpret these limits as God being in control when they experience the discipline of the Father.
When God says, “Not yet”, it is always for a good reason, mainly because we need more training before we are ready to handle the higher level of spiritual authority.
God wants to grow us so that we can influence many. But if we mess up in the ministry, then the name of God and Jesus is also dishonored. God wants to give us the legal authority to build His kingdom.
Therefore, we need to learn our legal position in God, growing in wisdom. We need to grow in the favor of God and with man and learn how much authority God has given us. He allows us to face battles. He knows we can win. We need to understand that there are laws of the Word and the Spirit.
ROMANS 8:2 FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HAS MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH
We need to see the law of the Spirit as resurrection life in Jesus Christ. It is not laws and regulations based on the Old Covenant
We are Co-laborer’s.
As we grow in this area of our walk with God, we understand that God wants to co-labor with us. He wants to give us more and more responsibility because He wants us to be fruitful. Fruitfulness is essential for our reward in heaven.
The Father’s Heart is to Empower Spiritual Fathers and Mothers
In the same way that it is God’s desire for natural children to be born into safe family environments, he wants to have mature spiritual fathers and mothers in the body of Christ to raise new believers.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:15 FOR THOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE TEN THOUSAND INSTRUCTORS IN CHRIST, YET YOU DO NOT HAVE MANY FATHERS; FOR IN CHRIST JESUS I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU THROUGH THE GOSPEL.
Adolescents can have children, but they do not necessarily have the skill sets to look after them effectively—it is the same in the spiritual realm.
I look back on my days as a young man in God; I did not effectively have the life experience of being a spiritual father.
I know I can be far more effective by empowering others to do more than I have done. Raising faithful leaders is how the kingdom works, by multiplication.
2 TIMOTHY 2:2 AND THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME AMONG MANY WITNESSES, COMMIT THESE TO FAITHFUL MEN WHO WILL BE ABLE TO TEACH OTHERS ALSO.
God does not control fathers and mothers; He leads them. Let us now look at this through the aviation example. Being a mother or father in Christ is like someone who is a fully qualified pilot, but God is the captain of the flight as He was when Joshua took over from Moses:
JOSHUA 5:13-14 AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN JOSHUA WAS BY JERICHO, THAT HE LIFTED HIS EYES AND LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, A MAN STOOD OPPOSITE HIM WITH HIS SWORD DRAWN IN HIS HAND. AND JOSHUA WENT TO HIM AND SAID TO HIM, “ARE YOU FOR US OR FOR OUR ADVERSARIES?” SO HE SAID, “NO, BUT AS COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE LORD I HAVE NOW COME.”
I find it interesting that it is when Joshua was ready to take hold of the promises of God as a leader that the Pre-Incarnate Jesus revealed Himself as Commander.
Spiritual mothers and fathers are the ones where Jesus, as Lord, reveals Himself as the Commander. Joshua had already been through the “young man” stage by fighting battles under the leadership of Moses.
EXODUS 17:13 SO JOSHUA DEFEATED AMALEK AND HIS PEOPLE WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD.
Ministry:
God is in Command Not in Control. God is like the experienced captain in the mature ministry scenario, and we are the qualified co-pilot. We now co-labor together. We can liken the flight to a ministry opportunity.
Commercial flying is related to who is in command of the aircraft, not who is in control, because both pilots can control the aircraft. The majority of commercial flying has two pilots, and the more senior pilot flies a short amount of the time. So, knowing who is doing what job during a flight is essential, or mistakes can quickly happen.
Prayer is the Key to Effective Co-Laboring.
Before the flight begins, the experienced pilot and the new pilot have a conversation, which goes something like this: God: “You are the pilot-in-command of this flight and the aircraft. As the pilot-not-flying, I will call out these written instructions (Biblical or Spirit-led instructions or promises).
As the pilot who is flying, you will follow the verbal instructions as the pilot-in-command. You: “I am the pilot-in-command of this flight and fly the aircraft”. There are equally times when the captain is flying the aircraft, and the first officer is the “pilot-not-flying”, reading the manual and performing some actions like raising the gear (wheels) etc.
There are times in the ministry when God is “flying the aircraft”. I just follow His lead. I love it when the anointing (Christ in me, the hope of glory) has broken the yoke off a meeting, and God turns up with His manifest presence. People get healed with just a word.
God’s Sovereignty Allows Him Not to be in Control
The stepping stone to God’s complete control comes from an incorrect understanding of God’s sovereignty. Reformed and some Pentecostal theologians teach that God’s sovereignty means He is in total control of everything in the universe.
They also teach that God micro-manages every aspect of life on earth. We need to challenge this thinking that has permeated throughout 21st Century Christendom.
Here is a more Biblical view of Sovereignty:
Sovereignty means that God can do what He wants to do, except that which goes against His nature or His promises.
Sovereignty and Free Will
God made man in His image, and because God has free will (He is sovereign), man has free will.
He has given man free will and, for this reason, is not in control.
God is Sovereign and Can Choose to be in Command.
While we are young in Christ, we see God in control. Just as parents, we take control of everything that our infants need and does.
When we grow up, the Lord wants us to learn about our authority and to displace principalities and powers.
Because we have seen God being in command when we are babes in Christ, we have made the error of saying God is always in control, as if everything is up to God.
Therefore, we may blame disasters as ‘acts of God’ and sickness as the will of God when we pray for someone, and they do not get healed immediately.
God cannot go against His character; for example, He cannot lie or do evil. This is because God is a good Father. The devil, on the other hand, is the father of lies.
God cannot break His sovereignty by going against His promises relevant to the New Covenant. He certainly can break His promises related to a no longer active covenant.
For example, God can most certainly break the Old Covenant nailed to the cross. However, He cannot go against the word of God or promises related to the New Covenant.
God has Chosen Not to be in Control. God has defined the sphere where He is in control of the heavens, but He has given humankind the earth.
PSALM 115:16 THE HEAVEN, EVEN THE HEAVENS, ARE THE LORD’S; BUT THE EARTH HE HAS GIVEN TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN.
God Gives Dominion to us over the Natural World. He clarifies this by saying that He has given us dominion over the natural world:
GENESIS 1:28 THEN GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID TO THEM, “BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY; FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT; HAVE DOMINION OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA, OVER THE BIRDS OF THE AIR, AND OVER EVERY LIVING THING THAT MOVES ON THE EARTH.”
When God gave us dominion over the natural world, He gave us control. He does not need to cause birds to multiply or trees to grow because they increase perpetually.
“Acts of God” Greek philosophy and reformed thinking have resulted in God being blamed for “acts of God” because of the stronghold thought process; God is in control.
These acts of God are such things as natural disasters. However, we have seen that God has put in place specific laws that nature follows. As a result of sin entering the world, creation was subject to futility:
ROMANS 8:20 FOR THE CREATION WAS SUBJECTED TO FUTILITY, NOT WILLINGLY, BUT BECAUSE OF HIM WHO SUBJECTED IT IN HOPE.
God does not want creation to remain subject to futility. He wants His sons and daughters to arise and loose creation:
ROMANS 8:19 FOR THE EARNEST EXPECTATION OF THE CREATION EAGERLY WAITS FOR THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD.
God Gives us Dominion Over the Spiritual World. Under the New Covenant, Jesus extends dominion to include the spiritual dominion as well:
LUKE 10:19 BEHOLD, I GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO TRAMPLE ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY, AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU
When God gave us dominion over the spiritual world, He gave us authority. That is why He says:
MARK 16:17-18 AND THESE SIGNS WILL FOLLOW THOSE WHO BELIEVE: IN MY NAME THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS; THEY WILL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES; THEY WILL TAKE UP SERPENTS; AND IF THEY DRINK ANYTHING DEADLY, IT WILL BY NO MEANS HURT THEM; THEY WILL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY WILL RECOVER.”
When God gives authority, He withdraws His control.
A leader who likes to stay in control has great difficulty giving people the authority to make decisions. God is not like that; He does not remain in control.
God’s Goodness or God’s Control
There are times when God’s desire for us to succeed will cause Him to take command of our life. I referred to emergencies on aircraft where the more senior pilot takes command of the aircraft.
Captain: “However, if I believe that the emergency requires me to be in command, I will take control by saying, “Taking Over, I have the aircraft”. At that point, I become the pilot flying the aircraft, and you become the pilot-not-flying”. In Spiritual Emergencies God does the same thing through the Father and son relationship.
ROMANS 8:28 NKJV AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
In this biblical example, God takes action to prevent the jailer from harming himself.
ACTS 16:27-31 AND THE KEEPER OF THE PRISON, AWAKING FROM SLEEP AND SEEING THE PRISON DOORS OPEN, SUPPOSING THE PRISONERS HAD FLED, DREW HIS SWORD AND WAS ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF. BUT PAUL CALLED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, “DO YOURSELF NO HARM, FOR WE ARE ALL HERE.” THEN HE CALLED FOR A LIGHT, RAN IN, AND FELL DOWN TREMBLING BEFORE PAUL AND SILAS. AND HE BROUGHT THEM OUT AND SAID, “SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?” SO THEY SAID, “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND YOU WILL BE SAVED, YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD.”
Turning From Our Calling
God may also take command if we are turning from our calling.
JONAH RUNS FROM THE WORD OF THE LORD. NINEVEH IS NORTHEAST; TARSHISH IS WEST. WHEN GOD CALLS JONAH TO PREACH REPENTANCE TO THE WICKED NINEVITES, THE PROPHET KNOWS THAT GOD’S MERCY MAY FOLLOW. HE TURNS DOWN THE ASSIGNMENT AND HEADS FOR TARSHISH INSTEAD. BUT ONCE GOD HAS DAMPENED HIS SPIRITS (BY TOSSING HIM OUT OF THE BOAT AND INTO THE WATER) AND HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS PROTECTION (BY MOVING HIM OUT OF THE WATER AND INTO THE FISH), JONAH REALIZES GOD IS SERIOUS ABOUT HIS COMMAND. NINEVEH MUST HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD; THEREFORE JONAH GOES. ALTHOUGH THE PREACHING IS A SUCCESS, THE PREACHER COMES AWAY ANGRY AND DISCOURAGED AND HE MUST LEARN FIRSTHAND OF GODS COMPASSION FOR SINFUL MEN
Fulfilling Our Destiny.
Being a good Father, God may elect to take command out of His love for us to bring us to our destiny. We may think we are on the right track, but God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours.
ACTS 11:5-10 “I WAS IN THE CITY OF JOPPA PRAYING; AND IN A TRANCE I SAW A VISION, AN OBJECT DESCENDING LIKE A GREAT SHEET, LET DOWN FROM HEAVEN BY FOUR CORNERS; AND IT CAME TO ME. WHEN I OBSERVED IT INTENTLY AND CONSIDERED, I SAW FOUR-FOOTED ANIMALS OF THE EARTH, WILD BEASTS, CREEPING THINGS, AND BIRDS OF THE AIR. AND I HEARD A VOICE SAYING TO ME, ‘RISE, PETER; KILL AND EAT.’ BUT I SAID, ‘NOT SO, LORD! FOR NOTHING COMMON OR UNCLEAN HAS AT ANY TIME ENTERED MY MOUTH.’ BUT THE VOICE ANSWERED ME AGAIN FROM HEAVEN, ‘WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED YOU MUST NOT CALL COMMON.’ NOW THIS WAS DONE THREE TIMES, AND ALL WERE DRAWN UP AGAIN INTO HEAVEN.
Sometimes these experiences may be disturbing. During these times of suffering, there can be precious times of fellowship. This can happen by even good things being pruned. Grape vines will sometimes run along the ground and put roots down. These roots need to be cut away because the vine is getting sustenance from soils that will bring a bad taste to the wine:
JOHN 15:5-6 “I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. HE WHO ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; FOR WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. IF ANYONE DOES NOT ABIDE IN ME, HE IS CAST OUT AS A BRANCH AND IS WITHERED; AND THEY GATHER THEM AND THROW THEM INTO THE FIRE, AND THEY ARE BURNED
God Brings Revelation to Redirect Our Paths
God intervened in Peter’s life through a vision because Peter believed that salvation was only for the Jews. So God took command by granting Peter a vision. We see that God can change our view, but He does not do this unilaterally. He expects us to respond to His direction with a change of thinking.
ACTS 11:16-18 THEN I REMEMBERED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HOW HE SAID, ‘JOHN INDEED BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.’ IF THEREFORE GOD GAVE THEM THE SAME GIFT AS HE GAVE US WHEN WE BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS I THAT I COULD WITHSTAND GOD?” WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS THEY BECAME SILENT; AND THEY GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, “THEN GOD HAS ALSO GRANTED TO THE GENTILES REPENTANCE TO LIFE.”
The Heart of the Father is Command, Not Control
We can Motivate the Heart of God by our Faith. Our love of God will motivate the heart of the Father to bring us into our destiny:
HEBREWS 11:6 NKJV BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
Reaping as a result of Lack Of Wisdom, Rather than God is in Control.
Sometimes people think that God is in control when they are reaping the results of their lack of wisdom. God doesn’t need to punish us because our lack of wisdom often chastises us without any involvement on His behalf.
For example, we do not look after our vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions resulting in the car’s brakes failing and, as a result, having an accident.
In instances like this, we need to be careful not to declare God is in control or blame the devil and other people but to take responsibility for our actions or neglect.
ROMANS 8:28 NKJV AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
The good news is that God will turn around our mistakes if we change our mindset – which is called repentance. We may not consider the consequences of sin before we act. Sin always has effects!
The Father’s Discipline Not His Control
Sometimes God will protect us from our sins or mistakes; other times, He wants us to realise the consequences. It’s easy to say at these times; God is in control. Sometimes He is, but sometimes He isn’t.
HEBREWS 12:7NKJV IF YOU ENDURE CHASTENING, GOD DEALS WITH YOU AS WITH SONS; FOR WHAT SON IS THERE WHOM A FATHER DOES NOT CHASTEN?
This discipline is a result of His goodness and so our attitude during this time should be:
PSALM 33:18 NKJV BUT THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM, ON THOSE WHOSE HOPE IS IN HIS UNFAILING LOVE,
God’s Sovereignty Allows Suffering Sometimes
God’s sovereignty requires He takes command when we don’t want Him to take command. God wants to lift us from glory to glory. However, that means that we will suffer, just like he did. He does this because He wants us to grow to a new level of maturity and glory.
1 PETER 3:17 FOR IT IS BETTER, IF IT IS THE WILL OF GOD, TO SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD THAN FOR DOING EVIL.
In other words, persecution can sometimes be God’s will for your life!
Kingdom Thinking shows God in Command
God Has Given Jesus Authority in the Kingdom of God. MATTHEW 28:18 AND JESUS CAME AND SPOKE TO THEM, SAYING, “ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.
God chooses to run this earth and His kingdom through the authority structure of man submitted to the Kingship of Jesus.
Being in Command means Jesus gives commandments and we must take command.
LUKE 10:19 BEHOLD, I GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO TRAMPLE ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY, AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU.
And here we have a commandment to heal the sick, preaching the kingdom of God is here
LUKE 10:9 AND HEAL THE SICK THERE, AND SAY TO THEM, THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR TO YOU.’
Jesus was saying in this verse that the kingdom is near because he had not yet ascended to the right hand of the Father and received His kingdom yet.
Prophetic words that come from God may be considered commandments in the same way that God instructed Joshua:
JOSHUA 1:3 EVERY PLACE THAT THE SOLE OF YOUR FOOT WILL TREAD UPON I HAVE GIVEN YOU, AS I SAID TO MOSES.
We cannot just sit and wait for God’s commands to happen (if God were in control, then God would overrule the person’s free will). We need to do what He says and take command of our life.