GOD IS IN CONTROL
Luke 12:1-5
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe,
sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow
Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other.
Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! 4 Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.
“But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” Luke 12:1-5 (NLT)
God is infinite—He is self-existing, He is without origin
God is immutable—He never changes
God is self-sufficient—He has no needs
God is omnipotent—He is all powerful
God is wise—He is full of perfect, unchanging wisdom
God is good—He is infinitely, unchangingly kind and full of goodwill
God is merciful—He is infinitely, unchangeably compassionate & kind
God is gracious—He is infinitely inclined to spare the guilty
God is loving—He infinitely, unchangingly loves us
God is holy—He is infinitely, unchangingly perfect
God is glorious—He is infinitely beautiful and great
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
God has everything under control!
I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. Job 42:2 (NLT)
But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. Psalm 33:11 (NLT)
You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
“Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” Isaiah 46:10 (NLT)
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.” Acts 1:6-7 (NLT)
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NIV)
No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death. Ecclesiastes 8:8
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27 (ESV)
God controls everything, which includes the day you die.
But He also controls what happens to you after you die!
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He’ll place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world…’
Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons…’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” Luke 12:4-5 (NLT)
Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy.” Luke 12:1 (NLT)
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!” Matthew 23:15 (NLT)
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT)
Jesus said “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 1 John 5:11-12 (NASB 1995)
“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25 (NLT)