God’s sovereignty should
become distinct in your life, once you confess Jesus as your lord and savior.
God “….made …Jesus, whom ye crucified,
both Lord and Christ… (Acts 2:36 KJV).
Jesus submitted to God’s
sovereignty during his “season of suffering.” “…"Father, if you
are willing, take this cup from Me;
yet not My will, but Yours be done"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV). “…Christ suffered for you…, leaving you… an
example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found
in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not
retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly…”
(1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV).
Entrusting yourself to God’s sovereign
will always include a “loss of control:” YOUR CONTROL. Control is when YOU
direct or determine your own actions, thoughts, emotions, or plans. Control is
when YOU govern your own restrictions or liberties. The Hebrew word for control
is atstar, H6113 in Strong’s lexicon
and means to hold back, shut up, halt, stop, detain, or restraint.
Sudden losses or “seasons of suffering”,
where you are propelled into an alternate and unfamiliar reality will bring on
a loss of control. This means you have lost the ability to direct, determine,
or govern yourself. You feel helpless, off balance, and as if your equilibrium
has gone south for the winter. What are you to do?
You will either try to regain control of
the situation or you will submit to a higher power, such as GOD and his
sovereignty. Some things CANNOT be controlled or regained.“One day when Job’s sons and daughters were
feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job
and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the
servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God
fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the
only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another
messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept
down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword,
and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still
speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were
feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the
four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the
only one who has escaped to tell you!” (Job 1:13-20
NIV). Job could NOT control what happened.
When I had my brain
bleed, I lost control of my health. Then like dominoes I lost control of my
life such as my balance, my relationships, my independence, my choice of
residence, my ability go and come as I please, my ability to multitask, my
preferred lifestyle, my ability to eat what I wanted, my speech, and many other
options. How do you survive such a drastic loss of control?
First of all, a “loss
of control” strips your pride so far down until you are naked with helplessness
and vulnerability like a neon sign. Everybody can witness your “loss of
control” as if you are living in a fish bowl. Suddenly you have a ravenous
“need” for the caregiving and support of others.
Without knowing it, we
are hard-wired to avoid “needing” others as much as possible. My “need” was
like a magnet attracting the Christian love, kindness, and friendships of so
many wonderful people. My “loss of control” was so expansive, and my “need” so
public I couldn’t diminish my helpless or vulnerability.
When God reached out to
me through others, I reached back. It was EXTREMELY hard to be so publicly
helpless and vulnerable, but a “loss of control” will take you to unfamiliar
places. I was usually on the other side as a giver, but not so much as a
receiver, especially to this depth.
I watched people
minister to me through their caregiving. . “Ye are of God, little children …We are of
God: …Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that
loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). I recognized God’s
disciples by the way they demonstrated love “…one to another [and to me]…”
(John 13:35 KJV).
When “loss of control” leaves
you helpless and vulnerable, you must surrender to the new reality. Humility
becomes a prominent teacher and proves to be a very powerful guide for killing
any carnal pride you may have left.
Humility is also the result or
sign that control has been regained and put in the proper hands, which is the
hands of the sovereign God. HALLELIJAH!! Humility allows you to be content and
give over control to the Living God.
Naked helplessness and
vulnerability helped me understand how powerful humility can be. Becoming
totally dependent on God helped me to process through my helplessness, my
vulnerability, and my ravenous need by detaching myself from my lingering pride
and entrusting myself to God.
My spiritual development is
growing in leaps and bounds allowing me to experience a deeper, fuller, richer,
and more productive relationship with God through Christ. HALLELUJAH!!!
God is sovereign over the life of the
believer, but it is talked about more than it is actually experienced. Anywhere
pride lingers God is NOT sovereign in THAT area of your life. You may be okay
with him NOT being sovereign in that area, but God is not. Christ died so God could be sovereign in
the lives of his people, particularly through the Lordship of Christ.
Your new level of humility enables you to
submit to the Lordship of Christ. Submitting to the Lordship of Christs says
God is sovereign over your life and you wholeheartedly surrender to his will.
It’s easy to submit to the sovereignty of
God when you authentically see his greatness, and majesty, and glory. God
deserves to be in control. Praise the sovereign God for all “…[the] great things [he hath done] for us…”
(Psalm 126:2-3 KJV).
I will “…confess with [my]…mouth, the Lord Jesus ….” and humbly submit to
the sovereign God (Romans 10:9-10
KJV).
By submitting to others through my
helpless and vulnerable medical condition, I learned to submit in a greater way
to God’s sovereignty. My heart says I surrender again and again to the
sovereign God through Christ Jesus my Lord. If I am not willing to give up
everything I“…cannot [fully] be
(Christ’s) disciple…” (Luke 14:26 KJV). “Seasons of suffering” lets you
know it is costly to “…come after [Jesus]…..”
(Luke 14:27 KJV).
The less options you have, the narrower
the path is that leads to an authentic godly life (Matthew 7:14). When God is
sovereign in your life, it will be evident by your helpless and vulnerable
dependence of him.
You can’t “do” Christian character
like humility without the help of the Holy Spirit. The sovereign God may use a “season of
suffering” to enable you to actually become truly humble. God’s sovereignty is
experienced through a life progressively growing and developing in the grace,
knowledge, and image of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18, Romans 8:29).
Somewhere along the way, a true believer
will experience a “loss of control” and will stop living independent of God’s
sovereignty. Jesus said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will
of him that sent me”
(John 6:38 KJV).
Submitting to God’s sovereignty will
demonstrate your personal commitment to God though Christ. It will be evident
by humble surrender to God’s guidance, especially during a “season of
suffering.”
Surrendering to God's sovereignty, during a
“season of suffering,” is NOT easy, but as you continue to walk in humble
submission to His will; it will become a way of life. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great
and precious promises: that by these
ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to
virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and
to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness charity. For if these things
be in you, and abound…”
(2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV).
A “season of suffering” is most likely
about God’s sovereignty. You will never
know he’s sovereign in your life until you have to prove it. “…Hast thou considered my
servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright
man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity,
although thou movedst me against him, to
destroy him without cause” (Job
2:3 KJV).
We are here to serve God’s sovereign will,
first and foremost. Like Jesus, we did “…not
come to be served, but to serve….” (Matthew 20:28 NIV).
A Hebrew word for serve is abad and one of the definitions is to work.
Jesus said, “…for the works which the
Father has given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me,
that the Father has sent Me” (John 5:36 KJV). “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will but the will of
him who that me” (John 6:38 KJV).
Jesus was fulfilled from serving God’s
sovereign will. “Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of
God, who sent me, and from finishing his work” (John 4:34 NLT).
“Though he were a Son, yet learned
he obedience by the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV). Jesus
literally “became” God’s personal servant from his heart. Another Hebrew word
for serve is sharath and one definition means to become a “personal servant
to.”
Jesus definitely did “…not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 KJV). It is clear Jesus submitted
to God’s sovereign will and served him wholeheartedly. Jesus confidently said,
“…the ... works that I do, bear witness
of me, that the Father has sent me” (John 5:36 KJV).
Jesus was God’s personal servant while on
earth. Jesus submitted to God sovereign will, no matter the cost, by actually becoming
“…a ransom for many...” Jesus “…humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). He was
absolutely and totally surrendered.
Jesus is the ultimate example of how we
are to go through a “season of suffering.” Every believer is to “become” a
personal servant to God’s sovereignty through Christ. God called Jesus his “beloved Son” in whom he was well
(Matthew 3:17).
God’s sovereign will is that every
believer “…be conformed to the
image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29 KJV). Therefore, even when you are
suffering, continue to “….work out your
own salvation…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV). Surrender your whole life to God’s sovereign
will.
No matter what your “season of suffering”
is or how long; faithfully remain God’s personal servant just like Jesus did.
God’s sovereign will and work is for you to believe on Jesus. "Jesus answered, and said…This is the work of God: that ye
believe on
him whom he
hath sent.” (John 6:29 KJV).
Jesus “…Christ
suffered for you…, leaving you… an example, that you should follow in his
steps. “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they
hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly…”
(1 Peter 2:20-23 NIV).
He sent the Holy Spirit
to help you do the same thing. “…For it is God
who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good
purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Now may the God of peace, …
that great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with
everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us (in the heart) what
is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
Jesus became
God’s personal servant on earth and submitted to his sovereignty. Jesus
suffered too because he took on “the
likeness of sinful flesh…,” (Romans 8:3 KJV).
Even
though it didn’t change his holy nature, Jesus took on the “likeness” of human
flesh. Jesus literally experienced the human journey and therefore, can “…be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities...” (Hebrews 4:15 KJV). Jesus experienced a “season of
suffering” too,” “…yet without sin”
(Hebrews 4:15 KJV).
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had
offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that
was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he
were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being
made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him;…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV).
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his flesh, arm yourselves
also with the same attitude, because whoever
suffers in the body is done with sin…” (1 Peter 4:1 NIV).
The “season of
suffering” was challenging to Jesus too. “…
He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them and knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
Jesus went through his
“season of suffering” in both his human flesh and the Holy Spirit. The flesh and the Spirit
are born of distinctly different means even if they co-exist together. Jesus
said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6 KJV).
Jesus
demonstrated to mankind the power he had during his “season of suffering.” It
wasn’t easy either but Jesus stayed truth to God’s sovereign will. I don’t know
about you, but I am glad Jesus submitted to God’s sovereignty.“…And being made perfect, he became author
of eternal salvation unto all them who obey him…”
(Hebrew 5:7-8-9 J+KJV).
Hallelujah!! Jesus went through his
“season of suffering” and loving kept focus on God’s sovereign will.
Jesus’ humble submission transformed the entire
world. Jesus was promoted, like Job, Joseph, and the Hebrew boys and is now “highly exalted” with a “name which is above every name”
(Philippians 2:9). In addition,“…at .the name of Jesus EVERY
KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 KJV).
Our “season of suffering” will be a
struggle, but if we entrust ourselves to God’s sovereign will, Jesus said “Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:1 KJV).
“Seasons
of suffering” last for hours, days, weeks, months, or years and the details or
experiences can be almost unbearable. However, when God allows or permits a “season
of suffering” it usually is not about what is actually happening TO you as much as it is about what is
happening IN you. God cares about
your heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
God
wants to develop the “…hidden man of the
heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). Remember when God took Israel through the
wilderness (trials) for forty years? He did it to humble them, test them, to
see if they would keep his commandments or not, and to “….know what was in [their]…heart…” (Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV).
Forty
years is a LONG time to be in a “season of suffering”, but sometimes it takes
people a long time to see their own sinful condition in the holy light of God’s
truth. Some of you have walked with God for years and still participate in a
life of secret sin.
Many believers
claim to be God’s people, yet have not truly turned from their wicked ways. “…If My people which are called by My name
shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked
ways,…” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).
God
wants you to BE holy like him, that’s his standard, and he does NOT mollycoddle
sin. God loves YOU, but he will NOT pamper or indulge your ongoing, sinful
lifestyle.
True respect
and enlightenment for God’s sovereignty will humble you. God’s sovereignty
exalts his control over your life and demotes your control. God’s sovereignty
will become crystal clear, especially when a “season of suffering” comes and will
expose what is in your heart.
When a
“season of suffering” comes, if the heart is not right, you will know. “For
out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies...”
(Matthew 15:19 KJV). Believers will give their hearts to God, but
not their control.
“Seasons of suffering” is about the “… trying of [our]… faith
[whuch]...worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-6
KJV).
God’s sovereign
“seasons of suffering” will most likely result in a “loss of control.” Yet “…[God] knoweth the way that I take; when
he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10 KJV). AND “….the proof of [my]…faith,
being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be
found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:” 1
Peter 1:7 ASV).
“Seasons
of suffering” can be long, make no sense, and can feel as if God has abandoned you. “…In the world ye have tribulation: but be
of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ASV). When
the “season of suffering” lasts TOO long it doesn’t feel like you are
overcoming IT, but that IT is overcoming you.
Trusting God’s sovereignty becomes
questionable. The long-term distress and continual disappointment feels as if God
is no longer involved with your test. However, God said, “…I have overcome…” (John 6:33 KJV).
If Jesus said “I have overcome”
then you have too! You win!!!
Even if you don’t understand the LONG
“season of suffering,” trust God’s sovereignty. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how
unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known
the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?” (Romans 11:33-34
KJV).
God “… ways [are]…past
finding out…” and they will NOT always make human sense
(Romans 11:33-34 KJV). In the story of Lazarus and the little girl in John 11
and Mark 5, it seems Jesus simply didn’t come to the situation “on time.”
In our “season of suffering” it may seem
“too late” for Jesus to show up. It is normal to feel that way when someone we
love dies anyway, or gets sick anyway, or leaves anyway, or a marriage breaks
up anyway, especially after all we did to stand in faith! What is the point of
trusting Jesus if the situation or circumstance dies a slow pitiful death ANYWAY?
After reading and studying these two
biblical stories where Jesus did not come until death occurred, I wondered
“why?” It’s over right and everybody is packing up to leave, so why is Jesus
showing up now? Jesus had a sovereign reason. Unfortunately, long-term “seasons
of suffering” can highly tempt many to “give up” and blatantly accuse Jesus of
not working things out the way they wanted or he promised.
Lazarus’ sister, Martha said, “… as soon as she heard that
Jesus was coming … Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died… ” (John 11:20-22 KJV). She boldly accused Jesus of not being there
and implied it was TOO LATE, so she said, “…
Lord, by this time, he stinketh: for he hath been dead for four days …”
(John 11:39 KJV). In the other story they thought he was TOO LATE too and “…they laughed him to scorn… “(Mark 5:40 KJV). Is God still sovereign in these stories?
Well Jesus showed up in his sovereign time
and with a sovereign purpose. Martha, Mary, and others were DONE. People were weeping
and wailing over Lazarus and the little girl (John 11:17-22, Mark
5:38-39).
When the situation looks dead, “…only believe,”
because God is still sovereign (Mark 5:36 KJV). God’s sovereignty is revealed
in both stories. “And he that was dead
came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about
with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go...”
(John 11:43-44 KJV).
“And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi;
which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.”
(Mark 5:41 KJV).
God is sovereign over death.
Therefore, no matter how long, KEEP TRUSTING HIM. God is not limited by time or
how many days, weeks, months of years it’s been. Nothing is dead until God says
it’s dead!!
You may have “loss control” and can’t fix
the situation, but the sovereign God can. Wherever you have laid down your
trust in God, go back and get it. The bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all
thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
No matter how long it’s
been, the sovereign God can still,“…do
far more abundantly beyond all that [you]… ask or think, according to the power that works within [you]…”
(Ephesians 3:20 NASB). “…Only
believe” (Mark 5:36 KJV). Keep trusting in his sovereignty and accept “…his ways [are]… past finding out…”
(Romans 11:33-34 KJV).
It’s been a long “season of suffering” and
you no longer understand or believe the test will turn around. His holy ways
are highly incomprehensible, beyond finding out, and daunting. “But as it is written: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God
hath prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV).
Let’s
visit the story of King Hezekiah again and read how God tested his heart. “… God left him, to try him that he might know
all that was in his heart…” (2 Chronicles 32:31 KJV).
Hezekiah
did a lot of good things, especially when he restored the temple and its
worship practices. However, his heart was not right before God and God knew it.
“In
those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave
him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the
kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was
on him and on Judah and Jerusalem” (2
Chronicles 32:24-25 NIV).
God in
his sovereignty knew Hezekiah’s heart in spite of all the good he’d done. God
clearly saw a rebellious, selfish, and prideful side that was hidden in his
heart. “…
Hezekiah’s heart was proud…” (2
Chronicles 32:25 NIV).
God,
in his sovereignty, permitted a “season of suffering” and Hezekiah had to look
at what was truly in his own desperately wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9).
Hezekiah
saw for himself the darkness hidden in his heart. Hezekiah “loss control” and
recognized his behavior reflected a blatant ingratitude. “… Hezekiah’s heart was proud
and he did not respond to the kindness shown him…”
(2 Chronicles 32:25 NIV). Hezekiah
did not give God the glory for the great things he had done (Isaiah 12:4-5).
After
a while, Hezekiah “… repented of the pride of his
heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them…
(1 Chronicles 32:26 NIV).
Some “seasons of
suffering” go on for days, weeks, months, or years. God, in his sovereignty,
permitted a situation where Hezekiah truly transformed. In the stories of
Lazarus and the little girl Jesus showed up in God’ sovereign timing!!! And at
God’s appointed time, “…[all for]...the glory God, that the Son of God might
be glorified thereby…” (John 11:4 KJV).
The enemy of God’s
sovereignty is man’s refusal to face a “loss of control” with the right
attitude. The “season of suffering” is for your good and God’s glory. If God is
not sovereign, your outcome will be a lot different than Job’s, Josephs, or the
Hebrew boys. God is in control, but he is not controlling, therefore even in a
“season of suffering” you can willfully rebel against his sovereignty. Pride will always be
in conflict with God’s sovereignty, and his desire to be lovingly in control.
Hezekiah got the lesson
and eventually accepted God’ sovereign will. God allows certain trials and
tribulations to intervene in our lives to promote spiritual growth and
development.
God rightfully has
sovereignty over your life. You agreed when God, “….made …Jesus, whom [was] …crucified, both Lord and Christ…. and you believed in your heart (Acts 2:36
KJV).
If you have been through or are going through a LONG “season of suffering” go back and get the cup: KEEP TRUSTING THE
SOVEREIGN GOD. IT IS “NOT” IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD. NOTHING IS DEAD UNTIL GOD SAYS
IT’S DEAD. “…"Father, if you
are willing, take this cup from Me;
yet not My will,
but Yours be done"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
.EXCERPT FROM THE
BY DR PENSACOLA H JEFFERSON
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