Is God in control?
 

I hear that a lot. God is in control. It's usually said after some tragedy, big or small, has taken place. I think it's a bit of a strange thing to say at times like that. Tantamount to blaming God for the tragedy. Not just tantamount, but really and actually, if you take logic seriously. (Which some don't, I'm learning. :lol)

So, what say you? Is God in control?

Re: Is God in control?
 

I think that this life is a test, and we are purified through trials and suffering, ultimately death. There is much beauty in the world we inhabit, times of love, peace, and joy. But mostly there is suffering.

1 Peter 4
12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.


We walk by faith and seek a city whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38(Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Re: Is God in control?
 

This world is not our final home, we are looking for a city whose builder and maker is God, and by faith we continue until we are home.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Is that a Yes or a No? :winkgrin

Re: Is God in control?
 

you are a smart man, I'll let you decide . . .

Re: Is God in control?
 

OK. It's a "no", then. :lol

Re: Is God in control?
 

God bless you Timmy, I'm sorry the suffering that you have endured.
I pray that you can find it in your heart to forgive, and continue your walk with God.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Forgive? Forgive whom, for what? Or should I say, Whom?

Re: Is God in control?
 

God is Sovereign He as God has the right to intervene in the affairs of man. For a child of God all things work TOGETHER for good. It does not say all things are good but eventually the outcome will be for the benefit of the child of God. However Job 9:24 states the world is in the hands of the wicked. When Adam sinned he turned over the dominion of the earth to the Devil and he is the god of this world. When Jesus comes and judges the world then He will rule upon the earth and at the judgment the devil is cast into the lake of fire. But until then the wicked are in control of this earth.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Thanks for posting. :santathumb You, too, Amanah. ;)

Re: Is God in control?
 

Do you ever correct someone who says God is in control?

Re: Is God in control?
 

Not always. For example, Adam was in control of the garden, allowed the enemy to snooker him and we know the rest of the story. Usually, we're in control. Not always, but usually.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Thanks.

So we are not always in control? Can you give an example of when you were not in control of something, and by that I think you (and I) would mean that God took over and you couldn't do something or other, even if you tried? (Right? That's what "in control" means, isn't it?)

Reminds me of a story one of my past pastors loved to tell, about when he was striving to resist temptation to "be with" a girl who was, well, tempting him. He was in high school. Big-time football star (so he said). Well, wouldn't you know, he finally decided to yield to this temptation. He left his house, intent on finding this girl and, well, yielding to temptation. But, thank goodness, he had a praying mom! Yes, you can guess the rest of the story. But I'll tell you anyway: he couldn't find the girl! Temptation thwarted! Glowrayyyyy!

So, yeah. I guess some people aren't always in control. :lol

(I may or may not need to mention that this particular pastor was very, very often known to, ummmm, stretch the truth. :heeheehee)

Re: Is God in control?
 

Well, sometimes you have preacher stories and then sometimes you have facts. :)

I have many instances over the years where I believe God intervened on my behalf but I can't think of a single instance where I felt forced to make a decision or act against my will, i.e., God was in control using me like a puppet.

Re: Is God in control?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Is God in control?
 

:santathumb

Re: Is God in control?
 

I don't think it's so much that God controls us, but more that we are to be led by his Spirit. When I pattern my life after the bible, my life is successful, when I live contrary to his precepts, I make regretable mistakes.

The more I live, the more I'm convinced that studying and following God's precepts is the best way to life my life. We choose who we serve and reap the consequences of our choices. And yes, sometimes we reap the consequences of the choices of others also.

Vesta Mangun often says that God does nothing but in answer to prayer, and if we will not pray, God will not act. And I believe we take back what Adam sold out to the devil by prayer and faith, for we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.

But even so, we are not destined to live a life free from suffering, free from death. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his children, for death means we are going home to be with the Lord.

Re: Is God in control?
 

What do you mean by 'control'?

I agree with Vesta Mangun that 'God does nothing but in answer to prayer' except for a few things like... creation, the incarnation, the church.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Speaking of preacher stories....

I once heard about a preacher preach the scripture passage about the 99 sheep and one went astray. The shepherd left the 99 and went and found that one sheep. He then broke that one sheep's legs and brought it back around his shoulders saying he broke it's legs so that it will never leave the flock again.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Hey, whatever works. :lol

Re: Is God in control?
 

Coincidentally, the shepherd looked just like Kathy Bates.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Oh, man, for some reason that scene bothers me more than almost any other movie scene, and I've seen some gruesome movies! I can't watch it without wincing and (almost) looking away! :lol

Re: Is God in control?
 

Ya, even compared to ubber violent films like Hostel and Saw, scenes like the one with Bates and the hammer still strike a nerve.

Re: Is God in control?
 

"God is still in control" was posted all ovah Facebook after Obama was reelected.

Re: Is God in control?
 

No.

He is...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5eMqKO-7X.../Dr%2Bevil.jpg


:jolly:jolly:jolly:jolly

Re: Is God in control?
 

:santathumb

Re: Is God in control?
 

:jolly

Re: Is God in control?
 

Re: Is God in control?
 

Right, Bro Steve,

I am on another Forum, where most believe that everything that happens is in the control of God. Even murder, rape, war, abuse, etc.

That would make God the Author of evil, which we know He is not.

And you are right, ever since Adam and Eve was deceived by Satan, the spirit of this world, run by people full of the 'spirit of this world' belongs to Satan.


Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Every person born since Adam is a child of the devil, until they are born again.

So, yes Tim, this world belongs to the Devil. And we are just Pilgrims and Stargers here, until Jesus takes the Kingdoms back from Satan.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Sister Renee, Eve was deceived not Adam. 1 Timothy 2:14

Re: Is God in control?
 

That nagging broad... nag nag nag nag nag... any man would have caved to get her to shut up.

My perspective of how it went down.

Re: Is God in control?
 

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45:7

He created the serpent. He created Satan. Did He not know what they would do, or would be capable of doing? Does Satan do anything without God's permission? (See the book of Job.)

Is God able to stop evil? You will probably say that He will, eventually. Meanwhile, God merely watches rape and murder take place and doesn't stop it -- oh no, He wouldn't do that! We have to have free will! Except when we don't, such as when God (some say) answers prayers of protection.

Now, we humans are able to interfere with other men's free will. We can stop someone from raping or murdering, if we happen to be at the right place at the right time. In fact, it would be evil of me to stand and watch a rape take place, doing nothing to stop it or prevent it if I was able. God does that all the time, but it's not evil for God.

I guess.

Re: Is God in control?
 

:lol

Re: Is God in control?
 

Right Navy. And i know that, just writing too fast I guess.

Eve was deceived. Adam plainly sinned by being disobedient. He knew what he was doing.

Re: Is God in control?
 

How? He didn't know right from wrong before he ate of the fruit? Nevermind, he had been instructed by God not to eat of the fruit of the tree.

Re: Is God in control?
 

Bump for Amanah. ;)

BTW, the "suffering" I have endured is nothing compared to what many others have endured. And it is not the primary reason for my "backsliding" (or, as I like to say, "moving on" :)).

Re: Is God in control?
 

Don't get me started. :lol

Re: Is God in control?
 

I also wonder what the "serpent" looked like. Beautiful, ugly, an animal?

Re: Is God in control?
 

Re: Is God in control?
 

A.W. Pink's description of the serpent heightens my sensibilities. :bells