Give God Control (Bible Study 3-16-10)

Give God Control 

Many people think they control their own destiny. They believe they know what’s best for them and intend to make things happen in their life. Even Christians who have been given a directions, or have been given a glimpse of what God has for them (through a word of knowledge or prophesy or God speaks to them directly) still can’t turn over the reigns of their life to God and trust Him to make things happen. They insist on working it out themselves instead of waiting on God’s timing and they make a huge mess of things.



The battle for control started in the garden....



I. God’s Plan/Instructions

Genesis 1:27-30 ”So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’ 29 Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.’ And that is what happened.”

Gensis 1:15-17 “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden-except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.’”

God gave man his assignment along with the rules/guideline for his assignment....eat anything except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave man the consequence that would ensue if he disobeyed but notice He didn’t give him any other details. God didn’t explain the big picture or give man all the details. He just advised Adam’s general assignment ... “Be fruitful, govern all I’ve created, tend the garden and don’t eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” If you think of the scope of Adam’s assignment, those instructions seem pretty vague. Even Adam didn’t get every detail about his assignment.... what do you think God and Adam talked about when God came down in the cool of the day and walked w/Adam? I think it’s pretty safe to assume that at least part of their conversation was Adam asking God for specifics for each step of what he was doing.... “God, I’m not sure how to tend this garden... where do I need to start?” Then God would give Adam grace (supply, information) for that moment and be like, “Well start by watering those flowers...they’re looking a little dry.” God didn’t give Adam a huge list of all the “to do’s” of his garden tending assignment because he would’ve been overwhelmed! Can you imagine... you and your significant other are in charge of tending a huge garden, along with all the animals living within it!?!?!? If God had given every detail for every duty that Adam would have to fulfill to successfully do the assignment God had given him, Adam’s head would’ve probably exploded from overload!! It was a step by step process. Adam had to seek/consult God each day, each step of the way. Adam had to trust God to be his supplier, source and guide to direct him throughout his life and to help him fulfill what God had called him to do. Why do we think our life/walk with God will be any different? From the beginning that’s how God intended for it to be. God will guide us each step... we just have to turn the control over to Him and not try to control our own destiny and find our own solutions. God has our solutions and if you ask Him for guidance and direction He will give it to you. Will God give you detailed plan/road map that shows every stop and an itinerary for every day and explain everything? No! Life isn’t a Carnival cruise and God is not your Cruise Ship Director! :) Our lives are not like a vacation itinerary!! *Example of my Aunt Janie* My Aunt used to plan out everyday of their vacation. She’d have a list of all the places they were to visit each day of the trip. Approximate time they should get there, when they’d leave in time to get to the next stop. God’s not like my Aunt Janie! :) God has the plan for your life already laid out, but He’s not going to hand over all those details to you because you couldn’t handle it! You’d freak out and get sooooooo overwhelmed that you’d spend years using God’s grace to fix the circuit breakers in your brain instead of enjoying each step of your journey. Learning, growing and moving from glory to glory.



II. The Fall Started With Doubt

Gensis 3:1-5 “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ ‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” ‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’

The devil began his deception and man’s destruction by planting doubt in Eve’s mind about the instructions/sovereignty of God. The devil fed man’s desire to be in control suggested that God didn’t know what was best for them and that God’s rule was really there to keep them from being as knowledgeable as God. The devil was causing Eve to doubt that God was a good God and insinuated God was selfish and concerned only about His own interests and was keeping something great from them by the rule keeping them from eating the fruit. If you doubt God’s agenda and don’t totally trust Him, it’s easy to fall for this type of lie. You have to know, that you know, that you know, that God ALWAYS has your best interest at heart and His plan is to bless you and help you succeed!



III. What You Think About Convinces you to do Good or Evil

Genesis 3:6 “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”

The more Eve contemplated on the lies of the devil (the serpent) the more convincing and “truthful” his lies became. Eve had decided in her mind (convinced herself) that she knew more than God and that she needed to eat that fruit to have a complete life and in essence control her own destiny. It was about control and doing what “she” thought was best instead of doing what God said and depending upon God and trusting that God knew what was in her best interest. **Notice here that Eve was convinced in her MIND to sin before her actions followed suit and she actually committed the sinful act of disobedience.** Our thoughts and what we allow to take up residence in our brain ultimately has tremendous affect on our actions and eventually control our outward actions and choices we end up making (actions we take/what we do). Eve started entertaining what the devil suggested....she didn’t stop him in his tracks and immediately cast down what the enemy was whispering, which was totally contrary to what God had said. *Any thought that is opposite or goes against what God says should be immediately cast down!!* Instead of casting down, Eve started looking at the fruit and listening to all the lies and the convincing argument against God that the devil was feeding her. She started thinking how yummy the fruit looked, and then she started thinking how cool it would be to be just like God. To know EVERYTHING God knows....to be in control of her own destiny and have all the answers. Pretty soon, all the “facts” the devil presented combined with her own fleshly thoughts, she became CONVINCED that eating the fruit was in her best interest and then she sinned by acting upon her thoughts. What we think is soooooooo important!!! You cannot let any seed of the enemy that is contrary to what God says be planted in your mind. You have to cast it down and not entertain it for a minute!

IV. Hind-Sight is 20/20

Only after Eve sinned did she realize she’d blown it and that the devil was a liar. Only after she fell for the deception and committed the rebellion against God did she realize she’d made the wrong choice. Then it became blarringly obvious! Sin and rebellion many times seem like a great idea and the logic we use to justify our actions and make disobedience okay, makes perfect sense until after you act upon it. Then the deception of the enemy and your own stupidity is revealed and in your face obvious!! The devil is sweet and attentive during the time he’s trying to deceive you and convince you to rebel against God. However, as soon as you rebel and fall into the trap he’s laid; he jerks the rug out from under you and points and laughs about the mess you suddenly find yourself in. The devil is like the “friend” that convinces you to do something wrong, then as soon as you do they run and tattle on you to ensure you get caught.



**A. Side Bar: On a side note the conflict and struggle/differences (men from Mars women from Venus thing) started when sin entered the Garden. This conflict too boils down to control. Each sex has a need to be the one in charge. **


V. God has a Plan

Genesis 18:17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?’ the Lord asked.”


Psalm 40:5 “O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal.”

Just because God doesn’t tell you details doesn’t mean He doesn’t know what’s going on. He ALWAYS has a plan...God doesn’t wing-it!!! :)


1 Kings 20:22 “Afterward the prophet said to King Aham, “Get ready for another attack. Begin making plans now, for the king of Aram will come back next Spring.’”

God gave the prophet a word of knowledge for the King....even though things looked fine & this battle was over...God already knew that another attack was coming months later. So, he had the prophet warn the King so he could be prepared and not caught off guard. **God will give you a heads up when you need it. If something is coming up in your future that you need to be prepared for....God will tell you in plenty of time so that you’ll be ready for it. He may not tell you that detail the first day you get save, because its 10years down the road. However, he will give you a heads up so that you won’t be caught off guard.**


Psalm 146:4 “When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.”

Proverbs 19:21 “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”

Psalm 33:11 “But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.”


People can make all the plans they want, but if the plans are not part of God’s plan, they won’t amount to a hill of beans. Fleshly plans die when the flesh dies. People can spend their entire life being “in control of their own destiny” planning out every detail of their life, but when they die all of those plans die with them....unaccomplished, unfulfilled and having no lasting value. If they’re lucky, a library somewhere or a highway may be named after them, but that’s it. God’s plan however and his purpose and will for your life will be completed, and will have eternal, lasting value and legacy.


Psalm 119:26 “I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees.”

It’s okay to have dreams, ideas, and plans, but the key is to consult God on them before you start trying to fulfill them. Take what’s on your heart/what you think you should be doing to God and ask Him if that’s part of HIS plan/will for your life. Then, **this is the most important part** do what He tells you! If God says no, then it’s no. No from God is not a suggestion, it’s the choice between blessing and cursing. No, means no! Whatever God tells you is the final answer! Now, God may just tell you no, that’s not what I have for you and then leave it at that. He may not elaborate, He may give you info about the next step....He may not say anything else. Regardless of what God does or does not share with you....you have to trust Him and know that He does have a plan. You also have to keep your ears tuned in to His voice and ALWAYS consult and seek Him regarding the details/plans of your life. He provides the plan and the resources you need to see it completed.



So, in closing.....Don’t be a control freak!!!! Trust God with your life.... He CREATED YOU!!! God is not like your parents. They may haven given birth to you, but God CREATED you... He formed you and knit you together....he literally made every cell of your body!!! If God took that much time and put that much detail in to forming you, don’t you think you can trust Him to put that much thought and planning into the rest of your life and ensuring the plan for your life succeeds!?!?!?!!? I’m pretty sure He knows how to take care of you and what is best for you. Allow Him to instruct and guide you!