Who is in control

Who is in control?

Text: Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Opening illustration:

By JOE BEL BRUNO, CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER and MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Business Writers

NEW YORK - When Wall Street woke up Monday morning, two more of its storied firms had fallen.

Lehman Brothers, burdened by $60 billion in soured real-estate holdings, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court after attempts to rescue the 158-year-old firm failed. Bank of America Corp. said it is snapping up Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. in a $50 billion all-stock transaction.

The demise of the independent Wall Street institutions came as shock waves from the 14-month-old credit crisis roiled the U.S. financial system six months after the collapse of Bear Stearns.

The world's largest insurance company, American International Group Inc., also was forced into a restructuring.

And a global consortium of banks, working with government officials in New York, announced a $70 billion pool of funds to lend to troubled financial companies.

U.S. stocks were headed for a sharply lower open and Treasury bond prices soared as the market reacted to the news.

The aim of the bank consortium, according to participants who spoke to The Associated Press, was to prevent a worldwide panic on stock and other financial exchanges.

"Just the psychological impact of this kind of failure is going to be significant," he said. "It will color people's feelings about their well-being and the integrity of the financial system."

Ike skews gas; some stations ask $5 a gallon

By JOHN PORRETTO and MARK WILLIAMS, AP Business Writers

HOUSTON - Pump prices jumped above $5 per gallon in some parts of the country Sunday as Hurricane Ike, which caused less destruction than feared, left refineries and pipelines idled and destroyed at least 10 offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Far beyond areas struck directly by high winds and flooding, Ike left behind it a bizarre pattern of prices at gas pumps, with disparities of more than $1 a gallon in some states, and even on some blocks.

"We're on the other side of the looking glass," said Claire Raines, who lives near Knoxville, Tenn. "I just passed three gas stations with prices that ran from about $3.50 to close to $5 within walking distance."

Average prices exceeded $4 per gallon in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Hawaii and Alaska, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express.

Introduction:

It sometimes seems as if this world is out of control and there is nothing anyone can do. We have storms that cause major problems from damaged homes and oil refineries to death. We have financial issues were it looks bad for the economy and people are afraid of losing all the money they have in the bank. People are trying to find security in the things of this world but when storms and economics go bad whatever it was that a person held onto in this life can be taken away and we can find ourselves feeling lost and having no hope. There are many who feel suicidal in these kinds of situations.

What about the world, Is it and the universe out of control? Where should a person put their trust and their hope? In money, well we see that that doesn’t work. What about property and material things, well when you find your house, car and everything else you own, under 4 feet of water or being swept away by hurricane winds, that doesn’t do it. What about your family and friends, well some of them will let us down and every one of them is headed for the grave.

Lotto his landlord was suing for some of his money, his 3rd ex-wife wanted half and his own brother was put in jail for attempted murder, his brother tried to kill him for the money.

1.    Jesus is in control and has all power

a.    Where in this entire world can we go to find security? Listen to Genesis 1:

                                          i.    Genesis 1:1  ESV In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

                                        ii.    John 1:1-3  ESV  ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

                                       iii.    Revelation 4:11  11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

b.    Is this world out of control? No, Jesus is in control and is able to run the universe. All things were created by him and for him and all things will be made right in him.  

                                          i.    Matthew 28:18  18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

                                        ii.    1 Corinthians 15:27  27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet."…

                                       iii.    Hebrews 2:8   8 putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

c.    So even though it looks sometimes that this world is out of control the fact is that Jesus Christ is in control and all things are subject to him, all things in the end will line up and be seen to be in subjection to him but make no mistake Jesus is in control now and he always will be. Jesus is on the thrown of the universe.

d.    We read and memorize this passage

                                          i.    Romans 8:28  28 ¶ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

e.    Those who love God and are called according to his purpose, all things work to their good because God is in control. I don’t know how it all works out but I know it does because he has been faithful in the past, I know it’s true because Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day and that tells me that whatever he says is true. I know because not only in my life but in the lives of his people throughout biblical history and in our day and age he has shown himself to be almighty and faithful.

2.    Jesus cares and loves us

a.    Our God is not only in control but God loves you. David writes:

                                          i.    ESV Psalm 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

b.    The bible clearly teaches us the love of God for his children in fact God is said to love all even those in rebellion to him. God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever would come to him would have life.

c.    God shows us his love in Jesus, and Jesus showed that love by dying on a cross.

                                          i.    Romans 8:35-39   35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."  37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

d.    Neither Wall Street collapse nor flooded houses, nothing this life can throw at us will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. If the rest of this world seems come collapsing down you know one thing for sure God in Christ loves you and Jesus is in control.

3.    Jesus will bring us through

a.    If Jesus is in control and if Jesus does love us and if we are in Christ, children of God, then he will bring us through. That doesn’t mean we will never feel pain or persecution or heart ache. It means we will never be let down and it will all work for good. It doesn’t mean that we won’t died it means that when we die we go to be with him. It doesn’t mean we won’t hurt. It means when we do hurt he comforts us and he knows all about our struggles. We sing a song “Jesus knows all about our troubles”.

b.    Where are your treasures? Jesus said where your treasure is there is your heart. We could say where your treasure is there is your hope. If you find and keep your treasures in Christ then no matter what happens to the market or to the material possessions you have, you will stand because he is an anchor that will not fail.

c.    We sing a song “leaning on Jesus”, what do you think that means? What do you think we are singing? It’s not talking about leaning on Jesus in the goodtime only or running to him when things are bad. It means you rest in him all the time, you lean on Jesus and find your meaning and value in life in him and nowhere else.

Conclusion:

Let me suggest three things to help you rest in and rely on Jesus in all circumstances.

1.    Have a set time every day for alone time prayer. As little as 1minute.

2.    Read the word of God at least one other time than just on Sunday or Wednesday bible study. And read it systematically don’t just flip open a passage in the bible read it and put it down. Read one of the letters from begging to end or read one of the Old Testament books and start at the begging and every week pick up where you left off.

3.    Make it a point to talk to someone about Christ every week. Someone at work who is not a Christian some in your family, some other Christian. Make it a point to talk to at least one person every week about Christ. And make it on a day and a time that is not Sunday morning worship or Wednesday night bible study.

Try that and see if you don’t start feeling and living a more Christ centered life.