Everything Is Under Control

Intro

Good Morning!

It is good to be back here with you again today.

Last week we stepped out of our study of Hebrews in order to celebrate Easter.

We are jumping back in today and so I want to take just a few minutes to remind us of where we are and how we got here.

Starting at the beginning of chapter 2 we are reminded by the author that we need to address the tension in our spiritual lives so that we are not tempted to turn away.

In the next two verses, the author reminds the readers of the truth that cannot be ignored. God spoke through the angels to deliver the law and then God spoke through His son to reveal his plan for salvation. If there was just punishment for disobedience to the law, how can we hope to escape if we ignore the testimony of the Son?

Lastly, we live our lives in light of the truth that has been revealed to us. Rather than living for ourselves, we remember what we have seen and heard. We let the love of Christ for his people motivate us to live in obedience.

Today as we move forward, we are going to see the author pointing out a transition that is being made in the life of Jesus and subsequently in all of our lives.

Me

What-a-burger transition from chasing GM position to Crowley store.

Transitions can be difficult and uncomfortable, but what I want us to see today is that they are often for our very best.

We

Everyone goes through transitions throughout their lives.

I just mentioned changing jobs/careers.

Some here just made the transition from just a couple to now being parents.

Boy’ that one can be rough.

Kids transitioning in school.

In particular, third grade (parents getting a kid through 3rd grade), middle school- high school, then to college, and finally to career.

All of those have unique challenges.

Some people love them, some people hate them, but regardless of how you feel about them one thing is true.

Transitions are temporary.

I think for many people, it is the uncertainty that bothers them the most.

What has been your easiest and hardest transition in life?

How was God working in them?

One thing that we can absolutely, one-hundred percent, count on is that if we are abiding in Christ, transitions are for our good.

I know that it doesn’t always feel that way, but it is.

God

We are about to see in our passage today that even Jesus went through transitions in his life.

Transitions are a natural part of life which tells us that God has a purpose and a plan for them.

The truth that God has impressed on me the most about this particular set of verses is the same in Jesus’ transition and in our own transitions.

Everything is Under God’s Control.

Often though, we feel like Han.

We are telling people that everything is fine, and we want that to be true, but it doesn’t seem like it really is.

But what we are about to see is that everything really is okay.

Hebrews 2:5–8 CSB

5 For he has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about. 6 But someone somewhere has testified: What is man that you remember him, or the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him lower than the angels for a short time; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and subjected everything under his feet. For in subjecting everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.

In order for us to fully grasp this transitional statement, let’s jump back to chapter one for a moment.

Jesus is higher than the angels.

Hebrews 1:5–14 CSB

5 For to which of the angels did he ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? 6 Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says, And let all God’s angels worship him. 7 And about the angels he says: He makes his angels winds, and his servants a fiery flame, 8 but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions. 10 And: In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like clothing; 12 you will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like clothing. But you are the same, and your years will never end. 13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?

Our passage is pointing out a purposeful transition that Jesus made from greater to lesser, for a little while.

What can we learn from Jesus giving up status for the sake of love?

Are there any areas in your life that Jesus is asking you to give up in order to love others as He does?

Psalm 8 CSB

For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of David. 1 Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with your majesty. 2 From the mouths of infants and nursing babies, you have established a stronghold on account of your adversaries in order to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place, 4 what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? 5 You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild, 8 the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the currents of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!

The author is using the words of this psalm to exalt the person of Christ who, for a short time, became a little less than the angels.

He is drawing our attention to what we celebrated last week.

Jesus left his throne and became like us in order to save us.

Do you see this first part of the transition where Jesus leaves his throne to come to earth?

What happens next?

Jesus is raised to life, gives his followers some last advice, and then returns to his throne.

Is that the end of the story? No, of course not because he has not returned.

We are, in the middle of a long transition, awaiting the return of Christ.

Hebrews Hebrews 2:5–9

The intervening time between the exaltation and consummation of Christ’s rule allows for God’s mission of reconciliation as the church proclaims forgiveness in Christ. However, this in-between time also involves suffering for the church since Christ’s domination of the powers, while being real (i.e., an accomplished fact), has yet to be fully realized.

The second part of this transition hasn’t happened yet and the author points this out at the end of verse 8.

Hebrews 2:8b CSB

8 and subjected everything under his feet. For in subjecting everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.

So here we are, in the longest transition ever.

What did we say that people often struggle with while in transition? Uncertainty.

Do you ever feel any uncertainty in your personal ministry?

Until Jesus comes back, we are all living in a transitional phase and it is going to be uncomfortable at times.

But it is necessary for us to endure that awkward, uncomfortableness so that we can share the gospel with others.

This is their opportunity to know Jesus, just like it was ours.

The truth that all of us need to hear and internalize is that the awkwardness of the transition that we feel in ministry and in life is normal.

How does seeing our lives as a transitional phase in the world’s redemptive story change your perspective on life?

All that we do, if we are abiding, is under God’s control.

When we start to feel anxious about things, just remember this truth.

Everything's under control here. Situation normal.

You

So what do we do with this information?

Great Will, you have just dropped the bombshell that this awkwardness is my life, now what.

How do we internalize this so that it makes a change in our lives?

The first thing you should do is just talk to Jesus about what you are struggling with.

It is normal for us to struggle with the difficulties of life.

But don’t go it alone.

Step back from your limited perspective and ask God for His perspective.

What are you currently struggling with that you need God’s perspective on?

Two, be like Jesus.

Ephesians 5:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

The world does not revolve around you.

Jesus gave up his throne to live in the transition with us.

At this particular moment in the transition, it is your turn to love people.

Be like Jesus.

Rely on God and do only what he tells you to do.

We

You are not alone in the daily struggle with uncertainty and awkwardness.

All of us feel this because all of us have the same call on our lives.

Sharing the truth is the call for all believers.

It is not easy and we are going to need one another for encouragement and help.

To be like Jesus by loving well and a big part of loving people well is showing them that everything is under God’s control.

Often, there is more needed in loving someone well than one person can do alone.

God has called us to live together in community so that as a group we can meet the needs of those he brings into our lives.

Moving all those stones in the yard.

It would have taken me an hour, but the whole family did it in just a few minutes.

Together we share the load of ministry.

Matthew 11:28–30 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus never intended for us to do this alone.

One of the ways he makes the burden light is by hooking up a whole team to the load.

Are there any areas of your life that feel heavy and you need help carrying the load?

Life may seem upside down at times.

When the enemy is in your ear yelling how messed up you and your life are, just remember what the author of Hebrews is telling a group of believers that was struggling with the same thing.

Everything is Under God’s control.

Situation Normal...

Prayer