Control Issue
Series: THE TRIUMPHANT KING
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 14th April 2019
Passage: John 18:1-12
00:00:00 --> 00:00:11 Good morning. Have you ever been called a control freak? Or do you know someone that is?
00:00:12 --> 00:00:19 You know, that person who has to be in control of every situation, whether it's at work,
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 on the sporting field, or in a group assignment. You know, the person that says,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:32 if I want it done properly, I will just do it myself. Steve and I got back from the US just
00:00:32 --> 00:00:40 over a week ago, and I've always prided myself on the self-control I have over my body, particularly
00:00:40 --> 00:00:47 when it comes to sleep. Through having kids, I've taught myself how to sleep anywhere,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:56 and I can survive without too much sleep. But coming back from the US, jet lag hit me hard.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:03 My whole body clock was shifted a couple of hours. So I would, you know, put Micah, our two-year-old,
00:01:03 --> 00:01:13 to sleep at about 7pm, and Alyssa would find me asleep on his floor. And then I'd wake up in the
00:01:13 --> 00:01:18 lounge, Alyssa would be standing over me. I thought I was in control. I thought I had control of my body,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:25 but my body had different ideas. And the consequence was that I was wide awake from 3am
00:01:25 --> 00:01:31 each morning. Don't worry, I'm over it now. Thank you for your concern. But feeling like we are in
00:01:31 --> 00:01:38 control can give us the false impression that we are safe, and we are secure, and everything is taken
00:01:38 --> 00:01:45 care of. We can think we are in control of our lives, and the decisions we make until reality hits.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:51 It might be the fragility of our bodies. It might be how dependent we are upon other people.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 It might be how much we depend on the current job we have to have the life that we want.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:04 And for Christians, we might say that we trust in God, and that He is the one who is in control of
00:02:04 --> 00:02:10 all things. He is the one who has saved us. But practically, we can hold on to control.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:18 It makes us think that we are safe and secure, because we all have trust issues.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:26 We don't trust that God has everything in control. So we stress and we get anxious about the future.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:32 We don't trust that He'll keep being generous, and so we hoard, and we hold on to our things,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:41 our time and our money, instead of being radically generous. How do we go from hogging control
00:02:41 --> 00:02:52 to handing over control to God? Today, as we see Jesus in His last moments before He is crucified,
00:02:52 --> 00:03:00 Jesus will model handing over control to God. Let me pray, and we'll have a look at John 18 together.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:11 Heavenly Father, we come before You, all of us having different control issues. Father, You have done so
00:03:11 --> 00:03:20 much for us. You have loved us incredibly through Jesus. And we ask that today we would be reminded
00:03:20 --> 00:03:25 about how amazing You are, and that You are a sovereign God in control of all things.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 Help us to place all of our trust in You. Amen.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:37 Over the last couple of weeks, Jesus has been speaking His last conversation before His crucifixion.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:46 Last week in chapter 17, Jesus spent an extended period of time praying for Himself, for His disciples,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:55 and for us. And now Jesus is here in the Garden of Gethsemane. Have a look with me. Please have your
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 Bibles open. John chapter 18. We'll start in verse 2.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:11 Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:17 So Judas came to the Garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief
00:04:17 --> 00:04:24 priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons. John sets the scene
00:04:24 --> 00:04:32 for us. He doesn't specify that it's the Garden of Gethsemane, but that's where it is. The author,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:38 John, tells the story of Jesus' arrest slightly differently to the other Gospel writers, Matthew,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:47 Mark, and Luke. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all focus on Jesus in the Garden, praying to God in anguish
00:04:47 --> 00:04:54 before His crucifixion. John doesn't focus on that. Matthew, Mark, and Luke also have the conversation
00:04:54 --> 00:05:03 between Judas and Jesus. Again, John doesn't focus on that. John focuses on the interaction between
00:05:03 --> 00:05:11 Jesus and those who've come to arrest Him, those who think they are in control. This group that has
00:05:11 --> 00:05:19 come out is a massive group. First, we have a detachment of soldiers. A detachment of Roman
00:05:19 --> 00:05:26 soldiers is a cohort, and this usually consisted of a thousand men. Practically, they would usually
00:05:26 --> 00:05:36 only send out 600. So we have 600 men, soldiers armed, ready for battle, coming out to 12 men
00:05:36 --> 00:05:44 sitting in a garden in the middle of the night. The Romans would often use overwhelming force
00:05:44 --> 00:05:51 to ensure that if a mob formed, they could just crush it. So we've got hundreds of Roman soldiers
00:05:51 --> 00:05:57 ready to crush any opposition. Then there's the officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:02 This group would have included the temple police, the ones who would actually arrest Jesus,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:09 and they would ensure that the temple was protected overnight. And they come with torches and lanterns
00:06:09 --> 00:06:16 and weapons. They've come to arrest Jesus in the middle of the night, when Jesus has the least
00:06:16 --> 00:06:22 amount of followers to reduce the size of the mob that He's going to form. They've come expecting that
00:06:22 --> 00:06:31 Jesus would flee. And so they've come with torches and lanterns to hunt Him down. In their eyes, Jesus
00:06:31 --> 00:06:40 was a dangerous religious rebel who needed to be quashed. It's pretty clear who they think is in control.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:47 They've got the army. They've got overwhelming force to crush any resistance. They've got the tools
00:06:47 --> 00:06:54 to hunt down Jesus. And so the temple police, the soldiers, the religious leaders, they've come full
00:06:54 --> 00:07:01 of swagger. They're going to hunt Jesus. They're going to suppress this rebellion. But Jesus, He knows
00:07:01 --> 00:07:08 what is going to happen. And John records a fascinating interaction between this giant army
00:07:08 --> 00:07:16 and this lone man. They've come to arrest Him in full force. But it's Jesus who leads the
00:07:16 --> 00:07:22 investigation and the arrest. He is the one that asks the questions. Have a look at verse 4.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:27 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:36 Who is it you want? Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. I am He, Jesus said. And Judas, the traitor,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:43 was standing there with them. When Jesus said, I am He, they drew back and fell to the ground.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:51 Jesus responds to their question with the divine I am. It's the words that God used to Moses
00:07:51 --> 00:07:59 to identify Himself. He's not just saying, I'm the guy you're looking for. He is identifying with God.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:06 He's saying, I am God. And this giant army that they've brought, who thought they were in control
00:08:06 --> 00:08:14 of the situation, is flawed. They literally fall to the floor before Jesus. Now, we don't know exactly
00:08:14 --> 00:08:19 what's going on here. We don't know why they've fallen to the floor. We don't know whether they've
00:08:19 --> 00:08:26 seen a glimpse of Jesus' true glory. Are they just responding to Jesus calling Himself God?
00:08:26 --> 00:08:31 It could have been a moment of realization about what they have come to do.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:38 These people who have heard the rumors that Jesus healed the sick, He raised the dead,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:46 He cast out demons, He preached with authority unlike anyone else, and they are here to arrest Him?
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 It stops them in their tracks.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:58 Those who have come with power and might and control are humbled before the Lord of the universe.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:05 This delegation representing the world comes forward to arrest Jesus, and Jesus offers Himself.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:16 And for one brief moment, it is like the world recognizes who He is and what they are about to do.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 But it is only for a moment.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 Jesus continues to lead this investigation. Again, He asks them,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 Who is it you want?
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 Oh, Jesus of Nazareth, they said.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 Jesus answered, I told you that I am He.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 If you were looking for me, let these men go.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 This happens so that the words He had spoken would be fulfilled.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 I have not lost one of those you gave me.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 Jesus focuses all the attention on Himself.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 Who are you here to arrest? It's me.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 Well, come on then.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 Come and get me. Arrest me.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 Leave these disciples here.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 Just take me.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 But Peter, one of the eleven disciples remaining,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 couldn't let them take Jesus so easily,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 so he pulls out a sword,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 and verse 11,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 Jesus commanded Peter,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 Put your sword away.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 Jesus' response is,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 it's not about fighting for control.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 Jesus knows what is happening.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 It seems that in this arrest,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 Jesus is the one who is in control.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 He is the one that is asking all the questions.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 The army is just there.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 He is leading the investigation.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 But Jesus reveals,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 He is not even the one who is in control.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 God the Father is the one who is in control.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 Jesus is in obedience to Him.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:50 Jesus is the one who will drink the cup the Father has given Him.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 And so Jesus is arrested.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 There is a sham of a trial that happens,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 and Jesus is crucified.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:03 It seemed like Jesus was in control,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:07 but He showed that He does not have control issues.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 He handed over control to God,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 and followed Him in full obedience,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 knowing what was going to happen.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 And so from this arrest,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 we see three things about Jesus and control.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 So first of all,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Jesus lets God be in control.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 Jesus knew what was going to happen.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 And the cross that He was going to,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 and He lets God be in control.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 Obeying God,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 and letting Him be in control,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 gives Jesus the confidence,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 and ability to lead this investigation and arrest.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 He goes out into the garden on His own,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 and faces down this daunting army.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 When faced with a situation like this,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 when it seems like the enemy is in control,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:58 the fight or flight response could have set in.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 You know the response that He could have fought like Peter?
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 Not with a single sword,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 but Jesus could have called down an army
00:12:05 --> 00:12:10 to crush this 600 strong army in opposition.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:15 If He felt the need to control the situation,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 He could have done that.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 He could have fled.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 He could have responded through fear.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 And the army came ready for Him to do that.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 But He just does something that is so different.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 Knowing God is in control,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 knowing God is sovereign,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 and knowing that what God plans happens,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 Jesus acts with full confidence in God,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 and walks out and says,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 here I am.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 Arrest me.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 He is willing to be arrested
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 so that He can drink the cup of wrath
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 that God has for Him.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 The wrath that all of us deserve.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 The second thing we're reminded about,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 about Jesus here,
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 is that Jesus sacrifices for those He loves.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:04 Even here, as He is being arrested,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 Jesus loves His followers.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 I imagine this scene,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 you've got the army on one side,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 you've got the garden,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:15 and you've got Jesus coming out of the garden.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 And He's shooing the disciples behind Him.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 You know, I've got this,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 like someone with little children
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 who are trying to escape out the front door
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 and run on the road.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 Jesus is defending His sheep.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 Get back, get back.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 Take me.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 Take me.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 Let them live.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 And really, it's a microcosm
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 of what He offers us.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 We are loved by Jesus.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 And He puts Himself in our place.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 And He willingly suffers
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 and dies for us to have life.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 It's a simple act of care for His disciples,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:54 but it shows His sacrificial love,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 even in His arrest.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 He is soon to go to the cross and suffer
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 and sacrifice for all the nations.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 But for these 11 men, He says,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 don't take them.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 I'm the one you want.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:11 The third thing we see about Jesus and control
00:14:11 --> 00:14:15 is that He obeys God in the garden.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:20 Unlike Adam and Eve that John read for us,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 Jesus obeys God in the garden.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 One of my favorite parts of this book of John
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 that we've been reading
00:14:27 --> 00:14:31 is that John has all of these references
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 to the garden.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 It's like they're Easter eggs in the story.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 It appears that John has deliberately written his book
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 to remind us of Genesis.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 You only have to think of the very start
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 of the book of John.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:50 Both Genesis and John start with,
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 in the beginning.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 And when John writes it,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:57 he just adds Jesus more clearly
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 into the creation account.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:02 This story here is reminiscent
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 of the Garden of Eden.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 In one sense, you've got Adam and Eve.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 They were perfect.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 And they are tempted and they sin.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 And when they do, they run and they hide
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 and they're fearful of God
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 and God goes searching for them
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 and He finds them.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 But Jesus totally flips this.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 Here Jesus is and He is in a different garden.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 And there is temptation around Him.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 He has a choice.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 Will Jesus sin like Adam and Eve?
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 Will He flee after He sins like Adam and Eve?
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 Or will He obey God
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 and stand out in the open?
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 Jesus isn't fearful.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 He doesn't blame anyone else
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 like Adam and Eve.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 He says, I am.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 I'm Jesus.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 I'm the one you're looking for.
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 And here it's not God searching for the people.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 It is God who comes out
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 to the people who are searching for Him.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 Jesus is the one who comes out
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 and says, here I am.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 There is no searching.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 Jesus comes out.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:14 He turns this garden scene
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 all on its head.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 He is preparing to fix
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 all the problems
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 that began on the day
00:16:21 --> 00:16:24 when sin entered into the world
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 in that garden.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 He is obeying God in the garden
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 when Adam and Eve didn't.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 He is making it so that God's garden
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 can spread once again
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 to not just be a garden
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 but to be a city
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 that we will all dwell in.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:44 So when it comes to Jesus
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 and the issue of control
00:16:46 --> 00:16:49 He hands His control over to God.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 He willingly self-sacrifices
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 and He obeys in the garden
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 so that we can come to the city.
00:16:58 --> 00:17:02 We learn some things about us
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 and control as well.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 It helps us to understand ourselves.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 The first thing that we learn about us
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 and people generally
00:17:11 --> 00:17:14 is that it's possible to acknowledge Jesus
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 without following Him.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 It's possible to acknowledge Jesus
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 without following Him.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 We saw the army's response
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 to Jesus' declaration
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 that He was God.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 They fell to their feet
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 when He identified as God
00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 but it didn't last long.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 It was long enough
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 to stop the army in their tracks
00:17:37 --> 00:17:40 before going ahead and arresting Him.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 Is it possible
00:17:42 --> 00:17:46 that we can say Jesus is Lord
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 without actually following Him as Lord?
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 Jesus warns against this in Matthew 7.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 Not everyone who says to me
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 But only the one who does the will
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 of my Father who is in heaven.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 There can be a moment of acknowledgement
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 that Jesus is Lord
00:18:06 --> 00:18:09 but that does not equal faith.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 We are people that have stopped
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 for one moment in our lives
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 and said that Jesus is Lord
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 instead of following Him
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 with our whole lives.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 The second thing we learn
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 about ourselves
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 is that we
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 are like those eleven
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 that Jesus sacrificed Himself for.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 Can you imagine
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 what it would have been like
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 in that moment,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 in that night,
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 in the middle of prayer,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 in the garden,
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 and a six,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 seven hundred strong army
00:18:39 --> 00:18:42 comes to arrest you
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and hunt you down.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:47 But Jesus stands in the way
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 and allows you
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 to flee,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 to escape,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 to have life.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 Take me instead.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 In a very real way,
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 that is who we are.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 We are the ones who,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 Jesus has said no to an army.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 It's not the army,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 but it's the wrath of God.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:10 God has said to the wrath of God,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 I have paid for these.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:18 I was sacrificed for these little ones here
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 at St. Paul's Chatswood.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 I sacrificed myself for you.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 I drank the cup of wrath
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 that God asked me to drink
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 to take your place.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 Now you can call God Father.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 We are not in control,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:37 but we need our Jesus
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 to sacrifice himself
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 to take our place.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 So we've seen how Jesus trusted God
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 with sovereign,
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 but the reality is
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 we struggle
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 and we fight for control.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 And yet,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 it was us that Jesus came
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 and sacrificed himself for.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 God is the one who is in control.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Jesus showed we can trust him.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 So I want to encourage us
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 to hand control over to God
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 in three ways.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 First of all,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 by admitting that we are not in control.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 Second,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 being aware
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 of what we try to control
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 and being aware of why
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 we try to control things.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 So first of all,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 we need to admit
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 that we are not in control.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 I think it's really easy for us
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 in life
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 to assume
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 that we are in control
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 and we have
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 the place we are in
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 because of us.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 I have this job
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 because of our,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 I have worked hard
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 and I've saved this money
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 and I am in this position
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 because of my hard work
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 and my effort.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 But the reality is
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 we don't have as much control
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 over these factors
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 as we think.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 God is the one
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 who has blessed us with health
00:20:51 --> 00:20:54 so that we can work.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 He is the one
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 who has uniquely gifted us.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 He is the one
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 who is sovereign
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 over whatever situation
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 we are in.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 If we have a job,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 it's because of God's
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 sovereign grace to us.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 If we are able to study
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 at school
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 or TAFE
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 or uni,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 it is because of God's
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 sovereign grace.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 The first thing
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 that we need to do
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 is we need to admit
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 that we are not in control
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 and that it's only God
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 who is in control
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 of all things.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 The second
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 is to be aware
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 of what we try
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 and control.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 All of us
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 have different control issues.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 I'm not sure
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 what you try
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and control
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 particularly.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 For some of us,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 it might be
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 an issue with money.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 We really
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 hoard our finances.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 We don't trust God
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 that He will continue
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 to provide
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 and so we hoard.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 For some,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 it might be
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 that we are really
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 concerned about
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 the image
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 we present.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 When Steve and I
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 were in the US,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 we put up a number
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 of Facebook photos
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 showing what we were doing.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 I'm not sure
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 if you saw any of those
00:22:04 --> 00:22:07 but I've had people say,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 it looks like you
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 had a really great time
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 over there
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 and it was
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 a wonderful time
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 but we all
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 have control issues
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 and we do this
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 with Facebook
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 and the way
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 we present ourselves.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 Steve and I
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 didn't post
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 photos of the night
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 we got into
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 a particular city
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 at 12am
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 and it was
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 minus 2 outside
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 and there was
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 bags under our eyes.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 Maybe I'll post
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 that photo
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 next time.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 Fear and anxiety
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 over the way
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 people view us
00:22:38 --> 00:22:41 leads to a control issue.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 To present
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 a fake image.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 Jesus had no issue
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 being arrested
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 by this giant mob
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 and hung
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 on a tree for us.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 He wasn't worried
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 about how it looked.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 Let me encourage
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 all of us
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 to embrace
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 the value
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 of humble authenticity.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 Not feeling
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 the need
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 to present
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 a fake
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 controlled image
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 that everything
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 is okay
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 but with humility
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 show our true face.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 Trusting that
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 God loves us
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 and that
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 you know what
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 at church
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 our brothers
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 and sisters
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 will love us
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 for who we really are
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 and God is working
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 to change us
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 as well.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 So we need to be aware
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 of what we
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 try to control
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 and what we want
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 to control
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 reveals
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 something
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 about us
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 as people.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 The things
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 we fight
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 to hold on to
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 shows
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 something
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 about our hearts.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 I was talking
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to someone
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 recently
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 about an injury
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 they had.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 She had fallen
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 and injured
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 her shoulder
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 and she couldn't
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 clean her house
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 as well as she wanted
00:23:54 --> 00:23:57 and you know
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 this might seem
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 like a joy
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 for those
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 who were always
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 cleaning
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 well I can't
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 clean
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 that's alright
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 but for her
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 it brought up
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 issues for when
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 she was younger
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 when her family
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 situation
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 wasn't ideal.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 She couldn't
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 control a lot
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 about life
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 around her
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 but she could
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 control her room
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 she could keep
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 that clean
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 and so it became
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 immaculately clean
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 and when she got a house
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 it became
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 immaculately clean
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 I have never seen
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 someone stoop down
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 and pick up so much
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 fluff off the ground
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 but now
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 because she was
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 injured
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 she couldn't
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 clean as much
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 and this was
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 causing her grief
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 the house
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 was clean
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 let me tell you
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 this house
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 was clean
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 you wouldn't
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 even realize
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 there was an
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 issue
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 but she had
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 an issue
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 of control
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 she felt
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 at peace
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 and in control
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 of her life
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 because her
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 house
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 looked a
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 certain way
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 but even if
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 the house
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 is clean
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 that is
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 that is not
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 peace
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 that is not
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 security
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 you can have
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 a clean house
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 and you can have
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 relationships that
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 are falling apart
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 you can have no
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 relationship with
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 God
00:25:08 --> 00:25:11 but that injury
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 that she got
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 helped her to
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 understand
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 where her need
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 for control
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 over the house
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 came from
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 the cleanliness
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 of the house
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 had become an
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 idol
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 that would give
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 a false
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 sense of security
00:25:23 --> 00:25:26 what are the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 things that you
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 are holding
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 very tightly
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 to
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 maybe they
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 don't reveal
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 deep problems
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 from your childhood
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 like this friend
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 maybe they
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 point to how
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 you are not
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 trusting God
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 that he is in
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 control of all
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 things
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 none of us
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 feel like
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 we are out of
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 control
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 none of us
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 like to feel
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 like we don't
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 have control
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 over the
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 situation
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 and we fight
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 and struggle
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 even just
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 to have that
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 false sense
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 of security
00:25:57 --> 00:26:00 Jesus
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 as we've seen
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 in John 18
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 knew what was
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 going to happen
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 and he handed
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 control over
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 to God
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09 we are not
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 safe
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 when we feel
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 we are in
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 control
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 we are safe
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 because we have
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 a God who is
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 sovereign over
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 all things
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 and he loves
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 to care for us
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 let me pray for us
00:26:20 --> 00:26:25 dear heavenly
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 father
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 thank you that
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 you have
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 reminded
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 us from
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 your word
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 today
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 that you
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 are the one
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 that is in
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 control
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 that not even
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 Jesus
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 was in
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 control
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 of what was
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 happening
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 but that he
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 handed control
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 over to you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Lord
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 father we ask
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 that we would
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 trust you
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 that we would
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 trust you
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 with every
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 moment of our
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 days
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 God help us
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 to
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 consider our
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 lives
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 and consider
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 the things
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 that are
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 very important
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 to us
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 and we must
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 hold
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 tightly to
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 Lord
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 father help us
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 to consider
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 our hearts
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 before you
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 and the things
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 that give us
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 a false sense
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 of security
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 father help us
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 to hand those
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 over to you
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 knowing that
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 it is only
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 you that are
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 in control
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 and that you
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 love us
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 and that you
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 take care of
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 us
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 and that you
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 will send
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Jesus back
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 to bring us
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 to be with
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 you
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 we ask all
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 this in your
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 son's name
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 amen