God’s Believe It or Not – In Control

Today was the second week of God’s Believe It or Not.  The service today focused on the fact that God is “In Control.”   If you don’t know this about North Side yet, everything this morning was trying to lead you to that thought.  It is this type of journey we try to take you through.  Instead of just picking out a few favorite songs, we try to get you thinking about the topic from the get go.  Look for it.  We think we can teach less for more by getting you to focus on one thing and focus on it well.

This is a very hard theological theme to grasp.  Sure our head comprehends it, but our hearts fight against it.  Does God really have the whole world in his hands?  Cause if he does, then why am I having to deal with…

That’s normally the tension.

JobJob had that tension too.  This is what happened at the end of his story recorded in the Bible:

1-6 Job answered God: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything.
Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water,
ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking.
Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!
I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.” (The Message)

Job wanted it all to work out in his head, but when he came into contact with God, he understood he will never understand.  We aren’t intended too.  We have to learn how to trust.

Jeff introduced this one thought that I am still trying to get over: “Hey Satan, have you considered my servant, Jeff?”  Job trusted God, but also God trusted Job, that he would glorify him no matter what happened.  I wonder if God has ever trusted me – believed in me – that no matter what happened, I would still follow God.

I wonder if my name is ever brought up.  Not that I particularly want anything bad to happen to me, but would I be prepared to pass the test?

If you want to listen to the sermon again, or you didn’t get to today, you can listen to it here.

It was great to have the Submerge band to lead in worship this morning.  I always struggle with whether or not to do that.  None of us had any voices left and were really tired, but it was great to be able to lead with the last bit of “umph” we had left.  I love worshiping with our family.   These are the songs we worshiped to:

  • Blessed Be Your Name – Matt Redman
  • Salvation is Here – Hillsong United
  • Immanuel – Travis Agnew
  • Came to My Rescue – Hillsong United
  • How Great is Our God – Chris Tomlin

Next week, we are investigating another huge claim of Scripture: that you can have an overshadowed past.  Don’t miss it!  The gospel is going to roll all over you!

Believe it or not – God is in control.