Is God Really In Control? | Week 2 | Aug 9, 2020 | Scott Gossenberger

GOD IS NOT PREPARING THE PATH FOR YOU; HE IS PREPARING YOU FOR THE PATH.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

• Every problem is an opportunity in disguise.

7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to
torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

HOW CAN WE, LIKE PAUL, EXPERIENCE HARDSHIP BUT COME OUT OF IT STRONGER?

• Don’t give up on God’s intervention. (2 Corinthians 12: 7-8)

THE ABC’S OF GROWING STRONG WHEN LIFE SEEMS OUT OF CONTROL.

• Acknowledge my weakness. (“boast…about my weakness”)

• Believe in the sufficiency of God’s grace. (“My grace is sufficient”)

• Concede to the Holy Spirit. (“power is made perfect in weakness”)

WE WERE NEVER MEANT TO CONTROL OUR WORLD, OUR ENVIRONMENT, OR OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. INSTEAD, GOD WANTS TO EMPOWER US TO OVERCOME… TO GROW STRONG IN OUR FAITH.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

Not conformed, but transformed.