School of the Prophets - Lesson 06

by Dr. Ray Self


 



Who is in Control?



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Who is in Control?

Matthew 4:18 - 20 - Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Principles we can gain from the above scripture are:

  • Jesus noticed ordinary people and called them.
  • He did not tell them much but simply asked them to follow him.
  • The disciples followed not knowing where they were going.


We like to be in control. We want to know where we are going. We want to know what is going to happen when we get there. We want to know how much time it is going to take and how much it is going to cost. We want to have it all figured out in order to feel safe and secure. If you are able to accomplish that there may be a sense of security but it's based on your own ability which is going to be shaky at best.

The problem is centered on the issue of control. Who is going to be in control?

Satan began the problem in Genesis 3:5 - "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Man accepted the devil’s offer in a vain attempt to be like God and be in control. This natural desire to know everything that is going to happen and have it all figured our began in the Garden of Eden.

Our flesh wants to have answers in advance in order to feel in control. Being in control gives a person a false sense of security.

If we are in control then faith and trust in God are not necessary. This is a trap.

God requires faith and trust. Faith is tested when we do not know the answers but believe that God does.

Faith is tested when we step out and do something that our natural self could not do.

Taking a leap of faith should be a everyday occurrence for Christians.

Jeremiah 31:33 - "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,"declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people"

The new covenant changed all the rules for God's people. Up to this point in biblical history everything concerning God’s requirements had been external. There were written rules and regulations that everyone had to obey. There were procedures and traditions. Everyone knew what to expect. In the new covenant that Jeremiah was prophesying about God said He would write His requirements within our heart. Within our heart is where the Holy Spirit now lives. God's requirements for the new covenant are found by allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control.

Romans 8:4 - so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

There is a battle between our natural man, our flesh and the spirit of God within our heart.

Our natural self was to be in control. If we know what's going happen and can predict it we feel safe because then we have a sense of control. However there is a big problem with this type of life - Romans 8:5 – 6 - For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

It is actually a life and death problem.

When we are led by the Spirit and have faith and trust in God, He will do things within us that are beyond our control.

In other words God wants us to be out-of-control and for Him to be in control.

This can be terrifying to many people because control to them equals safety and security.

Believing in God and trusting Him when it doesn't make sense to us can be scary.

But the more we do it the more we will see that what God's plans and what He wants to do is Better, greater and bigger than anything we can imagine. Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

God is asking us to let go of control. Stop trying to figure it all out and let Him take charge.

It is important and prophetic ministry that we let go of self-control and move into the realm of God control.

There is no other way to please God other than faith - Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Faith involves trusting when things don't make sense and believing when you cannot see the end result. Faith is about believing that God has a better plan. Faith is about believing that God will not let you down. Faith means believing that you can trust Him when you step into areas that you know you have no natural ability to do. Faith requires you to be out of control.

This takes practice and trial and error. The more you do it the less your fear will be.

The apostle Paul defined what it means to be a Christian. - Romans 8:14 - For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Prophetic ministry should be a 100% Holy Spirit led ministry. No one is perfect at this but it should be a goal to continually improve. Our vision should be to be more and more out of control by allowing the Holy Spirit to be more and more in control.

Allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control will make you uncomfortable at first but as time goes by and you see the results you'll wonder why you didn't do this before.

Study Questions:

  1. Give a least five principles from Matthew 4:18 – 20
  2. What is the problem with trying to be like God as mentioned in Genesis 3:5?
  3. Explain the meaning of Jeremiah 31:33.
  4. Define being led by the Spirit and the practical application.