Who Is in Control?

Everywhere there is no place where you are not your omnipotent your all-powerful is no one who can stop you or stay your hand you perfectly just. You always do right. You're perfectly merciful you care like we can't begin to imagine your perfect love. You prove that by the cross, you are holy God like perfect in your being. Today we look at your sovereignty weight. May we be well by may we be motivated to trust you more. May we also realize that your sovereignty does not diminish our responsibility. Maybe walk out of this building today rejoicing that our God is God boards and the precious and holy name of Jesus that we pray.

Amen. You may be seated in Hebrews chapter 11, the Scripture encourages us to emulate the faith of the Old Testament men of God. Men like Tina and no one and a and and Abraham and Moses. We are to have courage like David, we are to have faith like Daniel, we are to pray like a lot but there's a problem for these men are good role models, but they're not perfect role models. Because these men are fallible. They were born with the sin nature just like you and just like me and there being is tainted with sin.

And so what are we to do. We are to move on from the two are perfect role model who is the Lord Jesus Christ. I love the way that Paul says that he said imitate me as I imitate Jesus and then in Romans chapter 8 verse 29 eight tells us that it is God's will for us to be conformed into the image of Christ with their other biblical people, but we are told urgently avoid people like Dimas Dimas was on the ministry team of Paul and he left the ministry. He left Paul and he left Christ. The Scripture says, the reason was that he loved this present world in Luke chapter 17 verse 32 Jesus told us to remember lots wife and emit that in a negative sense because lots wife is the one who disobeyed God turned around and longingly look back toward Sodom. Wishing that Sodom was not being destroyed and the Lord turned her into a pillar of salt and then probably at the top of that list is none other than Judas Iscariot the man who betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver. And Jesus said it would been better for that man if he had never been born in second Samuel chapter 15 we see another biblical example from the Old Testament of one that we need to urgently avoid in that man's name is a hippo fail. It was kind of a counterpart to Judas Iscariot in the New Testament in John chapter 13 in verse 18 Jesus quoted from Psalm 41 and verse nine and Jesus said that this will was a prophecy that he would be betrayed and the way he describes it is like this, you ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me now was David who wrote Psalm 41 and when the spirit of God inspired David to write that great Psalm fee. He inspired him took to prophesy about the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. A thousand years before it happened. But he had a personal example in his present life at that time that perfect gift that present example was none other than this man a hippo fail fail was a wicked man.

He wanted David.

David was actually the grandfather of Bathsheba and Absalom had canceled long anger raising conversations with the hippo fail. Stoke the resentment and hit the fails heart toward David. It said look what David is done to you and your family. He has he has disgraced you. He is taken, your granddaughter, and he has used her for his own sexual gratification. Theist forced her to commit adultery. And then he had her husband Uriah the Hittite murder in order to cover every sin is brought this price on your family. I have failed and hit the fail became very resentful of David and it was not just a frustration against David, but he actually wanted him dead.

I was going on here Absalom. The Scripture tells us is stolen away the hearts of Israel from his dad David. Absalom wanted the throne of Israel until he gathered together a great army he's going to go to war against David, because he wants that thrown so bad he wants to take it from his dad.

He wants to be the king of Israel. But is it not amazing what political power does to people. People will steal. They will live. They will even keel to gain political power and that which was true then may even be more true today will therefore points that I will share with you today .1 is daily counsel. Look at verses 1 to 4. Moreover, hippo fail said Absalom let me choose 12,000 million and I will arise and pursue David tonight I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and frightened into a panic and all the people are with them willfully. I will strike down only the King and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband using the life of only one man and all the people will be at peace and the advice seem right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel. This man a hippo field is a legend in his own time. In fact the Scripture even tells us that people were equating the wisdom with the hippo fail with the wisdom of God's amazing statement we see it in second Samuel chapter 16 verse 23 says that in those days the Council that hippo fail. Gay was his. If anyone consulted the word of God, so is all the Council of the hippo fail esteemed both by David and by Absalom, brothers and sisters that trust people you hit the fail was a wise man, and they believe that his decisions were trustworthy decisions. So here hippo fail is telling Absalom what Debbie said you need to gather together 12,000 troops in those 12,000 troops are to go out and they are to to find David and they are to kill David.

He tells them that this is not a situation where there just to go out and start a war and kill all of the Israelites.

None none not at all the while, Absalom is hiding later to kill David and then Absalom can take the throne of Israel. Roger Ellsworth said this way. He said this was very wise for several reasons. First, it would've taken advantage of time when David and his men were most vulnerable when they were both physically and emotionally exhausted. Secondly, it focused on the crucial crucial issue with the fail and you that if David were killed opposition to Absalom would quickly melt away in the nation would unite around and you King thoroughly protected Absalom from any possibility of being killed in battle. This council was enthusiastically embraced by Absalom and the elders hippo fail was an evil man that looked as if he had won the day.

This was a brilliant brilliant plan and Absalom bought into it and he wanted to implement it immediately.

Hippo fail new David whale in you that David at this point in time was mentally depressed physically and emotionally. Absolutely exhausted, and he knew that David's men would look at David and they would see him in the state and that would cause them to be wary and hesitant to file if they could attack it not.

They could get David's me on the run.

Then they could kill David and if they could kill David the rest of it would be a piece of cake and if they could kill David the people who had already had their hearts went over to Absalom would embrace Absalom and Absalom would immediately become the new king of Israel.

One thing hippo fail and not considered and that was divine intervention second Samuel chapter 15 verse 31 says this it was told David a hippo fail is among the conspirators with Absalom and David said, oh Lord, please turn the Council of the hippo fail into foolishness.

What did David do here. The first thing that he did was to pro what a novel approach for what grade I there were things pop up in our life and all these problems that we would first of all print James chapter 4 verse two.

James, the half-brother Jesus said, you have not because you ask not. Why is it that we act like prayers, the last resort of a problem pops up in our life. We start thinking about it was a wealth I can implement this strategy or I can put in this program. Right can do this I can do that and would none of that works. Finally, was at well I guess it's time to print what we do that, why don't we pray first, which we ought to pray first because the one that we are praying to has the answer to all of our prayers. If it was smart. He was a great strategist. He had a great plan by all human reasoning it should have worked, but David said the first thing that I'll do is pray. All right.

Secondly .2 daily counsel sovereignly overthrown.

Look at verses five through 14 then Absalom said call who shot our kite also let us hear what he has to say and when the shot came to Absalom.

Absalom said to him, this is a hippo fail spoken. Shall we do as he said, if not you speak in the shall said Absalom. This time the Council that hippo fail is given is not good push.

I said you know that your father and is me undermining me in and that they are enraged like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field side. Your father is an expert in war he will not spend the night with the people all even now he's hidden himself in one of the pitcher and some other place as soon as some of the people followed his first attack never hears it will say there's been a slaughter among the people you follow Absalom that even the valiant man whose heart is like the heart of the line will utterly melt with fear for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man is those who are with him are vying at me and my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you from Dan to Beersheba as the sand by the sea for multitude that you go to battle in person. So we shall come upon him and someplace where he is to be found. We shall light upon him is the default on the ground and nothing of it.

All the people with the not one will be left if he withdraws into a city that all Israel will bring ropes to that city. We shall drag it into the valley till, not even a pebble is to be family or Absalom at all the men of Israel said the counselor who shot our kite is better than the Council of hippo fail for the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of the hippo fail so that the Lord might bring harm up and Absalom having all that happened to go back to second Samuel 15. Look at verses 32 to 37 before shimmy got a phone that he'll curse David the rocks of the end we saw last week, and before I get the fail even came up with this plan, the Scripture says that David praying. And what did he pray. Oh Lord, please turn the Council of the hippo fail into foolishness.

The Lord led David to a certain man. His name was the shop and he gave him direction on what to do second Samuel 15 verse 32, 37 sales while David was coming to the summit where God was worshiped hold who shot our kite came to meeting with his coat torn and dirt on his head. David said to him, if you go on with me you will be a burden to me. But if you return to the city and say to Absalom I will be your servant of King's I've been your father servant in times past. So now I will be your servant.

Then you will defeat for me. The Council of the hippo fail are not Sadock, and a bath are the priest with you. They are so whatever you hear from the king's house till it does. They talking about are the priest hold her two sons are with them there, has Sadock Sonny Johnson about our son and by the unusual sin to me. Everything you hear. So they shot. David's friend came into the city. Just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem, good gracious, how did David know how to to direct push to give counsel to Absalom's men that would totally negate this great counsel.

This great plan that hippo fail to come up with is the answer. The sovereign Lord of this universe led David to do it people we don't pray like we all because we forget how great and have big and have glorious and our wise and how all-knowing our God really use listening hippo fails.

Counsel was excellent and of Absalom and his top military man me and I carried out that plan that David could have been killed and then they would just ushered Absalom right on to the throne. Absalom and his officers listen to the shop they listen to him, and guess what push us plan sounded better today.

I'm then I have the fails plan now what was that his plan was not a better plan. In fact, it was the worst plan wanted, they follow it. Why did they reject the instruction of one of the wisest men in all of Israel would give her 17 for the Lord second Samuel 17 verse 14 for the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of the hippo fail so that the Lord might bring harm up and Absalom listen, if you're here today and you doubt the sovereignty of God, and you think you're in control.

You think you're calling the shots and you think that you're gonna make things happen. Think again. Think again folks take your PM right now and throw a big circle around second Samuel 17 team and if you got a highlighter yellow highlighter boy and highlight commit this verse to memory, don't ever forget this verse the Lord ordained to defeat the good counsel of the hippo fail. It didn't matter how great a plan to get the fail plan, God was not going to allow it to succeed so they shall begin to speak Absalom. It is me and you help that David was a mighty warrior and sweats will begin to play elements. I love shall begin to play only is it you remember this David is this is the David when he was 17 years old, took the challenge to go out and fight Goliath when nobody else in Israel would take anyone out with nothing but a slingshot in Estonia to kill the chai and he cut his head off. The Philistine warrior any, did he mean he became Israel's greatest military strategist at one group of people after another coming to 5 PM the Philistines and the Amorites and the Amalekites and all these came to fight against David and David defeated them all. They drop like flies were David's and now David's mighty men, they were absolutely enraged and Absalom's rebellion. They are mad they are raised in in there there just waiting for an attack. And if you do what I have the fill is telling you to do, then you can rest assure your plan right into their hands and they will kill Absalom. They will destroy his followers. Now what and who shot just doing.

He put fear in the hearts of Absalom and his minion but steers debilitating fear is powerful. Fear is will manipulate your thinking. That's why God says Paul in second Timothy chapter 1 verse seven for God is not given us a spirit of fear but of power, of love in the sand mine, who shot his argument was much weaker than hit the fails but wonder of wonders, Absalom and his men fell for it, they fell for it hook line and sinker.

Why was there was this just good fortune.

No stroke a lot. No, it was a sovereign move of God.

Folks do we appreciate what were seeing in these verses what we see in this verse 14.

Is this if God intervenes, all hail King stopped and we need to know that we need to stand on and we need to live like it's true that a month ago I received an email from Rick Harper.

He and his family were in Colorado at the time they were in preparations. They were working doing some things to get ready to move to the in Austria where he is currently working for up a missionary group call search and they were already there were all excited about going.

The plan was they were to leave in the middle of July, Rick sent me this email and he said that the Austrian government all of a sudden sent them a message. They certainly weren't expecting saying that we need all kinds all kinds of information that you not given us yet and they had asked for you any. So we need this document.

This document that document and your children need to be learning the German language, we gotta know are they doing this it they wanted all this information. I follow my goodness they are not to be able to go to at least when they wanted to go this thing's going to be put on hold and is no telling when they'll be able to go. I started wondering about which Rick and he can't force the issue. He can't make it happen. PS the power of the Austrian authorities is not even there to plead his case. What can Rick do you authorities causing this trouble they don't care about written his family.

I don't care about the mission, they don't care about God. They just have power, I prayed about it that day and at the end of the day.

I sent Rick an email and I wanted to read you the email that I sent Rick Esser dear Rick, I'm reading a book on spiritual warfare and author quoted first Thessalonians 218 Paul said we wanted to come to you, but Satan hindered us.

Paul doesn't say by what means Satan opposes and undermines missionary endeavors, but we may assume he disrupts travel plans or works on the minds of state officials to delay or deny the issuing of visas. We are never helpless when Satan attacks like Paul we must turn to prayer and ask God for sovereign intervention. That is what we must do so.

What happened Wednesday week ago middle of July. Exactly when they plan to go, they went to start their ministry in Vienna, Austria. That deep sinking feeling that I had when I got that email just timely dissipated, and I thought to myself. We pray more. Why don't we trust the Lord. Why don't we focus on who God really is. But it's God is God cases, there is none like me that there is there is none like me there at the there. There is no other.

There's nothing that I God can't do except sin will share with you several verses I want to just take a moment and meditate on these verses that just make us realize how strong our God is Job 42 verse two. I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Ephesians 111 in him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the Council of his wheel is a 46 913 remember the former things evolve. For I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient times, things not yet done say in my counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose. Daniel 434 335. At the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me and I blessed the most high and praised and honored him who lives forever for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted is nothing he does. According to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say to him what have you done Proverbs 16 nine. The heart of man plans his ways but the Lord establishes his stamps some hundred 35 or six whatever the Lord pleases. He does in heaven and on earth and the seas and all the duties look at the evil in our world today little children in elementary school being told that they can choose their gender dependent on how they feel today what garbage I think of the high school girls today that are being told. Abortion is just another form of birth control. I think it was going on in China.

Now the great military buildup that we see in China. I think of of of America right now, and in our government's attitude and just staying for true law and order, and it makes me wonder where we headed. Is there any hope. Can God handle this mess. This passage says yes it says he can and in his time and in is what he will.

But I love America. Pray for America. I want emeritus America to succeed, but my hope is not in America. My hope is in Christ, and Christ has said emphatically that this is the one thing that will not fail and that is his true church. He said on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He did say that about America.

America may not stand. I hope that it does. I hope that it will succeed. I hope that there will be revival of the I hope that God will turn this nation around.

I don't know if he will not but I know these the church of Jesus Christ will stand forever .3 human responsibility. Look at verse 15 through 16.

Michelle said as they talking about are the priest blessed and so did Hitler fail counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel and thus and so have I counsel now therefore send quickly and tell David do not steak tonight in the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over with the king and all the people who are within be swallowed up fish. I convinced Absalom and his followers to go with the point his plan that that then David and his men started carrying the plan I helped and there was to me and Jonathan, I asked, what spies they went on ahead into a little city called the Harlem and they ended up being seen and so they had to hide. They went down into a whale and they were able to get David across the, the, the, the Ford and move on and and get where he needs to be so that he would be safe. But what I see with these men.

Was this they were responsible and they worked hard when Rick and and Harper got in use last month that that look like they might be detained might not be able to go first thing they did was pray with anyone else they did. They worked and I got busy. They got those documents together. I got the information that they work the and asked again. I started even hurrying up the process of teaching the kids the German language is here. Here's is what they did, they trusted God's sovereignty and they carried out the responsibility of the God given listen God's sovereign control of all things does not mean that you and I can live recklessly. The Bible teaches that God sovereignly elects his people. What is that mean it got sovereignly Lexis peoples that mean I have no responsibility, no does not mean that I have responsibility to pry.

I have the responsibility to witness.

I have a responsibility to get the word of God into the hearts of people who don't know Jesus because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Roger Ellsworth in this passage the inlays before us the balance in dealing with evil God's sovereignty and I responsibility many of God's people seem to forget the first part of that equation. They leave God out. They become either panicky or gloomy and despondent.

They think everything depends on us and they do not see the church having the strength to stand against the others. Take exactly the opposite view that the strong view of God's sovereign control and they sit back and they do nothing talk about Christians acting responsibly nicely which justly things to God the right way to respond.

Evil is not to choose between these two options but to embrace both of them. We must certainly trust God to be working behind-the-scenes to control evil, but we must also not hesitate to cope with evil by speaking the message of God is who shot the and by devotedly serving God is all David's friends served him is no doubt that who shabbily strongly in the sovereignty of God, but nowhere do we get the idea that this responsibility was not important. Nowhere does the site really matter what I do because God's already made his decision on the he said I see what I am. I am an instrument in God's hands.

1986 I began to come to an understanding of God's sovereignty over all things.

It was life-changing for me changed everything changed how I believed about ministering and pastoring and being a witness realized that at that point in time that I was pretty much just a little thing. I couldn't save anybody. I couldn't. I didn't have the power I didn't have the wisdom I didn't have the ability to save anybody but I could be God's instrument.

I can preach and I can witness I can pray I can be a friend I can do those things, but could I make it happen. No, I can't make it happen. I come to realize the is all I am is a FedEx man.

All I can do is deliver the package. The fourth point is the certainty of judgment. Look at verse 23 when I fail Saul that his counsel was not quality said, saddled his donkey, he went off home design city. He said his house in order and hanged himself and he died and he was buried in the tomb of his father when if it fails, counsel was rejected. He committed suicide, and why did he do that. Was it a pride initiating did he feel so unloved and so rejected that he said well I'm amazed would just kill myself. I don't think so. I think that he knew that the Shah's plan was gonna backfire and that he knew that Absalom was going to be keeled and not only that Absalom was going to be keeled, but that David was good Melia. David was going to continue to be the king, and he knew that David nail would probably take him charge him with treason take them off and and have him execute.

I don't think Absalom I don't think I hit the fail was a man of God. I don't think he knew the Lord. I think he was a man that just believe that when you die, you cease to exist.

So I said I'll go ahead now and I'll take my life. That way I will have to deal with all the pain and the embarrassment of an execution. So that's what I'll do. And that's what he did to. But little did he know that death would not in his misery. Little did he know that it would create an eternal misery for him. Inhale that would never cease. We have people in America that are committing suicide every single day in this nation and why do they do that because they think this way. They say I'm to unit all I'm gonna stop the us in all my pain will be ended, bugs they are dead wrong dead wrong. Listen to what Revelation chapter 20 verse 14 to 15 says, dealing with the destiny of those who reject Christ, then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second day at the lake of fire and if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. This should be a reminder to all of us. This life is not all there is to it. But this world is not our home were just passing through our lives are like a little vapor little puppet theater here and before you realize it they're gone. So if you're here today and you're not a Christian and you're here today and you're not sure about where you get to spend eternity. Can I give you this encouragement would you run to Christ. Would you trust him by faith, would you turn from your sin and submit to the Lordship of Jesus after Christian today.

What should you do. The Scripture tells Christians that whatever we do, were to do the glory of God.

That's where we should be headed.

That's what I like to be about, and I want you to know this, that our faithfulness and our love to God will follow us glory was probably heavenly father. What a humbling passage of Scripture we doing with the day it forced me to realize that I really don't trust you like I should. You took an extremely intelligent man's wise counsel and you brought it to nothing more. No one can stay your mighty hand.

No one can go one step further than you have ordained father. We read this in the Scripture we say yes and amen the problem crops up in our life we go right back to our devices. We go right back to scheming and plotting and depending on sale. Please take the word of God today and use it to changes. Help us to go to prayer is our first resort and not a last option. And when we pray, help us to realize the magnitude of your greatness and glory for its in the precious and holy name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. You stand with me as he responds point to the truth with heard in an all in coming worth singing I get ready go on vacation she's forced me to go and so will be gone next week. Eugene the preacher next Sunday and Eugene's preachings is not preaching sermon from Psalm 73 reorientation sure this can be a blessing us of the year for that. If you can. In closing, let me encourage you with these words. Fear not rhyme with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand in all God's children said