Chaos Under Control

Chaos Under Control

Revelation 20: Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the abyss and a heavy chain. ² He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent—that is, the Devil, or Satan—and chained him up for a thousand years. ³ The angel threw him into the abyss, locked it, and sealed it, so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set loose for a little while.

 

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After being dumped by a girl, I went to the apartment only to be met by a sheriff who gave me a summons for parking tickets. I sat down to take it all in when the phone rang. It was a creditor asking for money I did not have. I tried to go out to a party that night to take my mind off of my problems, but my car would not start!

 

• My life felt chaotic.
• Nothing seemed to be going “my” way.
• I had stopped following GOD, but a question came to my mind, “Don’t YOU see all these problems!?”

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw another angel who was given the power to lock Satan up for a thousand years. Chaos would be put under control for a thousand years. But then John was given a warning. “”he must be set loose for a little while.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD is so powerful, that he gave, even an angel, power over Satan.
• Satan’s chaos is seen, sentenced and will be done away with.
• One day, people will not be deceived into thinking of temporary solutions to solve problems.

 

You and I are being deceived and don’t even know it. Unfortunately we can be deceived and we have choices to make every day to do things GOD’s way or our own way. When we choose our own way, we run away from GOD and towards Satan’s deceit of a better life or temporary escape from life’s pain. BUT GOD sees his tactics.

 

There is no chaos that GOD does not see. HE holds order and is very methodical. Even the demise of Satan is calculated down to the minute. GOD sees, what you think is, chaos. In spite of what is going on GOD has the solution for you and me.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer’s description of Satan’s punishment?
• Have you ever felt like your life was in chaos and simply wanted it to stop?
• Will you hold onto your faith, knowing GOD is in control of any chaos you may perceive?

Life in Control

Life in Control

1 Peter 4: Since Christ suffered physically, you too must strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking that he had; because whoever suffers physically is no longer involved with sin. ² From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God's will and not by human desires. ³ You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols. ⁴ And now the heathen are surprised when you do not join them in the same wild and reckless living, and so they insult you. 

 

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After the party, I found a person passed out on my roommate’s floor. She had wandered into his room, missed the bed and fell on the floor. To make matters worse, she threw up under his bed. “Ugh!!” I screamed.

 

• I was getting tired of the temporary pleasure of partying.
• I was getting tired of the consequences of the way I was living.
• I was getting tired of my life being out of control and hinging out with people whose lives were just as out of control as mine.

 

Peter gives advice to those who believe in JESUS to “strengthen yourselves.” He observed that people were being beaten and jailed simply because they believed in CHRIST. He may have known that some would turn to some ways to get temporary relief from the world’s pressures by using the world’s pleasures for escape.

 

My Observations:

• My mindset has to be changed to follow CHRIST when times get hard.
• I need to follow CHRIST’s example and live a controlled life.
• I should expect people to insult me because I choose to live for CHRIST.

 

Being in control of my life seems hard. I mean, the world offers pleasures that appeal to the body physically. Sex, drugs, and alcohol seem to top the list of temporary problem solvers, with materialism creeping in as well. GOD wants me to act different.

 

HE knows the pleasures of this world will only distract me from focusing on HIM. HE provides a way for me to gain control of my out of control life. HE provides the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and you because of our belief in JESUS. I am glad GOD gives me a second chance daily.

 

Challenge

• What changes does the writer recommend?
• Have you ever gotten caught up in some of the world’s pleasures that you felt were wrong at first?
• Will you ask GOD for help getting self-control regardless of what people think of you today?

Chaos Contained

 

Chaos Contained

Colossians 1: ¹⁷ Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. ¹⁸ He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things.

 

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Running late, I hurried to get myself out the door. I grabbed whatever things I could remember for work and hastily jumped in the car. When I got to work, I reached for the computer and it wasn’t there.

 

• I had a chaotic morning that day.
• I hurried through my decisions and caused more chaos.
• I caused my own chaos and had to deal with the consequences of my actions.

 

In a world filled with chaos, Paul gives an assuring message. He spoke about JESUS existing before all things. Everything has its proper place in JESUS. HE is the source of life.

 

My Observations

• When the world gets chaotic, I can always turn to JESUS who brings all things into order.
• Knowing that JESUS existed before all things helps me put my current thing under HIM.
• Since JESUS overcame death, I can know that there is nothing too hard for HIM.

 

Chaos is scared of order. I mean, chaos wants randomness to create fear in my heart. The unknown gets bigger and bigger, causing me to move faster and faster into possible bad decisions. BUT GOD has a remedy for chaos.

 

JESUS is the head of the church, which is the group of those who believe in HIS resurrection. HE is the source of life for all who believe. All chaos can be brough to HIM in prayer and HE in turn will order our steps. I am glad HE is willing to take first place to bring peace to me.

 

Challenge

• What “things” does the writer speak of?
• Have you ever felt your life is out of control?
• Do you have a place to give your chaos?
• Will you bring your life into order by giving it to the one who existed before all things, namely JESUS today?

Looks Different

Looks Different

Acts 7: ⁹ “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him ¹⁰ and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. ¹¹ Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. ¹² But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. ¹³ And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. ¹⁴ Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. ¹⁵ So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers. ¹⁶ And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

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Headed to a party, I got excited over the music playing in the car. I sat in the back seat, dancing a little, looking forward to the festivities to come. A friend, who was driving, said “Something looks different.” We drove and drove. Soon my anticipation dance turned into boredom. We were lost, so we headed back.

• There have been times when I did not get a chance to do some things I probably should not have done in the first place.
• There have been times when I tried to go places I should not have been and things looked different.
• There have been times when I got lost because something was different than the path in my head.

Stephen continues with his discourse. He talked about Joseph’s history of being sold into slavery and delivered from many catastrophes by GOD. Stephen used this example for a purpose, to show how greatness looked different.

• GOD has a plan for me that looks different than the one I would choose.
• GOD has a plan for me that sometimes seems difficult but includes HIS great reward.
• GOD has a plan for me that seems like a field of obstacles, but HE is with me.

Greatness looks different to GOD. I mean when the obstacles are too big for me to remove and GOD removes them, I have to rejoice and tell people about HIM. Then, after a while, I realize HE removes the small obstacles I thought I was handling.

GOD’s power looks different than I could ever imaging. Each trouble I get into, I can see HIM there, suffering with me. The ONE who has infinite power, infinite wisdom and is everywhere, stops, sits and cries with me. HE then does something unexpected. HE raises me up at HIS time. I am grateful GOD’s greatness looks different than what I expect.

• Are you desiring something and everything seems to be going wrong?
• Do you think the situation has gotten the best of you and you have nothing left?
• Will you accept the fact that GOD loves you dearly and is with you, even through the difficult times, so HE can make you great in HIS way?

Boundless Freedom

John 3: ³ Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’

⁴ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’

⁵ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’

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Looking at the clock, I counted down the minutes. This was the last day of school and to top it off, I was graduating. So many thoughts raced into my mind as I contemplated what I would do with my “free” time. I was finally released from the oppression! Okay, well at least from school.

• Many times I dreamt of freedom.
• Many times I wished to be on my own.
• Many times I could not wait to be on my own schedule, doing my own thing.

Nicodemus was confused by the words of JESUS when HE said “You must be born again.” JESUS talked about being born of the SPIRIT, then HE likened this birth to the boundaries of the wind. No start and no end, the wind blows wherever it pleases.

• GOD wants me to be set free from human boundaries.
• GOD wants me to be able to see beyond obstacles.
• GOD wants me to be led by HIS SPIRIT instead of being driven by fear.

Being born again means I am a new creation. I am free from the boundaries I put on myself and from the chains other people try to throw on me. GOD becomes my leader and HE sends me wherever HE wants me to go, whenever HE chooses. Now the only constraint I have is GOD’s infinite power. I am glad to be free.

• What chains of control are you putting on people?
• Are you trying to measure your circumstance by what you can see?
• Will you allow GOD to lead you by HIS SPIRIT today so you can be connected to HIS endless power?

Overwhelmed

Mark 3: ⁷ But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea ⁸ and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. ⁹ So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. ¹⁰ For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. ¹¹ And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.

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With a troubled heart I woke in the middle of the night. Papers were due, bill collectors were calling, and my car was broken down. It was raining that day. I sneezed and my nose began to bleed. The episode seemed to last forever, but eventually gave way. I sat there overwhelmed.

• Sometimes I feel pressure.
• Sometimes I feel pressed on all sides.
• Sometimes I feel like so much is coming at me.

JESUS was literally overwhelmed with the crowds from all the surrounding cities. Word had spread about this healer and everyone wanted in on the action. JESUS understood their needs and healed them but HIS purpose was more than temporary healing.

• JESUS became a human to die for my sins.
• JESUS became a human so HE could be the sinless one to pay for my sins.
• JESUS became a human to empathize, sympathize and show compassion for me.

The people who surrounded JESUS did not understand HIS purpose at the time. Demons wanted to reveal HIS true purpose probably to throw people off, for if they knew HE was and is GOD they may not have killed HIM.  JESUS withdrew by boat to continue on HIS true journey.

HE understands when I get overwhelmed, in fact HE expects it. HE knows just how much I can handle and HE sends relief at just the right time. JESUS is my Savior on earth and eternity.

• Are you overwhelmed?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Can you take a moment to slip away and take a break so you can return rejuvenated to serve CHRIST?

The ONE WHO IS

Amos 4: ¹³ He who forms the mountains,
    who creates the wind,
    and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
    and treads on the heights of the earth—
    the Lord God Almighty is his name.

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Perplexed and nervous, I felt I had nowhere to turn. It seemed like my wits were at their end and I could not see how to get out of the snare I was in. I was sick of being of where I was but too tired to climb out or the hole I was in. “Will I ever graduate” was the thought.

• Sometimes I am sick of where I am in life.
• Sometimes I am tired of where I am in life.
• Sometimes I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!

One reason for my exhaustion is I had nothing to guide me at the time. I mean people gave me a good reason for going to college but never filled in the blanks specifically for me. I struggled wondering if this trial would ever be done. Since then there have been other trials that went even longer. No matter how much intellect I would throw at my problem, I could not get out. Who can help during these times?

• GOD says to me “I formed the mountains and created the winds.”
• GOD says to me “I reveal my thoughts to you.”
• GOD says to me I turn dawn to darkness and tread on the heights of the earth.”

What GOD is saying to me is HE IS in total control of my life. There nothing too hard or too big for HIM. HE sends difficulties in my life to get my attention. HE wants me to turn totally to HIM, seeking HIM daily. GOD wants total acceptance of where HE has me. HE deserves praise daily with a song on my lips. Instead of bringing HIM down, I raise HIM up to be GOD in my life!

• Are you going through something?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Can you stop looking at your success and start looking at GOD’s mighty power!
• Will you turn your face to GOD today?