The Spirit of Control and its Consequences

SCRIPTURE: Rev. 16:8-11

⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. ⁹ They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

¹⁰ The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony ¹¹ and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

OBSERVATION: I am always amazed when I read these verses. The people know it is God judging them. They know He has control over what is happening and yet they willfully refuse to repent and glorify God. Instead they curse Him. They would rather suffer torment than submit to God. It is the height of hubris and stubbornness.

APPLICATION: More and more often I am running into people like this. It used to be a rare thing to meet people who hated God. But there are people around who worship their own ability to control their lives more than anything else. The idea of a God, even if He proves Himself real, that would demand submission is hateful to them. They would rather suffer than give up control of their lives. I think many of them don't realize that they are under the control of Satan. They think themselves free, but they have believed a lie. Satan is very willing to give people what they want in order to gain ultimate control. (Remember he offered Jesus the whole world when he tempted Him in the desert; Jesus only had to bow to Satan to obtain anything man could ever dream of having. The thread that ran through every temptation was the question of whether He would take control of His own life from His Father). The spirit of control is a dangerous thing and I must fight it. I must freely choose to let God be in control of my life.

PRAYER: Father, sin really boils down to taking control of my life from You and handling it all myself. You gave us the power to choose to serve You or to go our own way. I give You my life; all of it. I know that when I control things, I mess them up. My old nature still fights to rule and reign, but I have chosen to give You the control of my life. I must make that choice daily in order to live it out. You love me and have my best interest at heart. Have Your way in me, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen