Life.Church with Craig Groeschel - Stop Controlling That | Been There | Part 1

Episode Date: April 9, 2023

Are there areas of life you’re constantly trying to control? In Proverbs 3:5, the Bible tells us to trust in the Lord with all of our heart. But how is that possible? In this Easter message, we’re learning how to give up the illusion of control and trust God. ABOUT THIS MESSAGEHave you ever been hurt by a friend? Jesus has. Maybe you feel like God isn't listening? Jesus knows what that’s like. No matter what you’re facing, Jesus understands because He’s Been There.NEXT STEPSHave you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what’s next on your journey. We want to help! Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://www.life.church/nextCONNECT WITH A PASTORDo you need prayer? Would you like to find out how you can get involved at Life.Church? One of our pastors would love to meet with you. Schedule a video call with a pastor: https://www.life.church/meetwithusABOUT LIFE.CHURCHWherever you are in life, you have a purpose. Life.Church wants to help you find your next step. Our hope is that your journey will include joining us at a Life.Church location throughout the United States or globally online at https://www.live.life.churchFind locations, videos, and more info about us at https://www.life.church or download the Life.Church app at https://www.life.church/appFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/life.churchInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/life.churchTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifechurchYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LCNowCONNECT WITH PASTOR CRAIGYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/craiggroeschelFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/craiggroeschelInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/craiggroeschelTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@craiggroeschel#lifechurch #craiggroeschel Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I wonder how many of you have some area of your life that you're always trying to control. Would you raise your hand right now? Some area of your life you're always trying to control. Now, if you find yourself trying to raise the hand of the person sitting next to you, I'm talking directly to you, I'm coming for you today. Because most of us, we have some area of life that we like to control. Now, if you really like to control, you don't like to admit that you like to control it because you like to be in control of other people's opinion of you. And so you'll say, I'm not controlling. And then you'll say things like, I'm just aggressively helpful.

Or I'm just thoroughly organized. Now, listen, you are so controlling you make coffee nervous. I just want to say it right now. And you can see it on Easter weekend because you get everything the way you want it. You know, we're going to go to Easter Turks and you're going to look perfect. And we're going to have matching outfits. And whenever you hunt for eggs, you're going to just be. so cute so we can get the picture and then we end up running late for church and so we tell you to

shut up get in the car we're going to worship Jesus and then you're going to love it all for the glory of God you can be controlling some of you may have been there what I want you to do for a moment is I want you to think about what you try to control the most if there's anything in your life that you try to control what is it for you it might be your schedule We're going to do this at this time, and nobody's getting in the way of my schedule. Somebody is elbowed, the person sitting next to them. No elbowing in this sermon, okay? For some of you, it might be your money.

We're going to pay this off or have this much, and this is what we're going to do. For some of you, you're literally trying to control people in your life. I'm going to control them and make them get in line. I'm going to control my kids. Some of you, you're trying to control people's opinions of you. You spend all your time trying to show the image, your house looks a certain way, your Instagram page looks this way. I want to control what you think of me.

Others of you, it might just be your environment. Everything has a place and an order, and if you come into my house, you better take your shoes off, and don't even breathe in certain rooms of the house, because you're trying to be in control of something. Now, what I want to tell you may be a little bit difficult for you to hear, but I want you to hear it. Your need to control, it might show one of your biggest areas of spiritual vulnerability, because what you attempt to control the most often reveals where you trust God the least. Let me say it again, because I'm coming for you this Easter weekend. whatever it is that you try to control the most,

it often reveals where you trust God the least. Because when you don't trust God in some area of your life, what do you do? You try to control that area. But when that area is out of control, the more you can't control it, the more you try to control it. But the more you try to control it, you actually trust God even less than you did before. And so today what I want to do is I'm going to look at God's word. to show you how Jesus, just like you, could have been tempted to control. But Jesus chose surrender over control.

We're going to be in Matthew's Gospel, Matthew chapter 26, and the context, this was after the last supper, and Jesus was in the Garden of 70, and Scripture tells us this in the Bible, Matthew 26, verse 36, then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gisemone, the place of the crushing. And he said to them, sit here while I go over there and pray. He was about to go to the cross and he knew it was coming. So he spent the entire night praying to his father in heaven. Scripture says this. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. The Bible goes on to say, then he said to them, and I want you to notice this,

he said, my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. In other words, there is no stronger way that he could have communicated, the angst, the emotion, the agony, the weight of knowing what he was about to endure. My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. I don't know if I can even take it. And he says, stay here and keep watch with me. The next verse says this. Going a little farther, he fell with his faith. He fell with his faith. to the ground and he prayed and I love the honesty my father if it's possible may this cup be taken away from me so often when we read about Jesus we think oh Jesus the son of God Jesus was the son of God

he was all God and at the same time he was all man meaning he hurt physically he had physical knees emotionally he would be hurt and he's praying God if there's any other way like this is not what I want This is not good for me. This is going to hurt me. God, if there's any other way at all, please remove this cup of suffering from me. My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death. And then he says, may this cup be taken away from me yet?

Not as I will, Father, but as you will. Then he returned to his disciples and found them slay. I gave you one job. This is a day awake, and you fell asleep while I was praying. Now, I don't want to be too hard on them. I may have fallen asleep once or twice when Amy was praying. Probably wasn't because she was praying too long,

probably because her prayer was so spiritual that I was lulled into a state of glory and just, or may have been, just praying too long. I fall in the sleep when I've been praying. I used to always do that as a kid. Anybody ever fall asleep when you're praying? I would get bored praying. I think God would get bored about I was praying. They'd like, come, good. And I would fall asleep and then I feel horrible because I thought God would send me to hell because I didn't say amen at the end of my prayers. I didn't sign off. Amen. 10-4. I'm done. In Jesus' name. And so I would actually pray to God extra amen's.

Like here's an extra amen and another one amen and another one amen. And then I would ask them to multiply them. times amen, amen, amen. That's three times three is nine. Times amen, amen, it's 27 times. And I can't do 27 times three, but somebody can't. And so I would multiply these until there are probably thousands of amen stored up in spiritual places that I could draw upon if I ever fell asleep. So if you ever fall asleep and forget to say amen, you can take one of mine stored up for you.

It's my gift to you through there. Disciples fell asleep praying. and Jesus went away a second time. Sometimes surrendering takes more than one attempt. And he prayed, my father, if it's not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. With absolute certainty, Jesus trusted his father. Father God. And he chose surrender over control, which is not the cultural norm, is it?

Because every part of culture teaches us, take control, you take charge, you make it happen, you control your destiny. And that's why I want to tell you today that you don't always have the power to control, but you always have the power to surrender. You can't control everything, but you can trust whatever is on your mind to our father. So I have a question for you. I want you to think about this, and it's a little bit more complicated than you might first think. I'm curious, don't raise your hand, but how many of you would rather have your will or God's will? What do you think? Would you rather have what you want or what God wants. And a lot of you spiritual people go, I want what God wants. Do you really? Because sometimes I don't. Like I want what God wants until it's different than what I

want. Then I want what I want, right? Don't be so spiritual. I mean like, you know, God, I want your will, but just don't make me be a missionary to Africa, right? God, I want your will, but don't make me marry someone unattractive. Can we say that on Easter weekend? You're not laughing, but you may feel that way at some point in your life. Don't make me marry someone I don't like that much, all right? Because most of us, we want to believe that whenever we surrender our lives to Jesus, whenever we trust God, that he's going to give us a happy and a healthy and a comfortable and a trouble-free life. So so many people believe today. But Jesus doesn't invite us to a life of comfort and ease, but to a life of sacrifice and surrender. So I ask you the question.

And I want you to think about it. What are you trying to control that God wants you to surrender? What are you trying to control that God wants you to surrender? And I'm going to make it a little bit complicated on you because I haven't seen a lot of you in a while, so I might as well work this as hard as I can. Here's a card that will be either in the seatbacks in front of you, on your seat somewhere around there. I want you to grab that card, if you will, everybody grab the card. If you can, grab the card, grab the card, grab the card, grab the card.

Grab the card, grab the card. Those are you online, I've got a plan for you, so just hang with me. Grab the card, grab the card, grab the card, grab the card. And there'll be a little pin. What I want you to do, if you don't mind, is write your first name only somewhere on the card, just your first name, and then I want you to write, don't get real specific. Keep it kind of vague, because at the end of the service, I'm going to invite you,

if you're comfortable, to give your card to someone else. and to have someone else pray for you this week. And some of you are just freaking out right now, go, no, no, no, no, no. Because what you attempt to control the most might reveal where you trust God the least. What are you trying to control? And I want you to write it on your card. Think about it. Is it a relationship?

Is it something that's going on with a child? Is it a health issue? Is it something that you're afraid of? is that something that's giving you anxiety, is it your future? Somebody can go, I'm not doing that. You're not the boss of me. Maybe you need to write that down on your car. What is it that you're trying to control that God wants you to surrender?

Now, once you get that done, those of you go online, you can just type it in the comment section if you like, I'm trying to control this. I'm trying to control my child. I'm trying to control my future. I'm trying to control my job situation, whatever it is. And to be really, really clear when you're thinking about it, I just want to tell you that there are some things

that you do want to be involved in. And that's why there's three questions I always ask myself when I'm tempted to take control. Let me show the questions I ask, we'll say them aloud. I always ask, is it worth my concern? Second question I ask, is it mine to control? Third question, is it for God alone? Let's all ask, he's allowed.

All of our campus, it is no fun without you. Let's say, is it worth my concern? Is it mine to control, or is it for God alone? The first thing is some of us were simply trying to control something that really isn't a big deal at all. And you all have that kind of thing. For Amy, if I can confess her sins, is the dishwasher. I am not allowed to load the dishwasher. because she has a master plan of which I never get right.

I'm not allowed to unload the dishwasher because I never put everything in the exact right place. It used to offend me. Now it's a praise report. For me, it's vacuuming. I like the line straight, just like in the yard. Amy has this creative, artistic thing that I'm trying to get her delivered from.

See, some of us, we have these stupid things that we're trying to control that don't matter that much. And sometimes you have to ask yourself, Is this really worth my concern? No, it's not. Second question is, is it mine to control? Because sometimes there is something you need to do about it. In other words, like, you do need to pay your electric bill if you want air conditioning in the summer.

Or if you're spending more, you have more expenses than your income, you might need to cut back or take on a second job or something. There may be some things you need to do. Like, you really want to get married, you might need to join a life group. Or take a bath. I don't know what it would be. you know, shave, spray something on your letter, whatever. The third question, is it worth my concern, is it mine to control, or is it for God alone?

And there are times when you have to recognize this is really gods, it's gods. I can't change my spouse, but God can, so I trust my spouse to God. I can't heal my body, but God can, so I'm going to surrender this to Him. I can't control my children. I'm praying that God would do. I can't control the future. I'm surrendering this to God. And that's why I love with all my heart,

Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 and 6, when scripture says to trust in the Lord with how much of your heart. Scripture says trust in the Lord with all of your heart because there's no such thing as partial surrender to God. Well, I'm about 63.9% surrender.

to the Lord. No, no, no, no. Some of us will surrender like our salvation and trust him with that, but we're not going to trust him with the tithe. Or I'm going to trust God to answer your prayers, but I don't think he'll ever answer my prayers. Trust him, Lord, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways, submit to him or acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. That the word in the Hebrew, in all your ways, submit or acknowledge, and the word yada. And the best translation of that word, it means to know.

Like, in all your ways, know God. Know him. And he'll make your paths straight. So when you think about Jesus in the garden, at any moment, he could have taken control. He could have taken control.

But he said, not my will. And when he prayed that, the guards showed up to arrest him. And Peter, if you know this story, took control. Peter took a sword out and said, not today, Roman soldiers, and cut their ear off. One guy's ear off. And Jesus like, Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter. Where's that guy's ear? Get someone find his ear. They didn't know bushes. Here's his ear. And Jesus put it on and said, be healed in my own name. And Jesus healed his ear. And he said, to Peter, we're not going to do it that way. because Peter, I could have called legions of angels

and taken everybody out. But I chose surrender to my father instead of control. So everything went perfectly right for Jesus because he surrendered to the father, right? Not even close. He was arrested and beaten mercilessly. until he didn't even look like a human being, whipped 39 times across his back

until his internal organs likely would have been exposed. They put a crown of thorn on his brows and drove stakes through his wrists and through his feet. And the sinless son of God, the Lamb of God, hung naked on a cross, while the creation cursed the creator. And with every bit of love in his heart, he looked up to heaven and prayed, please, Father, forgive them because they don't even know what they're doing. And he said, it's finished.

I did everything that you sent me to do. and the ultimate cry of surrender. He prayed, into your hands, I commit my spirit. And he breathed his last. And the earth went dark and shook. Jesus chose surrender. And the story didn't in there. Because three days later,

when the women went to check on the tomb, By the power, the glory of God, the stone was rolled away. The tomb was completely empty. The Son of God was not there. He was risen from the dead, defeating death, hell and the grave. The Son of God became sin for us and died in our place and rose from the dead so that anyone, listen to me, anyone, any one of you. no matter what you've done, no matter how broken you are,

no matter how far from God you feel, no matter what you said, no matter who you hurt, no matter how full of sin and brokenness your life is even to this day, if you call on him, the Son of God, the risen Savior, he hears your prayers, he forgives your sins, he makes you brand new. you don't always have the power to control, but you always have the power to surrender.

Always have the power to surrender. Warren, could you bring me my kneeler? And I want to show you what Jesus said in Scripture. Jesus said this. He said in Matthew 1039. He said, if you cling to your life, if you try to control it if you always try to be in charge

if you cling to your life you will lose it but if you give your life up for me you will find it in other words surrender isn't just a one-time decision but it's a daily choice to follow Jesus

to really follow him is to surrender control So what are you trying to control that God wants you to surrender? If you ask me, what is it that I'm going to surrender? I'm going to surrender you. Because my heart is so heavy. And I have prayed so much nonstop for you.

For 35 minutes, I get a shot at you to help you experience the goodness. and the grace and the power of our good God. I surrender you because I can't convince you and I can feel the pain of what so many of you are facing right now. I mean, I can feel it. It's so difficult out there. And what freaks me out is that there are literally thousands of you that weren't here last week.

and you won't be here next week. And you're okay with that. It tells me you don't know what you're missing. I don't know how you do it. I don't know if you know him like I know him. How do you not praise him? How do you not gather? How do you not need the people of God?

And when I joke about Christmas and Easter, I joke about it because that was me growing up. That was me. I mean, we were there. Christmas, we were there Easter, and that was me. Now, I had enough head knowledge to think that I was a Christian, but not enough of Jesus to really change me. And that's why I surrender you, because I'm afraid that some of you, you are 20 inches away from having your life changed, 20 inches.

You've got a little bit in your head, but you are 20 inches away from knowing Jesus in your heart. Because when you know him, you just have to praise him. And you have to, you have to be with him and you have to be with his people. You just can't not because he's that good. So I invite you to surrender. I invite you to surrender all. And when you surrender all, it doesn't mean a happy, perfect life. Jesus invites us to a life of surrender and sacrifice. And I want you to know him, to know him. How do you know him? If you feel alone, you can know Jesus as your friend. If you're battling depression, you can know Jesus as your peace. If you're financially uneasy, you can know him as your Jehovah Jira. He is your provider. That's who he is.

If you're sick, He's your Jehovah Raffa. He's your healer. Know him as your healer. And if you've messed up and if you've sinned and if you've fallen short and if you're broken and if you hurt people like I've heard people and done things you're ashamed of, you can know him as your Savior. You're just know him, know him, know him. When you get to know him, who is he? Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. He's the one who restores your soul. Surrender to him. Surrender to the light of the world because darkness shall never overcome the light. Surrender to the bread of life, the living water. When you surrender to him, you'll never hunger and you'll never thirst again.

He is that good. He is present and he loves you. When you surrender to him, you surrender to the rock and the shield and the fortress. He is your ever-present help in time of trouble. He is the Lamb of God

slain for the sins of the world. And he's the lion of Judah who rules forevermore. He is the king of all kings and he is the Lord of all Lord. And he understands all of your weaknesses and he was tempted in every way you are, but he did not sin. Therefore, you can come boldly before his throne of grace to find help in your time of need.

Somebody may want to stand up. Somebody may want to worship him today. Somebody may want to stand up at all of our campuses today and give him some praise and maybe lift up your hands to the one who loves you so much. But while you were still sinning, he gave this life for you. And our God raised Jesus from the dead so that anyone who calls on his name, your name would be written in the land book of life, your sins would be forgiven, and you would be made news.

Maybe surrender to him now. What do you do? Sing it aloud, I surrender. Raise your voices, raise your hearts, raise your hands. I surrender all. Tell him you surrender. What do you surrender to him? Surrender a fear that's held you hostage.

your anxiety to him. Ask him to heal your depression. Call on him and ask him for a miracle in your marriage. Surrender that child that weighs on your heart. Give it all to God. Lift your voice. It's surrender today. You don't always have the power to control. Always can surrender. Tell him you surrender. Trust him today. Cast your cares upon him because He cares for you. As you continue in an attitude of prayer today, Father, we ask that by the power of your Holy Spirit, you would do a work as we surrender to you,

the king of all kings and the Lord of all lords. As you're standing in an attitude of prayer today, I wonder how many of you would say there's something that you're trying to control and by faith today, you're ready to surrender. Would you lift up your hands right now? Just lift them up. Online, you can say, I'm ready to surrender.

surrender. You can even say what it is today. Father, we pray. We pray in this moment. Just as Jesus knelt in the garden and said, this isn't what I want, but I trust you, God. Your will be done. With all of our hearts, God, we trust you. With what we cannot control, we trust you. We surrender, we surrender, we surrender. Heavenly Father work and a release and a peace that goes beyond all human understanding that would guard our hearts and our minds and our souls in Christ Jesus As you keep praying today everybody remains standing nobody looking around there are those of you today That you're about to have a 20-inch miracle You may know about him you may have heard about him but you don't know him personally

Who is he he is the son of God for God? So loved you that he sent his one and only son, Jesus, that he became flesh for us. And Jesus didn't come for the righteous one. He came for the broken ones and the sinners. He didn't come for those who were healthy and perfect. He came for those who were sick and in need. And he gave his life. And God raised him from the dead so that anybody who calls on his name,

would be forgiven, would be changed. You don't know about him, but you're about to know him. What do you do? You step away from your old life and you just surrender. You don't know how to pray. You don't even know what to do. You don't clean up your life first. You just come to him. You come to him as you are. Scripture says, Jesus said, I stand to the door and I knock. If anyone lets me in, I will come in. He's about to come in. You just let him in. Just say, I surrender. I need your forgiveness. I want to know you. I just trust you wherever you are. You know you've sins. You know you need forgiveness. You know you're in darkness. You know you need the light. You want him. It's not a head knowledge. It's a heart relationship. Today by faith, what do we do? We surrender today by faith.

Those of you that say, I know I need them. I surrender. That's your prayer. Lift your hands high right now. All over the place. Lift them up and say yes. Praise God for you guys. And here over here, lift them up high. Lift them up high. Oh, come on, sir. Somebody ought to worship God today. Those of you online just type in the comment section, I'm giving my life to Jesus right up here. Lift them up high right here. Praise God for you guys. All hands going up all over the place. We celebrate, we celebrate, we celebrate. Would you all pray? Wherever you are, just pray aloud right now. Pray Heavenly Father, pray Heavenly Father, forgive my sins. Jesus, I surrender. I trust you to save me. I trust you to forgive me.

Fill me with your spirit so I could know you and serve you and follow you and live for you. for you. My life is not my own. I give it all to you. Use me to share your love. Thank you for new life. I give you mine. In Jesus name, I pray. Somebody better worship God right now. Somebody better thank God. Give him praise for who he is. He is the king of kings. He is the Lord of of Lord. Give him praise today. Lift up your voices and say thank you, Jesus, for who you are and for what you've done.