If You Lose Control You are Done!

Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. ”

Good News Translation
If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.”

Amplified Bible
If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”

New Living Translation
You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

When driving you must remain in control of the vehicle. If you lose control there will be an accident. When riding a bicycle you must remain in control. If you lose control there will be an accident. If the vehicle controls you instead of you controlling it, you are in deep trouble. Your survival and safety depend on whether you are in control or not. If you lose control you are done!

God is in control and should be in control. However, God in His wisdom has allowed us some control. If we lose that control that God has given us, we are done. That is the control we are referring to today. God created everything and remained in control, but He allowed Adam and Eve to control what they eat or not eat. When Adam and Eve lost that control to Satan and dictate of appetite, we all got finished. If you lose control you are finished!

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Eve lost control and she let her desire control her. She should have remained in control and told herself that even if it is good for food, even if it is pleasing to the eye, and even if it is desirable for gaining wisdom, I will not eat it. That is being in control. Eve lost control and we got into serious trouble. If you lose control you are done!

Genesis 39:7-8
(7) and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
(8) But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.

Joseph was in control. Joseph did not lose control. He was offered free sex and he said no to the offer. He was very clear that he can’t do it and won’t do it. He went to prison for being in control. That seemed terrible until God raised him from prison to the throne. Joseph’s wisdom and safe course of action were to remain in control. If you lose control you are done!

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Daniel was in control. He said that he will not eat that food. The food is sweet but I will not eat it. The food is appetizing but I will not eat it. Those imposing regulations will never know if I ate or not, but I will not eat it. Not eating this food May result in malnutrition and even death if leaders are angry with me, but I will not eat that food. Daniel was in control. He did not lose control to appetite and fear. If you lose control you are done!

Daniel 3:16-18
(16) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. (17) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. (18) But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ”

The three honorable Hebrew men did not lose control of their faith and choice of worship to fear. With a real threat to their lives being present right there, they could have lost control to fear. They would have feared for their lives, families, income, future, etc. They refused to be controlled by fear, they controlled fear instead. God saved them. If they had lost control they would have perished forever. If you lose control you are done!

In our main text today, God tells Cain that sin is seeking an opportunity to control him but he should control it. Cain got overwhelmed by anger and envy and it controlled him, consequently he killed his brother. If you let envy and anger control you, you will harm others and ultimately yourself. Do not lose control to envy and anger. If you lose control you are done!

God reveals in this text today that temptation is when sin tries to control you. Sinning is when you lose control to sin. If you lose control you are done!

Are you angry? Do not lose control to anger. Are you envious? Do not lose control to envy. Do you desire someone or something so bad you can’t think straight anymore? Do not lose control to that desire. Do you feel the urge to respond in a manner that would properly hurt the other person? Do not lose control to that urge. If you lose control you are done!

The secret to success by soldiers is to remain calm when danger is real. Only calm minds can see chances to fight back or escape. A calm mind is one that has chosen to control fear. Successful business people are in control of their feelings to give up when failures come. If they give up to discouragement, they will never succeed. Be in control if you must succeed. Great renowned leaders remain in control they never lose their cool even in extreme situations. Great leaders remain focused on the mission even when circumstances are not favorable.

Philippians 1:18
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

Paul was so focused on his mission that he did not allow himself to be distracted. If his enemies were preaching, should he spend time fighting them? Their motive for preaching is wrong, but Paul refuses to be distracted. He defies the natural feeling of going after enemies. He says whatever the motive, let Christ be preached! Paul is clearly a man in control of his negative feelings. If you lose control you are done!

Luke 13:31-33
(31) At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
(32) He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ (33) In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

Some people wanted to control Jesus using threats. Jesus remained in control. He defied the threats. He didn’t dig into the threats to verify if they were true, He instead recited His mission. Jesus remained in control when threats would have made Him lose control to Herod and those delivering the threats. If you lose control you are done!

When dealing with spiritual matters do not lose control or else you become an unreasonable fanatic. When dealing with health matters do not lose control. When dealing with social issues do not lose control. When handling finances do not lose control. When in school do not lose control. If you lose control you are done!

God, you are in control. You have allowed us some control. Help us to remain in control, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

NB: Today we have begun a new series of studying messages in chapter four of all the 66 Bible books. Invite others to this journey and let’s do this together for spiritual nourishment and God’s glory…thank you so much for your support and welcome!

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