chaos
CHAOS
ricky wolfe | february 26
There is chaos all over our world today. And many people throughout history have been cultural chaos creators. Bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones created chaos for their fans—so much so that the US even considered banning the Rolling Stones from touring. Martin Luther King Jr. created positive, revolutionary chaos. Adolf Hitler created chaos in how he convinced millions to follow him and sow negative feelings toward Jews. The Roman emperor Nero caused chaos for many early Christians by persecuting them. Psalm 22:1-2
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
God often uses chaos to do something in our lives. When he wrote this psalm, David was in the middle of chaos. But even then, God was raising him up to do incredible things. 1 Samuel 8:1-9
As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”
Samuel was worried about Israel’s future, but he knew that God had a plan ready. We often want something to change, but we don’t always look to God. We try to fix the chaos on our own terms instead of trusting God in the midst of it.
Page 1
CHAOS
ricky wolfe | february 26
1 Samuel 16:11-13
Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. God chooses the most unlikely people. And He doesn’t call people to positions, but to places. He didn’t immediately pick out David and give him the throne—that would have been a disaster. First, we have to be faithful in the small things. Then, we can be entrusted with the big things. Look at your own life and attitude. Are you willing to help out in areas that aren’t “your ministry”? If you serve on one team, are you willing to help out other teams when they’re struggling? Remember, we’re all in this together. Even the jobs that seem the lowliest are important, and none of us are above taking out the trash or cleaning up spills.
Chaos creates opportunity 1 Samuel 18:10-11
The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
Saul had become jealous of David, but David’s praise went first. And where praise goes first, the Enemy starts looking. When you’re walking in your purpose, you’ll find that the Enemy will start aiming his spears your way.
Page 2
CHAOS
ricky wolfe | february 26
Remember that until you breathe your last breath, God still has a purpose for you. We’re often afraid of the responsibility and weight that comes with serving God—that’s why we see so many people jump into serving, and soon jump right back out. But let your praise go before everything you do, and see how God will work in you and through you.
We create most of our own personal chaos 1 Samuel 24:3-7
At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.
When you honor and serve God through the chaos, justice will be served. He will come through. We will never have full control, so let God take the reigns. David knew he had overstepped by cutting Saul’s robe, but he decided to release the situation and submit to God’s control and authority. Let Christ be the foundation of your life so that when chaos comes your way, you can use it as an opportunity to fulfill your God-given purpose. Psalm 22:3-5
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
People don’t always deliver on their promises, but God will. And He wants to use both the good and the bad chaos for opportunities for fulfilling His purpose.
Page 3
CHAOS
ricky wolfe | february 26
Group Questions Who are some other chaos creators? How did they affect the culture in a positive or negative way? What does it mean to be faithful in the small things? What are some of those small things? How do we create chaos in our own lives? What can you do to avoid creating negative chaos? What are some things you have trouble letting God control? There is a lot of chaos in the world today. What can you do to turn the chaos into opportunities?
Page 4
ricky wolfe | february 26
There is chaos all over our world today. And many people throughout history have been cultural chaos creators. Bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones created chaos for their fans—so much so that the US even considered banning the Rolling Stones from touring. Martin Luther King Jr. created positive, revolutionary chaos. Adolf Hitler created chaos in how he convinced millions to follow him and sow negative feelings toward Jews. The Roman emperor Nero caused chaos for many early Christians by persecuting them. Psalm 22:1-2
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
God often uses chaos to do something in our lives. When he wrote this psalm, David was in the middle of chaos. But even then, God was raising him up to do incredible things. 1 Samuel 8:1-9
As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”
Samuel was worried about Israel’s future, but he knew that God had a plan ready. We often want something to change, but we don’t always look to God. We try to fix the chaos on our own terms instead of trusting God in the midst of it.
Page 1
CHAOS
ricky wolfe | february 26
1 Samuel 16:11-13
Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. God chooses the most unlikely people. And He doesn’t call people to positions, but to places. He didn’t immediately pick out David and give him the throne—that would have been a disaster. First, we have to be faithful in the small things. Then, we can be entrusted with the big things. Look at your own life and attitude. Are you willing to help out in areas that aren’t “your ministry”? If you serve on one team, are you willing to help out other teams when they’re struggling? Remember, we’re all in this together. Even the jobs that seem the lowliest are important, and none of us are above taking out the trash or cleaning up spills.
Chaos creates opportunity 1 Samuel 18:10-11
The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
Saul had become jealous of David, but David’s praise went first. And where praise goes first, the Enemy starts looking. When you’re walking in your purpose, you’ll find that the Enemy will start aiming his spears your way.
Page 2
CHAOS
ricky wolfe | february 26
Remember that until you breathe your last breath, God still has a purpose for you. We’re often afraid of the responsibility and weight that comes with serving God—that’s why we see so many people jump into serving, and soon jump right back out. But let your praise go before everything you do, and see how God will work in you and through you.
We create most of our own personal chaos 1 Samuel 24:3-7
At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.
When you honor and serve God through the chaos, justice will be served. He will come through. We will never have full control, so let God take the reigns. David knew he had overstepped by cutting Saul’s robe, but he decided to release the situation and submit to God’s control and authority. Let Christ be the foundation of your life so that when chaos comes your way, you can use it as an opportunity to fulfill your God-given purpose. Psalm 22:3-5
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
People don’t always deliver on their promises, but God will. And He wants to use both the good and the bad chaos for opportunities for fulfilling His purpose.
Page 3
CHAOS
ricky wolfe | february 26
Group Questions Who are some other chaos creators? How did they affect the culture in a positive or negative way? What does it mean to be faithful in the small things? What are some of those small things? How do we create chaos in our own lives? What can you do to avoid creating negative chaos? What are some things you have trouble letting God control? There is a lot of chaos in the world today. What can you do to turn the chaos into opportunities?
Page 4
