The Blessings of Divine Providence

It's so good to see each and every one of you. It is a beautiful day today, thankful for the Lord's goodness to us on this Lord's, Day, thankful for each and everyone of you Ephesians chapter number one. Begin reading and verse number 9.

Ephesians 1 and verse number 9.

Does having made known to us the mystery of his will? According to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself that, in the dispensation of the fullness of times. He might gather together in one all things in Christ. But which are in heaven and which are on earth in him? In him. Also, we have obtained an inheritance being predestined, according to the purpose of him who works, all things, according to the counsel of his will on a priest you this morning, on this thought the blessings of Divine Providence. Or if we had a longer title for, it would be the blessings of resting in Divine Providence. Let's pray together. Our Father. We are grateful Lord for your strength that you give to us and Lord. It is true that in our weakness that we are made strong. And father, I pray that we all would see the weakness of our flesh. But Lord, that we would be powerful Lord in spirit as you Empower us through the Holy Spirit. Lord, I pray as we look at this passage of scripture, as we think about this Doctrine, this tremendous doctrine of your Providence, I pray the Lord that you would give us understanding, Lord, help me. Lord, as a vessel of clay to there's there is no way that I can in in any shape form or fashion describe fully this thing of Divine Providence, but father helped me to say the words or that would be a help to those who are listening your your children, if all the way just give you the praise and glory, that is due unto your name. We ask all these things in Christ name and all God's people said. Amen, the blessings of Divine Providence. It's sad today, but it is true. The word Providence today has all but disappeared from the vocabulary of many people, even Christians. Today. I ended the fact is that's not always been the case. If you go back in history, two or three centuries, you'll see it was used Often by Christian writers, Christian Scholars. Many, many other writings in the 1700's and 1800's, you saw Providence was used. As a matter of fact, they were Providence was often times capitalized, as it was used as a title of God or a another name for God. And it's very interesting when you study this out, that is quite evident that there was a time. When many people believe that God was Sovereign in the United States of America. That is, they believe that he God was directly involved in the activities. He was directly involved in the events of our nation's history. And so when you go back to the early years of our country, the term Providence was not foreign to America's early father's. It was not foreign. It was not a foreign word or thought to our Founders. As a matter of fact, the drafters of the, of America's Declaration of Independence, finished the document, by calling it God Providence capital P, the last sentence of the Declaration of Independence, read this And for the support of this declaration, with a firm, Reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually mutually pledge to each other, Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. Very interesting. You think about George Washington while he was a soldier in the British army for some 21 years before he became a, the commander of the Continental Army. It is said that during his time there and one battle. Even though he had four bullet holes in his jacket bullet fragments in his hair and had two horses shot out from underneath him. He was not wounded. God, providentially sustain him, kept him alive. Washington said this concerning the Revolutionary War, and if you're interested in the Revolutionary War, if you listen to podcast, I would encourage you to listen to a podcast called Americas Revolution from Indus very detailed podcast concerning the Revolutionary War. But Washington said this, he said the hand of Providence capital P. The hand of God has been so conspicuous in all this in all throughout the course of the war. I've been explaining the the new nation's first National Day of Prayer. President Washington said this. It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the Providence of almighty, God to obey, his will to be grateful for his benefits and humbly to implore his protection and favor. And so when we look at the history of our nation, Hey, listen, you cannot help but see the providential hand of God resting Upon Our Nation as we even fought the Revolutionary War. But sadly we have become so secularized as a nation. As time has gone, especially the last 100 years that most Americans do not have faith in the god of the Bible and sadly, a lot of Christians have no idea what Divine Providence even is. And it has a great effect. As I said, many Christians today know, very little or anything at all about the Providence of God. And so what happens if we have this very little understanding of Divine Providence, is that we take on this mentality of our society that will God is really just left out of things. Some may believe that God Indie does does exist, but they do not think that God is able or willing to become involved in their lives individually or in the world collectively. So there is a reason why Christians that I especially want to believe in the Divine Providence of God, let me give you a definition of providence by one Theologian Louis berkhof. He said, Providence, is that worth of God in which he preserves? All his creatures is active and all that happens in the world and directs all things to their appointed in. I would describe God's Providence as the outworking of God's sovereignty in his preserving. It. Is he out working of God's sovereignty in his governing and working through circumstances and working even through man's decisions to bring about his determined purposes. As we read in Ephesians, 1:11 where it says being predestined, according to the purpose of him, who works all things, all things, according to the counsel of his will. That working of all things, according to the counsel of his will is the Providence of God?

Isaiah chapter 46.

Says in verse 9. Remember, the former things of old. For I am God. And there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. I will do what I want. Verse 11 says calling a bird of prey from the East, the man. Who executes my counsel from a far country. Indeed. I have spoken it. I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also do it. So, you understand when you understand the Providence of God, you see that God is in absolute control, even when it seems that everything is out of control. This is just one of the reasons, the Providence of God should be one of the most comforting things for his children. As a relates to the governance of God over the Affairs of our universe. And so when you see this Bible doctor Doctrine, when you come to understand this Bible doctrine of Divine Providence, you will be comforted and you'll understand why the most often quoted command in the Bible is the word words. Fear not. Fear not so let's look together. I just thought of the blessings of Divine Providence. Notice number one, the managing Providence of God. The managing Providence of God. Now, we know that our Lord is the creator of all things, right? You should know that the Lord God is the creator of all things. He spoke everything into existence. He did that.

We should know that God created everything. But listen, we should also know. That he got preserves and watches over and manages all that. He has created. God is not just some.

Distant did that you just created things and just let them be know. He is the one who creates but then he's also the one who governs and manages note assistance to 1:16. Ss4 by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, where the Thrones are the minions or Prince batalla sees our powers. All things were created through him and for him and he is before all things and in him and in him all things consist and he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead that in all things. He may have the brick preeminence. So again verse 17 says, and he is before all things. And in him, all things consist. Listen, at God's creation. All things were brought into existence, but it is a Providence of God that keeps them. It is a Providence of God, that keeps them and moves them toward God's intended purpose.

You know.

As an employee. Many times. We generally do not like working for a micromanager. Some of y'all may know what I'm talking about when I say micromanager. But listen. Micromanages his creation. God micromanages, his universe, and that's a good thing. That's a good thing until it's wrong for us to sing. And it's really demeaning to God's character that we should ever think to represent, God as some, just a momentary Creator, who completed his work of creation and then just left it at that. No that listen. That is a cold view of God. That is an incorrect you of God, just to see him as Creator and then he just leave things as it is. Now listen, the Christian places their face in the Bible teaches.

That God has an intimate. That he is an intimate relational God. He is not a God who just creates and then abandons, his creation know, God is very much involved in every detail of his creation. He is directing both man and Mankind's government, as it relates to his will and purpose. And so God's rule of the world. Listen is personal. It's relational. God's rule of the world is not mechanical. It is not a rule. No, listen, God, governs, and directs his creation, very personally. And it does. So purposefully. Now we've we've been talkin about the governance of God as it relates to his creation, but let's narrow it down. From creation to God's New Creations, and that is his children. Because I'm major part of the Providence of God is his caring for his children. notice in Matthew chapter 6,

Matthew 16:25 says, Therefore, I say to you. Jesus is speaking here. Do not worry about your life. But you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body. What you will put on is not life more than food and the body more than closing. Look at the birds of the air. For they, for they neither sow. Nor reap nor gather into barns, yet. Your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they look. Who created the birds? Listen, providentially cares for and watches over the birds Matthew 6:30.

Says, now if God, so clothe the grass of the field which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven. Will he not much more clothe you? Oh you of little faith. Therefore, do not worry saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear for after all these things? The Gentiles seek for your heavenly. Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first, the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. This added all things that we need. Listen is the managing part of the Providence of almighty God and so the Providence of God is in his managing. It is seen in his providing for what he has created. And by the way, he is not limited in the how he carries out this managing Providence. Remember how God provided for Elijah. When God sent Elijah to the Brook Terrace God, use the Ravens to use Birds to carry Elijah, food, meat and bread. We also see how the Israelites when they left the Captivity of Egypt, how that God, miraculously worked in the heart of the Egyptians to give Israel, the Israelites, favor, and provide even jewels, and other supplies that they would need when they would be able to Temple. Look at Exit, Exodus, chapter 12, in verse 35.

Now, the children of Israel. Had done according to the word of Moses. And they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver and our articles of gold and closing, and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they granted them, what they requested bus, they plundered the Egyptians. And so God providentially provided for Elijah. He providentially provided for the children of Israel. One of God's Hebrew names was and he is Jehovah Jireh which means a Lord will provide it. So when you are God child and you are walking in obedience to him, the managing Providence of God allows us to rest in him without anxiety or fear. So that's a managing Providence of god. Notice. Secondly, the governing Providence of God. The governing Providence of God, listen to accomplish. He is Sovereign purposes, God governs. That is God, Steve circumstances. I even governs or steers the decisions of man. Hey, listen, do you realize this morning? That the Bible teaches that God that God controls where lightning strikes. God controls where lightning strikes? Jobe chapter 36. And verse 32 says he covers his hands with lightning. And commands it to hit its mark. Another words, there's not a lightning strike. That's just random that somehow out of God's control. Everything is under his control.

Lightning is. Several times hotter than the sun. The God, who controls the very lightning of the sky is a God who can also govern, and steer the circumstances of man. A tells us that nothing is random. Nothing happens by chance. Not even a lightning strike. Think also of God's Sovereign timing to in the wicked King, ahab's life. But he controlled the Bible tells us that he controlled A A seemingly random Arrow to kill Wicked. King Ahab. The Bible tells us first Kings. 22.

It says now a certain man drew a boat at random. Here's a soldier. He's not really taken aim at anybody. He just let it go like that.

And it says instruct the king of Israel between the joints of his armor, very small place. It had to hit to even go through and kill him. So he said that the driver of his Chariot turn around and take me out of the battle for I am wounded. The Bible tells us to verse 37 that he was actually mortally wounded. To listen our Sovereign, God. He governs circumstances and listen, even even the free choices of men to accomplish his Sovereign will

And this is the aspect of God's sovereignty and this is the aspect of God's Providence. That causes men the most problems. Because the question it is brought up. How can a man have a Freewheel? And yet, god control man's decisions. Well to say that God does not have control over man's decisions, would mean that God is Not Lord Over All. And so we cannot make God small, right? but, To say God controls man decisions to such a point, that mankind does not have responsibility. You've taken that too far and you made mankind into some robot and that's not true. So there is this great tension between God's sovereignty and God's Providence that he is, Lord of all. But there's also this other side that every man, every person has a responsibility to choose.

Well, we have to understand that man, kind apart from the Lord. Apart from Christ. Has a free will, but that Free Will is in a very limited sense. In other words, a lost person. The person has not been saved is in bondage. He is in Satan's bonded. He is in the bondage of sin. The Bible tells us. So the Lost persons will, that is his mind. His emotions are encased in spiritual Darkness.

And so, and unsafe person is free to do what he pleases. And he does whatever he pleases. But he is not free to do what he ought to do. And because his will is in bondage? He doesn't even want to do what he ought to do. Spiritually. See, the Bible tells us. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The problem is nobody in there, lost condition will unless unless God does something for them.

Why will a lost person just on his own and own volition? Come to Christ? Well again, because why he is in bonded to a power called sin.

And has a nature that has fallen. That is incapable of pleasing and obeying God. And so when people do come to the Lord, they do so because God first came to them. They do come to the Lord because God freed them from Satan's prison. He freed them from Satan's bondage, and he does this for the act of regeneration. He gives them a new nature. So that each person who comes to Christ does, so freely and chooses to come to Christ.

And so, I will.

Listen is not an independent deity in our personal personality. Our will is a part of our soul, which includes our mind and our emotions. And so, the will without exception does what the mind and emotions tell it to do. And again, before coming to Christ Our Minds were darkened. We were spiritually, darken, Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 18. Their understanding darkened. Being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Again, apart from Christ, Our will is in bondage?

Certainly, there are things that we can choose, but we are primarily choosing based on information coming from Ace in darkened, mine. So, how does this tie into Divine Providence? When when God's providential accomplishes, his Sovereign wheel through the decisions of others, he's simply moves in their mind and emotions, and then their mind and emotions, direct the wheel. Listen, this keeps God being Sovereign Over All. And this also keeps Mankind from being a mere robot. Because they are freely choosing to do what they now, want to do.

And listen, he can do this to a lost person or in a saved person. Dodge Power to move a man's mind. And nature is Really vividly scene and Daniel chapter number 4. Or you have the story of King Nebuchadnezzar?

And how God so changed, his will change his nature. That the Bible tells us that King Nebuchadnezzar. He left the presence of men. And he ate grass. As an oz. And his hair grew out so long that it look like eagles feathers. And his nails grew so long and look like Eagle's. Talons. What a beast. This Man became But why would he, why would he leave me? And go out and eat grass like some oxen? Because God changed his will. Change his mind, and King Nebuchadnezzar was acting. Then on that changed, mine. But do you see how the government of the governing Providence of God works? You take, for example, a leader of a Nation or a ruler really of any kind, Proverbs 21, and verse 1.

Says the king's heart. Is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water. He turns it wherever he wishes. How did the turn the heart of a king? How does it turn the heart of any man? He does that by moving in the king's mind and emotions. So that the king makes his own choice, but God's sovereignty is being worked out through his governing Providence. I don't know about you this morning, but this does my heart good. When we think about what's going on in the world today? When we think about Russia's President Putin, who is thinking about invading Ukraine and we think about our president and the decisions that he must make and that everything regardless of the decisions that they make is under the Divine Providence of God. That's a great comfort to me, that nothing happens by happenstance or by chance. Is the one who is ultimately in control of the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. And he turns it wherever he wishes.

so, every government Every Governor, every creature, no matter how small, or great must submit to God's sovereignty.

Noticed early, the harmonizing Providence of God.

But the locals called this aspect of the Providence of God, his concurrence. this aspect of God's Providence refers to how he works through, seemingly random or by chance to bring about his Sovereign Sovereign will You could say that this is the invisible hand of God. He's working behind the scenes. Romans 8:28. Tells us, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those, who are the called, according to his purpose. The nasb in the ESV. Render it like this. We know God causes all things to work together for the good and that is certainly true. It's not so much that things work together as it is. That our Sovereign God causes them to work together for good. And again, this is a comforting thought. How does enables us then to rest in the Lord in his Providence to working? But here's what I want you to get out of this message this morning as we think about Divine Providence, when it talks about in Romans, 8:28, all things work together. Ebony, facial 1:11 or it says all things. It means all things. All right, it means all things. God, causes painful things God causes Pleasant things. Uplifting things depressing things. Holy things and even simple things to work together in his providential plan to conform, has to be image of his dear son and to accomplish his Divine Purpose. How many of, you know? And would agree with me this morning. When I say that, the Christian life is not an easy life. It is not, it has pains. It has hardships. It has perplexities, it has sorrow, but we must take comfort in knowing that every pain, every sorrow, every hardship, and every difficult situation. Listen that we cannot figure out. Nevertheless has a definite purpose.

There are times that we can see that purpose. Very clearly and we can see that purpose immediately as we are going through it or just finished out of that difficult situation. But sometimes it is years later. That we see God's purposes. Have you ever look back at your life? Look back over the years that you've lived.

And you say, Lord. I I now see what you were doing.

I didn't understand it then. My looking back, I can understand what you were doing here. Sometimes it's years later. Sometimes we never figure it out here on this side of Heaven. And that's why we have to live a life of faith. It is a life of trusting, God in his sovereignty and his Providence to working to accomplish all his will even when we cannot figure it out.

I noticed that God is not limited in what he can use as a second calls and accomplishing his Sovereign will God uses people. God even uses sinful people to carry out his purposes. This is clearly seen throughout the Old Testament of the Bible. He hears his animals to carry out his purpose. He use the Ravens for Elijah. He used a donkey for Balaam. He even used a pack of wild dogs to finish off the wicked Queen Jezebel to uses the weather. He even uses what we refer to as accidents. By the way, there are no such things as an accident. No, Such Thing accidents have no purpose. Everything that happens has a purpose, everything. Answer the Providence of God is behind those seemingly random circumstances, random accidents, the painful circumstances in your life. This is why we can rest in him, we can rest in him. And so knowing this truth of Divine Providence is how we can do babe. What? The Apostle Paul said. When he said in everything, give thanks, why? For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We can even give thanks in the midst of a painful heart. We can even give thanks in times when our heart is breaking. Because we understand the Providence of God that he is harmonizing things. He's putting together all things to work together for our Goods, which is, which is defined in Romans 8:29. Ask informing us and molding us into the image of his dear son. Notice? Lastly. The Logical response to the Providence of God.

Given the Glorious truth and scripture of the managing and governing in harmonizing Providence of God. How do we respond? How are we to apply this to our life? Will listen, we respond in faith. That's how we respond in faith, that God is Sovereign. And that those circumstances that many times are beyond our control or a part of his providential working in us to Moltres and to conformis in the likeness of Christ.

And we think about, even when we cannot trace him. Someone said this. Even when we cannot trace him, we trust him. And we live out a life of Faith, No Matter What? And a good example of this is Daniels. Three, good friends, who refused to worship a false god, and were threatened to being thrown into a fiery. Furnace. The Bible tells us in Daniel chapter 3 verse 17. If that is the case. Our God, whom we serve is able to Deliver Us From The Burning fiery furnace and he will Deliver Us from your hand Oteen, but if not, let it be known to you obtain that we do, not serve your Gods. Nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up. I'll listen even if God did not perform a miracle. They would obey in faith. And that is the kind of Fate that honors the Lord. So you can rest in The Sovereign Providence of God knowing that God just he does not just roll the dice.

No, God is a god of purpose. God has a plan a sovereign plan that he will accomplish it. So you can trust him. You can rest in his Province. You must know that he loves you. And that he cares for you. And he knows what he's doing. Again, Paul declares Innovations 111 that God works. All things according to his to the counsel of his will. And this Divine Providence should be. Something that gives us as God's children. Great comfort. All things, he works all things. According to the counsel of his will it is not say that God works some things. It is not even say that God works most things according to the counsel of his will, but God works all things. According to the counsel of his will. And so a Christian. A Christian should not fight against the thought of Divine Providence.

No, a Christian should rest in it. All the Troubles that we see in this world from presidents to pandemics, It's all going according to God's plan. Again, he is not some distant deity, is not some distant landlord that creates and then abandon know he creates too many orchestrates to bring about his purpose. so, as Christians, We should not fight against the Divine Providence of God. We should rest in it, rest in it. I didn't think about all the difficulties that you made dealing. You may be dealing with today, individually. Some things that have taken, you completely off-guard. You must be reminded that God is causing all those things. To work for good. and if you hear this morning and you are unsaved, you've never been saved. You never have trusted Christ. As your lord and savior. You need to understand that God has providentially. I'll add you to be here in this place. To hear the word of God. God has providentially, put you here.

So that you could hear me, tell you, you must be saved. The Bible commands each person to trust and believe. If you have not do so today, I pray. Let's pray together.

A gracious and kind Heavenly Father. Or what a tremendous Doctrine. Something that is.

Very deep. We try to grasp the the fool realm of it. My father, it is also very comforting Lord. When we consider it correctly and biblically. That you are governing and managing over all of your creation. That nothing happens by random. Nothing happens, by chance. Nothing happens by accident.

By Your Divine Providence.

the Lord, I pray that As we humbly bow before your presence, even right now, that that person that is going through a very difficult time in their life. That is losing sleep and constantly and worry God. I pray that you would. Speak to them. Reminds him of Who You Are. And remind them how much that they are loved and cared for by you. And father, I pray that through the working of the Holy Spirit. You would speak to the center who is here, that is never trusted Christ. Oh Lord, I pray. You would come in. And do for them what they cannot do for themselves. And that is released them from the bondage of Satan and sin. Give them life, Lord. Save them or I pray. and Lord, we also pray gone for on the sanctity of Life, Sunday, the

We pray God that abortion in our country. Would cease. God, we pray that.

It would absolutely come to an end.

We are thankful Lord for the many.

Ways that we have, we've gained ground in this area? Are grateful or four that you working in the lives of men? My father, there is so much more. Lord help us to get involved. Help us to pray. Lord also, help us to forgive.