Letting God work in our Lives
(4)
The Providence
of God
4 Views of God working
• He has never interacted with
the world (Deism)
• He works today miraculously
• He does nothing today
(though the events of the
Bible are true)
• He works providentially
God does not work miraculously
• A miracle is an event impossible
through natural means
• Biblical miracles served as
confirmation
of theNOT
message
Such does
limit of
God (needed to distinguish from
the
working
of
God
frauds) – Matt.9:6, Hebrews
2:2-4
today
• 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 –
miracles no longer needed (cf.
Jas. 1:25)
Providence
• What is providence?
• The foreseeing care and guidance
of God or nature over the creatures
of the earth.
• God accomplishing His will
WITHIN natural means
• This too is misunderstood by some
today who say that God has His
hand in every little act we do.
Such removes our free will.
Providence in the Bible
• God’s plan of redemption
• The seed promise – Genesis
3:15, 12:1-3, 2 Samuel 7:12
• Galatians 4:4, the fullness of
time
• Our redemption was in His plans
even before the foundation of
the world – Daniel 2:21-22,
Eph. 3:10-11, Romans 8:28
Providence in the Bible
• Joseph
• Through a series of events, Joseph rises
from slavery to second in power in Egypt
• Later after Israel dies, his brothers fear
retribution.
• Joseph assures them all will be well. “Joseph
said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the
place of God? But as for you, you meant evil
against me; but God meant it for good, in order to
bring it about as it is this day, to save many people
alive.” Genesis 50:19-20
Providence in the Bible
• Esther
• Through a series of events, Esther becomes
queen in Persia and delivers Israel from
destruction.
• Faced with a dilemma to do what was right,
her cousin Mordecai encourages her,
“For if you remain completely silent at this time,
relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from
another place, but you and your father’s house
will perish. Yet who knows whether you have
come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14
Providence in the Bible
• Philemon
• Escaped slave Onesimus finds Paul in Rome
where he is converted to Christ. Paul writes
this letter to Philemon encouraging him to
receive Onesimus back.
• Paul says, “For perhaps he departed for a
while for this purpose, that you might receive
him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a
slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but
how much more to you, both in the flesh and in
the Lord.” Philemon 15-16
Has Providence Ceased?
• God can still work providentially
today
• Numerous passage would have
little meaning to us without His
providential care
• 1 Corinthians 10:13, he will
not all us to be tempted beyond
what we can bear
• James 1:5, if you lack wisdom,
ask of God
Has Providence Ceased?
• God can still work providentially
today
• Matthew 6:25-33, He knows our
needs and can provide
• 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, He is able
to make all grace abound toward you
• 2 Peter 2:9, He knows how to
deliver the godly out of temptation
• Hebrews 12:5-8, the chastening of
God
Has Providence Ceased?
• God can still work providentially
today
• I am convinced that if one is
genuinely searching for the gospel,
someone will find that person and
teach them.
• Exactly how He works today, I
cannot say. Nor can I declare the
degree of His involvement in events.
But He is God and can do what He
needs to do!
Has Providence Ceased?
• Consider prayers
• Philippians 4:6, 7 be anxious for
nothing…let your requests be made
known
• Prayers for our leaders and
circumstances – 1 Tim. 2:2
• Prayers for our brethren- James 5:16
• 1 Peter 3:12, the eyes of the Lord
are one the righteous, and His ears are
open to their prayers
• 1 John 5:14-15, He hears us
Further thoughts on Providence
• However He works, we do NOT surrender
our freewill! He does not micromanage our
lives or the lives of others. He does not
force anyone to obey Him (But He can
accomplish His will)
• The nature of providence is such that we
cannot definitively say some detail was the
hand of God (but often when we look back
we can see that His will prevailed
• Whatever He does, it does not relieve us of
our responsibilities – Matt. 6:33, Phil.
2:12-13
Further thoughts on Providence
• Answered prayer, even
affirmatively, sometimes takes
time.
• Everything that happens is NOT
the work of God. Consider the
example of winning the lottery!
• Give God the glory! 1 Thess.
5:18
Do you trust Him?