Dealing with God’s Providence

1. Dealing with God’s Providence “Divine care” (World Book Dictionary) "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt.6:26) “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1Pet.5:6-7)

2. Dealing with God’s Providence “Divine care” (World Book Dictionary) "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things…” (Acts 17:25) "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.” (Acts 17:28)

3. Dealing with God’s Providence “Divine care” (World Book Dictionary) • Creation & shortly after “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Gen.1:29) "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 17:28) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jn.3:16) "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.” (Gen.9:3) “… for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt.5: 45) • The rain & sunshine • The scheme of redemption

4. Dealing with God’s Providence “Divine care” (World Book Dictionary) Psalms 8:3-4 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? Rom 2:4 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

5. Dealing with God’s Providence “Does God intervene in the affairs of men to make things certain happen, or to work some special plan?” • He has in times past

6. “And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said: ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved nor angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.’” (Gen.45:4-5) “He sent me before them even Joseph, who was sold for a servant” (Psa.105:17)

7. Dealing with God’s Providence “Does God intervene in the affairs of men to make things certain happen, or to work some special plan?” • He has in times past

8. "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?“ (Esth.4:14)

9. Dealing with God’s Providence “Does God intervene in the affairs of men to make things certain happen, or to work some special plan?” “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Phil.4:6) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt.7:7) • He has in times past • Some promises of God seem to necessitate it

10. Dealing with God’s Providence “Does God intervene in the affairs of men to make things certain happen, or to work some special plan?” “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (Js.5:17) “And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (Js. 5:18) Some object! “If there is ‘specific providence’ the laws of nature are less than perfect.” “The age of miracles has ended.” 1Kgs.18:42 Col.4:3 Matt.6:11

11. Dealing with God’s Providence “Does God intervene in the affairs of men to make things certain happen, or to work some special plan?” Can YOU know?

12. "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?“ (Esth.4:14)

13. Dealing with God’s Providence “Does God intervene in the affairs of men to make things certain happen, or to work some special plan?” “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,” (Philemon 1:15) Can YOU know? 1. God doesn’t speak today apart from His Word 2. The purpose for evil is not always clear 3. Some things happen not because of God, but because of Satan--- ill. Job 4. Some things happen because of intervention and some things are the laws of nature--- 2Kgs.19:35

14. Dealing with God’s Providence How to be where God wants you to be when God want you to be there. Always do what is right! Be more concern with what you do than why things happen as they do.

15. Dealing with God’s Providence You can’t determine where you stand with God just by the happenings of life. In some things we know God’s will for us. God doesn’t make us do right.

16. "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?“ (Esth.4:14)

17. Dealing with God’s Providence Why are you here?