Sermon Tone Analysis

Do you believe that God is directly involved in the affairs of man?

Do you believe that he is actively working in the world today?

Or, even more important, do you believe that God is actively working in your life today?

Many believe that he is not.

Sadly, there are Christians in America today who believe in God, but who do not believe that he is involved in their life nor that he is concerned with their life.

The old heresy of deism has crept back into American culture.

It is the belief that God created the earth and all that is in it, and then stepped back to see what would happen.

He watches, but he is uninvolved and unconcerned.

This uninvolved and unconcerned God is not the God of the Scriptures.

The Bible is clear in its teaching that God is presently, always has been, and will continue to be intimately, directly and sovereignly involved in his creation—including the lives of men.

This of course begs the question “Why?”

Why would an infinite and all-powerful God want to be involved in the lives of puny and impotent, and sinful men?

Why is God at work in my life?

Why is God at work in your life?

God is at work in your life, and God is at work in my life, and God is at work in His world for one purpose—and that is to glorify and exalt Himself.

Listen to the apostle Paul as he writes to the believers at Ephesus:

/“And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”/

(Ephesians 1:9-12, NIV)

When we consider the Doctrine of the Providence of God there is no better verse to contemplate and meditate on then Romans 8:28

*/"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."/

KJV

Here we see four laws concerning God’s providential workings in His creation.

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I. THE LAW OF OPERATION: /“All things work . . .

“/

#. when I read the writings of Christians from earlier centuries I am struck by the multitude of references to God’s providence

#. it seems as though prior to the twentieth century, Christians were more keenly in tune with the providence of God in their lives than we are

#. the Doctrine of Providence is something believers need to study and understand

#. the we know of this verse carries the meaning of can know

#. tragically, many Christians live lives of quiet desperation, uncertain that God really is in control

#. the Bible teaches us that we can know with certainty that God is in control

#. that lets us walk in confidence and hope, taking God at His word

#. we do not believe in luck or fate or chance

#. there are no blind, impersonal forces at work in human history or human lives

#. all things are brought to pass by the invisible hand of God’s providential workings

#. according to Romans 8:28 All things work and all things work because God is active in His universe

#. what God creates, He also sustains

* /“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”/

(Colossians 1:16-17, NIV)

#. the universe is not only dependent upon God for its origin, it depends upon God for its continuity of existence

#. the universe can neither exist nor operate by its own power

#.

God upholds all things and holds all things together by His power

!! A. GOD IS AT WORK THROUGH GENERAL PROVIDENCE

#. all of humanity shares physical blessings irrespective of their individual relationship with God

* /" . . .

your Father who is in heaven; . . .

causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."/

(Matthew 5:45, NASB95)

#. the central point of the doctrine of providence is the stress on God’s government of the universe

#.

He rules His creation with absolute sovereignty and authority

#. not a single molecule anywhere in the universe moves without God’s knowledge or permission

#.

He governs everything that comes to pass, from the greatest to the least

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nothing ever happens beyond the scope of His sovereign providential rule

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His government extends over nature

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He makes the rain to fall and the sun to shine

* /"He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart.

The trees of the Lord are full of sap, The cedars of Lebanon which He planted, Where the birds make their nests; The stork has her home in the fir trees."/

(Psalm 104:14-17, NKJV)

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His government extends over earthly kingdoms

#.

He raises up kingdoms and brings them down

* /"Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding."/

(Daniel 2:20-21, NASB95)

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His government extends over the lives of men

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He numbers the hairs on our head and the days of our life

* /“Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

“Like a flower he comes forth and withers.

He also flees like a shadow and does not remain . . .

Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

“Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day like a hired man."/

(Job 14:1-6, NASB95)

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God is at work through general providence

!! B. GOD IS AT WORK THROUGH SPECIAL PROVIDENCE

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God’s special providence is the working of events that seek to specifically accomplish His will in the lives of His people

* /"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread."/

(Psalm 37:23-25, NKJV)

#. sometimes that even means that God may allow evil people to commit evil acts against His children

* /"Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”

When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.

He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt."/

(Genesis 45:4-8, NIV)

#. the root meaning of the word providence has two meanings – /“to see in advance or beforehand,”/ or /“to provide for”/

#. it implies that God is actively at work orchestrating the affairs of this world and guiding them toward their divinely predetermined end for the believer’s ultimate benefit

* /"For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God."/ (2 Corinthians 4:15, NKJV)

#. this is an amazing verse to me

#. the Apostle Paul tells us that all things – not some things, not a few things – but all things that take place in this world are done for the sake of God’s people, and for the spreading of the Gospel of grace, and for the glory of God

#. and yet, God accomplishes His will in such a way that does not deny man the ability to make true, independent choices

#.

All things work

#. this divine, sovereign, and benevolent control of all things by God is the underlying premise of everything that is taught in the Scriptures

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II.

THE LAW OF COOPERATION: “All things work together . . .

“

#. according to Romans 8:28 All things work and all things work because God is active in His universe

#. every time God does something, He does it or allows it in order that the next event on His cosmic calendar that might occur

#. as these seemingly isolated events occur they all come together to form the picture that God is working on

#. and, according to Eph. 1:11, He accomplishes all these things after the counsel of his own will

#. in other words, God does not call together a council of angel and ask, /“OK, what do you guys think I ought to do next?”?