God’s Providence in Action

Introduction

John Piper - Providence = the act of purposefully providing for, or sustaining and governing the world

God is in control, even when it seems like he is not

if God is not in control of all things in all places then there are some things in which he cannot control and thus he is not God

we tend to understand this when things go as we think they should

when they seem out of control or not going as we think, we begin to wonder if it is true

Isaiah 55:8–9 CSB

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. 9 “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Acts 23:10–35 CSB

10 When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.” 12 When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who had formed this plot. 14 These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won’t eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him.” 16 But the son of Paul’s sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, “What is it you have to report to me?” 20 “The Jews,” he said, “have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him. 21 Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush—men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have informed me about this.” 23 He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote the following letter: 26 Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27 When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28 Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. 29 I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence. 31 So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered. 32 The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. 33 When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 After he read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here.” He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.

PRAY!

Remember what all believers have been called to do, speak the gospel. He will take care of giving us opportunity and that his purposes are accomplished.

Assurance of Jesus Gives Us Strength

We like assurance or to be reassured

are we going the right way

even when we have GPS on, if we have not been there before, we are checking to make sure the computer knows where it is going, or even that it is going the best way

Heather and I did this just the other day

GPS led us to a place, and was leading us back, we did not remember one road, so we rechecked, does Siri really know the best way to go, or is it sending us the right way at all

so Heather stops and restarts it, looks at the map and finds out, ok Siri knew what she was doing

Acts 23:10–11 CSB

10 When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”

Every person of God goes through trials

we tend to think that hard times means that we are out of God’s will

we look for red flags, and if difficulty comes, we claim that is God telling us not to go, not to do, or not to continue

we even doubt that others are listening to God because they continue in difficult situations

we are all guilty of this…

share story of Pastor who after 30 years at his church said that year 30 was the most difficult

Expecting easiness because of obedience is looking for a reward

we are no different than an animal that has been trained

we obey and expect a treat

Scripture is full of passages that say we will go through trials

James 1:2 “2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,”

Hebrews 12:7–8 “7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

Think of the man that had been blind since birth

John 9:3 “3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.”

We run from the suffering and pain so often that we miss the comfort of the Lord that comes through those times

I am guessing Paul felt as if he failed

He had come to Jerusalem as the Spirit had directed him

even though he knew he would be arrested

yet, when speaking to the Jews, they did not believe him

only shouted all the more that he should die

when he went to the Sanhedrin, they did not believe him either

in this moment, I think we see Paul down

we have not seen him like this

he has always seemed so bold and strong

even through stoning, beatings and plots he has boldly continued to proclaim the gospel

yet in this moment of suffering, the Lord appears to him

Acts 23:11 CSB

11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”

Have courage = take heart, cheer up!

I know that you are suffering, I see you…

you have done what I have asked, and testified in Jerusalem, now you will do the same in Rome

The Lord’s Ways are not Our Ways

tell the story of the plot to kill Paul

who are the Zealots

people who hated Rome, wanted to end their occupation of Israel

they did not think that the Jewish leaders were doing enough to push back against Rome

they desperately wanted the Messiah to come and set up his kingdom, overthrow Rome

they really wanted him to come and set everything up in their version of right

What was the plan

no food or water until Paul was dead

now we do not know if they were released of this when Paul was moved by the Romans

but we know they are all dead now

instruct the Sanhedrin to have Paul brought back to them

ambush him and his guards

killing a couple Romans with Paul would be an added Bonus

these are just like today’s suicide bombers

Paul’s nephew hears of the plan

he tells Paul, who gets him an audience with the commander

the commander sends Paul to Caesarea to the Governor with an armed escort

he about let this Roman citizen die before, he was not going to let that happen now

A No-Name Person Saves Paul

We did not know that Paul had a sister until now

we did not know that Paul had a nephew until now

we do not know how the nephew found out about the plot

yet the Lord saves Paul through this no named boy (probably a teenager)

yet imprisoned by the Romans we get some of the best parts of scripture many of Paul’s letters were written while he was in chains

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon

imagine meeting him in heaven… who are don’t worry about my name, you would know me if I told it to you

I am Paul’s nephew, all I did was tell Paul about the plot, then nobody ever heard from me again

This is who God uses all the time to do his work

we in this room are not famous people

talk about being TBD for Super Summer

A Non-religious Government Gives Security

So not only does God use no named people to bring about his will, he can, will and does use other nations that do not believe or follow him

read of the exile in the OT and you see nations that God is using to bring about punishment on the Israelites

yet here, he is not using them to bring about punishment, but security

Acts 23:23–24 CSB

23 He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.”

I am not a math major, but that seems like 470 people to guard Paul and keep him secure

the 40 men would have no chance, even if they found out that Paul was being taken out of town

some believe that the word translated as spearman is translated improperly,

that those are other horses used to carry or to exchange out when the ones being ridden are tired

so there were only 270? either way Paul is riding out of Jerusalem in complete security

The God who holds the whole world in his hands, is not limited…

there is nothing that he cannot use and does not use for his glory

Think of the Romans for just a second…

the people that Satan thought that he would bring in to crush God’s people; they survived.

the people that Satan thought would kill the messiah; he rose!

the people that Satan thought would stop God’s message and they are now escorting its messenger to safety

is there anything in your life that God cannot overcome

may we not limit God in our unbelief of what he can or cannot use for his glory.

A Prophecy Fulfilled

We must be careful with prophecy

Realize what we are saying if we proclaim a prophecy

heard one man say this is a prophecy, now lets pray that it comes true

no if it is a prophecy, then God will bring it about and there is nothing you could do to stop it

Realize that often, prophecy does not come about like people think it will

use the messiah for an example, many thought they knew exactly what and who the messiah would be when he came

caused them to miss him,

but they were very confident in the belief

they were educated in their opinions, they read a lot of scripture

they were simply wrong in their understanding

we too must be careful with the remaining prophecy about Jesus’ return

God will fulfill prophecy in his way in his time…

Acts 9:15–16 CSB

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

this message was undoubtedly passed on to Paul as the scales fell from his eyes and his sight returned

you may be wondering where the fulfilled prophecy is in this

Paul has already gone to the Gentiles as we looked at his three missionary journeys

Paul has preached the gospel to the Israelites, they wanted to kill him for it

now the Kings

Paul sent to Felix

Felix is the governor of Judea, assigned by the Roman Emperor

he received this position because his brother was a very high ranking official in Rome with the emperor

he ruled for 7-8 years in Caesarea

had three wives first wife was the grand daughter of Anthony and Cleopatra, 3rd wife was the daughter of Herod Agrippa

Paul does not get this audience on his own

left to ourselves and wishful thinking, we would love to think that because of my obedience and the wonderful message that I am giving, Kings would desire to hear me speak

I could amaze them by my oratory skills, convince them of their need for the gospel and the salvation it brings

instead, in humility, Paul is sent with a self serving letter from the commander and in chains is sent to the governor

This is the life of a believer

obedient to the call to share the gospel where God has placed you

living a life that glorifies him, not one that works to earn the blessings of a “good” life

because his ways are not our ways, he measurement of success is not ours as well

live a life of faith not by merits, live by faith not by sight

Discussion Questions

What is providence?

Why do we sometimes question if God is in control, especially in difficult circumstances?

Why should we not expect an easy life just because we obey God?

What is the significance of Paul being sent to Felix as a prisoner rather than an esteemed speaker?

In what ways can we apply the assurance God provides in our own trials and challenges?

What role does the concept of trials and suffering play in a believer's journey?

what is the difference between God's perspective and human understanding about challenges?

What are examples that demonstrate God’s control over non-believing authorities?

How does Paul's experience in Acts serve as an example of living by faith rather than by sight?

What themes from the sermon can encourage believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite adversity?