Supernatural Providence: God Directs (2)
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Does God really protect us? Does he really keep us safe? If we look around us we see terrible things happen, and Christians are not excluded. Can we really expect God to protect us?
Intro
Intro
Illus: Lorena Barrow
No doubt Lorena had a rough life, especially physically
8 different cancers, with 11 episodes
2 near death experiences
1 10 days to live (1960s)
We live in this life where at first glance it seems that God does not rescue his people
Church shooting in Texas - Did God protect those people
Proposal: God does protect and preserve his people
Drama
Drama
God has a plan for his people
Jesus in R-H plan of God
God’s Story
Proposal: God keeps his people safe and will rescue them
God’s people hear his voice
They hear
God visits Joseph with an Angel
They listen
They respond
The Wicked plot and rebel against God’s Plan
They do not hear
Wise men saw a star
Joseph heard an angel
They cannot listen
They respond with animosity and rebellion
Joseph does as he is told and flees
Herod responded by destroying children
God’s plan of salvation cannot be thwarted by any creature
Herod tried to eliminate Jesus
Rome
Illus: Saint Nicholas
Bishop of Myra in the late 200’s
Herrod begins to do the worst
Imprisoned under the rule of Diocletian 284-305
Exiled and imprisoned
Doctrine
Doctrine
God keeps his people saved to the end to fulfill the goal of worship
He protects us from the wicked
They do not win in the end
Revelation tells us that wicked will curse God all the way to hell
Rev 16-19 the Spiritual battle between Jesus and the Woman BabylonSeven Bowls of God’s WrathPoured out on mankind
ESVThe fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish
He protects us from the wicked
They do not win in the end
Yet, the chosen are preserved and saved to the endAs the angel tells John what he is seeing, he says
Revelation tells us that wicked will curse God all the way to hell
ESVAnd the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
They hear
God visits Joseph with an Angel
the Spiritual battle between Jesus and the Woman Babylon
The end result of this war is one thing:Worship of God -
They listen
ESVAfter this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
They respond
Poured out on mankind
This all ends with the marriage super of the LambHerod, a part of the kingdom against God, who is seeking to plot against the rebel Jesus, cannot win this victory God’s plan of salvation prevailsGod saves his peopleThis is why we worship - God has called you out of spiritual death and brought you to life, and he will preserve you until the end.Nothing, not even Hell itself can take you from God’s salvation through Jesus Christ
The Wicked plot and rebel against God’s Plan
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish
They do not hear
Wise men saw a star
Yet, the chosen are preserved and saved to the end
Joseph heard an angel
They cannot listen
As the angel tells John what he is seeing, he says
They respond with animosity and rebellion
And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Herod responded by destroying children
The end result of this war is one thing:
Worship of God -
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
-24
This all ends with the marriage super of the Lamb
Herod, a part of the kingdom against God, who is seeking to plot against the rebel Jesus, cannot win this victory
God’s plan of salvation prevails
God saves his people
This is why we worship - God has called you out of spiritual death and brought you to life, and he will preserve you until the end.
Nothing, not even Hell itself can take you from God’s salvation through Jesus Christ
God’s plan of salvation cannot be thwarted by any creature
Herod tried to eliminate Jesus
Rome
Diocletian tried to
Illus: Saint Nicholas
Bishop of Myra in the late 200’s
Imprisoned under the rule of Diocletian 284-305
Exiled and imprisoned
Doxology
Doxology
Illus: Saint Nicholas
Bishop of Myra in the late 200’s
Imprisoned under the rule of Diocletian 284-305
Exiled and imprisoned
Why persecution, why suffering in this life?
To bring Glory to God? How?
When one remains faithful to the end to God, even in persecution, and faith is a gift from God, then God receives the glory.
God produces faith - faith helps us endure - endurance glorifies God
Saint Nicholas was released from Prison and continued to serve God and his Kingdom
When we respond to the faith within us and operate out of that faith, this life actually becomes easier to endure - not easier to live, the persecution the pain the suffering are all a prat of this life, but the enduring of that pain is easier
God gives us faith to endure until the end
God raises us to spiritual life
God moved Joseph through faith
Herrod then executes his wicked plan in hopes to thwart
God will raise us to a new glorified state in the future
How do we know this?
He did so in Jesus Christ , who is our first fruits!
All
God rest you Merry Gentlemen!
How is it that we can rest? We know that God will keep us until that great Marriage Super of the Lamb and for all eternity!