Gods Providence in the Life of the Believer.
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Introduction:
As Believers, we who who have been redeemed of the Lord, it is vital that we learn, and study deeply this solitary attribute of our Lord, for it is this attribute of our Lord that could be likened to a flowing river constantly and ever running to bring us new and refreshing graces for each heartache of life. It is this attribute of our Heavenly Father that indeed makes Him fatherly to us. It is this attribute of Him that enables us to bravely take up the sword and shield, and yield it in the battle verses the wicked one and his servants knowing that our Captain has already won the victory and we go, and fight in Him, and through Him, and for Him, knowing that we fight an already won battle. It this attribute of Him that prompts us to live an obedient life knowing that, because in sovereignty He first loved and chose me, now I through Him, live a loving and obedient life for Him, knowing that the same God who saved me is the same God who keeps me, even when I feel weak and as if I could not take another step, I know that in my weakness His strength is made perfect. It is this attribute of Him that tells me the story of how He ransomed and bought my soul, which leads to holy living. May we never forget this attribute of our Lord, for it this attribute of Him that is the very centre of our Christian life and that allows us to be as Job, that being when faced with difficult times it is able to be said of us that in all this we sinned not. Why, because we know that whatever happens to us it was planned and ordained by the Almighty who loves us and has saved us from the biggest problem we could ever dream of having, an eternity burning in the flames of Hell. May we trust Him today, the One who gives and takes away, He alone is worthy of it.
I. God’s Providence (vs. 11)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
God’s promise to Israel in verse 10 reminds us that while God was the one who put them in captivity, because of their sins, He still remembered them and promised to keep His covenant with them.
No matter what we go through in life; even if it is a self-inflicted problem, God never forgets His promises.
It was through the fact that God operates through sovereign providence that Israel, and we, can have confidence in His promises.
Just what do I mean when I speak about God’s Providence.
Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth Divine Providence
Divine providence is God’s preserving his creation, operating in every event in the world, and directing the things in the universe to his appointed end for them.
So when I speak of Gods providence, I am saying it is God working the things in this universe to His appointed will.
When things here on this go wrong, we as humans tend to doubt this attribute of God.
To our sure demise that is.
Because no matter what happens in this world.
Good or bad.
Beautiful or ugly.
Painful or soothing.
We as believers need to know that it is all lovingly and sovereignly controlled by our God.
Who, by the way, already knew it was going to happen.
He is controlling it.
He is the one who willed it.
I do not know about you.
i dont know about you, but
But I would much rather go through all the events in my life knowing, good or bad, they are all willed and controlled by my God who loves me, and wants the very best for me.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8
So just what is the scope of Gods providence?
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
PSALM 103
So one scope of Gods control and providence is well, the whole universe.
We could really stop here in satisfaction.
But the Bible tells us of more.
The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
PSALM 104:
Yet here is another example of Gods control and providence.
Animals.
Our God even controls the animals.
They look to Him for their food.
And He only is the supplier of it.
He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
Job 12
Here is another one, and this is a big one.
The nations.
God is the one who makes great, or destroys nations.
He is the one who makes them large, or easily crushable by their lack of size and strength.
He controls them, He controls our nation.
Here is another, and this is good.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
psalm 139
YOUR LIFE!
Even before you were born was planned and controlled by your loving, heavenly father.
Your successes, your failures.
Your joys and heartaches.
Triumphs and tragedies.
All lovingly and graciously planned by Gods great love and providence.
Even the things that don’t seem important are controlled by Him.
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
matt
He knows and has count of even the very hairs on your head.
So even things that are seemingly unimportant are in His control.
And they are important to Him.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
pss
Whats another thing we can have faith in of Gods providence?
His protection of His people.
We rise up and lay down in His constant care.
He watches us continually and lovingly.
And with a heart of compassion, He protects our hearts from the cares of this life.
Not by keeping us from them.
But by equipping us with the strength to face them.
Day by day with our walk with Him.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Yet here is another.
God shows the scope of His providence in His ability to answer our prayer.
Because the contents of our prayers are things the Lord already knows will or will not happen.
So God can answer our prayers, one because He is God.
And two because He is the one willing what will or will not happen.
He may not always answer in the way you pray.
But remember His ways are higher than our ways.
And His thoughts higher than ours.
So here we see Gods providence and the very scope of that providence.
That being, EVERYTHING.
And these things
God providentially controls everything.
He is the very maker of it.
Ge is the controller of it.
So we as Christians can have faith in Gods promises.
Why?
Because we have faith in the providence that controls those vary promises.
That same providence that controls all theses things I mentioned, and so much more.
That is the same providence that controls the promises He makes toward you.
And just what our the promises He made.
That He knows the plans He has toward you.
Just as He did not forget Israel, He has not forgotten you.
He knows His plans for you.
You don’t have to fear.
Just as He promised peace and not evil toward Israel, so does He toward you.
Trust Him with your life.
The One who already knows the contents of it.
But may we not take our the providence of God in our lives as a “Do whatever I want card.”
Which takes us to our next point.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
jer 29
4t
II. Mans Pleading (vs.12)
We as believers need to daily call upon our God for His guidance and strength.
We need to come to our God boldly before His throne of Grace.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We, as children of the King have the right to come to our masters throne.
We need to make a steady diet of doing this.
It is not just a request it is a command for believers to pray.
Charles Spurgeon speak on the importance of prayer by saying:
The forsaking of our closets is decline of all spiritual life.
So as believers when we forsake a diet of prayer in our lives, we should not be surprised when all spiritual life and zeal follows.
How else do we as believers expect to know Gods plans, or promises He has made toward us if we are not having fellowship with Him in prayer.
So in order to know these promises we need to be Christians of devout prayer.
Also we see.
III.Mans Path (vs.12)
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
MacArthur, J., & Mayhue, R. (Eds.). (2017). Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (p. 218). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.ath
Here we are commanded to come to our Lord.
Again by prayer.
But also by walking in a life of holy service to Christ.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
We as Christians are commanded to present ourselves holy and right before our God.
Walking holy before Him, by walking with Him.
Obeying His commandments.
Reading His Word.
And not just reading it, but living it, through His strength.
We are to walk as holy lights in this unholy dark world.
We can only do this by coming to our Master and in doing so learnning to walk right.
Do not be of this world but be separated from it.
rom 12
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
As Christians we need to not merely walk as closely to the line of godliness and un-godliness as we can without going over it.
But we need to flee from that line.
Further from the world, and closer to Christ.
We need to walk right.
In doing so we can be assured of knowing the will and plans of God in our life.
So if we call out to Him and walk rightly before Him what can we be assured of?
That takes us to our final point.
Gods perception (vs 12d.13)
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
jer 29:12-
By Gods perception i mean His answering of our prayers.
When we seek our Lord rightly, He promises us that we will find Him.
We need to seek the Master in everything we do as believers.
We need to turn to Him and not this world for guidance.
He should be our standard of what is right to do or what is wrong to do.
We need to seek Him. FIRST!
And not just haphazardly, but we are told to seek Him with our whole hearts.
Then and only then will He be found of us.
Then and only then will we know His plans for us.
Then and only then we He hear us.
And show us great things which we know not.
So as Christians may we daily strive through the power of Christ to daily pray for our Lords guidance, walk closely to Him, and seek Him in everything we do,so that we may know His promises and plans in our life.
Some of you in this room, as believers, can hear this message and bless God for His leading and providence in your life.
Some of you in this room, as believers, could claim these promises, but yet are not walking in such a way where you can receive it, if that be you I would encourage you to get those things settled before the Lord so that you may know His leading on your life.
But with the vast majority of number and age in this room, surely there is at least one in here that can not claim these promises at all, because they have not, by faith believed on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for their Salvation, if that be you this morning, run to the cross and their and only their find your forgiveness and freedom.
I would encourage you to get a hold of one of your teachers if that be you this morning and have them show you just how you can know that your child of the King, and by this know His leading in your life.