Not Tragedy, Rather Providence!
Notes
Transcript
This morning I want us to consider these most important words from the apostle Paul. These words contain the Biblical foundation for any believer to turn apparant hopless tragedies into events of joyfull confident trust. I want to talk to you this morning about the Bible doctrine of providence.
“The Providence of God is the bedrock belief that enables us to confidently encounter life’s tragedies, triumphs, and perplexities.”
What do we mean when we talk about God’s providence?
It is the idea that God rules the events of our lives, and He either directly causes those events or He allows those events, in such a way as to accomplish His will and bring Him glory.
Farmer- land is in peril because of lack of rain. As a last ditch effort one night he decides to pray and begs God to send rain before all his corn is lost. And that night the heavens are opened and it rains and rains. The farmer falls on his knees and cries out to God and worships and thanks God for answering his prayer.
However, the local weather man hears about this and thinks that for the last four days he has been watching a low pressure weather system develop and move arross the Rocky Mountains in such a way that only now, four days later, it started to rain.
Who is right? They both are right. God indeed answered the farmers prayer, but God in his providence ordered the creation in such a way before the prayer was even uttered to move that low pressure system into place in order for there to be rain. This is the idea of God’s providence.
It is different that God working through miracles. In miracles God bends the laws of the natural universe to to accomplish his will (causes the sun to stand still, parts the red sea, raises the dead). Most of the time in our day God works through providence, that is he works in the natural laws of the univers in the natural rythems and courses of life. But God orders everything, providentually, to accomplish His will.
“Providence is the beneficnet outworking of God’s sovereignty, whereby all events are directed and disposed to bring about those purposes of glory and good for which the universe was made. These events include the actions of free agents, which while remaining free, personal and resonsible are also the intended actions of those agents. Providence thus encompases both natural and personal events, setting them alike within the purpose of God.”
“Providence is the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill, He upholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstances, and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goal, for his own glory.”
What I want to do this morning is prove to you that the Apostle Paul found joy even in tragic events because of his unceasing confidence in the doctrine of providence.
And if you will agree and believe in God’s providence it can become for you a bedrock beliefe that will enable you to live a joyful life even through tradgedies, triumps, and perpelexities.
In fact, there are several real world examples that have been hapening in our church that I very much want to draw your attention to this morning. If we can see the trials in our church through the eyes of God’s providence we will be able to go through them with joy and God will receive the glory that He deserves.
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
12Γινώσκειν δὲ ὑμᾶς βούλομαι, ἀδελφοί,
But I want you to know, brothers,
ὅτι τὰ κατʼ ἐμὲ
that the things that have happened to me
μᾶλλον εἰς προκοπὴν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐλήλυθεν,
have actually happened/resulted (pef, act, indic), unto the advance of the gospel
Paul is sitting in a dungeon and he is in chains and he is lifting up his chains for you to view this morning. And Paul is saying this, “I know many of you would view these chains as a tragedy, but rather the things that have happened to me have actually resulted unto the advance of the gospel.”
What is Paul doing? He is acknowledging and trusting in the complete providence of God. God has caused or allowed everything in my life to happen in such a way that now I am in chains- think about the path that God led the Apostle Paul on to lead him to Rome! We don’t have time, but I would encourage you to re-read Acts 21-28. These eight chapters describe in detail all of the events that God guided and goverened over to lead Paul to the prison cell in Rome so that Paul could write Philippians 1:12.
And it was Paul’s unwavering belief in God’s providence that allowed him to pen Philippians 1:18.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
How could Paul- sitting in a dungeon in chains- under the inspiriation of the Holy Spirit pen the words- “and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice!”?
In what way did Paul view his chains as advancing the gospel? And how did Paul’s understanding of God’s providence help him rejoice in his imprisonment?
Sometimes God allows tragic events to happen so that the gospel might reach previously unreachable people groups
Sometimes God allows tragic events to happen so that the gospel might reach previously unreachable people groups
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
13ὥστε τοὺς δεσμούς μου φανεροὺς ἐν Χριστῷ γενέσθαι
So that my imprisonment for Christ has become known
ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πάσιν,
in the whole imperial guard and to all the rest,
Every interaction becomes an opportunity for a redemptive relationship- Everytime a guard went on duty in Paul’s prison cell it became an redemptive opportunity. Eventually, Paul impacted the entire imperial guard (9000 of Ceasar’s elite guard).
Chains might be a tradgey to some and a hinderance to the gospel, but Paul knew that God either causes or allows everything to happen in our lives and He is providentially using those things for good. God guides and governs all events, circumstances, and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goal, for his own glory.”
Example- Nate and Merriellen, their story is known throughout the whole cardiac unit and NICU unit.
Refutation- It seems rather unjust of God to allow tragedy into our lives so that His purposes might be accomplished.
My answer- that argument only makes sense the moment we stop thinking with an eternal perspective.
19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
When we shall come home and enter to the possession of our Brother’s fair kingdom, and when our heads shall find the weight of the eternal crown of glory, and when we shall look back to pains and sufferings; then shall we see life and sorrow to be less than one step or stride from a prison to glory; and that our little inch of timesuffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to heaven. —Samuel Rutherford
We smell of the smoke of this lower house of the earth, because our hearts and our thoughts are here. If we could mount up with God, we should smell of heaven and of our country above, and we should look like our country, and like strangers or people not born or brought up hereaway.20 Our crosses would not bite upon us, if we were heavenly minded. —Samuel Rutherford
How did Paul’s understanding of God’s providence help him rejoice in his imprisonment?
Sometimes God allows tragic events to happen in order to cause other believers to become joyfully obedient to the commands of Christ
Sometimes God allows tragic events to happen in order to cause other believers to become joyfully obedient to the commands of Christ
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
14καὶ τοὺς πλείονας τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐν κυρίῳ
And the majority of the brothers in the Lord
πεποιθότας τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου
having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment
περισσοτέρως τολμᾶν ἀφόβως τὸν λόγον λαλεῖν.
(are) much more bold without fear to speak the word.
How did Paul’s imprisonment advance the gospel? First, God gave Paul an opportunity to reach the whole imperial guard with the gospel. And second, because Paul faced his improsnment with joy. Because Paul rested his faith in the bedrock of God’s providence- other believers in Rome were encouraged to do the same thing. Other Christians became confident and bold and the fear that had kept them from sharing the gospel fell away- so that many Christians begane to speak the word!
And not only in Rome! Why do you think Paul is sharing this testimony with the Philippians?
Do you remember v. 7?
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Most likely, the Philippians were being imprisoned for the sake of the gospel just as Paul was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel. And if God in His providence used Paul’s imprisonment in such a way- 9,000 elite Roman soldiers heard the gospel. The believer’s in the church at Rome emboldened to speak the word! Do you think that testimony would have an effect on the Philippians? If God’s grace can use Paul’s imprisonment- just imagine what God’s grace can do through your imprisonment Philippians? Keep on keeping on! Don’t be weary in well doing!
Illustration- Jeremy and Sarah Hatch (Video), this is exactly what we want the Hatch’s video to accomplish this morning!
Video
Earlier this year in January I just gave a spoken testimony of the Hatch’s story at the Pastor’s fellowship- I had many people come up to me and tell me how impacted they were just hearing their story. Imagine what this video could do to stir up other believers for the great commission? Imagine the impact this testiony could have on unbeleivers.
Refutation Is sacrificing our lives worth it?
Apparently Paul thought so:
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
And so did Jesus:
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
How soon will some few years pass away, and then when the day is ended, and this life’s lease expired, what have men of the world’s glory, but dreams and thoughts? O happy soul for evermore, who can rightly compare this life with that long-lasting life to come, and can balance the weighty glory of the one with the light golden vanity of the other. —Samuel Rutherford
How did Paul’s understanding of God’s providence help him rejoice in his imprisonment?
Sometimes God allows tragic events to happen so that the gospel might reach previously unreachable people groups
Sometimes God allows tragic events to happen in order to cause other believers to become joyfully obedient to the commands of Christ
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
If you will agree and believe in God’s providence it can become for you a bedrock belief that will enable you to live a joyful life even through tradgedies, triumps, and perpelexities.