A Study of the Doctrine of Providence Pt 23 Providence in the Church

Faith in God’s providence, instead of repressing our energies, excites us to diligence. We labor as if all depended upon us, and then fall back upon the Lord with the calm faith that depends upon him. —C.H. Spurgeon

Much of our study of providence has been examining God’s working in the lives of OT saints. Even much of our study on the incarnation and the crucifixion we spent examining the connection of OT prophecies to the NT fulfillment in Jesus.

One might be tempted to ask the question, does God still work through providential means today in the church age? Is providence still God’s modus operandi, His primary method of operation?

What does the Bible Say?

To answer our question we are going to survey the book of Acts and draw out timeless principles concerning God’s providence. What can we learn of God’s providential working in the early church from the book of Acts?

1. God may intervene directly in the affairs of His church and in the individual lives of His people (Acts 5:1-11; cf. I Corinthians 11:30)

Someone summarize the story of Ananias and Sapphira?

Who struck down Ananias and Sapphira?

Acts 5:9 ESV

9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

What does Peter’s prediction suggest in terms of Jesus’ providential intervention in His church?

Matthew 16:18 ESV

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Who is the ultimate person in charge of building the church?

What effect would it have on our churches—and on our own lives—if Christ governed His church as actively and directly today?

Maybe, He still does. It just takes a trained eye to see His hand of providence!

Revelation 2:4–5 ESV

4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

1 Corinthians 11:30 ESV

30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

2. God is free to alter circumstances in ways that are humanly impossible (Acts 5:17-24)

Volunteer to read?

Acts 5:17–24 ESV

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.

How did God alter circumstances in this story that are humanly impossible?

Does God still do these kind of things today?

Illustrations:

John Paton- pg. 191-192

Rosalind Goforth- pg. 192-194

3. God may preserve or deliver His people through aid even from our enemies (Acts 5:33-40)

Acts 5:27–28 ESV

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

How did the apostles respond?

Acts 5:29 ESV

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:30–32 ESV

30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

How did the council of the Jews take Peter’s words?

Acts 5:33 ESV

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

Enraged- lit. “sawn through” the word figuratively pictures these men as enraged by what they heard. We might say they “came unglued” or (pardon the pun) they were “beside themselves” with rage!

How did God preserve and deliver the apostles? Angle? Miracle? Audible voice from heaven?

Acts 5:34 ESV

34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.

What does Gamaliel do? He urges caution!

Acts 5:35 ESV

35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.

And what is his advice? He counsels restraint in their decision.

Acts 5:38–39 ESV

38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

Why did he counsel caution? Was Gamaliel a believer? Did he believe Peter? There is no evidence of sympathy or inclination toward Christianity; his advice appears to be primarily pragmatic.

God can raise up the most unlikely defenders for His people!

Illustration:

I. B. Kimbrough’s fundraising travels: pg. 195 (top)

Summarize William Tyndale’s story:

4. God may choose not to intervene even in behalf of His choicest servants (Acts 7:54-60)

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Acts 7:54–60 ESV

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

So far we have talked about examples of dramatic deliverance, but God does not always choose to intervene. God allowed Stephen to be martyred. But martyrdom is no less providential than deliverance, and the martyrdom of Stephen was as providentially superintended by God as was the martyrdom of His own Son.

Such details are part of the outworking of God’s all-wise and always good purposes. Remember, God both exercies and withholds His sustaining, preserving providence.

Do you know the names Roger Youderian, Ed McCulley, Nate Saint, Jim Elliott, and Pete Fleming? Jan. 8, 1956 deep jungles of Ecuador lost their lives as missionaries.

Could God have directed them differently? Could God have protected them? Did they commit some act of indiscretion that put them outside the realm of God’s protective providence? Is that even possible? What, then, is the explanation for this “tragedy?”

Have you every head this statement, “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”? Given our current point on providence do you agree with that statement?

A veteran missionary to Colombia, South America, modified that statement as follows: “The most fulfilling, joyful, and peaceful place to be is in the center of God’s will, but it is not necessarily the safest.”

It seems to me that the Bible is full of examples of God’s people often—not occasionally—being placed in unsafe, uncomfortable, and dangerous situations … Most prayers in Scripture focus not on the personal safety and benefit of believer but on the power, majesty, testimony, and victory of God over his—and our—enemies … The Lord calls us to obedience in spite of the ‘costs’—not to personal comfort and safety!

God’s perfect will may not be the “safest” place by any normal human definition—but it is the place of supreme peace and confidence in His providential oversight over all our circumstances.

5. God is capable of working in people we would never expect, even through events that seem to us tragic, senseless, and counterproductive to the cause of Christ (Acts 7:58-8:3)

We already read the account of Stephen being stoned in Acts 7.

Acts 8:1–3 ESV

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Imagine you are reading Acts for the first time. What are your initial thoughts about Saul after you read this account?

Do you think any of the early church believers were praying for Saul (except that God would zap him)?

Acts 7:60 ESV

60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Did any believers suspect God might be working in that man’s self-righteous, hostile, gospel-hating heart?

Think about the last person on this planet you might expect to come to Christ and be used mightly of God.

We have no idea what God might be doing in the hearts and lives of people around you—often in people you might least expect.

6. God uses persecution and affliction to accomplish His purposes for and through us (Acts 8:3-4)

Acts 8:3–4 ESV

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Historically, persecution has been the wind of God's providence to scatter His people and, with them, the seed of the Word.

Nothing in the text indicates that the disciples had been ignoring the commission; quite the contrary.

“What is plain is that the devil (who lurks behind all persecution of the church) over-reached himself. His attack had the opposite effect to what he intended. Instead of smothering the gospel, persecution succeeded only in spreading it.”

7. God may direct us to minister in unpromising places and unlikely situations, with apparently minimal potential, for His own purposes (Acts 8:26-40)

Acts 8:26 ESV

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

God providentially directed Philip to to go where? desert place! Where was Philip currently?

Acts 8:5–6 ESV

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.

Acts 8:25 ESV

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Do you think Philip might have had reason to object to God’s leading? Why go into such a sparsely populated area when God was using him in such great ways in Samaria? By Philip was obedient to the leading of God.

Acts 8:27 ESV

27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship

Whom did Philip meet? An Ethiopian. What was his occupation? He served as royal treasurer in the court of the queen of Ethiopia. Why is this significant? Think of the exponential extension of the gospel well into the African continent through this single “coincidental” meeting out in the middle of nowhere.

By the way did Philip understand or know about the potential future reach of his humble act of obedience to God’s leading? Do you think Philip will be rewarded by Jesus far beyond his imagination one day? Phillip before the bema seat: “I just shared the gospel with one guy in the middle of the wilderness” Jesus’ reply: “Yes, but I used that act of obedience to reach a nation. Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

Acts 8:28 ESV

28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

So the Spirit of God led Philip and the Spirit of God had directed the Ethiopian to a very particular passage of Scripture. Do you know where the Ethiopian was reading? It was in Isaiah.

Acts 8:29–31 ESV

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:32–33 ESV

32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

The fact that the Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53 is wonderfully providential! But it is not only where he was reading but what he was reading that really causes God’s providence to shine! What version of the OT is the Ethiopian reading? Not the Hebrew OT! He most certainly would not have been able to read Hebrew. He was reading the Septuagint—the Green translation of the Hebrew OT. The Greek text in vv. 32-33 is identical to the LXX. It is slightly different from the Hebrew text. (Does that fact teach us anything about the version arguments that plague modern churches?)

How did the Ethiopian obtain a copy of the LXX? God directed people to translate and disperse the OT even to the continent of Africa! How long was this providential meeting of Philip and the Ethiopian prepared for ahead of time by God? Decades, even centuries, in the making!

8. God may intervene in the lives and affairs of people in spectacular, unexpected, extraordinary ways if He chooses (Acts 9:1-8)

Acts 9:4–6 ESV

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

God is free and fully able to break into time and space to intervene in people’s lives. On the road to Damascus was not the first time He had ever done so, nor would it be the last.

Olive Fleming Liefeld: 201-202

9. God can intervene in humanly hopeless, dangerous, and even life-threatening situations (Acts 12:1-19)

Acts 12:1–2 ESV

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword,

Acts 12:3 ESV

3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

How much hope (humanly speaking) does Peter have in prison? What just happened to James?

Acts 12:4 ESV

4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

Not looking too good for Peter.

Acts 12:5 ESV

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

What do you think the church was praying about for Peter? Do you think they were praying for deliverance? The text does not say.

Earlier in Acts 4 the believers were threatened with persecution because they were preaching the gospel.

Acts 4:21 ESV

21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

Did the church pray then for deliverance from persecution or death?

Acts 4:29 ESV

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

No they prayed for boldness!

Acts 12:5 ESV

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Most likely, because James was just executed for his faith, the church is praying for Peter to have boldness to meet his end well.

Acts 12:7 ESV

7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.

God providentially allowed James to be killed for His faith. But here God intervened providentially to spare Peter’s life.

10. God can use human disagreements as the catalyst for diversifying the ministry and more effectively accomplishing His purposes (Acts 15:36-41)

Acts 15:36–41 ESV

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

11. God may close the door on seemingly logical or needful ministries, only to redirect later into the paths of His choosing (Acts 16:6-10)

Acts 16:6–10 ESV

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

12. God may allow us to suffer wrongfully in order to bring us into contact with certain sinners (Acts 16:16-34)

Acts 16:30–31 ESV

30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

13. God is in sovereign control of the elements; natural disasters are His tools to share His purposes (Acts 27-28)

14. God preserves the life of His servants till their work is done (Acts 9:20-25; 9:26-30; 14:1-6; 14:19-20; 21:30-32; 23:12-22; 25:1-6; 27:39-44; 28:1-5)

A Look in the Mirror