The Providence of God

1
The Providence of God

• Esther 414
• who knoweth whether thou art come to the
  kingdom for such a time as this?

2
The Limited Commission, Matthew 10

• Limited in two ways
• 1. Didnt send to all the world, Matt. 2819-20
• 2. Couldnt preach death, burial, resurrection
• They were told
• Go teach what they are told, vs. 20
• Go shout it from the roof tops, vs. 27
• Go face hatred, persecution, vs. 22-23
• vs. 16,Sent as sheep in the midst of wolves
• Yet they were told to go without fear
• Matthew 1026-28, Fear them not

3
Question to Consider

• Matthew 1029-31, Are not two sparrows sold for
  a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the
  ground without your Father. But the very hairs
  of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not
  therefore, ye are of more value than many
  sparrows.
• If God watches over sparrows,
• will he not watch over us?
• There is a caveat
• Matthew 1032-33, whosoever therefore

4
Lessons Learned From Job

• God doesnt send evil on His followers
• God oversees and controls the universe
• God uses our lives to accomplish His will
• It's been said, "There doesn't seem to be much
  reason for worshiping a God who has made the
  world, and is effectually shut out from all
  participation in its management."

5
Universe Designed to Show Gods Love

• Ordinary things
• Air, Water, Food Cycle, Birth, and LIFE
• All evidence of Gods Providence
• Acts 1724-28, Paul In Athens said, God gives
  all life, breath all things.
• Matthew 634, Take no thought for the morrow
  for the morrow shall take thought for the things
  of itself, Sufficient unto the day is the evil
  there of.
• Reasonable to think God will care of us?

6
Providence of God Relates to Prayer

• Hebrews 416, The Holy Spirit says, "Let us...
  come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
  obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
  need."
• James 16, ask in faith, nothing wavering. For
  he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven
  with the wind and tossed.
• Matthew 7 7-8, Ask, Seek, Find
• Matthew 79-11, God decides whats good

7
God Always Answers Our Prayers

• Sometimes Yes
• Sometimes No
• Matt. 79, What man is there of you, whom if his
  son ask bread, will give him a stone?
• Sometimes Not yet, or In His Time
• Sometimes In His Ways, Different
• Airport Example
• Gods Providence?
• Who Knows for sure? Only God!
• No single event can tell us for sure

8
Prayer Can Cause God to Change

• James 516, effectual fervent prayer of a
  righteous man availeth much.
• Exodus 329-14, Moses with God not to consume the
  people for building the idol
• Vs 14, And the LORD repented of the evil
  (relented of the harm) which he thought to do
  unto his people.
• 2nd Kings 201-6, Healing of Hezekiah
• Vs 5, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy
  tears behold, I will heal thee

9
Story of Joseph, Genesis Chapters 32-50

• Jacob 12 Sons
• Joseph Favorite Son
• Brothers Jealous
• Sold Him into bondage, proclaimed his death
• Bought by Potiphar in Egypt
• Chase by Potiphars wife
• Cast into prison, lied to , rejected
• Interprets dreams of famine
• God where are you? How could this be?

10
Story of Joseph, Genesis Chapters 32-50

• Prime Minister of Egypt
• From slave to Pharaohs right hand man
• Oversees 7 years of Plenty and the Famine
• Jacob Sends Sons to Egypt
• Shoe on other foot for brothers
• Brothers and Father unite
• Family of 70 plus moves to Egypt
• Gods providence?
• Did all go Josephs way?
• Was Gods will done?

11
Gods Providence is Well and Alive

• Romans 828, ...ALL things work together for
  good to those who love God, to those who are
  the called according to his purpose.
• Doesnt say it will be easy
• Doesnt say all evil will be turned to good
• There will be Ups and Downs in Life
• Family, Friends, Foes, Fellow Christians
• The Providence of God song by L.O. Sanderson,
  Page 640

12
Much More About Gods Providence

• Abraham, Isaac Jacob before Joseph
• Elisabeth, Zacharias, Joseph, Mary
• Peter, Andrew, James John
• Judas, Pilate, Herod, Herods wife
• Paul, Apollos, Aquila Priscilla, Timothy
• What about you? who knoweth whether thou art
  come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
  Esther 414
• How about this congregation?
• Durham Church of Christ???