1. Providence revolves, Phil 4:11-13
Inside a wheel, one part never revolves. The axle sets on the axis and it is static. Our experiences are never static; they always change. But the axle of God's purpose and plan is his providence, and that stays centered and never moves. Paul was able to be content because he learned to identify God's providence, and rest right in the center with it. The exterior wheel of your circumstance is constantly changing, but the center is fixed forever if you can find it. Begin to look at the spokes of your life and see them in connection to the hub. Put all the spokes together and you'll see the symmetry of how God is balancing all things in your life to produce the image of Christ.
God is wise. God is just. God is all-knowing. God is kind. Why don’t you let him be that way in your life? Why constantly look at things, then accuse God either of not being good, not being kind, not knowing, or not being fair? The only reason we do that is because we do not believe in providence. Either you will respond with belief or unbelief. Either you will count God good and kind and worthy, or foolishly charge him with unfairness.
2. Providence is all-encompassing, Ezek 1:15
The creatures carrying the throne each had four faces, one for each direction, because it is impossible to sneak-up on providence and surprise it with anything. That is how providence is different from fate, because
3. Providence has eyes
Fate is blind. Catholicism and Islam say a certain thing will happen as a matter of decree, and nothing can ever change it. But biblically, providence operates in partnership with God's decrees. Yet providence is a living thing, because providence takes into account your reactions, and factors them into the decree. Today we would say that providence is interactive.
That's why we pray. You say, why should I pray if God has decreed everything? I say, the reason I do pray is because God has decreed everything. You missed that, so let me restate it. God wants to give me revival. God puts in my heart a desire for revival. So I begin to pray for revival so God can answer that prayer and give me the thing he intended to give me all along. My God is so great, that providence takes your free will into account, and enfolds it into his plan. That's how sovereign my God is.
You don't believe me, so let me prove it from a text. God's plan was that Jesus should die as our substitute. Providence used the free will of the Jewish leaders in rejecting Christ to bring about that plan. Looking back on the wheels revolving, Peter said,
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God [providence], ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain [free will]:
So providence has eyes in all directions because providence is a living thing.
4. Providence is the thing that factors your free response into God's divine purpose
Develop the desire in your heart that according to God's providence and by God's grace, you are going to arrive at the highest level you can—providence does not intend anything lower for you. But providence, because it has eyes and is living, will respond to your will in relation to God's will.
5A. Not only is providence universal, but it is uniform; there is only one providence, Ezek 1:16
There were four wheels and four faces, but only one likeness. God was going to make Joseph Egypt's governor. But the first step was to get Joseph's brothers to hate him. That was a "rough providence." It looked like a step backward. Then they put Joseph in a pit. Another step backward? Just wait. They sell him as a slave. But hold on one second, because providence has only one likeness. That means,
5B. Since providence is one, you can never look at its rough parts as separate and evil
I think I just said something; you better cut and paste that someplace.
How do I know Joseph had a clear understanding of the process of God's providence? Because there is not one word of complaint. Instead, wherever he is, Jo becomes the best one there. That is the difference between Joseph and Israel in their wanderings, and the difference between Joseph and you. Become God's child and you can know that all things are being controlled by God to produce the image of Christ in your life. That is the ultimate goal of providence. We always want to see through providence and know "why?" but providence is the color of beryl or topaz (Ezek 1:16). You don't have eyes good enough to see through beryl, Superman. So you can't always see the good that suffering does to you; you have to simply believe it.
There is no half-stepping between this and atheism. Either you respond to every circumstance of life by faith because you understand God's providence, or you respond like a lost man or woman and an unbeliever.
GOD moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs and works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.
—William Cowper, 1774
Inside a wheel, one part never revolves. The axle sets on the axis and it is static. Our experiences are never static; they always change. But the axle of God's purpose and plan is his providence, and that stays centered and never moves. Paul was able to be content because he learned to identify God's providence, and rest right in the center with it. The exterior wheel of your circumstance is constantly changing, but the center is fixed forever if you can find it. Begin to look at the spokes of your life and see them in connection to the hub. Put all the spokes together and you'll see the symmetry of how God is balancing all things in your life to produce the image of Christ.
God is wise. God is just. God is all-knowing. God is kind. Why don’t you let him be that way in your life? Why constantly look at things, then accuse God either of not being good, not being kind, not knowing, or not being fair? The only reason we do that is because we do not believe in providence. Either you will respond with belief or unbelief. Either you will count God good and kind and worthy, or foolishly charge him with unfairness.
2. Providence is all-encompassing, Ezek 1:15
The creatures carrying the throne each had four faces, one for each direction, because it is impossible to sneak-up on providence and surprise it with anything. That is how providence is different from fate, because
3. Providence has eyes
Fate is blind. Catholicism and Islam say a certain thing will happen as a matter of decree, and nothing can ever change it. But biblically, providence operates in partnership with God's decrees. Yet providence is a living thing, because providence takes into account your reactions, and factors them into the decree. Today we would say that providence is interactive.
That's why we pray. You say, why should I pray if God has decreed everything? I say, the reason I do pray is because God has decreed everything. You missed that, so let me restate it. God wants to give me revival. God puts in my heart a desire for revival. So I begin to pray for revival so God can answer that prayer and give me the thing he intended to give me all along. My God is so great, that providence takes your free will into account, and enfolds it into his plan. That's how sovereign my God is.
You don't believe me, so let me prove it from a text. God's plan was that Jesus should die as our substitute. Providence used the free will of the Jewish leaders in rejecting Christ to bring about that plan. Looking back on the wheels revolving, Peter said,
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God [providence], ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain [free will]:
So providence has eyes in all directions because providence is a living thing.
4. Providence is the thing that factors your free response into God's divine purpose
Develop the desire in your heart that according to God's providence and by God's grace, you are going to arrive at the highest level you can—providence does not intend anything lower for you. But providence, because it has eyes and is living, will respond to your will in relation to God's will.
5A. Not only is providence universal, but it is uniform; there is only one providence, Ezek 1:16
There were four wheels and four faces, but only one likeness. God was going to make Joseph Egypt's governor. But the first step was to get Joseph's brothers to hate him. That was a "rough providence." It looked like a step backward. Then they put Joseph in a pit. Another step backward? Just wait. They sell him as a slave. But hold on one second, because providence has only one likeness. That means,
5B. Since providence is one, you can never look at its rough parts as separate and evil
I think I just said something; you better cut and paste that someplace.
How do I know Joseph had a clear understanding of the process of God's providence? Because there is not one word of complaint. Instead, wherever he is, Jo becomes the best one there. That is the difference between Joseph and Israel in their wanderings, and the difference between Joseph and you. Become God's child and you can know that all things are being controlled by God to produce the image of Christ in your life. That is the ultimate goal of providence. We always want to see through providence and know "why?" but providence is the color of beryl or topaz (Ezek 1:16). You don't have eyes good enough to see through beryl, Superman. So you can't always see the good that suffering does to you; you have to simply believe it.
There is no half-stepping between this and atheism. Either you respond to every circumstance of life by faith because you understand God's providence, or you respond like a lost man or woman and an unbeliever.
GOD moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs and works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.
—William Cowper, 1774
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