“Providence“Providence“ “““ sermon #1sermon #1 …storage.cloversites.com/journeychristianchurch/documents...“Providence“Providence“ “““ sermon #1sermon #1

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IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Prescriptive and Descriptive Texts

prescriptive �

descriptive �

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me,

but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many

people should be kept alive, as they are today.

JosephJosephJosephJoseph

“Providence“Providence“Providence“Providence““““ sermon #1sermon #1sermon #1sermon #1

November 6, 2016November 6, 2016November 6, 2016November 6, 2016

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Competing WCompeting WCompeting WCompeting Worldviewsorldviewsorldviewsorldviews

deism - teaches that God created the world and then

essentially ____________________ it

pantheism - teaches that the creation does not have a

real ___________________ existence in itself but is

only part of God

chance – teaches ___________________

fate - teaches ___________________

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A Definition of ProvidenceA Definition of ProvidenceA Definition of ProvidenceA Definition of Providence

“We may define God’s providence as follows: God is

continually involved with all created things in such a

way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining

the properties with which he created them, (2)

cooperates with created things in every action,

directing their distinctive properties to cause them to

act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his

purposes.”

(Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, page 315)

“God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct,

dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,

from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and

holy providence, according to his infallible

foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of

his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom,

power, justice, goodness, and mercy.”

(Westminster Confession of Faith)

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God is the primary cause of �

the ___________________ of the universe

everything that ____________ ___________

in the universe

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the

LORD establishes his steps.

.

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When we understand the providence of God, When we understand the providence of God, When we understand the providence of God, When we understand the providence of God,

a number of things follow.a number of things follow.a number of things follow.a number of things follow.

Prosperity should never be an occasion of __________.

Uncertainty should not be the occasion of __________.

There is security in ____________.

There is comfort in ______________.

“The Christian solace is in this, to know that his

heavenly Father so holds all things in His power, so

rules by His authority and will, so governs by His

wisdom that nothing can befall unless He determines

it.” (John Calvin)

We see the pWe see the pWe see the pWe see the providence rovidence rovidence rovidence of God in the deathof God in the deathof God in the deathof God in the death of Jesusof Jesusof Jesusof Jesus....

(Isaiah 53:10, Acts 2:22-24, Acts 4:27-28)

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God not only _____________ sin, but He

makes ___________ of it.

God is not ___________________ for sin, but

since God creates, sustains, and upholds all

things, somehow, in the mystery of it all, He

has ___________________ that these things

should be.

This understanding is pThis understanding is pThis understanding is pThis understanding is profitablerofitablerofitablerofitable as ias ias ias it allows us to t allows us to t allows us to t allows us to

ponder the dark side of thingsponder the dark side of thingsponder the dark side of thingsponder the dark side of things....

“The providence of God is often a dark impenetrable

abyss to us.” (John Murray) (Psalm 74:1-8)

It is not an impenetrable abyss to ____________.

We must be aware that God’s ways are ____________.

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The Extent of God’s The Extent of God’s The Extent of God’s The Extent of God’s ProvidenceProvidenceProvidenceProvidence

1 – God’s providence extends over the entire

___________________. (Daniel 4:34-35)

2 - God’s providence extends over the entire

___________________ world. (Psalm 135:5-7)

3 - God’s providence extends over the affairs of the

________________. (Psalm 22:28, Acts 17:24-26)

4 - God’s providence extends over the ___________,

_____________, and ______________ of our birth,

as well as our _________ in life. (Psalm 139:13-16)

5 - God’s providence extends over all our outward

_________________ and ___________________.

(Psalm 75:6-7)

6 - God’s providence extends over things that are

seemingly _______________ or ______________.

(Psalm 16:33)

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7 - God’s providence extends to the ________________

of the righteous. (Psalm 121:1-7, Philippians 4:19)

8 - God’s providence covers all the ________________

of God’s people. (Genesis 22:8)

9 - God’s providence provides answers to all of our

_______________. (Matthew 7:7)


and ___________________ of the wicked. (Psalm

11:6)

This is a radical notionThis is a radical notionThis is a radical notionThis is a radical notion:::: that the providence of God that the providence of God that the providence of God that the providence of God

extends to all places and occurrences.extends to all places and occurrences.extends to all places and occurrences.extends to all places and occurrences.

(Ephesians 1:3-14)

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The Providence of God and Human FreedomThe Providence of God and Human FreedomThe Providence of God and Human FreedomThe Providence of God and Human Freedom

God acts in His providence without…

infringing on our ________________.

relieving us of our ___________________.

5 points

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted,

“I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot

be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no

one.

The nature of sin is not _________________

by the use God makes of it.

The will of God never contains

_________________ for us to do what runs

contrary to the revealed will of God.