WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.380 So, tonight our doctrine is the providence of God. And I want to begin with a Christmas card. 00:00:11.820 --> 00:00:16.780 I often start with a Christmas card, especially don't often start in, what month are we in? March, 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:25.600 with a Christmas card. But this week on Wednesday, I decided that was the day to clear my drawer. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:32.200 Admin is not my strong point. So, since lockdown, I hadn't actually gone to the drawer. And so, 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:40.579 I cleared out all of the letters that had been piling up. And I found this Christmas card from 00:00:40.579 --> 00:00:49.780 December 2020. God's timing is wonderful. And you'll see why I say God's timing is wonderful 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:56.600 when we're thinking about God's providence. Let me read just some of this. It's a letter or a card 00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:03.460 from a lady called Angela. It begins, to Reverend James. It's a good title. It's a good start. 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:10.920 Where do I begin? I walked into your parish one day, bewildered and upset. I'd seen one of your 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:17.700 parishioners guiding the children in their spiritual journey. The same lovely man guided me into your 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:25.400 church. And the story goes on of her coming in, feeling very low spiritually, emotionally, 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:32.879 struggling to care for herself. And she came in, and she was welcomed. And we prayed for her. 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:40.460 We gave her some money. We directed her towards Bethany. And that was the beginning for her of 00:01:40.459 --> 00:01:47.219 spiritual recovery. And not just of spiritual recovery. She is now training to be a lawyer. 00:01:47.759 --> 00:01:52.399 And things have really changed. And she wrote this at the end. Where is it? 00:01:54.579 --> 00:02:01.759 I was amazed on that fateful day, as your church doors were not usually open on that day. 00:02:01.979 --> 00:02:06.659 That was the time when we were having early morning services to accommodate all the restrictions. 00:02:06.659 --> 00:02:14.159 And so there's a wonderful Christmas card to reflect on, thinking about the providence of God. 00:02:14.780 --> 00:02:21.840 It's a wonderful doctrine that God, our God, is able to take up thousands of events and decisions 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:31.439 and conversations, which can seem utterly random to us, but in God's hands can often achieve saving 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:40.300 purposes and always achieving his purposes. It's a doctrine that's been cherished and loved all 00:02:40.300 --> 00:02:45.780 through church history. Charles Spurgeon often has great quotes. He says this of providence, 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:53.280 the providence of God is the great protector of our life and usefulness, and under the divine care, 00:02:53.840 --> 00:03:01.379 we are perfectly safe from danger. So it's recognized as one of those bedrock doctrines 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:11.879 that's good news. But I wonder, how do we view life actually? Because not everybody cherishes, 00:03:12.079 --> 00:03:18.579 values, providence. We hear a lot of talk about luck and chance and karma, coincidence. 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:28.740 Not everybody speaks about providence. How do we see the small and great moments of our lives? 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:36.260 Those chance meetings and conversations, the flat tire and the broken technology, the medical reports, 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:42.939 the daily Bible passage that speaks to our need directly. How do we think about climate crisis 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:53.000 or pandemic or the war in Ukraine? Who or what is in control? Now for many people, that's not a question 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:58.400 they ever think about. Or perhaps they think nobody is in control. It's the laws of the universe. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:08.580 We make our own luck. Or what goes around comes around. Now others would say, well, God's in charge. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:17.699 Sort of. Some people would have the idea that if there is a creator, well, perhaps he, as it were, 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:22.920 wound the earth up at the beginning and now it just kind of runs its own course and God doesn't get 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:32.019 involved. Others within the Christian community imagine that God has limits. So there's a school 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:39.039 of theology called open theism that says when it comes to the future, God doesn't always know what's 00:04:39.039 --> 00:04:44.560 about to happen. That's an attempt to, as it were, get God off the hook when it comes to suffering. Well, 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:52.180 God didn't know our God was absent. What does the Bible have to say about the small and large moments 00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:58.980 of life? And we're told over and over and over again that God is the God of all providence. 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:08.319 Psalm 115 verse 3, our God is in heaven. He does whatever pleases him. Proverbs chapter 16 is a chapter 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:16.519 full of providence. Verse 9, in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:24.339 steps. So the end of chapter 16 verse 33, it says even when someone casts the lot, the decision lies 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:32.939 with God. So our aim tonight is to see the truth of providence as we find it in the Bible, that we would 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:39.319 trust the God of providence, that we would draw comfort from this doctrine, indeed that it would give us a 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:47.600 sense of joy. It's a vital doctrine. I was learning this week from two different Johns. First from John 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:56.459 Calvin. He has a lot of helpful material in his institutes. He has the image of God holding the helm of the 00:05:56.459 --> 00:06:05.479 world. God is the captain. He is in complete control. Calvin says he's not a momentary creator. 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:13.039 You know, he doesn't make the world and then kind of wash his hands off it. No, he's acting and directing 00:06:13.039 --> 00:06:21.859 in the actions of all of his creatures. And again, that's not in a vague and limited way. That's not, 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:27.860 you know, God controls weather patterns or perhaps those things like that. Rather, he superintends the 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:34.540 sparrows. So God holds the helm of the world. And then John Piper has written a massive book 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:42.939 on providence, and he describes providence as God's purposeful sovereignty. That's very helpful. So that's 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:51.340 a reminder that God is the sovereign king. He sustains and controls all of creation towards his intended 00:06:51.339 --> 00:07:03.079 purpose. And that purpose is for his glory and for our joy. Providence is a huge topic within the 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:08.479 Bible. We are going to have a narrow focus, hopefully to give us a flavor of just how extensive it is. 00:07:08.559 --> 00:07:14.719 So we're going to go to Psalm 104 in just a moment to see God's providence over the natural world. And then 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:21.680 we'll go to the book of Genesis, to the story of Joseph, to see God's providence over human actions 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:28.780 and even over human sin. We need to think about that. So that in everyday life we would trust him, 00:07:28.840 --> 00:07:35.580 we would worship him, and that it would help us to pray to him as well. So turn with me in your Bibles 00:07:35.580 --> 00:07:44.560 to Psalm 104. We're going to read together from verse 19 to verse 35. So this is the second half of 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:51.579 this psalm. And there we read, he made the moon to mark the seasons and the sun knows when to go down. 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:58.620 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. The lions roar for their 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:05.100 prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises and they steal away. They return and lie down in their 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:11.220 dens. Then people go out to their work, to their labor until evening. How many are your works, Lord? 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:17.600 In wisdom you made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, 00:08:17.840 --> 00:08:24.160 teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both large and small. There the ships go to and 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:30.660 fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. All creatures look to you to give them their food at 00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:36.259 the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you open your hand, they are satisfied 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:41.480 with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified. When you take away their breath, 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:48.159 they die and return to the dust. When you send your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:55.939 the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever. May the Lord rejoice in his works. He who looks at the 00:08:55.939 --> 00:09:02.679 earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life. 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:10.439 I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him as I rejoice in the 00:09:10.439 --> 00:09:18.099 Lord. But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the Lord, my soul. Praise 00:09:18.099 --> 00:09:25.459 the Lord. So Psalm 104 is all about God's providence over the natural world. So the first nine verses, 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:32.840 we began with those, we began with those, God is creator. Verses 10 to 18, we sang those, God is provider 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:41.780 and sustainer, not in a passive way, but in an active way. And then we just read verses 19 to 23, 00:09:42.420 --> 00:09:50.240 where it speaks about God being over the rhythms of nature. So the moon comes out and the lions come out 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:54.960 and they go to work, they go hunting their prey, but then the moon goes down, the sun comes up, 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:59.420 the lions go to bed and the lions go to bed and the people go out and they begin their work. There's 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:10.360 rhythms in nature and God is over those. And then verse 27 to 30, there is that a very clear picture 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:23.019 that God brings life, God sustains life and God ends life. Animals, people, everything. 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:32.120 And so the impact of this Psalm is that we're invited to see in the natural world, God's providence up 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:42.259 close and personal. It's unavoidable if we have eyes to see it. That we're invited to see past the laws 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:48.600 of nature. So often that's where people are inclined to stop. We see beyond those to see the God who sets 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:55.960 those laws and who works through the laws of nature. We're invited to walk around in a beautiful spring 00:10:55.960 --> 00:11:05.279 day and to see God's providence on display in the beauty, the diversity, the wonders of nature. The 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:11.360 buds and the trees, the birds who feed, the weather that we enjoy, all the life cycles come from God. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:21.340 Volcanoes, tsunamis under the providence of God too. God's providence governs and creates. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:29.759 Psalm 104 is also really helpful because it speaks to the purpose behind God's providence. 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:38.379 Verse 31, may the glory of the Lord endure forever. May the Lord rejoice in his works. 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:51.179 God's providence is a demonstration of God's glory. His wisdom, his goodness, his power are on full 00:11:51.179 --> 00:12:00.480 display to the world. As Manley Hopkins, the poet, said, creation is charged with the grandeur of God. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.740 And a day like today, we see it in full view, don't we? 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:11.060 So God's purpose in providence over the natural world is that his glory would be on display 00:12:11.060 --> 00:12:18.080 and that he would have joy in his works. There's a reminder that from the beginning, 00:12:18.539 --> 00:12:25.480 God said creation was good and creation is still good. Yes, there is brokenness, but yes, 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:37.440 there is beauty in God's eyes. And there's another purpose as well. Verse 33 and 34, 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:48.519 I will sing to the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. As we see the 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:58.240 glory of God in providence, it's intended to bring us joy and to draw out praise. The natural word, 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:11.500 as Alistair McGrath says, is a gateway to praise. Our five senses are all opportunities for us to praise 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:18.820 the God of providence, whether that's a glorious sunset or a glorious meal. 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:27.259 And that's absolutely in line with Jesus teaching on providence in nature in the Gospels. Matthew 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:33.919 chapter 6, Jesus told his disciples, don't worry, God provides for the birds, God clothes the flowers, 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:43.259 and how much more will he feed and clothe you. As God's people, we trust in a God who controls 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:52.599 and who cares about the little things, the little things in nature. But that also reminds us that God 00:13:52.599 --> 00:14:00.899 cares about the little things in our lives because he's our father. And then by extension, God's people, 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:07.100 we are to be a thankful people. Thankful for the thousands of ways in which he feeds, clothes, 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:17.939 cares, provides for us. That Jesus is clear that God has a special care for his children, for his church. 00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:25.539 Perhaps that changes our focus when it comes to God's providence or when we think about God's 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:33.419 sovereignty. Often attention is drawn to God's control when things go wrong. And maybe in a 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:39.719 questioning way, when the crash happens, when the hunger hits, when the storm blows through the town. 00:14:40.819 --> 00:14:46.659 But how often do we miss God's everyday, and we could call it his hidden providence, 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:54.759 the thousands and millions of times he protects and provides and gives safety. As God's people, 00:14:54.759 --> 00:15:03.080 we're invited to walk through this world, seeing his control and being thankful for his care. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:10.480 So there's God's providence over the natural world, very briefly. Now we're going to move 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:16.059 to the book of Genesis and to the story of Joseph. But before we do that, we're just going to pause 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:22.100 momentarily because we need to recognize whenever we're thinking about any of the doctrines of God, 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:29.580 that there is an element of mystery involved. There is mystery connected to God's providence, 00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:37.840 and so we need to approach it with humility. Perhaps one way to think about it is to think about 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:45.740 the relationship between parents and children. Children will often have lots of questions, lots of 00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:51.540 requests. Why can't I have sweets for breakfast? Why can't I have unlimited screen time? Why is it a bad 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:58.620 idea to ride my bike with my eyes closed? And many, many others. That's what children do. But what 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:04.980 should parents have? Parents should have, should have, always, but we should have more wisdom, 00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:12.179 more understanding, a broader perspective on the world. So we understand why certain things are bad, 00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:16.899 and certain things are good and better. Certain things are safe, and certain things are dangerous. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:24.079 And so children are then invited to trust their parents who have a greater knowledge of how the 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:29.899 world works. Sounds very ideal, doesn't it? Well, that's how it's supposed to work. And mystery, 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:36.879 providence and mystery, many questions are prompted when we think about God's providence. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:48.539 If God controls actions and decisions, does that make me just a robot? If God controls actions and 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:58.139 decisions, well, how can I be held accountable? Or how can God be holy and sinless, 00:16:58.139 --> 00:17:08.259 and have providence over sinful actions? But how can God not be the author who's responsible for that 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:15.680 sin? So there's some really big and deep and complex questions associated with the doctrine of 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:25.519 providence. And it requires us to come towards it with humility and with faith, to be able to hear the 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:32.900 the clear teaching of the Bible, but with a readiness to live with the tensions that we sometimes are going 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:43.259 to discover, and to be able to trust the character of God and the character of his word. So we'll see a little 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:49.339 of that together now as we think about the story of Joseph. So we're going to begin thinking about how the 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:57.720 story of Joseph demonstrates God's providence over human actions and human decisions. Now the story of 00:17:57.720 --> 00:18:03.639 Joseph is a great place to go for thinking about God's providence. We see God at work in so many 00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:10.779 different ways, directing lives and decisions and actions and circumstances towards his saving purposes 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:21.279 for his covenant family. For the family of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, we see God at work. Now we're going to be in 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:27.500 Genesis 39 together for a few moments, which in a sense takes us to the middle of Joseph's story. 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:35.019 So his brothers by this stage have sold him as a slave to traders. He's ended up in Egypt where he's been 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:46.740 sold to this man called Potiphar. And so Genesis 39, let's read verses 2 to 5 and watch out for our key word, 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:54.420 which is the word favor. Actually we'll read verse 1 to 5, won't we? Yes. Now Joseph had been taken down to 00:18:54.420 --> 00:19:01.519 Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:08.359 the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered and he lived in 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:16.160 the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:25.019 him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor, there's our word, in his eyes and became his 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:31.559 attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and he entrusted to his care everything 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:37.480 he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:44.180 blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:49.420 Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 00:19:49.420 --> 00:20:01.180 Favor. What does that mean in this context? It means that God is acting on the heart and the will 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:11.019 and the mind of this Egyptian wealthy man called Potiphar so that Joseph the slave becomes head of 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:18.460 the household. Now we're familiar with the story perhaps and maybe that doesn't surprise us because 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:24.519 we already know the direction it's going. But isn't that remarkable that you would buy someone as a 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:29.519 slave and very quickly elevate him to be just below yourself in prominence? 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:39.380 Favor. We see favor again at the end of the chapter so things turn in a different direction in Potiphar's 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:46.460 house. He's falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and is thrown into prison and let's now turn our attention 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:53.019 towards the end of the chapter. Verse 20 to 22. It says where he's in the king's prison. 00:20:53.900 --> 00:21:02.340 But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. He showed him kindness and granted him 00:21:02.340 --> 00:21:09.840 favor. There's a word again. In the eyes of the prison warder. So the warder put Joseph in charge of all those 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.839 held in charge of the prison. He was held in charge of the prison. He was held in charge of the prison. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:18.559 And he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:28.720 under Joseph's care because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:37.740 So there's that word favor again. Potiphar has wrongly treated Joseph, but the Lord was with 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:45.319 Joseph. And again, the Lord is bringing his favor to bear so that this prison guard acts in the same way 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:54.960 as Potiphar. And again, doesn't it strike us as surprising that a prisoner becomes in charge of the 00:21:54.960 --> 00:22:03.480 prison? That a prisoner would be entrusted with that level of responsibility? It's the favor of God 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:13.420 in display because God is with Joseph. Now we're not done with seeing this idea of God's favor in 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:19.640 Joseph's life. He is in the prison. A couple of people who work for the Pharaoh come into the prison. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:25.920 They have some dreams. One gets promoted back to his job again. And Joseph says, remember me when you get 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:33.539 your job again, and instead he gets forgotten. So he's there in prison for two more years. Then Pharaoh 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:45.580 has a dream and Joseph is summoned. And at the end of that chapter, chapter 41, verse 41 to 43, we read, 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:54.960 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took a signet 00:22:54.960 --> 00:23:02.380 ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:09.840 chain around his neck. He made him ride in a chariot as his second in command. And people shouted before 00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:20.180 him, make way. Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. How do we explain that kind of 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:27.820 turnaround? Well, again, to help us, we can think about how Stephen in Acts chapter 7 thought about 00:23:27.820 --> 00:23:36.420 this turnaround. Stephen said, God rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:45.779 before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. God is turning 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:51.819 the hearts and the minds and the hearts and the minds and the wills of an Egyptian rich man, an Egyptian 00:23:51.819 --> 00:24:01.019 prison officer, and the Egyptian king Pharaoh, so that his purposes come to pass. Now each of them, 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:13.920 they are acting, they are deciding, but God is fully decisive. His are the plans that come to pass. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:24.400 God rules over the thoughts, the directions, the actions of not just of his people, but of all people. 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:26.300 Because remember, these are Egyptians. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:38.660 Three responses as we consider God's providence over human actions. The first is that of humility. 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:45.880 From this we go to, for this we go to James chapter 4 verse 15. So James is talking about people making 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:52.320 their plans in their business and not to boast and project forward about how things are going to go in 00:24:52.320 --> 00:25:02.140 the future. James says, you ought to say, if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:10.560 We are not to boast. We are not to hold tightly to our plans, thinking so long as our plan is made 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:18.700 sufficiently robustly enough, it's bound to happen. As the people of God, we are encouraged and invited 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:26.040 to see God over our family, our work, our future plans, and to have the necessary humility that comes 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:35.139 with that, that comes with our planning. That's one response. Another response is that we're invited 00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:45.139 to have courage. For here we can go to Romans 8 and verse 31, where Paul says, if God is for us, 00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:53.379 who can be against us? And within that wonderful chapter of Romans 8, what's the source of our trust 00:25:53.380 --> 00:26:04.140 is the people of God? It's in the all-powerful God of providence who is for his people. It's this God 00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:10.900 who says nothing can separate us from the love of God that's in Christ Jesus. And so we're invited to 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:17.000 take heart and to have courage, even if it means suffering for our faith, even if it means being 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:28.380 persecuted for our faith. If God is for us, who can be against us? And this reality should also provoke us 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:35.059 towards worship as well. As we see it being worked out in the gospel, so in Acts chapter 2, Peter, as he 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:43.880 preaches at Pentecost, verse 23, Jesus was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge. 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:50.740 And he draws attention to the crowds that you had your wicked designs in wanting to kill Jesus, 00:26:51.020 --> 00:27:00.900 but God has had his eternal purposes, and those purposes came to fulfillment. God controlled the 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:13.320 events of the gospel so that Jesus could be your savior and mine. God was over human acting and deciding 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:23.200 so that in the fullness of God's time, Jesus would die on the cross to take our sin to bring us to God. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:37.399 Now, we need to move towards God's providence over sinful human actions. And here is where we need to 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:45.460 take, I think, the greatest care. We will see it in Scripture, but we need to be careful in how we handle it. 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:52.259 I came across a very helpful, well, for me anyway, it was a helpful illustration from John Piper again. 00:27:52.980 --> 00:28:01.519 He was talking about how scientists have found a way to handle radioactive uranium. 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:12.000 And they can handle that uranium so as to create useful energy without themselves being contaminated by the radiation. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:16.200 And Piper says if people can figure that out, 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:20.440 then we begin to understand how much more 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:41.680 We can see it here in the Joseph story. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:44.519 Now, how is that brought out in the story of Joseph? 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:47.639 So let's go back to the beginning of Joseph's story. 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:51.599 And what do we find? We find multiple sin there, don't we? 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:54.900 We find favoritism from his father. 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.779 That's wrong. 00:28:56.700 --> 00:29:00.220 We find the sin of hatred among his brothers. 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:02.660 We find the sin of jealousy 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:05.339 of the brothers. We find them plotting 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:08.579 murder and then in their greed 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:11.740 plotting to sell Joseph as a slave. 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:15.880 All of those are sinful actions. 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:19.740 Even when he gets himself to, when he is taken to Egypt, 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:23.500 we find that he has lied about, he's sinned against, 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:27.240 he has forgotten, promises are broken. 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.880 After 13 years, 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.960 slave and prisoner, 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:37.519 from the beginning of the story into Egypt 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:39.799 until he takes power, 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:44.399 and then the brothers come to Egypt for food. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.000 Remember, there's the global famine, 00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:48.940 people coming from all over to Egypt 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.579 because Joseph has been given wisdom 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:52.079 to know how to handle the famine. 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.940 And so his brothers come. 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:56.000 And in chapter 45, 00:29:57.099 --> 00:30:00.159 we find when Joseph finally reveals himself 00:30:00.159 --> 00:30:01.259 to his brothers. 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:05.200 And the section that we want to look at here 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:09.839 is chapter 45 from verse 4 to verse 8 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:14.819 to see Joseph's understanding of what was going on. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:18.940 Then Joseph said to his brothers, 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:21.599 come close to me. 00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:24.259 When they had done so, he said, 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:26.759 I am your brother Joseph, 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:29.660 the one you sold into Egypt, 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:32.240 and now do not be distressed 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:34.660 and do not be angry with yourselves 00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.980 for selling me here 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:39.120 because it was to save lives 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:42.220 that God sent me ahead of you. 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:44.440 For two years now, 00:30:44.560 --> 00:30:46.120 there has been famine in the land 00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:48.240 and for the next five years, 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:50.240 there will be no plowing and reaping. 00:30:50.580 --> 00:30:53.380 But God sent me ahead of you 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:56.480 to preserve for you a remnant on earth 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.480 and to save your lives 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.680 by a great deliverer, 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:01.259 by a great deliverance. 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:02.460 So then, 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:05.259 it was not you who sent me here, 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.779 but God. 00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:09.440 He made me father to Pharaoh, 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:12.140 lord of his entire household 00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:15.279 and ruler of Egypt. 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:18.420 Now, did you notice 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:20.180 three times 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:21.880 Joseph declares, 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.620 God sent me. 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.400 He says to the brothers, 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.420 you sold me, 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:29.080 but God sent me. 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:31.520 And what's he saying in that? 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:34.720 He's saying that above their evil, 00:31:35.020 --> 00:31:36.220 sinful plans 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.480 stood 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:39.200 the Lord God. 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.900 And with them, 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:43.700 they were motivated by hatred 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.900 and greed, 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:47.560 but God had his purposes 00:31:47.560 --> 00:31:48.580 of salvation 00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:49.899 and love. 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:53.240 God is able 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.019 to work 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.039 even through 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.740 those sinful human actions 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:59.679 in order to bring about 00:31:59.679 --> 00:32:01.059 his great deliverance. 00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:03.039 It's an idea 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.599 that's repeated 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.679 in a sense 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:05.759 the key verse 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.500 towards the end 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.599 of the Joseph story. 00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:09.500 We can read Genesis 50, 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.759 we'll read verse 19 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:12.899 and then verse 20. 00:32:14.399 --> 00:32:14.759 Again, 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.699 so this is after 00:32:15.699 --> 00:32:17.519 their father Jacob dies 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.500 and the brothers are scared, 00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:18.920 they're thinking, 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.379 well now, 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.960 Joseph's going to take 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.579 his revenge. 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.180 But Joseph said to them, 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.000 don't be afraid. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:26.319 Am I in the place of God? 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:29.339 You intended to harm me, 00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.900 but God 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:32.680 intended it for good 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:34.160 to accomplish 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:35.599 what is now being done, 00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:37.019 the saving 00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:39.319 of many lives. 00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:43.059 Joseph says to his brothers, 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.440 you, 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:45.900 you meant evil 00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:47.240 against me, 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.519 but God, 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.619 God meant your evil 00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.259 for good. 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.859 God meant your evil 00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.579 for the saving 00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.519 of many lives, 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.119 for the keeping 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:57.000 of his promises, 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.859 for continuing 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.539 the plan 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.859 of salvation. 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:02.299 And so the story 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:02.879 of Joseph 00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:03.740 is reminding us 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.480 of the extent 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.579 of God's providence, 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.559 that God has these 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:08.759 eternal purposes 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.279 that will not change 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.440 when it comes to salvation, 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.820 and those purposes 00:33:12.820 --> 00:33:14.080 can take in billions 00:33:14.080 --> 00:33:14.840 of factors, 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.759 including 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:18.200 the sinful 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.460 actions of human 00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.420 beings like us 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:21.940 as he works 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:23.059 out his salvation. 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:23.700 And remember, 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.920 that does not make him 00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:26.500 the author of sin, 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.519 does not make him 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.820 accountable for sin, 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.720 but it says he is 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.500 wise enough 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:34.240 to work through 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.500 that sinful 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.140 action. 00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:40.460 Again, 00:33:40.520 --> 00:33:41.140 we hear this 00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:42.560 from the apostles 00:33:42.560 --> 00:33:44.020 as they begin 00:33:44.020 --> 00:33:45.440 to share the gospel 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.560 in the book of Acts. 00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.360 Again, 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.020 this is Peter, 00:33:48.100 --> 00:33:48.860 Acts chapter 4, 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:50.100 verses 10 to 12. 00:33:50.840 --> 00:33:52.100 It is by the name 00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:53.220 of Jesus Christ 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:53.960 of Nazareth, 00:33:54.020 --> 00:33:55.140 whom you crucified. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.460 Now, 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.520 there's an evil, 00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.840 sinful action, 00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.660 enemies of Jesus 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:02.200 plotted to crucify him. 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.600 By the name 00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:04.019 of Jesus 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.620 of Nazareth, 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.299 whom you crucified, 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.240 but whom God 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.180 raised from the dead, 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.300 their saving good, 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.840 that this man 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.139 stands before you healed. 00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.380 Jesus 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:14.240 is the stone 00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:14.920 you builders 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.599 rejected. 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.119 It's a wicked 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:18.119 thing to reject 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.019 God's Savior. 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.220 But that Jesus 00:34:21.220 --> 00:34:22.099 who they rejected 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.019 has become 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.639 the cornerstone. 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.240 He is the 00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.039 foundation 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:27.079 of 00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:28.019 God's 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.840 kingdom. 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:30.780 Good purpose 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.360 from their 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.179 sinful actions. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.579 Salvation 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.219 is found 00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:35.000 in no one 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.539 else, 00:34:36.379 --> 00:34:36.859 for there's 00:34:36.859 --> 00:34:37.619 no other name 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.279 under heaven 00:34:38.279 --> 00:34:39.500 given to mankind 00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:41.119 by which we 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:42.000 must be 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.039 saved. 00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:44.719 The greatest 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:46.139 good in all 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:47.039 human history, 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.779 the salvation 00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:50.099 of sinners, 00:34:50.919 --> 00:34:51.659 is achieved 00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:52.099 through the 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:53.199 greatest evil 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.039 in all 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.699 history, 00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.759 the killing 00:34:56.759 --> 00:34:58.279 of the innocent, 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.059 righteous son 00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.639 of God. 00:34:59.639 --> 00:35:00.639 God's 00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:01.859 and that 00:35:01.859 --> 00:35:02.379 comes to 00:35:02.379 --> 00:35:03.139 pass 00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:05.159 by God's 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:06.659 providence. 00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:11.619 As we 00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:12.480 conclude 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.839 our thoughts, 00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:16.119 four ways 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:17.879 to live 00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:18.559 under the 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.119 providence 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:19.799 of God. 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.639 The first, 00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:22.139 and we've already 00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:22.779 said it, 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.139 is it calls us 00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:24.619 to live with 00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:25.219 humility, 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:27.099 to remember, 00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.339 Psalm 31, 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.079 verse 15, 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:30.019 our times 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:31.219 are in 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.279 God's hands. 00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.259 Humility 00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:35.059 acknowledges 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:35.900 his right to 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.440 govern as 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.259 he chooses, 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.839 acknowledges 00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:40.960 that his plans 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:41.500 are the ones 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.119 that will come 00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:42.900 to pass. 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:42.980 trust. 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.260 We're also 00:35:46.260 --> 00:35:46.920 invited to 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.360 live with 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.039 trust 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:49.099 when we 00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:49.500 think about 00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:50.099 the providence 00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:50.559 of God 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.639 because this 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:51.940 is our 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:52.519 father. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:53.960 This is our 00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:54.940 father's world 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.360 that we are 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:55.860 thinking of 00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:56.160 and that we 00:35:56.160 --> 00:35:56.579 are living 00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:56.880 in. 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:57.980 God has 00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:58.599 a special 00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.900 care for 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:00.480 his church 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:00.840 and for 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:01.579 his children 00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:03.460 and we 00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:03.680 need to 00:36:03.680 --> 00:36:04.320 take comfort 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:04.720 in that. 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:05.500 When all 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.099 we can see 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.619 is chaos 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.440 and confusion, 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.160 God still 00:36:09.160 --> 00:36:09.740 sees with 00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:10.240 clarity. 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:12.239 He knows 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:12.659 what he is 00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.000 doing. 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:13.859 He is still 00:36:13.859 --> 00:36:14.739 on the 00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.179 throne. 00:36:16.819 --> 00:36:17.279 And there 00:36:17.279 --> 00:36:17.899 is a freedom 00:36:17.899 --> 00:36:18.639 in accepting 00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.899 our limits 00:36:19.899 --> 00:36:21.199 and learning 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.839 to trust 00:36:21.839 --> 00:36:22.279 God's 00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:22.819 character 00:36:22.819 --> 00:36:23.799 when we 00:36:23.799 --> 00:36:24.179 can't 00:36:24.179 --> 00:36:24.659 understand 00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:25.179 or see 00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:25.859 in the 00:36:25.859 --> 00:36:26.119 moment 00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:26.479 what he 00:36:26.479 --> 00:36:27.000 is doing. 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.039 And I 00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.279 think when 00:36:30.279 --> 00:36:30.639 we think 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:30.939 about the 00:36:30.939 --> 00:36:31.359 providence 00:36:31.359 --> 00:36:31.759 of God 00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.239 we're also 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:32.879 invited to 00:36:32.879 --> 00:36:33.259 live with 00:36:33.259 --> 00:36:34.019 praise, 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:36.259 to live 00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:36.599 with our 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.319 eyes open 00:36:37.319 --> 00:36:37.699 to the 00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:38.479 reality that 00:36:38.479 --> 00:36:39.500 at every 00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.380 moment, 00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:40.820 every 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:42.079 conversation, 00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:44.039 every turn 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.679 in our 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.400 lives is 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.500 being directed 00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.739 and governed 00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:48.820 by God. 00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:50.139 Our lives 00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:50.619 are being 00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.480 sustained 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:52.739 by God. 00:36:54.099 --> 00:36:54.960 It's a 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.420 source for 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:55.800 worship. 00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.019 And there's 00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:59.500 also a 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.059 source of 00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:00.860 thankfulness 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:01.179 as we 00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:02.139 recognize that 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.260 in God's 00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:04.480 wise providence 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:06.280 our failures 00:37:06.280 --> 00:37:06.699 are not 00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.239 final. 00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:10.360 our God 00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:10.980 is wise 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:11.440 enough 00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:12.579 to work 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.139 good 00:37:13.139 --> 00:37:14.099 even out 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.739 of our 00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:15.460 sinful 00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:16.119 actions. 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.539 Not that 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:17.780 he would 00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:17.960 ever 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:18.420 encourage 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:18.880 us to 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.059 sin 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.340 because 00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:19.599 God 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:19.739 is 00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:20.400 holy 00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:20.679 and he 00:37:20.679 --> 00:37:20.920 hates 00:37:20.920 --> 00:37:21.059 sin 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:21.340 but he's 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:21.519 so 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.340 wise 00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:23.699 that he's 00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:24.039 able to 00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.440 take up 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:24.880 our sinful 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:25.300 actions 00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:26.019 to achieve 00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.139 ultimate 00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:28.260 and lasting 00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:28.820 good. 00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:31.579 And 00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:31.780 too, 00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:32.039 when you 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:32.360 think about 00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:32.940 the providence 00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:33.619 of God 00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.619 it's an 00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.019 encouragement 00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:35.599 for us 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.259 to pray. 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:38.880 In our 00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.179 community 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:39.599 groups we'll 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:39.940 be thinking 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.579 along these 00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.119 lines. 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:42.579 The God 00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:44.019 of providence, 00:37:44.199 --> 00:37:44.639 the God 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.679 who governs 00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:47.119 everything, 00:37:47.799 --> 00:37:48.279 chooses 00:37:48.279 --> 00:37:50.019 to work 00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:50.779 through his 00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:51.480 people's 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:51.900 prayers. 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.460 In his 00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:54.099 wisdom 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:55.579 our prayers 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:57.099 are instruments 00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.920 achieving 00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:58.859 God's 00:37:58.859 --> 00:37:59.579 purposes. 00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:02.259 That's a 00:38:02.259 --> 00:38:03.039 motivation to 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.359 pray. 00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:05.639 God 00:38:05.639 --> 00:38:06.239 in his 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:07.079 providence 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:08.779 has placed 00:38:08.779 --> 00:38:09.960 you in 00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:10.559 the family 00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:11.059 that you're 00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.299 in, 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.059 in the 00:38:12.059 --> 00:38:12.539 friendship 00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:13.119 group that 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.559 you're in, 00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.139 in the 00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:14.619 community 00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:14.980 that you 00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.279 live in, 00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:15.559 in the 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.019 workplace 00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.480 that you 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.199 find yourself 00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:17.400 in, 00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:18.440 by his 00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.099 design 00:38:19.099 --> 00:38:21.380 so that 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:21.739 we can 00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:22.139 pray. 00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:23.599 So that 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:23.980 we can 00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:24.659 pray for 00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:25.219 others. 00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:26.259 Knowing 00:38:26.259 --> 00:38:26.679 that God 00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:27.219 works 00:38:27.219 --> 00:38:27.739 through 00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:28.679 the prayers 00:38:28.679 --> 00:38:29.279 of his 00:38:29.279 --> 00:38:29.599 people. 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:30.359 Praying 00:38:30.359 --> 00:38:31.579 his 00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:32.579 saving 00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:33.039 good, 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.420 his 00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:34.199 blessing 00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:34.440 would 00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:34.779 flow 00:38:34.779 --> 00:38:35.420 in the 00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:35.820 lives 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.559 of 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.679 many. 00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.719 Back to 00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:43.179 my 2020 00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:43.659 Christmas 00:38:43.659 --> 00:38:44.159 card. 00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:45.579 This 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:45.840 lady 00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:46.199 Angela, 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:46.719 she didn't 00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:47.099 know, 00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:49.139 walking the 00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:49.539 streets of 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.019 Edinburgh that 00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:50.380 morning, 00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:51.320 that that would 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:51.759 become, 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:52.440 in God's 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:52.860 providence, 00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:53.480 the pathway 00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:54.079 to hope 00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:54.559 for her. 00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:56.159 But praise 00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:56.500 God, 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.199 he did. 00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:59.719 the person 00:38:59.719 --> 00:39:00.599 who welcomed 00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:01.259 Angela 00:39:01.259 --> 00:39:02.819 didn't know 00:39:02.819 --> 00:39:03.480 her story, 00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:04.739 had no 00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.259 idea what 00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:06.159 a simple 00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:06.639 welcome 00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:07.179 would do, 00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:08.619 but God 00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:09.039 did. 00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:11.059 We 00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:11.319 couldn't 00:39:11.319 --> 00:39:11.639 know that 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.159 the simple 00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:12.799 act of 00:39:12.799 --> 00:39:13.699 praying for 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:14.119 someone who 00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:14.460 was in 00:39:14.460 --> 00:39:15.099 distress and 00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.919 giving a 00:39:15.919 --> 00:39:16.159 little bit 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:16.480 of money 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:17.019 and pointing 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:18.059 someone to 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:18.460 a source 00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:18.859 of help 00:39:18.859 --> 00:39:19.779 would lead 00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:20.539 to recovery, 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:21.659 but God 00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:22.159 did. 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:25.179 We 00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:25.519 couldn't 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:26.759 know that 00:39:26.759 --> 00:39:27.519 a snowball 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:28.259 of God's 00:39:28.259 --> 00:39:28.799 mercy 00:39:28.799 --> 00:39:30.440 would begin 00:39:30.440 --> 00:39:31.519 from this 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.199 place, 00:39:33.299 --> 00:39:34.159 but God 00:39:34.159 --> 00:39:34.639 did, 00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:35.440 because we 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.960 have a God 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:36.639 of providence 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:37.519 who plans 00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:38.440 and who 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.619 directs 00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:40.399 our steps, 00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.460 our lives, 00:39:41.899 --> 00:39:42.799 our stories. 00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:44.399 The providence 00:39:44.399 --> 00:39:45.239 of God isn't 00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:45.899 something to 00:39:45.899 --> 00:39:47.299 philosophize 00:39:47.299 --> 00:39:47.699 over, 00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.460 it's something 00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:49.819 that should 00:39:49.819 --> 00:39:50.299 lead us 00:39:50.299 --> 00:39:51.119 to praise. 00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:52.960 We'll finish 00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:53.500 with a quote 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.099 from B.B. 00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:54.739 Warfield, 00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:56.299 a firm 00:39:56.299 --> 00:39:57.799 faith in 00:39:57.799 --> 00:39:58.659 the universal 00:39:58.659 --> 00:39:59.460 providence 00:39:59.460 --> 00:40:00.179 of God 00:40:00.179 --> 00:40:01.299 is the 00:40:01.299 --> 00:40:01.879 solution 00:40:01.879 --> 00:40:03.159 to all 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:04.299 earthly 00:40:04.299 --> 00:40:04.879 troubles. 00:40:06.039 --> 00:40:06.839 Let's 00:40:06.839 --> 00:40:07.279 pray 00:40:07.279 --> 00:40:08.199 together. 00:40:09.859 --> 00:40:10.739 Lords, 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:11.819 our God, 00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:13.599 we thank 00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:14.859 you that 00:40:14.859 --> 00:40:15.259 you are the 00:40:15.259 --> 00:40:15.739 God with 00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.639 universal 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:17.440 providence, 00:40:17.699 --> 00:40:18.019 that you 00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:18.839 are controlling, 00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:19.519 governing, 00:40:19.799 --> 00:40:20.099 ruling, 00:40:20.339 --> 00:40:20.960 sustaining, 00:40:21.559 --> 00:40:22.099 not just 00:40:22.099 --> 00:40:22.659 partially, 00:40:22.839 --> 00:40:23.440 but totally, 00:40:23.559 --> 00:40:24.059 not just 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:24.500 some of 00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:24.980 our lives, 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.639 but all 00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:26.000 of our 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.579 lives. 00:40:27.799 --> 00:40:28.460 We thank 00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.880 you for 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:29.659 the hope 00:40:29.659 --> 00:40:30.219 that we 00:40:30.219 --> 00:40:30.940 can find 00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:31.860 when we 00:40:31.860 --> 00:40:32.400 recognize 00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:33.339 your character, 00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:33.739 that you 00:40:33.739 --> 00:40:34.380 are good 00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:34.880 and that 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.239 you are 00:40:35.239 --> 00:40:36.079 trustworthy. 00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:39.219 Lord, 00:40:39.259 --> 00:40:39.819 we ask 00:40:39.819 --> 00:40:40.819 that for 00:40:40.819 --> 00:40:41.319 those of 00:40:41.319 --> 00:40:41.739 us who 00:40:41.739 --> 00:40:42.599 are Christians, 00:40:42.779 --> 00:40:43.039 that we 00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:44.019 would rest 00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:45.199 in your 00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:46.059 fatherly 00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:47.199 care over 00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:47.639 us, 00:40:48.799 --> 00:40:49.399 to be 00:40:49.399 --> 00:40:50.939 glad that 00:40:50.939 --> 00:40:51.699 we are 00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.379 in your 00:40:52.379 --> 00:40:53.059 hands and 00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:53.619 not in 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:54.319 our own, 00:40:55.059 --> 00:40:55.339 that we 00:40:55.339 --> 00:40:56.000 be glad 00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:56.460 that we're 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:56.899 not 00:40:56.899 --> 00:40:58.159 suffering to 00:40:58.159 --> 00:40:58.719 the winds 00:40:58.719 --> 00:40:59.419 of fate 00:40:59.419 --> 00:41:00.460 and chance, 00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:01.879 but our 00:41:01.879 --> 00:41:02.500 steps are 00:41:02.500 --> 00:41:03.359 being planned. 00:41:05.279 --> 00:41:05.819 Lord, 00:41:05.879 --> 00:41:06.179 for any 00:41:06.179 --> 00:41:06.739 tonight who 00:41:06.739 --> 00:41:07.559 aren't 00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:08.079 Christians, 00:41:08.339 --> 00:41:08.859 may you 00:41:08.859 --> 00:41:10.119 show them 00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:10.980 your 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.639 goodness, 00:41:11.639 --> 00:41:13.639 even in 00:41:13.639 --> 00:41:14.239 bringing them 00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:14.900 here this 00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:15.279 evening, 00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:17.199 to consider 00:41:17.199 --> 00:41:18.239 your 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:19.119 control 00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:20.379 and your 00:41:20.379 --> 00:41:20.980 controlling 00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:22.000 all history 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:23.519 so that in 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:24.139 your right 00:41:24.139 --> 00:41:24.659 time, 00:41:25.259 --> 00:41:25.839 Jesus would 00:41:25.839 --> 00:41:27.019 come as 00:41:27.019 --> 00:41:27.659 the Savior 00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.279 we all 00:41:28.279 --> 00:41:28.659 need. 00:41:29.500 --> 00:41:29.900 Lord, 00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:30.239 may you 00:41:30.239 --> 00:41:30.779 cause each 00:41:30.779 --> 00:41:31.400 one of us 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:31.659 to be 00:41:31.659 --> 00:41:32.319 looking to 00:41:32.319 --> 00:41:32.839 him with 00:41:32.839 --> 00:41:33.359 faith. 00:41:34.659 --> 00:41:34.940 And we 00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.379 ask too 00:41:35.379 --> 00:41:35.719 that you'd 00:41:35.719 --> 00:41:36.219 help us 00:41:36.219 --> 00:41:36.960 to pray 00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:38.359 as we 00:41:38.359 --> 00:41:39.199 realize that 00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:39.819 you have 00:41:39.819 --> 00:41:40.480 deliberately 00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:41.219 chosen 00:41:41.219 --> 00:41:42.500 to place 00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:43.419 us exactly 00:41:43.419 --> 00:41:43.980 where we 00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:44.399 are, 00:41:45.359 --> 00:41:46.599 that we 00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:47.099 would want 00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:47.459 to be 00:41:47.459 --> 00:41:48.319 instruments 00:41:48.319 --> 00:41:49.339 of your 00:41:49.339 --> 00:41:49.959 blessing 00:41:49.959 --> 00:41:50.859 to the 00:41:50.859 --> 00:41:51.139 people 00:41:51.139 --> 00:41:51.859 around us. 00:41:52.779 --> 00:41:53.419 Help us, 00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:54.000 we pray, 00:41:54.519 --> 00:41:55.139 in Jesus' 00:41:55.399 --> 00:41:55.639 name. 00:41:56.239 --> 00:41:56.519 Amen. 00:42:00.399 --> 00:42:01.119 So we 00:42:01.119 --> 00:42:01.639 will sing 00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:02.619 a hymn to 00:42:02.619 --> 00:42:02.939 close, 00:42:03.019 --> 00:42:03.419 Christ is 00:42:03.419 --> 00:42:03.639 mine 00:42:03.639 --> 00:42:04.299 forevermore, 00:42:04.439 --> 00:42:04.799 and then, 00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:05.480 if you 00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:05.779 can, 00:42:06.039 --> 00:42:06.799 stick around 00:42:06.799 --> 00:42:07.299 for 10 00:42:07.299 --> 00:42:07.699 or 15 00:42:07.699 --> 00:42:08.039 minutes, 00:42:08.419 --> 00:42:08.799 and we'll 00:42:08.799 --> 00:42:09.379 have our 00:42:09.379 --> 00:42:09.919 discussion 00:42:09.919 --> 00:42:10.679 groups. 00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:11.739 So let's 00:42:11.739 --> 00:42:12.679 stand together 00:42:12.679 --> 00:42:13.500 and sing. 00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:13.599 Let's 00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:14.500 stand together 00:42:14.500 --> 00:42:14.559 and sing. 00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:15.000 Let's 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:15.559 stand together 00:42:15.559 --> 00:42:15.579 and sing.