Pastor Stephanie
The word “providence” combines the prefix “pro” with the Latin word videre—becoming provideo. While some scholars include the word “foresight” in its definition, the word “providence” has a wider scope than the foreknowledge of God.
Provideo breaks down into “pro” (meaning “on behalf of”) and videre (meaning “to see”). Bible teacher John Piper says provideo means “to see to something” and supply what is needed, much like the word “provision.”
“In other words,” Piper says, “seeing something with a purpose is to make provision for what you see.
Providence is the act of God’s seeing to the universe.”
The Christian worldview acknowledges God’s intimate involvement in the affairs of every person and nation, and throughout nature.
Wyatt Graham wrote, “God acts through His providence to minister goodness to a world gone awry.”
His world is not left to random chance or fate.
God is the Master Controller of the universe—or as Bible teacher Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth likes to say,
“Heaven rules.”
In eternity past, by the counsel of His own will, God ordained all things. Yet this does not mean He is the author of sin; human responsibility is always in effect.
For us to walk in our destiny and purpose, we need to understand God is the master of the universe.
Devil is not in control of this universe.
He only has temporary rulership.
We live our lives according to what our New King says.
God is not the author of sin.
Sin came in when Adam chose to disobeyed God.
God also created the laws of nature, of cause and effect, and every human is fully responsible for choices and sins.
But God is active in both the willing and the working of His creatures to bring His purposeful plans to fulfillment or completion.
God sentenced someone because they didn't accept God's way of saving men.
Is God's Providence the Same as God’s Sovereignty?
The actual word “providence” is not a word found in the English Bible, but the Scriptures reference God’s way, ordinance, hand, upholding, working, government, care, and deeds—all legitimate substitutes for that word.
Though they seem to overlap, God’s sovereignty and providence are not exactly the same thing.
“God’s sovereignty is His right and power to do all that He decides to do,”
JOB 42:1-3 NLT
Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.
Sometimes we think we know a lot more than God.
Only God knows everything. He is Jehovah El-Deah.
John Piper wrote.
“But notice that nothing in that definition of sovereignty refers to God’s wisdom or God’s plans. When He decides to do a thing, He does it, and no one can stop Him. That’s sovereignty.” God will accomplish all He intends to do.
ISAIAH 46:9-10 NLT
Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
Able to walk in the providence and walk in the destiny and purpose of the Lord.
Only God can tell our future.
Human being are created with spirit in the image of God.
Spirit man searches why are we on this earth and what it is going to happen in the future.
We are an eternal spirit being that will live forever.
We as a spirit being we want to know what is in the future and eternity.
If a believer live carelessly, they don't know the real meaning of eternity.
If God tells us, He will be the one who make it to pass.
No need to questioned God.
“Providence, however, includes what sovereignty doesn’t,” Piper said.
One might say that providence is “wise and purposeful sovereignty.”
God has a purpose in that decision.
He wants to do it for our benefit and good.
Sovereignty - He can do anything He wants
Providence - He sees us. Divine providence
Regarding sovereignty, Jerry Bridges quoted Augustine in “The Sovereignty of God’s Providence.”
Augustine said, “Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen; He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.”
People give up in life because they cannot see a sovereign God.
Nothing happens by chance or by luck. No coincidence.
Sometimes we can walked out of God's will because of our ignorance.
Bridges elaborated, “This means that nothing in your life is so small or trivial as to escape the attention of His sovereign control; and nothing is so great as to be beyond His power to control it.”
We might sense His providence in that statement.
The One whose “eye is on the sparrow” cares for us.
Kevin DeYoung said the early Reformed thinkers who exulted in God’s design and decrees, typically used the word “providence.” He wrote, “There is nothing wrong about celebrating divine sovereignty, so long as we understand that God’s inscrutable power is not exercised on a whim, but always as an expression of love for His people.
God in His sovereignty can do what He likes but because of His providence, He still do what He likes with the aim of His children's purpose and destiny.
His sovereignty is pro-us, which is why the Reformers talked about providence more than raw sovereignty.” As the Heidelberg Catechism says, “… all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.”
What Does Scripture Teach Us about God’s Providence?
The doctrine of the providence of God—linked to the doctrine of His sovereignty over heaven and earth, the weather, the physical world, the affairs of nations, and human destiny—is taught throughout scripture.
God uses human failures and successes to accomplish His will.
LUKE 1:52 NLT
He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
He provides protection for His people, preserves the animals, and even control’s the lion’s mouth—for good or to judge.
PSALM 4:8 NLT
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
PSALM 104:27 TPT
All the creatures wait expectantly for you to give them their food as you determine.
God is the provider.
DANIEL 6:21-22 NLT
Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
Daniel knows who his God is. He knows his God can shut the lions' mouth.
He believe and trust in God and His sovereignty.
Our lives is in God's hands.
If we don't know this, we will live a life like a normal person who don't know we have a God.
We live under a sovereign God who is able to do anything which our mind cannot even conceive or believe.
God sustains—upholds or “bears up”—creation in His providence to declare His glory.
All creation is utterly dependent upon the Lord’s sustenance. He preserves it all.
We do not write our own story.
Our life story is an expression of God's love for humanity.
All creation are dependent on Him.
NEHEMIAH 9:6 NLT
“You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.
PSALM 104:27-31 NLT
They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
This is divine providence.
He will complete His work in His children, guiding their every step.
ROMANS 8:28 TPT
So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good [harmony with His will], for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfil his designed purpose.
God allows things for a reason, and both He and His plans are good.
Kevin DeYoung wrote, “He does not merely turn hard situations for our good; He ordains hard situations for our good.
He allows and ordains certain difficult things in our lives.
Tim Challies takes this a step further, writing, “Thank God for His providence, and prepare to be amazed when, in eternity, God gives you the GIFT of SEEING how often and to what extent He has kept you from sin.”
Though God’s kindness is meant to bring people to repentance, He also hardens, and He can bring disaster and use evil for His purposes. He also controls death. Do those seemingly harsh actions make Him ruthless or cruel? No. As Eric Liddel’s father said in Chariots of Fire: “He is a benign, loving dictator.”
In other words, DeYoung says, “The power of providence has a benevolent purpose.”
God’s awesome power is released in awesome love and holiness. God normally works in His creation through countless, daily acts of providence—orchestrating and ordering events and lives; but sometimes He intervenes through miracles to accomplish His will.
GENESIS 45:1-2 NLT
Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.
GENESIS 45:3-4 NLT
“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.
GENESIS 45:5 NLT
But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was GOD WHO SENT ME HERE AHEAD of you TO PRESERVE your LIVES.
GENESIS 45:6-7 NLT
This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. GOD HAS SENT ME AHEAD of you to KEEP you and your families ALIVE and to PRESERVE many survivors.
GENESIS 45:8 NLT
So it was GOD WHO SENT ME HERE, NOT YOU! And HE is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.
Our lives is under the sovereign God.
Promotion comes from the Lord.
It is God who gave us the power to make wealth.
Wolgemuth wrote in You Can Trust God to Write Your Story, “The hardest parts of the story God is writing in your life are not random or meaningless. They are full of PURPOSE. And in DUE TIME, all that He has intended for you and for this world will come true. In the MEANTIME, He will always be with you.
Shepherd is the one who always show us the way.
DEUTERONOMY 31:8 NLT
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
HEBREWS 13:5 CEV
Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us.
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