Hope in the Plan and Providence of God Providence of God ......God’s Providence Let the people of God comfort themselves in all cases by this doctrine of the divine decrees; and,

In the Steps of ChristIn the Steps of Christ

Personal Growth in GodlinessPersonal Growth in Godliness

Hope in the Plan and Hope in the Plan and Providence of God Providence of God –– Part 2Part 2

Lesson #3Lesson #3

Personal Growth in GodlinessPersonal Growth in Godliness Lesson #3: Plan/ProvidenceLesson #3: Plan/Providence22

Introduction: CoincidenceIntroduction: Coincidence

�� CoincidenceCoincidence -- The The occurrence of events that occurrence of events that happen at the same time by happen at the same time by accident but seem to have accident but seem to have some connection some connection (http://www.merriam(http://www.merriam--webster.com/dictionary/coincidence)webster.com/dictionary/coincidence)

�� “Fate,” “random chance,” and “Fate,” “random chance,” and “luck” are more ways of “luck” are more ways of expressing a lack of belief in expressing a lack of belief in the sovereignty and the sovereignty and providence of Godprovidence of God


Lesson OutlineLesson Outline

1.1. God’s Sovereign PlanGod’s Sovereign Plan

•• God definitively determined His eternal plan God definitively determined His eternal plan before the foundation of the world by His before the foundation of the world by His will and for His glorywill and for His glory

2.2. God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence

•• God guarantees that His sovereign plan will God guarantees that His sovereign plan will come to pass, because He works in time to come to pass, because He works in time to bring it to passbring it to pass


God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence

Providence is God’s power in bringing the Providence is God’s power in bringing the movement of the universe to its movement of the universe to its predetermined goal and design. It is the predetermined goal and design. It is the effecting or the outworking of His effecting or the outworking of His decrees…God controls the free acts of decrees…God controls the free acts of men, both predestining them and men, both predestining them and providentially bringing them to pass.providentially bringing them to pass.

Rolland McCuneRolland McCune


Outline Outline –– God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence

By His providence, God…By His providence, God…

1.1. Directs peopleDirects people

2.2. Protects peopleProtects people

3.3. Prevents human actionsPrevents human actions

4.4. Allows human actionsAllows human actions

5.5. Controls circumstancesControls circumstances

6.6. Determines historyDetermines history


Directs PeopleDirects People

�� Although man plans his course and makes Although man plans his course and makes decisions, his direction is set by God (Proverbs decisions, his direction is set by God (Proverbs 16:1, 16:9, 16:33, 19:21, 16:1, 16:9, 16:33, 19:21, 20:2420:24))

•• This helps us to understand the connection This helps us to understand the connection between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibilitybetween God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility

�� God directs the mind of man to bring about His God directs the mind of man to bring about His purposespurposes

• Exodus 12:36 and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.


Protects PeopleProtects People

�� Jesus argued from the lesser to the Jesus argued from the lesser to the greater regarding God’s care for us greater regarding God’s care for us (Matthew 6:26, 10:29(Matthew 6:26, 10:29--31)31)

•• The hairs of our heads are numberedThe hairs of our heads are numbered

�� We are guarded by angelsWe are guarded by angels• Psalm 91:11 For He will give His angels

charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.


Prevents Human ActionsPrevents Human Actions

�� Sometimes God keeps us from sinning Sometimes God keeps us from sinning (Genesis 20:6)(Genesis 20:6)

�� Why did Paul and Timothy not speak in Why did Paul and Timothy not speak in Asia or Bithynia (Acts 16:6Asia or Bithynia (Acts 16:6--7)?7)?

� Why did they go to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10)?


Allows Human ActionsAllows Human Actions

�� God allows sinners to harden their hearts in God allows sinners to harden their hearts in stubbornness (Psalm 81:12; Romans 1:24stubbornness (Psalm 81:12; Romans 1:24--28)28)

�� God even allows evil for the purpose of His God even allows evil for the purpose of His glory (Psalm 76:10)?glory (Psalm 76:10)?

�� The Bible makes it clear that God uses The Bible makes it clear that God uses human actions to fulfill His plan (human actions to fulfill His plan (Acts 3:17Acts 3:17--1818)?)?

�� God’s providence does not cancel human God’s providence does not cancel human freedom (Psalm 110:3).freedom (Psalm 110:3).


Controls CircumstancesControls Circumstances

�� God God controls nature and weather (Jonah controls nature and weather (Jonah 1:4; 1:4; Job 37:9Job 37:9--1313))

�� According to According to Philippians 1:12Philippians 1:12, what happened , what happened as a result of God’s providential control over as a result of God’s providential control over Paul’s circumstances?Paul’s circumstances?


Determines HistoryDetermines History

�� Daniel 4:35 Daniel 4:35 "All the inhabitants of the earth "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?‘ have You done?‘ (see also Isaiah 10:15 and (see also Isaiah 10:15 and Psalm 127:1Psalm 127:1--2)2)

�� God determined all of our days (Job 14:5)God determined all of our days (Job 14:5)

�� God determined the times and locations of God determined the times and locations of men (men (Acts 17:26Acts 17:26--2727))


The Best ExampleThe Best Example

�� Christ’s death was predetermined, planned, Christ’s death was predetermined, planned, and providentially carried out in time.and providentially carried out in time.

•• John 7:30John 7:30 –– “His hour had not yet come”“His hour had not yet come”

•• John 13:1John 13:1 –– “His hour had come”“His hour had come”

•• John 17:1John 17:1 –– “the hour has come”“the hour has come”

•• Luke 22:21Luke 22:21--2222 –– “the Son of Man is going as it “the Son of Man is going as it has been determined”has been determined”

•• Acts 2:23Acts 2:23--2424 –– “delivered over by the “delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God”predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God”

•• Galatians 4:4Galatians 4:4--55 –– “when the fullness of time “when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son”came, God sent forth His Son”


God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence

Let the people of God comfort themselves in all cases by this doctrine Let the people of God comfort themselves in all cases by this doctrine of the divine decrees; and, amidst whatever befalls them, rest of the divine decrees; and, amidst whatever befalls them, rest quietly and submissively in the bosom of God, considering that quietly and submissively in the bosom of God, considering that whatever comes or can come to pass, proceeds from the decree whatever comes or can come to pass, proceeds from the decree of their gracious friend and reconciled Father, who knows what is of their gracious friend and reconciled Father, who knows what is best for them, and will make all things work together for their best for them, and will make all things work together for their good. O what a sweet and pleasant life would you have under the good. O what a sweet and pleasant life would you have under the heaviest pressures of affliction, and what heavenly serenity and heaviest pressures of affliction, and what heavenly serenity and tranquility of mind would you enjoy, would you cheerfully tranquility of mind would you enjoy, would you cheerfully acquiesce in the good will and pleasure of God, and embrace acquiesce in the good will and pleasure of God, and embrace every dispensation, how no matter how sharp it may be, because every dispensation, how no matter how sharp it may be, because it is determined and appointed for you by the eternal counsel of it is determined and appointed for you by the eternal counsel of his will!his will!

Thomas BostonThomas Boston


Group DiscussionGroup Discussion

1.1. How can a deep knowledge and trust in How can a deep knowledge and trust in God’s providence give believers God’s providence give believers confidence and strength to live a confidence and strength to live a victorious Christian life?victorious Christian life?

2.2. Name specific ways in which you can Name specific ways in which you can apply the following passages to your life:apply the following passages to your life:

•• Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33--3434

•• Psalm 16:8Psalm 16:8

•• Proverbs 16:3Proverbs 16:3--44

Documents

Hope in the Plan and Providence of God Providence of God ......God’s Providence Let the people of God comfort themselves in all cases by this doctrine of the divine decrees; and,