05-12-2019 – Keith Cozort – The Providence of God (PM Sermon)

If you’re visiting with us, we are grateful for your visit would ask you to sign one of the visitors cards on the back of the Pew in front of you should be one there and leave it on the Pew. We’ll collect those when our services are over so that we can ever record of your visit. It’s. And I want us to spend some time studying concerning the Providence of God.

The Providence of God. When you look at the word Providence, literally it means provide Ants, Provide ENTs, which simply means the idea of foresight that God, through his foresight is going to provide those things that are necessary. Those things that are desired, and it has to do with God’s intervention in the affairs of life. Amen. I want us to begin first of all,

by noticing some false ideas concerning God’s Providence That are out there. The first one is the idea of deism. Deism is the idea that God, in no way, intervenes With mankind, it is The idea that God created the world. They acknowledge the God created the world, but ever since he created the world, it’s been a hands-off policy. He’s had absolutely nothing to do with our world since the time of the creation In promoting that they refer Fuse to recognize.

First of all, that the Bible is the revelation of they’ve refused to recognize that Concerning the deity of Jesus Christ deity in flesh, when he dwells Among us, John one verse 14, they refuse to recognize the atonement that God has provided for us. They even refuse to recognize the effectiveness of prayer. Praying on behalf as brother max did just a few moments ago,

praying on behalf of those that we know of that are sick praying on behalf of those that we know that are suffering prayed on behalf of those that we know who are spiritually in need, Because If God is according to what deism teaches, he doesn’t hear our prayers. He doesn’t answer our prayers at all. He has no interaction, never has had any interactions With mankind.

Hopefully you can see that that’s a philosophy we can’t accept because of what the Bible Teaches. We can’t accept That philosophy because basically it makes sense at all. If you believe the Bible, it attacks the very love of God. It attacks the very mercy of God. It attacks the very benevolence of God toward mankind and it even denies scripture. And it leaves no explanation to various events of history.

For example, open your Bibles with me, if you will, to Daniel chapter four, and then Daniel chapter four, this is where Nebuchadnezzar has his second dream. And in verse 17 is where Nebuchadnezzar is telling to Daniel his dream. And he’s it says there in verse 17, that this matter is by degree of the Watchers and the demand by the word of the Holy ones,

to the intent that the living may know that the most high rule within the kingdom of men and give it to whomsoever, he will and set us up over it. The basis of men, this is what Nebuchadnezzar was told in his dream. He doesn’t understand what it means, but this is what he is told. Well, then you drop down to verse 25 and this is where Daniel is receiving and giving to Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation of his dream.

And Daniel says that they shall drive the from men and died. Dwelling shall be with the beast of the field and they shall make the, to eat grasses oxen, and they show a wet the, with the Dew of heaven and seven times shall pass over the till. Thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men and give it to whomsoever.

He will. So twice we’ve had this phrase that is given first of all, to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream. Secondly, to Daniel in interpreting the dream that God rules in the kingdom of men will, the deism is true. That’s that’s what, what is taking place here is just a lie. It is this wrong is wrong. Can be because God doesn’t rule in the kingdom of bed.

If deism is true, well, you turn over then to verse 32 in verse 32, this is the record of what actually happened to Nebuchadnezzar. And it says, and they shall drive the, from men. And I dwell in Shelby with the beast of the field. They shall make the, to eat grass as oxen and seven times shall pass over the,

until thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men and give it to whomsoever. Will you see chapter four makes no sense at all. If deism is correct, turn with me, if you will, to Daniel chapter 15, the last chapter in, or excuse me, not Daniel Genesis, I’m sorry. Genesis chapter 50 last chapter in the book of Genesis.

And This is where, of course we’re going to begin with the passing of Israel or the passing of Jacob and his burial by his sons. And it says beginning in verse 14, and Joseph returned into Egypt, he and his brethren and all that went up with him to bury his father after he had buried his father. And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead,

they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us. And we’ll continue. Our certainly require us all the evil, which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger under Joseph saying, thy father did command before he died, say so, shall he say, under Joseph forgive, I pray thee. Now the trespass of thy brethren and their sin for they did unto the evil.

And now we pray thee forgive the trespass of the servants of the God, of thy father and Joseph wept. When they speak unto him and his brethren also went and fell down before his face. And they said, behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said, unto them fear, not for I for am I in the place of God, but as for you,

you thought evil against me, but God meant it under good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive. Now, therefore fear, ye not. I will nourish you and your little ones and he comforted them and speak kindly Under them. If deism Is true, then what Joseph says here in chapter 50, that you meant it for evil,

but God meant it for good Is a lie because God had absolutely nothing to do with it. If deism is true. Well, the fact of the matter is deism is not true, but Another false idea concerning God’s intervention or Providence is that of Calvinism. Calvin ism teaches the idea that everything to the most minute detail is for ordained and predestinated by God,

God, okay. Phil was talking about this morning. I think it was. But anyway, talking about that, he had a headache. Maybe it was tonight, had a headache. And so if Calvinism is true, then everything that happened as far as his headache was concerned, was pre ordained of God. Predestinated by God. This makes God responsible for every bad thing that happens to every individual ever has happened to any individual.

It’s all God’s fault. You’ve heard me stated other times concerning the old flip Wilson TV program, and one of the characters that he would portray her statement was the devil made me do it. The devil made me do it well, we’ve talked about how the devil can’t make us do anything. Well, if Calvinism is true, then it’s God made me do it.

No matter what it is, whether it’s good or whether it’s evil, doesn’t matter what it is. It’s God’s fault. And therefore we can blame God. They don’t, but we could with what they teach blame God, for those things that happen to us, it’s not our fault and Oh, how much the world would love for that to be true today.

Wouldn’t they, it’s not my fault. It’s God’s fault that I’m this kind of person it’s God’s fault that I did this. It’s God’s fault that I did that because he predestined that I would do that. I didn’t have a choice. Man becomes merely a robot. If Calvinism is true without the power to choose. And if that is the case, then pray.

Tell what does Joshua mean in Joshua 24, verse 15. When he says, choose you this day, whom you will serve well, if Calvinism is true, there is no choice. You serve whoever God predestined you to serve God predestined. Those that are going to be saved. He predestined. Those are going to be lost. And therefore you have no choice in the matter at all.

And if you are one who is predestined to be lost, there is absolutely nothing you can do to become saved. And if God has predestined you to become, to be saved, there is absolutely nothing that you can do. No sin that you commit could commit whereby God would not allow you to be saved. If Calvinism is true, Peter and second Peter chapter three,

and in verse nine passage that we use quite often to show concerning the goodness of God. Peter says the Lord is not Slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness, but as long suffering to other to us, us word, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Well, if God wants all to come to repentance and yet Calvinism is true,

they have no choice, no choice as to whether or not they’re going to come to repentance. God has already preordained or predestinated what they are going to do and what the outcome is going to be. No Calvinism is not that which teaches correctly concerning God’s intervention or God’s provenance. Then there’s Pentecostalism. Pentecostalism is the idea of every favorable event that transpires in the life of a Christian is miraculous to some degree miracles of course,

are those things which were done in the creating of the world and the universe in the revealing and the confirming of the will of God. The miracles have ceased miracles, no longer take place, but akin to this idea is that every good thing that happens is a direct intervention of God in our lives, for example, and this is stated as being the ridiculous,

but it’s if, if what they are teaching is true and it goes to this, imagine if you will, that you’re driving around the square, for example. And for some reason, it’s extremely busy day and you’re having to search to try to find a parking place and you end up having to drive around three or four times. And finally, if find a parking place,

that’s a miracle of God. And then not only that you find a dime to put in the meter to pay the park. That’s a miracle of God. That’s the idea that they teach. Well, again, that goes completely contrary to what the scriptures teach, but I want us to notice some principles for understanding God’s Providence correctly, some principles for understanding this Providence,

because God’s Providence operates in harmony with his nature. You can look at various patched passages, such as Isaiah chapter six and in verse three, where Isaiah says that the Lord is Holy, Holy, Holy Holy. You can look at the 89 Psalm and in verse 14, and he’s described as being righteous, that those are correct descriptions concerning God, God is Holy God is righteous.

We’ve been studying on Sunday or in our adult Bible classes and all of our Bible classes from first John and now in the second, John third, John, that God is love that correctly describes God. God is love. And James tells us in James chapter one in verses 13 and 14, that God does not tempt any man. When he says, let no man say,

when he is tempted, I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he, any man for every man is tempted. When he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed, God does not tempt us to do evil. Does he allow us to be tested? Yes, he does. We have all kinds of examples in scripture where he allows men to be tested,

but not to be tempted with evil. James says that just simply does not happen. Paul, when he writes to the Romans in Romans chapter nine and in verse 17 speaks concerning Pharaoh. And he says for the scripture, say if under Pharaoh, even for this same purpose, have I raised the up that I might show my power in the, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Now this is the Pharaoh back during the time of the children of Israel and the time of Moses and them being released from captivity and how that Pharaoh and his armies go after the children of Israel. But God is going to use Pharaoh. He brings Pharaoh up to be used as an example, to show to Pharaoh, his power. Remember Pharaoh said, who is the Lord that I should obey him?

Well, favorite Rose going to receive a 10 lesson correspondence course from God on who God is. And by the time he gets through with lesson, number 10, he knows who God is. And he wants the children of Israel to get out of his sight. At least for a period of time, God, his Providence operates in harmony with his nature.

Secondly, yeah, God’s Providence operates in harmony with his revealed The will. God has revealed the conditions for a reason, Moving sin from our lives, Mark chapter 16, verse 16, he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He, the believer not shall be damned. Jesus says there one must believe and be baptized in order to be saved from his sins.

There is no doubt about it. It That’s what the revealed will of God says. And in his Providence, that is how men are saved. Peter says In acts chapter two, verse 38, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And he shall receive the gift of the Holy ghost.

Peter says they have to repent and be baptized in order to receive the remission of their sins. Now, the reason we make that point is how many times have we heard people come up and say, well, I was saved last night. Well, what did you do? I didn’t do Do anything. Or, And angel told me that I was saved or an angel told me to do this,

or God told me to. Do we hear that often? In fact of the Matter is if it is not according to what the will of God and the word of God teaches, it is not true, no matter how sincere they may be in proclaiming it, it just simply is not the, That is not true. So one should not surmise that there is a possibility of being saved in any way,

other than what the new Testament teaches. One must be saved. Thirdly, God’s Providence does not negate man’s freedom of will. God Does not coerce us to do good. He does not coerce us to do evil. He makes promises for those who do good. He makes promises for those who do, But he does not coerce us to do one or the other,

But he can use Providence to accomplish his purposes. And he does use Providence to accomplish his purposes. Turn back to Isaiah chapter 10, the prophet Isaiah is going to speak prophesied concerning something that’s going to happen into the future. And Isaiah Chapter 10 verses five through seven, Isaiah says, Oh, a Syrian, the rod of mine, anger, the staff of their hand is my indignation.

I will send him against the hypocritical nation and against the people of my wrath. Will I give him a charge to take the spoil and to take the prey and to tread them down like buyer of the streets? How be it he mean is not so neither does his heart think so, but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations. Not a few.

Hear God through the prophet. Isaiah is speaking to the Northern kingdom of Israel. And what he is doing is he is speaking concerning the fact that the Assyrians are going to be used as an instrument to defeat the Northern kingdom of Israel because of their unfaithfulness to God. And the fact of the matter is that you can go back and you can read in a book,

Look at first Kings concerning these things that do transpire or second Kings rather. And then it’s repeated again in second Chronicles concerning these things happening and how the Assyrians did come against the door. Then kingdom carried them weight away into captivity, seven 21 BC, never to return as a nation again because of their disobedience. Rebelliously Against God, that was in his Providence.

Okay? Now those Assyrians Syrians could choose to do whatever it is that they want to do, but it ultimately was going to be such. They were going to persecute, punish and carry away. Those who were of the Northern kingdom. You can turn to the book of Habakkuk chapter one, verses five and six, and also in verse 11. And there Habakkuk is going to prophesy concerning the fact that the Babylonians are going to come against the Southern kingdom in order to be gods a sword,

to afflict punishment, if I’m them and to carry them away in captivity, beginning in six Oh six BC and such, they did God use those wicked nations to hand out punishment against his people. And in Providence, he showed that that was going to take place. And it did take place. Yes. Thank you. And from Exodus chapter nine, in verse 16,

we read concerning God’s statement that he raised up Pharaoh in order to show his power An hour. And certainly he demonstrated his power. And by the way, when you remember that, God says, that’s what he’s doing for Pharaoh yet. It’s going to be such that those other people, those seven nations in Palestine, as Ray ham tells us heard concerning those things that God did with the children of Israel.

And they’ve been shaking in their boots ever since, because they know that God has given to the children of Israel And acts chapter 14, verse 27, Paul and Barnabas rehearsed How God had opened the door of faith under the Gentiles. Luke tells us that was in God’s Providence because the was to go To all The world as Jesus gives the great commission to the apostles.

And Therefore that meant both Jew and Gentile. Yeah. In the next chapter. 10 of course is when that takes place beginning with Cornelius and his household. But now Paul and Barnabas are traveling to other places in order to take the gospel To the Gentiles. God’s Providence does not negate man’s freedom of will. Those genes, Then tiles could decide whether or not they were going to accept the gospel just as people today decide whether or not they’re going to accept them,

The gospel. But again, there’s no other way to be saved other than through obedience to the gospel that hasn’t changed at all. As far as God’s Providence is concerned, Providence needs To be distinguished from the miraculous needs to be distinguished from the miraculous. A miracle is God working outside the realm of nature, Working Outside the realm of natural Law. That is why it is a miracle.

Sometimes we talk with individuals and They say, well, I just can’t believe the Bible because I can’t believe that it happened this way, Whether you’re talking about the creation, Whatever it may be. If it’s not such that they can explain how it is that it came about, then they go, they don’t accept what the Bible teaches. Well, the fact of the matter,

if it is a miracle, you can’t explain it other than the fact that God did it. It can’t be explained God, Working outside the realm of natural Law.<inaudible> by this, what cannot be accomplished in by any natural wall, any natural meat. And so, as examples, you have The conception and the birth of Jesus Christ. That was miraculous Because As we read there in Matthew chapter one,

verse 18 and Isaiah chapter seven, verse 14, a Virgin Bob bear, a son, Mary was a Virgin. When she gave birth to Jesus, she was still a Virgin. That is miraculous. As far as that conception is concerned, Just exactly The way that Isaiah prophesied that it was going to be. And that the angel told Mary that it was going to be that the Holy spirit was going to come upon her.

But now in first Samuel chapter one, there You read, as we talked a little bit this morning concerning Hannah, Hannah is one who wants to have a son. She prays to God that she might have a son she’s been, she’s gone a long time without bearing any children without conceiving any children And elk and his other wife, Peninnah Is one who has been bearing children.

And she’s kind of been scoffing at Hannah because she’s not been able to bear any children. Hannah wants to be a mother so bad that she is. We stopped talking about this morning probably To God. If you will give me a son, I will give him back to you For his life, for his lifetime. Exactly what she did well. How was it that she came to have a son to be born?

Was it through a miracle? No, it wasn’t through a miracle. It was through natural processes. God allowed it to happen through his Providence. Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 37. There you read concerning Nick rib and the Syrian forces Who are coming against the children of Israel. And we read were a hundred years, 85,000 soldiers of the Syrians woke up dead Overnight that speaking concerning the miracle.

Now we have Record concerning and angel taking place or doing this, but still it is a miracle. It’s something that does not happen under natural law for 185,000 soldiers in one night dying for no apparent reason. But then it goes, And it speaks in verses 37 and 38 concerning. Sennacherib how that, when this happened, he went home. I’m hedging.

I’d go home to losing 185,000 men in one night for no apparent reason. He goes home. He goes into the temple of his God to worship and to have his own sons come. And Which is exactly what was prophesied would happen. The killing of Sennacherib though was not a miracle. It was through Providence because God said that this was going to happen.

Providence has to be From the miraculous. When you turn to first Kings chapter 21, chapter 22, you read there concerning Ahab and how that it is spoken concerning Ahab that he is going to Die. And That the very same place where the dogs lift up, licked up the blood of neighbor off, they’re going to lick up a Habs. That’s exactly what happens.

Okay? The very place where neighbor was killed, the dogs came and licked up his blood, and now Ahab is going to be die in battle. And at the end of the day, he goes to this very same place. And here it is that he does. And when the, They are washing out the chariot that he rode in the dogs come and look up.

His blood Didn’t happen by a miracle. He didn’t die as a miracle, but he did die according to the prophecy of God, The Providence of God, no, this thing. And we can learn concerning the Providence of God, is that in Providence, God works behind the scenes. He works behind the scenes. Miracles of course are obvious. Demonstrations of divine intervention cannot be explained except by a miracle.

Providence though Is not necessarily Provable as beaten Providence. And that’s where we have to be careful in our day in time specifically, because many things happen to us And You hear people say, well, I know that that was the Providence of God That happened to me. I Know that that was the Providence of God. We can’t know that it was God’s Providence that had happened.

It could have, Maybe We can’t know for certain that it was, You can say, I know God’s Providence is at work in the lives of his people because the Bible teaches that it is Okay. And therefore this may be the Providence of God that has happened to me, but we can’t know assuredly that it is the case Because no specific happening can be Said with absolute certainty,

that it is providential, that that has happened. We only Know concerning these other things as being the Providence of God, because the Bible tells us the God foretold that these things were going to happen. And it wasn’t a miracle that took place, but it was his Providence that They would happen. And so it’s very much like an Esther chapter four. And in verse 14,

when Mordecai says to Esther who know with whether that art come to the kingdom for such a time as this God’s Providence had brought Esther to this point in time for this particular purpose purpose in order to save the children of Israel. But Mordecai didn’t know for sure if that was the case, who knows, but that you’ve come to the King or come to the kingdom for such a time as this Esther of course is going to save her people.

She’s going to save the Jews. And it was through the Providence of God with what is taught in the book of Esther. Even though, as we’ve talked about at other times in the book of Esther, you do not read a single reference concerning God, you do not read concerning the temple. You do not read concerning the laws. And as far as the,

the Jewish laws, the law of Moses, and yet all of those things are demonstrated in the Providence or through the Providence of God, as it relates toward Esther and her people in the book of Esther, the Providence of God, you know, sometimes, and I’m guilty of it as much as anybody else, not that guilty is in a bad sentence here,

but just speaking concerning, it’s what I’ve done. Sometimes we Marvel at what God did by miracles in the scriptures, and truly they are marvelous, but isn’t even more marvelous concerning what God accomplished without miracles in Bible times through his Providence, with what is recorded in scripture, the God of scripture is the God of history. And it is such that through his Providence,

he worked behind the scenes to be able to accomplish what he intended to accomplish. He’s not merely the God of the past. He’s the God of the president as well. And the apostle Paul says in Ephesians chapter three and in verse 20 now unto him, that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us,

see, God is still active. He’s not doing miracles, but he’s still active behind the scenes in his Providence. And he is, Is able, as Paul says, to do exceeding, abundantly above all that We ask or even think he is that powerful. His Providence is that which works to accomplish those things that he wants for it to accomplish. And so it is that our God is one who is able to do great miracles as has been demonstrated in times past and recorded in scripture.

But now he doesn’t work in miracles. Now he works in Providence. He worked in Providence, even in, during the time when he worked with miracles in miracles, but now he only works Should Providence. And therefore, that’s the reason that we continue to pray for those who are sick. That’s the reason That we continue to pray for those who are in need of encouragement from the word of God.

That’s the reason that we continue to pray And ask for God’s Blessings to be upon those who are mourning. Other things such as that several years ago, I talked with was talking with a fellow preacher. And he said something that I was, I was just flabbergasted that he said, God, doesn’t answer prayers. He said, and I asked, well then why do we pray?

If God, I was not going to answer our prayers, then why do we pray? He said, it just makes us feel. And I thought, wow, that’s not what I read in scripture. God hears our prayers. Those that are faithful, God hands Answers our prayers. And as we’ve talked about at other times, sometimes he answers, Yes.

Sometimes he answers with no. Sometimes he evidently answers with not now, but he answers our prayers. He is concerned about us. He does, as Jesus say, want us to ask and to ask over and over Ever again, but we have to be willing to accept the answer that he will give through his Providence. If you’re one is outside the body of this evening,

We’ve already made mentioned concerning the fact there’s no other way to be saved and what the Bible, the new Testament teaches that one must hear the word and believe it, John six verse 45, then one must be willing to repent acts two verse 38 must be willing to confess his faith in Christ. Matthew chapter 10 verse 32 must be willing to be immersed in water to be baptized in order to receive the remission of his sins,

the washing away of his sins in order to be saved. Mark 16, verse 16 X 22 verse 16, acts two verse 38. If you’re needing to do that, we plead with you to do it Tonight, if at all possible, But certainly sooner rather than later, If you’re wondering Was already a member of the body of Christ, but you’ve wandered off.

You’ve gone back into the world. Please come back and repentance, pray to God for forgiveness and begin again, walking in the way of righteousness. If we can help you, will you come as together? We stand and as we see.