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The Surprising & Awesome Guidance of Our God | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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There's so many things that can be said about this particular
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celebration. There's so many testimonies
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leading up to how this church began, the beginnings of this
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church, the things that took place in the past two years.
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It would take us more than one service to just touch on, even
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briefly, the variety and the colourful manifestations and
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interventions of God. But if there is one way of
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summarizing what NBC has become, or how NBC became NBC prayfully,
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this is what came to mind. Maranatha Bible Church is the
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product of God's Providence. Maranatha Bible Church is the
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result of God's Providence. And perhaps you've heard that
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word before, Providence, and maybe not.
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But Simply put, when you hear the word Providence, what we're
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trying to say is that God sovereignly works in and through
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the daily non miraculous events in our lives to affect His will.
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In other words, the belief of God's providential work teaches
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that the Lord uses natural means and works through natural
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orders, often times behind the scenes, to bring about His will.
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It's not immediately obvious. You can't say oftentimes in the
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moment. Here are the clear fingerprints
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that we can believe in our hearts that God is always at
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work. The thing with Providence is
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that it is often God's hidden work that is in function and
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operation. And we might think that this
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idea of God's Providence is true for the world of creation and
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the different systems of our universe, or the grander stages
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of life like the rise and fall of nations.
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But the truth of Providence applies to the good that God
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desires to bring about in each of our lives on an individual
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basis. Providence is at work in each of
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our lives, not just in the overarching story of human
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history, but in your own story, in your own journey, in your own
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unique circumstances and giftings and family background
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and context. Providence is at work.
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The pen of God's authorship is continually writing, though you
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may perceive it right away or not.
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And one of the things about Providence that is so
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encouraging to me is that the Lord often connects and attaches
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seemingly unrelated events, insignificant moments, even
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sometimes circumstances that seem to contradict or even
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challenge the will of God to actually accomplish as well.
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In essence, when we're talking about Providence, we're talking
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about the indirect leadership of God on all levels, on every
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level, from governments to your living room, from politics to
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the classroom. Every sphere is under the
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influence of God's providential mercies.
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And why I love to meditate and preach about Providence is
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because this truth promises the children of God one main thing.
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That there is nothing that happens in your life that is
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void of purpose. No matter what the episode is,
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no matter what the experience is, is, whatever it may be
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concerning your comfort or your discomfort, whether it is
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monumental or it is minor, whether it is clear or unclear.
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One thing is for certain, When you and I understand God's
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Providence, there is nothing left up to random chance and
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there is nothing left up to aimless coincidence.
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Providence promises purpose in everything.
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And George Mueller said a very powerful quote concerning
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Providence. He said, God does not only
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ordain our steps, He ordains our stops.
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And what I take that to mean is the Lord doesn't only work in
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direct deliverances. He also works in delays.
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He's also at work in your detours.
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God is always at work, and God is always at work for the aim of
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His glory and for the good of those who belong to Him.
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And if it is true that Providence promises purpose in
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every single thing that you and I engage and encounter, then it
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also must mean that Providence is the grounds for your peace
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and for your gratitude in all things.
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Can I say that one more time? If Providence promises purpose
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and absolutely everything, then it is also the grounds for you
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to know gratitude and peace in everything.
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This is the fruit of believing this truth, that even though you
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can't understand how this plays out or how this segment of your
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life this season fits into the grand scheme of things and God's
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purpose for your existence, you can still worship in the unknown
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because the unknown is not empty of meaning.
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The difficulty for you to reconcile how God is using this
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or how this can be allowed by God?
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How does this make sense? Providence calms your soul and
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teaches you and whispers to you that this has a purpose, that
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there is something behind this. This is an ordained piece.
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This is a sanctified segment waiting to be linked to a bigger
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picture that you will one day perceive and praise the Lord
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for. That's Providence and what I
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want to do in this in this time together as we reflect on how
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God brought about Maranatha Bible Church and how God will
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continue to lead by His grace. Maranatha Bible Church is
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evidences and examples of Providence so that you would
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leave this place more confirmed and confident that the Lord is
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surely leading me. Whether I can perceive it or
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not, the Lord is leading my life.
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And so let's do this, shall we? Let's look at how God, in the
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word of God is providentially working, how he has worked, and
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how they are principles for us to say.
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Then he must surely be at work in me.
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Turn with me. What do you think we're going to
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go? Oh, Genesis, right.
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Because of who? Joseph Shore.
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Or maybe what? Another woman of God?
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Esther. Yes, yes.
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The name of God is not mentioned in all the book of Esther, but
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his works are all there, right? That's by divine purpose.
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But we're not going to go to either of those.
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Turn with me to the book of Philemon.
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Let's go to Philemon together. Philemon, somebody might be
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saying, Is that a book in the Bible?
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It is a book in the Bible. It's in the New Testament,
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before the book of Hebrews. Philemon is the shortest of
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Paul's epistles and it is the only epistle that Paul wrote
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directly to a singular person and all the other epistles he's
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writing to the church at large or to a group of believers in a
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region. But Philemon is directly given
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to one person named Philemon, and this letter is not a a
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theological treatise. It's very brief.
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But what it is is Paul applying Christian truths to a real life
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situation. It's a very personal letter and
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it's a letter that we can relate to greatly because the whole
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background behind Philemon is this.
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Philemon was a Christian that Paul knew personally, and
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Philemon had a servant named Onisimus.
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Onisimus at a certain point fled from his master Philemon, and
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with that stole much from him. He betrayed his master.
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He created problems for his master and he was on the run and
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through a series of steps that are not made known to us.
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Apparently Onisimus met Paul while he was in Rome and in
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prison. We're not told how that
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encounter happened, but what we are told is that they did in
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fact meet and when they met something miraculous happened.
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Paul the Apostle, though bound in chains, you could not bind
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the word of God with that man. He proclaimed the gospel.
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He proclaimed the gospel to this runaway criminal, to Anissimus.
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And guess what happened to Anissimus?
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He believed. He repented.
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He became a born again Christian and they became great friends.
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In fact Paul really wanted on this miss to be by his side
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because he was of great use to Paul.
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But Paul learned of the circumstances with on Isthmus
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concerning his master back here with Philemon, and Paul
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encourages this born again Christian on Isthmus to be
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reconciled to Philemon to make things right.
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That's the Christian thing to do, to live a repentant life.
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And if there is something that you did wrong on this, Ms. make
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it right. And so he encourages on this Ms.
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to go back to Philemon, to not only ask for forgiveness, but to
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tell him, hey, I'm a different person, I'm saved, and I want to
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come back and make things right again.
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At the same time, Paul writes to Philemon a very heartfelt,
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humble letter of instruction, knowing that Philemon would have
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been naturally frustrated and angry with the circumstances
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that took place at the hands of Onissimus and the actions and
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the disregard for authority. And so he tenderly calls for
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Philemon to forgive Onissimus and to receive Onissimus and to
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be reconciled back to Onissimus. And this is what this letter is
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about. You and I are getting a window
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into the life of a man who was struggling to deal with the
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disappointment of another person that he was greatly invested in,
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that he trusted in, that he took care of in many ways.
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And we are invited to look at this short letter to discover
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the heart stirring insights and the admonition for us.
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Also, please pay attention to forgive, to forgive people who
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have hurt us. You're saying, OK, that's a
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wonderful, you know, overview of Philemon.
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What does that have to do with Providence?
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Providence is in this book. Paul highlights Providence in
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this book. Who would have thought that?
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You can learn about Providence in the book of Philemon.
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Where is it? We'll come here in verse 15.
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There's no chapter. So verse 15, look up Paul saying
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to Philemon, and he's making this persuasive point in order
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to win Philemon's willingness to do his part to mend the
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splintered relationship. Philemon 15.
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For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while,
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that you might have him back forever, no longer as a
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bondservant but more than a bondservant as a beloved
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brother, especially to me. But how much more to you, both
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in the flesh and in the Lord? Here's what Paul is saying,
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Philemon. Maybe, just maybe, maybe, on
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this M is fleeing from you. Getting away from you was so
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that he could meet me, and that in meeting me he would hear the
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gospel and the way I would present the gospel would in fact
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convict him, and he would indeed be saved.
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And in due time, not only would you have your servant back, but
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you would have a brother in Christ back.
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This is what Paul is saying. Hey, I want you finally meant to
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see the bigger picture here. And he's very careful with his
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words. Notice what he says here in the
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third word of verse 15 for this perhaps.
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Wow, Paul is very wise for this perhaps is why.
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Notice the the tone, Notice the carefulness of his words.
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I learned something from Paul here and how to counsel people
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and how to confront my fellow brother and sister who is
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enduring a difficult or painful situation.
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I'm called to be very wise in the way I speak into their
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situation. You and I are supposed to do the
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same. Be very gentle when you need to
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be gentle. Be firm when you need to be
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firm, Be silent when you need to be silent.
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You know, sometimes the best thing you can do for a person
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who's struggling is not give a theological explanation, but to
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just weep with them, Weep with those who weep.
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But here, Paul, knowing that Philemon was frustrated, angry,
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he he's speaking to him very strategically.
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Hey, I I'm inviting you to see what I'm seeing here.
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Philemon. I want you to see something that
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perhaps God has done behind the scenes.
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You saw someone who turned their back on you and betrayed you.
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But perhaps there is something more redemptive in all of this.
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The suggestion reveals something about Paul's belief system, does
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it not? It reveals something about his
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convictions. Not that the Lord authors people
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to sin against us. No, not at all.
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But he can draw out the good from the failures and the
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foolishness of others. That's what Paul believes.
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God is able to draw out. Good.
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God is able to rewrite the script.
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And from this verse, you and I are to draw out this incredible
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encouragement in light of Providence.
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And here's what it is. God is at work with and through
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you, ready for this. God is at work with and through
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the most unlikely and problematic people.
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That's where you're supposed to say Amen.
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God is at work with and through even the most unlikely and
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problematic people for your sanctification and ultimately
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your greater joy. Providence teaches that God is
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at work even in relational disappointments.
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Providence teaches that God is at work even when you are let
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down by somebody that you believed should not have let you
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down. In the case of Philemon, we see
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here that the principle from these verses is to trust God's
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wisdom when facing those let downs, those failures from
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others, those painful actions and words.
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You are supposed to be strengthened by the truth that
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God is at work. I can't see it.
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I may not understand it. This very much hurts, but it
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doesn't disqualify God's authorship behind this and how
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he's able to turn this around. How he knows something that I do
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not know. And in Philemon's case, again
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the separation of Onissimus prepared him to be faced with
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the gospel. This man who was on the run
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would in fact be set up by divine appointment to meet the
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apostle Paul and hear the thing that would save his soul.
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So he would be a slave of Christ and live for the glory of God.
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But in your case in mind, conditions that may lead to
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painful severances from others may have 100 different reasons
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why, 1000 different explanations to why.
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It could be to protect us from greater harm in the future.
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It could be to prune us to be more fruitful.
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It could be to purify you and I by removing polluting
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influences. It could be to enhance your
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peace by distancing you from unrepentant, troublesome
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sinners. Why does God do it?
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Or allow it rather? You may not understand it at
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first glance, but you can believe in love and God's loving
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care over the details, including the people that you know and may
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no longer know anymore. We we can believe about
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everything, right? Protection.
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Provision. Include this in your belief
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system. God supervises the people in and
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out of your life. But consider Paul's aim.
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I mean, he's explained this, but for what purpose?
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Why is Paul trying to introduce the concept of Providence with
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the separation between two men? It's so that he can encourage
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Philemon to find the grace in that truth to forgive on
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Isthmus. I want you to see that though.
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This was so heart wrenching, Philemon, that God had perhaps a
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purpose behind it and that should stimulate you.
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If you include God in the equation, and God is for you and
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he is with you and he is leading you in every aspect of your
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life, then how can you withhold mercy?
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How can you reserve compassion? Who would have thought that
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believing Providence would make you and I are more forgiving
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people? It should.
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Well how does that work? Well, again, Joseph understood
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that before Philemon even existed.
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You want to talk about relational let downs?
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We've all I'm sure here. You lived long enough.
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Even if you were a child, you have witnessed, probably in your
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family and churches, that you grew up.
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You've seen people hurt other people.
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People that you never thought would hurt.
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Hurting other people. You want to talk about hurt.
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Imagine your siblings throwing you into a physical pit, not a
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metaphorical pit. I'm in a pit.
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No, in a real pit like a caged animal.
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And while you're there shivering and wondering what's going to
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happen next, they're up there on solid ground wondering if they
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should kill you or do something more profitable with you.
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And finally, the consensus was, let's let's sell them into
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slavery. So here's this caravan that
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comes by and you have a price on your head.
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These people that you had sleepovers with, These people
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that you played games with, These people later on that would
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eventually be jealous of you. But these people that you knew
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day in and day out sold you for a check.
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You, not your possessions, you. And here you are now going into
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a world of unknown, and you're hired by a very high official,
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and there you are, faithfully working the favor of God is on
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you and it's spilling over into this gentile territory.
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And one day you're falsely accused of rape, falsely
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accused, and all you did was good.
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All you did was blessed. All you did was make someone
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more profitable and with one testimony of a wicked woman.
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Now here you are with a tainted reputation, and you're in for a
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troublesome future. Now you're no longer in a pit,
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You're in a prison. Relational let downs.
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That's relational. Let downs.
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And you know the story. Joseph eventually comes to the
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place of prominence, the second command of all of Egypt, and God
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and his Providence brings about his brothers and eventually his
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father and the people of God were preserved.
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But by the end of the book, the brothers are nervous.
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Jacob dies and they see their their brother that they hurt in
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the past very seriously. Who can act one word, command
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their death. And so they're nervous, and they
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come up with this little plan to try to ease perhaps any tension
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or any vengeful plot that he has.
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And Joseph comforts them. He comforts up with the truth of
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Providence. What you meant for evil, God
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meant for good. OK, we know that.
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We put it on our coffee cups. We put it on Facebook.
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OK, Put it on your heart. What do I mean by that?
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What is he trying to say? I can forgive you.
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I can't hold anything against you.
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Why? Because I believe in God's
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Providence. I believe that though you are
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accountable for what you did to me.
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God oversaw it, God supervised it, and he turned it about for
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the good. So how can I be bitter against
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you when you were the vehicle for the good that I am enjoying
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today and you and I are invited to do the same, to be a
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forgiving people because you believe God has all power.
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He's he's he's in control. He's in control.
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Yeah. He's in control of you getting
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your job. I know he's in control of
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control of the house that you need to get.
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No, he's in control. When people mess up in your life
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and put a bitter taste in your mouth, you can also say, I don't
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get it. I don't know what this is for.
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All I know is that God has good in mind for me.
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I can trust him. There's a powerful Psalm that
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illustrates this truth. It's Psalm 76, verse 10.
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The psalmist says, surely the wrath of man shall praise you.
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Psalm 7610. Surely the wrath of man shall
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praise you. The remnant of wrath you will
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put on like a belt. What is he saying there?
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God is able to take the anger of man, the vengeance of man, the
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evil of man, and make it praise him.
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God is able to take wicked men and their ideas and their plots
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and end up causing it to give glory unto Himself.
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Even the wrath of man will praise God and notice he talks
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about the remnant of math wrath being around like a belt, like
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it's like a tool to him. He's in control of this, it's
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subject to him, not the other way around.
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And so the wrath against Joseph ended up praising God.
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The wrath against our Lord Jesus Christ ended up what?
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Saving humanity. And Peter alludes that in Acts
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chapter two he talks about the Providence of God even in the
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crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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Providence, Providence in relational let downs.
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But Providence isn't just operating in people and through
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people and in situations with people.
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Go to Galatians chapter four with me and let's see how
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Providence continues to work in different areas of life.
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In Galatians chapter 4, verse 13.
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If the shepherd of my life is able to take the evil words and
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selfish actions of others to bring good in me, how can I
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withhold forgiveness? But notice what Paul says to
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this group of believers. He is rehearsing their history
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together because at this point of his writing, there was
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tension on their part, at least. They were being told things
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about Paul, and Paul is trying to remind them where things
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began. And so he says about their
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beginnings in Galatians 413 and 14.
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You know, it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached
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the gospel to you at 1st. And though my condition was a
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trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me
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as an Angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
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So Paul is saying, can I remind you how we met?
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Can can you remember how you treated me like an Angel?
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You actually treated me like Jesus Christ himself.
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What happened to your affection toward me?
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But notice what he said in the beginning of verse 13.
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You know that it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached
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the gospel to you. Now, so many people have been
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fixated on the nature of Paul's bodily ailment that they
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overlook a much more important truth.
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And there's no even consensus of what kind of thing Paul is
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talking about. Some say malaria, Some say he
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had eye problems. Some say it was the the
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repercussions of the beating that he took.
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If you read acts with the stoning that he experienced,
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there's no agreement. But whatever it was, it was
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serious enough for look at verse 14 and though my condition was a
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trial to you, it was a serious illness.
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For it to be technically could have been a burden to others to
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take care of him, and people debate what that means, but it
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was significant. There's no doubt about that this
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might be unclear. What is clear here is that Paul
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makes it plain by linking this problem that he had in his body
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and how that was the reason why he remained in Galatia, and as a
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result was able to meet this group of Galatians and then
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preach the gospel to them. I was prevented from moving
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forward in my travels because of this bodily ailment, and it was
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the means for you to receive the truth that would save your soul.
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Implying then, perhaps humanly speaking, if it wasn't for this
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bodily ailment, perhaps Paul at this moment would have missed
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the opportunity to meet these Galatians.
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He credits this situation for being the instrument God used to
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park him in this area and to deliver this truth to this
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people who needed to hear the truth.
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Isn't this glorious? This is fascinating to me.
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Because listen, whatever this ailment was, it was potent
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enough to keep Paul there. I can't move on like this.
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He had to stay. That's how strong it was.
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But it was not strong enough to keep him from preaching the
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gospel. Strong enough to keep him there,
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physically not overwhelming to the point where he couldn't
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deliver the truth of Jesus Christ.
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Think about Providence. Think about how God allowed the
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right measurement of physical suffering to keep him where he
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need to keep it, but not to paralyze him from doing what he
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really needed to do. And that's to share the truth
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with these people. So God is providential.
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He has a purpose. You ready for this?
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Even with physical limitations, even with sickness and seasons
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where we are not at full strength, even in that God has
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something in mind, how can you feel like you're losing in this
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life when you have Christ as your shepherd?
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This is what Paul is confessing. And you and I should rejoice at
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his words here in verse 13 because you and I learned that
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divine Providence demands that delay and debilitation be
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servants of the soul winning message of Jesus Christ.
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Delay and debilitation have to submit to divine Providence.
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God is in control. You and I should see Providence
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even in that. I may not understand it.
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It might even be painful. But there's purpose.
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I remember the testimony of an old man from Canada who's in
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heaven today. And one of the things that I
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cherished about church was that if he had the open slot, wasn't
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a minister, wasn't a pastor, just somebody who attended the
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church faithfully to have conversations with him.
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I love to talk to people who have walked longer with the
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Lord. I love to be drawn to people who
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have a crown of Gray head. And you can tell that when they
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go to church, they're in church to worship God.
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People that have grown over the decades, I still am drawn to
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those people I want to know. Tell me the stories about God in
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your life. What has God done in your life?
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Tell me some things that you've learned in life and one time not
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even asking a question. He brought this story to our
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attention. Me and a couple others about a
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story of of a relative, I believe, if my memory serves me
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right that had an infection back when where he was from.
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He, he had an infection and they were praying others friends and
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family praying for his, for his healing, praying for his
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restoration and nothing was happening.
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And so with prayer they used wisdom, right?
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I mean wisdom. Some people in the world need
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that. Yes, you pray and wait on God,
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but you can also use other means that God gives like medication
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and antibiotics. And so that's what they did.
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They got the prescription for him and they would regularly go
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to this pharmacist to receive this prescription and to apply
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it. And at the same time they were
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praying. God healed this man.
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God healed this man, heal our brother.
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And nothing was happening. And over time, this pharmacist
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got to know this man that I'm speaking about who is sharing
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this testimony, and the others who came to the aid of their
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relative. And one day the gospel comes out
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and this pharmacist hears the gospel, and this pharmacist gets
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saved. He becomes born again.
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And this is how he shared the story.
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On that particular day, when this man who was prescribed the
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medication got saved, they went back home and their relative was
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healed. What do you make of that?
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Providence. Providence.
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Because it was that illness and that delayed healing that caused
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him to meet this pharmacist to receive the medication to treat
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this illness. And it wasn't until this man and
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receiving the gospel that that man who needed the healing
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received it. Providence always at work, even
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with your weakness in the flesh, your sickness in your body.
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Paul could say confidently with this truth.
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It was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the
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gospel to you. Let's go to another text, right?
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To see Providence at work, turn with me to Luke chapter two in
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the first 5 verses together. I'm just giving you a few
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examples. You read this book cover to
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cover and you will see story after story, example after
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example of this Providence at play.
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This is speaking about the birth of our savior and we can talk
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about the birth of our savior more than once a year, right?
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Amen. Let's read the 1st 5 verses
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together. Luke 2, verse one.
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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all
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the world should be registered. This was the first registration
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when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and all went to be
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registered, each to his own town.
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And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of
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Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called
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Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be
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registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
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Here you have an actual record of history with names of
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prominent real people, and we have with it authentic political
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commentary, and we should rejoice at the factuality and
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the historicity of the word of God.
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But the joy should exceed far beyond that, especially here
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with this text. Yet we have this historical
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narrative, but we also see Providence at work.
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The first Roman emperor named Caesar Augustus called for a
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worldwide registration. Rome took over the world at this
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point, and it was more than just a census.
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It was a census with taxation. And so at that call, with that
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request, the world shifted. It was not optional.
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If you were under the rule of Rome, this was demanded.
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It was commanded for you under this authority, which included
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the nation of Israel, and with the thousands upon a thousands
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of people who are influenced by this one decision, we zoom into
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one family, Joseph, here with his very pregnant wife.
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They are abiding in Nazareth. And because of Joseph's
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background and because of the census, he has to now take a
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bumpy journey to Bethlehem so that they can honor the request
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of the government. And while being in Bethlehem,
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you know the rest of the story very well.
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Mary gave birth to the Son of God, and for the first time he
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entered into our world Incarnate flesh and blood.
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You know why this is so significant?
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It's significant because prophecy hundreds of years
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before this time predicted that King Messiah must come out, be
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born where? In Bethlehem.
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But where were they? They weren't in Bethlehem, They
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were in Nazareth. So let me remind you of the
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prophecy, what Micah said. You know this very well, Micah
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52 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrata, who are too little to be among
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the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me.
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One who is to be ruler in Israel, who is coming forth, is
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from old, from ancient days. Wow.
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There is someone who is going to be born a ruler in Israel who
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comes from the ancient of days, who comes from eternity past.
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That's a proof of the deity of Christ by the way, Bethlehem,
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Ephrata. And then you come to Luke 2 and
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you read about this woman named Mary who was to host the Messiah
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in her womb for nine months and deliver this Messiah into the
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world. When you read on as we just read
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here, they're not in Bethlehem, they're in Nazareth.
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They can't be in Nazareth for the birth of the Savior because
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prophecy said Bethlehem. So how does God fulfill this
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word? How does God move this so that
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it can be in alignment with what he had said centuries before?
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Does he appear to Joseph like he did in Matthew chapter 2 and
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say, hey, listen, you got to take the baby out of here, you
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got to flee? And the Angel of the Lord warns
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him and Joseph and the knight takes his family and flees to
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Egypt. Does he do that here?
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Does he appear to Joseph? Hey, Joseph, it's me again.
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The Angel of the Lord. You know, Micah, 52, says that
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the Savior needs to be born in Bethlehem.
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You got to get up now. We got to fulfill prophecy.
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Let's go. Let's go.
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Let's go. Is that what he does?
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No. He uses a Pagan ruler with an
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edict that would move the world and bring this one family where
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they needed to be. What do you call that?
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Providence, because God can lead by supernaturally revealing a
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plan to you. There's no reason for us to deny
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that God can appear and say, hey, you need to do this.
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And there are people who have been called into ministry with
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supernatural testimony, and there are people who have done
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things for the Lord where they were guided by the Lord in very
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strange ways. You think about Saul and and and
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Samuel. I love this story.
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When Saul was supposed to be king, Samuel was told ahead of
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time by the Lord as a prophet. By this time tomorrow and this
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place, you're going to meet a man.
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He's supposed to be the king of Israel.
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That's how Samuel received the revelation for the first king of
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Israel. And what happened to Saul, who
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was supposed to be that king? They God appeared to him and
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say, Saul, now you're going to meet a man at this area.
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I already told him about it. And you're going to meet him and
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he's going to know you're going to be king.
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No. You know what he does?
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He lets loose donkeys. And Saul, with a servant, run
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out for days to try to find these donkeys.
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And upon that journey they stumble upon an area where the
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prophet Samuel was to come, and they intersect.
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So God LED one man by directly speaking to him, and God LED
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another man by letting loose some possessions, and he had to
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go on a hunt for lost vehicles, and they ran into each other.
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What is that? That's called Providence.
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God is always leading you. God is always leading me, and
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this even makes me wonder of the deeper significance of the
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global transitions and shifts that we are seeing now.
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Were we not all impacted by decision of a few?
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The whole world just a few years ago?
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Did not our daily routine and rhythms change?
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And what about the rise and fall of political leaders and
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kingdoms? What about the rapid advancement
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of technology? What about the legalization of
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certain laws and policies? Could it be that just like what
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we see in Luke Chapter 2, there is a different, deeper work
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taking place beyond our understanding?
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I believe so. Not that I take every highlight
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and say that's what's what's happening here in the Bible.
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That's what the Bible predicted. Not necessarily so, but they're
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still unfulfilled prophecies that have to be fulfilled.
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And I personally believe what took place and what's still
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taking place today is preparing the stage for the final moments
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of human history. But let's zoom into your life.
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What do we make of cancelled flights?
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What do you make of a flat tire? What do you make of rescheduled
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appointments? What do you make of prolonged
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and delayed projects beyond your control?
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What do you make of these things?
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I believe that if we allow this truth to permeate our minds and
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our hearts, we can go from huffs and puffs to whispers of faith,
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because we trust in our God who leads us in strange ways.
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Providence, you and I are encouraged to believe God with
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our tomorrow's because they're already planned and prepared and
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we just walk into them surprised.
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And there's a time coming where we will look back at the whole
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thing and praise God for eternity for the millions and
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billions of stories that he wrote.
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At the same time, I present this message to you because NBC is a
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monument of God's Providence, and I pray that it would
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continue to grow as a monument of his Providence, but for you
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also to be encouraged for your own life and the examples I
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simply provided you today, that he is providential even in my
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relational let downs. He's providential even in my
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physical limitations. He is providential in all sorts
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of inconvenient circumstances, like when a census goes out and
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you have a very pregnant wife and it's probably not the most
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profitable thing for her to travel on a donkey.
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Discomforting, sure. Interrupting.
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Sure. But something bigger is
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happening. Something bigger is happening.
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Take joy in your God, who takes joy in guiding your life filled
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with surprises. This is our God.
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He is worthy of worship. Lord, we thank you that you are
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filled with surprising and awesome works.
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And your leadership is perfect. Thank you for your leadership at
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Maranatha Bible Church. Thank you for how you are
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writing the stories of every individual here who belongs to
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you. Thank you that you can even take
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the wrath of man and cause it to praise you.
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Thank you, Lord, that in every facet of our existence not one
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thing is roaming without your supervision, your ordination,
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your leading. We pray that these truths would
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comfort us and would cause us to be excited to serve you and to
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trust you in the unknown. We give you praise and thanks in
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Jesus name. Amen.
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Amen. Let's stand and worship the
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Lord.