1 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,360 There's so many things that can be said about this particular 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:10,040 celebration. There's so many testimonies 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:15,160 leading up to how this church began, the beginnings of this 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,640 church, the things that took place in the past two years. 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,720 It would take us more than one service to just touch on, even 6 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:27,920 briefly, the variety and the colourful manifestations and 7 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,680 interventions of God. But if there is one way of 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:42,480 summarizing what NBC has become, or how NBC became NBC prayfully, 9 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,920 this is what came to mind. Maranatha Bible Church is the 10 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:51,680 product of God's Providence. Maranatha Bible Church is the 11 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,520 result of God's Providence. And perhaps you've heard that 12 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:57,120 word before, Providence, and maybe not. 13 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,880 But Simply put, when you hear the word Providence, what we're 14 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:06,200 trying to say is that God sovereignly works in and through 15 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:11,920 the daily non miraculous events in our lives to affect His will. 16 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:20,320 In other words, the belief of God's providential work teaches 17 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,680 that the Lord uses natural means and works through natural 18 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:30,720 orders, often times behind the scenes, to bring about His will. 19 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,040 It's not immediately obvious. You can't say oftentimes in the 20 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:39,040 moment. Here are the clear fingerprints 21 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:40,960 that we can believe in our hearts that God is always at 22 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:43,280 work. The thing with Providence is 23 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,080 that it is often God's hidden work that is in function and 24 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,640 operation. And we might think that this 25 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:55,040 idea of God's Providence is true for the world of creation and 26 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,240 the different systems of our universe, or the grander stages 27 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,480 of life like the rise and fall of nations. 28 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:07,040 But the truth of Providence applies to the good that God 29 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,039 desires to bring about in each of our lives on an individual 30 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:14,520 basis. Providence is at work in each of 31 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,920 our lives, not just in the overarching story of human 32 00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:24,040 history, but in your own story, in your own journey, in your own 33 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,440 unique circumstances and giftings and family background 34 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,000 and context. Providence is at work. 35 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,000 The pen of God's authorship is continually writing, though you 36 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,920 may perceive it right away or not. 37 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,440 And one of the things about Providence that is so 38 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:45,160 encouraging to me is that the Lord often connects and attaches 39 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:52,000 seemingly unrelated events, insignificant moments, even 40 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,600 sometimes circumstances that seem to contradict or even 41 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,800 challenge the will of God to actually accomplish as well. 42 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:04,240 In essence, when we're talking about Providence, we're talking 43 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:10,200 about the indirect leadership of God on all levels, on every 44 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:16,640 level, from governments to your living room, from politics to 45 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:19,560 the classroom. Every sphere is under the 46 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,080 influence of God's providential mercies. 47 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,480 And why I love to meditate and preach about Providence is 48 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,120 because this truth promises the children of God one main thing. 49 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,720 That there is nothing that happens in your life that is 50 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:39,040 void of purpose. No matter what the episode is, 51 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,800 no matter what the experience is, is, whatever it may be 52 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,040 concerning your comfort or your discomfort, whether it is 53 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:51,000 monumental or it is minor, whether it is clear or unclear. 54 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,480 One thing is for certain, When you and I understand God's 55 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,800 Providence, there is nothing left up to random chance and 56 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,920 there is nothing left up to aimless coincidence. 57 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,240 Providence promises purpose in everything. 58 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,640 And George Mueller said a very powerful quote concerning 59 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,120 Providence. He said, God does not only 60 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,120 ordain our steps, He ordains our stops. 61 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:22,120 And what I take that to mean is the Lord doesn't only work in 62 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,440 direct deliverances. He also works in delays. 63 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,400 He's also at work in your detours. 64 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,720 God is always at work, and God is always at work for the aim of 65 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,640 His glory and for the good of those who belong to Him. 66 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,440 And if it is true that Providence promises purpose in 67 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:48,600 every single thing that you and I engage and encounter, then it 68 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:54,400 also must mean that Providence is the grounds for your peace 69 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,400 and for your gratitude in all things. 70 00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:01,600 Can I say that one more time? If Providence promises purpose 71 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,880 and absolutely everything, then it is also the grounds for you 72 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,520 to know gratitude and peace in everything. 73 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:14,600 This is the fruit of believing this truth, that even though you 74 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,320 can't understand how this plays out or how this segment of your 75 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,640 life this season fits into the grand scheme of things and God's 76 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:28,240 purpose for your existence, you can still worship in the unknown 77 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,240 because the unknown is not empty of meaning. 78 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,560 The difficulty for you to reconcile how God is using this 79 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:38,640 or how this can be allowed by God? 80 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:44,960 How does this make sense? Providence calms your soul and 81 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:50,320 teaches you and whispers to you that this has a purpose, that 82 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:54,680 there is something behind this. This is an ordained piece. 83 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:59,360 This is a sanctified segment waiting to be linked to a bigger 84 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,560 picture that you will one day perceive and praise the Lord 85 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,680 for. That's Providence and what I 86 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,640 want to do in this in this time together as we reflect on how 87 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,600 God brought about Maranatha Bible Church and how God will 88 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,400 continue to lead by His grace. Maranatha Bible Church is 89 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,840 evidences and examples of Providence so that you would 90 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:26,360 leave this place more confirmed and confident that the Lord is 91 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,880 surely leading me. Whether I can perceive it or 92 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,160 not, the Lord is leading my life. 93 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:38,440 And so let's do this, shall we? Let's look at how God, in the 94 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,080 word of God is providentially working, how he has worked, and 95 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,000 how they are principles for us to say. 96 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,800 Then he must surely be at work in me. 97 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,000 Turn with me. What do you think we're going to 98 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,120 go? Oh, Genesis, right. 99 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,680 Because of who? Joseph Shore. 100 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,120 Or maybe what? Another woman of God? 101 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:57,520 Esther. Yes, yes. 102 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,840 The name of God is not mentioned in all the book of Esther, but 103 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:02,440 his works are all there, right? That's by divine purpose. 104 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,040 But we're not going to go to either of those. 105 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:06,840 Turn with me to the book of Philemon. 106 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:14,040 Let's go to Philemon together. Philemon, somebody might be 107 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,680 saying, Is that a book in the Bible? 108 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,760 It is a book in the Bible. It's in the New Testament, 109 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:26,320 before the book of Hebrews. Philemon is the shortest of 110 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:30,400 Paul's epistles and it is the only epistle that Paul wrote 111 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,000 directly to a singular person and all the other epistles he's 112 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,400 writing to the church at large or to a group of believers in a 113 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,560 region. But Philemon is directly given 114 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:43,040 to one person named Philemon, and this letter is not a a 115 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,360 theological treatise. It's very brief. 116 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,560 But what it is is Paul applying Christian truths to a real life 117 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,160 situation. It's a very personal letter and 118 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,360 it's a letter that we can relate to greatly because the whole 119 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,480 background behind Philemon is this. 120 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:03,000 Philemon was a Christian that Paul knew personally, and 121 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,680 Philemon had a servant named Onisimus. 122 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:11,040 Onisimus at a certain point fled from his master Philemon, and 123 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:15,200 with that stole much from him. He betrayed his master. 124 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,080 He created problems for his master and he was on the run and 125 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,360 through a series of steps that are not made known to us. 126 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:28,960 Apparently Onisimus met Paul while he was in Rome and in 127 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:30,960 prison. We're not told how that 128 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,480 encounter happened, but what we are told is that they did in 129 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,720 fact meet and when they met something miraculous happened. 130 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,000 Paul the Apostle, though bound in chains, you could not bind 131 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,200 the word of God with that man. He proclaimed the gospel. 132 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:49,120 He proclaimed the gospel to this runaway criminal, to Anissimus. 133 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:50,440 And guess what happened to Anissimus? 134 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,760 He believed. He repented. 135 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:57,920 He became a born again Christian and they became great friends. 136 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,000 In fact Paul really wanted on this miss to be by his side 137 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,840 because he was of great use to Paul. 138 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:07,240 But Paul learned of the circumstances with on Isthmus 139 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:14,000 concerning his master back here with Philemon, and Paul 140 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,120 encourages this born again Christian on Isthmus to be 141 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,840 reconciled to Philemon to make things right. 142 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,920 That's the Christian thing to do, to live a repentant life. 143 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,600 And if there is something that you did wrong on this, Ms. make 144 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,880 it right. And so he encourages on this Ms. 145 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,320 to go back to Philemon, to not only ask for forgiveness, but to 146 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:37,880 tell him, hey, I'm a different person, I'm saved, and I want to 147 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:39,880 come back and make things right again. 148 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:46,680 At the same time, Paul writes to Philemon a very heartfelt, 149 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:51,480 humble letter of instruction, knowing that Philemon would have 150 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,480 been naturally frustrated and angry with the circumstances 151 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,520 that took place at the hands of Onissimus and the actions and 152 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:03,480 the disregard for authority. And so he tenderly calls for 153 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:08,600 Philemon to forgive Onissimus and to receive Onissimus and to 154 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:13,400 be reconciled back to Onissimus. And this is what this letter is 155 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,080 about. You and I are getting a window 156 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:20,000 into the life of a man who was struggling to deal with the 157 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,320 disappointment of another person that he was greatly invested in, 158 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,880 that he trusted in, that he took care of in many ways. 159 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:33,160 And we are invited to look at this short letter to discover 160 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:37,440 the heart stirring insights and the admonition for us. 161 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:45,760 Also, please pay attention to forgive, to forgive people who 162 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:50,480 have hurt us. You're saying, OK, that's a 163 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,520 wonderful, you know, overview of Philemon. 164 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,000 What does that have to do with Providence? 165 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,520 Providence is in this book. Paul highlights Providence in 166 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:01,600 this book. Who would have thought that? 167 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,080 You can learn about Providence in the book of Philemon. 168 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:06,760 Where is it? We'll come here in verse 15. 169 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,520 There's no chapter. So verse 15, look up Paul saying 170 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:15,320 to Philemon, and he's making this persuasive point in order 171 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,160 to win Philemon's willingness to do his part to mend the 172 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,200 splintered relationship. Philemon 15. 173 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:26,680 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, 174 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,400 that you might have him back forever, no longer as a 175 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,520 bondservant but more than a bondservant as a beloved 176 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,560 brother, especially to me. But how much more to you, both 177 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:42,560 in the flesh and in the Lord? Here's what Paul is saying, 178 00:11:42,680 --> 00:11:48,000 Philemon. Maybe, just maybe, maybe, on 179 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:53,040 this M is fleeing from you. Getting away from you was so 180 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:57,080 that he could meet me, and that in meeting me he would hear the 181 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:01,600 gospel and the way I would present the gospel would in fact 182 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,480 convict him, and he would indeed be saved. 183 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,120 And in due time, not only would you have your servant back, but 184 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:10,920 you would have a brother in Christ back. 185 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,520 This is what Paul is saying. Hey, I want you finally meant to 186 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:20,680 see the bigger picture here. And he's very careful with his 187 00:12:20,680 --> 00:12:22,280 words. Notice what he says here in the 188 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,080 third word of verse 15 for this perhaps. 189 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:30,040 Wow, Paul is very wise for this perhaps is why. 190 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:35,480 Notice the the tone, Notice the carefulness of his words. 191 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,120 I learned something from Paul here and how to counsel people 192 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,200 and how to confront my fellow brother and sister who is 193 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,160 enduring a difficult or painful situation. 194 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,800 I'm called to be very wise in the way I speak into their 195 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,280 situation. You and I are supposed to do the 196 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,680 same. Be very gentle when you need to 197 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:57,040 be gentle. Be firm when you need to be 198 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,880 firm, Be silent when you need to be silent. 199 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,160 You know, sometimes the best thing you can do for a person 200 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,080 who's struggling is not give a theological explanation, but to 201 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,720 just weep with them, Weep with those who weep. 202 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,880 But here, Paul, knowing that Philemon was frustrated, angry, 203 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,680 he he's speaking to him very strategically. 204 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,080 Hey, I I'm inviting you to see what I'm seeing here. 205 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,200 Philemon. I want you to see something that 206 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,520 perhaps God has done behind the scenes. 207 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:29,040 You saw someone who turned their back on you and betrayed you. 208 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,360 But perhaps there is something more redemptive in all of this. 209 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,320 The suggestion reveals something about Paul's belief system, does 210 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,240 it not? It reveals something about his 211 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,400 convictions. Not that the Lord authors people 212 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,280 to sin against us. No, not at all. 213 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,960 But he can draw out the good from the failures and the 214 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,600 foolishness of others. That's what Paul believes. 215 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:54,120 God is able to draw out. Good. 216 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,960 God is able to rewrite the script. 217 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,440 And from this verse, you and I are to draw out this incredible 218 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,640 encouragement in light of Providence. 219 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,680 And here's what it is. God is at work with and through 220 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,040 you, ready for this. God is at work with and through 221 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,080 the most unlikely and problematic people. 222 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:17,560 That's where you're supposed to say Amen. 223 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:23,240 God is at work with and through even the most unlikely and 224 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,440 problematic people for your sanctification and ultimately 225 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:35,320 your greater joy. Providence teaches that God is 226 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,240 at work even in relational disappointments. 227 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,600 Providence teaches that God is at work even when you are let 228 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,840 down by somebody that you believed should not have let you 229 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:50,040 down. In the case of Philemon, we see 230 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,360 here that the principle from these verses is to trust God's 231 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:57,480 wisdom when facing those let downs, those failures from 232 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,160 others, those painful actions and words. 233 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,400 You are supposed to be strengthened by the truth that 234 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,000 God is at work. I can't see it. 235 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,760 I may not understand it. This very much hurts, but it 236 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:15,240 doesn't disqualify God's authorship behind this and how 237 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,440 he's able to turn this around. How he knows something that I do 238 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,000 not know. And in Philemon's case, again 239 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,120 the separation of Onissimus prepared him to be faced with 240 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:28,080 the gospel. This man who was on the run 241 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,960 would in fact be set up by divine appointment to meet the 242 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,560 apostle Paul and hear the thing that would save his soul. 243 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,960 So he would be a slave of Christ and live for the glory of God. 244 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,320 But in your case in mind, conditions that may lead to 245 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:46,680 painful severances from others may have 100 different reasons 246 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:51,520 why, 1000 different explanations to why. 247 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,680 It could be to protect us from greater harm in the future. 248 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:01,400 It could be to prune us to be more fruitful. 249 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,440 It could be to purify you and I by removing polluting 250 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,520 influences. It could be to enhance your 251 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:13,520 peace by distancing you from unrepentant, troublesome 252 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:17,360 sinners. Why does God do it? 253 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,280 Or allow it rather? You may not understand it at 254 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:25,520 first glance, but you can believe in love and God's loving 255 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:30,360 care over the details, including the people that you know and may 256 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:35,000 no longer know anymore. We we can believe about 257 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,520 everything, right? Protection. 258 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,200 Provision. Include this in your belief 259 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,360 system. God supervises the people in and 260 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:49,080 out of your life. But consider Paul's aim. 261 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,280 I mean, he's explained this, but for what purpose? 262 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,840 Why is Paul trying to introduce the concept of Providence with 263 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,760 the separation between two men? It's so that he can encourage 264 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,800 Philemon to find the grace in that truth to forgive on 265 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:07,800 Isthmus. I want you to see that though. 266 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:13,599 This was so heart wrenching, Philemon, that God had perhaps a 267 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:16,560 purpose behind it and that should stimulate you. 268 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,160 If you include God in the equation, and God is for you and 269 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,920 he is with you and he is leading you in every aspect of your 270 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,640 life, then how can you withhold mercy? 271 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:32,000 How can you reserve compassion? Who would have thought that 272 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,520 believing Providence would make you and I are more forgiving 273 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,480 people? It should. 274 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,920 Well how does that work? Well, again, Joseph understood 275 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,200 that before Philemon even existed. 276 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,440 You want to talk about relational let downs? 277 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,080 We've all I'm sure here. You lived long enough. 278 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,280 Even if you were a child, you have witnessed, probably in your 279 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,000 family and churches, that you grew up. 280 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,960 You've seen people hurt other people. 281 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:58,240 People that you never thought would hurt. 282 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:00,880 Hurting other people. You want to talk about hurt. 283 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,680 Imagine your siblings throwing you into a physical pit, not a 284 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:06,640 metaphorical pit. I'm in a pit. 285 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,760 No, in a real pit like a caged animal. 286 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:14,280 And while you're there shivering and wondering what's going to 287 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,440 happen next, they're up there on solid ground wondering if they 288 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,600 should kill you or do something more profitable with you. 289 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,480 And finally, the consensus was, let's let's sell them into 290 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,000 slavery. So here's this caravan that 291 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,400 comes by and you have a price on your head. 292 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,120 These people that you had sleepovers with, These people 293 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:33,320 that you played games with, These people later on that would 294 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,880 eventually be jealous of you. But these people that you knew 295 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:39,040 day in and day out sold you for a check. 296 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:44,920 You, not your possessions, you. And here you are now going into 297 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,320 a world of unknown, and you're hired by a very high official, 298 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,280 and there you are, faithfully working the favor of God is on 299 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,920 you and it's spilling over into this gentile territory. 300 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,720 And one day you're falsely accused of rape, falsely 301 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,720 accused, and all you did was good. 302 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,680 All you did was blessed. All you did was make someone 303 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,920 more profitable and with one testimony of a wicked woman. 304 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:13,880 Now here you are with a tainted reputation, and you're in for a 305 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,000 troublesome future. Now you're no longer in a pit, 306 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:20,880 You're in a prison. Relational let downs. 307 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:22,240 That's relational. Let downs. 308 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,800 And you know the story. Joseph eventually comes to the 309 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,840 place of prominence, the second command of all of Egypt, and God 310 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:33,320 and his Providence brings about his brothers and eventually his 311 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,880 father and the people of God were preserved. 312 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:39,480 But by the end of the book, the brothers are nervous. 313 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:43,440 Jacob dies and they see their their brother that they hurt in 314 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:48,560 the past very seriously. Who can act one word, command 315 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:50,320 their death. And so they're nervous, and they 316 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,360 come up with this little plan to try to ease perhaps any tension 317 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:56,240 or any vengeful plot that he has. 318 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:01,600 And Joseph comforts them. He comforts up with the truth of 319 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:06,800 Providence. What you meant for evil, God 320 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:11,000 meant for good. OK, we know that. 321 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,320 We put it on our coffee cups. We put it on Facebook. 322 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,360 OK, Put it on your heart. What do I mean by that? 323 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,800 What is he trying to say? I can forgive you. 324 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:24,400 I can't hold anything against you. 325 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,240 Why? Because I believe in God's 326 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,520 Providence. I believe that though you are 327 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:31,880 accountable for what you did to me. 328 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:37,360 God oversaw it, God supervised it, and he turned it about for 329 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:39,920 the good. So how can I be bitter against 330 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,960 you when you were the vehicle for the good that I am enjoying 331 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:52,280 today and you and I are invited to do the same, to be a 332 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,920 forgiving people because you believe God has all power. 333 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,320 He's he's he's in control. He's in control. 334 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:58,560 Yeah. He's in control of you getting 335 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:00,360 your job. I know he's in control of 336 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:01,920 control of the house that you need to get. 337 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,360 No, he's in control. When people mess up in your life 338 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:12,480 and put a bitter taste in your mouth, you can also say, I don't 339 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,600 get it. I don't know what this is for. 340 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:19,840 All I know is that God has good in mind for me. 341 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:24,600 I can trust him. There's a powerful Psalm that 342 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,840 illustrates this truth. It's Psalm 76, verse 10. 343 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:32,160 The psalmist says, surely the wrath of man shall praise you. 344 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:37,080 Psalm 7610. Surely the wrath of man shall 345 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,080 praise you. The remnant of wrath you will 346 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:42,120 put on like a belt. What is he saying there? 347 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,320 God is able to take the anger of man, the vengeance of man, the 348 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,240 evil of man, and make it praise him. 349 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:56,520 God is able to take wicked men and their ideas and their plots 350 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,800 and end up causing it to give glory unto Himself. 351 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,600 Even the wrath of man will praise God and notice he talks 352 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,240 about the remnant of math wrath being around like a belt, like 353 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:11,800 it's like a tool to him. He's in control of this, it's 354 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,160 subject to him, not the other way around. 355 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:21,600 And so the wrath against Joseph ended up praising God. 356 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,360 The wrath against our Lord Jesus Christ ended up what? 357 00:22:24,360 --> 00:22:28,080 Saving humanity. And Peter alludes that in Acts 358 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,960 chapter two he talks about the Providence of God even in the 359 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,320 crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 360 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:36,080 Providence, Providence in relational let downs. 361 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:39,840 But Providence isn't just operating in people and through 362 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,040 people and in situations with people. 363 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,880 Go to Galatians chapter four with me and let's see how 364 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,560 Providence continues to work in different areas of life. 365 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,000 In Galatians chapter 4, verse 13. 366 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,240 If the shepherd of my life is able to take the evil words and 367 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,480 selfish actions of others to bring good in me, how can I 368 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:05,600 withhold forgiveness? But notice what Paul says to 369 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,560 this group of believers. He is rehearsing their history 370 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,200 together because at this point of his writing, there was 371 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,520 tension on their part, at least. They were being told things 372 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,200 about Paul, and Paul is trying to remind them where things 373 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,360 began. And so he says about their 374 00:23:20,360 --> 00:23:22,880 beginnings in Galatians 413 and 14. 375 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:27,400 You know, it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached 376 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,360 the gospel to you at 1st. And though my condition was a 377 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:34,640 trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me 378 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:38,120 as an Angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 379 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,200 So Paul is saying, can I remind you how we met? 380 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:44,840 Can can you remember how you treated me like an Angel? 381 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,440 You actually treated me like Jesus Christ himself. 382 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,840 What happened to your affection toward me? 383 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,880 But notice what he said in the beginning of verse 13. 384 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:58,400 You know that it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached 385 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,720 the gospel to you. Now, so many people have been 386 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:05,920 fixated on the nature of Paul's bodily ailment that they 387 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:07,920 overlook a much more important truth. 388 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,640 And there's no even consensus of what kind of thing Paul is 389 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,560 talking about. Some say malaria, Some say he 390 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,440 had eye problems. Some say it was the the 391 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:18,360 repercussions of the beating that he took. 392 00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:20,920 If you read acts with the stoning that he experienced, 393 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,280 there's no agreement. But whatever it was, it was 394 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,160 serious enough for look at verse 14 and though my condition was a 395 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:32,000 trial to you, it was a serious illness. 396 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,480 For it to be technically could have been a burden to others to 397 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:37,560 take care of him, and people debate what that means, but it 398 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,320 was significant. There's no doubt about that this 399 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,840 might be unclear. What is clear here is that Paul 400 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:51,320 makes it plain by linking this problem that he had in his body 401 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:55,800 and how that was the reason why he remained in Galatia, and as a 402 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,640 result was able to meet this group of Galatians and then 403 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:03,880 preach the gospel to them. I was prevented from moving 404 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:08,280 forward in my travels because of this bodily ailment, and it was 405 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:12,000 the means for you to receive the truth that would save your soul. 406 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:17,400 Implying then, perhaps humanly speaking, if it wasn't for this 407 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,800 bodily ailment, perhaps Paul at this moment would have missed 408 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,280 the opportunity to meet these Galatians. 409 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:29,120 He credits this situation for being the instrument God used to 410 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:32,560 park him in this area and to deliver this truth to this 411 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,120 people who needed to hear the truth. 412 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:39,520 Isn't this glorious? This is fascinating to me. 413 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,560 Because listen, whatever this ailment was, it was potent 414 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:48,120 enough to keep Paul there. I can't move on like this. 415 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,680 He had to stay. That's how strong it was. 416 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,920 But it was not strong enough to keep him from preaching the 417 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,000 gospel. Strong enough to keep him there, 418 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,680 physically not overwhelming to the point where he couldn't 419 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:02,560 deliver the truth of Jesus Christ. 420 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:07,440 Think about Providence. Think about how God allowed the 421 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:12,000 right measurement of physical suffering to keep him where he 422 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,640 need to keep it, but not to paralyze him from doing what he 423 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,520 really needed to do. And that's to share the truth 424 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:21,120 with these people. So God is providential. 425 00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:22,480 He has a purpose. You ready for this? 426 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:28,520 Even with physical limitations, even with sickness and seasons 427 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,000 where we are not at full strength, even in that God has 428 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:36,440 something in mind, how can you feel like you're losing in this 429 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,440 life when you have Christ as your shepherd? 430 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,760 This is what Paul is confessing. And you and I should rejoice at 431 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,480 his words here in verse 13 because you and I learned that 432 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:51,760 divine Providence demands that delay and debilitation be 433 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:55,400 servants of the soul winning message of Jesus Christ. 434 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:02,360 Delay and debilitation have to submit to divine Providence. 435 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:08,640 God is in control. You and I should see Providence 436 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:10,680 even in that. I may not understand it. 437 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,320 It might even be painful. But there's purpose. 438 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:19,480 I remember the testimony of an old man from Canada who's in 439 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,640 heaven today. And one of the things that I 440 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:28,080 cherished about church was that if he had the open slot, wasn't 441 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,240 a minister, wasn't a pastor, just somebody who attended the 442 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,120 church faithfully to have conversations with him. 443 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:36,800 I love to talk to people who have walked longer with the 444 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,480 Lord. I love to be drawn to people who 445 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,120 have a crown of Gray head. And you can tell that when they 446 00:27:42,120 --> 00:27:45,920 go to church, they're in church to worship God. 447 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:50,160 People that have grown over the decades, I still am drawn to 448 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,280 those people I want to know. Tell me the stories about God in 449 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,680 your life. What has God done in your life? 450 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:02,320 Tell me some things that you've learned in life and one time not 451 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,400 even asking a question. He brought this story to our 452 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:06,920 attention. Me and a couple others about a 453 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,840 story of of a relative, I believe, if my memory serves me 454 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,800 right that had an infection back when where he was from. 455 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:18,240 He, he had an infection and they were praying others friends and 456 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,600 family praying for his, for his healing, praying for his 457 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:23,240 restoration and nothing was happening. 458 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,720 And so with prayer they used wisdom, right? 459 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:27,520 I mean wisdom. Some people in the world need 460 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,280 that. Yes, you pray and wait on God, 461 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,600 but you can also use other means that God gives like medication 462 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:37,440 and antibiotics. And so that's what they did. 463 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,360 They got the prescription for him and they would regularly go 464 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,080 to this pharmacist to receive this prescription and to apply 465 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:44,520 it. And at the same time they were 466 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,000 praying. God healed this man. 467 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,360 God healed this man, heal our brother. 468 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,480 And nothing was happening. And over time, this pharmacist 469 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:54,560 got to know this man that I'm speaking about who is sharing 470 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,040 this testimony, and the others who came to the aid of their 471 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:01,640 relative. And one day the gospel comes out 472 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:06,240 and this pharmacist hears the gospel, and this pharmacist gets 473 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:09,160 saved. He becomes born again. 474 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:11,520 And this is how he shared the story. 475 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,080 On that particular day, when this man who was prescribed the 476 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,000 medication got saved, they went back home and their relative was 477 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:22,560 healed. What do you make of that? 478 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,200 Providence. Providence. 479 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:31,520 Because it was that illness and that delayed healing that caused 480 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:33,960 him to meet this pharmacist to receive the medication to treat 481 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:36,560 this illness. And it wasn't until this man and 482 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,280 receiving the gospel that that man who needed the healing 483 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:46,760 received it. Providence always at work, even 484 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:50,760 with your weakness in the flesh, your sickness in your body. 485 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,360 Paul could say confidently with this truth. 486 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,160 It was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the 487 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:03,160 gospel to you. Let's go to another text, right? 488 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,160 To see Providence at work, turn with me to Luke chapter two in 489 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:13,400 the first 5 verses together. I'm just giving you a few 490 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,920 examples. You read this book cover to 491 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:20,600 cover and you will see story after story, example after 492 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,920 example of this Providence at play. 493 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:29,120 This is speaking about the birth of our savior and we can talk 494 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,360 about the birth of our savior more than once a year, right? 495 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,240 Amen. Let's read the 1st 5 verses 496 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,080 together. Luke 2, verse one. 497 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:42,560 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all 498 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:46,280 the world should be registered. This was the first registration 499 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:50,400 when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and all went to be 500 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,680 registered, each to his own town. 501 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:56,480 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of 502 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,040 Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called 503 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,920 Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be 504 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,160 registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 505 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:11,440 Here you have an actual record of history with names of 506 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:15,560 prominent real people, and we have with it authentic political 507 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:20,080 commentary, and we should rejoice at the factuality and 508 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,120 the historicity of the word of God. 509 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:25,480 But the joy should exceed far beyond that, especially here 510 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,120 with this text. Yet we have this historical 511 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,320 narrative, but we also see Providence at work. 512 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,640 The first Roman emperor named Caesar Augustus called for a 513 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,440 worldwide registration. Rome took over the world at this 514 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:41,160 point, and it was more than just a census. 515 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:45,200 It was a census with taxation. And so at that call, with that 516 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,800 request, the world shifted. It was not optional. 517 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:51,600 If you were under the rule of Rome, this was demanded. 518 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:56,560 It was commanded for you under this authority, which included 519 00:31:56,560 --> 00:32:00,800 the nation of Israel, and with the thousands upon a thousands 520 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:03,880 of people who are influenced by this one decision, we zoom into 521 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:08,320 one family, Joseph, here with his very pregnant wife. 522 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:12,600 They are abiding in Nazareth. And because of Joseph's 523 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:15,240 background and because of the census, he has to now take a 524 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:21,000 bumpy journey to Bethlehem so that they can honor the request 525 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:24,400 of the government. And while being in Bethlehem, 526 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:26,240 you know the rest of the story very well. 527 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:31,360 Mary gave birth to the Son of God, and for the first time he 528 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,920 entered into our world Incarnate flesh and blood. 529 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:38,400 You know why this is so significant? 530 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:42,440 It's significant because prophecy hundreds of years 531 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:47,600 before this time predicted that King Messiah must come out, be 532 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:50,280 born where? In Bethlehem. 533 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,960 But where were they? They weren't in Bethlehem, They 534 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,240 were in Nazareth. So let me remind you of the 535 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:59,800 prophecy, what Micah said. You know this very well, Micah 536 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:05,160 52 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrata, who are too little to be among 537 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:09,480 the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me. 538 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:13,880 One who is to be ruler in Israel, who is coming forth, is 539 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:17,160 from old, from ancient days. Wow. 540 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:20,240 There is someone who is going to be born a ruler in Israel who 541 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:24,040 comes from the ancient of days, who comes from eternity past. 542 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:28,240 That's a proof of the deity of Christ by the way, Bethlehem, 543 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:32,120 Ephrata. And then you come to Luke 2 and 544 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:35,720 you read about this woman named Mary who was to host the Messiah 545 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:38,640 in her womb for nine months and deliver this Messiah into the 546 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,880 world. When you read on as we just read 547 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:46,440 here, they're not in Bethlehem, they're in Nazareth. 548 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:50,080 They can't be in Nazareth for the birth of the Savior because 549 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:55,480 prophecy said Bethlehem. So how does God fulfill this 550 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:58,360 word? How does God move this so that 551 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:01,960 it can be in alignment with what he had said centuries before? 552 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,360 Does he appear to Joseph like he did in Matthew chapter 2 and 553 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:09,280 say, hey, listen, you got to take the baby out of here, you 554 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:11,920 got to flee? And the Angel of the Lord warns 555 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:15,280 him and Joseph and the knight takes his family and flees to 556 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:16,840 Egypt. Does he do that here? 557 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:21,239 Does he appear to Joseph? Hey, Joseph, it's me again. 558 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,639 The Angel of the Lord. You know, Micah, 52, says that 559 00:34:24,639 --> 00:34:26,080 the Savior needs to be born in Bethlehem. 560 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:27,639 You got to get up now. We got to fulfill prophecy. 561 00:34:27,639 --> 00:34:28,199 Let's go. Let's go. 562 00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:30,760 Let's go. Is that what he does? 563 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:36,639 No. He uses a Pagan ruler with an 564 00:34:36,639 --> 00:34:42,280 edict that would move the world and bring this one family where 565 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:45,000 they needed to be. What do you call that? 566 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:51,520 Providence, because God can lead by supernaturally revealing a 567 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:53,600 plan to you. There's no reason for us to deny 568 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:55,760 that God can appear and say, hey, you need to do this. 569 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:58,080 And there are people who have been called into ministry with 570 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,640 supernatural testimony, and there are people who have done 571 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:03,960 things for the Lord where they were guided by the Lord in very 572 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:08,680 strange ways. You think about Saul and and and 573 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:09,960 Samuel. I love this story. 574 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:12,920 When Saul was supposed to be king, Samuel was told ahead of 575 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:16,400 time by the Lord as a prophet. By this time tomorrow and this 576 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:17,560 place, you're going to meet a man. 577 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:19,000 He's supposed to be the king of Israel. 578 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,600 That's how Samuel received the revelation for the first king of 579 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:24,960 Israel. And what happened to Saul, who 580 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:27,040 was supposed to be that king? They God appeared to him and 581 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,040 say, Saul, now you're going to meet a man at this area. 582 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,360 I already told him about it. And you're going to meet him and 583 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:32,440 he's going to know you're going to be king. 584 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:33,360 No. You know what he does? 585 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:38,880 He lets loose donkeys. And Saul, with a servant, run 586 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:41,560 out for days to try to find these donkeys. 587 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:45,160 And upon that journey they stumble upon an area where the 588 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:47,920 prophet Samuel was to come, and they intersect. 589 00:35:49,240 --> 00:35:52,160 So God LED one man by directly speaking to him, and God LED 590 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:55,400 another man by letting loose some possessions, and he had to 591 00:35:55,400 --> 00:36:00,320 go on a hunt for lost vehicles, and they ran into each other. 592 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:02,480 What is that? That's called Providence. 593 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:12,440 God is always leading you. God is always leading me, and 594 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:14,880 this even makes me wonder of the deeper significance of the 595 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:17,800 global transitions and shifts that we are seeing now. 596 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:20,920 Were we not all impacted by decision of a few? 597 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:23,320 The whole world just a few years ago? 598 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:26,880 Did not our daily routine and rhythms change? 599 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:30,280 And what about the rise and fall of political leaders and 600 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:32,600 kingdoms? What about the rapid advancement 601 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:35,160 of technology? What about the legalization of 602 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:38,760 certain laws and policies? Could it be that just like what 603 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:42,400 we see in Luke Chapter 2, there is a different, deeper work 604 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,360 taking place beyond our understanding? 605 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:47,920 I believe so. Not that I take every highlight 606 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:50,040 and say that's what's what's happening here in the Bible. 607 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:52,760 That's what the Bible predicted. Not necessarily so, but they're 608 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:56,480 still unfulfilled prophecies that have to be fulfilled. 609 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:01,360 And I personally believe what took place and what's still 610 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:03,920 taking place today is preparing the stage for the final moments 611 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:09,840 of human history. But let's zoom into your life. 612 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:13,320 What do we make of cancelled flights? 613 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:18,760 What do you make of a flat tire? What do you make of rescheduled 614 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:20,880 appointments? What do you make of prolonged 615 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,240 and delayed projects beyond your control? 616 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:25,040 What do you make of these things? 617 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,520 I believe that if we allow this truth to permeate our minds and 618 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:33,720 our hearts, we can go from huffs and puffs to whispers of faith, 619 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:37,880 because we trust in our God who leads us in strange ways. 620 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:47,240 Providence, you and I are encouraged to believe God with 621 00:37:47,240 --> 00:37:50,600 our tomorrow's because they're already planned and prepared and 622 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:52,760 we just walk into them surprised. 623 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:57,360 And there's a time coming where we will look back at the whole 624 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:01,960 thing and praise God for eternity for the millions and 625 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:03,760 billions of stories that he wrote. 626 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:10,640 At the same time, I present this message to you because NBC is a 627 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:13,960 monument of God's Providence, and I pray that it would 628 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:19,120 continue to grow as a monument of his Providence, but for you 629 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:23,320 also to be encouraged for your own life and the examples I 630 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:26,080 simply provided you today, that he is providential even in my 631 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:28,200 relational let downs. He's providential even in my 632 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:31,240 physical limitations. He is providential in all sorts 633 00:38:31,240 --> 00:38:35,400 of inconvenient circumstances, like when a census goes out and 634 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:37,840 you have a very pregnant wife and it's probably not the most 635 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:40,600 profitable thing for her to travel on a donkey. 636 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:47,040 Discomforting, sure. Interrupting. 637 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:49,440 Sure. But something bigger is 638 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:52,560 happening. Something bigger is happening. 639 00:38:52,960 --> 00:39:00,240 Take joy in your God, who takes joy in guiding your life filled 640 00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:03,040 with surprises. This is our God. 641 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:07,480 He is worthy of worship. Lord, we thank you that you are 642 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:12,000 filled with surprising and awesome works. 643 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:16,240 And your leadership is perfect. Thank you for your leadership at 644 00:39:16,240 --> 00:39:19,560 Maranatha Bible Church. Thank you for how you are 645 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:22,200 writing the stories of every individual here who belongs to 646 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:24,080 you. Thank you that you can even take 647 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:26,160 the wrath of man and cause it to praise you. 648 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:31,120 Thank you, Lord, that in every facet of our existence not one 649 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:37,680 thing is roaming without your supervision, your ordination, 650 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:41,040 your leading. We pray that these truths would 651 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:44,720 comfort us and would cause us to be excited to serve you and to 652 00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:47,560 trust you in the unknown. We give you praise and thanks in 653 00:39:47,560 --> 00:39:49,360 Jesus name. Amen. 654 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:50,640 Amen. Let's stand and worship the 655 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:51,000 Lord.