Gospel Life Church

A parent has 936 weeks between a child’s birth and graduation. This is why its hard for the church to compete with what’s going on at home.Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like and they don’t learn from people who don’t like them. What does this teach us? That influencing children positively starts with love.

A parent has 936 weeks between a child’s birth and graduation. This is why its hard for the church to compete with what’s going on at home.Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like and they don’t learn from people who don’t like them. What does this teach us? That influencing children positively starts with love.

Ezekiel 13:22 NLT And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins.We need to be able to speak the truth without compromise, while respecting others as persons.When we speak of tolerance, there are really 3 categories of tolerance that are usually mixed together:Tolerance of personsTolerance of ideasTolerance of behaviorIf one rejects another's ideas or behavior, he's often accused of rejecting the person and being disrespectful. To say I'm intolerant of the person because I disagree with his ideas is confused. On this view of tolerance, no idea or behavior can be opposed, regardless of how graciously, without inviting the charge of intolerance.“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”“What do you mean by that?” “How did you come to that conclusion?,”

Ezekiel 13:22 NLT And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins.We need to be able to speak the truth without compromise, while respecting others as persons.When we speak of tolerance, there are really 3 categories of tolerance that are usually mixed together:Tolerance of personsTolerance of ideasTolerance of behaviorIf one rejects another's ideas or behavior, he's often accused of rejecting the person and being disrespectful. To say I'm intolerant of the person because I disagree with his ideas is confused. On this view of tolerance, no idea or behavior can be opposed, regardless of how graciously, without inviting the charge of intolerance.“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”“What do you mean by that?” “How did you come to that conclusion?,”

1 Be Ready2 Keep It Simple, Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing Armageddon, the Rapture, Calvinism, Arminianism, church attendance, blood moons, red heifers, numerology, and Anakim giants but…3 Avoid Religious Language, Spiritual Jargon, and ChristianeseWhat is Jargon and what effect does it have?Christianese means you are speaking a different language than the one the person you are speaking to speaks.EXAMPLES: Things like, “I see that hand,” “ask Jesus into your heart,” “soul-winning,” “backslidden,” “heads bowed, eyes closed,” (you know what to do), “we just come before you Father God,” “hedge of protection,” “pot-lucks but not good luck,” “prayer walks,” “amen,” “vacation Bible school,” “bachelor till the rapture,” “divine appointment,” “life verse,” “missionary dating,” “gift of singleness,” “unspoken prayer request,” “bless your heart,” “speaks to my heart,” “I’ll pray about meaning ‘no’”, “covered in the blood,” “put it on my heart,” “stepping out on faith,” “testimony,” “I struggle with that,” “altar call,” “sanctification,” “fellowship,” “love offering,” “covering a multitude of sins,” “sold out”, “brother in Christ,” “causing you to stumble,” or doing things like praying over unhealthy food, Communion- this represents the time when you eat a really small cracker and a small cup of grape juice and afterwords are more spiritual because of it, and just not the church providing lunch.Prayer- for those who are not Christians, it looks like we are talking to our imaginary friend. We avoid religious language because we aren’t trying to make the person religious.What do people mean by religious?Don’t let your style get in the way of the message.4 Focus on the truth of Christianity, not merely on its benefits.There is a vital difference between whether we like something and whether it is true or not.There is a difference between choosing an ice cream flavor and choosing a medicine. When choosing ice cream, you choose what you like. When choosing medicine, you have to choose what heals.People often choose religious views according to their tastes, not according to what is true. The question of truth hardly even comes up in the conversation.People may like the idea of reincarnation, or karma, but that doesn’t make it true, and surprisingly people don’t often consider that.Religious truth is what you believe right? It's that leap of faith you take. It has nothing to do with reality, ultimately. It is not anything you can test or measure. It is something you have to believe and hope against hope that it's true. It becomes a kind of wishful thinking, a religious placebo of sorts.People will sometimes agree and say “I’ll visit your church, if you visit my temple.” What this often means is come check out my religion to see if you like it. But again, something doesn’t become true or untrue because we like it. The real issue is whether your religious beliefs are true or not, not whether you like them, not whether you try them and find them appealing.ILLUSTRATION: What happens if you let a child eat only what they find appealing, how healthy will they be? When we choose our religion based merely on whether we find it appealing we are talking about the placebo effect. We argue that Christianity can be defended apart from our feelings, fantasies, or wishful thinking. We are not just emoting, or giving expression to our emotions.Henry Beecher discovered the placebo effect as a medic in World War II. After running out of pain-killing morphine, he replaced it with a simple saline solution but continued telling the wounded soldiers it was morphine to calm them. To his surprise, almost half of the soldiers reported that the inert saline solution actually reduced or erased their pain.But we have to get past ourselves and connect with external reality.Philosophers like Freud and Nietzsche have accused Christians of inventing God because of psychological reasons, that we have created God in the image of our own desires.But remember, the God of the Bible is not a God that we could or would invent. Testing your Religion:Can you have a square circle, a one-ended stick, or turn left and right at the same time? No, these are things we can dismiss out of hand as being incoherent.5 Give ReasonsHere’s an example. Christianity explains what it means to explain. It explains how we got here, how everything got here. Evolution doesn’t answer the question of how everything got here to begin with. It only explains, or purports to explain, how it developed. Atheist Richard Dawkins said that the biological world is a complex world that gives every appearance of having been designed for a purpose. But he’s quick to add that you shouldn’t be misled by appearances. His explanation is that the apparent watchmaker design was really the blind watchmaker of natural selection and genetic mutations, i.e., neo-Darwinian evolution. That’s what he holds. But notice that he says it sure looks designed. Even if we are willing to grant that Darwinism is a possible way of explaining design, maybe another possible, legitimate, reasonable, rational way of explaining design is through design. Maybe the world looks designed because it is designed. 6 Stay Calm. Don’t get frustrated. Don’t get mad. Don’t get mean.My wife and I are vegan and sometimes people like to poke fun at this. Someone sent me a picture that said “The hardest part about being a vegan is having to wake up at 5am to milk the almonds.” Or, “That moment when your steak is on the grill and you can already feel your mouth watering. Do you vegans feel the same when mowing the lawn?” Is this something I should get mad about or can I laugh along with them? Ending our Facebook posts with “Just sayin,” or “I’m saying this in Christian love,” doesn’t give us permission to be rude.7 Pay Attention to Signs that the Person Wants Out of the Conversation.8 Give the Person a Way to Further Explore, Meaning, Don’t Let Them Leave Empty-Handed.An invitation to Alpha or to church are two ways of doing this. You can invite them to read one of the Gospels or direct them to a Christian website.9 Notice the Difference Between a Dismissal and a Response.“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”“What do you mean by that?” “How did you come to that conclusion?,”Sometimes you hear “I don’t have any reasons; I just believe it,” to which you can ask, “Why would you believe something when you have no reason to think it’s true?”

1 Be Ready2 Keep It Simple, Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing Armageddon, the Rapture, Calvinism, Arminianism, church attendance, blood moons, red heifers, numerology, and Anakim giants but…3 Avoid Religious Language, Spiritual Jargon, and ChristianeseWhat is Jargon and what effect does it have?Christianese means you are speaking a different language than the one the person you are speaking to speaks.EXAMPLES: Things like, “I see that hand,” “ask Jesus into your heart,” “soul-winning,” “backslidden,” “heads bowed, eyes closed,” (you know what to do), “we just come before you Father God,” “hedge of protection,” “pot-lucks but not good luck,” “prayer walks,” “amen,” “vacation Bible school,” “bachelor till the rapture,” “divine appointment,” “life verse,” “missionary dating,” “gift of singleness,” “unspoken prayer request,” “bless your heart,” “speaks to my heart,” “I’ll pray about meaning ‘no’”, “covered in the blood,” “put it on my heart,” “stepping out on faith,” “testimony,” “I struggle with that,” “altar call,” “sanctification,” “fellowship,” “love offering,” “covering a multitude of sins,” “sold out”, “brother in Christ,” “causing you to stumble,” or doing things like praying over unhealthy food, Communion- this represents the time when you eat a really small cracker and a small cup of grape juice and afterwords are more spiritual because of it, and just not the church providing lunch.Prayer- for those who are not Christians, it looks like we are talking to our imaginary friend. We avoid religious language because we aren’t trying to make the person religious.What do people mean by religious?Don’t let your style get in the way of the message.4 Focus on the truth of Christianity, not merely on its benefits.There is a vital difference between whether we like something and whether it is true or not.There is a difference between choosing an ice cream flavor and choosing a medicine. When choosing ice cream, you choose what you like. When choosing medicine, you have to choose what heals.People often choose religious views according to their tastes, not according to what is true. The question of truth hardly even comes up in the conversation.People may like the idea of reincarnation, or karma, but that doesn’t make it true, and surprisingly people don’t often consider that.Religious truth is what you believe right? It's that leap of faith you take. It has nothing to do with reality, ultimately. It is not anything you can test or measure. It is something you have to believe and hope against hope that it's true. It becomes a kind of wishful thinking, a religious placebo of sorts.People will sometimes agree and say “I’ll visit your church, if you visit my temple.” What this often means is come check out my religion to see if you like it. But again, something doesn’t become true or untrue because we like it. The real issue is whether your religious beliefs are true or not, not whether you like them, not whether you try them and find them appealing.ILLUSTRATION: What happens if you let a child eat only what they find appealing, how healthy will they be? When we choose our religion based merely on whether we find it appealing we are talking about the placebo effect. We argue that Christianity can be defended apart from our feelings, fantasies, or wishful thinking. We are not just emoting, or giving expression to our emotions.Henry Beecher discovered the placebo effect as a medic in World War II. After running out of pain-killing morphine, he replaced it with a simple saline solution but continued telling the wounded soldiers it was morphine to calm them. To his surprise, almost half of the soldiers reported that the inert saline solution actually reduced or erased their pain.But we have to get past ourselves and connect with external reality.Philosophers like Freud and Nietzsche have accused Christians of inventing God because of psychological reasons, that we have created God in the image of our own desires.But remember, the God of the Bible is not a God that we could or would invent. Testing your Religion:Can you have a square circle, a one-ended stick, or turn left and right at the same time? No, these are things we can dismiss out of hand as being incoherent.5 Give ReasonsHere’s an example. Christianity explains what it means to explain. It explains how we got here, how everything got here. Evolution doesn’t answer the question of how everything got here to begin with. It only explains, or purports to explain, how it developed. Atheist Richard Dawkins said that the biological world is a complex world that gives every appearance of having been designed for a purpose. But he’s quick to add that you shouldn’t be misled by appearances. His explanation is that the apparent watchmaker design was really the blind watchmaker of natural selection and genetic mutations, i.e., neo-Darwinian evolution. That’s what he holds. But notice that he says it sure looks designed. Even if we are willing to grant that Darwinism is a possible way of explaining design, maybe another possible, legitimate, reasonable, rational way of explaining design is through design. Maybe the world looks designed because it is designed. 6 Stay Calm. Don’t get frustrated. Don’t get mad. Don’t get mean.My wife and I are vegan and sometimes people like to poke fun at this. Someone sent me a picture that said “The hardest part about being a vegan is having to wake up at 5am to milk the almonds.” Or, “That moment when your steak is on the grill and you can already feel your mouth watering. Do you vegans feel the same when mowing the lawn?” Is this something I should get mad about or can I laugh along with them? Ending our Facebook posts with “Just sayin,” or “I’m saying this in Christian love,” doesn’t give us permission to be rude.7 Pay Attention to Signs that the Person Wants Out of the Conversation.8 Give the Person a Way to Further Explore, Meaning, Don’t Let Them Leave Empty-Handed.An invitation to Alpha or to church are two ways of doing this. You can invite them to read one of the Gospels or direct them to a Christian website.9 Notice the Difference Between a Dismissal and a Response.“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”“What do you mean by that?” “How did you come to that conclusion?,”Sometimes you hear “I don’t have any reasons; I just believe it,” to which you can ask, “Why would you believe something when you have no reason to think it’s true?”

1 John 3:14 NLT 14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.Zephaniah 3:17 NLT 17 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

1 John 3:14 NLT 14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.Zephaniah 3:17 NLT 17 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

Matthew 27:16-17 NIV 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

Matthew 27:16-17 NIV 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

1. Fear.The fear of being ridiculed, disapproved and persecuted by the world, especially those close to us and those who have authority over us like parents, spouses and bosses.We have bought into this Politically Correct mentality. Live and let live. Don't offend anyone.Fear that sharing your faith will end the relationship.Fear of rejection, we have to remember that they are not rejecting us but Christ.Fear of man rather than fear of God. 2. They don't feel or think that they are qualified.We have secret sins.3. Complacency, lack of compassion and passion, spiritual lazinessLuke 8:14 NLT 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.We want everything from God, but we do not want to give anything.We focus only on what Jesus can do for us, and not what we can do for Jesus.4. Too many worry about "political correctness".We must care more about what God thinks of us, that what people think of us.5. Influenced by worldly cultureBecause we have believed the lie that we are "pushing" our beliefs on someone.They think belief is a private matter instead of going out to make disciples.We think we need to keep our faith private so we don't offend someone.6. A lack of training and don't know how to share.7. Not strong Christians with strong faith.8. Because we live in a world that is so tolerant of everything but Christianity!We believe people don't really want to heart it.9. They believed some false beliefs, like all we have to do is live our faith.Living our faith is sharing our faith.10. We don’t know the Gospel clearly and rightly.11. We don't see the example from our leaders.Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." As followers of Jesus Christ, what are your responses to those reasons? How can Christians overcome their barriers when it comes to evangelism?

1. Fear.The fear of being ridiculed, disapproved and persecuted by the world, especially those close to us and those who have authority over us like parents, spouses and bosses.We have bought into this Politically Correct mentality. Live and let live. Don't offend anyone.Fear that sharing your faith will end the relationship.Fear of rejection, we have to remember that they are not rejecting us but Christ.Fear of man rather than fear of God. 2. They don't feel or think that they are qualified.We have secret sins.3. Complacency, lack of compassion and passion, spiritual lazinessLuke 8:14 NLT 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.We want everything from God, but we do not want to give anything.We focus only on what Jesus can do for us, and not what we can do for Jesus.4. Too many worry about "political correctness".We must care more about what God thinks of us, that what people think of us.5. Influenced by worldly cultureBecause we have believed the lie that we are "pushing" our beliefs on someone.They think belief is a private matter instead of going out to make disciples.We think we need to keep our faith private so we don't offend someone.6. A lack of training and don't know how to share.7. Not strong Christians with strong faith.8. Because we live in a world that is so tolerant of everything but Christianity!We believe people don't really want to heart it.9. They believed some false beliefs, like all we have to do is live our faith.Living our faith is sharing our faith.10. We don’t know the Gospel clearly and rightly.11. We don't see the example from our leaders.Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." As followers of Jesus Christ, what are your responses to those reasons? How can Christians overcome their barriers when it comes to evangelism?

Genesis 50:20 NLT 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.Exodus 3:19 NLT 19 "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him.Piel Exodus 4:21 NLT 21 And the LORD told Moses, "When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.Exodus 7:3 NLT 3 But I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.Exodus 8:15 NLT But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.Exodus 8:32 NLT 32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.Piel Exodus 9:12 NLT 12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and just as the LORD had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.Exodus 9:34-35 NLT But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn. 35 Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses.Piel Exodus 10:20 NLT But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart again, so he refused to let the people go.Piel Exodus 10:27 NLT 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart once more, and he would not let them go.Piel Exodus 11:10 NLT 10 Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh's presence, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he wouldn't let the Israelites leave the country.Piel Exodus 14:4 NLT 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told.Piel Exodus 14:8 NLT The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.Piel Exodus 14:17 NLT 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.Romans 9:17-18 NLT 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, "I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth." 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.Joshua 11:20 NLT For the LORD hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses.Judges 14:1-4 NLT One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. 2 When he returned home, he told his father and mother, "A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me." 3 His father and mother objected. "Isn't there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?" they asked. "Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?" But Samson told his father, "Get her for me! She looks good to me." 4 His father and mother didn't realize the LORD was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.1 Samuel 2:25 NLT But Eli's sons wouldn't listen to their father, for the LORD was already planning to put them to death.1 Samuel 16:14 NLT Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.2 Samuel 12:11-12 NLT 11 "This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”2 Samuel 12:15 NLT 15 After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah's wife.2 Samuel 24:1 NLT Once again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. "Go and count the people of Israel and Judah," the LORD told him.2 Samuel 24:10 NLT 10 But after he had taken the census, David's conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing."2 Samuel 24:12-17 NLT 12 "Go and say to David, 'This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.'" 13 So Gad came to David and asked him, "Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me." 14 "I'm in a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands." 15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. 16 But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the death angel, "Stop! That is enough!" At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep-- what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family."1 Chronicles 21:1 NLT Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.In this one incident the Bible gives us a remarkable insight into the three influences that contributed in different ways to one action: God, in order to bring about his purposes, worked through Satan to incite David to sin, but Scripture regards David as being responsible for that sin.1 Kings 22:20-23 NLT 20 And the LORD said, 'Who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?' "There were many suggestions, 21 and finally a spirit approached the LORD and said, 'I can do it!' 22 "'How will you do this?' the LORD asked. "And the spirit replied, 'I will go out and inspire all of Ahab's prophets to speak lies.' "'You will succeed,' said the LORD. 'Go ahead and do it.' 23 "So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets. For the LORD has pronounced your doom."Ezekiel 14:9 NLT 9 "'And if a prophet is deceived into giving a message, it is because I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet. I will lift my fist against such prophets and cut them off from the community of Israel.Amos 3:6 NLT 6 When the ram's horn blows a warning, shouldn't the people be alarmed? Does disaster come to a city unless the LORD has planned it?Amos 4:6-13 NLT 6 "I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 7 "I kept the rain from falling when your crops needed it the most. I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another. Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away. 8 People staggered from town to town looking for water, but there was never enough. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 9 "I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 10 "I sent plagues on you like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago. I killed your young men in war and led all your horses away. The stench of death filled the air! But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 11 "I destroyed some of your cities, as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Those of you who survived were like charred sticks pulled from a fire. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 12 "Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!" 13 For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven's Armies is his name!Therefore, God brings evil on human beings, to discipline his children, to lead unbelievers to repentance, and to bring a judgment of condemnation and destruction upon hardened sinners. Yet, none of us can charge God with doing wrong. Ultimately all will work in God’s good purposes to bring glory to him and good to his people. Yet we must realize that in punishing evil in those who are not redeemed, God is also glorified through the demonstration of his justice, holiness, and power.Isaiah 45:7 NLT 7 I create (Genesis 1:1) the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.Verses that Reflect the True Source of Calamity along with a Right Response:Lamentations 3:38-40 NLT 38 Does not the Most High send both calamity and good? 39 Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? 40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the LORD.Isaiah 63:17 NLT 17 LORD, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants, the tribes that are your special possession.Jonah 1:14-15 NLT 14 Then they cried out to the LORD, Jonah's God. "O LORD," they pleaded, "don't make us die for this man's sin. And don't hold us responsible for his death. O LORD, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons." 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!Jonah 2:3 NLT 3 You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.God was bringing about his plan through the willing choices of real human beings who were morally accountable for their actions. In a way not understood by us and not revealed to us, God caused them to make a willing choice to do what they didTHE CRUCIFIXIONActs 4:27-28 NLT 27 "In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.Acts 2:23 NLT 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.In one sentence Peter links God’s plan and foreknowledge with the moral blame that attaches to the actions of “lawless men.” They were not forced by God to act against their wills; rather, God brought about his plan through their willing choices for which they were nevertheless responsible.Luke 22:22 NLT 22 For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him."So God is more than able to accomplish His purposes, but man is still responsible for his willing choices.ANTICHRIST2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NLT 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.JOB- Our Example for the Right Response to EvilIn the story of Job, though the Lord gave Satan permission to bring harm to Job’s possessions and children, and though this harm came through the evil actions of the Sabeans and the Chaldeans, as well as a windstorm (Job 1:12, 15, 17, 19), yet Job looks beyond those secondary causes and, with the eyes of faith, sees it all as from the hand of the Lord: “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). The Old Testament author follows Job’s statement immediately with the sentence, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22). Job has just been told that evil marauding bands had destroyed his flocks and herds, yet with great faith and patience in adversity, he says, “The Lord has taken away.” Though he says that the Lord had done this, yet he does not blame God for the evil or say that God had done wrong: he says, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” To blame God for evil that he had brought about through secondary agents would have been to sin. Job does not do this, Scripture never does this, and neither should we.CONCLUSION:Psalm 76:10 NLT 10 Human defiance (or the wrath of man) only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.CAUTION:Luke 13:1-5 NLT About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 "Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?" Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”So its not that some people experience natural disasters because of God’s wrath, but rather that God is restraining the evil that man deserves everywhere else.We must resist making judgement calls on why evil happens or declaring specifically what God’s purposes are or were in particular instances of evil in the world.Acts 28:4-9 NLT 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, "A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live." 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. 7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 8 As it happened, Publius's father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed.If God is able to use evil for good then should we be praying for that?There is a great difference between what is fitting for man to will and what is fitting for GodIf evil came into the world in spite of the fact that God did not intend it and did not want it to be there, then what guarantee do we have that there will not be more and more evil that he does not intend and that he does not want? And what guarantee do we have that he will be able to use it for his purposes, or even that he can triumph over it?

Genesis 50:20 NLT 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.Exodus 3:19 NLT 19 "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him.Piel Exodus 4:21 NLT 21 And the LORD told Moses, "When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.Exodus 7:3 NLT 3 But I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.Exodus 8:15 NLT But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.Exodus 8:32 NLT 32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.Piel Exodus 9:12 NLT 12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and just as the LORD had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.Exodus 9:34-35 NLT But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn. 35 Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses.Piel Exodus 10:20 NLT But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart again, so he refused to let the people go.Piel Exodus 10:27 NLT 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart once more, and he would not let them go.Piel Exodus 11:10 NLT 10 Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh's presence, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he wouldn't let the Israelites leave the country.Piel Exodus 14:4 NLT 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told.Piel Exodus 14:8 NLT The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.Piel Exodus 14:17 NLT 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.Romans 9:17-18 NLT 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, "I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth." 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.Joshua 11:20 NLT For the LORD hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses.Judges 14:1-4 NLT One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. 2 When he returned home, he told his father and mother, "A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me." 3 His father and mother objected. "Isn't there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?" they asked. "Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?" But Samson told his father, "Get her for me! She looks good to me." 4 His father and mother didn't realize the LORD was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.1 Samuel 2:25 NLT But Eli's sons wouldn't listen to their father, for the LORD was already planning to put them to death.1 Samuel 16:14 NLT Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.2 Samuel 12:11-12 NLT 11 "This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”2 Samuel 12:15 NLT 15 After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah's wife.2 Samuel 24:1 NLT Once again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. "Go and count the people of Israel and Judah," the LORD told him.2 Samuel 24:10 NLT 10 But after he had taken the census, David's conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing."2 Samuel 24:12-17 NLT 12 "Go and say to David, 'This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.'" 13 So Gad came to David and asked him, "Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me." 14 "I'm in a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands." 15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. 16 But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the death angel, "Stop! That is enough!" At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep-- what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family."1 Chronicles 21:1 NLT Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.In this one incident the Bible gives us a remarkable insight into the three influences that contributed in different ways to one action: God, in order to bring about his purposes, worked through Satan to incite David to sin, but Scripture regards David as being responsible for that sin.1 Kings 22:20-23 NLT 20 And the LORD said, 'Who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?' "There were many suggestions, 21 and finally a spirit approached the LORD and said, 'I can do it!' 22 "'How will you do this?' the LORD asked. "And the spirit replied, 'I will go out and inspire all of Ahab's prophets to speak lies.' "'You will succeed,' said the LORD. 'Go ahead and do it.' 23 "So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets. For the LORD has pronounced your doom."Ezekiel 14:9 NLT 9 "'And if a prophet is deceived into giving a message, it is because I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet. I will lift my fist against such prophets and cut them off from the community of Israel.Amos 3:6 NLT 6 When the ram's horn blows a warning, shouldn't the people be alarmed? Does disaster come to a city unless the LORD has planned it?Amos 4:6-13 NLT 6 "I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 7 "I kept the rain from falling when your crops needed it the most. I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another. Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away. 8 People staggered from town to town looking for water, but there was never enough. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 9 "I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 10 "I sent plagues on you like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago. I killed your young men in war and led all your horses away. The stench of death filled the air! But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 11 "I destroyed some of your cities, as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Those of you who survived were like charred sticks pulled from a fire. But still you would not return to me," says the LORD. 12 "Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!" 13 For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven's Armies is his name!Therefore, God brings evil on human beings, to discipline his children, to lead unbelievers to repentance, and to bring a judgment of condemnation and destruction upon hardened sinners. Yet, none of us can charge God with doing wrong. Ultimately all will work in God’s good purposes to bring glory to him and good to his people. Yet we must realize that in punishing evil in those who are not redeemed, God is also glorified through the demonstration of his justice, holiness, and power.Isaiah 45:7 NLT 7 I create (Genesis 1:1) the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.Verses that Reflect the True Source of Calamity along with a Right Response:Lamentations 3:38-40 NLT 38 Does not the Most High send both calamity and good? 39 Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? 40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the LORD.Isaiah 63:17 NLT 17 LORD, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants, the tribes that are your special possession.Jonah 1:14-15 NLT 14 Then they cried out to the LORD, Jonah's God. "O LORD," they pleaded, "don't make us die for this man's sin. And don't hold us responsible for his death. O LORD, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons." 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!Jonah 2:3 NLT 3 You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.God was bringing about his plan through the willing choices of real human beings who were morally accountable for their actions. In a way not understood by us and not revealed to us, God caused them to make a willing choice to do what they didTHE CRUCIFIXIONActs 4:27-28 NLT 27 "In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.Acts 2:23 NLT 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.In one sentence Peter links God’s plan and foreknowledge with the moral blame that attaches to the actions of “lawless men.” They were not forced by God to act against their wills; rather, God brought about his plan through their willing choices for which they were nevertheless responsible.Luke 22:22 NLT 22 For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him."So God is more than able to accomplish His purposes, but man is still responsible for his willing choices.ANTICHRIST2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NLT 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.JOB- Our Example for the Right Response to EvilIn the story of Job, though the Lord gave Satan permission to bring harm to Job’s possessions and children, and though this harm came through the evil actions of the Sabeans and the Chaldeans, as well as a windstorm (Job 1:12, 15, 17, 19), yet Job looks beyond those secondary causes and, with the eyes of faith, sees it all as from the hand of the Lord: “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). The Old Testament author follows Job’s statement immediately with the sentence, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22). Job has just been told that evil marauding bands had destroyed his flocks and herds, yet with great faith and patience in adversity, he says, “The Lord has taken away.” Though he says that the Lord had done this, yet he does not blame God for the evil or say that God had done wrong: he says, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” To blame God for evil that he had brought about through secondary agents would have been to sin. Job does not do this, Scripture never does this, and neither should we.CONCLUSION:Psalm 76:10 NLT 10 Human defiance (or the wrath of man) only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.CAUTION:Luke 13:1-5 NLT About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 "Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?" Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”So its not that some people experience natural disasters because of God’s wrath, but rather that God is restraining the evil that man deserves everywhere else.We must resist making judgement calls on why evil happens or declaring specifically what God’s purposes are or were in particular instances of evil in the world.Acts 28:4-9 NLT 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, "A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live." 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. 7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 8 As it happened, Publius's father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed.If God is able to use evil for good then should we be praying for that?There is a great difference between what is fitting for man to will and what is fitting for GodIf evil came into the world in spite of the fact that God did not intend it and did not want it to be there, then what guarantee do we have that there will not be more and more evil that he does not intend and that he does not want? And what guarantee do we have that he will be able to use it for his purposes, or even that he can triumph over it?

ANNOUNCEMENTS:LT meeting tomorrow at 7pm, Easter Egg Candy, Family Meal/Meeting next SundayPROVIDENCE The doctrine that God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do: and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes.The goal this morning is to help see things through the lens of God being in control of all things, to have spiritual eyes in your perspective, and to see things as God does.Paul says in Ephesians 1:11, “he makes everything work out according to his plan.”or, Ephesians 1:10 NET God accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his willColossians 1:17 NLT 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.Hebrews 1:3 NLT The Son sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.This fact is hidden from us until we read it in Scripture. So lets begin by taking a survey of key biblical texts:Inanimate creation and the weatherPsalm 148:8 NLT 8 fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him,Job 37:5-12 NLT 5 God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power. 6 "He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. 7 Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power. 8 The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens. 9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold. 10 God's breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water. 11 He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning. 12 The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.Job 38:24-38 NLT 24 Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind? 25 "Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning? 26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? 27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up? 28 "Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew? 29 Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? 30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes. 31 "Can you direct the movement of the stars-- binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? 32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons or guide the Bear (Big Dipper) with her cubs across the heavens? 33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? 34 "Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? 35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? 36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? 37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven 38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?Psalm 135:6-7 NLT 6 The LORD does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. 7 He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.Psalm 104:4 NLT 4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.Matthew 5:45 NLT For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.2. Animals Matthew 6:26 NLT 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 10:29 NET Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.Job 38:39-41 NLT 39 "Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions' appetites 40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket? 41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?3. Random or Chance EventsProverbs 16:33 NLT 33 We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.Ecclesiastes 9:11 NAU again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.chance here for the Israelite means “the unexpected”PRIMARY VS. SECONDARY CAUSATIONThese passages affirm that such events are entirely caused by God. Yet we know that, in another sense, they are entirely caused by factors in the creation as well.God directs, and works through the distinctive properties of each created thing, so that these things themselves bring about the results that we see. In this way it is possible to affirm that in one sense events are fully or 100% caused by God and fully or 100% caused by the creature as well. However, divine and creaturely causes work in different ways. The divine cause of each event works as an invisible, behind-the-scenes, directing cause and therefore could be called the “primary cause” that plans and initiates everything that happens. But the created thing brings about actions in ways consistent with the creature’s own properties, ways that can often be described by us or by scientists who carefully observe the processes. These creaturely factors and properties can therefore be called the “secondary” causes of everything that happens, even though they are the causes that are evident to us by observation.Primary vs. Secondary Causation4. God directs the Rise and Fall of the NationsJob 12:16-25 NLT 16 Yes, strength and wisdom are his; deceivers and deceived are both in his power. 17 He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment; wise judges become fools. 18 He removes the royal robe of kings. They are led away with ropes around their waist. 19 He leads priests away, stripped of status; he overthrows those with long years in power. 20 He silences the trusted adviser and removes the insight of the elders. 21 He pours disgrace upon princes and disarms the strong. 22 "He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom. 23 He builds up nations, and he destroys them. He expands nations, and he abandons them. 24 He strips kings of understanding and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland. 25 They grope in the darkness without a light. He makes them stagger like drunkards.Acts 17:26 NLT 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.Daniel 4:34-35 NLT 34 "After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. 35 All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, 'What do you mean by doing these things?'5. God Directs the Direction of Our LivesJesus reflects on our need to see and depend on God’s provision for our daily needs:Matthew 6:11 NLT 11 Give us today the food we need,Paul has this same perspective when he writes in Philippians 4:19:Philippians 4:19 NLT 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.Paul sees that God is in control and taking care of him even though we know from Philippians 1:7; 13–14; 17 that Paul is in a Roman prison. Psalm 139:16 CSB Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.Job 14:5 NLT 5 You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.Jeremiah 10:23-24 NLT 23 I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. 24 So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.Proverbs 20:24 NLT 24 The LORD directs our stepsProverbs 16:9 NLT 9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.A man may plan his road to the last detail, but he cannot implement his planning unless it coincides with God’s plan for him. He is deluded if he supposes that he has unfettered control and can impose his will on every situation without limitation in order to make his plan a reality.” (Waltke, Proverbs, vol 2, p. 16)Proverbs 21:1 NLT The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.EXAMPLES:Ezra 1:1 NLT In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:Ezra 6:22 NLT 22 Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the LORD had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.Success & FailurePsalm 75:7 NLT 7 It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT 7 What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?CONCLUSION:God’s providential work in our lives extends to all aspects of our lives. Our words, our steps, our movements, our hearts, and our abilities are all from the Lord.CAUTION:God’s providential direction as an unseen, behind-the-scenes, “primary cause,” should not lead us to deny the reality of our choices and actions. Again and again Scripture affirms that we really do cause events to happen. We are significant and we are responsible. We do have choices and these are real choices that bring about real results. Scripture repeatedly affirms these truths as well.Our choices are real choices and do have significant effects, because God has made us in such a way that he has created us with the property of willing choice.Some would say that if our choices are real, they cannot be caused by God. But the number of passages that affirm God’s control is so considerable, and the difficulties involved in giving them some other interpretation are so formidable, that it does not seem that this can be the right approach to them. It seems better to affirm that God causes all things that happen, but that he does so in such a way that he somehow upholds our ability to make willing, responsible choices, choices that have real and eternal results and for which we are held accountable. Exactly how God combines his providential control with our willing and significant choices, Scripture does not explain to us. But rather than deny one aspect or the other (simply because we cannot explain how both can be true), we should accept both in an attempt to be faithful to the teaching of all of Scripture.In the weeks ahead we will deal with some of the challenges to our view of God that these texts raise for us. We will seek to answer some of the harder questions but the question will be, are we willing to submit to God or will we seek instead to create and craft a god of our own imagination? CONCLUSION: submission and dependencyHow shall we respond?First, are we truly willing to submit to Scripture, to all that Scripture teaches? We can cherry pick, but just because we don’t believe in gravity doesn’t make gravity cease to exist.Do we really want truth, and if so are we willing to submit to it.I want to challenge us toward humility. Are we willing to break and bend, to learn and grow, to repent of hard hearts. Are we willing to cast ourselves, including our intellects and wills, on the mercy of God.We will be looking at different facets of the doctrine of God in the weeks ahead to prepare us to be obedient to the mission God has called us to. We are looking at the doctrine of God to prepare us to be evangelists. Look around, there is room for more people here and we need to get serious about sharing the Gospel, but first we need to see who God is, so that we have the correct motivation.NLT Psalm 18:26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.Acts 26:14 NLT 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.'All things work together for good but its good as God defines it.2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT 17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.As we look at these truths, we will either see God’s goodness and greatness or we will harden our hearts and rebel against God.