The Mystery of Providence

This post is reserved for comments about the reading of The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel.

Advent 2014 - How to Have a Happy New Year

Sermon Video

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1-2‬ NASB) 

1. Get Saved

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ NASB) 

Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭23‬ NASB) 

Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'  (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭33‬:‭11‬ NASB) 

2. Be Spirit Filled 

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.  (‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15-21‬ NASB) 

Be controlled by and under the influence of the Spirit 

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭9-10‬ NASB) 

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭10-13‬ NASB) 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 NASB) 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  

(‭Galatians‬ ‭5:‭25‬ NASB) 

How??  Through the Word of God 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬ NASB) 

3. Be Sanctified 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭3-8‬ NASB) 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,  

looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.  

(‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭13-14‬ NASB) 

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.  

(‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭3-8‬ NASB) 

4. Submit 

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.  

(‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭13-15‬ NASB) 

Regardless of the quality of the leader or person of authority. 

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. (‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭18-19‬ NASB) 

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. (‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14-16‬ NASB) 

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,  

(‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ NASB) 

Submit means to support.  Voluntarily accept their decisions. 

Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. (‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ NASB) 

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭12-13‬ NASB) 

5. Suffering 

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? A ND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭12-19‬ NASB) 

For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 

(‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭19-20‬ NASB) 

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭10-12‬ NASB) 

5. Be Thankful 

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  

(‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16--18‬ NASB) 

This is not an impossible task. 

For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

(‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭32--33‬ NASB) 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5-6‬ NASB)