Grow With Pastor Joe

Many Christians today have their thinking all wrong. Some believers have become fatalist in thinking that God’s providence means that it doesn’t matter what they think, do, go, or say because it is all up to providence. Then, others view God’s providence over the daily affairs of life as mere coincidences. Perhaps others wonder what God’s providence is. Providence is a theological term, but perhaps one of the most practical doctrines involving all of life. God’s providence is His governance and guidance of all things in the universe (past, present, future) that brings all things to fulfill His perfect purposes. Another way to view it is that God’s providence is God’s authority, ability, and activity to achieve His eternal plan for His eternal pleasure. The providence of God can be seen throughout all the vastness of the universe stretching into the infinite cosmos all the way down to the most seemingly insignificant details and affairs of life. Samuel Rutherford wrote, “I will charge my soul to believe and wait for Him, and will follow His providence, and not go before it, nor stay behind it.” Providence moves everything along as we wait and walk by faith. For believers, God’s providence is a rock to stand on, pillow to rest on, and a path to walk on. God has, does, and will provide all that you need to progress in the Christian life through His careful providence.

            As we are winding down our study of Romans 12-16, we have made it into the epilogue of Paul’s letter. Today, we will see that the progress that we should make in our practical living is directly linked to God’s providence. Rom. 15:22-33 says, “²²For which having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; ²³But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; ²⁴ Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. ²⁵ But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. ²⁶ For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. ²⁷ It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. ²⁸ When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. ²⁹ And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. ³⁰ Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; ³¹ That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; ³² That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. ³³ Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” There is a key phrase in verse 32, “by the will of God.” Our progress in the Christian life and God’s providence in our Christian life is indeed, “by the will of God.” The will of God, providence, and progress in the practical Christian life are tied together. God’s will is for you to discern and do His will. First, there is God’s sovereign will. This is His unchanging perfect plans for all of eternity and the plan of redemption (Eph. 1) that He will bring about to a completed end. Some of this is revealed in the Bible, but there is still somewhat of a mystery as we discussed in Rom. 11:33-36. Second, there is God’s moral will. This deals with what He desires and designs for our life. There is right and wrong, righteous and unrighteous, holy and unholy. In this sense, we aren’t always doing or abiding in the will of God; rather, sin or unbelief is contrary to His will. Third, there is His personal will for each individual. This deals with God’s specific individual calling upon your life. For example, Paul expressed already in the previous passage that God’s will for his life was to be a pioneer preacher to the nations. God’s personal will for your life must be discerned by the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit. If you and I are going to function in the will of God, then we must progress through providence. In today’s study, we will see the relationship of God’s providence and preaching, preparation, and prayer. These three things are used by the providential heart and hand of God to declare the gospel, grace, and glory of Jesus Christ. God wants you to make progress in this life, so let’s see what He says about how we can progress through providence.

            First, we must see God’s providence in preaching. Rom. 15:22-23 says, “²² For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;” Here, Paul references the reason as to why for years he hasn’t been able to come and see the church at Rome. His desire was certainly there, but the providence of God led Paul to preach at countless other places “not where Christ was named” (15:20). For other examples of this truth, see Acts 2, 3, and 16. God was going to allow Paul to preach there through this letter, but later on through his eventual imprisonment in Rome. God’s providence has chosen the preaching of the gospel as the instrument to save and sanctify souls (See Rom. 1:16; 11:33-36; 15:8-21; 1 Cor. 1:18-31). We see this very clearly in the opening chapter of Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, but we see it as well Rom. 10:14-21 where Paul shows us that God providentially works through the preached Word to bring about His purposes including the inclusion of the Gentiles and the eventual restoration of Israel. Paul knew all too well about God’s providence as a preacher. Every true preacher of the gospel does. If it weren’t for providence, we wouldn’t be preachers. Paul recognized this in his own calling (Rom. 1:1), but every called preacher must do the same. Furthermore, Bible preachers rest in God’s providence to accomplish His Work through His Word. If you don’t trust in God’s providence then your preaching is your own, therefore, the results would be yours and not His. Preaching and providence is God’s business. Providence enabled Paul’s preaching to be complete in that he fulfilled God’s call on his life. It was the providence of God that moved Paul’s pulpit and gave power in the preaching of the gospel. God has decreed, designed, and desired to use gospel preaching to save man by grace for His glory. His Word. His Work. His Will. Paul desired to preach in Rome but had been hindered by the other duties of his life. Now that he has “no more place in these parts,” he is trusting that God’s providence will allow him to preach the transformational truths of the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ to not only Rome, but beyond.

            Second, we must see God’s providence in our preparation. Rom. 15:24-29 says, “²⁴ Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. ²⁵ But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. ²⁶ For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. ²⁷ It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. ²⁸ When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. ²⁹ And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” Providence is God’s plan which brings about the completion of His eternal will through His word and work. Preparation is our plan and participation within the will of God. God’s providence is not an excuse for your lack of planning or preparation for the work that God has called you to do. As Mr. Smeltzer told me often in college, “Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part.” Praise God that grace is always there for us; however, we should not view God’s providence as the excuse to be passive. Christian living is not “C’est la vie” that just floats about. No, we are anchored by providence, but we must prepare, plan, or even set goals for how we desire to be used of God. Now, on the other hand, your planning and preparing should be done in light of God’s providence. You should not plan or prepare to do something for God if you aren’t sure that He’s in it. We should prepare and plan, but we should be prepared that our plans will likely change. Our plans must be pliable to match His plans. We must not become a slave to our plans because we aren’t the master of our plans anyway. Proverbs 16:1-9 sheds light on the relationship between God’s providence and our personal preparation. It says, “¹The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. ² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. ³ Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. ⁴ The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. ⁵ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. ⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. ⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸ Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. ⁹ A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” We should be disciplined to prepare our plans as Paul does, but we must be directed by God’s providence in the planning and execution of the work that God has called us to. In Rom. 15:24-29, we see God’s providence and Paul’s preparations. Paul’s plan will ultimately be the same as God’s (because of His providence), but it will look different in the way it is brought about. Remember, true progress only occurs by way of providence, but God uses our preparations to prepare us for what He has ordained. In summary of this section, Paul’s plan is as follows: go to Spain with the gospel (Spain was the furthest western point of the Roman Empire/known world), be refreshed at Rome and bless them, but before all of that he must go a thousand miles out of the way to deliver a love offering from Gentile believers to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem (they experienced poverty because of persecution and a famine). Paul, by faith, prepares for the future by prioritizing the present. Your ministry should have future goals, but your ministry is only where your feet are. With all of these preparations that Paul makes, God’s plan will bring it about. God is going to send Paul to Jerusalem with the gift, be imprisoned, and then sent to Rome as a prison preacher where God will use Paul to write many of his letters that we have in the New Testament today. The key to understanding the relationship between providence and our preparations can be seen in Rom. 15:29 which says, “²⁹ And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” He is confident in his preparations because He is confident in God’s providence. The “fulness of the blessing” is not one of health, wealth, and prosperity. No, the “fulness of the blessing” is found in the enduring, effective, and eternal gospel, grace, and glory of Jesus Christ. Make sure that like Paul, you make your preparations with God’s providence in mind. God’s providence has included your preparations but understand that your preparations must bow to His providence. It is for your good and His glory that it works that way. Our preparations should desire to go to God’s destination and leave the details up to Him.

            Third, we must see providence and prayer. Rom. 15:30-33 says, “³⁰ Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; ³¹ That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; ³² That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. ³³ Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” Providence should not be the reason that we don’t pray, but rather it should be the reason that we do pray. It is God’s providence that encourages me to pray because I know that God has all authority and ability to achieve what is for my good and His glory. E. M. Bounds writes, “Prayer honors God, acknowledges His being, exalts His power, adores His providence, secures His aid.” God’s providence uses the instrument of prayer. Prayer is how we most practically experience God’s providence. In prayer, God’s will is not changed, but ours is changed to match His. If God’s providence ensures victory in the battles of the Christian life, then it is prayer that is our greatest weapon to win the day (See Eph. 6:18-20). Notice though that Paul beseeches them “for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake.” Paul uses the “full” name to remind us that this is Jesus’ sovereign, saving, and supernatural name. Jesus’ sake is the very reason for everything. It is all for His glory. We have covered this extensively by looking at the fulcrum of Romans and the Christian life in Rom. 11:36. Preaching, preparation, and even our prayers are for the sake of Christ’s gospel, grace, and glory. He then adds “and for the love of the Spirit.” There is a lot of discussion and disagreement amongst commentators regarding this phrase. I would say simply, this is the love that the Spirit has given us for Christ and one another; and this is also of the love that we should have for the Spirit’s constant perfect work in our life. We have seen both ideas throughout Romans including 5:5 and all of chapter 8. Not to mention the emphasis of the work of the Spirit in Rom. 15:13, 19. It is the Spirit who empowers our preaching, preparations, and prayers while also molding it all according to the providential and perfect will of God. Paul asks that they would “strive together with me in your prayer to God for me.” Our preparation and preaching are dependent upon prayers. If I covet anything from the congregation at Victory Way, it is their devoted praying for my wife and me as well as the local church itself. The word for “strive together” is the word “sunagonizomai.” This word gives the idea to struggle in company with or to agonize together. We get our word “gymnasium” from this same root. Also, adding “sun” in the Greek gives it more significance, making it as if it is saying super-agonizing.  This word was commonly used regarding athletic events but especially wrestling and grappling. Prayer is battle, isn’t it? J.B. Phillips writes, “Those who share the battles shall share the blessings.” Paul gives four specific prayer requests for them to agonize in prayer over. One, that he would “be delivered” from the unbelievers, including the unbelieving hostile Jews. The word here means to be snatched from danger or to be rescued out. Two, that his offering that he is taking for the suffering saints of Jerusalem would accept it graciously, especially because it comes from Gentile believers. Three, that he can come to Rome “with joy by the will of God.” God’s providence will provide joy through being jailed for Jesus (Rom. 15:13). This joy is not dependent upon circumstances and Paul was more than willing and ready at any cost to come to Rome with the gospel. His joy was in Jesus which is why he would have joy in jail. Four, that he “may be refreshed” by the faithful fellowship with the believers in Rome as he seeks to replenish his funds to journey on toward Spain with the gospel. As we read the book of Acts and the rest of Paul’s epistles, we see that ultimately these prayers were answered, just not in the way that you and I might think. However, God answers prayer providentially bringing about His perfect purposes.            

God’s will is that you would know and do His will for your life. He has a personal and perfect will for your life that lines up under His moral and sovereign will. We can trust and rest in His providence, but true progress in the Christian life happens through the beautiful interwoven strands of God’s providence and our preaching, preparation, and prayers. Do you know God’s personal will for your life? What has He called you to be and do? Are you functioning in the will of God or are you like Paul once did, “kicking against the pricks?” May we preach, prepare, and pray so that we may progress in our practical life through the providence of God. Yield your head, heart, hands, and home to Him. Surrender your desires to His. As we do this, then we will know the enjoyment of being in union with “the God of peace” and be able to enjoy His providential presence in our life as we progress onward and upward to glory.