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Providence: God’s Plan
for the Needs of Humankind
The old theories that it is the
will of God for people to be poverty stricken, helpless, defeated, crushed,
and sorrowful; to suffer pain, sickness, and disease; and to live from hand
to mouth in order to keep himself humble and godly is disproved by many
Scriptures, as we shall see in this page. The following study of the Bible
doctrine of providence will reveal that the truth is just the opposite of
these enemy-inspired doctrines that God does not care anything about the
needs of people here and now. If there is any one doctrine that is
misunderstood it is this one, and for that reason we shall be as clear as
possible and cover much ground in this page.
The
Definition of Providence
The word providence means
foresight and forethought, the care of God over His creatures, divine
superintendence or direction for and over His creation. Foresight and
forethought on the part of anybody imply a future end, a goal, and a definite
plan in attaining that end. All rational beings act with forethought and
foresight; therefore, providence is an attribute all such beings have by
nature. All rational beings and all animals exercise care and make provision
for their own offspring. How much more is it true of the infinite God to make
provision for and exercise infinite care over all His creation?
Although all rational beings
exercise providence according to their powers the word reaches its full
significance only when it is applied to the infinite God. The providence of
God is the care and government He exercises over all things He has created,
in order that they may accomplish the ends for which they were created. It is
the infinite care God takes of His universe, from the numbering of each hair
of each head and the falling of each sparrow to the unfailing upholding of
all the vast universes by His own power. It is the inherent nature of God
which He exerts without intermission over all the works of His hands. It is
the continual creation of God manifested in visible actions in the
preservation and government of all things. It is that eternal power which is
at work precluding all fortune, luck, and fortuitous accidents.
Providence may be considered as
Universal in reference to all things; special in reference to moral beings;
and particular in reference to converted beings. Providence is the most
comprehensive word in the language of theology. It is the background and the
foundation of various doctrines of divine truth. It penetrates and fills the
whole realm of relations between the creation and the Creator. It connects
the unseen with the seen, the visible with the invisible, the creation with
redemption, and personal salvation with the end of all things.
Providence, therefore, is that
agency of God through Messiah (Christ) by the power of the Holy Spirit, by
which through holy angels, redeemed people, and even demons and unsaved
people, He makes all things work together for good to those who love the Lord
and by which He makes all events of the physical and moral universe fulfill
the original purpose for which it was created.
As creation explains the
existence of the universe, and as preservation explains the continuance of
the universe forever, so providence explains the working out of the purpose
of God in all things according to the eternal purpose. It is a positive
agency in the working out of all events of the past and future to the desired
end of God in all things. Providence is the actual control and care of God in
the working out of the eternal plan for people. Since God's plan is
all-comprehensive, the providence of God must also be all comprehensive,
embracing within it all the details, small or great, of the events of life
and working to the ultimate purpose of God in all things.
The
Five-fold Sphere of Divine Providence
1.
THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE. Certain Scriptures plainly
state that God's "kingdom ruleth over all" (Ps. 103:19); that He
"worketh all things after the counsel of his will" (Eph. 1:11);
that He "doeth great things ... which we cannot comprehend. For he saith
to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the
great rain ... the whirlwind ... the cold ... the fair weather ... and the
lightnings" (Job 37:5 - 38:41); that "Whatsoever the Lord pleased,
that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places"
(Ps. 135:6-7); that He "maketh his sun to rise ... and sendeth rain on
the just and on the unjust" (Mt. 5:45); and that He rules the Sun, Moon
and Stars, and all the Earth (Job 37:6-24; 38:4-40; Ps. 19:1-6; 68:9-13;
104:10-30; 107:1-43; 136:4-9; Jer. 10:13; 31:35; Acts 14:17).
2.
THE VEGETABLE AND PLANT WORLD. God "causeth
the grass to grow" (Ps. 104:14). He clothes "the grass of the
field" and the flowers (Mt. 6:28-30); and causes the Earth to bring
forth all kinds of vegetables, grains and fruits for the good of people and
beast (Gen. 1:29; 2:16-17; Lev. 26:4-10; Ps. 65:9-13; 67:6; 104:10-30).
3.
THE ANIMAL WORLD. God's providence is over the
animal creation and it provides food for the birds,
fish, and all animals (Job 38:41; Ps. 104:10-30; 136:25, 145:15-16; 147:8-13,
Mt. 6:26-30). We are told that not one sparrow falls to the ground without
God knowing it (Mt. 10:29).
4.
THE RATIONAL WORLD OF SPIRIT-BEINGS. The Scriptures
reveal many facts concerning spirit-beings and how God cares for the holy
ones and justly punishes the rebels.
5.
THE RATIONAL WORLD OF FLESH-BEINGS, HUMANKIND. The
Bible reveals that God's providence covers all nations, even to the
individual life: "He changeth times and the seasons: he removeth kings,
and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them
that know understanding: he revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth
what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him ... There is a God
in heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known what shall come to pass ...
the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and
giveth it to whomsoever He will ... and He doeth according to his will in the
army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his
hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Dan. 2:21-30; 4:17, 25-35).
The smallest detail of man's life is known by God,
and He helps those who will follow His plan for their lives (Jer. 1:5; Gal.
1:15-16; 1 Sam. 16:1). The very hairs of our heads are all numbered, and the
sparrows are counted (Mt. 10:29-31); so if this is
true, certainly every child of God can trust the heavenly Father with our
present needs here and now and with the life that is to come.
The Bible records many instances of God's
providence in the lives of nations and individuals. His dealings with people
extend to the acts and thoughts. He has prevented
people from sinning when they would listen. He has permitted rebellious
people to commit evil. He has worked out problems in the lives of those who
served Him. He has protected them, and helped them
in ways too numerous to mention. One reading of the Bible will reveal these
facts to us; so if we want the best from God, let us
get on God's side and relinquish cooperating with the devil and evil forces that try to
hinder the will of God in all persons.
The Scriptures are literally full of God's dealings
with people and of great promises concerning every known need for the human
life here and now as well as for the life that is to come. May these exceeding great and
precious promises and their Scripture addresses help prove to you that
God does love you outrageously and that He has made provision for your every
need. And may the following passage be a doorway into receiving God’s
provision in two of the most significant areas of this life here and now:
“Beloved, I
wish above all things that
you may prosper and be in health,
even as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)
Links
Sowing Financial Seed—Giving
If
this website is helpful and the Holy Spirit is prompting you to sow financial
seed, please visit HERE
Due to repetitions, we can classify the 1,050 New
Testament commands under about 800 headings.
153
Plain Laws and Warnings in the New Testament
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and
[I pray God] your whole spirit and soul
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(1 Thess. 5:23).
See the tri-unity of
humans.
“For His divine power has given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has
called us to glory and goodness. And by that same mighty power, He has given
to us exceeding great
and precious promises; that by these you all might be partakers of the
Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust.” (2 Peter1:3-4)
There are 750 promises in the New
Testament alone.
“Therefore if any person be
in Christ, s/he is a
new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The Key
That Unlocks All Promises
“This Good News tells us how God
makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures
say, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Habakkuk 2:4)
“So we see that they could
not enter in because of unbelief.”
(Hebrews 3:19) See
Doubt and Unbelief
concerning God’s Word
“Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication
[prayer as from neediness] with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God.” (Philippians 4:6) See The Art of Prayer
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.”
(Ephesians 6:12)
See the reality of evil, Satan, or the devil
“…The eternal
purpose which He [God] purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11). “…Rightly dividing the word
of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Link to God's Plan for Mankind
The Prayer That Unlocks All Promises
“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews
3:19) See Doubt and Unbelief
concerning God’s Word
See the Plan of God
Thank you Finis Jennings Dake
and Dake Publishing
Thank
you Derek Prince Ministries
and his book entitled Foundational Truths for Christian Living
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