Some Common Pitfalls Regarding Divine Providence

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin introduces the sermon, explaining that it's his last Sunday evening message for a while due to a schedule change. He chose the topic of divine providence based on…

Martin explains the upcoming changes to the church's preaching schedule, including guest preachers and his own travel, to provide context for why he chose this particular sermon topic for his last Sunday evening message.

Now, by way of introduction, let me give you a little background as to what conditioned my mind and spirit to select the subject that I will address with you tonight. Those of you who are not familiar with the preaching schedule perhaps would be interested to know that this is the last time for a while that I'll be preaching Sunday evenings. Those of you who are here on a regular basis know that generally Pastor Nichols and I divide the public ministry here on the Lord's Day, but in June he will be starting a series in the adult class on our confession of faith, and then I will be preaching in...

0:12 - 1:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin introduces the sermon, explaining that it's his last Sunday evening message for a while due to a schedule change. He chose the topic of divine providence based on…

Martin shares that his recent pastoral counseling experiences, where he repeatedly turned to the theme of divine providence, conditioned his mind to select this subject for the sermon, believing the needs were representative of the wider congregation.

Well, as I sought the Lord's mind about what to bring in this one last opportunity that I would have to address you from the Word of God, apart from our normal studies in Mark in the morning, as I reflected upon the experience of the recent weeks in pastoral counseling, it seemed that again and again I was turning to the Scriptures and opening up a basic theme, in the Word of God, with those who came and sought my counsel. And as I reflected upon this and prayerfully considered how best to use our time tonight, I came to the conviction that these who came to me seeking help and pastoral counse...

1:28 - 2:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second pitfall is trying to understand the specific and full purpose of God in every providential circumstance. Martin explains that only an omniscient God sees the entire…

Martin uses a block with threads (warp and woof) to represent a person's present circumstances, illustrating how humans only see a small part of the fabric, while God sees the entire tapestry, its roots in eternity, and its ultimate destination.

And I'm going to try to illustrate it. I wish I had a bigger thing to do it with, but this will at least help those of you who are up closer. Now, this block represents your present set of circumstances. And you see some threads.

25:45 - 25:59 Read in full sermon

The point: When faced with a mundane difficulty like a flat tire, focus on responsible action (e.g., safely changing the tire) rather than immediately trying to interpret God's specific purpose.

The story of Joseph in Genesis 50 is used as an example of how God sometimes mercifully allows us to see a partial interpretation of His providences over time, though never the full scope.

When Joseph was thrown down into the pit, sold as a slave, ended up in the household of Potiphar, I would imagine that that strange combination of dark and horrible providences, meant very little to him. Later on, some years have passed, and he's able to see that there was both rhyme and reason to all of these dark providences. Genesis 50. The end of that moving scene, when he's disclosed himself to his brethren, he could say, verse 20, As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. He says, Now I can see the pur...

29:53 - 30:55 Read in full sermon

The point: When faced with a mundane difficulty like a flat tire, focus on responsible action (e.g., safely changing the tire) rather than immediately trying to interpret God's specific purpose.

Martin humorously adds that part of God's purpose in Joseph's life was to provide a vivid illustration for a preacher in 1985, emphasizing that God's purposes are far-reaching and often unknown to us.

A preacher in 1985 was going to need a vivid illustration of this pastoral problem. That's right. And when God let Joseph be sold and speak, these words, part of his purpose was to give me the fuel to give you pastoral counsel. God knew all of that.

31:28 - 31:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Bow in faith and confess God's ways to be right, just, and good, even if you never understand His specific purposes in this life.

Martin quotes a hymn, 'Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan his work in vain. God is his own interpreter, and he will make it play,' to reinforce the idea that God alone fully understands His providences.

So, child of God, remember the hymn we often sing. Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan his work in vain. God is his own interpreter, and he will make...

32:23 - 32:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third pitfall is using providence (e.g., open or closed doors, favorable dispositions) as the primary indicator of God's will. Martin argues that God's will for us is found in…

Martin illustrates the third pitfall with a scenario where someone chooses a job based solely on an 'open door' (favorable providence), only to find misery and spiritual decline years later because other biblical factors were ignored.

Someone is not sure about whether he ought to take this job or that job or the other. And he says, Now, Lord, I trust your providence. If you want me to take that job in such and such a place, you open the door. If you don't, you close it.

33:49 - 34:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The will of God with which we have to do is the will of his precepts and not his providence.

Another illustration of the third pitfall involves someone choosing a spouse based on mutual attraction and 'favorable providence,' leading to a 'misfit marriage' and bitterness because biblical principles for choosing a spouse were neglected.

Someone's praying about whether they ought to marry a certain man or woman. And so they say, Lord, I commit it to your providence. If you create in them an affinity for me, and they like me and are attracted to me and I to them, then I'll take this as from you.

35:00 - 35:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third pitfall is using providence (e.g., open or closed doors, favorable dispositions) as the primary indicator of God's will. Martin argues that God's will for us is found in…

Martin references an old Scottish preacher's sermon on Jonah, highlighting how the preacher beautifully draws out Jonah's error of taking God's will from favorable providences rather than Scripture, and then challenges Jonah when those providences turn sour.

The winds were favorable. They had a seat for it. They had a berth for it. He had the amount of money needed.

38:08 - 38:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Keep your noses to the book of God and determine your duty from Scripture, rather than from providential factors.

The story of Demosthenes filling his mouth with stones and practicing by the seashore is used to illustrate that providential hindrances (like a speech impediment) should not be taken as a sign to abandon a path of duty, but rather to press through with diligence.

To press clean through that hindrance by holy diligence and by the use of spiritual weapons. Demosthenes, the great Greek orator, could have concluded, even as a pagan, that he was never to be an orator. He had impediments in his speech. And you know the famous proverbial story of how he would go down by the seashore and fill his mouth with stones and learn how to speak above the roar of the ocean until he could be heard distinctly.

41:39 - 42:09 Read in full sermon

The point: When considering marriage, go to the Bible to determine what qualities to look for in a spouse (e.g., state of grace, biblical concept of marriage), rather than relying on mutual interest or chemistry alone.

Martin gives an example of a highly qualified brother in the congregation who chose to drive a cab for a year, despite having a graduate degree, because he prioritized biblical principles over career advancement, illustrating commitment to God's Word over worldly success.

He thinks the issue through with hammered out biblical priorities and the widest door with the most promise. If he's got to stumble over a precept, he says, uh-uh, I'm not going to take it. Now it may mean as one of our brethren, highly qualified in a specific professional field in this congregation. It may mean you have to drive a cab in New York for a year.

44:22 - 44:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be too worldly in what you are looking for in a wife; prioritize godliness.

Martin uses the metaphor of God blinding men for five years to help them choose a godly wife, suggesting that focusing on inner godliness rather than outward appearance would lead to greater beauty and satisfaction in marriage.

If God blinded you for five years it'd be the best thing that could happen to you. You'd get a godly wife in the meantime.

46:21 - 46:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be too worldly in what you are looking for in a man; prioritize godliness.

Martin shares an anecdote about a woman in the congregation who had specific worldly criteria for a husband, even while desiring a man of God, and how God had to 'work her over' to humble her and open her eyes to her folly.

God had to knock her on the head hard. She had it all figured out. Oh yes, she wanted a man of God for her husband but she'd figured out the height and weight and everything else. And God had to work her over pretty good.

46:49 - 47:02 Read in full sermon