Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Providence is the work of God in which he actively preserves and governs all creation and creatures so that all His purposes for them are fulfilled.

2. Since God not only created the world but also upholds it, we naturally pass from the doctrine of creation to that of divine providence. This may be defined as that work of God in which He preserves all His creatures, is active in all that happens in the world, and directs all things to their appointed end. (Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine).

3. If Creation was a unique exercise of divine energy causing the world to be, providence is a continued exercise of that same energy whereby the Creator, according to his own will, (a) keeps all creatures in being, (b) involves himself in all events, and (c) directs all things to their appointed end. The model is of purposive personal management with total "hands-on" control: God is completely in charge of his world. His hand may be hidden, but his rule is absolute. (J. I. Packer, Concise Theology).

B. Aspects of Providence

1. Divine Preservation - This is that continuous work of God by which He upholds all things. The world does not continue to sustain itself, rather it is sustained through the continued exercise of divine power (Psa 136:25; 145:15; Neh 9:6; Act 17:28; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3). (Adapted from Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine).

2. Divine Concurrence - This may be defined as that work of God by which He co-operates with all His creatures and causes them to act precisely as they do. This understands that all secondary causes (will of man, powers of nature, etc.) are dependent upon their primary cause, God (Deut 8:18; Psa 104:20, 21, 30; Amos 3:6; Mat 6:8, 25-26; 10:29; Act 14:17; Php 2:13). Nevertheless, moral agents (angels, man) are responsible for their own sin (Jam 1:13; 1Jo 1:5). (Adapted from Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine).

3. Divine Government - This is the continued activity of God whereby He rules all things so that they answer to the purpose of their existence. God governs by ordaining (allowing or disallowing) all things universally (Psa 103:19; Dan 4:34, 35), all things great and small (Mat 10:29-31), all things seemingly accidentally (Pro 16:33), and all good or evil deeds of man (Gen 50:20; Act 14:16). (Adapted from Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine).

4. Divine Protection - Though this would be included under the heading of Divine Government, it is a pertinent facet of Providence. It would include the protection of the righteous (Psa 4:8; 5:12; 63:8; 121:3;Psa 91:7; Pro 10:3; Rom 8:28). This in no way should be confused with the prosperity gospel that teaches that no peril should befall the child of God. The child of God may experience peril. But it will be within the protective hand of God in accordance with God’s sovereign plan.

C. Miracles vs. Providence

1. A distinction is made between Providence and a miracle. A miracle is God circumventing the natural processes in a supernatural manner. Providence is God bringing about His will through natural circumstances of life.

2. Both are by the sovereign activity of God. But the natural circumstances used by God in Providence are common and God’s hand is said to be invisible. Whereas supernatural circumstances brought about by God are uncommon and God’s hand is said to be visible.

3. However, in either case, it is God who sovereignly and actively brings about His will.

II. DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN ACTS 23

A. Man’s Perspective (Act 23:24-32)

1. Claudius Lysias wrote a letter (25)

2. Claudius Lysias directed it to the Governor (26)

3. Claudius Lysias rescued Paul (27b).

4. Claudius Lysias found out Paul was a Roman (27c).

5. Claudius Lysias administrated an inquiry (28).

6. Claudius Lysias came to a judgment (29).

7. Claudius Lysias arranged a hearing (30).

8. Claudius Lysias transported Paul (24, 30b).

9. Claudius Lysias commanded the soldiers (23, 31).

10. Claudius Lysias returned to the barracks (32).

B. God’s Perspective

1. God ordained that Paul would be an apostle (Gal 1:1, 15-16; cf. Jer 1:5).

a) God ordained that Paul would be an apostle before he was even born. Even though he rejected and persecuted Christianity, Christ appeared to and called Paul.

b) God’s ordination took place before the foundation of the world but worked out in time through His providence.

2. God ordained that Paul would be a witness before kings (Act 9:15).

a) Paul was a “chosen instrument” to go before kings and the sons of Israel. Those words were fulfilled in the book of Acts through God’s providence.

3. God ordained that Paul would suffer (Act 9:16).

a) Paul’s suffering was included in the providence of God. It specifically began in Acts 21:30 and continued until the end of Paul’s life.

4. God ordained that Paul would suffer in Jerusalem (Act 20:22-23; 21:10-11).

a) All the confusion, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation surrounding Paul’s visit and suffering in Jerusalem was by the providence of God.

5. God ordained that Paul would be rescued in Jerusalem (Act 23:11).

a) By Paul’s nephew (Act 23:16-18).

(1) It was by God’s providence that Paul’s nephew just happened to be in Jerusalem, overhear the plot to kill Paul, and have occasion to warn Paul.

b) By the Commander (Act 23:22-23).

(1) It was by God’s providence that the Commander viewed Paul’s nephew seriously and took immediate precautions to safeguard Paul.

6. God ordained that Paul would go to Rome (Act 19:21 cf. Act 23:11).

a) Though Paul had a burden to go to Rome to strengthen the church, It was God’s providence that it would be so.

b) Furthermore, we observe that through God’s providence God placed a desire in Paul’s heart that was in accordance with His own will.

III. DIVINE PROVIDENCE FOR PAUL (ACT 23:33-35

A. Felix Received the Letter from the Soldiers (33-34)

B. Felix Agreed to Hear the Case (35)

C. Felix Allowed Paul to stay in the Praetorium (35)

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Divine Providence Applies to All Believers

1. Divine Providence was not solely for Paul in the book Acts. God does not ordain only some people and some events (Rom 8:16-17).

2. Paul’s account was written in Acts so that all believers would see God’s providence and apply it to their own lives (1Co 10:11).

B. Divine Protection Applies to All Believers

1. God’s providence means that God will safeguard the lives of His children in so far as it accomplishes His purposes and He still has a plan for them in this life (Phil 1:22-24). Nevertheless, God may choose and quite often does accomplish His purposes through perils and difficulties (Act 14:22).

C. Divine Providence is Ultimately Good

1. When Scripture states “God works all things together for good,” it does not mean only good things will happen to us. Rather it means that even when bad things happen to us, God works it for good according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).

2. This is true whether we see God’s purpose or not. Nevertheless, the believer ought to have God’s perspective (biblical perspective) on the invisible hand of God.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516