Dealing with Dark Providences

I am about to head off to meet with the church and preach a message that follows up on the devotional this week from John 11 and the resurrection of Lazarus. The message is titled Dealing with Dark Providences. Stay tuned here as the message will be posted online later today so that you can listen or download it for free.

Until then, think on these things.

Why do "Dark Providences" happen?

Here are a few of the reasons we will examine from the Scripture this morning:

• Because We Live in a Fallen, Cursed World – Gen 3:17-19; Rom 8:18-24
  
  
• Because Suffering is Part of God’s Plan for Our Lives – Rom 8:16-18; Phil 1:29
  
  
• Because These Things Give Us an Opportunity to Draw Closer to God - 1 Peter 1:3-9
  
  
• To Remind Us to Repent – Luke 13:3, 5
  
  
• To Remind Us that We Are Mere Branches, He is the Vine – John 15:5
  
  
• To Test, Confirm, and Strengthen Our Faith – James 1:1-5
  
  
• To Give God an Opportunity to Glorify Himself – Ps 50:15; John 12:28; 1 Peter 4:16
  
  
• To Lift Up Jesus Christ – John 12:32

The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, 1689, reminds us from the Scripture that:

The most wise, righteous, and gracious God often leaves, for a time, His own children to various temptations, and to the corruptions of their own hearts, in order to chastise them for the sins which they have committed, or to show them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness still in their hearts, so that they may be humbled and aroused to a more close and constant dependence upon Himself for their support, and that they may be made more watchful against future occasions of sin. Other just and holy objectives are also served by such action by God.

Therefore whatever happens to any of His elect is by His appointment, for His glory, and for their good.

Listen or download this message here:
Dealing with Dark Providences

~pastorway