The Surprising & Awesome Guidance of Our God | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

There's so many things that can be said about this particular

celebration. There's so many testimonies

leading up to how this church began, the beginnings of this

church, the things that took place in the past two years.

It would take us more than one service to just touch on, even

briefly, the variety and the colourful manifestations and

interventions of God. But if there is one way of

summarizing what NBC has become, or how NBC became NBC prayfully,

this is what came to mind. Maranatha Bible Church is the

product of God's Providence. Maranatha Bible Church is the

result of God's Providence. And perhaps you've heard that

word before, Providence, and maybe not.

But Simply put, when you hear the word Providence, what we're

trying to say is that God sovereignly works in and through

the daily non miraculous events in our lives to affect His will.

In other words, the belief of God's providential work teaches

that the Lord uses natural means and works through natural

orders, often times behind the scenes, to bring about His will.

It's not immediately obvious. You can't say oftentimes in the

moment. Here are the clear fingerprints

that we can believe in our hearts that God is always at

work. The thing with Providence is

that it is often God's hidden work that is in function and

operation. And we might think that this

idea of God's Providence is true for the world of creation and

the different systems of our universe, or the grander stages

of life like the rise and fall of nations.

But the truth of Providence applies to the good that God

desires to bring about in each of our lives on an individual

basis. Providence is at work in each of

our lives, not just in the overarching story of human

history, but in your own story, in your own journey, in your own

unique circumstances and giftings and family background

and context. Providence is at work.

The pen of God's authorship is continually writing, though you

may perceive it right away or not.

And one of the things about Providence that is so

encouraging to me is that the Lord often connects and attaches

seemingly unrelated events, insignificant moments, even

sometimes circumstances that seem to contradict or even

challenge the will of God to actually accomplish as well.

In essence, when we're talking about Providence, we're talking

about the indirect leadership of God on all levels, on every

level, from governments to your living room, from politics to

the classroom. Every sphere is under the

influence of God's providential mercies.

And why I love to meditate and preach about Providence is

because this truth promises the children of God one main thing.

That there is nothing that happens in your life that is

void of purpose. No matter what the episode is,

no matter what the experience is, is, whatever it may be

concerning your comfort or your discomfort, whether it is

monumental or it is minor, whether it is clear or unclear.

One thing is for certain, When you and I understand God's

Providence, there is nothing left up to random chance and

there is nothing left up to aimless coincidence.

Providence promises purpose in everything.

And George Mueller said a very powerful quote concerning

Providence. He said, God does not only

ordain our steps, He ordains our stops.

And what I take that to mean is the Lord doesn't only work in

direct deliverances. He also works in delays.

He's also at work in your detours.

God is always at work, and God is always at work for the aim of

His glory and for the good of those who belong to Him.

And if it is true that Providence promises purpose in

every single thing that you and I engage and encounter, then it

also must mean that Providence is the grounds for your peace

and for your gratitude in all things.

Can I say that one more time? If Providence promises purpose

and absolutely everything, then it is also the grounds for you

to know gratitude and peace in everything.

This is the fruit of believing this truth, that even though you

can't understand how this plays out or how this segment of your

life this season fits into the grand scheme of things and God's

purpose for your existence, you can still worship in the unknown

because the unknown is not empty of meaning.

The difficulty for you to reconcile how God is using this

or how this can be allowed by God?

How does this make sense? Providence calms your soul and

teaches you and whispers to you that this has a purpose, that

there is something behind this. This is an ordained piece.

This is a sanctified segment waiting to be linked to a bigger

picture that you will one day perceive and praise the Lord

for. That's Providence and what I

want to do in this in this time together as we reflect on how

God brought about Maranatha Bible Church and how God will

continue to lead by His grace. Maranatha Bible Church is

evidences and examples of Providence so that you would

leave this place more confirmed and confident that the Lord is

surely leading me. Whether I can perceive it or

not, the Lord is leading my life.

And so let's do this, shall we? Let's look at how God, in the

word of God is providentially working, how he has worked, and

how they are principles for us to say.

Then he must surely be at work in me.

Turn with me. What do you think we're going to

go? Oh, Genesis, right.

Because of who? Joseph Shore.

Or maybe what? Another woman of God?

Esther. Yes, yes.

The name of God is not mentioned in all the book of Esther, but

his works are all there, right? That's by divine purpose.

But we're not going to go to either of those.

Turn with me to the book of Philemon.

Let's go to Philemon together. Philemon, somebody might be

saying, Is that a book in the Bible?

It is a book in the Bible. It's in the New Testament,

before the book of Hebrews. Philemon is the shortest of

Paul's epistles and it is the only epistle that Paul wrote

directly to a singular person and all the other epistles he's

writing to the church at large or to a group of believers in a

region. But Philemon is directly given

to one person named Philemon, and this letter is not a a

theological treatise. It's very brief.

But what it is is Paul applying Christian truths to a real life

situation. It's a very personal letter and

it's a letter that we can relate to greatly because the whole

background behind Philemon is this.

Philemon was a Christian that Paul knew personally, and

Philemon had a servant named Onisimus.

Onisimus at a certain point fled from his master Philemon, and

with that stole much from him. He betrayed his master.

He created problems for his master and he was on the run and

through a series of steps that are not made known to us.

Apparently Onisimus met Paul while he was in Rome and in

prison. We're not told how that

encounter happened, but what we are told is that they did in

fact meet and when they met something miraculous happened.

Paul the Apostle, though bound in chains, you could not bind

the word of God with that man. He proclaimed the gospel.

He proclaimed the gospel to this runaway criminal, to Anissimus.

And guess what happened to Anissimus?

He believed. He repented.

He became a born again Christian and they became great friends.

In fact Paul really wanted on this miss to be by his side

because he was of great use to Paul.

But Paul learned of the circumstances with on Isthmus

concerning his master back here with Philemon, and Paul

encourages this born again Christian on Isthmus to be

reconciled to Philemon to make things right.

That's the Christian thing to do, to live a repentant life.

And if there is something that you did wrong on this, Ms. make

it right. And so he encourages on this Ms.

to go back to Philemon, to not only ask for forgiveness, but to

tell him, hey, I'm a different person, I'm saved, and I want to

come back and make things right again.

At the same time, Paul writes to Philemon a very heartfelt,

humble letter of instruction, knowing that Philemon would have

been naturally frustrated and angry with the circumstances

that took place at the hands of Onissimus and the actions and

the disregard for authority. And so he tenderly calls for

Philemon to forgive Onissimus and to receive Onissimus and to

be reconciled back to Onissimus. And this is what this letter is

about. You and I are getting a window

into the life of a man who was struggling to deal with the

disappointment of another person that he was greatly invested in,

that he trusted in, that he took care of in many ways.

And we are invited to look at this short letter to discover

the heart stirring insights and the admonition for us.

Also, please pay attention to forgive, to forgive people who

have hurt us. You're saying, OK, that's a

wonderful, you know, overview of Philemon.

What does that have to do with Providence?

Providence is in this book. Paul highlights Providence in

this book. Who would have thought that?

You can learn about Providence in the book of Philemon.

Where is it? We'll come here in verse 15.

There's no chapter. So verse 15, look up Paul saying

to Philemon, and he's making this persuasive point in order

to win Philemon's willingness to do his part to mend the

splintered relationship. Philemon 15.

For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while,

that you might have him back forever, no longer as a

bondservant but more than a bondservant as a beloved

brother, especially to me. But how much more to you, both

in the flesh and in the Lord? Here's what Paul is saying,

Philemon. Maybe, just maybe, maybe, on

this M is fleeing from you. Getting away from you was so

that he could meet me, and that in meeting me he would hear the

gospel and the way I would present the gospel would in fact

convict him, and he would indeed be saved.

And in due time, not only would you have your servant back, but

you would have a brother in Christ back.

This is what Paul is saying. Hey, I want you finally meant to

see the bigger picture here. And he's very careful with his

words. Notice what he says here in the

third word of verse 15 for this perhaps.

Wow, Paul is very wise for this perhaps is why.

Notice the the tone, Notice the carefulness of his words.

I learned something from Paul here and how to counsel people

and how to confront my fellow brother and sister who is

enduring a difficult or painful situation.

I'm called to be very wise in the way I speak into their

situation. You and I are supposed to do the

same. Be very gentle when you need to

be gentle. Be firm when you need to be

firm, Be silent when you need to be silent.

You know, sometimes the best thing you can do for a person

who's struggling is not give a theological explanation, but to

just weep with them, Weep with those who weep.

But here, Paul, knowing that Philemon was frustrated, angry,

he he's speaking to him very strategically.

Hey, I I'm inviting you to see what I'm seeing here.

Philemon. I want you to see something that

perhaps God has done behind the scenes.

You saw someone who turned their back on you and betrayed you.

But perhaps there is something more redemptive in all of this.

The suggestion reveals something about Paul's belief system, does

it not? It reveals something about his

convictions. Not that the Lord authors people

to sin against us. No, not at all.

But he can draw out the good from the failures and the

foolishness of others. That's what Paul believes.

God is able to draw out. Good.

God is able to rewrite the script.

And from this verse, you and I are to draw out this incredible

encouragement in light of Providence.

And here's what it is. God is at work with and through

you, ready for this. God is at work with and through

the most unlikely and problematic people.

That's where you're supposed to say Amen.

God is at work with and through even the most unlikely and

problematic people for your sanctification and ultimately

your greater joy. Providence teaches that God is

at work even in relational disappointments.

Providence teaches that God is at work even when you are let

down by somebody that you believed should not have let you

down. In the case of Philemon, we see

here that the principle from these verses is to trust God's

wisdom when facing those let downs, those failures from

others, those painful actions and words.

You are supposed to be strengthened by the truth that

God is at work. I can't see it.

I may not understand it. This very much hurts, but it

doesn't disqualify God's authorship behind this and how

he's able to turn this around. How he knows something that I do

not know. And in Philemon's case, again

the separation of Onissimus prepared him to be faced with

the gospel. This man who was on the run

would in fact be set up by divine appointment to meet the

apostle Paul and hear the thing that would save his soul.

So he would be a slave of Christ and live for the glory of God.

But in your case in mind, conditions that may lead to

painful severances from others may have 100 different reasons

why, 1000 different explanations to why.

It could be to protect us from greater harm in the future.

It could be to prune us to be more fruitful.

It could be to purify you and I by removing polluting

influences. It could be to enhance your

peace by distancing you from unrepentant, troublesome

sinners. Why does God do it?

Or allow it rather? You may not understand it at

first glance, but you can believe in love and God's loving

care over the details, including the people that you know and may

no longer know anymore. We we can believe about

everything, right? Protection.

Provision. Include this in your belief

system. God supervises the people in and

out of your life. But consider Paul's aim.

I mean, he's explained this, but for what purpose?

Why is Paul trying to introduce the concept of Providence with

the separation between two men? It's so that he can encourage

Philemon to find the grace in that truth to forgive on

Isthmus. I want you to see that though.

This was so heart wrenching, Philemon, that God had perhaps a

purpose behind it and that should stimulate you.

If you include God in the equation, and God is for you and

he is with you and he is leading you in every aspect of your

life, then how can you withhold mercy?

How can you reserve compassion? Who would have thought that

believing Providence would make you and I are more forgiving

people? It should.

Well how does that work? Well, again, Joseph understood

that before Philemon even existed.

You want to talk about relational let downs?

We've all I'm sure here. You lived long enough.

Even if you were a child, you have witnessed, probably in your

family and churches, that you grew up.

You've seen people hurt other people.

People that you never thought would hurt.

Hurting other people. You want to talk about hurt.

Imagine your siblings throwing you into a physical pit, not a

metaphorical pit. I'm in a pit.

No, in a real pit like a caged animal.

And while you're there shivering and wondering what's going to

happen next, they're up there on solid ground wondering if they

should kill you or do something more profitable with you.

And finally, the consensus was, let's let's sell them into

slavery. So here's this caravan that

comes by and you have a price on your head.

These people that you had sleepovers with, These people

that you played games with, These people later on that would

eventually be jealous of you. But these people that you knew

day in and day out sold you for a check.

You, not your possessions, you. And here you are now going into

a world of unknown, and you're hired by a very high official,

and there you are, faithfully working the favor of God is on

you and it's spilling over into this gentile territory.

And one day you're falsely accused of rape, falsely

accused, and all you did was good.

All you did was blessed. All you did was make someone

more profitable and with one testimony of a wicked woman.

Now here you are with a tainted reputation, and you're in for a

troublesome future. Now you're no longer in a pit,

You're in a prison. Relational let downs.

That's relational. Let downs.

And you know the story. Joseph eventually comes to the

place of prominence, the second command of all of Egypt, and God

and his Providence brings about his brothers and eventually his

father and the people of God were preserved.

But by the end of the book, the brothers are nervous.

Jacob dies and they see their their brother that they hurt in

the past very seriously. Who can act one word, command

their death. And so they're nervous, and they

come up with this little plan to try to ease perhaps any tension

or any vengeful plot that he has.

And Joseph comforts them. He comforts up with the truth of

Providence. What you meant for evil, God

meant for good. OK, we know that.

We put it on our coffee cups. We put it on Facebook.

OK, Put it on your heart. What do I mean by that?

What is he trying to say? I can forgive you.

I can't hold anything against you.

Why? Because I believe in God's

Providence. I believe that though you are

accountable for what you did to me.

God oversaw it, God supervised it, and he turned it about for

the good. So how can I be bitter against

you when you were the vehicle for the good that I am enjoying

today and you and I are invited to do the same, to be a

forgiving people because you believe God has all power.

He's he's he's in control. He's in control.

Yeah. He's in control of you getting

your job. I know he's in control of

control of the house that you need to get.

No, he's in control. When people mess up in your life

and put a bitter taste in your mouth, you can also say, I don't

get it. I don't know what this is for.

All I know is that God has good in mind for me.

I can trust him. There's a powerful Psalm that

illustrates this truth. It's Psalm 76, verse 10.

Psalms 76:10

The psalmist says, surely the wrath of man shall praise you.

Psalm 7610. Surely the wrath of man shall

praise you. The remnant of wrath you will

put on like a belt. What is he saying there?

God is able to take the anger of man, the vengeance of man, the

evil of man, and make it praise him.

God is able to take wicked men and their ideas and their plots

and end up causing it to give glory unto Himself.

Even the wrath of man will praise God and notice he talks

about the remnant of math wrath being around like a belt, like

it's like a tool to him. He's in control of this, it's

subject to him, not the other way around.

And so the wrath against Joseph ended up praising God.

The wrath against our Lord Jesus Christ ended up what?

Saving humanity. And Peter alludes that in Acts

chapter two he talks about the Providence of God even in the

crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Providence, Providence in relational let downs.

But Providence isn't just operating in people and through

people and in situations with people.

Go to Galatians chapter four with me and let's see how

Providence continues to work in different areas of life.

In Galatians chapter 4, verse 13.

Galatians 4:13

If the shepherd of my life is able to take the evil words and

selfish actions of others to bring good in me, how can I

withhold forgiveness? But notice what Paul says to

this group of believers. He is rehearsing their history

together because at this point of his writing, there was

tension on their part, at least. They were being told things

about Paul, and Paul is trying to remind them where things

began. And so he says about their

beginnings in Galatians 413 and 14.

You know, it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached

the gospel to you at 1st. And though my condition was a

trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me

as an Angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

So Paul is saying, can I remind you how we met?

Can can you remember how you treated me like an Angel?

You actually treated me like Jesus Christ himself.

What happened to your affection toward me?

But notice what he said in the beginning of verse 13.

You know that it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached

the gospel to you. Now, so many people have been

fixated on the nature of Paul's bodily ailment that they

overlook a much more important truth.

And there's no even consensus of what kind of thing Paul is

talking about. Some say malaria, Some say he

had eye problems. Some say it was the the

repercussions of the beating that he took.

If you read acts with the stoning that he experienced,

there's no agreement. But whatever it was, it was

serious enough for look at verse 14 and though my condition was a

trial to you, it was a serious illness.

For it to be technically could have been a burden to others to

take care of him, and people debate what that means, but it

was significant. There's no doubt about that this

might be unclear. What is clear here is that Paul

makes it plain by linking this problem that he had in his body

and how that was the reason why he remained in Galatia, and as a

result was able to meet this group of Galatians and then

preach the gospel to them. I was prevented from moving

forward in my travels because of this bodily ailment, and it was

the means for you to receive the truth that would save your soul.

Implying then, perhaps humanly speaking, if it wasn't for this

bodily ailment, perhaps Paul at this moment would have missed

the opportunity to meet these Galatians.

He credits this situation for being the instrument God used to

park him in this area and to deliver this truth to this

people who needed to hear the truth.

Isn't this glorious? This is fascinating to me.

Because listen, whatever this ailment was, it was potent

enough to keep Paul there. I can't move on like this.

He had to stay. That's how strong it was.

But it was not strong enough to keep him from preaching the

gospel. Strong enough to keep him there,

physically not overwhelming to the point where he couldn't

deliver the truth of Jesus Christ.

Think about Providence. Think about how God allowed the

right measurement of physical suffering to keep him where he

need to keep it, but not to paralyze him from doing what he

really needed to do. And that's to share the truth

with these people. So God is providential.

He has a purpose. You ready for this?

Even with physical limitations, even with sickness and seasons

where we are not at full strength, even in that God has

something in mind, how can you feel like you're losing in this

life when you have Christ as your shepherd?

This is what Paul is confessing. And you and I should rejoice at

his words here in verse 13 because you and I learned that

divine Providence demands that delay and debilitation be

servants of the soul winning message of Jesus Christ.

Delay and debilitation have to submit to divine Providence.

God is in control. You and I should see Providence

even in that. I may not understand it.

It might even be painful. But there's purpose.

I remember the testimony of an old man from Canada who's in

heaven today. And one of the things that I

cherished about church was that if he had the open slot, wasn't

a minister, wasn't a pastor, just somebody who attended the

church faithfully to have conversations with him.

I love to talk to people who have walked longer with the

Lord. I love to be drawn to people who

have a crown of Gray head. And you can tell that when they

go to church, they're in church to worship God.

People that have grown over the decades, I still am drawn to

those people I want to know. Tell me the stories about God in

your life. What has God done in your life?

Tell me some things that you've learned in life and one time not

even asking a question. He brought this story to our

attention. Me and a couple others about a

story of of a relative, I believe, if my memory serves me

right that had an infection back when where he was from.

He, he had an infection and they were praying others friends and

family praying for his, for his healing, praying for his

restoration and nothing was happening.

And so with prayer they used wisdom, right?

I mean wisdom. Some people in the world need

that. Yes, you pray and wait on God,

but you can also use other means that God gives like medication

and antibiotics. And so that's what they did.

They got the prescription for him and they would regularly go

to this pharmacist to receive this prescription and to apply

it. And at the same time they were

praying. God healed this man.

God healed this man, heal our brother.

And nothing was happening. And over time, this pharmacist

got to know this man that I'm speaking about who is sharing

this testimony, and the others who came to the aid of their

relative. And one day the gospel comes out

and this pharmacist hears the gospel, and this pharmacist gets

saved. He becomes born again.

And this is how he shared the story.

On that particular day, when this man who was prescribed the

medication got saved, they went back home and their relative was

healed. What do you make of that?

Providence. Providence.

Because it was that illness and that delayed healing that caused

him to meet this pharmacist to receive the medication to treat

this illness. And it wasn't until this man and

receiving the gospel that that man who needed the healing

received it. Providence always at work, even

with your weakness in the flesh, your sickness in your body.

Paul could say confidently with this truth.

It was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the

gospel to you. Let's go to another text, right?

To see Providence at work, turn with me to Luke chapter two in

the first 5 verses together. I'm just giving you a few

examples. You read this book cover to

cover and you will see story after story, example after

example of this Providence at play.

This is speaking about the birth of our savior and we can talk

about the birth of our savior more than once a year, right?

Amen. Let's read the 1st 5 verses

together. Luke 2, verse one.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all

the world should be registered. This was the first registration

when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and all went to be

registered, each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of

Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called

Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be

registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Here you have an actual record of history with names of

prominent real people, and we have with it authentic political

commentary, and we should rejoice at the factuality and

the historicity of the word of God.

But the joy should exceed far beyond that, especially here

with this text. Yet we have this historical

narrative, but we also see Providence at work.

The first Roman emperor named Caesar Augustus called for a

worldwide registration. Rome took over the world at this

point, and it was more than just a census.

It was a census with taxation. And so at that call, with that

request, the world shifted. It was not optional.

If you were under the rule of Rome, this was demanded.

It was commanded for you under this authority, which included

the nation of Israel, and with the thousands upon a thousands

of people who are influenced by this one decision, we zoom into

one family, Joseph, here with his very pregnant wife.

They are abiding in Nazareth. And because of Joseph's

background and because of the census, he has to now take a

bumpy journey to Bethlehem so that they can honor the request

of the government. And while being in Bethlehem,

you know the rest of the story very well.

Mary gave birth to the Son of God, and for the first time he

entered into our world Incarnate flesh and blood.

You know why this is so significant?

It's significant because prophecy hundreds of years

before this time predicted that King Messiah must come out, be

born where? In Bethlehem.

But where were they? They weren't in Bethlehem, They

were in Nazareth. So let me remind you of the

prophecy, what Micah said. You know this very well, Micah

52 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrata, who are too little to be among

the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me.

One who is to be ruler in Israel, who is coming forth, is

from old, from ancient days. Wow.

There is someone who is going to be born a ruler in Israel who

comes from the ancient of days, who comes from eternity past.

That's a proof of the deity of Christ by the way, Bethlehem,

Ephrata. And then you come to Luke 2 and

you read about this woman named Mary who was to host the Messiah

in her womb for nine months and deliver this Messiah into the

world. When you read on as we just read

here, they're not in Bethlehem, they're in Nazareth.

They can't be in Nazareth for the birth of the Savior because

prophecy said Bethlehem. So how does God fulfill this

word? How does God move this so that

it can be in alignment with what he had said centuries before?

Does he appear to Joseph like he did in Matthew chapter 2 and

Matthew 2 · chapter mention

say, hey, listen, you got to take the baby out of here, you

got to flee? And the Angel of the Lord warns

him and Joseph and the knight takes his family and flees to

Egypt. Does he do that here?

Does he appear to Joseph? Hey, Joseph, it's me again.

The Angel of the Lord. You know, Micah, 52, says that

the Savior needs to be born in Bethlehem.

You got to get up now. We got to fulfill prophecy.

Let's go. Let's go.

Let's go. Is that what he does?

No. He uses a Pagan ruler with an

edict that would move the world and bring this one family where

they needed to be. What do you call that?

Providence, because God can lead by supernaturally revealing a

plan to you. There's no reason for us to deny

that God can appear and say, hey, you need to do this.

And there are people who have been called into ministry with

supernatural testimony, and there are people who have done

things for the Lord where they were guided by the Lord in very

strange ways. You think about Saul and and and

Samuel. I love this story.

When Saul was supposed to be king, Samuel was told ahead of

time by the Lord as a prophet. By this time tomorrow and this

place, you're going to meet a man.

He's supposed to be the king of Israel.

That's how Samuel received the revelation for the first king of

Israel. And what happened to Saul, who

was supposed to be that king? They God appeared to him and

say, Saul, now you're going to meet a man at this area.

I already told him about it. And you're going to meet him and

he's going to know you're going to be king.

No. You know what he does?

He lets loose donkeys. And Saul, with a servant, run

out for days to try to find these donkeys.

And upon that journey they stumble upon an area where the

prophet Samuel was to come, and they intersect.

So God LED one man by directly speaking to him, and God LED

another man by letting loose some possessions, and he had to

go on a hunt for lost vehicles, and they ran into each other.

What is that? That's called Providence.

God is always leading you. God is always leading me, and

this even makes me wonder of the deeper significance of the

global transitions and shifts that we are seeing now.

Were we not all impacted by decision of a few?

The whole world just a few years ago?

Did not our daily routine and rhythms change?

And what about the rise and fall of political leaders and

kingdoms? What about the rapid advancement

of technology? What about the legalization of

certain laws and policies? Could it be that just like what

we see in Luke Chapter 2, there is a different, deeper work

Luke 2 · chapter mention

taking place beyond our understanding?

I believe so. Not that I take every highlight

and say that's what's what's happening here in the Bible.

That's what the Bible predicted. Not necessarily so, but they're

still unfulfilled prophecies that have to be fulfilled.

And I personally believe what took place and what's still

taking place today is preparing the stage for the final moments

of human history. But let's zoom into your life.

What do we make of cancelled flights?

What do you make of a flat tire? What do you make of rescheduled

appointments? What do you make of prolonged

and delayed projects beyond your control?

What do you make of these things?

I believe that if we allow this truth to permeate our minds and

our hearts, we can go from huffs and puffs to whispers of faith,

because we trust in our God who leads us in strange ways.

Providence, you and I are encouraged to believe God with

our tomorrow's because they're already planned and prepared and

we just walk into them surprised.

And there's a time coming where we will look back at the whole

thing and praise God for eternity for the millions and

billions of stories that he wrote.

At the same time, I present this message to you because NBC is a

monument of God's Providence, and I pray that it would

continue to grow as a monument of his Providence, but for you

also to be encouraged for your own life and the examples I

simply provided you today, that he is providential even in my

relational let downs. He's providential even in my

physical limitations. He is providential in all sorts

of inconvenient circumstances, like when a census goes out and

you have a very pregnant wife and it's probably not the most

profitable thing for her to travel on a donkey.

Discomforting, sure. Interrupting.

Sure. But something bigger is

happening. Something bigger is happening.

Take joy in your God, who takes joy in guiding your life filled

with surprises. This is our God.

He is worthy of worship. Lord, we thank you that you are

filled with surprising and awesome works.

And your leadership is perfect. Thank you for your leadership at

Maranatha Bible Church. Thank you for how you are

writing the stories of every individual here who belongs to

you. Thank you that you can even take

the wrath of man and cause it to praise you.

Thank you, Lord, that in every facet of our existence not one

thing is roaming without your supervision, your ordination,

your leading. We pray that these truths would

comfort us and would cause us to be excited to serve you and to

trust you in the unknown. We give you praise and thanks in

Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. Let's stand and worship the

Lord.