God's Providential Care! Rom 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helps

in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for

us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows

what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints

according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to

those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God has no problems, just plans!

▪Ps 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

▪Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

A Perfect Picture of Providence!The Life of Joseph! (Gen. 37 to 50)▪A summary of his life would be “from the

pit to the palace by the providence of God”▸Gen 45:5 “But now, do not therefore be

grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”▸Gen 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil

against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

A Misconception!▪I have often found that many have the

idea that if things are going well, then they must be right where God wants them, but if things are going badly, they must be outside of God’s grace! Is this true?

▪Are things going good or bad what determines if we are living God’s will in our lives? ▸The Bible clearly teaches that outward

circumstances do not determine if we are or are not faithfully serving God!

A few passages to consider!▪Eccl. 8:14 There is a vanity which

occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

▪Mt 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

I. The Certainty!“And we know!”

▪How many of us here like to have “assurance?”▸When we are going to buy a car/truck, there

are things we want to know!–How safe is it, what does it come with?–We then still go out and buy insurance!

▪Now, does insurance ever let you down?▸But, what about the assurance of God! ▸God has, and always will keep His promises!

“I-do” = to beware, to fully know, to be sure!

“We know!” (Rom. 8:28)▪Heb 13:5-6 Let your conduct be

without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

▪Tit 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

II. The Completeness!“All things”

▪When we use the word “all” what do we mean? ▸Would this mean some things, a lot

of things, most things “or” all, every, the entirety, the completeness, the whole!

▪When God uses this word, should we believe it means anything less than “all?”

“God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage!”

▪I have often found this to be the case in my own life!▸I have often found myself in places

where I was thinking, “now what am I going to do, how am I going to get through this?”

▪I am amazed every day at how God has been able to use my past to help prepare me for the present!

III. The Cause!“Work together for good”

▪We need to always keep in mind who is in “charge!”▸When we are having a problem, what's the

1st thing we ask, “who is in charge?”▸Let me speak to the boss!▪It is important to always keep in my that

God is ultimately in control! ▸This is reassuring, but it can also be scary!

Complete & absolute power!▪Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake

unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

▪Eph 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

▪We must keep our eyes on the Lord and allow Him to work in our lives! (Mt. 14:26-32)

IV. The Condition!“To those that love God”

▪One thing I have found is that the promises of God come with conditions!▸Js 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask

of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.▸1Jo 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we

have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

This promise is not to everyone, it is conditional!

▪Jn 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

▪Jn 3:36 He that believeth (has faith) on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not (disobeys) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. (ASV)

How can I know if I really love God?▪We know by what we do! Or don’t do!▸Jn 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My

commandments.” (Cf. Jn. 14:21, 23)▸Jn 15:12-14 "This is My commandment,

that you love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

▪If I want to know how much I love God, I need to ask, how much do I obey Him?

Conclusion:▪Does this lesson bring us hope? Does

this lesson encourage us?▪Are we allowing God to truly be alive

and working in our lives?▪“Even in our pain, God has promised!”▪Do you love the Lord this morning,

have you trusted Him with your salvation?▪Do we “know” that God is in control of

our lives? Let’s rest in the providential care of God!