READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l The doctrine of divine providence teaches that everything happens in our life has a purpose, point and plot. We have a loving God who is actively involved behind the scenes, in control over all events, circumstances and outcomes. His providential care extends to all creation right down to the smallest details. God’s providence allows us to reflect on God’s faithfulness, fosters gratitude and increase in faith and trust. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge God’s guiding hand on our church so that come what may, we have God in total control and in His providence all things will work out for the good for all who trust Him.
God’s providence is clearly demonstrated in the life of Joseph. The favourite son of Jacob, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and endured numerous trials before he rose to the second highest position in Egypt. When in a position of power and authority, he spoke kindly to his brothers, telling them it was to save lives that God sent him ahead of them (Gen 45:5) and though they intended to harm him, God intended it for good (Gen 50:19,20). Joseph’s greatness lies in his ability to sense God’s divine providence in his life. All the events in his life would have cast Joseph into hopelessness and despair but they were necessary to prepare him to become the second most powerful man in Egypt to save his country including his family.
Every successful leader who stands up for anything in life will face opposition. He can expect conflict, envy and jealousy, e.g. Korah, Aaron were jealous of Moses; the religious leaders were jealous of Jesus. Like Jesus, Joseph endured false accusation. His failures and setbacks are also the life stories of many successful people.
How do we develop trust like Joseph to ride on the wings of God’s providence?
Here are lessons from the life of Joseph:
1) Learn to forgive as Joseph did
Joseph experienced the pain of betrayal by his brothers, yet God used that to orchestrate His grand plan of redemption. Holding on to grudges and seeking revenge only hinder God’s providence in our life and hurt ourselves.
2) We must accept every situation in our life trusting that God knows best and will direct our steps
We trust that God will bring about restoration and healing in His timing. Jesus accepts all that happened and willingly submitted to God (Mt 26:39 …. not as I will, but as you will). Choose to see that our painful experience is screened through the wisdom of a gracious and loving God, trusting that He will not abandon us but will give grace to mould us so we can continue to live as His children and in His good time (this life or next) God will deliver us from evil.
3) Practise the discipline of surrender
Though not easy, we continue to trust and surrender even when we cannot see or understand what God is doing in our trial.
Does obedience to God obligate God to bless us or can obedience call us to sacrifice? Jesus promised blessings but also promised there are sacrifices He demands of us (Mk 9:49). There are times when we are asked to sacrifice for our faith, e.g., our missionary Joseph Chean who perished in a fatal car accident in Turkey after his mission work. Jesus lived the most obedient life, yet died in a most inhumane way. Faith is based on the notion that God’s good purposes will be worked out whether we see earthly blessings or not. Faith is not measured by how easy or difficult our life is but by our spirit of surrender through the ups and downs of everyday living.
Why do we accept Jesus as Saviour? To be saved from sins? To get help for financial situations? To save our marriage? etc. When we come to Jesus, we offer ourselves as God’s servants and honour Him by living as He lives. We do not obey only if we are blessed and leave Him when we are not. As we surrender, we stop measuring trials against comfort but against the potential to draw us closer to God. With surrender there is peace, clarity and wisdom to decision making, trust in divine leading, alignment of our life to His plan and experience in the fullness of His plan. Trials can make us ugly, bitter, cynical and mean but if we trust God trials can make us stronger, humbler and gracious. How we profit from trials depends on our state of surrender.
To paraphrase Corrie ten Boom’s poem – we cannot choose what happens in life but trust God to weave everything together to leave the best to those who leave the choice to Him.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Do you believe the saying, “History is not a trash bag of random coincidences blown open in the wind”? What do you understand about the Doctrine of Divine Providence?
- What are the three lessons that you have learned from the sermon? Of the three lessons, which is the hardest for you to understand or accept? Why?
- Have you practice the discipline of surrender in your life? Share one experience of how the practice of the discipline of surrender has transformed you.
