God's Providence: Empowering Evangelism and Missions

Devotional

Day 1: God's Providence Ensures Success in Evangelism and Missions

God's providence assures us that evangelism and missions are not only essential but also destined for success. This confidence stems from the understanding that these activities are integral to His sovereign plan to convert sinners and reach nations. Despite the challenges and human limitations, believers can engage in evangelism and missions with hope and determination, knowing that God's providence will guide and empower their efforts. The assurance of success is not based on human ability but on the divine orchestration of events and circumstances that align with God's ultimate purpose. [02:44]

Isaiah 46:10-11 (ESV): "Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in evangelism or missions this week, trusting in God's providence for success?

Day 2: The Indispensable Role of Believers in God's Plan

The objection that evangelism is unnecessary because God has already determined who will be saved is countered by the biblical truth that faith comes by hearing the Word, which must be preached by human beings. This highlights the indispensable role of believers in God's plan of salvation. God has chosen to use human instruments to spread the gospel, making our participation in evangelism and missions crucial. By sharing the Word, believers become active participants in God's redemptive work, fulfilling their calling to be witnesses of Christ's love and truth. [04:25]

Romans 10:14-15 (ESV): "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel, and how can you share it with them this week?

Day 3: Miraculous Works of Providence in Evangelism

Evangelism and missions are miraculous works of providence, where believers become instruments of God's miracle of conversion. Our obedience in sharing the gospel is itself a miracle, as God's providence works in us before using us to reach others. This divine orchestration ensures that the message of salvation reaches those who need it, transforming lives and communities. As believers, we are called to be obedient vessels, trusting that God will work through us to accomplish His purposes. [07:27]

Acts 16:14 (ESV): "One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God working through you to reach someone. How can you be more open to being used by Him in the future?

Day 4: Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles Through Providence

The providence of God is the only hope for the success of evangelism and missions, as it overcomes insurmountable obstacles like closed countries and hostile religions. God's unstoppable providence ensures that His purpose will be fulfilled despite human limitations. Believers can take comfort in knowing that no barrier is too great for God to overcome, and His plans will prevail. This assurance empowers us to persevere in our mission, trusting that God will make a way where there seems to be none. [09:24]

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

Reflection: What obstacles are you facing in your efforts to share the gospel, and how can you trust God to overcome them?

Day 5: Building on the Confidence of God's Providence

In God's providence, there is no ultimate self-determination of the human will. This truth challenges us to build our lives and mission on the confidence that God will build His church, and nothing can prevail against it. This assurance fuels our commitment to evangelism and missions, knowing that God's sovereign plan will be accomplished. As believers, we are called to align our lives with His purposes, trusting that He will guide and sustain us in our efforts to spread the gospel. [10:21]

Matthew 16:18 (ESV): "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Reflection: How can you align your daily life more closely with God's mission, trusting in His providence to guide and sustain you?

Sermon Summary

In these uncertain times, reflecting on God's providence is more relevant than ever. God's sovereign decree governs everything, from viruses to nations and rulers, to fulfill His ultimate purpose for creation. This profound doctrine can deeply impact our lives and mission on earth. One significant implication of God's providence is its effect on prayer, as it gives us confidence that God has the right and power to answer our prayers. Today, we explore another implication: the role of providence in evangelism and world missions.

Believing in God's all-encompassing providence assures us that evangelism and world missions are essential and will be successful. Despite human odds, these activities are crucial for converting people to Christ and reaching nations. God's providence guarantees that missionaries and evangelists will be sent and that conversions will occur through these human means. The objection that evangelism is pointless because God has already planned who will be saved is turned upside down. The Bible reveals that God's plan to save people is through the Word, preached by human beings. No one believes and is saved without hearing the gospel.

Evangelism and missions are miraculous works of providence. We are the instruments through which God performs the miracle of conversion. The obedient senders and goers in missions are themselves a miracle, as God's providence works in us for obedience before using us for the conversion of others. Evangelism and missions are a gracious work of providence from start to finish. When we go or send in obedience to Christ, God triumphs over our selfishness and limitations. The Lord works the second miracle when we speak obediently to unbelievers, as seen in the case of Paul and Lydia.

The providence of God is not a problem for evangelism and missions; it is their only hope of success. The obstacles to missions are insurmountable, but God's providence is unstoppable. It cannot be hindered by closed countries, hostile religions, difficult languages, or the self-determination of the human soul. In God's providence, there is no ultimate self-determination of the human will. We must build our lives and mission on the confidence that God will build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. This is a statement of sovereign, purposeful providence.

Key Takeaways

1. determination of the human will. This truth challenges us to build our lives and mission on the confidence that God will build His church, and nothing can prevail against it. This assurance fuels our commitment to evangelism and missions. [10:21]
** [10:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Reflecting on Uncertain Times
[00:26] - God's Sovereign Decree
[00:40] - Impact on Our Lives and Mission
[00:52] - Confidence in Prayer
[01:16] - Evangelism and World Missions
[02:08] - Essential Human Activities
[02:44] - Success Through Providence
[03:27] - Objections to Evangelism
[04:25] - The Role of the Word
[05:17] - Human Witnesses and Salvation
[06:04] - Paul's Mission and Ours
[07:27] - Instruments of Conversion
[09:24] - Overcoming Obstacles
[10:21] - Building on God's Providence

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: God's Providence in Evangelism and Missions

Bible Reading:

Romans 10:13-17 - "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Acts 26:17-18 - "I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."
Matthew 16:18 - "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Observation Questions:

According to Romans 10:13-17, what is the sequence of events that leads to someone calling on the name of the Lord? How does this passage emphasize the role of human involvement in evangelism?
In Acts 26:17-18, what mission does Jesus give to Paul, and how does it illustrate the partnership between divine providence and human action?
How does Matthew 16:18 provide assurance about the success of evangelism and missions despite obstacles? What does this imply about the nature of God's providence?

Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's providence and the necessity of evangelism and missions? Why is human participation essential in God's plan of salvation? [04:25]
The sermon mentions that evangelism and missions are miraculous works of providence. In what ways are believers themselves considered a miracle in this process? [07:27]
How does the sermon address the objection that evangelism is unnecessary because God has already determined who will be saved? What biblical truths counter this objection? [03:41]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt discouraged about sharing your faith. How does understanding God's providence in evangelism change your perspective on these challenges? [09:24]
Identify a specific person or group you feel called to share the gospel with. What steps can you take this week to engage them in a spiritual conversation, trusting in God's providence to guide you? [07:09]
The sermon emphasizes that evangelism and missions are essential and will succeed because of God's providence. How can this assurance motivate you to participate more actively in your church's outreach efforts? [02:44]
Consider the obstacles you perceive in your own life that hinder you from sharing the gospel. How can you rely on God's unstoppable providence to overcome these barriers? [09:39]
How can you support missionaries and evangelists in your community or abroad, knowing that their work is part of God's sovereign plan? What practical steps can you take to encourage and assist them? [03:14]
Reflect on the idea that believers are instruments of God's miracle of conversion. How does this perspective influence your view of your role in God's mission? [07:27]
In what ways can you build your life and mission on the confidence that God will build His church, as stated in Matthew 16:18? How does this assurance impact your daily decisions and priorities? [10:21]

Sermon Clips

Reflecting on God's providence is especially relevant in uncertain times. The reassuring truth of scripture is that God's sovereign decree governs over everything, over every virus and over every nation and over every human ruler. He does this to bring about His final purpose and end for His creation. [00:18:00]

The ninth glorious life-changing benefit of believing in the all-embracing providence of God shows us that evangelism and world missions, finishing the great commission against all human odds, are absolutely essential for people to be converted to Christ and for the nations to be reached, and will be successful. [02:08:00]

The objection to evangelism and world missions that I am turning upside down into a blessing, the blessing of providence rather than a problem for providence, is this: they say the objectors say when they consider this view of providence that I'm asking you to take so seriously, they say well there's no point in evangelism in missions. [03:41:12]

A glance at the Bible will reveal that God's plan to save people is through the word. Romans 10:17: faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word, and His plan is that this saving word be preached by human beings. The Bible is plain: no one believes and is saved without hearing the gospel. [04:18:16]

When Jesus commissioned Paul to the Gentiles, He said to do what only God can do. Listen to these words: these are the words of Jesus to Paul, "I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God." [06:03:84]

We are the instruments; we become in the hands of providence the means of the miracle of the conversion of sinners to Christ everywhere. But evangelism and world missions are even more amazing in the hands of providence. The obedient senders and goers in missions are not just the means of the miracle of conversion. [07:19:99]

God's providence is miraculously at work in us for obedience before He uses us for the work of the conversion of others. We are a miracle before we work miracles in the providence of God. From start to finish, evangelism in world missions is a gracious work of providence. [07:53:84]

The Lord works the second miracle according to Acts 6:14. So Paul opens his mouth; he's now the obedient spokesman, and what happens? The Lord opened Lydia's heart to give heed to what was said by Paul. The providence created obedience of Paul speaking to Lydia is followed by the providence-created belief in the heart of Lydia. [08:43:52]

The obstacles to missions around the world today are insurmountable but for one thing: that the providence of God is unstoppable. It cannot be stopped by closed countries, it cannot be stopped by hostile religions, it cannot be stopped by difficult languages and cultures. [09:29:12]

In the world of God's providence, there is no such thing as the ultimate self-determination of the human will. It does not exist. Only God is ultimately sovereignly self-determining. We may indeed, we must build our lives and our mission on this confidence: "I will build my church," says the Lord Jesus, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." [10:06:24]

Matthew 24:14: "This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed." That's a statement of sovereign providence. It will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. One of my most urgent prayers for this book on providence is that God will use this book to catapult thousands of new missionaries into God's harvest. [10:48:72]

With undaunted confidence in God's unstoppable providence, amen, may it be. Thank you, Pastor John, and thank you for listening. We are normally answering audience questions, and you can ask us a question. You can search or browse all 1598 of our past episodes, or you can subscribe to the podcast. [11:22:44]

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God's Providence: Empowering Evangelism and Missions

Devotional

Day 1: God's Providence Ensures Success in Evangelism and Missions

Day 2: The Indispensable Role of Believers in God's Plan

Day 3: Miraculous Works of Providence in Evangelism

Day 4: Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles Through Providence

Day 5: Building on the Confidence of God's Providence

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God's Providence: Empowering Evangelism and Missions

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