Timeless Wisdom For Today’s Christians: An Introduction to the Puritans.

Timeless Wisdom For Today’s Christians: An Introduction to the Puritans

Week 2: The Mystery of Providence, or

How All Things Work Together for Good

John Flavel Born 1628 to minister who died

in prison as nonconformist Lost first wife and child in

childbirth Remarried and had children 1662 forced to stop preaching in

churches (Act of Uniformity) But found places nonetheless

Later able to preach in churches when winds of politics shifted

Known for meditation and self-examination

http://www.reformedliterature.com/flavel-the-mystery-of-providence.php

The Mystery of ProvidencePremise: “It is the duty of

all the saints, especially in times of straits, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all the states and through all the stages of their lives” (p. 20)

How are we doing??Plan:

EvidenceMeditationApplication

Text: “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me” Ps. 27:2

Providence is “the performance of God’s gracious purposes and promises to His people” (p. 18)

“Grace makes the promise, and Providence makes the payment” (p. 18)

Evidence of Providence Providence seen in the

Bible…e.g. Joseph In our birth and upbringing

Formation and protection in the womb

Blessing of being in Christian family and all the spiritual advantages of our culture

We owe not only temporal life to parents, but eternal as well

In our conversion Consider the wonderful way

God drew you to Himself And in sanctification also

In our employment Bringing us to our calling, even

if not what we had planned Cp. Martin Luther

Our work is a blessing But our particular calling not to

usurp our general calling…to glorify God

In our families How spouses work for each

others’ good Children are blessings In His provision for us

In preserving from evil Even death can serve this goal

In our sanctification God afflicts for our growth

Notice how much of our thought is on our temporal well-being

Providence guides to our eternal well-beingThis is for many of us a dramatic change of

focusMeditation can help change our thinking here

To use Puritan language, the move us from earthly mindedness to heavenly mindedness

Meditation on Providence

Meditation on ProvidenceObserve how often in

the Bible there is a review of God’s providence in the lives of His peopleE.g. Psalm 105-106

To overlook these is to slight GodAnd lose our perspective

Observing God’s providence is key to effective prayer

How to Meditate on ProvidenceTake time to review your

life to see God’s hand at work “let not your thoughts

swim like feathers upon the surface of the waters, but sink like lead to the bottom” (p. 118)

Consider how God’s Word has proven true in your life

Consider how God’s hand was/is in the afflictions of your life

Realizing this, resign yourself to God with regard to your life Seeing God as Author of ALL

circumstancesConsider how they serve

eternal glory, not temporal comfort “Mortify your inordinate

affections to earthly things” (p. 134)

For saints, “this world is the worst place that they shall ever be in” (p. 138)

Consider delays in mercy are actually to our advantage

Three Quotes for Meditation“Why should

[Christians] be sad, as long as their God is with them in all their troubles? (p. 133)Psalm 91:15: “I will

be with him in trouble” should be used to bear you up

“Every man loves the mercies of God, but a saint loves the God of his mercies” (p. 146)

“Among the eminent mercies of your life, reader, how many of them have been mere surprises to you! Your own projects have been thrust aside to make way for better things designed by Providence for you.” ( p. 165)

Applications of Providence“Two things destroy the

peace and tranquillity of our lives, our bewailing past disappointments, or fearing future ones” (168)Providence cures both!

We should look to find God in ALL things that befall usSee it as medicine that

may be bad to taste, but cures our ills

Since God does all for us, we should do all for Him“You never yet

sought God in vain, except when you sought Him vainly” (183)

“Fear nothing but sin. Study nothing so much as how to please God” (184)

Thomas WatsonBorn 1620 (year the Pilgrims

landed)Married and had 7 children,

4 of whom died as children Imprisoned at one point over

faithThen also barred from

preaching in 1662 (Act of Uniformity)

Preached in barns, etc. thereafter

Died in private prayerhttp://www.the-

highway.com/Divine_Cordial_Contents.html

A Divine CordialOr, All Things for Good

(1663)Text: “We know that all

things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” Ro. 8:28

Key quote from Augustine: “God would never permit evil, if He could not bring good out of evil” (p. 48)

To show how the providence of God is worked out in our lives:

The Best Things Work for Good for the GodlyThe Worst Things Work for Good for the

GodlyWhy All Things Work for Good to the GodlyOf Love to GodOn Being Called

Plan

The Best Things Work for God“Work together” a

medicinal term: even poisonous ingredients can make something good for us

God’s attributes E.g., 2 Cor. 12:9: His

strength made perfect in our weakness

God is like a bee: it naturally gives honey but only stings when provoked Thus God more willing to

pardon than to punish

God’s promises E.g. Ps 91:15: God with us

in trouble Ps 34:10: “they that seek

the Lord shall not lack any good thing”

“There is more in the promises to comfort than in the world to perplex” (17)

God’s angels keep guard in life and in death

Christ’s intercessions (John 17:20)

Prayers of the saints

AfflictionGod has a hand in all our afflictions (Ruth 1:21)

Even Job: The Lord gives and takes awayPsalm 119:71: “It is good for me that I have been

afflicted”Joseph (Gen 50:20): “Ye thought evil against me, but

God meant it for good.”Sometimes for discipline: “A sick bed often teaches

more than a sermon” (p. 27)God may take away the world to cure a divided heart

“Afflictions are the medicine which God uses to carry off our spiritual diseases” (p. 29) …. Especially pride!

Share in Christ’s sufferings, as a son (Heb. 12:7)

The Worst Things Work for Good

How Affliction Makes Us HappyAbsalom sets Joab’s corn

on fire, then he runs to Absalom (2 Sam 14:30)So God sets fire to our

comforts so we run to Him

The prodigal returned home when “pinched with want” (Luke 15:13)

When the dove found no rest, returned to the arkWaters of affliction

cause us to fly to Jesus

TemptationSatan a devious tempter, working our weak spots

And especially if we are unaware! So, be alert!So consider what YOUR temptations are as we discuss

But temptation sends the soul to prayerTemptation can strengthen us against sin

Like an inoculationTemptation slows pride

2 Cor. 12:7: Paul’s thorn humbled himTemptation reveals what is in our heartsTemptation helps us to comfort others who are

temptedAnd makes us long for heaven

Worst Things Work for Good

The Evil of SinSin produces holy sorrow – even for its effect

on othersIt is a sign of godliness to grieve for others’ sin (cp.

our tendency to anger)Sins of others prompt us to praySins of others make us more aware of graceAnd make us more opposed to sin (vs.

desensitization)Reveal to us our own heartsMakes us weary of this life (and so more

heavenly minded)Promotes humility

Worst Things Work for Good

Why All Things Work for GoodAll things flow from

God’s covenant to be our GodSo, again like a

Physician, “if God does not give you that which you like, He will give you that which you need”

“He labours rather to heal us than humour us” (p. 52)

God chasten to reform, not to destroy

Blessedness for believers:“When he dies he goes to

God; and while he lives, everything shall do him good” (p. 56)

Yet, “to them that are evil, good things work for hurt” (p. 58)Think about THAT!

So, are we complaining, or thankful??

Lovers of GodWe must love God more

thanThings (Ps. 75: 25:

“There is nothing on earth that I desire beside thee.”)

Even family (Abraham and Isaac; Jesus’ call)

We must love what God loves

And long for His appearing

2 Peter 1:10“Give diligence to make

your calling sure”Do we see God as

helping us to OUR goalsOr see our lives as

committed do the calling God has given us?To be separate from the

worldTo further His kingdom

For Whom Does This Hold True?

Those Called by God

Do we really believe in God’s Providence? If so, how would we changed if we reacted to life based on this

wonderful truth?Do things seem NOT to work for good because our goals in

life are not God’s goals? Are we more earthly minded than we like to think?

Think on adversities you face How might God be working in these? What if we wanted to grow from them rather than just escape

them?How is God dishonored by our complaining?What should we change?Consider the ideas on meditation on providence mentionedNEXT WEEK: Quietness and Meekness

Thinking It Through