Miracles Providence Divine Power The power of God’s words Psalms 33:9 Isaiah 55:8-11 Col. 1:17 Miracles Providence Psalms 33:6-9 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. (7) He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. (8) Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (9) For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. Isaiah 55:8-11 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. (9) "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (10) "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, (11) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Colossians 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Divine Miracles and Providence Beyond the natural Contradicts nature Immediate event Knowable Undeniable Providence Within nature May take time Often unknowable Not sure of God’s direct hand Luke 1:6-7 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (7) But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. Luke 1:34-35 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" (35) And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Creation was miraculous, but it is sustained through providence Maintains the seasons – Gen. 8:22 Blesses the earth with bounty – Acts 14:17 Earth’s creatures in God’s hand – Matt. 10:29 God cares for his creatures – Matt. 6:26 Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease." Acts 14:17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." Matthew 10:28-29 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (29) Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Can one really know the event was God’s providence? The story of Esther – Esther 4:14 The story of Onesimus – Phil. 15-16 Esther 4:14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Philemon15-16 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, (16) no longer as a slave but more than a slave--a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Can one really know the event was God’s providence? The story of Esther – Esther 4:14 The story of Onesimus – Phil. 15-16 Cannot know it is providence unless it is revealed The story of Joseph – Gen. 45:8-9 Genesis 45:8-9 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (9) "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. Genesis 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. James 5:16-18 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Thankful to God for everything Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Colossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;