HOW GOD WORKS IN THE WORLD

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. God's will

a) What God wants done - he works through natural order, miracles and providence.

2. God's action

a) God set into action through creation a normal working of his universe.

i) Natural order

@1. He also revealed his expectations of people through his Word and people's consciences.

ii) Miracles

@1. God breaks into the natural order to respond to the expressed needs of people.

iii) Providence

@1. God overrules the natural order to accomplish an act that people may or may not have requested.

3. Examples from Esther

i) Natural order

@1. God gave Esther natural beauty.

@2. Esther planned a way to save her people. 

ii) Miracles

@1. God allowed Esther to speak to the king.

@2. The people prayed and fasted. 

iii) Providence

@1. God allowed Mordecai to overhear a plot.

@2. Mordecai trusted God to accomplish what was impossible in human terms.  

4. Our will

a) What we want done - we either plan, pray, trust and obey.

5. Actions we can take

i) Plan

@1. Can make plans based on the order and dependability of God's creation.

@2. Know and obey his words.

ii) Pray

@1. Can ask God to intervene in certain affairs while realizing that our knowledge and perspective are limited. 

iii) Trust & Obey

@1. Can trust that God is in control even when the circumstances may not seem to indicate that he is.

6. Or mistakes we can make

i) Disobey

@1. Can violate the natural order, disobey God's commands.

ii) Demand

@1. Can assume that we understand what is needed and expect God to agree and answer our prayers that way.

iii) Despair

@1. Can assume God doesn't answer prayer or respond to our needs and live as though there is nothing but the natural order.

The End ...