The Lutheran Middle 4

Overview

Holding the Middle: Providence and Prayer

Two great biblical doctrines stand alongside each other, and faithful Christian living means holding both without letting either crowd out the other. Providence is God's preserving and governing of the universe and every creature in it. Scripture testifies that God saves "humans and animals alike" Psalm 36:6, that "in him we live and move and have our being" Acts 17:28, and that "all our steps are ordered by the Lord" Proverbs 20:24. In Christ "all things hold together" Colossians 1:17. The special object of God's providence is the church, for whom "all things work together for good" Romans 8:28 and against whom the gates of hell will not prevail Matthew 16:18. Against the old objection that such detailed care would burden God's majesty, Job 12:7-10 answers plainly: in God's hand is the life of every living thing.

Prayer stands as the second great promise. God commands His people to pray and binds rich promises to that command. Jesus says, "If you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you" John 16:23. Paul urges us to "pray without ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and to bring every concern before God (Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:8). Our boldness rests in this: "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" 1 John 5:14. When we pray for temporal blessings—healing, daily provision—we pray conditionally, trusting God's wisdom about the how and when. When we pray for spiritual blessings—forgiveness, faith, salvation—we pray with full confidence, for these God has already promised unconditionally in Christ.

The ditches lie on either side. Overemphasize providence, and reason whispers, "Why pray? God will do as He pleases." Overemphasize prayer, and we begin to imagine we must inform God or wear Him down to "get our breakthrough," as if He were a reluctant Father. Both errors collapse the promises. The middle road holds them together with a simple confession: prayer does not change the mind of God, but prayer changes things. God is unchanging in essence and will—"For I the Lord do not change" (Malachi 3:6; see also James 1:17; Psalm 102:27)—yet He uses the prayers of His people to accomplish His sovereign will. "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective" James 5:16-18; Elijah, a man like us, prayed and the heavens responded. And "you do not have because you do not ask" James 4:2.

Pastorally, this frees us. We do not pray to twist God's arm, nor do we shrug as if our prayers were useless. There are things God has determined to do in response to the asking of His people—and He Himself prompts the asking. So when a friend suffers, when a need presses, when fear rises, we lay it before the throne with the prayer of Jesus in the garden: "Not my will, but yours be done." We trust the Father's providential care over every detail of life, and we pray boldly because He has commanded and promised to hear. Both promises, held together, keep us joyful, humble, and confident in Christ.

Transcript

Well, last week we took a look at despair and 0s

carnal security and we said, what's the middle road between the two of them? 5s

Those that fall into the ditch of carnal security fall into a ditch in which 13s

they think they are so good that forgiveness is not needed. 18s

Those that fall into the ditch of despair are those that fall into the ditch that 25s

they're so bad there's no way that there ever could be forgiveness. The middle 31s

road, as we studied, is the middle road of the promises of God which is the 36s

forgiveness that is ours through the Lord Jesus Christ. Well today I want to 40s

examine with you two great great doctrines. It's the doctrine of on the one 45s

side providence and on the other hand of prayer and the middle road is holding to 51s

the promises that pertain to both providence and prayer. The ditch on either side is 58s

overemphasizing the promises with regard to the providence or the promises with 70s

regard to prayer. So two great promises we want to hold together, that's what the 75s

middle road is and the ditches on either side is when one over emphasizes the 80s

promises with regard to providence or the promises with regard to prayer. So 89s

first let's define a term. What is what is providence? Providence is God 95s

preserving and governing the universe and all individual creatures. It is God 102s

governing and preserving the universe and all individual creatures. The 109s

providence of God manifests itself in a myriad of areas. Let's just touch on a 117s

couple. Let's start in Psalm 36 please. Good way to find the Psalms is just go to 124s

the very middle of the Bible and you'll land on one of the Psalms. Psalm 36 130s

verse 6. And here we see God's providence manifest in his preservation of all 136s

creatures. So Psalm 36 verse 6. We read your righteousness is like the mighty 155s

mountains. Your judgments are like the great deep. You save humans and animals 163s

alike. O Lord. So God's providence extends to all creatures. God's providence 171s

extends to his gracious cooperation in all that occurs. There's nothing occurs 180s

by accident but it passes before the throne of God. Let's go to Acts the 186s

17th chapter. Acts chapter 17 verse 28. And the Scripture says for in him we live 192s

and move and have our being as even some of your own poets have said. So God's 217s

providence is to all creatures. God's providence is his gracious cooperation in all 226s

that occurs. God's providence manifests itself in the direction and government of 233s

the whole universe. Let's go to Proverbs chapter 20 verse 24. Good way to find 240s

the Proverbs is to go to the book of Psalms again and then move to the very next book 246s

toward the New Testament and you'll land in Proverbs. So Proverbs chapter 20 verse 24. 253s

All our steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can we understand our own ways? So the 274s

book of Psalms is to go to the book of Psalms chapter 20 verse 24. That providence extends 291s

to all creatures. It extends to God's gracious cooperation in all that occurs. It extends to his 293s

direction and government of the whole universe. What are the objects of divine providence? Let's go to 301s

Ephesians, Philippians and then Colossians. Colossians chapter 1 verse 17. Here it is speaking about 321s

Jesus and the scripture says, he himself is before all things and in him all things hold together. 338s

So it embraces then the entire universe. For the sake of time we can pull specific verses that talk about 353s

God's providence with regard to plants and animals and humans. The providence of God is absolutely all 361s

encompassing. The special object of divine providence is the church. The special object of divine providence is the church. 372s

Let's go to Romans chapter 28. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and then Romans. Romans chapter 8 verse 28. 382s

So God's preserving and governing the universe, you've got providence all encompassing the special object of the 402s

providence of God is the church. Romans chapter 8 verse 28. For we know that all things work together for good. For those 410s

in the troubles, he governs the problems in our lives so that they serve his ultimate purpose. Let's go to Matthew chapter 16 verse 18. 430s

The church has the special object of divine providence. Matthew chapter 16 verse 18. 445s

Let's go a little bit more context. Let's actually jump up into 13. So Matthew 16 verse 13. 462s

Now when Jesus came into the district of Cessaria, Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say that the son of man is? 471s

And they said some say, John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, but who do you say that I am? 479s

Simon Peter answered, you are the Messiah, the son of the living God. In Jesus answered him, blessed are you? 490s

Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father in heaven. And I tell you you are, and I tell you you are Peter. And on this rock, I will build my church and the gate of 499s

hell will not prevail against it. So what is the rock upon which the church is built? It is the proclamation of Peter, it is the proclamation of the gospel. 513s

God's special concern in his providence is for the church and the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. 526s

So you have incredible promises with regard to providence in Holy Scripture. The objection to divine providence is that it would burden God too heavily. 538s

That indeed God would then become involved in the trivial of life as opposed to having a larger view and a bigger picture. 552s

The early church father Jerome wrote this, quote, it is an absurd detraction of the majesty of God to say that God knows every moment how many nets are born. 564s

And how many die? How many bedbugs, fleas and flies there are on earth? What number of fishes live in the water? 581s

It is an absurd detraction to God's majesty. That at every moment he knows how many nets are born, how many die, how many big bugs, fleas and flies and fish there are. 596s

It is really fascinating to think that Jerome would write that because actually Jerome was the one who translated the Bible into Latin at about 400 AD. 611s

So it is interesting that he would have that perspective. That God does not have providential care over the entire universe because there are just some things in life that are just too trivial for God. 626s

That is the objection. Here is Scripture's answer. Let's go to Job chapter 12. 640s

Nessled right before the book of Psalms, Job chapter 12, picking up in verse 7. 648s

Job chapter 12, verse 7. But ask the animals and they will teach you. The birds of the air and they will tell you. 669s

Ask the plants of the earth and they will teach you and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 681s

Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this. In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being. 686s

Does God know how many nets there are at this exact moment? Absolutely. 704s

Psalm 104, we will not turn there for the sake of time. But Psalm 104 is a beautiful description that indeed all creatures of the earth look unto the Lord. 713s

So you have got this amazing promise of God. The providence of God is absolute governing, absolute control over the entire universe. It is an incredible promise. 727s

The other great doctrine is prayer and the promises associated with prayer. God commands us to pray and adds his rich promises to prayer. 739s

Let's just take a look at a little bit of the command and also the promises. Let's go to the Gospel of John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and then John. 754s

John 16, verse 23. 765s

And there we read on that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly I tell you if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 786s

Let's go to 1st Thessalonians, chapter 5. Keep turning toward revelation. 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and then Colossians. And then right after Colossians, you hit 1st Thessalonians. 800s

1st Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 16. 818s

And here the Scripture says, rejoice always, pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 829s

So we can be joyful then because in his providential care he has promised to rule all things for our eternal good. We can be joyful because he has commanded us to pray and he promises to hear and to answer it. 846s

Let's go to 1st Timothy, chapter 2, verse 8. Right after 2nd Thessalonians, 1st Timothy, chapter 2, verse 8. 864s

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands with our anger or argument. 883s

Let's go to 1st John, chapter 5. Keep turning toward revelation. He'll cross over, soon the Peters, then you land on 1st John, 1st John, chapter 5, verse 14. 897s

The Scripture says, and this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 927s

And if we know that he hears us, in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. This is the boldness we have, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 937s

Lastly, let's look at Philippians chapter 4, verse 6. Turn back, nestled right in front of Colossians, chapter 4, verse 6. 952s

The Scripture says, do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 968s

When we pray for temporal blessings, we are praying with an understanding that we're praying for that which is conditional. 994s

There are some things that God will grant and some things that God will not, for example. 1006s

We pray for healing, and if it is God's will, then indeed God will heal that person, this side of heaven, sometimes God heals the person on the other side of heaven. 1013s

Those are temporal blessings that where we seek the Lord about things. 1024s

When we pray for spiritual blessings, we pray unconditionally. We know that God has already answered that prayer. 1031s

So God will indeed grant grace, God indeed will forgive sins, give life and salvation. 1041s

Indeed, that is God's gracious gift. So we come that in absolute boldness in prayer, temporal things we know we're praying conditionally. 1049s

We know that the answer belongs in the counsel of God's spiritual things. We know absolutely that God will provide what he says, he will provide spiritually. 1059s

So, now two great promises then. Middle road is holding to the promises with regard to providence and the promises with regard to prayer. 1071s

There is the middle road. Ditches on either side now. The ditches on either side is where you overemphasize the promises with regard to providence or you overemphasize the promises with regard to prayer. 1083s

And then you can wind up in a ditch. Let me put it this way. 1100s

If God is going to do His will according to the plan He has for you, then what's the point of praying? 1108s

See, that's the providence of God, right? God has a plan for each one of us. God numbers our days. 1123s

So if God is going to do His will according to the plan He has for you, then what's the point of praying? 1129s

You hear the ditch you can fall into. You overemphasize the providence and you fall into the ditch and you lose prayer. 1138s

Reason says, since God rules over everything and does as He pleases, our reason can say that prayer will accomplish nothing. 1149s

Now, to human reason, here, right? Remember, reason is to be the servant of the Word, not put itself above the Word. 1166s

But human reason can get in there and say, since God rules over everything and does as He pleases, then prayer will accomplish nothing. 1173s

Let me pose it this way. 1183s

If everything that God does is for our good, if He has designed and planned and rules over all of our history for our benefit, 1186s

then what's the point of praying? What's the point in praying? 1202s

You see, if we eliminate or overemphasize the promises regarding providence or the promises regarding prayer, 1209s

if you eliminate or overemphasize, you wind up in a ditch. 1220s

Either, here's a ditch, either prayer is meaningless because of God's providence or God really isn't overseeing everything and we need to inform Him. 1230s

Get them on our team and convince Him what's right. 1249s

You see, either He's controlling everything and so why pray there's the ditch or we've got all these great promises. 1256s

So, need to fill God in and say, I've spent a lot of time thinking about this God and I've got it all worked out for you. 1268s

You can stay on the high level. I don't want you to get burdened down with the trivial kind of stuff. 1278s

So, I've worked it all out for you. 1286s

Here's the proposal. I've done all the thinking on it. All I need you to do is to sign off. 1288s

So, how do you hold to the middle with these two great promises? 1300s

Here's the point. 1305s

Prayer does not change the mind of God but prayer changes things. 1309s

What do I mean by that? 1331s

God is immutable in His essence and His attributes and His will. 1335s

He is unchanging in who He is and His will. 1340s

Take a look, for example, in the Malachi church. 1346s

The last book in the Old Testament, Malachi chapter 3 and we'll pick up in verse 6. 1350s

So, the point that keeps us on the middle here is that prayer does not change the mind of God but prayer changes things. 1366s

Malachi chapter 3 verse 6 says this. 1381s

For I the Lord do not change. 1387s

I don't change. God says. 1396s

Let's go to James, the first chapter. 1400s

James, the first chapter, New Testament. 1404s

Right after Hebrews, James chapter 1, verse 17. 1411s

And here we're making the point here about the change that God does not change. 1424s

James chapter 1, verse 17. 1431s

Every generous act of giving with every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 1434s

God is what He is, was and will always be. 1453s

God is what He is, was and will always be. 1462s

Let's look at Psalm 102, verse 27. 1467s

Psalm 102, verse 27. 1472s

Back to the middle of scriptures there again. 1475s

Psalm 102, verse 27. 1480s

But you are the same and your years have no end. 1498s

When we pray then to God we are not praying to change his mind. 1508s

God can't change. God has will. 1515s

So when we pray to him we are not praying to change his mind. 1518s

Prayer can't change what God has ordained. 1523s

It can't. 1528s

But God has promised to work mightily in response to our prayers. 1530s

So He uses our prayers not to change Himself but to change things in accordance with the sovereign will. 1539s

So when we pray we are not praying Lord I really wish it changed your mind on this. 1553s

Change your mind. This is why you should change your mind. 1560s

That's how we live. 1564s

We can have a perspective on something and someone can say I would like to tell you why I come to the opposite opinion on that. 1567s

You know and in your way the argument and there are those times in life when we say you know I have changed my mind on this. 1579s

Change my mind. 1585s

God does not change his mind. 1587s

So when we pray we are not praying to change his mind. 1589s

Prayer can't change what God has ordained. 1593s

But God uses the prayers of His people to change things in accordance with His will. 1596s

Let's go to James. 1607s

Chapter 5. 1609s

Right after Hebrews again. 1614s

Before 1 Peter James chapter 5 verse 16. 1616s

So prayer doesn't change the mind of God but prayer changes things. 1632s

So picking up in verse 16 therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. 1638s

The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 1647s

Elijah was a human being like us and he prayed fervently that it might not rain in for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 1653s

Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. 1661s

Look at James chapter 4 verse 2. 1669s

You want something and do not have it so you commit murder and you covet something and cannot obtain it so you engage in disputes and conflict. 1680s

You do not have because you do not ask. 1688s

See that's not the perspective of if God is in providential oversight and care and governance of the entire universe therefore what's the point of praying? 1693s

No that's holding the truth of prayer that says the prayer of a righteous is effective. 1708s

So God then uses the prayers of his people to change things in accordance with his sovereign will. 1717s

There are some things that God will not do unless we ask Him. 1728s

And so what does He do? He prompts us to do what? 1736s

Ask Him. 1742s

Right? 1744s

And so when we are prompted to pray we lay it before his Almighty throne. 1746s

We say Lord your will be done. 1752s

Not my will, your will that's the prayer of Jesus in the garden. 1756s

And God uses prayers and says yes. 1761s

So you got the drought, Elijah prays and God hears the prayer and uses the prayer. 1767s

So does prayer change the mind of God? 1777s

No, but prayer changes things. 1783s

So you've got a dear friend who's going through a difficult time. 1792s

You are praying for that friend. 1800s

You pray in accordance with the will of God. 1804s

Could God be waiting for your prayer? 1809s

Sure. Sure. 1814s

And in fact who is the one that prompted you to pray? 1817s

But God. 1821s

You see it's not a situation. 1823s

Sometimes you'll hear it of kind of I got my breakthrough. 1826s

And I finally got through to God. 1831s

As if God is kind of this reluctant father who is just kind of saying you got to pray more frivolently. 1834s

You got to pray louder. 1844s

Not quite yet. 1846s

It's all that kind of stuff where people say I got my breakthrough. 1848s

No. 1852s

God is the one that prompts us to pray and God uses the prayers of His people in accordance with His sovereign will. 1854s

See that's holding then both promises and not falling into the ditch of overemphasizing the providence of God. 1863s

We say what's the use of praying then? 1872s

Or overemphasizing the promises of prayer? 1876s

To where we think that we can change the mind of God. 1880s

See what we seek is that which God wants. 1887s

So the promises of God's providence and the promises associated with prayer, holding them together, 1894s

because if you abandon, you fall into the ditch. 1903s

Well, what's the Lutheran middle between good good works and bad good works? 1908s

What's the Lutheran middle between good good works and bad good works? 1916s

We'll pick that subject up next week. 1923s

You 1943s