the providence of god

THE PROVIDENCE OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GODGOD


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"The foresight and forethought "The foresight and forethought of the infinite God who planned of the infinite God who planned the creation of man and a world the creation of man and a world in which to place him—in which to place him—

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"a world in which He could "a world in which He could control the destiny of the control the destiny of the inanimate creation and direct inanimate creation and direct man to the consummation of His man to the consummation of His purpose." (Homer Hailey, purpose." (Homer Hailey, Prayer Prayer and Providenceand Providence, p. 123), p. 123)

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"General providence" concerns "General providence" concerns God’s support, care and God’s support, care and supervision of His material supervision of His material creation from beginning to end. creation from beginning to end.

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"Special providence" concerns "Special providence" concerns God’s support, care and God’s support, care and supervision of His spiritual supervision of His spiritual creation. creation.

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God is able to provide for both God is able to provide for both His material and spiritual His material and spiritual creations, without violating creations, without violating either "the laws of nature" or either "the laws of nature" or the free will of man.the free will of man.

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Providence and NatureProvidence and NatureProvidence and NatureProvidence and Nature

Nature Nature existsexists by the will of God. by the will of God.

Nature was Nature was organizedorganized by God. by God.

Nature is Nature is balancedbalanced by God. by God.

Nature is Nature is regulatedregulated by God. by God.

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Providence and Free Will

Providence and Free Will

As the crown of creation, man As the crown of creation, man exists on two planes - physical exists on two planes - physical and spiritual. and spiritual.

As a result, man is subject to As a result, man is subject to both physical laws and spiritual both physical laws and spiritual laws.laws.

God uses man to achieve His God uses man to achieve His purposes.purposes.

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Providence and Governments

Providence and Governments

God God ordainedordained civil government. civil government.

God God influencesinfluences civil government. civil government.

God God usesuses civil government. civil government.

God God rulesrules in the kingdom of in the kingdom of men.men.

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Providence and PrayerProvidence and Prayer

These are so interrelated that These are so interrelated that each can be viewed as a each can be viewed as a response to the other. response to the other.

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Prayer is a response to Prayer is a response to providence when we praise God providence when we praise God and give Him thanks for what He and give Him thanks for what He has already done on our behalf.has already done on our behalf.

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Philippians 4:6Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made let your requests be made known to God; known to God;

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Philippians 4:7Philippians 4:7

and the peace of God, which and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.through Christ Jesus.

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Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, in Christ,

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Providence is a response to Providence is a response to prayer when God provides us prayer when God provides us with those things for which we with those things for which we petition Him.petition Him.

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Matthew 6:9-11Matthew 6:9-11

"In this manner, therefore, pray: "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread." this day our daily bread."

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Ephesians 3:20Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, all that we ask or think, according to the power that according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. generations, forever and ever. Amen.Amen.

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God answers the prayers of His God answers the prayers of His people.people.

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Matthew 7:7Matthew 7:7

"Ask, and it will be given to you; "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."and it will be opened to you."

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1 Peter 3:121 Peter 3:12

"For the eyes of the Lord are on "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those face of the Lord is against those who do evil."who do evil."

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The degree to which we believe in The degree to which we believe in divine providence will be reflected divine providence will be reflected in our prayers. in our prayers.

If not for providence, our If not for providence, our supplications and intercessions supplications and intercessions would fall upon deaf ears. would fall upon deaf ears.

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When we make our requests When we make our requests known to God, we are inviting Him known to God, we are inviting Him to act in our lives and in the lives to act in our lives and in the lives of others. of others.

And He has promised to so act, as And He has promised to so act, as we have already seen. we have already seen.

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God does not have to work a God does not have to work a miracle in order to answer prayer.miracle in order to answer prayer.

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James 5:16James 5:16

Confess your trespasses to one Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, and pray for one another, that you may be another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails prayer of a righteous man avails much. much.

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Elijah was a man with a nature Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. for three years and six months.

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And he prayed again, and the And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. produced its fruit.

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1 Kings 18:411 Kings 18:41

Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."sound of abundance of rain."

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1 Kings 18:421 Kings 18:42

So Ahab went up to eat and So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, face between his knees,

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1 Kings 18:431 Kings 18:43

and said to his servant, "Go up and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."times he said, "Go again."

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1 Kings 18:441 Kings 18:44

Then it came to pass the Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops go down before the rain stops you.'"you.'"

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1 Kings 18:451 Kings 18:45

Now it happened in the Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. rode away and went to Jezreel.

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The consistency and persistency The consistency and persistency with which we pray will be with which we pray will be reflected in the degree to which reflected in the degree to which the providence of God can be seen the providence of God can be seen in our lives.in our lives.

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Is it the case that we do not have, Is it the case that we do not have, simply because we do not ask? simply because we do not ask?

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James 4:1James 4:1

Where do wars and fights come Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not from among you? Do they not come from your desires for come from your desires for pleasure that war in your pleasure that war in your members? members?

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James 4:2James 4:2

You lust and do not have. You You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do you do not have because you do not ask. not ask.

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Is it the case that we do not have, Is it the case that we do not have, simply because we do not ask? simply because we do not ask?

Is it the case that we ask but do Is it the case that we ask but do not have, simply because we ask not have, simply because we ask amiss? amiss?

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James 4:3James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.may spend it on your pleasures.

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Are we afraid to make "specific" Are we afraid to make "specific" requests, fearing that our lack of requests, fearing that our lack of faith will be evident when those faith will be evident when those requests are not granted?requests are not granted?

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God delivers His people when God delivers His people when they pray.they pray.

God has always cared for His God has always cared for His people.people.

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Throughout their history God Throughout their history God delivered the Israelites from the delivered the Israelites from the hands of opposing armies and from hands of opposing armies and from the rule of wicked kings.the rule of wicked kings.

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2 Kings 19:62 Kings 19:6

And Isaiah said to them, "Thus And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master, you shall say to your master, 'Thus says the Lord: "Do not be 'Thus says the Lord: "Do not be afraid of the words which you afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. have blasphemed Me.

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"'"Surely I will send a spirit upon "'"Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."'" sword in his own land."'"

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Then the Rabshakeh returned Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from heard that he had departed from Lachish. Lachish.

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And the king heard concerning And the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, "Look, Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, "Look, he has come out to make war he has come out to make war with you." So he again sent with you." So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

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2 Kings 19:102 Kings 19:10

"Thus you shall speak to "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: 'Do not let your God in whom 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem shall not be given "Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of into the hand of the king of Assyria."Assyria."

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2 Kings 19:112 Kings 19:11

"'Look! You have heard what the "'Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be them; and shall you be delivered? delivered?

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2 Kings 19:122 Kings 19:12

"'Have the gods of the nations "'Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed, Gozan fathers have destroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph, and the and Haran and Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in people of Eden who were in Telassar? Telassar?

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2 Kings 19:132 Kings 19:13

"'Where is the king of Hamath, "'Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?'"and Ivah?'"

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2 Kings 19:142 Kings 19:14

And Hezekiah received the letter And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. the Lord.

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2 Kings 19:152 Kings 19:15

Then Hezekiah prayed before Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: "O Lord God the Lord, and said: "O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. made heaven and earth.

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2 Kings 19:162 Kings 19:16

"Incline Your ear, O Lord, and "Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. to reproach the living God.

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2 Kings 19:17-182 Kings 19:17-18

"Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria "Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have cast their their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's not gods, but the work of men's hands--wood and stone. hands--wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Therefore they destroyed them.

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2 Kings 19:192 Kings 19:19

"Now therefore, O Lord our God, "Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone."the Lord God, You alone."

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2 Kings 19:202 Kings 19:20

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: says the Lord God of Israel: 'Because you have prayed to Me 'Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.'Assyria, I have heard.'

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2 Kings 19:212 Kings 19:21

"This is the word which the Lord "This is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning him: 'The has spoken concerning him: 'The virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind your back! behind your back!

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2 Kings 19:222 Kings 19:22

"'Whom have you reproached "'Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, And have you raised your voice, And lifted up your eyes on high? lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel. Against the Holy One of Israel.

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2 Kings 19:232 Kings 19:23

"'By your messengers you have "'By your messengers you have reproached the Lord, And said: reproached the Lord, And said: "By the multitude of my chariots "By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; Lebanon;

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2 Kings 19:232 Kings 19:23

"'"I will cut down its tall cedars "'"I will cut down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I And its choice cypress trees; I will enter the extremity of its will enter the extremity of its borders, To its fruitful forest. borders, To its fruitful forest.

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2 Kings 19:242 Kings 19:24

"'"I have dug and drunk strange "'"I have dug and drunk strange water, And with the soles of my water, And with the soles of my feet I have dried up All the feet I have dried up All the brooks of defense."brooks of defense."

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2 Kings 19:252 Kings 19:25

"'Did you not hear long ago How "'Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins. cities into heaps of ruins.

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2 Kings 19:262 Kings 19:26

"'Therefore their inhabitants had "'Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grain blighted before it is grown. grown.

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2 Kings 19:272 Kings 19:27

"'But I know your dwelling place, "'But I know your dwelling place, Your going out and your coming Your going out and your coming in, And your rage against Me. in, And your rage against Me.

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2 Kings 19:282 Kings 19:28

"'Because your rage against Me "'Because your rage against Me and your tumult Have come up and your tumult Have come up to My ears, Therefore I will put to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back By the way which you you back By the way which you came. came.

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2 Kings 19:292 Kings 19:29

"'This shall be a sign to you: You "'This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And in the second year of itself, And in the second year what springs from the same; what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. the fruit of them.

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2 Kings 19:30-312 Kings 19:30-31

"'And the remnant who have "'And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward. For out And bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.'of hosts will do this.'

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2 Kings 19:322 Kings 19:32

"Therefore thus says the Lord "Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not come into this city, 'He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it. build a siege mound against it.

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2 Kings 19:332 Kings 19:33

"'Therefore By the way that he "'Therefore By the way that he came, By the same shall he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come return; And he shall not come into this city,' Says the Lord. into this city,' Says the Lord.

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2 Kings 19:342 Kings 19:34

"'For I will defend this city, to "'For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for save it For My own sake and for My servant David's sake.'"My servant David's sake.'"

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2 Kings 19:352 Kings 19:35

And it came to pass on a certain And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the when people arose early in the morning, there were the morning, there were the corpses--all dead. corpses--all dead.

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2 Kings 19:362 Kings 19:36

So Sennacherib king of Assyria So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, departed and went away, returned home, and remained at returned home, and remained at Nineveh. Nineveh.

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Judah Judah knewknew they could call upon they could call upon God for deliverance.God for deliverance.

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Judah was a physical nation, and Judah was a physical nation, and their physical survival was their physical survival was necessary for the fulfillment of necessary for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose to bless all God’s eternal purpose to bless all nations through the seed of nations through the seed of Abraham.Abraham.

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The church is a spiritual nation, so The church is a spiritual nation, so its faithful members will not its faithful members will not necessarilynecessarily be given physical be given physical deliverance from physical deliverance from physical calamities and illnesses.calamities and illnesses.

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But its faithful members But its faithful members willwill be be given spiritual deliverance from given spiritual deliverance from their spiritual problems and their spiritual problems and enemies so long as they trust in enemies so long as they trust in Him and pray to Him continually.Him and pray to Him continually.

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God answers prayer in various God answers prayer in various ways.ways.

Direct grantingDirect granting

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"Ask, and it will be given to you; "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be him who knocks it will be opened."opened."

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"Or what man is there among "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?" him a serpent?"

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Matthew 7:11Matthew 7:11

"If you then, being evil, know "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who give good things to those who ask Him!"ask Him!"

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Different grantingDifferent granting

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But Naaman became furious, But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.'"the leprosy.'"

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Delayed grantingDelayed granting

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1 Samuel 1:71 Samuel 1:7

So it was, year by year, when So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not therefore she wept and did not eat. eat.

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Then Elkanah her husband said Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten not better to you than ten sons?"sons?"

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So Hannah arose after they had So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. the Lord.

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And she was in bitterness of And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. wept in anguish.

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Then she made a vow and said, Then she made a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if You will "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your me, and not forget Your maidservant, maidservant,

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but will give Your maidservant a but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come life, and no razor shall come upon his head."upon his head."

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DenialDenial

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Six Reasons for DenialSix Reasons for DenialSix Reasons for DenialSix Reasons for Denial

1.1.Something is hindering our Something is hindering our prayers.prayers.

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1 Peter 3:71 Peter 3:7

Husbands, likewise, dwell with Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not life, that your prayers may not be hindered. be hindered.

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2.2.He does not want us to He does not want us to become proud.become proud.

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2 Corinthians 12:72 Corinthians 12:7

And lest I should be exalted And lest I should be exalted above measure by the above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. above measure.

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Concerning this thing I pleaded Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. might depart from me.

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3.3.Our prayers are self-centered.Our prayers are self-centered.

96

James 4:3James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. may spend it on your pleasures.

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3.3.Our prayers are self-centered.Our prayers are self-centered.

4.4.We are being inconsiderate of We are being inconsiderate of others in our prayers.others in our prayers.

98

Philippians 1:21-22Philippians 1:21-22

For to me, to live is Christ, and For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. choose I cannot tell.

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For I am hard pressed between For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more remain in the flesh is more needful for you. needful for you.

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And being confident of this, I And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. by my coming to you again.

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5.5.He wants to build our He wants to build our character through deprivation.character through deprivation.

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And He said to me, "My grace is And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Christ may rest upon me.

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Therefore I take pleasure in Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am when I am weak, then I am strong.strong.

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5.5.He wants to build our He wants to build our character through deprivation.character through deprivation.

6.6.Granting the petition would Granting the petition would demand a miracle.demand a miracle.

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Hebrews 9:27Hebrews 9:27

And as it is appointed for men to And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the die once, but after this the judgment,judgment,

106

Galatians 6:7Galatians 6:7

Do not be deceived, God is not Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. sows, that he will also reap.

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It is said that the following was It is said that the following was found in the pocket of a found in the pocket of a Confederate soldier after a Confederate soldier after a battle during our Civil War.battle during our Civil War.

He was a Christian and he prayed.He was a Christian and he prayed.

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He asked for strength that he He asked for strength that he might do greater things, but he might do greater things, but he was given infirmity that he might was given infirmity that he might do better things.do better things.

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He asked for riches that he might He asked for riches that he might be happy, but he was given be happy, but he was given poverty that he might be wise.poverty that he might be wise.

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He asked for power that he might He asked for power that he might have the praise of men; he was have the praise of men; he was given weakness that he might feel given weakness that he might feel the need of God.the need of God.

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He asked for all things that he He asked for all things that he might enjoy life; he was given life might enjoy life; he was given life that he might have all things.that he might have all things.

112



He had received nothing that he He had received nothing that he asked for; all that he hoped for.asked for; all that he hoped for.

113



His prayer is answered; he is most His prayer is answered; he is most blessed.blessed.

the providence of god

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