God's Providential Care

  1. The Meaning of God's Providential Care
    2.
    1. God's plan for the universe - Col. 1:16-17
    2. God's plan for the earth - Matt. 6:10
    3. God's plan for the nations - Acts 17:26-27
    4. God's plan for His chosen people - Eph. 1:10-13
    5. God's plan for individuals - 2 Tim. 1:9
    6. God's plan in environment and circumstances - Rom. 8:28-30

  2. The Goal of God's Providential Care
    3.
    1. The recovery of God's House (536-516 B.C.) - Ezra 1-6
    2. The hindrances to God's plan
      1. Human failure - the Jews who did not return to Jerusalem
      2. Satanic influences - a plot to annihilate the Jews
    3. The need in God's plan
      1. The ministry of Ezra (457 B.C.) - Ezra 7:1, 6, 9
      2. The work of Nehemiah (444 B.C.) - Neh. 1:1-2, 5

  3. An Example of God's Providential Care - Esther 1-10
    1. Esther becomes Queen (478 B.C.)
    2. An unexpected opportunity - Esther 1:19
    3. Sovereignty in family events - Esther 2:7, 20
    4. Promotion under God's hand - Esther 2:15-17
    5. The consequences of being absolute - Esther 3:1-2, 4-6
    6. The plot of the enemy - Esther 3:10, 13
    7. The effect of the enemy's attacks - Esther 4:1-3
    8. The sense of destiny in our environment - Esther 4:13-16
    9. Obedience for the sake of God's people traps the enemy - Esther 5:3-4; 6:1-3, 10-13; 7:1-6, 10
    10. Obedience reverses the enemy's devices in our environment - Esther 8:3-8, 11; 9:1-5, 13-14, 25
    11. Rest from our enemies - Esther 9:15-16
    12. The Feast of Purim (a day to be remembered) - Esther 9:23-26; (cf. 3:6-7)
    13. Repentance prepares the way to return to God'splan - Esther 9:30-31
    14. God grants success for the sake of His plan - Esther 10:1-3