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God as Father and Providence

The Gospel of God's Providence

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  • Peter G. Feenstra

When facing adversity and difficult times, we find comfort in the providence of God. This article also look at patience and joy in the suffering of Job and Habakkuk and teaches to look ahead with hope.

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Five Ways God Is the Father to the Fatherless

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  • Leah Baugh

In our day where single parenting is so common, the concept of God as the Father can easily lose its meaning. This article points out five ways in which God is the best Father to us all, through Jesus Christ.

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God’s Leading Is That God’s Leading?

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  • J. Van Amstel

This article explains from the Psalms and the life of Joseph that sometimes God’s children can struggle with the providence of God. It underlines that in every way we are dependent upon the leading of God and are to surrender ourselves to him in faith.

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God’s Leading: Biblical Leading

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  • J. Van Amstel

This article explores biblical examples where God’s providence and leading are evident in the lives of his children.

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ABBA in the Old Testament?

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  • Willem A. VanGemeren

Can we speak of the "fatherhood of God" in the Old Testament? In this essay, the author confronts the views of Joachim Jeremias on the function of "abba" in the life of Christ and reflects on sonship in the Old Testament.

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The Providence of God

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  • Dave Jenkins

What is the providence of God? To answer this question this article traces the doctrine of providence in the Bible, and explains how a biblical understanding of providence will help us in our daily lives as Christians.

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Our Father and His Providence

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  • Jason P. Van Vliet

God the Father did not only create. He also cares for all that he created. This is what "providence" seeks to express. This article discusses the relationship between the providence of God on the one hand, and the entrance of sin and human limitations on the other.

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Reflections on the Haiti Earthquake: What We Should Learn from It

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  • Cornelis Pronk

Our Lord drew some lessons from natural disasters. Often when they happen they make people question the goodness of God. Does God do bad things? Read this reflection from the Haiti earthquake and learn from it.

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What Does the Bible Say About Ancestral Sin, Generational Spirits, and Curses?

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  • Sam Storms

Biblically a curse is understood to imply that one is under God’s judgement, and a blessing is to be under God’s favour. This article uses this understanding to evaluate the teaching of generational curses and ancestral sin. The author maintains that there is no ground for such a teaching. Working from Proverbs 26:2, the author shows that manmade curses have no power.

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Cycles (1): The Providential Provisions from an Unchanging God

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  • Joel Minderhoud

Creation abounds with cycles. The sun rises, sets, and rises again. Is there anything to learn from these cycles of life? The author affirms with a resounding Yes. The circles of life are meant to teach us about God’s wise design, his providence, and his unchanging nature.

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The Gospel of God's Providence - Lord Willing

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  • Peter G. Feenstra

This article is about making plans and staying dependent on God. How do we see the providence of God while planning for the future?

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Acts of God

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  • Klaas Stam

This article is about the hand of God in natural disasters. The author discusses God's warnings and God's promises in these disasters.

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Providence

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  • D. Allan Stares

The author wrestles with the question: How do we know that we trust in the providence of God?

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God's providence

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  • James Montgomery Boice

There is probably no point at which the Christian doctrine of God comes more into conflict with contemporary worldviews than in the matter of the providence of God. Providence means that God has not abandoned the world that he created, but rather works within that creation to manage all things according to the “immutable counsel of His own will”.

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Providence

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  • Richard Bauckham

If God is in control of all things, why is there evil and suffering in this world? What does it mean when people speak of God's providence?

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Let's Find "Grace for a Well-Timed Help" Together

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  • John Piper

We may approach God's throne of grace in prayer with boldness and the sure hope that we will receive mercy and find grace for help at the right time (Hebrews 4:16).

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The Sheer Ordinariness of God's Providence

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  • Ian Hamilton

The author looks at the book of Esther to show the ordinariness of the providence of God.

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Addressing God as Father

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  • A. N. Hendriks

Why did believers in the Old Testament never address God as "Father"? This article looks at the difference of the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as the importance of the work of Christ in this regard. The author looks at the passages in the Old Testament where it talks about God as Father, and also what it means that Jesus teaches us to call God "our Father" (in prayer).

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When God Closes the Door and Shuts the Windows

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  • Brad Gray

Does God always give you an open window after closing a door? Many people perceive God’s prevention from one thing as redirection to another provision elsewhere. This article argues that God does not always open a window after closing the door.

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God’s Leading Does God Lead Our Lives Like This?

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  • J. Van Amstel

How does God lead our lives? This article raises the question in several different ways whether God really has his hand in all things. It wrestles through whether God leads through very difficult circumstances.

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Does God Play Dice?

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  • John Byl

"Things just happen." Is there a room for such a statement in the Christian faith? Only those who believe in chance can utter those words. But what is chance and is there chance? This article examines the claims of chance in light of God’s sovereignty, providence, and knowledge.

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I Crave Freedom But I Pray for Providence...

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  • A. Terpstra

This article explains that John Calvin learned that real freedom is found not in pursuing your own will, but in being content with and praying for God's providence. The author draws the relevant connection to today.

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Reading Backwards Only afterwards can we see God’s providence

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  • Sinclair B. Ferguson

This article shows how God’s providence shapes the Christian life.

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Father from Origin

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  • Egbert Brink

What do we mean when we address God as Father? This article explains that when the Bible speaks about God the Father it refers to him in his relationship with the Son, creation, and the believer as the adopted child.

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How Is God Working in the World? Understanding Miracles and Providence

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  • Justin S. Holcomb

When is an act a miracle? This article explains that to answer this question one must learn to distinguish the difference between a miraculous act of God and his providential act. Knowing the difference between providence and miracle and how God works in both is essential.

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To Whom Was the Permit Issued?

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  • Admin

To say that God is in control is to claim that in his providence he determines when and where events will occur. Does this include natural disasters? The article weighs in.

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Providential Care

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  • Jay Adams

This article explains why it is impossible to talk about the providence of God without acknowledging his sovereignty.

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Providence

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  • Jay Adams

Providence describes the biblical teaching that God not only planned his work, but actively works his plan. This article explains how this teaching should shape our attitude when facing unpleasant events.

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Providence

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  • Steven R. Key

God not only created the earth, but in his providence he still sustains it. This article explains how.

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The Apple of My Eye

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  • Tim Challies

God refers to his child as "the apple of my eye." What does this phrase mean? It expresses the care of God for his children. Let the article explain.

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Providence

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  • J. I. Packer

God's providence is God's work in preserving and governing all his creatures and their actions. God is completely in charge. This article explains the truth of this doctrine and its meaning for Christians.

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Biblical Patterns of Divine Working and Their Relevance to Today’s Church

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  • Noel Weeks

This article shows how Christians can observe and learn from patterns of God’s work throughout history. This article looks at themes of God's judgment and blessing of His church and unbelievers.

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All Things Work Together for Good

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  • Donald S. Fortner

Does God work in all things? Looking at Roman 8:28, this article shows the beauty of God's providence for His children.

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Can My Life Be Plagued By Generational Sins, Hexes, or Curses?

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  • John Piper

Looking at Exodus 20:5-6, Exodus 34:6-7, and Leviticus 26:39, this article maintains that the Bible does not teach the concept of generational curses or generational sin. The Bible teaches that God punishes the sins of the fathers to their children when the children adopt those sins.

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Are Generational Curses Biblical?

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  • Hank Hanegraaff

This article shows that the notion of generational curses is not biblical. It does this by looking at some texts frequently used to justify the notion of generational curses. The author maintains that the root of bad things happening is not generational curses, but sin and its consequences.

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Cycles (2): Pictures of the Vanity of Life

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  • Joel Minderhoud

Creation abounds with cycles. The sun rises, sets, and rises again. Is there anything to learn from these cycles? The author affirms with a resounding Yes. Without Christ, these repetitions of life reveal the emptiness, and fill one with a sense of vanity. However, in Christ one has hope that this repetition will come to an end with our death, and that we will then enter into eternal fellowship with God.

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All Things Work Together For Good

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  • Donald S. Fortner

This article on Romans 8:28 shows that it is possible to believe all things work for our good when we base this belief on the providence of God, which is executed in His wisdom, righteousness, and knowledge.

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Why Did This Happen to Me?

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  • Roger Fellows

The only way we can account for events happening in our lives is by looking at the providence of God. We should recognize, admire and submit to God's providence, and turn to prayer in the difficult times.

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Observing God at Work

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  • John J. Murray

Noticing God's providence in daily life brings blessings to the Christian. This article describes five of these blessings.

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The "Slowness" of God's Ways

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  • Maurice Roberts

This article is about the so-called slowness of God, where we tend to view God as executing his plans in a very slow fashion. The author draws out the relevance of this for matters such as revival, worship, and even evangelism.

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Suddenly!

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  • Gary Fisher

This article is about unexpected occurrences and sudden changes in the life of a Christian.

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The Sweet Commands of God

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  • John Piper

If God is for us, then all his sovereign power is exerted for our good and never against us. All other powers must bow before him.

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God is Not Their Father

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  • William MacLeod

This article on the universal Fatherhood of God (God as Father of all people), looks at faith in Jesus Christ and the Fatherhood of God, and being children of God.

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Will God Really Use All Things for Your Good?

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  • John Ellis

The Scriptures teach that God works all things and circumstances for our good. The article briefly discusses four Scripture passages to show the providence of God working in the lives of his people (Psalm 17; Psalm 22; Psalm 38:2-3; Psalm 43).

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The Church and the Holy Trinity: God the Father

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  • Archie N. McPhail

The believer has a relationship with each person of the Trinity. This is reflected very well in baptism. This article explains the relationship between the Father and the church, and how this shapes church life.

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Solid Comfort From a Familiar Verse

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  • F. Allan Story Jr.

Is it possible to truly rejoice always? In this article on Romans 8:28, the author states that Christians can rejoice in both the good and bad things that happen to them. This is so because of God's sovereignty in all things. God's love directs everything He does for His children, and He is present in all circumstances.

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Attention for Ages

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  • Karlo Janssen

This article looks at the small details which God has revealed to us in Scripture about the family of Jacob, showing how God has been gracious in working out His promise to Abraham.

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Should a Christian Be Concerned about Curses Today?

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  • Let Us Reason

This article examines the key scriptural passages used to justify the teaching of generational curses and generational spirits. The author maintains that, when taken in their context, these texts do not support this teaching. In union with Christ, believers are free from the curse of sin.

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Territorial Spirits and Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical Perspective

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  • Eric Villanueva

Do territorial spirits exist? What about generational spirits and generational curses? How should we think about spiritual warfare? Should believers ever rebuke demons? This article addresses these questions, encouraging the reader to fight spiritual warfare through a life of obedience to God and in dependence on Him through prayer.

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Busting the Myth of Human Omnipotence

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  • Jen Wilkin

Are you striving for wealth, beauty, physical strength, and charisma to prove that you have obtained God’s grace? This article argues against the folly of chasing human power, while pointing to being established in Christ and standing firm in him.

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At Just the Right Time

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  • Jason Helopoulos

In speaking about the providence of God, many Christians are reluctant to speak of secondary causes, since they think this somehow robs God of his glory. Yet this article demonstrates that God uses means to accomplish his purposes, particularly the spread of Christianity in the early church. The author discusses several conditions ideal for such a spread, and they pertain to Judaism, the Roman Empire, Greek philosophy, syncretism, and persecution.

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The Providence of God in the Theology of Irenaeus

  • Semi-Technical
  • Jonathan Bayes

This biography on Irenaeus focuses on his work of defending the faith. Irenaeus' theology was always centred on the providence of God.

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Still Things Moving

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  • Bob Burridge

Looking at the motion of the earth, this article shows how God in His providence sustains everything. This work of God calls us to respond with faith in Him.

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Is Creation the Same as Providence?

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  • Nicolaas H. Gootjes

This article discusses the relationship between creation and providence. Also discussed are evolution and Genesis 1.

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The Interpretation of Providence in History

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  • Maurice Roberts

This article is about the providence of God. The author first discusses the right understanding of providence, and then continues to discuss providence and history (evaluating history and church history).

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Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself but because it contradicts them. Anonymous
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