The Surprising & Awesome Guidance of Our God | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

There's so many things that could be said about this particular celebration. There's so many testimonies leading up to how this church began, the beginnings of this church, the things that took place in the past two years. It would take us more than one service to just touch on, even briefly, the variety and the colorful manifestations and interventions of God. But if there is one way of summarizing what MBC has become or how MBC became MBC, prayfully, this is what came to mind. Maranatha Bible Church is the product of God's providence.

Maranatha Bible Church is the result of God's providence. And perhaps you've heard that word before, providence, and maybe not. But simply put, when you hear the word providence, what we're trying to say is that God sovereignly works in and through the daily non miraculous events in our lives to affect his will. In other words, the belief of God's providential work teaches that the Lord uses natural means and works through natural orders, oftentimes behind the scenes to bring about his will. It's not immediately obvious.

You can't say oftentimes in the moment, here are the clear fingerprints that we can believe in our hearts that God is always at work. The thing with providence is that it is often God's hidden work that is in function and operation. And we might think that this idea of God's providence is true for the world of creation and the different systems of our universe or the grander stages of life like the rise and fall of nations. But the truth of providence applies to the good that God desires to bring about in each of our lives on an individual basis. Providence is at work in each of our lives, not just in the overarching story of human history, but in your own story, in your own journey, in your own unique circumstances and giftings and family background and context.

Providence is at work. The pen of God's authorship is continually writing, though you may perceive it right away or not. And one of the things about providence that is so encouraging to me is that the Lord often connects and attaches seemingly unrelated events, insignificant moments, and even sometimes circumstances that seem to contradict or even challenge the will of God to actually accomplish his will. In essence, when we're talking about providence, we're talking about the indirect leadership of God on all levels. On every level.

From governments to your living room. From politics to the classroom. Every sphere is under the influence of God's providential mercies. And why I love to meditate and preach about providence is because this truth promises the children of God one main thing, that there is nothing that happens in your life that is void of purpose. No matter what the episode is, no matter what the experiences is, whatever it may be concerning your comfort or your discomfort, whether it is monumental or it is minor, whether it is clear or unclear, one thing is for certain when you and I understand God's providence, there is nothing left up to random chance, And there is nothing left up to aimless coincidence.

Providence promises purpose in everything. And George Muller said a very powerful quote concerning providence. He said, God does not only ordain our steps, he ordains our stops. And what I take that to mean is the Lord doesn't only work in direct deliverances, he also works in delays. He's also at work in your detours.

God is always at work. And God is always at work for the aim of his glory and for the good of those who belong to him. And if it is true that providence promises purpose in every single thing that you and I engage and encounter, then it also must mean that providence is the grounds for your peace and for your gratitude in all things. Can I say that one more time? If providence promises purpose in absolutely everything, then it is also the grounds for you to know gratitude and peace in everything.

This is the fruit of believing this truth, that even though you can't understand how this plays out or how this segment of your life, this season fits into the grand scheme of things and God's purpose for your existence, you can still worship in the unknown. Because the unknown is not empty of meaning. The difficulty for you to reconcile how God is using this or how this can be allowed by God, how does this make sense? Providence calms your soul and teaches you and whispers to you that this has a purpose, that there is something behind this. This is an ordained piece.

This is a sanctified segment waiting to be linked to a bigger picture that you will one day perceive and praise the Lord for. That's providence. And what I wanna do in this in this time together as we reflect on how God brought about Maranatha Bible Church and how God will continue to lead by his grace Maranatha Bible Church is evidences and examples of providence. So that you would leave this place more confirmed and confident that the Lord is surely leading me. Whether I can perceive it or not, the Lord is leading my life.

And so let's do this, shall we? Let's look at how God, in the word of God, is providentially working. How he has worked and how they are principles for us to say, then he must surely be at work in me. Turn with me. Where do you think we're gonna go?

Oh, Genesis. Right? Because of who? Joseph. Sure.

Or maybe what? Another woman of God? Esther. Yes. Yes.

The name of God is not mentioned in all the book of Esther, but his works are all there. Right? That's by divine purpose. But we're not gonna go to either of those. Turn with me to the book of Philemon.

Let's go to Philemon together. Philemon. Some of you might be saying, is that a book in the Bible? It is a book in the Bible. It's in the New Testament before the book of Hebrews.

Philemon is the shortest of Paul's epistles, and it is the only epistle that Paul wrote directly to a singular person. And all the other epistles he's writing to the church at large or to a group of believers in a region, but Philemon is directly given to one person named Philemon. And this letter is not a a theological treatise. It's very brief. But what it is is Paul applying Christian truths to a real life situation.

It's a very personal letter, and it's a letter that we can relate to greatly because the whole background behind Philemon is this. Philemon was a Christian that Paul knew personally, and Philemon had a servant named Onesimus. Onesimus, at a certain point, fled from his master Philemon, and with that stole much from him. He betrayed his master. He created problems for his master, and he was on the run.

And through a series of steps that are not made known to us, apparently, Onesimus met Paul while he was in Rome and in prison. We're not told how that encounter happened, but what we are told is that they did in fact meet. And when they met, something miraculous happened. Paul the apostle, though bound in chains, you could not bind the word of God with that man. He proclaimed the gospel.

He proclaimed the gospel to this runaway criminal, to Onesimus. And guess what happened to Onesimus? He believed. He repented. He became a born again Christian.

And they became great friends. In fact, Paul really wanted Onesimus to be by his side because he was of great use to Paul. But Paul learned of the circumstances with Onesimus concerning his master back here with Philemon. And Paul encourages this born again Christian, Onesimus, to be reconciled to Philemon, to make things right. That's the Christian thing to do, to to live a repentant life.

And if there is something that you did wrong, Onesimus, make it right. And so he encourages Onesimus to go back to Philemon, to not only ask for forgiveness, but to tell him, hey, I'm a different person. I'm saved. And I I wanna come back and make things right again. At the same time, Paul writes to Philemon a very heartfelt, humble, letter of instruction, knowing that Philemon would have been naturally frustrated and angry with the circumstances that took place at the hands of Onesimus, and the actions, and the disregard for authority.

And so he tenderly calls for Philemon to forgive Onesimus, and to receive Onesimus and to be reconciled back to Onesimus. And this is what this letter is about. You and I are getting a window into the life of a man who was struggling to deal with the disappointment of another person that he was greatly invested in, that he trusted in, that he took care of in many ways. And we are invited to look at this short letter to discover the heart stirring insights and the admonition for us also. Please pay attention to forgive.

To forgive people who have hurt us. You're saying, okay. That's a wonderful, you know, overview of Philemon. What does that have to do with providence? Providence is in this book.

Paul highlights providence in this book. Who would have thought that you can learn about providence in the book of Philemon? Where is it? Well, come here in verse 15. There's no chapter, so verse 15.

Look what Paul is saying to Philemon. And he's making this persuasive point in order to win Philemon's willingness to do his part to mend the splintered relationship. Philemon 15. For this, perhaps, is why he was parted from you for a while that you might have him back forever. No longer as a bond servant, but more than a bond servant as a beloved brother, especially to me.

But how much more to you both in the flesh and in the Lord? Here's what Paul is saying. Philemon, maybe, just maybe. Maybe Onesimus fleeing from you, getting away from you, was so that he could meet me. And that in meeting me, he would hear the gospel and the way I would present the gospel would in fact convict him, and he would indeed be saved.

And in due time, not only would you have your servant back, but you would have a brother in Christ back. This is what Paul is saying. Hey, I want you Philemon to see the bigger picture here. And he's very careful with his words. Notice what he says here in the third word of verse 15.

For this perhaps. Wow. Paul is very wise. For this perhaps is why notice the the the tone. Notice the carefulness of his words.

I learned something from Paul here in how to counsel people and how to confront my fellow brother and sister who is enduring a difficult or painful situation. I'm called to be very wise in the way I speak into their situation. You and I are supposed to do the same. Be very gentle when you need to be gentle. Be firm when you need to be firm.

Be silent when you need to be silent. You know, sometimes the best thing you can do for a person who's struggling is not give a theological explanation, but to just weep with them. Weep with those who weep. But here, Paul, knowing that Philemon was frustrated, angry, he he's speaking to him very strategically. Hey.

I I'm inviting you to see what I'm seeing here, Philemon. I want you to see something that perhaps God has done behind the scenes. You saw someone who turned their back on you and betrayed you, but perhaps there is something more redemptive in all of this. The suggestion reveals something about Paul's belief system. Does it not?

It reveals something about his convictions. Not that the Lord authors people to sin against us. No. Not at all. But he he can draw out the good from the failures and the foolishness of others.

That's what Paul believes. God is able to draw out good. God is able to rewrite the script. And from this verse, you and I are to draw out this incredible encouragement in light of providence. And here's what it is.

God is at work with and through you ready for this? God is at work with and through the most unlikely and problematic people. That's where you're supposed to say amen. God is at work with and through even the most unlikely and problematic people for your sanctification and ultimately your greater joy. Providence teaches that God is at work even in relational disappointments.

Providence teaches that God is at work even when you are let down by somebody that you believe should not have let you down. In the case of Philemon, we see here that the principle from these verses is to trust God's wisdom when facing those let downs, those failures from others, those painful actions and words. You are supposed to be strengthened by the truth that God is at work. I can't see it. I may not understand it.

This very much hurts, but it doesn't disqualify God's authorship behind this. And how he's able to turn this around, how he knows something that I do not know. And in Philemon's case, again, the separation of Onesimus prepared him to be faced with the gospel. This man who was on the run would in fact be set up by divine appointment to meet the apostle Paul and hear the thing that would save his soul. So he would be a slave of Christ and live for the glory of God.

But in your case and mine, conditions that may lead to painful severances from others may have a 100 different reasons why. A thousand different explanations to why. It could be to protect us from greater harm in the future. It could be to prune us to be more fruitful. It could be to purify you and I by removing polluting influences.

It could be to enhance your peace by distancing you from unrepentant, troublesome sinners. Why does God do it or allow it rather? You may not understand it at at at first glance, but you can believe in love in God's loving care over the details, including the people that you know and may no longer know anymore. We we can believe about everything. Right?

Protection, provision, include this in your belief system. God supervises the people in and out of your life. But consider Paul's aim. I mean, he's explained this, but for what purpose? Why is Paul trying to introduce the concept of providence with the separation between two men?

It's so that he can encourage Philemon to find the grace in that truth to forgive Onesimus. I want you to see that though this was so heart wrenching, Philemon, that God had perhaps a purpose behind it and that should stimulate you. If you include God in the equation and God is for you and he is with you and he is leading you in every aspect of your life, then how can you withhold mercy? How can you reserve compassion? Who would have thought that believing providence would make you and I a more forgiving people?

It should. Well, how does that work? Well again, Joseph understood that before Philemon even existed. You wanna talk about relational let downs. We've all, I'm sure here, you live long enough.

Even if you were a child, you've witnessed probably in your family and churches that you grew up, you you've seen people hurt other people, people that you never thought would hurt, hurting other people. You wanna talk about hurt? Imagine your siblings throwing you into a physical pit, not a metaphorical pit. I'm in a pit. No.

In a real pit, like a caged animal. And while you're there shivering and wondering what's gonna happen next, they're up there on solid ground wondering if they should kill you or do something more profitable with you. And finally, the consensus was let's let's sell them into slavery. So here's this caravan that comes by and you have a price on your head. These people that you had sleepovers with, these people that you played games with, these people later on that would eventually be jealous of you, but these people that you knew day in and day out sold you for a check.

You, not your possessions, you. And here you are now going into a world of unknown and you're hired by a very high official, and there you are faithfully working, the favor of God is on you and it's spilling over into this Gentile territory, and one day you're falsely accused of rape. Falsely accused. And all you did was good. All you did was bless.

All you did was make someone more profitable. And with one testimony of a wicked woman, now here you are with a tainted reputation, and you're in for a troublesome future. Now you're no longer in a pit. You're in a prison. Relational let downs, that's relational let downs.

And you know the story, Joseph eventually comes to the place of prominence, the second command of all of Egypt, and God and his providence brings about his brothers and eventually his father and the people of God were preserved. But by the end of the book, the brothers are nervous. Jacob dies and they see their their brother that they hurt in the past very seriously who can at one word command their death. And so they're nervous and they come up with this little plan to try to ease perhaps any tension or any vengeful plot that he has, and Joseph comforts them. He comforts them with the truth of providence.

What you meant for evil, God meant for good. Okay. We know that. We put it on our coffee cups. We put it on Facebook.

K. Put it on your heart. What do I mean by that? What is he trying to say? I can forgive you.

I can't hold anything against you. Why? Because I believe in God's providence. I believe that though you are accountable for what you did to me, God oversaw it, God supervised it, and he turned it about for the good. So how can I be bitter against you when you were the vehicle for the good that I am enjoying today?

And you and I are invited to do the same, to be a forgiving people because you believe God has all power. He's he's he's in control. He's in control. Yeah. He's in control of you getting your job.

I know. He's in control, control of the house that you need to get. No. He's in control when people mess up in your life and put a bitter taste in your mouth. You can also say, I don't get it.

I don't know what this is for. All I know is that God has good in mind for me. I can trust him. There's a powerful Psalm that illustrates this truth. It's Psalm 76 verse 10.

The Psalmist says, surely the wrath of man shall praise you. Psalm seventy six ten, surely the wrath of man shall praise you, the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. What is he saying there? God is able to take the anger of man, the vengeance of man, the evil of man, and make it praise him. God is able to take wicked men and their ideas and their plots and end up causing it to give glory unto himself.

Even the wrath of man will praise god. And notice he talks about the remnant of wrath being around like a belt, like it's like a tool to him. He's in control of this. It's subject to him, not the other way around. And so the wrath against Joseph ended up praising God.

The wrath against our Lord Jesus Christ ended up what? Saving humanity. And Peter alludes that in Acts chapter two. He talks about the providence of God even in the crucifixion of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Providence.

Providence in relational let downs. But providence isn't just operating in people and through people and in situations with people. Go to Galatians chapter four with me, and let's see how providence continues to work in different areas of life. In Galatians chapter four verse 13, if the shepherd of my life is able to take the evil words and selfish actions of others to bring good in me, how can I withhold forgiveness? But notice what Paul says to this group of believers.

He is rehearsing their history together because at this point of his writing, there was tension on their part at least. They were being told things about Paul, and Paul is trying to remind them where things began. And so he says about their beginnings in Galatians four thirteen and fourteen, you know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first. And though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God as Christ Jesus. So Paul's saying, can I remind you how we met?

Can can can you remember how you treated me like an angel? You actually treated me like Jesus Christ himself. What happened to your affection toward me? But notice what he said in the beginning of verse 13, you know that it was because of a bodily ailment that I preach the gospel to you. Now so many people have been fixated on the nature of Paul's bodily ailment that they overlook a much more important truth.

And and there's no even consensus of what kind of thing Paul is is talking about. Some say malaria. Some say he had eye problems. Some say it was the the repercussions of the beating that he took if you read acts with the stoning that he experienced. There's no agreement.

But whatever it was, it was serious enough for look at verse 14, and though my condition was a trial to you, it was a serious illness for it to be technically could have been a burden to others to take care of him. And people debate what that means. But it was significant. There's no doubt about that. This might be unclear.

What is clear here is that Paul makes it plain by linking this problem that he had in his body and how that was the reason why he remained in Galatia, and as a result was able to meet this group of Galatians and then preach the gospel to them. I was prevented from moving forward in my travels because of this bodily ailment, and it was the means for you to receive the truth that would save your soul. Implying then, perhaps humanly speaking, if it wasn't for this bodily ailment, perhaps Paul at this moment would have missed the opportunity to meet these Galatians. He credits this situation for being the instrument God used to park him in this area and to deliver this truth to these people who needed to hear the truth. Isn't this glorious?

This is fascinating to me. Because listen, whatever this ailment was, it was potent enough to keep Paul there. I can't move on like this. He had to stay. That's how strong it was.

But it was not strong enough to keep him from preaching the gospel. Strong enough to keep him there physically, not overwhelming to the point where he couldn't deliver the truth of Jesus Christ. Think about providence. Think about how God allowed the right measurement of physical suffering to keep him where he need to keep it, but not to paralyze him from doing what he really needed to do, and that's to share the truth with these people. So God is providential.

He has a purpose. You ready for this? Even with physical limitations, even with sickness and seasons where we are not at full strength, even in that God has something in mind. How can you feel like you're losing in this life when you have Christ as your shepherd? This is what Paul is confessing.

And you and I should rejoice at his words here in verse 13 because you and I learned that divine providence demands that delay and debilitation be servants of the soul winning message of Jesus Christ. Delay and debilitation have to submit to divine providence. God is in control. You and I should see providence even in that. I may not understand it.

It might even be painful, but there's purpose. I remember the testimony of a old man from Canada who's in heaven today. And one of the things that I cherish about church was that if he had the open slot, wasn't a minister, wasn't a pastor, just somebody who attended the church faithfully, to have conversations with him. I I love to talk to people who have walked longer with the Lord. I love to be drawn to people who have a crown of gray head, and you can tell that when they go to church, they're in church to worship God.

People that have grown over the decades. I still am drawn to those people. I wanna know. Tell me the stories about God in your life. What has God done in your life?

Tell me some things that you've learned in life. And one time, not even asking a question, he brought this story to our attention, me and a couple others, about a story of of a relative, I believe, if my memory serves me right, that had an infection bow back when where he was from. He he had an infection and they were praying others, friends, and family praying for his for his healing, praying for his restoration, and nothing was happening. And so with prayer, they used wisdom. Right?

I mean, wisdom, some people in the world need that. Yes, you pray and wait on God, but you can also use other means that God gives like medication and antibiotics. And so that's what they did. They got the prescription for him and they would regularly go to this pharmacist to receive this prescription and to apply it. And at the same time, they were praying, God heal this man.

God heal this man. Heal our brother, and nothing was happening. And over time, this pharmacist got to know this man that I'm speaking about who was sharing this testimony and the others who came to the aid of their relative. And one day, the gospel comes out and this pharmacist hears the gospel and this pharmacist gets saved. He becomes born again.

And this is how he shared the story. On that particular day, when this man who was prescribed the medication got saved, they went back home and their relative was healed. What do you make of that? Providence. Providence.

Because it was that illness and that delayed healing that caused him to meet this pharmacist to receive the medication to treat this illness. And it wasn't until this man in receiving the gospel that that man who needed the healing received it. Providence. Always at work even with your weakness in the flesh, your sickness in your body. Paul could say confidently with this truth, it was because of a bodily ailment that I preach the gospel to you.

Let's go to another text, right, to see providence at work. Turn with me to Luke chapter two in the first five verses together. I'm just giving you a few examples. You read this book cover to cover and you will see story after story, example after example of this providence at play. This is speaking about the birth of our savior.

And we can talk about the birth of our savior more than once a year. Right? Amen. Let's read the first five verses together. Luke two verse one.

In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed who was with child. Here you have an actual record of history with names of prominent real people, and we have with it authentic political commentary.

And we should rejoice at the factuality and the historicity of the word of God, but the joy should exceed far beyond that, especially here with this text. Yet, we have this historical narrative, but we also see providence at work. The first Roman empire named Caesar Augustus called for a worldwide registration. Rome took over the world at this point, and it was more than just a census, it was a census with taxation. And so, at that call, with that request, the world shifted.

It was not optional. If you were under the rule of Rome, this was demanded. It was commanded for you under this authority, which included the nation of Israel. And with the thousands upon thousands of people who are influenced by this one decision, we zoom into one family. Joseph here with his very pregnant wife.

They are abiding in Nazareth. And because of Joseph's background and because of the senses, he has to now take a bumpy journey to Bethlehem so that they can honor the request of the government. And while being in Bethlehem, you know the rest of the story very well, Mary gave birth to the son of God. And for the first time, he entered into our world incarnate flesh and blood. You know why this is so significant?

It's significant because prophecy, hundreds of years before this time, predicted that King Messiah must come out, be born where? In Bethlehem. But where were they? They weren't in Bethlehem. They were in Nazareth.

So let me remind you of the prophecy, what Micah said. You know this very well. Micah five two. But you, oh Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me, one who is to be ruler in Israel, who is coming forth is from old, from ancient days. Wow.

There is someone who is going to be born, a ruler in Israel, who comes from the ancient of days, who comes from eternity past. That's a proof of the deity of Christ by the way. Bethlehem Ephrathah. And then you come to Luke two and you read about this woman named Mary who was to host the Messiah in her womb for nine months and deliver this Messiah into the world. When you read on as we just read here, they're not in Bethlehem.

They're in Nazareth. They can't be in Nazareth for the birth of the savior because prophecy said Bethlehem. So how does God fulfill this word? How does God move this so that it can be in alignment with what he had said centuries before? Does he appear to Joseph like he did in Matthew chapter two and say, hey, listen.

You gotta take the baby out of here. You gotta flee. And the angel of the Lord warns him and Joseph and the night takes his family and flees to Egypt. Does he do that here? Does he appear to Joseph, hey Joseph, Hey, it's me again, angel of the Lord.

You know, Micah five two says that the savior needs to be born in Bethlehem. You gotta get up now. We gotta fulfill prophecy. Let's go. Let's go.

Let's go. Is that what he does? No. He uses a pagan ruler with an edict that would move the world and bring this one family where they needed to be. What do you call that?

Providence. Because God can lead by supernaturally revealing a plan to you. There's no reason for us to deny that. God can appear and say, hey, you need to do this. And there are people who have been called into ministry with supernatural testimony.

And there are people who have done things for the Lord where they were guided by the Lord in very strange ways. You think about Saul and and and Samuel. I love this story. When Saul was supposed to be king, Samuel was told ahead of time by the Lord, as a prophet, by this time tomorrow and this place, you're gonna meet a man. He's supposed to be the king of Israel.

That's how Samuel received the revelation for the first king of Israel. And what happened to Saul, who was supposed to be that king? Did God appear to him and say, Saul, now you're gonna meet a man at this area. I already told him about it. And you're gonna meet him and he's gonna know you're gonna be king.

No. You know what he does? He lets loose donkeys. And Saul with a servant run out for days to try to find these donkeys. And upon that journey, they stumble upon an area where the prophet Samuel was to come and they intersect.

So God led one man by directly speaking to him and God led another man by letting loose some possessions. And he had to go on a hunt for lost vehicles, and they ran into each other. What is that? That's called providence. God is always leading you.

God is always leading me. And this even makes me wonder of the deeper significance of the global transitions and shifts that we are seeing now. Were we not all impacted by decision of a few, the whole world just a few years ago? Did not our daily routine and rhythms change? And what about the rise and fall of political leaders and kingdoms?

What about the rapid advancement of technology? What about the legalization of certain laws and policies? Could it be that just like what we see in Luke chapter two, there is a different deeper work taking place beyond our understanding? I believe so. Not that I take every highlight and say that's what's what's happening here in the bible, that's what the bible predicted.

Not necessarily so, but there's still unfulfilled prophecies that have to be fulfilled. And I personally believe what took place and what's still taking place today is preparing the stage for the final moments of human history. But let's zoom into your life. What do we make of canceled flights? What do you make of a flat tire?

What do you make of rescheduled appointments? What do you make of prolonged and delayed projects beyond your control? What do you make of these things? I believe that if we allow this truth to permeate our minds and our hearts, we can go from huffs and puffs to whispers of faith because we trust in our God who leads us in strange ways. Providence.

You and I are encouraged to believe God with our tomorrows because they're already planned and prepared, and we just walk into them surprised. And there's a time coming where we will look back at the whole thing and praise God for eternity for the millions and billions of stories that he wrote at the same time. I present this message to you because MBC is a monument of God's providence, and I pray that it would continue to grow as a monument of his providence. But for you also to be encouraged for your own life. In the examples I simply provided you today, that he is providential even in my relational let downs, he is providential even in my physical limitations, he is providential in all sorts of inconvenient circumstances, like when a census goes out and you have a very pregnant wife and it's probably not the most profitable thing for her to travel on a donkey.

Discomforting, sure. Interrupting, sure. But something bigger is happening. Something bigger is happening. Take joy in your God who takes joy in guiding your life filled with surprises.

This is our God. He is worthy of worship. Lord, we thank you that you are filled with surprising and awesome works, and your leadership is perfect. Thank you for your leadership at Maranatha Bible Church. Thank you for how you are writing the stories of every individual here who belongs to you.

Thank you that you can even take the wrath of men and cause it to praise you. Thank you, Lord, that in every facet of our existence, not one thing is roaming without your supervision, your ordination, your leading. We pray that these truths would comfort us and would cause us to be excited to serve you and to trust you in the unknown. We give you praise and thanks in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen. Let's stand and worship the Lord.