God Moves in Mysterious Ways
As a child of God, you travel an appointed way chosen by God, and true faith can protect you from misfortune.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that for the child of God, there are no accidents, as their path is divinely appointed by God even before their existence. While misfortunes may appear to occur, they are merely illusions due to our inability to understand God's hidden providence. True faith dispels the notions of chance, affirming that those born of the Spirit are under God's special care. Although believers may face the same earthly challenges as others, they are spiritually protected and hidden with Christ in God. Tozer reassures that God's purposes are at work, even when circumstances seem unfavorable.
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To the child of God, there is no such thing as accident. He travels an appointed way. The path he treads was chosen for him when as yet he was not, when as yet he had existence only in the mind of God.
Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God's hidden providence and so cannot discover the ends at which He aims.
When true faith enters, chance and mischance go out for good. They have no jurisdiction over them that are born of the Spirit, for such as these are sons of the new creation and special charges of the Most High God.
While sojourning here below, these children of the eternal covenant may pay token tribute to nature; sickness, old age and death may levy upon them, and to the undiscerning eye, they may seem to be as other men. Here, as in all its other judgments upon Christianity, the world is completely fooled by appearances, for it cannot see that these believing ones are hid with Christ in God.
Sermon Outline
- The Path of the Child of God
- Appearance vs. Reality
- Faith and Protection
- Chance and mischance
- Jurisdiction over the born of the Spirit
- Sons of the new creation
Key Quotes
“He travels an appointed way.” — A.W. Tozer
“When true faith enters, chance and mischance go out for good.” — A.W. Tozer
“They have no jurisdiction over them that are born of the Spirit,” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Trust in God's plan for your life, even when things seem uncertain.
- Have faith that God is working in your life, even when you can't see it.
- Remember that as a child of God, you are special charges of the Most High God.