you to take your Bibles and turn
with me to the book of Proverbs chapter 16. Proverbs 16. This is a proverb that we, as
we're going through the book of Proverbs, obviously dealt
with. But it's a proverb that I think
would do well to hear again and hear often. I need it. I need
it. And for those of you that know
the Lord, I know you do too. Proverbs 16.33, The lot is cast into the lap, but
the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. For a believer, we're quite aware
that we're just sojourners in this world. We're traveling through
this world, and this world is not our home. We're living under the government
of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. But let me ask you
something. Now I'm talking to all of us
now. Now listen, I'm especially, I'm
talking to me. I'm going to preach this message
to me. And you hear as the Lord gives you direction. Do we truly
perceive the magnitude of His government? Now we know we're
living under His government. But the magnitude of it. Now
you know we readily admit the Lord's providence in things that
are so obvious that the seasons change right
on time. That's pretty obvious. Nations
are raised up. Nations are put down. That's
pretty obvious. But how often we forget that
everything and everybody that crosses the path or enters the
life of God's people were providentially sent according to the Lord's
will for His glory and the eternal good of His people. Everything. Everything. that comes our way
is not only for our temporal good. I'm thankful for the temporal
good that Almighty God supplies. But how often we forget that
the temporal good is only that which is passing and it's for
our eternal good. The eternal good of God's people
that everything that comes our way has been sent to teach us
to wait and trust the Lord. Now listen, there's no believer
in here that does not need to be taught. No believer that does not struggle
with that old body of death that is within. That body of rebellion
that fights and wars against Him. Everything, everything, everything
that comes our way. Everything. That fly that got
in the kitchen. That cold that we caught. That headache. Everything. It does not and is
not limited to just these magnificent, these big discs. Everything. Everything and everybody. Everybody
that crosses your path. They're all messengers. Messengers
from the all-wise God who sees and knows the frailty and the
need of His people. Listen to this. And we know that all things, that which is
pleasant and that which is not, Work together, cooperate by the
hand of Almighty God for good. For our eternal good to them
that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Hold your place right there.
Turn to Genesis 45. Genesis 45, verse 3 to 8. You remember when Joseph and
his brothers, here was Joseph. And his brothers were mad at
him. They were jealous of him. His
daddy had given him a coat of many colors. Remember that? And
they were going to kill him. Judah was the one that said,
don't kill him. Let's sell him to that bunch
of gypsies right there. Genesis 45 verse 3. Now, Joseph is going to relate
to them what happened. Joseph said unto his brethren,
after he showed himself to them, Joseph said unto his brethren,
I'm Joseph, doth my father yet live? And his brethren could
not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence. And
Joseph said unto his brethren, come near to me, I pray you.
And they came near, and he said, I'm Joseph, your brother, whom
you sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved
nor angry with yourselves that you sold me hither, for God did
send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath
the famine been in the land, and yet there are five in which
there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me
before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your
lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent
me hither, but God. And He had made me a father to
Pharaoh and the Lord of all his house and a ruler throughout
all the land of Egypt. He told them, He said, the way
you treated me, He said, that wasn't you. Oh,
you were the instrument. You were the instrument. But
He said, God was the one who sent me. Remember when Shimei
came to David, David was coming through town, A guy named Shimei
started cussing David, throwing rocks at him. And those mighty men of David,
one of them said, I'll take his head off. David said, no, leave
him alone. The Lord sent him. The Lord sent
him. The Lord said, throw rocks at
David. The Lord said, cuss him. leave him alone. Shimei came
and apologized, told David he was sorry. David said, you're
okay for a while. But David had a son, Solomon. And Solomon told Shimei later,
he said, the way you treated my daddy, he said, you built
a house in Jerusalem, and you stay in Jerusalem. If you get
out of Jerusalem, I'm going to kill you. And Shimei came out
of Jerusalem, and Solomon killed him. The Lord sent Shimei. The lot is cast into the lap. The whole disposing thereof is
of the Lord. Whatever trial, now listen, I'm
gonna tell you something. I know we're all sitting here
and we all are going through, every one of us, different trials. Physical, emotional, personal,
financial, whatever. We're all suffering. We all have
our lot. Everybody, everybody in here
has got their lot. But listen, brethren, the lot,
God's purpose, God's ordered portion for you, God's lot according
to His pleasure, according to His all-wise heart of mercy and
compassion, the lot, is cast into the lap. It's ordered, it's
guided, it's timely sent into the life of every vessel of the
Lord's affection. But the whole disposing of it,
all of the reasoning for it, all that it was meant to accomplish,
to reveal, to expose, and to accomplish is of the Lord. perfectly brought about for His
purpose. Whatever trial the Lord has sent
you, loss of health, loss of wealth,
whatever, the resentment from the world, the Lord sent that. And let me tell you why He sent
it. Because we needed it. We needed it. Everything that comes our way,
I'll tell you why, I'm going through and you're going through
what you're going through and I'm going through. I needed it. It was for my good. And the Lord
has promised, my God shall supply all your need according to His
riches and glory by Christ Jesus. I need to be humbled. I need
to be brought down. And Almighty God is going to
make sure that happens. He will. He will. David said
in Psalm 119.71, It is good for me that I've been afflicted. I've been brow beaten. I've been
hurt. I've been ravished. I've been
talked about. It's good for me. That I might
learn, be engoded and taught and instructed thy statutes,
your appointment for me. I thank God for the lot that
he sends each of us. Because brethren, we need it. We need it. Now let me ask you
this, should this not calm the heart and mind of God's sheep
and cause us to give reason for us to walk and to ask the Lord
that we might be taught to have a walk of meekness and a spirit
of kindness toward God's people for the glory of God When we're
troubled, when our hearts clouded with anxiety, may the Lord bring
to our memory by His Holy Spirit, this is from the hand of Him
who loves me and gave Himself for me. Brethren, remember, casting
all your care upon the Lord. Why? Because He cares for you. The lot is cast into the lap,
whatever, whatever, whatever it is. But the whole disposing
thereof is of the Lord. He's going to accomplish His
will. His will is going to be done. He's going to bring it
about, and He's going to bring it about for His glory and our
good. May the Lord bless this word to our heart for Christ's
sake. Amen.