P. Gerard Damsteegt

Dunlap SDA Church

Discerning Providence

The title this morning is Discerning Moving of Providence.

It's a simple story, and I hope it will inspire you so that you also will recognize the moving of the Holy Spirit in providence.

And so, before we start, let us Ask the Lord to bless us.

Heavenly Father, may especially this morning the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Savior and Redeemer.

I was born, not in this country, but far away, in a country named Holland, the Netherlands, And it was there where the Spirit moved me.

And as a result, there is a statement here that I discovered in the Spirit of Prophecy and says, in the book of God's providence.

That page contains every particular of our history.

God's children are never absent from his mind.

You find this in Desire of Ages, page 313.

And that is, if you really realize this, what would you see on that page?

Because it is a matter of life and death what is on that page.

Here is another text here in regard to providence, Psalm 32 verse 8.

I will instruct thee and teach thee "'in the way which thou shalt go, "'and I will guide you with my eyes.'" Isn't it tremendous?

The almighty God of the universe looks at you with his eyes.

And if you understand this, You know, today you hear many people say, okay, you know our Lord, our people.

Friends, if you know about this page that is written for you, and if you realize this, and if you know that God's eyes are you, you won't run away.

Yes, God will specifically lead and guide every 1 of us, And this is my story, how God has led every step in my life.

And yet it took many years before I realized this.

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsake, nor his seed banging bread.

Here's a picture of, from my mother's side.

She grew up in a polder land with windmills and whatever.

She was the Anna Maurik, 1 of 11 children from a small town in Holland.

Her parents were in business, in grocery, drugstore, whatever.

And she in drug store, whatever, and she in some way met my father.

He is a man full of wisdom, working for the government, and there is where he was.

My father, people say he was a good man, but not religious.

My mother, from a super conservative Dutch reformed family, but backslidden.

And both of them are in the world, and not in God's house.

Yes, here I grew up, owning a child until 11 years of age.

And then I experienced part of my life in Holland and turned war toward Holland, like Ukraine.

But there it was a war, a Second World War with the Germans.

They bombed the complete city and they said, unless you surrender, every city in Holland will be flattered.

But Ukraine didn't give up, and they fought.

If they had given up, things would have to be different.

And Ukraine could have been flourishing, but they didn't want to give up.

See in the Second World War, many gave up and they survived.

And so here you see me bicycling to my farmer's relatives because we had to survive the hunger winter.

Because the food was taken by the Germans and we were left with 2 little boats.

Yes, there's my uncle's farm, and we were protected.

I went to primary school, and my father loved extreme mountain climbing.

My mother didn't want to go because she was afraid.

But my father went there and in 1950 he met his death in falling in the ravine.

At that time he was director of a government agency, making lots of money, but this was the end.

And so my mother was left as a young widow with my young child and me.

And so I grew up my teen years in the world.

My sister would say, never mind, Mother Gerard.

Here in my gliding, and I had a tremendous time.

And then I learned to see different perspectives of life.

Here I loved gliding, and from this I got the idea of becoming a jet pilot.

You know, at that time in Holland, parents had a tremendous impact.

And if the mother says no or the father says no, you have to wait until you're 21 years of age.

And then when she gave permission, you could fly.

At that time, the Americans were very, very good and gave us, after the war, jet fighters.

I loved to fly there, but I was not allowed to.

So I had to wait until I was 21 years of age.

Amazing Facts Bible Study Guides

Amazing Facts Audio

Amazing Facts

01 Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?

You're listening to Amazing Facts Bible Study Guide, Lesson Number 1.

Our topic, Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?

In these rapidly changing and challenging times, when promises of stability and safety rarely come through, when trusted spiritual leaders prove false, when lying and politics seems to be the norm, when those you depend on the most often hurt you the deepest.

Can you tell me what the Bible claims about itself?

The prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

So you see, the Bible claims to be inspired, written by people who were guided by the Holy Spirit.

Okay, well, did Jesus demonstrate his confidence and belief in Scripture?

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.

Jesus quoted from Scripture when He was tempted by Satan.

He quoted Scripture as the authority for everything he was teaching.

So do Bible prophecies confirm its divine inspiration?

To answer that question let's head over to the book of Isaiah.

Before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

I am God, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things that are not yet done.

Bible predictions of future events that have come to pass dramatically confirm the divine inspiration of Scripture.

I'll list just a few examples of fulfilled Bible prophecies.

First, in the Book of Daniel, chapters 2, 7, and 8, the Bible predicted that 4 world empires would arise Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

History books attest that it happened exactly this way.

Second, did you know that leaders throughout history, including Iraq's Saddam Hussein, have attempted to rebuild and populate Babylon, But all have failed?

The Bible predicted that after Babylon's destruction, it would never be inhabited again.

Babylon, The glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

It will never be inhabited, nor will it be settled from generation to generation.

Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there." Third, the Bible predicted that there would be earth-shaking calamities and extreme fear toward the end of time.

There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars.

And on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them from fear, and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.

For the powers of the heavens will be shaken." Fourth, the Bible said in advance that Egypt would never again hold a commanding position among the nations.

Ezekiel chapter 29 verses 14 and 15 I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathos to the land of their origin and there they shall be a lowly kingdom it shall be the lowliest of the kingdoms it shall never again exalt itself above the nations for I will diminish them so that they will not rule Well, I could go on and on, but let me mention just 1 more.

The Bible said in advance that moral degeneracy and false spirituality would increase in the last days.

2nd Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 through 5.

Disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power, and from such people turn away.

But tell me this, are the Bible's statements about the natural world confirmed by science?

The Holy Spirit, who guided each Bible writer, always speaks the truth.

Here are just a few Bible statements confirmed by science.

This scientific fact is mentioned in the oldest book of the Bible.

Here the Bible says the Earth is round centuries before it was confirmed by scientists.

Job chapter 28, verse 25, to establish a weight for the wind.

Long before science verified it, the Bible reported the air has weight.

Are the Bible's historical statements accurate?

Sometimes, temporarily, evidence might not be found to prove certain historical claims found in scripture.

But in time, the evidence has always surfaced.

For starters, skeptics have said for years that the Bible was unreliable because it mentions the Hittite nation and cities like Nineveh and Sodom, all of which they denied ever existed.

But now modern archaeology has confirmed that all 3 did exist.

Second, skeptics said that the Bible record of Moses wasn't reliable because it mentions writing and wheeled vehicles, which they say didn't exist in his time.

Third, critics also said that the kings Belshazzar and Sargon mentioned in the books of Daniel and Isaiah never existed.

Again, their existence has since been confirmed.

And finally, at 1 time the 39 kings of ancient Israel and Judah were known only from the Bible.

But when archaeologists found independent ancient records that mentioned many of these kings, the Bible record was proved accurate once again.

Critics of the Bible have been proved wrong repeatedly as new discoveries have confirmed biblical people, places, and events.

Ancient artifacts unearthed by archaeologists have consistently confirmed the truth and accuracy of the Bible.

Are there other facts about the Bible that show its divine inspiration?

2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God.

1 of the greatest miracles of the Bible is its unity.

The 66 books of the Bible were written on 3 continents, in 3 languages, by about 40 different people from all walks of life, including kings, shepherds, scientists, attorneys, an army general, fishermen, priests, and a physician.

The Bible was also written over a period of about 1, 500 years on the most controversial subjects by people who, in most cases, had never met.

Yet, though it seems inconceivable, the 66 books maintain harmony with 1 another.

02 Did God Create the Devil?

You're listening to Amazing Facts Bible Study Guide, Lesson number 2.

Many believe he's merely a mythical figure, but the Bible says he is very real and determined to deceive you and destroy your life.

Indeed, this brilliant but cruel mastermind is so much more than what you've been told.

He's entrapping individuals, families, churches, and even entire nations to increase sorrow and pain in our world.

Here are the Bible's amazing facts about this dark prince and how you can overcome him.

All right, What's your first question today?

Where did sin come from or who originated it?

Here's what the Bible says 1st John chapter 3 verse 8 The devil has sinned from the beginning Revelation chapter 12 verse 9 That serpent of old called the devil and Satan You see, Satan, who is also called the devil, is the originator of sin.

Okay, well, did he have a different name before he sinned?

The prophet Isaiah answers these questions for us.

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning.

Jesus also had something to say about where the devil came from.

So in short, Satan's original name was Lucifer, and he was living in heaven.

Where did Lucifer come from, and how does the Bible describe him?

First, The Bible says that Lucifer was created by God.

You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.

You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.

You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created till iniquity was found in you." God created Lucifer as a perfect angel, Just as he did all the other angels.

So, what changed in Lucifer's life that led him to turn against God?

Let's take a look at a few verses that refer to Lucifer.

Ezekiel 28.17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty.

You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.

Isaiah chapter 14 verses 13 and 14 For you have said in your heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

Pride, jealousy, and discontent arose in Lucifer's heart.

He began to desire to dethrone God and demand that everyone worship Him instead.

Oh, so what happened in heaven as a result of Lucifer's sin?

Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Amazingly, Lucifer successfully deceived a third of the angels and caused a huge rebellion in heaven.

God had no choice but to cast them out because Lucifer's aim was to usurp God's throne.

After his expulsion from heaven, Lucifer was called Satan, meaning adversary, and the devil, meaning slanderer.

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.

And Jesus made this statement before his crucifixion.

Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

You see, contrary to widespread belief, Satan's headquarters is the Earth, not Hell.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost this dominion to Satan, who became ruler, or prince, of the Earth.

Satan despises humans, who were created in God's image.

Unable to harm God directly, he directs his anger against God's children on earth.

He's a hateful, vicious murderer who aims to destroy you and thus hurt God.

Let's take a look at the book of Genesis.

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The penalty for eating the fruit from this tree was death.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.

And he said to the woman, Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Then the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Satan used a serpent, 1 of the wisest and most beautiful animals God had made, to deceive Eve.

Some scholars believe the serpent originally had wings and flew.

Remember, it didn't crawl until God cursed it in Genesis chapter 3.

Satan, who invented lying, mixed truth with the lies he told Eve.

Lies that include some truth are the most effective deceptions.

It was true they would know evil after sinning.

In love, God had withheld from them the knowledge of evil, which includes heartache, grief, suffering, pain, and death.

Satan made the knowledge of evil appear attractive, telling lies to misrepresent God's character because he knows that people will be less likely to turn away from a loving God unless they misunderstand his character.

Okay, but why was eating a piece of fruit such a bad thing that Adam and Eve had to be removed from the garden?

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Then the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like 1 of us, to know good and evil.

And now, lest he put out his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.

So he drove out the man, and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Eating the forbidden fruit was a sin because it was open rebellion against God's law and his authority.

By rejecting God's command, Adam and Eve chose to follow Satan and therefore brought separation between themselves and God.

Satan likely hoped the couple would continue eating from the tree of life after their sin and thus become immortal sinners.

But God removed them from the garden to prevent this.

03 Saved From Certain Death

You're listening to Amazing Facts Bible Study Guide, Lesson number 3.

Picture the horror of being stranded in a vast ocean as hungry, deadly sharks close in on you.

Then imagine how grateful and relieved you'd feel to be plucked to safety.

The truth is, every person on the planet is lost in an ocean full of danger.

Not by boat or helicopter, but by our Father in Heaven.

God loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you.

But are you sure you really understand what it's all about?

What does it really mean to you and can it truly change your life?

Let's get started with our first question.

Well, I've sometimes wondered, how do we know that God really cares about us?

That's a great question and something that many people ask.

Thankfully, God answers it directly in His Word.

Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you.

Jeremiah 31, Verse 3, Yes, I have loved you with everlasting love.

Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you." 1 John 3, verse 16.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.

Remember, these are only a few out of hundreds of verses confirming His love.

God's never-ending love for you is far beyond human understanding.

He would love you even if you were the only lost soul in the world.

And Jesus would have given his life for you even if there had been no other sinner to save.

Back to Menu

All Teachings

Discerning Providence

54m

01 Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?

28m

02 Did God Create the Devil?

28m

03 Saved From Certain Death

28m

04 A Colossal City in Space

28m

05 Keys to a Happy Marriage

28m

06 Written in Stone

28m

07 The Lost Day of History

28m

08 Ultimate Deliverance

28m

09 Purity and Power

28m

10 Are the Dead Really Dead?

28m

11 Is the Devil in Charge of Hell

28m

Sound Doctrine