Now, About The Sparrows (Mt. 10:29; Lu. 12:6) (Part 3)

2. THE CARE BY THE FATHER

EXPLANATION

• Matthew – the care by the Father's knowledge and will
• Providence – Definition -- “That unceasing and efficient government which is carried on by” [the Creator] “ throughout the universe, by which the creatures are preserved, their wants supplied, and the purposes of the vast creation are accomplished.” (W. J. Townsend)¹ (Jam. 1:17)
• Positive providence – The Father preserves or provides by releasing a desired outcome.
• Feeding of birds (to keep them alive) (Mt. 6:26)
• Sending of rain (Job 5:10; Jer. 5:24)
• Negative providence – The Father preserves or provides by withholding a desired outcome (Job 1:21; 2:9-10).
• Falling of birds (to bring them to death)
• Quote: “ . . . God does not promise His followers deliverance from death, but permits them to die, granting them more than if He had not allowed them to suffer it.”² (H. F. Stander's paraphrasing Chrysostom)
• Withholding of rain (Amos 4:7)
• Luke – the care by the Father's memory and presence
• Translation: “Not one out of them is forgotten (neglected, overlooked) in the presence of God.”
• The Creator attends to His Creation (Heb. 4:13). You might not be a standout before men, and might not always get picked early or at all by people, but God cannot and will not let you fade into the woodwork.
• The Father exercises His omniscience. God knows everything – literally, every thing – past, present and future. That is why He cannot forget you! (Isa. 49:15)
• The Father exercises His omnipresence. God is everywhere at the same time. There is no place that He is not (Psa. 139:7-10).

ILLUSTRATION

• Baby monitor.  This is how a parent knows how to respond and care when he or she isn't in the same room as the infant. When it comes to God, however, He is always in the room and is always aware of you. He is aware of what you want and what you need. He knows you better than you know yourself (Psa. 139:6, 15-18). God's monitor is always turned on and His ear is always sensitive to your heart's cry.

APPLICATION

• Lyrics: “And although there were times I've been out of His will, I've never been out of His care.”³ (Dallas Holm)
• Psa. 55:22; 1 Pet. 5:7 > casting onto the Lord
• Heb. 4:16 > coming unto the Lord

1Lockyer, Herbert. All The Doctrines Of The Bible: A Study And Analysis Of Major Bible Doctrines. “All” Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1964. p. 35.

2http://www.dspace.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/13563/Stander_Sparrows(2005).pdf?sequence=3 (accessed 8-15-16)

3http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/dallas_holm/ive_never_been_out_of_his_care-lyrics-1195506.html (accessed 8-18-16)