God the Holy Spirit, Mentor's Guide, MG14

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G O D T H E H O L Y S P I R I T

b. All human beings, Job 33.4, 6

B. The Spirit is intimately involved with sustaining life in the world.

1. The Doctrine of Providence

a. Definition: Providence comes from the word provide . Through his providence God sustains, governs, and protects the life that he gave the earth and guides it toward the end for which it was created.

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The root meaning of Providence is to foresee, or to provide. The question of providence concerns how God thinks ahead to care for all creatures. . . . God’s providing looks ahead for needs as yet unrecognized by creatures. But more than simply foresight, providence has to do with the active, daily caring of God for the world in its hazards.

~ Thomas C. Oden. The Living God . p. 271.

b. The work of the Holy Spirit in providence: the Life-giver.

Throughout the universe the

(1) The Spirit is at work to create, renew, and provide for all the forms of life that exist within the created order.

immense forces that are at work in suns, stars, and galaxies are energized by the Spirit of God. All energy and power are there by virtue of the divine Spirit. ~ J. Rodman Williams

(2) OT: Ps. 104.29-30; Isa. 32.14-15

(3) NT: John 6.63; Rom. 8.2, 6, 11

2. The scriptural symbols of the Holy Spirit reveal him as Life-giver.

a. Water - the source of life.

(1) Isa. 44.2-4a