The Lord Will Provide | John Newton (Olney Hymns)

The church we have been attending for the past month or so is in the midst of a Bible Conference. The theme is "Grace Abounding," and both sermons today by Dr. Benton were a blessing. This evening's message was based upon John 16:33,

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV)

The logic of Jesus' argument, Dr. Benton explained, is that:

A) If the world is the source of our trouble (i.e. accident, adversity, and anxiety), and
B) Jesus has already overcome the world, then
C) In Christ there are no such things as accidents, adversities, and anxieties.

God's providence is at work in all incidents ("In God's world there are no 'What if's'.").
Yes, we have an Adversary, but he can not destroy us.
We have no Gospel-reason for being anxious.

We closed with the following hymn found in Olney Hymns. It seemed to fit the theme of the message very well.

Hymn 7
John Newton
10,10,11,11
The LORD will provide.

Though troubles assail
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide.

The birds without barn
Or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn
To trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting,
Shall ne’er he denied,
So long as ’tis written,
The Lord will provide.

We may, like the ships,
By tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps,
But cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages
The wind and the tide,
The promise engages,
The Lord will provide.

His call we obey
Like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way,
But faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers
We have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers,
The Lord will provide.

When Satan appears
To stop up our path,
And fill us with fears,
We triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us,
Though oft he has tried,
This heart–cheering promise,
The Lord will provide.

He tells us we’re weak,
Our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek
We ne’er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions
Our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions,
The Lord will provide.

No strength of our own,
Or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known
The Savior’s great name;
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide,
The Lord is our power,
The Lord will provide.

When life sinks apace
And death is in view,
This word of his grace
Shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
The Lord will provide.

This hymn is coupled with William Cowper's Jehovah-Jireh, The LORD will provide (Hymn 6) based upon Genesis 22:14. This particular hymns concludes with the following two stanzas:

Blest proofs of pow’r and grace divine,

That meet us in his word!

May every deep–felt care of mine

Be trusted with the Lord.

Wait for his seasonable aid,

And though it tarry wait:

The promise may be long–delayed,

But cannot come too late.

The Lord Will Provide | John Newton (Olney Hymns)