The Real God - The Goodness Of God, Part 1

Of all the words that God could use to describe himself. What one word you think you choose why you're thinking about that I have to tell you that many years ago a man gave me a thin little book on the attributes of God and the one attribute change the force of my life is this one to find out what it is. Stay with welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping trips or Bible teacher. This international discipleship program and I favor in this program. Chip continues his series the real God as he longs for you to see him with a look at the first of seven characteristics God uses to describe himself nature of Scripture and through Jesus.

Over the course of the series chip reveals each of these characteristics. But today we begin with beginning's favor will be with us after the teaching with a great take away little help you absorb the teaching and apply it in a way that will really stick so be sure to stay with okay if you have a Bible open to Psalm 84.

Let's join chip for his message.

The goodness of God. I was at a major crossroads in my life.

There was a path that was clearly the will of God, and there was a path that was clearly not the will of God at all, though sometimes that can be confusing and hard this was easy.

I knew exactly what God wanted me to do and I had enough self-awareness to know that whatever path I took would determine the rest of my life that the implications were just amazingly overwhelming and I knew exactly what to do but I couldn't get myself to do it.

Anybody been there for a year year and 1/2 went to Bible studies still read my Bible outwardly sure few people really knew that I was involved in a relationship with the young lady that God made it very clear. This is not my will but I was in love and I had worked and worked and worked out of all my insecurities I was the kid ever gone to an outdoor playground and and seem very competitive basketball or in you to see one skinny little white kid John Stockton was my hero when the over aggressive over-the-top overachiever that was me and so I grew up playing in inner-city playgrounds and then played in college and my whole identity was wrapped around being a basketball player but really wasn't. It was really was. It was my God, it was my it was my Isaac. It's what help me up inside and got had made it very clear that I love you very much and that you need to break off this relationship and trust me for your future and you need to release this idol that you have and my fears were that if I did one I would be single.

The rest of my life or I would marry someone this is bizarre thinking that I would really not like what is what I had was really good and I could see her and touch her and she was beautiful and what God had was invisible and I felt like if I entrusted basketball to him he would probably take it away and not let me play anymore on the front of your notes.

I put a sentence that I think is worthy, for all of us to look at there's a private battle that every true follower of Christ must face and you must win. There's no exceptions.

The battle is for your heart is for your affections is for your loyalty. We call it a lot of things.

Some people call it surrender. Others call it being all in other say it's been totally committed. Jesus said it's picking up your cross denying yourself and following him and saying that he and he alone is the Lord of your life and there's lots of competition.

There's an entire world system. This designed to woo your heart away from your Savior who loves you.

The barrier is foam OFOMO fear of missing out.

And there's this idea that somehow foam. Oh, is this thing that keeps us not enjoying the present, not being who you supposed to be living with this fear that were in a miss out like it is. It's not new. The very first send by our first parents was Thelma Eve don't you understand it is holding out on you. Don't you really want to be wise, don't. Don't you want a better life.

God's not really good.

Has God really said the first send that ever occurred was a belief that God was not a good God that he was holding out on us and that you're going to miss out by allowing him to be the Lord of your life. The breakthrough I'm convinced for all of us is not trying harder, not seeing someone is more committed not saying this time. I'm really in all do anything call go anywhere and out of your flesh and energy safe. Okay, I'm really to be committed even though because we've all done that and what happened you cycle back cycle back cycle back the breakthrough I believe comes when you actually believe that God is good that he's for you that the path of his will, though difficult on the front and is the good, the acceptable that the highest good that you ever receive the best relationships the best decisions. The best future that literally that surrender or total commitment because God is good is the channel through which his biggest and best blessings flow and that the most intellectually feasible the emotionally fulfilling path you could ever take would be do exactly what God says because all his commandments are for your good and rather thing, but being prohibitive. His commands are like guide rails on a winding path and if you would break to the guard rails is a thousand foot drop and he so loves you and so loves me, he gives us guide rails about relationships and sexuality and money in decision-making.

Also that we land and experience the very best because you're the object of his affection, but I am deeply convinced that many of us don't believe in our hearts that God is really good. Toes are said what comes Ensure mind when you think about God is the most important thing about us and that there is a secret law of the soul that you and I will move and make decisions consciously and unconsciously toward our mental image of God and if God is not good if he's not for you if you don't believe that at the core of your being, and you will constantly struggle with commitment constantly struggle with manipulating constantly struggle with how can I get as close to sin as possible, but not fall in and ultimately never really fully trust God. The thesis of this whole study is that our distorted view of God is at the root of all of our problems, your fears, your anxieties, your relational breakdowns your sense about the future. Your conflict in relationships at the root of all of our problems. It goes back to a distorted view of God that gives us a distorted view of herself distorted view of the future. I distorted few relationships so we have this scarce pie mentality. There's not much to go around. I better get mine.

If I don't have this position. If I don't have this if I don't look like this. If I don't own that if people don't think this about me where this all the stuff going on and they were bombarded by media in a world system that says if you look like this, or if you have this or if you own this or if you've accomplish this, then you're somebody. And so our significance or security is all wrapped around chasing the wind as opposed to realizing there is a good God who is completely for you and it brings rest to your soul and you can trust him, but I will tell you it's a battle.

So in our study were to start with the goodness of God, because it's foundational. The theologians call a God simple and what they mean by that is, think of the character of God is a diamond and that as you would tilt the diamond and put light on it. It would reveal different facets but it's one diamond.

It's not like God is holy and then on some other days he's loving his holiness, his infinitude is self-sufficiency is justice is compassion.

They all work as a simple unit. He's always holy in all of his love is always loving in all of his justice. He's always compassionate even in judgment, but I think one of the things that we miss and is foundational is that the goodness of God. If God is a good life makes no sense as toes would say heaven can become a hell in hell can become a heaven, that there is no values. If there is no goodness and so often. If you want to study something, go to where the concept first pops up in Scripture and so I'm gonna ask you to turn with me to Exodus chapter 33 in chapter 34 and as you turn there. I'll give you the context Moses has seen God's power. He seen the miracles. He's a he's a reluctant servant. You know Lord send somebody else. Not me, but he's now seeing the Nile turn to blood. He seen the parting of the Red Sea.

These there's a fire by night there's a there's a cloud moving by day he seen miraculous things and as he is now an intimate relationship with God.

This almost gives us some insight. Psalm 103 verse seven is one of those. Interestingly, hinge verses it says he made known his ways to Moses is asked of the sons of Israel, his ways, all of Israel saw his acts right, power, deliverance, power, deliverance, how many of those people who saw all of his acts enter the promised land and believe God, God's axle never sustained every everyone in this room we all probably have a big challenge in one of our kids is in a jammer. We have a health issue or a financial issue or something's upside down or you have a big fear about something and all this what we pray. This is human all God. If you would just do this and let's just say, hypothetically, he miraculously did that big thing in your life. I'll guarantee 30 days from now I could sit down with you and you be asking for the next big thing. Hope you just change so-and-so's heart. If you would only an and God supernaturally. If you would look in the rearview mirror. He's intervened in your life in supernatural ways acts that are deliverance are evidence of his kindness and his goodness. But God's acts don't sustain us his ways to and Moses after seeing all those acts and interacting with God. He makes this outrageous bold request that I think is real. God's heart.

Show me your glory. He says I want to see you face-to-face.

I want to know all of who you are conscious again.

Some of these translations are sort of the Ingram telling the story through my lens so you know don't look for this right in the Bible, but I think God's response. In essence, was, you have no idea what you're asking what he actually did says no one can see me and live entertainment. I'll do think I think when God sees us seeking heart Moses you get over there, edge back in those rocks and what I'm going to do is I'm gonna pass by view and then I'm going to give you a glimpse of my back and then noticing your notes. When God wanted to describe his passing by all my goodness will pass before you. Isn't that interesting. Not all my holiness not on my computer all my goodness will pass before you, and then God answers his prayer. Exodus 34 we pick it up in verse five know the Lord descended in the cloud and he stood with him. There proclaim the name of the Lord and the Lord passed before him and proclaimed the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin and then in all that love compassionate goodness. By no means declaring the guilty innocent, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generation. JI Packard in his book. Knowing God comments on this passage, he says within the cluster of God's moral perfections.

There is one in particular, the term goodness that points to a quality which God especially singled out from the hole and proclaiming his goodness to Moses.

He spoke of himself as abundant in goodness and truth, and then Packer makes this comment. That is, he studied this word this idea of goodness. At its heart is the generosity of God.

Have you ever thought of God is generous ever thought of God's new matter. He just wants to lavish. He longs to give the core of the character of God in all of the attributes that he's generous no scarcity when he sees you when you come to his infinite mind. He longs to Blasi longs to encourage you longs to create a path I love this pieces generosity expresses the simple wish that others might have what they need to be happy if you were thought of God like that.

Thinking of you that you might have what you need to be happy.

She is interesting is the world says here's all these things will make you happy.

Some day, some way God assessment on a fallen they worship me, I made you.

I want to give you a life. From within and in relationships in a path with me that would bring delight to my heart and make you happy as a byproduct.

That's how God thinks of you that the Hebrew word here means pleasant, joyful, agreeable, it was translated into the Greek text.

It's noble admirable worthy. It's this it's it's the standard of goodness goodness isn't something that God possesses. He is the standard. It is how he is and again I've given you a thought by toes or he says goodness, the goodness of God is that which disposes him to be kind, cordial, benevolent and full of goodwill toward men. He's tenderhearted and quick of sympathy is that how you think about God when you bow your head. You think he's for me. He's glad to see me. He's full of goodwill. Once my best. He's orchestrating people and circumstances in my home and in my job and in my heart to bless my life. He's quick of sympathy.

How many of you when you hurt and when you mess up feel like God just moved away 10 yards God's arms are crossed God's attitude is for.

Again, how many times you go around this barn so you think that thought that lustful thought again you still envying her know you opened your mouth again and talk about what friend you know what I call that gossip or you know what, so are you dispossessed with Greek and you have to get up and look at the Wall Street Journal before anything else. I me my me. What's with you. Oh, that show came on and you lingered a little bit longer and you didn't click the thanks of how many times are we to do with this issue. How many of you have a view of God that his arms are crossed and is basically down on you instead of the view that says the moment that you turn uncle Lord you're mindful that I'm just I'm just a person, a flash I get lulled into these. I so don't want to be that and when you would turn like that he would be.

I understand.

I'm for you.

I love you sleep the power of temptation, the power of the lust of the flesh, the power of the pride of life. The power of the lust of having and possessing the power of what everyone thinks matter so much is behind it is the belief that God is in for you but but but but the real action is over there that the real success. The real fulfillment. All the things you're looking for are some way out there, that's why.

First John the apostle of love would say love not the world are things that are in the world and all that's in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. It's not from the father but is from the world and if anyone loves the world, the love of the father is in any but the world is passing away God's love abides forever seek what what toes are.

One is to get around that. That's what God is like the last line. He says this and I have this underlying like 45 times in my little book that I've been reading it since he by his nature circle that units by his nature, not by your circumstances, not by whether you're doing good or doing bad. God is good to you because your good God is good because he's good. It's intrinsic he can't not be good. You have good days and bad days obedience days not obedience days, it doesn't change the character of God.

Actually, there's times that it's out of his goodness. Some of the difficulties that some of us have in our life. The difficulties I had my life, but that 18 months when I was in a relationship that was sinful and when I had a lot on my life in the goodness and kindness of God. The velvet vice of discipline started so I pulled my quad right out of here to hear while couldn't play, 12, 13 games, you know that and pretty soon is rehabbed and so I went again and have a stress fracture my foot. Every year was like… You know Ingram you can worship basketball you can worship me, but I love you so much.

I mean finally, my surrender was not like some noble will give you everything I'm I mean literally mine was. If you can't let him join literally God I'm bankrupt you frustrate my plans.

This relationship isn't what I noticed.

I don't like the guilt I don't like the shame I don't like living a double life.

I look in the mirror and I don't like me.

I appear to be one person I know I'm not. You were just you frustrate frustrate frustrate frustrate my plans. You know what, and you won't leave me alone. I tried to quit the Christian life a couple times you won't leave you when you receive Christ like in a marriage.

He said I do Lord come into my life. Guess what he said yes and that he sealed you with the spirit and he lives in you and he permanently came in and you can create the spirit, but out of his goodness. Some of the most difficult things in our life is his saying I want what's better for you. So I'm not can allow you to keep going down this path. The Scripture says that God disciplines every son, every daughter that he really loves to keep it out of his goodness. It's out of his kind. He doesn't want you to miss out. He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of his people. The breakthrough came for me when I a passage came from my intellect to my heart and that I later claimed a promise, Psalm 8411. I have a little card that's about 30 years old and it says the goodness of God, and on one side, I have written my fears about the future and on the other side after it says stop being afraid of the future, you won't miss out on the other car side has Psalm 8411 the Lord God is a sun and shield the Lord gives grace and glory no good thing does he withhold from those who walk up rightly think about this and by the way to the Lord God it's Yahweh I don't I the I am that I am the one who spoke the world into existence is a son unlimited source is a shield unlimited protection.

He gives grace. What you don't deserve blessing lavish love goodness, kindness, mercy, what's mercy, he withholds the due judgment that we ought to get in so many occasions no good thing. Here's the promise no good thing will he withhold from those who walk up rightly as you have the crisscross of this path is God's way or this path in small and big situations.

As you say, I'm going to go on your path. Here's what you can say I do not fear missing out because on this path, God will never withhold what's best for me. That's a statement of faith.

That's a promise to claim it will change the course of your life will. How has God revealed his goodness. It's one thing I can tell you if you actually come to believe that from your head down to your heart. Obedience will be completely different. Trusting him becomes completely different. The fear of the future, we will always always have some to begin to dissipate as if God has your best and he's sovereign Chinese control is an all wise God is for you and he's leaning forward on the throne to bless your life and to help you can give you the very best will then whatever he says is the while, that's what I want to do now but I doesn't mean that you don't have some emotional fear doesn't mean the front and might be really hard but it means that you trust his promises because he's a good God is revealed to us in three ways, and let me encourage you to to let these ways sink in and begin to practice them in a new way because you gotta do some things to move. I believe God's good to hear. First, it's through natural blessings. Psalm 145 739 says they celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love Lord is good to all he has compassion on all he's made does the all include you. He's good to all this. This little phrase is repeated all through the Old Testament. He's gracious, compassionate, bounding, multiplying exponentially available loving kindness. The word is Hessen.

It's a steadfast, loyal commitment, love to give you the best that's got that's how God is with his creation later in the same Psalm verse 16 says you open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and faithful in all that he does. And here's what I'd say his pause to look around.

We get so busy so focused just observe people observe people at a restaurant.

Observe people walking on the streets now the whole world. Does this family sitting together in a restaurant is for fun zone. When's the last time with them serious when's the last time you saw something you when's the last time you saw a sunrise listening to the first part of chip the goodness of God from his series, the real God will be back with his application, but before he is to give you a quick sketch of the series overall in the real God chip looks at seven key attributes of God's character and explains that none of them is ever diminished or overshadowed by the others which means that God is 100% love 100% just and 100% merciful kind of mindbending when you think about it that way and why it becomes a lifelong adventure to get to know him for who he really is a great way to learn how these attributes of God work together is to do this study with a small group of friends. So for a limited time. The small group resources for the real God are discounted because we want to do everything we can to help you get a clear accurate view of God to place your order or to get more information on the real God. Go to LivingontheEdge.org Special offers on the chipping roadmap or give us a call at AAA 83336003 trip. As I listen to today's message I was thinking that literally about a million people are listening right now and who knows how many of them are hearing about the goodness of God for the very first time as Living on the Edge continues to buy your time create programming and develop resources to help people learn who God really is. The expenses of the ministry.

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I think sometimes is because they just don't think what I could do would make a difference but I just want to encourage some of you that feel like you know hey you know what God's really using this in my life but I'm just not in a position maybe you could do something really small. But God could take your small gift into something really big with it. So thanks so much and appreciate anything. God leads you to do well as you prayerfully consider your role with this ministry I will remind you that when you partner with Living on the Edge you become part of a much bigger team. So as we work together every gift is significant to send a gift call us at AAA 83336003 that's AAA 333-6003. If you prefer to give online, go to LivingontheEdge.org app listeners just Donate on behalf of the entire staff let me thank you for your support of everything were doing when elders chip with a final thought by his nature.

He is inclined to bestow blessedness and he takes holy pleasure in the happiness of his people. That statement in the same sentence with God was inconceivable to me. I was a Christian.

Three maybe four years at the time and I didn't grow up in a Christian environment. I'd only read the Bible for couple three years, but all the baggage of my past was this angry God who was down on me.

Didn't you understand it was like the lights coming on. Do you understand what will happen to you if you can begin to renew your mind and believe that by his nature, not your performance by his nature, not your behavior by his nature. In other words, it's what God is like. It's who he is. He doesn't change. He is eternally good.

Every morning when you get up it brings God pleasure to see happiness birthed in your heart out of your relationship with him when he wants to give good gifts when he wants to bless and I don't mean just superficial stuff like you know money. Your cars are things working out your way. Of course he blesses and those things I'm talking about the depth of your very soul to know that you are approved. God is for you. He is with you.

He wants to bring great joy to you, that's Jesus, and Jesus says to you today come unto me all of you who are tired and heavy laden and worn out and stressed out and I will give you rest.

Why, because God is good it'll great way to get more out of every message is to use chips message notes while you listen you will get his outline all of the Scripture references. Lots of fillings to help you remember what you're learning. Use them personally, or even with your small group chips message notes are a quick download@livingontheedge.org under the broadcasts tab app listeners Fill-in notes and your set will be sure to join us next time. Until then, this is Dave really saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge