Goodness

 "Not knowing....

 that the goodness of God leads us to repentance?" 

Romans 2:4 b

I am going to choose God's kindness and goodness for myself....

while all around me, people are choosing bad news, bad moods, bad attitudes and negative view of our world situation.

 Isn't that what Satan wants us to believe rather than God's goodness and the power of Jesus' redemption?! 

As in the days of Lot...

Scripture tells us that... "righteous Lot was vexed by his surroundings".

We are living thru such a time and atmosphere. 

The LORD is requiring us to strengthen our will and our faith....and to "SET OUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE."

A vexing atmosphere has created a toxic fog. We can and must declare 📜 God's life-giving truth & promises & absolute goodness! He loves & He redeems. 

"Nothing is impossible with God." 

Isn't this what the angel told Mary? For Christmas.. let's get a firm grip on our focus & kiss the face of JESUS, OUR PRINCE OF PEACE.

We must plant our feet squarely on The Rock and believe in His absolute goodness. We must do this in the face of absolute evil & wickedness. I'de rather gaze on His glorious radiant face! 

It is imperative & necessary that all is brought into the light of exposure!!! Then... sure & wondrous break through. Remember Jesus lived in the most wicked & violent times on earth! 

Death, burial & Resurrection. That's the pattern of break through.

We must take a stand...

Just as David did in his day of absolute destitution & betrayal....

"But David strengthened himself in the LORD HIS GOD." 1 Samuel 30:12

This followed years of betrayal...

 yet proceeded all his enemies.. 

 finally, being removed. 

We now enjoy his wonderful songs of break thru and victory.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Psalm 23: 6

He was literally pursued by a demon possessed- murdering king for years. This was the same man he sang comfort songs to as a psalmist &  he loved King Saul as a father.  

We must, like David, strengthen ourselves in the LORD...so we can endure thru this difficult transition in history.

Good is coming! God is coming on a rescue operation but it's for the sake of all of us....

each of us, individually and corporately... becoming overcomers.

 Isn't this what He expressed in the letters to the churches in Revelation? 7x exhorting them to pursue an overcoming lifestyle?

Not to whisk us away from our assignment upon His beloved earth. He declared His creation to be good.

 Has He removed His goodness? Has he removed His decree over the earth? Has He removed His commission to care for the earth & to disciple nations?

"Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the Lord--

For wheat and new wine and oil, 

For the young of the flock and the herd; 

Their souls shall be like a watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more." Jeremiah 31:12

What of the next generation, the young of the flock?

 Are you going to grow up in your faith like David? Or focus on being rescued? 

He does His work thru His beloved. His bride partners with Him. Always He commissioned people to complete the work of His hands. Are we done?

Instead of defaulting to this idea that we are going to be raptured out of here...

how about speaking up, boldly, about God's goodness?

(Yes I believe in rapture which is mentioned 7 times in scripture) I just believe that right now....

We are being required to stand upon The Rock as David did. We are being developed as kings and priests so that we can reign with Jesus just as David finally did. 

Acts 15:15 prophesies that David's Tent will be rebuilt. Has this beautiful Tent covered the nations yet? In David's day his worship tent caused all his enemies to be at peace. 

Jesus said, "My house shall be a House of Prayer for All Nations!" Has this been fulfilled? 

When Moses told the LORD, "IF your presence does not go up with us, do not bring us up from here." Exodus 33:15

The LORD'S answer was...

"I will make all my goodness pass before you..." Exodus 33:19

The children of Israel, still, had a long journey and much development & history to accomplish. I believe God's firstborn Israel and The church which has been grafted in...

I believe we have, still, a long journey.... and a lot to accomplish....still a lot of prophecy to fulfill and realize.

"It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance"

There is yet much cleansing and healing and wondrous glory to be released from heaven's storehouses. 

Let's begin to put our faith wholly in God's goodwill and goodness. 

"With the heart one believes and with the mouth one confesses." 

How long has it been since you stood up, stood your ground, and declared God's goodness in the face of this wicked generation? 

Jesus is our prime example of this....

"Only God is good" He told them. 

"Every good and perfect gift comes down from The Father of lights." 

James 1:17

Has heaven run out of goodness? Has heaven run out of wondrous and creative gifts? We are the "lights" mentioned here in James, because Jesus said, "You are salt and light". 

So because the wickedness is being exposed in the church & the world....

Does that mean God does not have enough goodness to overcome this? 

No...He desires for us to come into agreement with His Never-ending goodness....

and to begin to help Him pass out His good and perfect gifts. 

For God is love and God is good.