WEBVTT 00:00:00.490 --> 00:00:03.069 Come on, give him a good shout of praise today. 00:00:04.809 --> 00:00:10.810 He's worthy. He's totally worthy. Good to see 00:00:10.810 --> 00:00:12.289 you in the house of the Lord. If you have your 00:00:12.289 --> 00:00:16.109 Bibles, reach and get it or your phone and get 00:00:16.109 --> 00:00:21.649 it opened up to Psalm 118. It's good to know 00:00:21.649 --> 00:00:26.829 how the Lord brings balance in our lives. Amen. 00:00:28.429 --> 00:00:31.649 This weekend, he brought balance to the Hyatt 00:00:31.649 --> 00:00:39.490 house. Sister Piper knows it's coming. She has 00:00:39.490 --> 00:00:43.909 nothing to hold over Brother Mike. Now, he too 00:00:43.909 --> 00:00:51.390 has one of those sword trophies. She was rubbing 00:00:51.390 --> 00:00:55.469 that in there for a while. But I'm impressed. 00:00:56.909 --> 00:01:04.709 With a total of 1 ,315 pounds, right? In three 00:01:04.709 --> 00:01:11.950 lifts. He lifted a total of 1 ,315 pounds. With 00:01:11.950 --> 00:01:14.670 a bench press, with a squat, and with a deadlift. 00:01:16.269 --> 00:01:20.409 Give the man a sword. Amen? Congratulations, 00:01:20.709 --> 00:01:24.859 brother. You could have wore a different shirt, 00:01:24.980 --> 00:01:28.120 but we'll let you slide with that. You don't 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:31.140 say a lot to a man that can lift 1 ,315 pounds. 00:01:33.819 --> 00:01:37.640 Especially when you're losing weight. I lost 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:40.420 what little advantage I might have had. God is 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:44.799 so good. Amen. And that's going to be our subject 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:48.439 matter today. The goodness of God. We're entering 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:53.689 into thanks season. I would be remiss if I did 00:01:53.689 --> 00:01:57.849 not one more time say how much I appreciated 00:01:57.849 --> 00:02:02.349 the message last week. Brother David, thank you 00:02:02.349 --> 00:02:05.909 so much for delivering your heart. Amen. That's 00:02:05.909 --> 00:02:08.210 gone far and wide and it's touched many people. 00:02:10.270 --> 00:02:16.310 The ethos of a Christian warfare. Amen. We are 00:02:16.310 --> 00:02:19.830 in a battle. If you didn't know, just look back 00:02:19.830 --> 00:02:22.189 over last week and it ought to be fairly evident 00:02:22.189 --> 00:02:27.189 that you're in a war. But even in a war, there 00:02:27.189 --> 00:02:31.810 can be times and moments of a respite. Amen? 00:02:32.189 --> 00:02:36.770 There's liberty. You see how that swung around 00:02:36.770 --> 00:02:40.349 right there? There's a weekend pass. There's 00:02:40.349 --> 00:02:45.069 a rest that even can enter in to a season and 00:02:45.069 --> 00:02:51.099 a time during the battle. Amen. And those are 00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:53.939 the times that as a child of God in this warfare 00:02:53.939 --> 00:02:57.180 of faith, I think that we all look forward to. 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:01.419 We look forward to those moments when the good 00:03:01.419 --> 00:03:05.639 shepherd leads us beside the still water. Amen. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.520 How many need a little still water? I need a 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:11.180 little still water every now and then. I get 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:14.639 tired of going against the current. And it's 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.159 just peaceful to sit by the still water. Amen. 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:20.919 We spend time in the wilderness, but isn't it 00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:23.680 wonderful when the good shepherd leads us into 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:27.520 those green pastures? Amen. And that's what I 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.520 want to talk about this morning, the goodness 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:35.759 of God. Psalm 118, which is a very, very powerful 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:42.439 psalm. The first verse reads, O give thanks unto 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:45.719 the Lord, for he is good, because his mercy... 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:51.439 God endures forever. That's the only one I want 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:54.000 to just read, and we'll talk about some of the 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.020 others. This 118th Psalm is the middle chapter, 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:04.039 the middle chapter in the Bible, and duly so 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:06.599 because it talks about the chief cornerstone, 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:10.060 the stone that was rejected. It's in this chapter 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:13.020 that we... that we read that wonderful verse 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:15.139 that says, This is the day which the Lord has 00:04:15.139 --> 00:04:18.220 made, and let us come and rejoice and be glad 00:04:18.220 --> 00:04:22.779 in it. That's in this 118th Psalm. But it bookends 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:25.740 with the same verse. Oh, give thanks unto the 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:31.240 Lord, for he is good, and his mercy endures forever. 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:34.019 Father, I love you today. I thank you for your 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:37.660 goodness and mercy. Lord, and this text that 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:40.670 we've read today. I ask God that you touch in 00:04:40.670 --> 00:04:43.689 hearts and minds. Lord, as we speak this morning 00:04:43.689 --> 00:04:45.709 on this simple thought that you've given us, 00:04:45.810 --> 00:04:50.509 when good is good enough. Lord, I just felt your 00:04:50.509 --> 00:04:52.930 quickening touch this morning. In this house 00:04:52.930 --> 00:04:55.850 today, Lord, our minds are stayed on you, and 00:04:55.850 --> 00:04:59.089 you are good, and we're glorifying and worshiping 00:04:59.089 --> 00:05:01.769 you in that goodness. Lord, touch every heart 00:05:01.769 --> 00:05:04.850 and mind today as we are open to you. And Lord, 00:05:04.910 --> 00:05:07.410 I pray for that still water and green pasture. 00:05:08.110 --> 00:05:11.810 In the name of Jesus today. The church said amen. 00:05:12.069 --> 00:05:14.569 Tell your neighbor when good is good enough. 00:05:18.470 --> 00:05:21.509 Oh give thanks unto the Lord for he is good because 00:05:21.509 --> 00:05:25.250 his mercy endures forever. It's a theme throughout 00:05:25.250 --> 00:05:27.889 scripture. You can read it in 1 Chronicles 16 00:05:27.889 --> 00:05:31.629 and 34. You'll see it again in Psalm 107 .1. 00:05:31.730 --> 00:05:34.250 You'll see it again at the closing as I mentioned 00:05:34.250 --> 00:05:37.620 of 118. You'll see this same verse as the psalmist 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:41.699 would declare in 136 and 1. Oh, give thanks unto 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:46.180 the Lord for he is good because his mercy endures 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:49.500 forever. Of this Psalm 118, the great reformer 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:52.959 Martin Luther would say, this is my psalm, my 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:57.389 chosen psalm. It has saved me from many a pressing 00:05:57.389 --> 00:06:01.470 danger from which neither emperor nor kings nor 00:06:01.470 --> 00:06:06.269 sages nor saints could have saved me. It is my 00:06:06.269 --> 00:06:10.350 friend, dearer to me than all the honors and 00:06:10.350 --> 00:06:13.589 power of the earth. That's a powerful statement 00:06:13.589 --> 00:06:18.600 about a 29 -verse psalm, isn't it? Saved me. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:22.019 No emperor, king, sage, or saint could have delivered 00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:25.980 him. It brings praise to the hearts of all of 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:30.199 us who read it. You can't stay down and out if 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:33.600 you read Psalm 118. You'll be lifted up before 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.529 you get to the end of it. Many of us would say 00:06:36.529 --> 00:06:38.829 of this psalm, if we've read it, it has been 00:06:38.829 --> 00:06:41.589 a good source of strength at times of trial and 00:06:41.589 --> 00:06:44.529 tribulation. Maybe even a time and a sense of 00:06:44.529 --> 00:06:48.319 consolation through trial and tribulation. But 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.399 when you are down and discouraged and you read 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:55.279 this psalm, you are instantly reminded that the 00:06:55.279 --> 00:07:00.259 Lord is good. Come on now. His mercy is unending. 00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:05.720 And in spite of what we are going through and 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:09.379 what we are dealing with, if we can just give 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:12.540 thanks to the Lord, it's in this thinking that 00:07:12.540 --> 00:07:15.480 the Lord that you will have and the Lord will 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:18.939 be with you. reading of this psalm, it offers 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:22.699 encouragement to know that we will be victorious 00:07:22.699 --> 00:07:27.139 over our trials. Amen. It's while thanking God 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:31.699 that we realize exactly how blessed we are. It 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:34.839 is in thanking God that we can take time to count 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.620 our many blessings. We used to sing that old 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:39.819 song back in the day, count your many blessings, 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:42.740 name them one by one. And when you get started, 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:46.220 amen, you will find that your blessings outnumber 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:49.120 your blessings. your trial and it outweighs your 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.180 tribulation and will tempt the scale of your 00:07:52.180 --> 00:07:55.800 soul that's got you down and lifts you up. If 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:58.879 you can just stop and give thanks unto the Lord. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:01.379 We're entering into the Thanksgiving season and 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:03.519 we're going to mention it for the next few weeks. 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:06.120 We're going to see why it is important that we 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:09.860 thank the Lord. The word in this text, the Hebrew 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:13.620 word for thanks here actually means to be a reverer 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:17.720 or to worship with extended hands. It's a halal 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:20.500 type praise. It's a vocal type praise. It's an 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:23.660 animated type praise. Oh, give thanks unto the 00:08:23.660 --> 00:08:26.839 Lord. There are times that you can give silent 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:29.560 worship, if you will. There are times that you 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:32.519 can say to yourself, thank you, Lord, and just 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:35.620 go right home. But there are times also when 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:39.179 it needs to be an audible, visible, I'm talking 00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:42.519 about a passionate, driven time to give thanks 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:44.940 unto the Lord. And that's what the psalmist is 00:08:45.129 --> 00:08:47.710 declaring here, oh, give thanks. Somebody get 00:08:47.710 --> 00:08:50.750 loud with your thinking. Somebody get loud with 00:08:50.750 --> 00:08:53.350 your praise. Lift your hands up and extend them 00:08:53.350 --> 00:08:55.789 to the heavens and surrender of your personal 00:08:55.789 --> 00:08:58.889 self and your personal soul and let God know 00:08:58.889 --> 00:09:01.690 that you actually realize that the goodness that 00:09:01.690 --> 00:09:04.210 is coming into your life is coming from him. 00:09:04.309 --> 00:09:07.730 It's a time that we have that we must declare 00:09:07.730 --> 00:09:11.230 his goodness. Thanksgiving refers to our show 00:09:11.230 --> 00:09:14.870 of gratitude, being appreciative. and giving 00:09:14.870 --> 00:09:18.009 recognition, acknowledging, giving credit, and 00:09:18.009 --> 00:09:21.570 praising the one whom they come from. Our text 00:09:21.570 --> 00:09:24.210 reads, O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is 00:09:24.210 --> 00:09:28.529 good, because his mercy endures forever. There 00:09:28.529 --> 00:09:31.549 are two reasons in this text that we are to give 00:09:31.549 --> 00:09:35.649 thanks. First of all is that God is good. And 00:09:35.649 --> 00:09:39.950 second of all is that his mercy endures forever. 00:09:40.429 --> 00:09:43.570 I don't know about you, but I lean more to the 00:09:43.570 --> 00:09:46.480 Lord. that mercy sometimes than I do his grace. 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:50.100 In this text, it declares that God is good. It's 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:52.340 actually giving us reference, letting us know 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:56.120 that God is changeless, that God is dependable, 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:59.659 that God is eternal. Aren't you glad that God 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:02.559 is eternal? Aren't you glad that God is faithful, 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:05.919 that God is genuine, that God is great, that 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:09.039 God is holy? As the angels declared in Isaiah 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:13.100 6 and 3, holy, holy, holy is the Lord. Lord God 00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:17.080 Almighty, holy, holy, holy. Aren't you glad there's 00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:19.840 a declaration in heaven? But what about a declaration 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:22.379 upon the face of this earth when you begin to 00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:26.120 understand that God is good? You understand and 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:29.120 know that God is holy. You understand that he 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:32.019 is immense and that he is independent, that God 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:36.159 is infinite. Go read Job 11, 7 through 10. You'll 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:39.360 understand that God is invisible in John 4, 24. 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:42.600 They that God is a spirit and... They that worship 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:46.779 him must worship him in spirit. I'm talking about 00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:50.000 a good God. I'm talking about a God that's absent 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.700 and abstract from the trouble and the trial and 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:55.139 the problems that you and I deal with. I'm talking 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:58.000 about a God who is not restrained by the atmospheric 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.879 pressures of the life in which we live. I'm talking 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:04.440 about a God who is able and a God who is good. 00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:07.399 When I think about the invisible nature of God, 00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:11.080 I think about that God is just, that God is majestic, 00:11:11.210 --> 00:11:14.669 Isaiah 33 and 3 will give you an insight of the 00:11:14.669 --> 00:11:19.110 majestic nature of who God is. God is pure. When 00:11:19.110 --> 00:11:21.389 you stop and get down to the goodness of God, 00:11:21.529 --> 00:11:24.190 you know he's good because he's omnipotent. In 00:11:24.190 --> 00:11:28.379 Luke 137, with God, nothing shall... be impossible. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:32.480 He is all powerful. You can't outpower God. He's 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:36.740 better than 1 ,315 pounds. Amen. Quite a feat 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:39.960 here on this earth. But our God holds at the 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:43.440 finger's tip of his little hand that the goodness 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:47.000 of him that is outweighing every affliction of 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:50.320 this world. He's omnipotent. He's omnipresent. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:54.720 In Psalm 139 7, where can I go from thy spirit 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.879 if I ascend into the heavens? Thou art there. 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:01.059 If I descend into the lower parts of the earth, 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:05.500 thou art there. Oh, God, there is nowhere. You're 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:09.600 everywhere. God is good. Would somebody give 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:21.120 thanks to a good God? Not only is he omnipotent, 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.279 not only is he omnipresent, but he's omniscient. 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:31.000 Hebrews 4, 13 declares, all things are naked 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:35.740 and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:38.580 to do. What's that mean, pastor? It means you 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:42.279 can't hide anything from God because he is the 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:45.639 only know -it -all in this universe. Hallelujah. 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:51.659 And he can exercise his will. At his whim over 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:54.899 our life. Why? Because he's all powerful. He's 00:12:54.899 --> 00:13:03.100 ever present. And he's all knowing. He's perfect. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:10.840 He's persistent. He's righteous. He's sovereign. 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:14.639 Philippians 2, 5 through 8. Here's one of my 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:21.100 favorites. He's transcendent. God is transcendent. 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:24.159 What's that mean, Pastor? He's over and beyond 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:27.759 the created order, and he's superior to it in 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:32.759 every way. What does that mean? What weighs you 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:36.460 down doesn't bother him one bit. What stresses 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:39.600 us and what worries us doesn't stress him at 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:43.080 all. Why? Because he's extended above the created. 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:47.450 Why? Because in the beginning, God... In the 00:13:47.450 --> 00:13:49.870 beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:13:50.009 --> 00:13:53.169 Not anything was made without him. Come on, somebody. 00:13:53.450 --> 00:13:56.990 He's good because he's over and transcends above 00:13:56.990 --> 00:14:00.450 it all. I am so thankful that the one in whom 00:14:00.450 --> 00:14:03.509 I worship and the one in whom I praise and adore 00:14:03.509 --> 00:14:06.750 is not affected by everything that's affecting 00:14:06.750 --> 00:14:10.830 me. He is transcendent over cancer. He's transcendent 00:14:10.830 --> 00:14:14.009 over any mental illness and any dementia that's 00:14:14.009 --> 00:14:16.919 in the face of this world. blood disorder, blood 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:20.440 pressure, diabetes. I am so glad that he transcends 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:23.899 above it all. He's above it all. I am thankful 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:34.539 that God is good and it's mercy. Woo! He transcends 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:44.919 it. He's above it. Over and beyond the created. 00:14:45.149 --> 00:14:54.789 order superior in every way he is wise in that 00:14:54.789 --> 00:15:01.409 superiority the psalmist knew of all the attributes 00:15:01.409 --> 00:15:07.769 of God but for some reason when it came time 00:15:07.769 --> 00:15:12.230 to pen this 118th psalm the Holy Ghost inspired 00:15:12.230 --> 00:15:21.559 him To write these words. God is good. Amen. 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:28.259 God is good. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord. For 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:33.799 he is good. And his mercy endures forever. He 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:37.940 could have declared his omniscience, his omnipotence. 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:40.759 power, and all those attributes. He could have 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:43.700 declared it. He could have declared his wisdom 00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:46.600 and his knowledge above everything that exists. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.740 He could have proclaimed the transcendent. power 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:52.919 of the God in whom he serves, but no, the Holy 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:56.460 Ghost said just tell them that he's good. Why? 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:59.940 Because there come a time in the life of my children 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:03.960 when chaos has engulfed them and troubles overweighed 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:07.059 them and hardship and heartache has got them 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:09.840 down in the lowest valley that they can pick 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:12.179 up and read the word that you penned, David. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:17.019 Holy Ghost, move on him to ride. Oh, give thanks 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:22.090 unto the Lord. For he is good. Hallelujah. I 00:16:22.090 --> 00:16:24.549 want somebody to know it in spite of the hell 00:16:24.549 --> 00:16:27.769 that you're going through. Give thanks unto the 00:16:27.769 --> 00:16:31.370 Lord. Why? Because he transcends above every 00:16:31.370 --> 00:16:46.690 issue and dilemma of this life. Well, my God. 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.000 and gods of this world, the gods of flesh and 00:16:54.000 --> 00:17:01.460 stone, wood and rubble. He's good. Unlike the 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:04.119 devil that's out trying to kill, steal, and destroy 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:08.259 everything about you and around you, God is good. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:11.779 And the Holy Ghost knew it and said, write it 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:21.259 down. Unlike humanity, God is good. My Lord, 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:23.539 I'm stirred. I don't know how I'm getting here, 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:26.859 but maybe the Lord will stir me. I don't want 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:29.480 to get ahead of myself. I'll try to hold on to 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:34.920 that one. Psalm 73 and 1. Truly God is good to 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:37.480 Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:42.660 Even to such as are of a clean heart. He's good 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:50.069 to Israel and anybody else that loves him. To 00:17:50.069 --> 00:17:57.089 such that are of a clean heart. 105, the psalmist 00:17:57.089 --> 00:18:00.609 said, For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, 00:18:00.970 --> 00:18:04.289 and his truth endureth to all generations. Try 00:18:04.289 --> 00:18:07.329 not to get hung up here. Psalm 135 and 3 says, 00:18:07.410 --> 00:18:10.769 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. Are you 00:18:10.769 --> 00:18:13.710 about to see a theme here? For the Lord is good, 00:18:13.769 --> 00:18:18.450 same praise is unto his name. 145 and 9 declares 00:18:18.450 --> 00:18:21.880 that the Lord is good to all. and his tender 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:26.579 mercies are over all his works. Lamentations 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:30.180 3 and 25 declares it. The Lord is good unto them 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:34.140 that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:37.700 Hallelujah. He's good. Mark declares in 10 and 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:42.099 18, there is none good but one, and that is God. 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:45.319 Hallelujah. I think the Holy Ghost knew exactly 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:48.200 what he was doing when he inspired David to put, 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:52.049 oh, give thanks unto the Lord. for he is good. 00:18:52.309 --> 00:18:54.789 You could put an exclamation right there and 00:18:54.789 --> 00:18:57.289 not go any further. You could stop right there 00:18:57.289 --> 00:18:59.630 and get precisely to the point. But it would 00:18:59.630 --> 00:19:02.849 be through that whole chapter of 118 that causes 00:19:02.849 --> 00:19:05.890 inspiration to come into an overwhelmed soul 00:19:05.890 --> 00:19:09.150 when he says, I'll put my trust in the Lord and 00:19:09.150 --> 00:19:12.190 not in the chariots of men. Come on. I'll put 00:19:12.190 --> 00:19:15.250 my trust in the Lord and not in the princes of 00:19:15.250 --> 00:19:18.309 this world. I'm going to trust God. And then 00:19:18.309 --> 00:19:19.670 that's when he would get down. down there a little 00:19:19.670 --> 00:19:22.450 further in 22. He says, the stone which the builders 00:19:22.450 --> 00:19:25.269 rejected and refused has become the headstone 00:19:25.269 --> 00:19:29.819 of the corner. This is the Lord. It is marvelous 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:32.720 in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.519 made, and we will rejoice and be exceeding glad. 00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:39.740 Save me now, I beseech thee. You can't read those 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:42.779 words and remain down and out. If you can, you've 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:45.359 got a greater problem. Your whole trust is not 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:48.119 in God. When you begin to read the inspiration 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:51.579 of the Holy Ghost on a man who was troubled in 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:54.920 most of his life, but overwhelmed in his praises, 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:58.490 you can't stay down. You'll pick up your head 00:19:58.490 --> 00:20:02.289 because you'll begin to know how good God is. 00:20:09.069 --> 00:20:13.390 If all that's not sufficient enough to make the 00:20:13.390 --> 00:20:19.829 point, if we could do interviews, you would begin 00:20:19.829 --> 00:20:26.220 to pose questions to people like Moses. When 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:28.680 you would ask Moses, is God good? Was God ever 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:33.519 good to you? Oh, Moses would say, well, I reckon. 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:37.339 When I was just born, wasn't even weaned yet. 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:41.519 Pharaoh declared a death sentence over my life. 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:49.279 God was good to me. He spared me. Some of you 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:52.779 had death sentences over your life. And God being 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:55.700 good to you. You're sitting right here in spite 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:58.180 of your own stupid self. Come on, I'm talking 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:01.099 about my own self. In spite of my own stupid 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:05.000 self, God was good to me. Amen. He could have 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:07.740 took me out a long time ago. All he would have 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:10.799 had to do was pick up that hand of mercy, and 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:14.099 I would have took myself out. Oh, and I know 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:16.500 looking around this room, there's enough of you 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:19.859 with the same testimony. Had God not extended 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:22.759 that mercy and his goodness into your heart and 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:25.470 just let you go, on about your own stupid way, 00:21:25.609 --> 00:21:28.549 you'd have took care of yourself. But thank God. 00:21:28.630 --> 00:21:32.710 Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for he is good 00:21:32.710 --> 00:21:37.670 because his mercy endures forever. It's the goodness 00:21:37.670 --> 00:21:40.849 of God. That's the only reason you're here. Get 00:21:40.849 --> 00:21:43.650 your head up, your lip off the ground. Lift up 00:21:43.650 --> 00:21:45.990 your eyes as the psalmist would declare. Under 00:21:45.990 --> 00:21:49.009 the hills from which cometh your help, your help 00:21:49.009 --> 00:21:57.759 comes from the Lord. If the people and nation 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:01.240 of Israel were to actually be honest with that 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:04.119 question, they cannot deny the goodness of God. 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:09.519 They would have to tell you that while we wandered 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:17.039 in disobedience in the Sinai wilderness, we eat 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:23.750 angel food cake every day. Huh? Uh -huh. I'm 00:22:23.750 --> 00:22:25.690 not much for it. It's just an old sponge cake. 00:22:25.829 --> 00:22:27.349 They can call it angel food if they want to. 00:22:31.390 --> 00:22:34.589 They would tell you that we didn't have to worry 00:22:34.589 --> 00:22:37.130 about setting up our weaver's mill and harvesting 00:22:37.130 --> 00:22:40.650 the wool to make more clothes because our clothes 00:22:40.650 --> 00:22:46.130 never wore out. Some of them big -footed fellas 00:22:46.130 --> 00:22:48.869 could testify to the goodness in God and say, 00:22:48.970 --> 00:22:51.170 you know, I was born wearing about a size 7. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:54.220 By the time I come full grown, that baby was 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:57.480 a 14 and a half. But you know, that is the same 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:00.680 pair of Jerusalem cruisers that I had at seven. 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:06.900 And the leather just as good as it were the day 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:09.940 I put them on my foot. Why? Because our shoes 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:12.839 didn't wear out. Brethren, there would be more 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:16.079 spaces in many a closet in this room if they 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:21.240 could just deal with one pair. But God, I don't 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:24.339 know that he's in one pair anymore. I think he's 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:29.119 moved on. Some of you sitting here chuckling, 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:38.799 thinking, 20, 30, 35. You need a closet just 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:43.660 for them. You could pose that same question about 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:45.779 the goodness of God to the psalmist David again. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:48.660 And his story would continue on. He said, look, 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:51.519 God's good to me. Why do you think over here 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:55.000 in the 118th chapter I've not forgot about how 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:57.799 good God is? If it was David who penned this 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.660 psalm, who knows? It really doesn't matter if 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:01.779 it was him or one of the others. It's somebody 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:04.640 who had either faced a bear or a lion. If it 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.000 was David, he'd say, look, I faced a bear and 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:09.700 a lion, and the goodness of God delivered them 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:12.690 into my hand. And don't get me down to the valley 00:24:12.690 --> 00:24:16.490 of Elah where this uncircumcised Philistine is 00:24:16.490 --> 00:24:20.509 cussing and rebuking God with profanities in 00:24:20.509 --> 00:24:23.750 the army of God. Don't get me down there. There's 00:24:23.750 --> 00:24:26.130 something that rose up in me when the hand of 00:24:26.130 --> 00:24:29.329 God was upon me and it drove me to the valley 00:24:29.329 --> 00:24:32.190 and the goodness of God and the perversion and 00:24:32.190 --> 00:24:34.789 the voice of the Philistine who declared he would 00:24:34.789 --> 00:24:37.420 feed me. to the dogs and the birds of the air. 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:39.880 There's something rose up in me, which was the 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:42.539 goodness of God that declared, you come to me 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:46.480 with spirit and a sword, but I come to you in 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:49.319 the name of the Lord. This battle doesn't belong 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:52.579 to me, but the victory belongs unto God. You 00:24:52.579 --> 00:25:03.259 are mine today. I didn't know we was going to 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:09.279 get this involved. stirring up something down. 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:11.720 We ain't even got to mercy yet. We still on the 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:16.299 goodness of God. We got three whole pages left 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:22.319 and 15 minutes. You can pose that question to 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:30.900 Abraham. Abraham! Is God good? Has God been good 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:36.240 to you? Well, I just don't know what to tell 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:40.680 you. How good he's been to me. Let me just give 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:44.339 you one little insight. I've waited until I was 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:48.559 nearly 100 years old for this boy. And one day, 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:52.039 God, the same voice that I heard say, Come out 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:54.779 of the land of Ur of the Chaldee. I'll show you 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:57.940 a country. And everywhere your foot lands belongs 00:25:57.940 --> 00:26:01.119 to you. And lift up your eyes and tell me if 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:03.220 you can count the stars in the heaven. Well, 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:06.160 just get you a handful of sand and tell me if 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:08.900 you can count every grain. I here declare to 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:11.759 you this message today. Here's my declaration 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:15.720 to you. Is that the stars and the sand, your 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:18.460 descendants will be numbered as great as. Hallelujah. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.450 They will be more. And I'll tell you how good 00:26:22.450 --> 00:26:25.190 he is on the same day that I heard the voice 00:26:25.190 --> 00:26:28.369 from heaven tell me to take your son, thine only 00:26:28.369 --> 00:26:31.730 son Isaac, up to the Mount of Moriah and offer 00:26:31.730 --> 00:26:34.509 him there. When we got to the foot of the mountain, 00:26:34.609 --> 00:26:37.230 I didn't know what to say to Isaac. When he looked 00:26:37.230 --> 00:26:40.289 at me and said, Dad, I've got the wood, you've 00:26:40.289 --> 00:26:43.789 got the fire, but where is our sacrifice? All 00:26:43.789 --> 00:26:46.430 I could do was think about the goodness of God 00:26:46.430 --> 00:26:50.609 and tell Isaac, God will provide for him. himself 00:26:50.609 --> 00:26:53.710 a sacrifice. And every step we were taking up 00:26:53.710 --> 00:26:56.490 the mountain, there was a ram coming up the backside 00:26:56.490 --> 00:27:00.170 and he met us in the thicket on top. I'm telling 00:27:00.170 --> 00:27:03.569 you, God is good. When I had my hand raised to 00:27:03.569 --> 00:27:06.950 the skies to take the blow that God had ordered 00:27:06.950 --> 00:27:09.910 me to take, the angel of the Lord stayed my hand 00:27:09.910 --> 00:27:13.509 and showed me the ram. Why? Because God himself, 00:27:14.029 --> 00:27:17.970 Jehovah Jireh is his name. The Lord will see 00:27:17.970 --> 00:27:20.930 and the Lord shall. Now provide. He provided 00:27:20.930 --> 00:27:29.569 for himself. That's how good he is. That's how 00:27:29.569 --> 00:27:35.049 good he is. So many others we could pose that 00:27:35.049 --> 00:27:38.789 question to. And I know that there are things 00:27:38.789 --> 00:27:47.269 that we could complain about. You've got stuff. 00:27:48.809 --> 00:27:53.769 That you can moan and groan and whine and bellyache 00:27:53.769 --> 00:28:00.069 about. And here's the thing. We do. That's part 00:28:00.069 --> 00:28:04.470 of our dilemma. Thus the reason we are as low 00:28:04.470 --> 00:28:09.130 as we are in life sometimes. Because do we truly 00:28:09.130 --> 00:28:13.970 trust God or not? Is he all that other stuff 00:28:13.970 --> 00:28:17.809 that we've done covered? If he is, get over ourself. 00:28:18.329 --> 00:28:22.789 Amen. We need to get over ourselves. I know there 00:28:22.789 --> 00:28:25.210 are things in life that we could complain about. 00:28:25.369 --> 00:28:28.529 But it's God who declares in this life you shall 00:28:28.529 --> 00:28:31.589 have tribulation. But he said be of good cheer. 00:28:31.750 --> 00:28:34.049 He didn't say whine about it. He didn't say moan 00:28:34.049 --> 00:28:36.390 about it. He didn't say gripe and complain about 00:28:36.390 --> 00:28:40.190 it. He said be of good cheer. I have overcome 00:28:40.190 --> 00:28:43.910 the world. And the peace that I have, I give 00:28:43.910 --> 00:28:47.029 unto you. Not as the world grants peace, but 00:28:47.029 --> 00:28:49.390 it's my peace. And then I can see God on the 00:28:49.390 --> 00:28:51.650 throne of eternity sometimes saying, well, am 00:28:51.650 --> 00:28:54.410 I not good enough for you? What else is there? 00:28:54.509 --> 00:28:56.769 And if I'm not good enough for you, then there's 00:28:56.769 --> 00:28:59.710 nothing in this world that I have created and 00:28:59.710 --> 00:29:02.309 which I transcend over that's going to satisfy 00:29:02.309 --> 00:29:05.130 you. Come on, church of the living God. Come 00:29:05.130 --> 00:29:07.990 on, saints of God. We could complain. We could 00:29:07.990 --> 00:29:11.269 gripe. bellyache or we could give thanks unto 00:29:11.269 --> 00:29:16.190 the Lord for he is good get over move on lift 00:29:16.190 --> 00:29:30.470 up and procession we could say why us and the 00:29:30.470 --> 00:29:38.049 devil tempted run that through my mind Haven't 00:29:38.049 --> 00:29:43.829 we been through enough? Haven't we dealt with 00:29:43.829 --> 00:29:51.170 enough? Haven't you had enough trouble? Heartache 00:29:51.170 --> 00:29:54.890 and trial? Oh, he sets and perches on that shoulder 00:29:54.890 --> 00:29:56.829 and whispers in your ear. He don't whisper, he 00:29:56.829 --> 00:29:59.930 shouts. Because he wants you to know what he 00:29:59.930 --> 00:30:03.690 thinks about your situation. He wants you to 00:30:03.690 --> 00:30:09.349 know. Amen? He does. And he wants you to begin 00:30:09.349 --> 00:30:16.990 to question the goodness of God. It's not to 00:30:16.990 --> 00:30:19.549 say that the overwhelming factors of life don't 00:30:19.549 --> 00:30:23.289 cause tears to come because we've cried our share. 00:30:24.569 --> 00:30:35.130 Huh? We give it one night. From about 1 .30 in 00:30:35.130 --> 00:30:38.869 that afternoon. To the coming up of the sun of 00:30:38.869 --> 00:30:43.170 the following day. That was our only time. And 00:30:43.170 --> 00:30:45.650 that was what I gave it. Because it was a load. 00:30:46.769 --> 00:30:51.589 And we cried, didn't we, baby? But in them tears, 00:30:51.730 --> 00:30:53.930 I never said, why us, God? Matter of fact, I 00:30:53.930 --> 00:30:58.069 looked at her and said, why not? Who are we? 00:31:01.089 --> 00:31:04.240 Who are you? Think about it. Do we think we're 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:08.579 the only people who have ever faced trials? Oh, 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:10.259 the devil tries to make you think you're the 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:14.059 only one. Oh, yeah. And then if you're full of 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:18.140 yourself, you'll believe it. But if you're full 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:24.400 of the Holy Ghost. You'll give it just a little 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:26.900 bit of time. You'll reflect on it for just a 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:30.839 moment. And the scripture declared, blessed are 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:34.119 those that mourn. You can mourn, but my God, 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:37.500 get up out of your wallowing after a season because 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:41.799 they shall. I'll be comforted. Don't mourn over 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:44.460 what you've lost in this life. Don't mourn what's 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:47.339 been taken away. Don't mourn over loved ones 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:50.579 past the time. Look up to the heaven and give 00:31:50.579 --> 00:32:00.599 God the glory because God is good. Ain't no one 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:02.000 of us in here that ain't got something to complain 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:07.119 about. I've been praying over your house. I'm 00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:09.480 about tired of the devil just... using your place 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:12.940 as a doormat for sickness. So just know there's 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:16.420 some agreement going on. Hallelujah. In the name 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:23.359 of Jesus is what I'm declaring. Hallelujah. We 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:25.480 might save mercy for next week. We're just hung 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:38.049 up on the goodness of God. He's good. And I am 00:32:38.049 --> 00:32:40.750 determined to thank him because of his goodness. 00:32:42.349 --> 00:32:48.589 In spite of the tribulations of this world that 00:32:48.589 --> 00:32:52.690 you know were coming. Come on now, I've been 00:32:52.690 --> 00:32:56.869 telling you for seven years almost. This isn't 00:32:56.869 --> 00:32:59.329 just the high life, it isn't just the roses. 00:33:00.410 --> 00:33:05.559 There's thorns when you pick roses. You're going 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:09.779 to give some blood if you're not careful to get 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:13.960 the beauty on the end of the stem. My God, you're 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:17.640 going to bleed in this life. Why, pastor? Because 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:21.200 there's a devil out there trying to kill you. 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:28.420 I love that the Lord will just show me light 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:33.519 bulbs coming on. That time some of us figured 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:36.839 this out. Why do you think you're tempted to 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:40.480 go back into that mess so bad? It's not for your 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:45.660 well -being. None of that garbage ever treated 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:51.500 you anything but wrong. None of it. And you won't 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:59.980 actually go back to that. My Lord. That really 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:04.059 tells God what you actually think about him. 00:34:13.190 --> 00:34:16.730 But this position of the goodness of God and 00:34:16.730 --> 00:34:20.230 you thanking God for that goodness is on you. 00:34:21.989 --> 00:34:31.789 It's on me. It's a choice that you make. It's 00:34:31.789 --> 00:34:36.269 a choice that I make. Oh, you can wallow in your 00:34:36.269 --> 00:34:40.409 self -pity. The whole time the devil that pulls 00:34:40.409 --> 00:34:42.610 you back into that mess is sitting over at us. 00:34:43.389 --> 00:34:45.769 giggling and sniggering and laughing at you as 00:34:45.769 --> 00:34:50.889 you destroy yourself, as you empty your soul 00:34:50.889 --> 00:34:53.070 of the joy of the Lord. We was riding down the 00:34:53.070 --> 00:34:55.329 road, I think it was maybe Thursday. We was headed 00:34:55.329 --> 00:34:57.150 back and forth doing one of the errands, and 00:34:57.150 --> 00:35:02.110 there was just something. The joy of the Lord 00:35:02.110 --> 00:35:07.309 just was in the truck. And I just couldn't help, 00:35:07.409 --> 00:35:11.550 just the joy of the Lord. So much around that 00:35:11.550 --> 00:35:14.510 would... drain all of that out but we're driving 00:35:14.510 --> 00:35:17.369 down the road and I tell this guy I do not know 00:35:17.369 --> 00:35:21.670 what it is but the joy of the Lord is as near 00:35:21.670 --> 00:35:27.090 on me as I have felt him in years I just felt 00:35:27.340 --> 00:35:30.719 good, felt energized. Why? Because you've got 00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:34.000 to let your bucket down in the well. You've got 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:36.639 to let your bucket down. Isaiah 12 tells you, 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:40.340 let down your bucket down into the well of the 00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:43.719 joy of your salvation. And I've been marinating 00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:46.400 in my mind the goodness of God all week, and 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:48.940 it's been two weeks since I've got to let this 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:52.340 out, and it just rises up in me to let me know 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:55.460 the ethos of a warrior. One of those characteristics 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:58.619 was to be a warrior. warrior of praise. And you 00:35:58.619 --> 00:36:02.880 can't praise God unless you thank God. Unless 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:05.300 you're thankful for everything that's coming 00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:07.760 into your life. I'm thankful for the trial. Why? 00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:11.079 Because it's honing my faith. It's sharpening 00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:25.820 my prayer life. In everything give thanks. In 00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:31.329 everything Give thanks. This is the will of God 00:36:31.329 --> 00:36:42.309 in Christ Jesus. Quit complaining about it and 00:36:42.309 --> 00:36:45.570 start thanking God for it. Well, I'm not thankful 00:36:45.570 --> 00:36:50.550 for that. Well, you might as well be because 00:36:50.550 --> 00:36:55.739 God's doing something in you through it. Why 00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:59.179 do you think that Romans 8 .28 is such an indictment 00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:01.719 to the goodness of God over the influences of 00:37:01.719 --> 00:37:06.420 the enemy? All things. Could you put that up 00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:09.360 on the screen, Samuel? Romans 8 .28. Put that 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:12.920 up for me, brother, if you can. I don't know. 00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:17.639 I won't look at it. Since we're not going into 00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:19.980 mercy today, let's take a little bit more time. 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:23.019 I've got four more minutes. On the goodness of 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:24.739 God. You want to see the goodness of God? Right 00:37:24.739 --> 00:37:30.980 here you go. And we know. It's in the book. If 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:34.440 you don't know this, it's your fault. It's written 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:39.460 plain. Pick a thing up and read it. I've quoted 00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:41.079 it. Ain't no telling how many times. Brother 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:43.679 Randy quotes it on Wednesday. And I'm sure Brother 00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:45.599 George and he in their Sunday school class has 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:53.239 quoted it. It's everywhere. And we know. work 00:37:53.239 --> 00:37:57.179 together for what? There's none good but who? 00:37:58.239 --> 00:38:04.840 All things work together for God. To those who 00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:09.980 love God. Let me just show of hands. Do you love 00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:16.539 God? Do you love? Are you hearing me? It's sort 00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:18.659 of like when Jesus was talking to Peter. He says, 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:27.199 Peter, do you love me? Do you love? Do you really 00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:34.099 love God? To those who are the called according 00:38:34.099 --> 00:38:38.960 to his purpose. You see, the misconception in 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:47.460 Christendom is that this is about us. The only 00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:52.269 part of us that this is about. is redemption. 00:38:53.730 --> 00:38:59.829 After that, it's all him. We turn and reflect 00:38:59.829 --> 00:39:06.070 everything to him. The only thing about this 00:39:06.070 --> 00:39:10.730 concerning you is redemption. And if he never 00:39:10.730 --> 00:39:13.769 answered another prayer other than that sinner's 00:39:13.769 --> 00:39:18.170 prayer, how good is God? But in spite of just 00:39:18.170 --> 00:39:24.230 that. All things work together for good. All 00:39:24.230 --> 00:39:29.869 those things transpiring in your life ain't no 00:39:29.869 --> 00:39:33.230 good in what we're dealing with. Somehow or another 00:39:33.230 --> 00:39:34.670 it's going to get together with the goodness 00:39:34.670 --> 00:39:36.570 of God and it's going to turn out good. I don't 00:39:36.570 --> 00:39:42.050 know what it's going to be, but it will be. Whatever's 00:39:42.050 --> 00:39:48.809 going on in your life, the object, The situation, 00:39:49.010 --> 00:39:55.929 the issue may not be good, but for somehow, and 00:39:55.929 --> 00:40:00.469 it's in the wisdom of God, good is going to come 00:40:00.469 --> 00:40:05.750 out of what's going on in your life if you allow 00:40:05.750 --> 00:40:11.630 it. I've quit preaching and gone to teaching 00:40:11.630 --> 00:40:20.309 now. A statement for you to remember for next 00:40:20.309 --> 00:40:27.170 week. Is when God. I don't want to get it wrong. 00:40:29.030 --> 00:40:36.889 When God grants mercy. When God grants mercy. 00:40:38.309 --> 00:40:50.559 He extends grace. That's goodness. So in reality, 00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:56.739 where you're at right now, it's going to turn 00:40:56.739 --> 00:41:05.000 out good for good because for some reason, whatever 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:10.019 it is, is working out his purpose for our lives. 00:41:11.639 --> 00:41:17.460 I didn't say I liked it. Pose that question in 00:41:17.460 --> 00:41:29.610 the interview. But I have chosen to give thanks 00:41:29.610 --> 00:41:35.590 to the Lord. In an era where churches are closing 00:41:35.590 --> 00:41:39.349 by the hundreds and thousands every year, Hopewell 00:41:39.349 --> 00:41:46.130 is still open. Many churches never opened up 00:41:46.130 --> 00:41:50.630 after the pandemic. They're still shuttered to 00:41:50.630 --> 00:41:56.030 this day. But not only did something terrible 00:41:56.030 --> 00:42:01.110 turn out to good for Hopewell, while we were 00:42:01.110 --> 00:42:10.590 overwhelmed with debt, somehow his purpose was 00:42:10.590 --> 00:42:13.590 in a shutdown to show this preacher that he was 00:42:13.590 --> 00:42:18.849 still on the throne. And a year after it, we 00:42:18.849 --> 00:42:25.849 did it free. Now. See, somehow all things work 00:42:25.849 --> 00:42:32.210 together. And so here we are. While others are 00:42:32.210 --> 00:42:36.250 closed, we're flourishing under a spirit of revival 00:42:36.250 --> 00:42:45.010 without the weight of debt. Think about that. 00:42:45.849 --> 00:42:50.030 And if he'll do that for the organizational church, 00:42:50.829 --> 00:42:53.030 What do you think he's going to do for the church 00:42:53.030 --> 00:43:02.429 itself? Us. We're the church. We're the ecclesia. 00:43:02.489 --> 00:43:06.230 You're the ecclesia. You're the called out. Called 00:43:06.230 --> 00:43:10.429 out of what? The darkness of sin. To what? Into 00:43:10.429 --> 00:43:14.590 his marvelous light. Yeah, you're not that anymore. 00:43:16.210 --> 00:43:21.000 You're not that anymore. And so now you look 00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:24.440 at what comes your way through a different lens. 00:43:27.579 --> 00:43:31.099 It's going to be good. Well, what if it kills 00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:33.460 me? Well, to be absent -bodied is going to be 00:43:33.460 --> 00:43:34.920 present with the Lord. How much better is there 00:43:34.920 --> 00:43:39.659 than that? See, it's perspective. It's how you 00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:45.019 perceive your life. Is it yours or is it his? 00:43:47.679 --> 00:43:51.079 Man, we're plowing. deep this morning. Preach 00:43:51.079 --> 00:43:53.420 hot at the front and then just sunk the plow 00:43:53.420 --> 00:43:59.880 right here to the end. That was those extra two 00:43:59.880 --> 00:44:05.739 courses and three verses that cost you. Stand 00:44:05.739 --> 00:44:11.739 with me. Next week we're going to get back into 00:44:11.739 --> 00:44:15.920 good when good is good enough. We're going to 00:44:15.920 --> 00:44:20.380 talk about that second point. The mercy of God. 00:44:21.780 --> 00:44:26.679 Because his mercy endures forever. All we need 00:44:26.679 --> 00:44:33.519 to know today is that God is good. To give thanks 00:44:33.519 --> 00:44:36.940 unto the Lord because of that goodness. So where 00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:45.440 are you? Well, you just don't know. Really? Really. 00:44:47.369 --> 00:44:49.469 Well, you're the pastor. You're supposed to be 00:44:49.469 --> 00:44:55.070 up. No, no, no, no, no, no, that no. The same 00:44:55.070 --> 00:45:02.429 blood that cleansed my sins cleansed yours. And 00:45:02.429 --> 00:45:05.690 if you've pressed through to the wonderful work 00:45:05.690 --> 00:45:10.349 of sanctification and spirit baptism, then the 00:45:10.349 --> 00:45:13.349 same Holy Ghost in me is the same Holy Ghost 00:45:13.349 --> 00:45:20.019 in you. So it's not the limitation of his power 00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:34.840 because he's omnipotent. So the onus falls on 00:45:34.840 --> 00:45:44.500 me and it falls on you. Fair? Is that not fair? 00:45:47.440 --> 00:45:58.639 Whether it's fair or not, it's truth. To those 00:45:58.639 --> 00:46:07.760 who love God. To those who are called according 00:46:07.760 --> 00:46:11.659 to His purpose. What's His purpose? He's not 00:46:11.659 --> 00:46:16.449 willing that any should perish. For God so loved 00:46:16.449 --> 00:46:18.349 the world that He gave His only begotten Son 00:46:18.349 --> 00:46:20.670 that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish 00:46:20.670 --> 00:46:24.570 but have everlasting life. Sounds like a great 00:46:24.570 --> 00:46:30.250 purpose statement. That's the purpose. And to 00:46:30.250 --> 00:46:35.789 those who love God, all things work together 00:46:35.789 --> 00:46:51.519 for good. I wonder how many of you would own 00:46:51.519 --> 00:46:55.519 up with me and say, well, it's not real good 00:46:55.519 --> 00:47:06.079 situationally. And I need a little bit of help 00:47:06.079 --> 00:47:12.159 to get over myself. You know how hard it is to 00:47:12.159 --> 00:47:15.000 admit that to yourself? Because you know you've 00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:20.119 got it all together. Like a bag of Lays, you're 00:47:20.119 --> 00:47:27.460 all in one bag sealed. You've got it. No, no. 00:47:28.699 --> 00:47:36.380 It's probably got you. And you're just coping. 00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:41.019 But do you know you don't have to just cope through 00:47:41.019 --> 00:47:45.260 life? It's not about coping, it's about victory. 00:47:49.519 --> 00:47:54.119 Be of good cheer, Jesus said. I have overcome 00:47:54.119 --> 00:47:58.679 the world. And the peace that I have, give I 00:47:58.679 --> 00:48:06.960 unto you. Not as the world, but my peace. That 00:48:06.960 --> 00:48:13.719 your joy may be full. Wow. You mean God wants 00:48:13.719 --> 00:48:15.659 me to be happy? I don't know that he's so concerned 00:48:15.659 --> 00:48:17.739 about your happiness as he is your level of joy. 00:48:18.219 --> 00:48:22.300 Because the two are not the same. There's so 00:48:22.300 --> 00:48:26.199 much in life going on that I'm not happy about. 00:48:26.420 --> 00:48:30.059 But I'm telling you the overwhelming sense of 00:48:30.059 --> 00:48:34.039 the joy of the Lord. Come in my truck the other 00:48:34.039 --> 00:48:39.820 day and has changed my perspective again. Again. 00:48:40.730 --> 00:48:44.809 You know, he'll do it again. All my life, single 00:48:44.809 --> 00:48:46.530 of that. If you need a touch from the Lord, I 00:48:46.530 --> 00:48:50.829 tell you what, we need each other. We need each 00:48:50.829 --> 00:48:53.210 other. We make this through by praying for each 00:48:53.210 --> 00:48:55.730 other. Even when we don't know that the Lord's 00:48:55.730 --> 00:48:58.710 put an extra burden of prayer on someone else 00:48:58.710 --> 00:49:02.889 for our behalf. You would be amazed at the people 00:49:02.889 --> 00:49:04.969 that are praying for you that you have no clue 00:49:04.969 --> 00:49:08.889 that God has said, you know, so and so, you may 00:49:08.889 --> 00:49:10.699 not even know them personally. But they know 00:49:10.699 --> 00:49:14.519 your face across the room. And the Lord says, 00:49:14.619 --> 00:49:20.420 pray for them. And they just pray for you. How 00:49:20.420 --> 00:49:22.480 many of you need prayer? Come here, baby. Stand 00:49:22.480 --> 00:49:24.119 down here. We need prayer. Anybody need prayer? 00:49:24.440 --> 00:49:26.840 All things are not good, but all things work 00:49:26.840 --> 00:49:32.539 together for good. Amen? Anybody? You're up against 00:49:32.539 --> 00:49:34.199 it and you're ready to get out from under it? 00:49:35.980 --> 00:49:38.579 What a great day to receive Jesus Christ as your 00:49:38.579 --> 00:49:43.780 Lord and Savior if you don't know him. If you've 00:49:43.780 --> 00:49:47.119 never repented of your sin and asked Christ into 00:49:47.119 --> 00:49:50.440 your heart, today is your day. He just wants 00:49:50.440 --> 00:49:55.639 you to know how good he really is. And for you 00:49:55.639 --> 00:49:57.380 to give thanks. You say, well, I don't have anything 00:49:57.380 --> 00:50:01.780 to be thankful for. Really? Oh, really? Well, 00:50:01.820 --> 00:50:03.460 let's sit down and start making a list of pros 00:50:03.460 --> 00:50:09.780 and cons. We got a lot to be thankful for. We 00:50:09.780 --> 00:50:18.199 had a brand new healthy grandson on Monday. And 00:50:18.199 --> 00:50:21.039 there was a scare right after the birth. And 00:50:21.039 --> 00:50:25.480 I got a lot to be thankful for today. My daughter's 00:50:25.480 --> 00:50:29.440 well. My grandson was turning a little yellow, 00:50:29.519 --> 00:50:34.280 but little sunshine took care of that. Little 00:50:34.280 --> 00:50:38.619 Jan. His mama was the same way and his uncle 00:50:38.619 --> 00:50:47.460 and his sister. So much to be thankful for. This 00:50:47.460 --> 00:50:52.079 is not the only thing going on in our life. Amen. 00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:54.960 And what's going on in your life, that's not 00:50:54.960 --> 00:50:58.800 the only thing going on. There's some good stuff. 00:50:58.900 --> 00:51:01.960 Get your eyes off that other stuff. Put your 00:51:01.960 --> 00:51:05.699 eyes on God. And give thanks unto the Lord, for 00:51:05.699 --> 00:51:10.260 he is good. And his mercy endures forever. Father, 00:51:10.460 --> 00:51:11.139 I love you today.