ASSIGNMENTS

1. Once a day read over this material and read or sing the song.

2. Keep the scripture where you will see it often each day.

3. Find a scripture each day that tells of God's goodness toward someone who did not deserve it.

4. Pray that God will continue to show you goodness and not severity, and that you will never wander from Him.

5. Write about a time you received goodness from God.

6. Plan to tell the class about a time you saw God's goodness.

e e e e e e e e e e e e e DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS

MONDAY - VERSES: Psalm 100:5; Romans 2:4 PRAYER THOUGHT: All-good God, Help me to never despise your goodness, but to allow it to lead me to repentance.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Exodus 34:6; Romans 15:14	PRAYER THOUGHT: Loving Father, Help me to be filled with goodness like you are, and let your goodness flow through me to others.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9
PRAYER THOUGHT: Creator of All That Is Good, Let your Spirit's fruit be produced in my life, and help me to grow the fruit of goodness.

THURSDAY - VERSES: Psalm 68:10; 2 Thess. 1:11	PRAYER THOUGHT: Kind Master, Thank you for counting me worthy to serve you. Help me to please you and your goodness with my life.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Hos. 3:5; James 1:17	PRAYER THOUGHT: Giver of all Good, Help me to remember that all good comes from you.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Psalm 52:1; 3 John 1:11	PRAYER THOUGHT: Rewarder of Righteousness, Help me to always follow what is good and right and avoid the evil of the world.

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Satan is ever seeking to inject that poison into our hearts to distrust God's goodness - especially in connection with his commandments. That is what really lies behind all evil, lusting and disobedience. A discontent with our position and portion, a craving for something which God has wisely held from us. Reject any suggestion that God is unduly severe with you. Resist with the utmost abhorrence anything that causes you to doubt God's love and his lovingkindness toward you. Allow nothing to make you question the Father's love for his child. - Arthur W. Pink

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 74

GOD'S GOODNESS - 1-5-14 to 1-11-14

SCRIPTURE - Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

COMMENT – It is easy for us to get sidetracked and focus only on one part of God's character. Many have rejected Christianity because they don't want to serve what they consider to be 'a mean old God that enjoys making people suffer'. On the other extreme are people who think they can do anything they want and God will be happy about it because He is so loving. Paul calls on us in this verse to keep a balanced view of God and understand that He is good, kind, loving, and forgiving; but at the same time strict, demanding, severe, and judgmental.

SONG - O THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING

1) O Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me ever to adore Thee; May I still Thy goodness prove; While the hope of endless glory, Fills my heart with joy and love.

2) Here I raise my Ebenezer: Hither by Thy help I've come; And I hope by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand'ring from the fold of God; He to rescue me from danger Interposed His precious blood.

3) O, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness like a fetter Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee. Never let me wander from Thee, Never leave the God I love; Here's my heart, O, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.

THOUGHTS

There's another beautiful picture of baptism given here: "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Did you catch it? Baptism clothes us with Christ. We're wrapped up in Jesus and all of his goodness in baptism. We're clothed with his work and his righteousness. Armani, Gucci, Abercrombie and Fitch – none of those designer labels can compare with the garments we have in Jesus. God "clothes" us with forgiveness and salvation. In other words, he says that these things are ours. They're real, just like a change of clothes. All who believe that these garments are theirs have what's needed to be part of God's family.

The Lord offers a wonderful wardrobe for his people. It's his Son's life, death, and resurrection. These are ours to "wear" spiritually. God does have a dress code for his family. This is what identifies the Christian as such. Let's face it. People often wear the clothes they do because they want to be noticed. Quite often it's the label or the name brand that supposedly makes a person a "somebody." Well, you want to be labeled as a "somebody", then be labeled as one who is wrapped up with Jesus. Be labeled with Christ. Be proud that you are a Christian. Don't be ashamed of all that Christ has done for you! God has made you part of his family.

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Often I have heard people say, "How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!" Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. "No, Corrie," said Betsie, "He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him." Corrie concludes, "There is an ocean of God's love available - there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love - whatever the circumstances." - Corrie Ten Boom

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Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of the Deity; and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing. - Francis Bacon

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The goodness of God endureth continually. - King David, Psalms 52:1

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I YAM WHAT I YAM

The sermon was over and so the preacher of a Pentecostal church asked if there is anyone who would like to standup and testify of God's goodness. No sooner had the words left his mouth than up stood an elderly lady. "Praise the Lord, Brethren, I SAY PRAISE the Lord, Brethren. I want to thank the Lord that he made me as a yam and not as a potato, oh glory; Because when I remember the words of the song Just As a Yam Without One Plea, I just have to thank him."

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There is a Peanuts comic in which Lucy has planned a picnic for the next day. She says to Charlie Brown, "I just hope to goodness that it doesn't rain ..." Walking away, Charlie answers, "Hoping to goodness is not theologically sound." Charlie's right. "Hoping to goodness" is not sound. Fixing our hope upon God is. - Robert L. Short, The Parables of Peanuts, (New York, Harper and Row, Publishers, 1968), pp. 273.

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GOD REVEALS HIS _________________

INTRODUCTION - ROMANS 11:22; PSALMS 27:13

L. S. - THE GOODNESS OF GOD CAN BE SEEN . . .

I. IN _________________ - GENESIS 1:31

II. IN THE LAWS OF NATURE - ___________ 33:5

III. IN HIS ___________ - 2 SAM. 7:28 & GEN. 9:13-15 & HEB. 13:5

IV. IN HIS WARNINGS - 2 ________________ 3:5-7

V. IN THE ____________________ - PSALMS 107:8-9, 15, 21, 31

VI. IN THE EXISTENCE OF HEAVEN - PS. 31:19 & ______ 7:13-17

VII. IN THE EXISTENCE OF __________ - REVELATION 21:8

VIII. IN THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON - ROMANS ___:___-___

IX. IN HIS PLAN FOR HIS ________________ - MATTHEW 16:18

X. IN HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN - ROM. ___:14 & GAL. 5:____

XI. IN ________________ - 2 PETER 2:9 & 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13

GOD REVEALS HIS GOODNESS

INTRODUCTION:

A. ROMANS 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

B. PSALMS 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

L. S. - THE GOODNESS OF GOD CAN BE SEEN . . .

I. IN CREATION - GENESIS 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

II. IN THE LAWS OF NATURE - PSALMS 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

III. IN HIS PROMISES - 2 SAMUEL 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

GENESIS 9:13-15 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. {14} And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: {15} And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

HEBREWS 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

IV. IN HIS WARNINGS - 2 PETER 3:5-7 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: {6} Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: {7} But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

V. IN THE REVELATION OF HIS WILL, THE BIBLE - PSALMS 107:8-9 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! {9} For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Psalms 107:15, 21, 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

VI. IN THE EXISTENCE OF HEAVEN - PSALMS 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

REVELATION 7:13-17 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? {14} And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. {15} Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. {16} They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. {17} For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

VII. IN THE EXISTENCE OF HELL - REVELATION 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

VIII. IN THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON - ROMANS 5:6-9 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

IX. IN HIS PLAN FOR HIS CHURCH - MATTHEW 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

X. IN HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN - ROMANS 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

GALATIANS 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

XI. IN TEMPTATION - 2 PETER 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

CONCLUSION:

A. SUMMARY

B. INVITATION

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

ROMANS 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.