God Is Good – Period! | Stephen Prado

God is Good: Understanding Divine Goodness

Introduction and Context

• The speaker expresses gratitude for viewers joining the YouTube channel, emphasizing the message's recording during a weekly worship experience.

• The topic of discussion is introduced as "God is good," encouraging viewers to affirm this in the comments.

Nature of God's Goodness

• The speaker asserts that God is not just partially good but fully good, highlighting that goodness is an intrinsic part of God's nature.

• Believing that "God is good" means trusting that all His actions align with what is right, true, and good.

• It’s emphasized that God has no evil or darkness within Him; thus, all His intentions and plans are inherently good.

Biblical Foundations of Goodness

• The Bible states that every good gift comes from above, reinforcing the idea that all goodness originates from God.

• From creation to redemption and future glorification, God's goodness remains constant throughout biblical history.

Perspective on Life's Challenges

• The speaker clarifies that God's goodness does not depend on our circumstances; He remains good regardless of life's challenges.

• A reminder is given: just because bad things happen doesn't mean God is bad; our perception should focus on His unwavering goodness.

Importance of Focusing on God's Goodness

• Emphasizing where one focuses their perspective—on God's goodness versus life's difficulties—is crucial for spiritual health.

• Worrying about situations contradicts biblical teachings (Matthew 6), urging believers to trust in God rather than succumb to anxiety.

Supernatural Provision and Blessings

• The speaker discusses how supernatural provision stems from God's goodness, even when natural means seem exhausted.

• Many blessings in life occur independently of personal merit or prayer; they are manifestations of divine favor due to God's inherent goodness.

Conclusion: Affirmation of Faith

• Christians often respond with "God is good" followed by "all the time," reinforcing a communal affirmation of faith in His unchanging nature.

• Three key truths about God's goodness will be shared next, setting up further exploration into understanding divine benevolence.

The Goodness of God: Understanding Its Timeless Nature

God's Goodness Extends Beyond Our Time

• The speaker emphasizes that God's goodness is not limited to our current experiences but transcends time, impacting generations.

• Acknowledges the challenges people face (depression, debt, relationship issues, loss) and reassures that God's goodness remains constant despite these struggles.

• References Psalm 100:5 to illustrate that God's love and faithfulness endure forever across all generations.

• Highlights the idea that blessings received may stem from the prayers and goodness experienced by previous generations, such as one's parents or church elders.

• Suggests that personal blessings could be a result of long-standing prayers from loved ones, reinforcing the concept of intergenerational faith.

Reflection on God’s Faithfulness

• Stresses the importance of acknowledging God's glory in our successes rather than taking credit for them ourselves; doing so can halt divine favor.

• Encourages returning praise to God for answered prayers which may not directly correlate with individual efforts or requests.

• Cites Psalm 105:8 to affirm that God remembers His covenant eternally, contrasting it with human contracts which have expiration dates.

The Everlasting Covenant

• Discusses how God's promises made to figures like Abraham are remembered and fulfilled even centuries later, demonstrating His unwavering commitment.

• Emphasizes that God's memory of His covenant ensures continuity in blessings across generations, regardless of human forgetfulness.

• Points out specific biblical examples where God fulfilled promises made long ago (e.g., bringing Israelites into the promised land).

Inheritance of Blessings

• Describes how blessings are often inherited without direct effort from current generations; they are gifts based on past commitments by ancestors.

• Illustrates this point by referencing Deuteronomy's description of entering a land filled with resources provided by prior laborers (the ancestors).

Warning Against Forgetting God

• Concludes with a cautionary note about remembering God when enjoying blessings; warns against complacency after receiving abundance.

• Reiterates that many provisions come from divine promise rather than personal achievement; encourages gratitude towards God for these gifts.

The Importance of Remembering God's Blessings

The Danger of Forgetting God

• The speaker emphasizes the risk of forgetting God when enjoying blessings that were not earned, such as living in a house built by others or drinking from wells dug by others.

• A reminder is given that once we receive our prayers and blessings, we often forget the Lord who provided them.

The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

• Encouragement to plant seeds today for future harvests; even if one does not reap directly, future generations may benefit.

• Reference to the nation of Israel crossing into the Promised Land, highlighting God's faithfulness in fulfilling promises made long ago.

Understanding Harvest Time

• The joy of harvesting is discussed; it’s a time for celebration as one receives rewards for hard work.

• Not all blessings come from personal effort; many are results of others' investments and prayers on our behalf.

Timing of God's Promises

• The speaker stresses that blessings may not always arrive at expected times but will come during "due season," which is defined scripturally rather than by specific dates.

• Emphasis on waiting for God's timing, which can transcend seasons and circumstances.

Trusting in God's Goodness

• Assurance that God will fulfill His promises because He is inherently good and faithful beyond human understanding.

• Job's story serves as an example; despite immense suffering, he maintained his faith in God’s goodness amidst trials.

Understanding God's Wisdom in Times of Doubt

The Questioning of Job

• The speaker reflects on Job's doubts and accusations towards God, questioning why he has faced such suffering, including the loss of children and wealth.

• God responds to Job by challenging him with questions about the creation of the world, emphasizing His wisdom and authority over all things.

• The speaker highlights God's rhetorical questions regarding the universe's dimensions and foundations, illustrating that human understanding is limited compared to divine knowledge.

Contextual Analysis

• Scholars debate whether God's questions are directed at Job or his friend Elihu; however, the speaker believes they are indeed for Job as a reminder of his attitude towards God.

• Elihu previously reminded Job of God's greatness, suggesting that Job's perspective was flawed. This context reinforces that God's inquiries serve to correct Job’s misunderstanding.

Divine Perspective vs. Human Understanding

• The speaker emphasizes that God’s question "Who are you to question my wisdom?" illustrates humanity's limited vantage point in understanding divine plans.

• It is asserted that just because one experiences hardship does not mean God is unjust or uncaring; rather, there may be unseen reasons behind life's challenges.

Illustrating Perspectives

• An analogy is drawn between a child breaking a window and a mother doing so for safety; this demonstrates how different perspectives can lead to different interpretations of actions.

• The mother’s action (breaking the window to escape fire) shows that what seems wrong from one viewpoint may have a justified reason from another.

Cosmic Tour: Understanding Creation

• God takes Job on an extensive explanation of creation, detailing how He provides for animals and manages nature, reinforcing His intimate knowledge of every aspect of life.

• Through these explanations, it becomes clear that God's involvement in creation contradicts any notion that He neglects humanity during difficult times.

Conclusion: Acknowledgment of Limitations

• After two chapters filled with divine revelations about the universe, Job acknowledges his limitations by admitting he spoke foolishly and recognizes his inability to challenge God effectively.

Understanding God's Goodness Through Suffering

The Dialogue Between Job and God

• Job expresses his realization of God's goodness after questioning Him, acknowledging that he misunderstood God's nature.

• God challenges Job to run the universe for a day, emphasizing that the world is not predetermined and highlighting human limitations in understanding divine plans.

Trusting in Divine Wisdom

• Despite suffering, it’s crucial to trust in God's justice rather than question it; our limited perspective may hinder understanding His design.

• God asks Job if he questions divine justice, suggesting that faith is more important than comprehension.

Lessons from the Book of Job

• The Book of Job teaches that trusting in God's wisdom is essential, even when faced with inexplicable hardships.

• It emphasizes that bad things can happen to good people without undermining God's goodness.

Restoration and Blessings

• After Job's prayers for restoration, God blesses him abundantly, indicating that suffering can lead to greater blessings.

• The narrative illustrates how God restored not just what was lost but also renewed aspects of life previously taken away.

The Nature of Suffering and Redemption

• There are no meaningless sufferings; every pain has purpose within God's plan. His goodness remains constant through trials.

• Understanding God's goodness extends beyond time and human comprehension; it transcends sin and shame as well.

Grace and Repentance

• Acknowledging our shortcomings leads us to appreciate God’s grace. His mercy transforms lives from despair to hope.

• Romans 2:4 highlights how experiencing God’s goodness should lead one towards repentance rather than fear or guilt.

Misconceptions About Repentance

• Often, the church misrepresents repentance as a prerequisite for experiencing God’s love instead of recognizing it as a response to His goodness.

• True change comes from encountering Jesus Christ's love rather than merely adhering to moral standards or rules.

Testament Mindset: Understanding Repentance and God's Goodness

The Role of God's Goodness in Repentance

• The New Testament presents a mindset where experiencing God's goodness precedes repentance, contrasting with the Old Testament approach.

• Peter's encounter with Jesus after a night of unsuccessful fishing illustrates this principle; he experienced an overwhelming blessing before repenting for his sins.

• It is emphasized that recognizing God's goodness can lead to genuine life changes, altering one's thoughts and actions towards sin.

Peter's Denial and Its Implications

• Peter's denial of Jesus is highlighted as a significant moment; despite his earlier confidence, he succumbed to fear during Jesus' trial.

• The scripture details how Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, even resorting to cursing to emphasize his disavowal.

• A pivotal moment occurs when Peter makes eye contact with Jesus after denying Him, leading to deep feelings of guilt and shame.

The Nature of True Repentance

• After realizing his betrayal, Peter weeps bitterly—this emotional response signifies true repentance rather than mere regret.

• A comparison is drawn between the Old and New Testaments regarding God’s gaze; in the New Testament, it reflects grace rather than condemnation.

• This shift indicates that God sees our failures but responds with love and mercy instead of judgment.

The Prodigal Son: A Lesson in Grace

• The story of the Prodigal Son serves as an illustration of God’s unconditional love; despite the son’s waywardness, the father welcomes him back without hesitation.

• Upon losing everything in a distant land, the son realizes his mistakes while longing for basic sustenance—a metaphor for spiritual awakening through hardship.

Returning Home: Acceptance Over Judgment

• When the Prodigal Son decides to return home out of desperation for food rather than reconciliation with his father, it highlights human tendencies toward self-interest in repentance.

• His father's reaction upon seeing him from afar—filled with compassion—demonstrates unconditional love that transcends judgment or past mistakes.

The Prodigal Son: A Lesson on Grace and Repentance

The Father's Love and Acceptance

• The narrative emphasizes the father's compassion as he embraces his son before any confession of sin, illustrating unconditional love.

• Unlike traditional views of repentance, the father approaches the son first, symbolizing God's proactive grace rather than waiting for a sinner to return in shame.

• This story serves as a reminder that everyone is a recipient of God's love and grace, regardless of their past mistakes or sins.

Understanding Sin and Redemption

• The speaker highlights that sin does not hinder God's love; instead, it is through receiving this love that one can genuinely repent and turn away from wrongdoing.

• An invitation is extended to those burdened by guilt or shame to return to Jesus for restoration and peace, emphasizing God’s goodness beyond human understanding.

Call to Action

• The message concludes with an encouragement for viewers to engage with the community by sharing their experiences and prayer requests, fostering connection within the global family.