FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Psalm 33:4, 5, 18-22; 27:13, 14; [Ecclesiastes 9:10]; Matthew 5:43-45; Romans 2:4; [Galatians 6:7]; John 3:16, 17; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:4-7; Titus 3:3-7; I John 1:5; [I John 4:8-10; James 1:13]; Luke 11:13; II Corinthians 1:3, 4; 9:8; John 8:29; Acts 10;38; Luke 4:18; Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 4:35-40; Matthew 19:16, 17; John 10:10; [Hebrews 2:14]; III John 2; II Thessalonians 1:11, 12; Romans 12:17-21; 15:13, 14; [Galatians 5:22]; Ephesians 4:32; 5:8-10; Genesis 41:38-41; 45:3-7; 50:14-21

It is vitally important for us to understand and believe that the nature of God is GOOD for two basic reasons — (1) that we may receive the blessings that He desires for us and (2) that we can imitate Him in these qualities of His goodness and kindness as we speak God’s Word and minister by way of holy spirit.

Because of so much religious influence in our society, many people think God is a vindictive God who punishes people for being wrong. Consequently, they infer that God makes people sick to teach them a lesson or humble them or even kills them because they will then be in a “better place.” All these things are unfair and a terrible misrepresentation of God and His nature. As a result of these characteristics attributed to Him, God does not get the praise He deserves. We must understand that God is good. Psalm 33:5 says the earth is full of the goodness of God. David reveals in Psalms that we are to believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. This requires an act of the heart.

With spirit in us, we have the goodness of God in us. We are to emulate God’s nature, which is good. This requires renewing our minds to God’s way of thinking. Romans 2:4 says it is the “goodness of God” that leads to repentance. Bad things will happen to good people, but this is not because it is God’s desire to hurt them. II Corinthians 1:3 exhorts us to comfort those in trouble as we have been comforted by our God, the Father of mercies. We can receive God’s best and speak the gospel of good news. God’s goodness is also not dependant upon whether or not we are worthy to receive it. It is God’s nature to be good.

Jesus Christ did not go about condemning people. Acts 10:38 says he “went about doing good.” “Like Father, like son.” His purpose was to heal and bring deliverance.

God does not look on someone who has a devil or spirit any differently than someone with the flu. Neither should we. God wants people delivered. People often refer to storms as “acts of God.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Our God is good! The true God does not possess, make sick, bring poverty, intimidate, extort, punish, cause death or stir up violent storms. John 10:10 says clearly that it is the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

In II Thessalonians 1:11, Paul’s prayer is that God would count them worthy so they could “fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness.” This refers to the gift of holy spirit which has everything to do with love, goodness, compassion, humility and meekness to our Father. Walking by the spirit of God is not an ego thing. In Galatians, one of the fruits of the spirit listed in goodness. Ephesians 5 says we are to be kind like our Father is. “Like Father, like son.”

Genesis 30-50 speaks of Joseph who had the spirit of God and clearly demonstrated God’s goodness and kindness. In spite of all the wrong done to him, he gave God all the credit for the good things he received, and thought of the bad things as a means for God to bless, protect and preserve His people.

When we are born from above, we receive God’s spirit. The nature of that spirit is good. We, too, can emulate God’s goodness in our walks.