The Glory And Goodness Of God Series

THE GLORY AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD

(March 2008 – The Filling Station Youth Conference – Pastor Chris Jordan)

INTRO TO SPEAKER AND TOPIC:

Salvation, coming to God – desire for something REAL!

OPENING TEXT:

“Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle.” (Exodus 33:7-8).

• If we want to experience God’s glory, we need to have a ‘tent of meeting.’

• Where do you meet with God? This can be your bedroom, or your iPod.

• The call to the secret place – the magnet inside of us longing to connect with God.

“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” (Ex. 33:11).

• Would you like to have a relationship with God like that? You can!

• “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.” (Romans 5:11).

“And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." And the Lord said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” (Ex. 33:18-23).

QUOTE: Charles Spurgeon, A View of God’s Glory.

“Now, what attribute is God about to show to Moses? His petition is, “Show me thy glory.” Will God show him his justice? His holiness? His wrath? His power? No. Hear the still small voice – “I will make all my goodness pass before you.” Ah! The goodness of God is God’s glory. God’s greatest glory is that he is good… “I will make all my goodness pass before you.” There is a panorama such as time would not be long enough for you to see.”

THE BIG IDEA: God is good, and His glory is His presence. Therefore, the glory of God is the goodness of the Lord manifested towards His children. This glory was most clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our response to the goodness of God is to let our lights shine before men so that they can see our good works and glorify our Heavenly Father.

“Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.” (Ex. 34:5-6).

• What did you come to this conference, “Glory” for? God wants you to know Him more!

“A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.” (Psalm 63:1-3).

• Note that the glory of God is not the power of God. We want the power, but the glory is not about the power. It’s about the goodness and presence of God.

• James and John wanted the power: “Do you want us to call down fire from Heaven?” Jesus told them they didn’t know what spirit they were of (fruit of spirit = goodness).

• The disciples rejoiced that they had power: “Even the demons are subject to us.” Jesus said don’t rejoice over that, rejoice over God’s goodness!

THE GOODNESS OF GOD DEMONSTRATED IN THE LIFE OF JESUS:

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38).