H2O Church
This is part 5 of this series in which we look at the attributes of God. In this talk we look at the GOODNESS and WILDNESS of God.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD
1. Everything God made was good.
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31).
2. God is good to everyone.
"The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (Psalm 145:9).
3. All that God is, and all that God does is good.
"You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees" (Psalm 119:68).
4. All things that are good are from God.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).
5. Goodness can come from all circumstances.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
6. The ULTIMATE expression of goodness is our SALVATION.
Background: the exodus story is THE illustration of salvation in scripture; we have a Pharaoh, Satan, who has kept us bondage, spiritual death. God sends a deliverer, not Moses, but Jesus. We walks us through the Red Sea, which represents baptism, and across a wilderness toward the Promised Land (heaven).
Exodus 14:1-16 ESV
#1—to make salvation all about God’s grace. To thrill our hearts. Bring to knees.
#2—to communicate…
YOUR SALVATION IS ABOUT YOU, BUT IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.
What this shows us is that God is good, but God is also WILD.
Description of God’s wildness= unpredictable, untamed, out of the box, dangerous.
“We live our lives before the wild, dangerous, unfettered and free character of the living God.” Walter Brueggemann
God’s wildness is seen in the Abraham story.
God’s wildness is seen in the Joseph story.
God’s ultimate expression of “wildness” is Jesus.
GOD IS unpredictable, untamed, out of the box, dangerous. But we have domesticated Him.
Culture has domesticated Him. Christian theology often domesticates God. Our wounding domesticates God in our experience. THIS IS A DANGEROUS JESUS.
“Here’s the dangerous thing about Jesus: He’s not after your behavior; he’s after your heart. Make no mistake about it. Jesus is going to relentlessly and passionately pursue your heart. Even when your behavior tricks everybody else, it just doesn’t trick Jesus. He’s coming after the heart.” Perry Noble
TRUTH; THIS IS A DANGEROUS BOOK, WHICH TELLS US OF A DANGEROUS GOD, IN ORDER TO CREATE A DANGEROUS CHURCH.
“Jesus didn’t die to make us safe. He died to make us dangerous! Faithfulness isn’t holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of hell with the light and love of Jesus Christ.” Mark Batterson
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe?! Course he isn’t safe. But he is good. He’s the King I tell you!”