MESSAGE

EXPERIENCING GOD’S ULTIMATE GOODNESS
TEXT: Exodus 33:11-19; Psalm 65:1-13, 23:1-6.
Exodus: 33. 11. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. 12. And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 13. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. 17. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 18. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Psalm: 65. 1. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. 2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. 3. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. 5. By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea: 6. Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power: 7. Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 8. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. 9. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 10. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. 11. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 12. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
Psalm: 23. 1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
ultimate: furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme (ex.: the ultimate achievement; the ultimate question; man’s ultimate destiny; the ultimate insult; one’s ultimate goal in life)
ultimate: the finest or most superior quality of its kind (ex.: the ultimate in luxury)
Goodness [n.]: The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence; virtue; kindness; benevolence; as, the goodness of timber, of a soil, of food; goodness of character, of disposition, of conduct, etc.
goodness [n.]: 1. Excellence, value, worth.

2. Righteousness, virtue, integrity, uprightness, probity, honesty, principle.
3. Kindness, benevolence, good-will, benignity, beneficence, humaneness, humanity.
   When we talk about ultimate goodness, we are talking about God bestowing on you and your family the highest level of His goodness. It is God giving you His best.
   Our God is a good God. The whole nature of God is goodness. The entire Bible is an account of God’s goodness upon humanity right from Genesis to revelation.
   It is the goodness of God that has preserved our lives till date, and it is the same goodness that will take us all through the remaining part of this year and throughout our lifetime. Lam. 3:21-25.
   Lamentations: 3. 21. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EXPERIENCE GOD’S ULTIMATE GOODNESS

1. The scriptures clearly express that God is good. Psalm 106:1, 107:1; 2 Chron.5:13.
   Psalm: 106. 1. Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
   Psalm: 107. 1. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
   2 Chronicles: 5. 13. It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
2. The entire creation of God is good. This is a testimony to the goodness of God. Gen. 1:1-31.
   Genesis: 1. 3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 10. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 12. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 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.
3. Goodness is God’s nature and characteristics. Psalm 144:1-2.
   Psalm: 144. 1. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 2. My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
4. God specializes in doing good and wonderful things. Job 37:5, Psalm 107:8,15,21,31.
   Job: 37. 5. God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
   Psalm: 107. 8. 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.
5. God gives us good and perfect gifts. James 1:17.
   James: 1. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
6. He is committed to ensuring that goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Psalm 23:6.
   Psalm: 23. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
7. He promised to crown the year with His goodness for us. Psalm 65:11-13.
   Psalm: 65. 11. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 12. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
8. He also promised to perform His good promises concerning our lives. Jer. 33:14.
   Jeremiah: 33. 14. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
9. He wants us to be satisfied with the goodness of His house. Psalm 65:4.
   Psalm: 65. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
10. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ came and showed forth God’s goodness by doing good things and healing all manner of sicknesses and disease. Act 10:38.
    Acts: 10. 38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

THE EFFECTS OR OUTCOMES OF GOD’S ULTIMATE GOODNESS IN YOUR LIFE

1. The ultimate goodness of God will cause you to be separated and distinguished from others. Your case will be different from others. Exo. 33:13-19.
2. God’s goodness will bring about deliverance and liberty to you. Exo. 18:5-10.
3. His ultimate goodness will cause you to experience and enjoy all round rest. 2 Sam. 7:1; 1 Kings 5:4; Isa. 14:1-3.
4. His goodness will bring about promotion for you. You will be taken from the backside of life to become a front liner and a ruler. 2 Sam. 7:8;
5. By the reason of God’s ultimate goodness, God presence will be with you anywhere you go. You cannot walk alone. When God is with you, who can be against you. 2 Sam. 7:9; Rom. 8:31.
6. God’s ultimate goodness will make Him to cut off all your enemies out of your sight. 2 Sam. 7:9.
7. When God’s ultimate goodness is made manifest in your life, He will make you a great name. He will cause you to experience and enjoy uncommon greatness that will make you an amazement both to yourself and your generation. 2 Sam. 7:9; Esther 10:2-3.
8. His goodness will cause you to be settled in life. You will no more be a vagabond moving up and down in life and destiny. God’s goodness will settle you. 2 Sam. 7:10.
9. God’s ultimate goodness will also build you a house. He will cause your seed (children) to be established and succeed in life. You will have a great legacy and posterity. 2 Sam. 7:11-12.
10. By the reason of God’s goodness the children of wickedness shall not afflict you any more. 2 Sam. 7:10.
11. God’s ultimate goodness will lead sinners to conviction and genuine repentance. Rom. 2:4.
12. His goodness will make you to have joy and gladness as well as untold prosperity. Jer. 33:9.