More Than Enough: Goodness & Gentleness
Associate Pastor Cole Parleir
Warm Up: How do you define good and gentle?
Word: Psalm 34:8-10, Matthew 11:25-30, Mark 10:17-31
Focus: God is good and gentle with us so that we can be shepherded into abundant life.
Points:
God is good
God is gentle
The Gospel of The Good Shepherd
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." "Knowledge of the Holy: What God is like" by A. W. Tozer, Caleb Sinclair -
Message
God is good (Psalm 34:8-10)
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
Psalm 34:8-10 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.34.8-10.ESV
God is good, therefore he defines what is good. (Genesis 1)
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
Genesis 1:31 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.1.31.ESV
The English definition of “good” is:
To be desired or approved of.
Having the qualities required for a particular role.
The quality of being morally good or virtuous.
"The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people."
-"Knowledge of the Holy: What God is like" by A. W. Tozer, Caleb Sinclai
God created that which he desired and approved of.
Everything God makes is perfectly equipped for the purpose in which he made it.
Did God make you?
Then he did not make a mistake.
The qualities that you have are for the particular role he created you to accomplish.
In Genesis 2 we see the battle we all face:
Will I trust God with what he says is good or will I choose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil making this choice myself?
We also see in Genesis 2 God’s first pronouncement that something is “not good”: the man alone.
We can trust that God is good all the time, even when it means telling us that something is not good.
We see God defining for us clearly what is good for food and fellowship. He has told us where and whom to draw life from.
Eat from the tree of life: the Cross.
Become a tree of life: carry your cross.
Live in the garden: God’s presence.
Commune with God’s people: the Church (the vineyard)
Work that which he plants: make disciples of all nations.
This is the good life of God.
This is the life that is blessed and multiplies into eternity.
God’s goodness is vividly displayed in the calling of Peter.
“On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.”
Luke 5:1-11 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.5.1-11.ESV
An experience of God’s goodness makes us aware of our sinfulness.
God’s goodness changes us.
His goodness is a reality to be experienced.
His goodness protects, provides, and blesses.
Have you had this kind of experience? This fear of being in the presence of a holy god while being a sinner?
When we have experienced the goodness of God we become those who have more than enough goodness to share with a corrupt, sad world in need of a good God.
God is gentle (Matthew 11:25-30)
“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””
Matthew 11:25-30 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.11.25-30.ESV
God’s gentleness is an invitation to come and rest in his goodness.
English definitions having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character.
As Adam and Eve were innocent and naked in the garden, we too can be vulnerable with a gentle God.
When we believe that God is harsh, not completely good all the time, we are afraid to stop laboring for our salvation, because we are not sure he can be trusted or if he is safe.
In contrast…
Gentleness does not mean weak.
Gentleness is a commitment to apply strength for the benefit of the beloved.
As a father of a very strong toddler, I have come to understand that my gentleness is in proportion to the strength of the person fighting against me.
Gentleness is a commitment to avoid unnecessary roughness while getting us where we need to be.
I tell my toddler “stop fighting me and trust me because I love you”.
The gentle, humble, and meek shall inherit the Earth.
““Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Matthew 5:5 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.5.ESV
The same Greek word is used by Jesus to describe who will inherit the Earth as well as his own character that brings rest to people souls.
The Gospel of The Good Shepherd (Mark 10:17-31)
“And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.””
Mark 10:17-31 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mrk.10.17-31.ESV
This wealthy young man desired eternal life, but did not desire the approval of the One who bestows it.
In essence, this young man wanted success and not life.
Do you want your idea of Heaven or do you want God’s Kingdom where Jesus His Son, the Good Shepherd, rules and serves?
“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:7-11 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.10.7-11.ESV
The Good Shepherd came to give life to this man and all who rejected him.
He does this by laying down his life for him while he’s still a sinner.
Because of God‘s goodness and gentleness today is the day of salvation.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher