Embracing God's Goodness: Hope in the Messiah

Devotional

Day 1: God's Goodness as the Foundation of Faith

Understanding God's goodness is not merely an intellectual exercise but the bedrock of our relationship with Him. It fuels our desire to know, trust, and follow Him wholeheartedly. Without this recognition, our faith journey may feel burdensome rather than joyful. God's goodness is not just a theological concept but a lived reality that shapes our perception of Him and our relationship with Him. It is the assurance that He is for us, not against us, and that His intentions towards us are always loving and kind. This understanding transforms our approach to faith, making it a joyful pursuit rather than a duty.
Reflecting on God's goodness can reframe our experiences and relationships, allowing us to see His hand at work even in challenging circumstances. It invites us to trust Him more deeply, knowing that His plans for us are good. As we grow in this understanding, our faith becomes a source of joy and strength, enabling us to navigate life's ups and downs with confidence in His unwavering love. [34:27]

Psalm 34:8-10 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you struggled to see God's goodness. How might recognizing His goodness change your perspective on that situation today?

Day 2: Trusting in God's Sovereignty

The story of Ahaz reminds us of the age-old dilemma of faith—choosing between self-reliance and trusting God's promises. Ahaz's failure to trust God led to poor leadership, but Isaiah 11 offers hope in a sovereign God who acts on behalf of His people, bringing new growth from barren places. Trusting in God's sovereignty means acknowledging that He is in control, even when circumstances seem dire.
In times of uncertainty, it can be tempting to rely on our own understanding and resources. However, God's sovereignty assures us that He is working all things for our good, even when we cannot see it. This trust is not passive but active, requiring us to surrender our fears and anxieties to Him, believing that He is faithful to His promises.
As we learn to trust in God's sovereignty, we find peace in knowing that He is orchestrating our lives according to His perfect will. This trust allows us to let go of the need to control every aspect of our lives and instead rest in His capable hands. [36:41]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are struggling to trust God's sovereignty. What steps can you take today to surrender this area to Him?

Day 3: The Messiah's Righteous Judgment

The Messiah, unlike human rulers, judges with perfect righteousness because He sees the true state of our hearts. This divine insight allows Him to make just decisions, offering a model of leadership that transcends human limitations. The Messiah's judgment is not based on outward appearances but on the truth of our hearts, ensuring that His decisions are always just and fair.
This righteous judgment is a source of hope for those who have experienced injustice, as it assures us that God sees and knows the truth. It also challenges us to examine our own hearts, recognizing that God is more concerned with our inner character than our external actions.
As we reflect on the Messiah's righteous judgment, we are invited to align our lives with His values, seeking to live with integrity and authenticity. This alignment not only brings us closer to God but also transforms our relationships with others, as we strive to reflect His justice and mercy in our interactions. [45:54]

Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV): "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt misunderstood or judged unfairly. How does knowing that God sees your heart bring comfort and challenge you to live with integrity?

Day 4: Transformative Peace of the Kingdom

The reign of the Messiah brings a peace that defies natural enmity, as depicted in Isaiah's imagery of predators and prey coexisting. This peace is a hallmark of God's kingdom, inviting us to experience and anticipate its fullness. The peace of God's kingdom is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony and wholeness.
This transformative peace begins in our hearts as we allow God's love to heal our wounds and reconcile our relationships. It extends to our communities as we become agents of peace, working towards justice and reconciliation.
As we embrace the peace of God's kingdom, we are called to live as peacemakers, reflecting His love and grace in a world that is often divided and hostile. This calling challenges us to seek peace in our own lives and to extend it to others, trusting that God's kingdom is both present and yet to come. [50:10]

Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: Think of a relationship or situation in your life that lacks peace. How can you be an agent of God's transformative peace in that context today?

Day 5: Hope in God's Promises

The promise of a good king in Isaiah 11 was a source of hope for the people of Judah, and it remains so for us today. As we face uncertainties, God's goodness and the transformative power of His kingdom offer a hopeful vision for the future. Hope in God's promises is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation based on His faithfulness.
This hope sustains us in difficult times, reminding us that God's plans for us are good and that He is working all things for our ultimate good. It encourages us to persevere, knowing that our present struggles are not the end of the story.
As we hold onto hope in God's promises, we are empowered to live with purpose and joy, trusting that He is with us every step of the way. This hope not only transforms our outlook on life but also inspires us to share it with others, inviting them to experience the goodness of God. [51:12]

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

Reflection: Reflect on a promise from God that you are holding onto. How does this promise give you hope and shape your actions today?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we explored Isaiah 11, a passage that vividly portrays the character and reign of the coming Messiah, emphasizing God's goodness. This chapter is part of our Christmas series, where we've been delving into Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah. Isaiah 11 paints a picture of a king who embodies wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and the fear of the Lord. This king, unlike Ahaz, who failed to trust God, will judge with righteousness and justice, seeing beyond outward appearances to the heart of individuals.

Reflecting on my childhood, I recalled my grandfather's conviction about God's goodness, which left a lasting impression on me. This goodness is not just an intellectual concept but the foundation of our desire to know and trust God. Without recognizing God's goodness, our relationship with Jesus might feel forced rather than a willing pursuit.

Isaiah 11 was a powerful message for the people of Judah, who were under poor leadership and facing anxiety about the future. The promise of a good king who would bring peace was a beacon of hope. This passage also highlights God's sovereignty, as He humbles nations and brings new growth from seemingly lifeless places, symbolized by the shoot from the stump of Jesse.

The Messiah's reign is transformative, bringing peace that transcends natural enmity, as depicted in the imagery of predators and prey living harmoniously. This peace is a foretaste of the kingdom of God, which is both present and yet to come. As we navigate our daily lives, contemplating God's goodness can inspire hope, reframe relationships, and awaken a hunger for renewal.

Key Takeaways

1. old dilemma of faith—choosing between self-reliance and trusting God's promises. Ahaz's failure to trust God led to poor leadership, but Isaiah 11 offers hope in a sovereign God who acts on behalf of His people, bringing new growth from barren places. [36:41]
3. The Messiah's Righteous Judgment: The Messiah, unlike human rulers, judges with perfect righteousness because He sees the true state of our hearts. This divine insight allows Him to make just decisions, offering a model of leadership that transcends human limitations.

4. Transformative Peace of the Kingdom: The reign of the Messiah brings a peace that defies natural enmity, as depicted in Isaiah's imagery of predators and prey coexisting. This peace is a hallmark of God's kingdom, inviting us to experience and anticipate its fullness.

5. Hope in God's Promises: The promise of a good king in Isaiah 11 was a source of hope for the people of Judah, and it remains so for us today. As we face uncertainties, God's goodness and the transformative power of His kingdom offer a hopeful vision for the future.

** [36:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction to Isaiah 11
[02:30] - Personal Reflection on God's Goodness
[05:00] - The Dilemma of Faith: Ahaz's Choice
[07:15] - The Message of Hope in Isaiah 11
[10:00] - God's Sovereignty and New Growth
[12:30] - The Nature of the Messiah's Reign
[15:00] - Righteous Judgment of the Messiah
[18:00] - Transformative Peace in the Kingdom
[20:30] - The Present and Future Kingdom
[23:00] - Application: God's Goodness in Our Lives
[25:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
[27:00] - Invitation to Participate in Prayer Activity
[29:00] - Fellowship and Closing Remarks

Sermon Clips

But knowing God's goodness isn't just this intellectual pursuit. It's the underpinning of our desire to want to know him and want to be with him and follow him. Where we become shame, holding conviction of God's goodness leads to this desire to have this deeper sense of trust in him. [00:35:18] (21 seconds)

But see, the absence of seeing God as truly good, might mean that your relationship with Jesus might feel something more like you forced yourself to invest in, rather than freely and willing willingly running to him. Like this can happen to all of us in different seasons. [00:35:40] (17 seconds)

A big part of relationships is trust and God wanting to know the people of Israel, which includes his people of Judah, asked Israel to trust him with their safety and security. But Ahaz, this king of Judah, being spooked by these intimidating foreign armies, had this decision in front of him. [00:36:41] (22 seconds)

As we've learned, Ahaz chose to trust the foreign king over God. To the people of Judah and Isaiah, this showed that Ahaz has shown poor leadership. This story is played out, whilst the story is played out in these governing bodies, the words of Isaiah 11 are spoken to the everyday people of Judah. [00:37:43] (20 seconds)

So you can imagine now, enter this message of Isaiah 11, of this incredibly good king whose reign will cause this transcendent peace all because our faithful God has chosen to act on their behalf. And I realized that all this, this would have felt like such good news to the people of Judah. [00:39:28] (22 seconds)

So God, in his faithfulness, revealed how fragile the nations really are. And then goes on. To demonstrate how he is sovereign and trustworthy. Because now we come to Isaiah 11, where God shifts his attention to Judah. With this impending question that's on people's lips. [00:40:57] (23 seconds)

As God chopped down one nation, he will also cause a shoot to come up from the stump of Jesse. And from his roots, a branch will bear fruit. A bit of a different tone, isn't it? Now all this feels like very poetic language. Because you've got language around trees and growth. [00:41:18] (22 seconds)

The ability to judge rightly was considered a key aspect of the king's responsibility. And it's like here, the implications are that the Messiah will be able to judge rightly because he will see the true state of people's hearts. Which is just something humans simply cannot do. [00:45:54] (20 seconds)

And it's here that this perfect king looks behind all our facades and sees our hearts in the messy struggle and the sin and makes a righteous judgment. Which was and still is to draw near to his people. And that's why we have a truly good king. [00:47:38] (24 seconds)

And whilst the kingdom is both here and not yet arrived, and we live in this in -between, where we can still speak of and experience this peace of his reign, but also we can long for a greater peace to come. Isn't this just such a hopeful thing? [00:52:00] (22 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?