Embracing God's Goodness Through Change and Testimony

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Goodness and Faithfulness Never Fail

Even through seasons of loss, hardship, and unanswered questions, God’s goodness and mercy continue to pursue His people, providing for them in unexpected ways and never abandoning them, no matter their circumstances. [01:46:58]

Psalm 37:25 (ESV)
"I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread."

Reflection: When have you experienced God’s goodness pursuing you, even when you were tired, discouraged, or running from His blessings? Can you thank Him for a specific moment today?

Day 2: The Power of Unity and Diversity in the Church

God’s design for His church is a multiracial, multigenerational, and cross-cultural community, where the Holy Spirit unites people beyond their backgrounds, creating a place where His presence is tangibly felt and lives are transformed. [02:00:40]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Is there someone in your church community who is different from you in background or culture? How can you intentionally build a bridge of friendship or understanding with them this week?

Day 3: Spiritual Warfare Requires Spiritual Weapons

Believers face real spiritual opposition, but God has equipped them with powerful spiritual weapons—prayer, the Word, worship, and prophecy—that are mighty to demolish strongholds and bring freedom. [02:22:04]

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense spiritual resistance? How can you use a spiritual weapon—like prayer, worship, or declaring God’s Word—against it today?

Day 4: God Brings New Wine in New Wineskins

God calls His people to be open to new moves of His Spirit, allowing Him to soften and prepare their hearts for fresh outpourings, even if it means letting go of old ways and embracing change. [02:16:30]

Luke 5:37-38 (ESV)
"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins."

Reflection: Where in your spiritual life have you become hardened or resistant to change? What is one step you can take to let God soften and renew your heart for what He wants to do next?

Day 5: Your Testimony Becomes Prophecy for Others

The story of what God has done in your life is not just for you—it becomes a prophetic encouragement to others, declaring that if God did it before, He can do it again in someone else’s life. [02:20:21]

Revelation 19:10b (ESV)
"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear your story of God’s faithfulness? Can you share a specific testimony with them this week to encourage their faith?

Sermon Summary

The goodness of God is not just a phrase we sing, but a reality that pursues us through every season of life. Even in the midst of trials, loss, and unanswered questions, God entrusts us with testimonies that become a light for others. Sometimes, the very things we run from—His blessings, His voice, His presence—are the things He is running after us to give. Our lives are marked by His faithfulness, and as we look back, we see that He has never forsaken the righteous or left His children begging for bread.

The story of this church is a testament to God’s ability to birth new things in unexpected places and through unexpected people. From a single mother from Canada, God raised up a multiracial, multigenerational congregation in a time and place where such unity was rare. This house pioneered worship, prophetic ministry, and social justice, not by following trends, but by listening to the Spirit and saying yes to God’s new wine. The innovations birthed here have gone out to the world, transforming worship, prophecy, and community in places far beyond these walls.

Yet, with every new move of God comes the challenge of change. Like old wineskins, we must be willing to be softened, soaked in the river of God, and made ready for what He wants to pour out next. Sometimes, saying “yes” to God leads us through hallways of uncertainty and pain, but on the other side, we find ourselves in places of greater blessing and deeper purpose. Our testimonies become prophecies for others: if God did it before, He can do it again.

We are called to be negotiators of culture, translators of the kingdom, and disruptors who adjust the song to the sound of the world around us. The Spirit is moving, and God is inviting us to expect miracles, signs, and wonders—not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come. No matter our past failures or disappointments, God still has a good for us that is better than anything we can imagine. The best is yet to come, and as we yield to the Spirit, we become part of a story that is still being written.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Goodness Pursues Us Relentlessly Even when we are weary, discouraged, or even running from His blessings, God’s goodness and mercy are actively pursuing us. Sometimes, we miss His gifts because we are too focused on our own exhaustion or pain, but He finds ways to reach us, even in the “green rooms” of our lives. Our testimonies in the midst of trials become a beacon for others, showing that God can be trusted to bring us through every season. [103:44]
2. The Power of Pioneering Obedience God often births new movements and innovations through those willing to say yes, even when it means going against the grain. This house became a birthplace for multiracial unity, prophetic ministry, and creative worship because people were willing to pioneer what others had not seen. True spiritual legacy is not about copyrighting what God gives, but about generously sharing it so that others can be transformed. [113:12]
3. Embracing Change and the Process of Renewal To receive the “new wine” of God’s Spirit, we must allow ourselves to be softened and renewed. This process can be uncomfortable—like the wineskin being soaked, pounded, and oiled—but it prepares us for the fresh outpouring God desires to bring. The willingness to be changed, to yield our hard places, is what positions us for the next move of God. [128:44]
4. Testimony as Prophecy: The Power of Story Our stories of deliverance, healing, and transformation are not just personal—they become prophetic declarations for others. When we share what God has done, we invite others to believe that He can do it again in their lives. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and as we tell the story, we create an atmosphere where faith rises and miracles happen. [140:21]
5. Adjusting to the Sound of the Culture with the Song of the Kingdom Rather than trying to change the “sound” of the world around us, God calls us to bring the song of the kingdom into that sound. This means being innovative, adaptable, and willing to translate the gospel in ways that resonate with the culture, while still carrying the power and presence of God. In times of disruption and innovation, God entrusts His people to be creative agents of His glory. [151:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[100:52] - Singing of God’s Goodness
[103:44] - Testimonies in the Darkness
[105:52] - God’s Blessings Chase Us
[108:10] - Reflections on God’s Faithfulness
[113:12] - Pioneering a New Kind of Church
[117:21] - Breaking Racial Barriers
[120:40] - The Power of God’s Presence
[122:44] - Worship and Prophetic Innovation
[128:44] - Embracing Change and Renewal
[132:56] - Deliverance and the Power of the Spirit
[137:55] - The Hallway Between Doors
[140:21] - Testimony as Prophecy
[143:14] - God’s Redemption in Our Stories
[151:05] - Adjusting the Song to the Sound
[154:09] - Expecting a Greater Harvest
[162:46] - A Prophetic Declaration for the Future

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 23:6 (ESV) — > Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

2. Psalm 37:25 (ESV)
> I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

3. Revelation 19:10b (ESV)
> For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 23:6, what does David say will follow him all the days of his life?
According to the sermon, what are some specific ways God’s goodness “runs after” us, even when we are tired or discouraged? [[01:45:52]]
What was unique about the way this church was started and the kind of community it became? [[01:53:12]]
How does the sermon describe the process of being made ready for “new wine” from God? [[02:08:44]]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean that “goodness and mercy shall follow me”? How might this look in someone’s life during hard times? [[01:45:52]]
The sermon says our testimonies can become “prophecies” for others. What does that mean, and how does it connect to Revelation 19:10? [[02:20:21]]
Why do you think God often chooses to birth new things through unexpected people or places, as seen in the story of this church? [[01:53:12]]
The process of change is compared to a wineskin being softened and pounded. What might be some “hard places” in our lives that God wants to soften? [[02:08:44]]

Application Questions

The sermon shared a story about running from a blessing because of exhaustion. Have you ever missed or resisted something good God was trying to give you because you were tired, discouraged, or distracted? What would it look like to be more open to God’s goodness in those moments? [[01:45:52]]
The church’s story is one of pioneering new things—worship, prophecy, unity. Is there an area in your life or in our church where you sense God might be calling you to “pioneer” or say yes to something new, even if it feels uncomfortable? [[01:53:12]]
The sermon talked about embracing change, even when it feels like being “pounded” or stretched. Is there a change or new season in your life right now that feels hard? How can you invite God to soften and prepare you for what’s next? [[02:08:44]]
Think about a time when someone else’s testimony encouraged you to trust God. Is there a story from your own life that you could share to encourage someone else? What holds you back from sharing it? [[02:20:21]]
The church was described as a “negotiator of culture” and a “translator of the kingdom.” In your daily life—at work, school, or home—how can you bring the “song of the kingdom” into the “sound” of the world around you? What might that look like practically? [[02:31:05]]
The sermon said, “God still has a good for you that is better than anything you can imagine,” even if you feel like you’ve missed out or failed. Is there an area of regret or disappointment in your life where you need to trust that God’s goodness is still pursuing you? [[02:23:14]]
The speaker encouraged the church to expect miracles, signs, and wonders for the next generation. What is one way you can pray or act this week to help create an atmosphere of faith and expectation for those coming after you? [[02:34:09]]

Sermon Clips

But there's nothing more powerful than to see somebody set free from demonic oppression and to realize that there's nothing more enlightening to see someone's total face change as a result of a visitation of the Holy Spirit. [02:13:10] (21 seconds) #FreedomThroughSpirit

That we have labored many times in the Pentecostal church trying to get somebody set free, thinking that it's going to be by power and by might, but it's still by his spirit. And I've seen in this setting, I've seen God do amazing things of healing and deliverance, where people came to the Lord in a context of worship and preaching and prophecy and lives were changed. [02:14:59] (25 seconds) #SpiritLedHealing

Because the story is what transforms people. It's the story of the gospel that transformed people. It wasn't how they unpacked it. It wasn't the exegesis. It was somebody simply saying, here is a man. He did this. His life was messed up. And you're telling the story of deliverance. And they're saying, can it happen just that easy? You are in an atmosphere where something that God wants to do doesn't have to come hard. It can come easy. [02:16:08] (31 seconds) #GospelTransforms

Between the shut door and the open door is a hallway. And in the hallway, there's hell in the hallway.And you're trying to work your way through it.Passing through the valley of Baca. You make it a place of weeping. You're in a place where you're saying, God, are you in this place? He says, I'm in this place. I said, I don't feel you. He said, well, just thank me anyway. [02:19:00] (24 seconds) #HallwayOfFaith

Even though you didn't do all that God wants you to do in your life, He still has a good for you that would be better than anything that you can imagine. So don't look back. Don't think, this has not been good. [02:23:43] (21 seconds) #BetterThanBefore

But you can also look at something that's going on in your life right now and say but i'm glad i did this because this church and this ministry it's an amazing place where things that were broken are now mended where things that were sick are now healed where relationships that were fragmented are now together where people are walking and sharing and living life together and enjoying a new generation of life and experience [02:25:04] (26 seconds) #HealingAndRestoration

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