Experiencing God's Goodness: From Cliché to Revelation

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing the Goodness of God Beyond Cliché

God’s goodness is not just a phrase to repeat, but a reality to be experienced in every area of life. Many believers know in their minds that God is good, but struggle to live in the revelation of His goodness, especially when facing worry, anxiety, or doubt. True transformation comes when you move from simply saying “God is good, all the time” out of habit, to living with the deep conviction that His goodness is present and active, regardless of your circumstances. When you truly grasp this, your life shifts from stress and striving to peace and expectation, because you know God’s heart is always for you. [52:44]

John 10:10 (Amplified Bible)
"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]."

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been repeating “God is good” without truly believing it? Ask God to reveal His goodness to you in that specific area today.

Day 2: God’s Plans Are Good—Rejecting Lies and Embracing Hope

God’s plans for your life are always for your good, never for disaster, and He calls you to reject the lies and doubts that contradict His promises. In a world full of voices and opinions, it is crucial to discern who you are listening to and to anchor your heart in the truth of God’s Word. Even when circumstances seem bleak or you feel like you’re in a season of waiting, God’s promise remains: He has a future and a hope for you, and He is a faithful promise-keeper. When you seek Him wholeheartedly, you will find Him, and He will restore and bless you beyond what you can imagine. [01:06:39]

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (New Living Translation)
"This is what the Lord says: 'You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,' says the Lord. 'I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.'"

Reflection: What negative voices or doubts have you been listening to that contradict God’s good plans for you? How can you intentionally replace them with God’s truth today?

Day 3: Proclaiming and Believing the Good News

The message of Jesus is good news, and it is meant to be proclaimed boldly and believed deeply, not just heard. Faith comes by hearing the message of Christ, and as you receive and share this good news, it brings life, hope, and transformation—not just to you, but to those around you. Even if not everyone believes, your calling is to keep proclaiming the truth, knowing that God’s Word has the power to change hearts and circumstances. The good news is not just about feeling good, but about living a holy life empowered by the standards and promises of God. [01:15:41]

Romans 10:14-17 (Amplified Bible)
"But how will people call on Him whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!' But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our report?' So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus today? What is one way you can share His message with them this week?

Day 4: Stepping Into Abundant Life and Freedom

There is a freedom and abundance in Christ that every believer is invited to walk in daily, not just occasionally. God’s desire is for you to experience a life overflowing with His presence, healing, and provision—not just to talk about it, but to live it. This means letting go of doubts, surrendering your own opinions, and stepping out in faith to receive all that God has for you. When you align your heart with His goodness and believe that He is still the Healer, the Provider, and the Restorer, you open the door for miracles and transformation in your life and in your church. [01:26:40]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: What is one area where you need to step out of doubt and into the freedom and abundance Jesus offers? What practical step can you take today to walk in that freedom?

Day 5: Dreaming Big and Partnering with God’s Vision

God is calling you to dream bigger, to take the limits off, and to believe for more than you have ever imagined—both for your life and for your church. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or think, but He is waiting for you to align your faith with His limitless power. This is a season to agree with God’s vision, to pray bold prayers, and to expect Him to fill every seat, heal every heart, and move in ways that only He can. When you partner with God’s vision and step out in faith, you become part of the miracle He wants to do in your midst. [01:37:08]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: Where have you been thinking too small about what God can do in your life or in your church? What is one bold, specific prayer you can pray today that reflects God’s limitless power?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering was a celebration of God’s unchanging goodness and a call to move from simply knowing about His goodness to truly experiencing it in every area of life. We reflected on the faithfulness of God and the importance of honoring those who have invested in us, recognizing that none of us walk this journey alone. The heart of the message centered on the difference between repeating spiritual clichés and living with a deep, personal revelation of God’s character. Too often, we say “God is good, all the time” out of habit, but our lives don’t always reflect the peace and confidence that come from truly believing it.

We explored John 10:10, where Jesus declares His purpose: to give us life in abundance, overflowing with His goodness. This isn’t just a theological idea—it’s an invitation to expect more from God, to believe that He desires more for us than we even desire for ourselves. We were challenged to examine whether we are living with a mindset of lack or with the expectation of God’s overflowing goodness, regardless of our circumstances.

Jeremiah 29 reminded us that God’s plans for us are always good, and that if something in our lives isn’t good, it’s not from Him. We must be careful who we listen to, as there are many voices—even within the church—that dilute or distort the truth of God’s promises. The call is to seek God wholeheartedly, not just on Sundays or when it’s convenient, but with our whole being, trusting that He will be found by us and will restore us.

Romans 10 emphasized the importance of proclaiming the good news. It’s not enough to keep the message to ourselves; we are called to be messengers of hope, healing, and restoration. Even when not everyone believes, we continue to proclaim the truth, knowing that faith comes by hearing the word of Christ.

Finally, we entered a time of prayer and agreement, believing for healing, restoration, and the filling of every seat in the church. We were encouraged to dream bigger, to remove the limits from our thinking, and to expect God to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. The challenge is to move from passive belief to active faith—receiving, proclaiming, and living out the goodness of God every day.

Key Takeaways

1. Move from Cliché to Revelation: It’s easy to repeat phrases like “God is good, all the time,” but true transformation comes when this truth moves from our heads to our hearts. When we genuinely believe in God’s goodness, anxiety, doubt, and fear lose their grip on us. The difference between living by repetition and living by revelation is the difference between surviving and thriving in faith. [52:44]
2. God’s Desire Exceeds Our Own: God’s plans for us are not just good—they are better than anything we could dream or desire for ourselves. He longs for us to experience His abundance, not just in theory but in tangible ways. Our challenge is to align our desires with His and to trust that He is always working for our good, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. [62:08]
3. Guard Your Ears and Heart: The voices we allow into our lives shape our faith. Not every message, even from religious sources, aligns with God’s truth. We must be discerning, seeking out the unfiltered word of God and refusing to settle for diluted or compromised versions of the gospel. The truth may not always be popular, but it is always liberating. [64:57]
4. Faith is Activated by Proclamation: The good news of Jesus is meant to be shared, not hoarded. As we proclaim His message—both in word and in the way we live—faith is stirred in others and in ourselves. Even when people don’t immediately respond, our responsibility is to keep sowing the seed, trusting God for the increase. [73:28]
5. Dream Bigger and Expect More: God is not limited by our small thinking. He invites us to dream big, to expect the impossible, and to believe for miracles in our lives and in our church. When we step out in faith, agreeing together for healing, restoration, and growth, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of His promises. [01:29:38]
** [89:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Honoring Faithful Relationships
[03:10] - Church Vision and Locations
[05:00] - Opening Declaration and Prayer
[07:30] - The Power and Depth of God’s Word
[10:15] - Theme: Experiencing God’s Goodness
[13:00] - Moving Beyond Cliché Faith
[16:00] - John 10:10 and the Abundant Life
[19:30] - God Desires More for Us
[22:00] - The Unchanging Goodness of God
[25:00] - Jeremiah 29: God’s Promises and Plans
[29:00] - The Importance of Truthful Teaching
[32:00] - Living in Freedom and Joy
[36:00] - Romans 10: Proclaiming the Good News
[40:00] - Faith Comes by Hearing
[43:00] - Dreaming Big and Praying Boldly
[46:00] - Agreement for Healing and Church Growth
[49:00] - Closing Prayer and Declaration

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 10:10 (ESV) — > "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

- Jeremiah 29:11-14 (ESV)
> "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

- Romans 10:14-17 (ESV)
> "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!' But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

Observation Questions

In John 10:10, what does Jesus say is the purpose of His coming? How does He contrast His purpose with that of the thief?
According to Jeremiah 29:11-14, what are God’s intentions for His people, and what does He promise to those who seek Him wholeheartedly?
In Romans 10:14-17, what steps are described as necessary for someone to come to faith? What role does proclaiming the good news play in this process?
The sermon mentioned that many people say “God is good, all the time” out of habit, but their lives don’t always show it. What are some signs that someone is living by repetition instead of revelation? [[52:44]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon challenges us to move from repeating spiritual clichés to living with a personal revelation of God’s goodness. Why is it so easy to fall into the habit of saying things about God without truly believing or experiencing them? [[52:44]]
In Jeremiah 29, God warns His people not to listen to every voice, even those who claim to speak for Him. What are some ways that “diluted or compromised” versions of the gospel can affect our faith? [[01:04:57]]
Romans 10 emphasizes the importance of proclaiming the good news, even when not everyone believes. Why do you think it’s important to keep sharing the message, even if people don’t respond right away? [[01:13:28]]
The sermon says that God’s desire for us is greater than our own, and that He wants us to dream bigger and expect more. What might keep someone from believing that God wants to do “exceedingly, abundantly more” in their life? [[01:29:38]]

Application Questions

The difference between living by repetition and living by revelation is described as the difference between surviving and thriving in faith. Can you think of an area in your life where you’ve been repeating spiritual phrases without really believing them? What would it look like to move from repetition to revelation in that area? [[52:44]]
The sermon challenges us to examine whether we are living with a mindset of lack or with the expectation of God’s overflowing goodness. Are there specific situations where you tend to expect less from God? What would it look like to expect more from Him this week? [[01:02:08]]
We were reminded to be careful about the voices we allow into our lives. Are there any messages, teachings, or influences you need to be more discerning about? How can you make sure you’re listening to the truth of God’s word? [[01:04:57]]
Romans 10 says faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Who in your life needs to hear the good news? What is one practical way you can share hope, healing, or encouragement with them this week? [[01:13:28]]
The sermon encouraged us to dream bigger and remove the limits from our thinking. What is one area where you’ve been thinking too small? What step of faith could you take to trust God for more? [[01:29:38]]
The message included a time of prayer for healing and restoration. Is there an area in your life—physical, emotional, or spiritual—where you need to experience God’s goodness? How can the group pray and agree with you for breakthrough? [[01:26:40]]
The church was challenged to believe for every seat to be filled and to expect growth. How can you personally participate in helping the church grow, both in numbers and in spiritual depth? [[01:35:41]]

Sermon Clips

The theme that Holy Spirit gave our church this year is 2025 is the year to experience the goodness of God. See, I don't want to just talk about the goodness of God. I want to experience the goodness of God. Right. And how many of you guys have maybe ever heard this, this saying, you know, somebody goes, God is good. And then you hear right all the time. And then all the time, what God, how many of you guys have ever heard that? You've all said that, right? Okay. So we've all said that, but see, most of us, most of us, when we say that, we just say out of repetition, but we're not saying it out of revelation. [00:50:58]

We know God is good here, but because so many Christians struggle with so many things, they don't have the revelation down here. See, just a little news flash. See, the moment you start worrying, the moment you start getting anxious, the moment you start doubting, the moment you start thinking God's not going to come through for you, you do not have a revelation of the goodness of God. [00:51:43]

When we go, God is good. Yeah, all the time and all the time, God is good. We say that, but, but people are living stressful lives all the time. Now, if you understand that God is good, you're not going to be living like that. [00:52:52]

Did Jesus fulfill his mission. Yes. Jesus fulfilled his mission. And he said, I came that they can have it. And if he said, I can have it, then I want it. And there's nothing selfish about wanting the desires of God in my life. [00:54:02]

None of us in this place, none of us, except for when we got born again. When we got born again, we, we, we, we tapped into the greatness of God, but there's nobody in this place yet that you have, you have fulfilled what God wants in your life. and the goodness in your life. Come on, somebody say there's more. Say there's more. There's so much more. God desires more than you desire. Think about it. God desires more than you desire. [00:54:22]

How good is God in your life? How good can you dream that he is? Yeah, but pastor, you don't understand what happened. What happened doesn't change the goodness of God. [01:02:20]

Your situations and your circumstances don't change the goodness of God. So no matter how bad life gets, God is still good. And that's what you've got to focus on. [01:02:59]

How many of you guys know it's important who you're listening to? There's a lot of people out there. And you can go anywhere you want to where you can have the Church of Burger King, where you can have it your way. But I'm so thankful here at City on the Hill, this is where Jesus is king. [01:04:36]

There's a lot of lying preachers out there because they want to tickle a lot of people's ear to build a crowd. But too bad a lot of people in those crowd are going to hear those words, depart from me for I never knew you. It's important who you're listening to. Thank God for a man and woman of God who's willing to tell you truth. Whether they draw a crowd or run them away. Like they say, preach the truth whether it fills a room or empties it. Preach the truth. [01:05:21]

If there's something that's not good in your life, it's not God. Don't say, well, God brought this into my life. Now, come on. Remember, there's a devil. No, there's an enemy out there. No, if it's good, it's God. If it's for disaster, it's the enemy. [01:06:35]

I'm not called to be a Sunday Christian. Thank you for that amen, Pastor Steve. Thank you. All the time. He says, if you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Man, that's awesome. [01:07:16]

There's a freedom in Christ that comes with the goodness of God, that comes with the abundant life, that comes with Jesus, that I tell you, everybody that's a born -again believer ought to be walking in on a regular basis. Everybody ought to be walking in this freedom. Everybody, everybody, everybody. Thank you, Jesus. [01:07:57]

Remember, we ought to be living a life full of shouting and not doubting. It's okay to get excited as a believer. Right? I think a lot of Christians that make it to heaven are going to be shocked by the party going on up there. [01:11:55]

How many of you guys know his message is the message that Jesus proclaimed? Right? Right? His message. And it says, and how can they hear if no one tells the good news? Everybody say good news. Not bad news. Good news. And by the way, when you proclaim good news, that doesn't make you, that doesn't make that person to make me feel good preacher. No. Because part of good news is living a holy life and living up to the standards that God said we can live by. [01:12:57]

Doesn't that make you want to just shake your head and go, what? Why would you not want to serve God? Why would you not want to receive Jesus? Why would you not want to do that? He says, but not everyone has believed the good news. Does that mean you stop proclaiming it? No, we continually proclaim it, whether they receive it or not. [01:15:02]

It doesn't matter what the doctor says. It doesn't matter where your checking account says it doesn't matter. It matters what God says and situations and circumstances do not change God's word, but God's word changed situations and circumstances. [01:16:17]

See, it's not pastor Steve's message in the beginning. It's not pastor Scott's message in the beginning. It's not your message in the beginning. It's Christ's message in the beginning. It's Jesus's message in the beginning. And whatever he said goes, he is King. [01:16:53]

When God told us this year, he said in 2025, he goes, you will experience the goodness of God. See, like I said, I don't want to just hear it. I don't want to just talk about it. I want to experience it. That's what Jesus said. I came that you may have this kind of life. [01:17:20]

Who's it up to whether we have that life or not? It's up to us. It is not up to God. He has already determined the course and what he wants for every single one of us. It is up to us. [01:17:38]

You wonder why God don't move in a lot of churches because they're not proclaiming his word. When you proclaim his word, he moves. Has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him. [01:18:14]

How many of you guys know when you get in God's presence, things just start happening? Just starts happening. [01:25:54]

I want to get past that someday it will. To today's your day. Why? Because he's good. We're not waiting on him any longer. He's waiting on us. To have a revelation of, God, you're just that good. [01:26:09]

God is saying, step it up, step out, and dream big. Get the limits off. Dream big. Dream big. Dream big. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. [01:30:57]

We thank you, Father God, for supernatural insight, supernatural direction, supernatural drawing of people here, the city on the hill, ministries, Lord, where the good news is still proclaimed. It is a good news church. And we thank you right now in the name of Jesus, just for a mass explosion, Lord God, that the people go out and get the people, that the people go out and greet the people, that the people go out and do what they're all called to do. [01:35:59]

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