“Yes, the LORD will give what is good;
and our land will yield its increase.”

                                                   Psalm 85:12

Dearly beloved in Christ,

I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us offer our praises and thanks to the Lord who enabled us to see this year.

We want to enjoy all good things in life. They pertain to this physique. It is good to help an aged or weak person to climb up the steps as they stagger. It is good to give place to them to sit in a bus or train when there is rush. Similarly, the Lord God who reigns and controls everything does good things, both small and great, on a daily basis in our lives. He who gives us uncountable blessings does not change. All the blessings are bestowed on us as gifts of grace. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17).

The Lord gives all goodness not in a small measure but to our satisfaction. The Lord works several things for us to thank Him. He has borne our sins and iniquities, and our weaknesses. We are healed by His stripes. The Lord lives. He does so many things. He delivers our souls from perdition.

I used to think of so many things the Lord has done in my life – how He preserved me from death. In 1983 when the brake failed in my scooter, I tried to avoid an accident by hitting against the tyre of a lorry that went before me. It hit the tyre but got repulsed and I fell down. At that time the tyre of the car that came from behind ran over the hair of my head. I should have died that day, but the Lord saved me from the pit of death. Thus the Lord saves our lives and crowns us with His grace and mercy. In so many ways the Lord works in our lives and fills our mouth with satisfaction. He will gird you with strength and make you live like an eagle with renewed strength. He will satisfy all those who are His people with His goodness.

Further, He will crown the year with His goodness and make our ways prosper. He makes everything perfect and blessed. When we accept the Lord of lords as our Shepherd, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. There are so many blessings of good things for us in store.

I) GOODNESS FROM THE LORD GOD

1. Goodness from Man

“Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.” 1 Sam.  24:17,18

This is what King Saul said to David. He pursued David, his own son-in-law who brought laurels in battles for the king, to kill him. He gathered some 3000 men to seek and kill him. When he so went against him in anger, the Lord gave David an occasion to kill the king in a cave. But David did not want to kill the God-anointed man, but cut a portion of his shawl as a sign that he was not his enemy. Then the king realized his mistake and said that David did a good thing to him. Thus David did a good thing to him to show him his mistake and to reveal his good intentions.

2. Goodness of the Land

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19

If you want to have the goodness of the land, you should listen to the word of the Lord and do accordingly. There was famine in the land. Isaac decided to go to Egypt. But the Lord appeared to him in a vision and asked him to stay in the land He showed him. He also promised to be with him and bless him. So he dwelt there. When he sowed there, the Lord made a hundred fold yield. When “the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field. . . . My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:15, 18).

So when we live in the country He wants us to be and live as He desires with good qualities and customs and practices and we would inherit a prosperous life, successful and fruitful. We would have the goodness of the blessings of the Lord.

3. Goodness of the Temple

“Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.” Psalm 65:4

Today so many people come to church to worship. He would bless all those who come for worship to the full measure. He teaches His ways. Then it is helpful for us to commit our way to the Lord. He will teach His way. The teachings in the church caution us and change our course by shedding light on our path.

In a church the word of the Lord touched the heart of the man who wanted to do harm to the preacher who gave the message. He was changed. When he approached the minister, he was told that his wife was about to commit suicide and was urged to rush home. When he went to his house, she was ready to commit suicide with a rope. He was able to save her. He hides his children in the shadow of his tabernacle. David proclaims, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5). “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.” (Psalm 92:13).

Hannah had to undergo severe reproach and ignominy as she had no child. She went to the temple of God and poured out her heart. She made a vow to the Lord pleading for the blessings of a child. The Lord heard her prayer and blessed her so. Her mourning was turned to joy. In Luke 13, we read how Jesus Christ enabled a woman who was bent for 18 years by delivering her from a spirit of infirmity. She became straight and began to glorify the Lord. When we take part in the worship in a church, we should concentrate on it. Then we will have the goodness of the church abound in us.

II) GOODNESS OF THE LORD

1. Safety

“Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.” Psalm 31:19,20

We live in a world where there is competition and jealousy and hatred. But no weapon formed against you will prosper. The Lord will protect you from all acts of wickedness, “from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows — bitter words.” (Psalm 64:2,3). They indulge in witchcraft thinking that no one sees them, but know not that the Lord sees them. What they sow they will reap.

A sister came for prayer. She had indulged in sorcery to make her sister act in the way she wanted her to act in the division of property. For that purpose, she gave something to her sister to eat for the sorcery to act in her. But the hand which gave the substance to her was affected and she came for prayer. She did not realize that such a thing would happen. She regretted. Many do such things without knowing that their act would harm them. There are people who suffer without children as they had done sorcery against others in marriages that they should not bear any children. Out of greed, some do sorcery. The Lord protects us from such wicked acts and preserves and blesses us.

2. Goodness of Provisions

“Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the LORD — For wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all.” Jeremiah 31:12

In our life, we find that our needs keep increasing day by day. We work hard to meet all our expenses. When the need comes, we seek loan to meet the deficit. There are so many living in debt, worries, sufferings, and hardship. They shed tears not knowing what to do. They struggle not being able to meet the basic needs of life like clothing, food and shelter.

Beloved in Christ, the Lord wants to make us prosper and exalt us. There are people who commit suicide because of bitterness and shortages. The Lord who makes provisions of goodness lives. He supplies all our needs pertaining to our body and soul – physical and spiritual needs. They are related to peace. One of the goodness met by Him is wheat. Wheat refers to the word of God. That word is both spirit and life. He does wonders according to His word. This glorious word has the power to comfort one and to encourage a broken heart. It brings the certainty of hope. The words of counsel are comforting and consoling.

Oil refers to the blessing of growth and exaltation in the spiritual life. We have the privilege of the anointing through Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit comes within us, there is complete deliverance. We are led by the Holy Spirit. He transforms us to bear testimony about Him. We are exalted in the midst of our enemies.

The wine refers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Because of the gifts we are strengthened to do ministry and bear witness about Him.

The flock and the herd refer to the blessings of this world. The Lord will bless what you have in your hand and fill you with the blessings of this world, spiritual blessings, and blessings in high places.

3. Goodness of Healing

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38

Lord Jesus Christ went about doing good things. He delivered people who suffered in the clutches of the devil.

Once I was invited to pray for a person who was affected by the afflictions of the devil on the day of his marriage. He was bound with chains as he could not be controlled by anyone. As we fervently prayed for him, the Lord destroyed the works of the devil and the effects of witchcraft. He came to his senses. Today the Lord is using him to deliver and heal people under bondage. Jesus Christ delivered and healed the person who was under possession of the devils in legion. He too came to his senses and began to bear witness of Jesus Christ. One is healed in the spirit when the Son of Man sets one free. It is real deliverance. There is deliverance in the body too.

4. Goodness to Those Who Love God

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

It is the end which matters in anything. The Lord tells: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11). Whatever be the situation you are in, He will make it end in a favourable way for our own good.

Joseph was imprisoned with false accusation. But the Lord made it the way of blessing for his own goodness. Pharaoh had a dream which made him tremble. There was no one to interpret it. So Joseph was called upon to interpret it. Joseph gave the right interpretation as well as counsel as to what he should do. The Pharaoh was impressed by his interpretation and exalted him next to his rank to do the administration. In Gen. 50:20, he says to his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” He who made it happen is alive in our midst even today. Whatever be the situation you are in, He will make it good for you. Thus He does good things in our lives.

III)  WHAT SHOULD WE DO FOR INHERITING GOODNESS

1. Seek the Lord

“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:10

Today man makes every effort to make a living and to seek blessings. He strains himself. But when we seek the Lord, He leads in a wonderful way and blesses us. There is no strain. Whoever seeks the Lord with whole heart is blessed.

I was one who never accepted divine healing. But when I was in bed, I sought the Lord truly, and I had miraculous healing. The Lord called me out of darkness into marvelous light to proclaim the praises of Him. When did it happen? When I sought the Lord with whole heart. The good thing He gives pertains to our body and spirit. It is above everything else. To inherit these blessings, let us seek the Lord daily with full strength and soul. When we do so, we would have the blessings of exaltedness.

2. Pray to the Lord

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

Jesus Christ said, “Ask and it shall be given.” When we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, we would have the answers. Psalm 65:2 says, “O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come.” David prayed in Psalm 13:3-6: “Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death” and he had the answer. So he says, “I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.” Jesus Christ instructs his disciple, “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). Solomon asked for wisdom and it was a prayer acceptable to the Lord. He was given not only wisdom but also wealth. Psalm 22:24 says, “For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard.” So everyone who prays to the Lord God will be answered.

 Let us be blessed very much by prayer in the presence of God.

3. Walk Uprightly

“...Do not My words do good to him who walks uprightly?” Micah 2:7

The Lord loves those who walk uprightly. Only they can praise the Lord. Psalm 33:1 says, “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.” Thanksgiving and praising are relished by the Lord. David says, “My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.” (Psalm 26:12). Those who have a righteous heart will exult. The Bible says, “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” (Psalm 97:11). He blesses their descendants. Psalm 112:2-4 says, “His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” They will dwell in the presence of the Lord. Proverbs 15:8 says, “. . .But the prayer of the upright is His delight.” Thus the Lord honours the righteous. He also gives them His word and blesses them. He says, “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.” (Jer. 32:40). He made up His mind to plant them in the land. Thus He does good things. He sets right the path; He sets right the heart. He blesses by guiding us and making crooked things straight for our good.

4. Return to the Lord

“And you will again obey the voice of the LORD and do all His commandments which I command you today. The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers” Deut. 30:8, 9

Turning to the Lord is important. Our heart should not seek transitory pleasures and impermanent things of this world. We should not be worldly. But we should remain the people of God by listening to Him and living accordingly. He will then bless us as He did the Israelites. He gives the clarion call: “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” (Zechariah 9:12). The Lord who said this does not change. Out of His mercy He will build you up again. The Lord assures us, “For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.” (Jer. 24:6). He will lead in a wonderful way and crown us with His goodness.

The Lord says, “... If you return, then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. . . .” (Jer. 15:19). He will accordingly do good things for you. His goodness and mercy will follow you. He is alive even today.

Let Him bless you from today throughout this year. Let Him shower His goodness and fill you with His grace throughout this year.

May the Lord bless us all!

In the service of Christ Jesus,

Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul.