God Crowns the Year with Goodness
Ps.65:11a. Pray.
Here we are at the beginning of another New Year. I want to start this sermon by reading the edited words of a medley from Gadsby’s Hymns and with your prayers I hope to bring an encouraging message for the discouraging times in which we live. The Song goes like this: “GREAT God! Before thy throne we joyfully appear, in songs to make thy glories known and thus begin the year. What favors all divine; what mercies shall we share; what blessings all around us shine to open this New Year. Indulgent goodness spares and still preserves us here, and bounty all divine prepares supplies for this New Year. Our follies past forgive, our souls divinely cheer; and help us more for thee to live, Dear Lord, in this coming New Year. Prepare us for thy will, whatever may appear; and let thy loving kindness still preserve us through the year. Confirm our souls in thee, in faith and holy fear; and oh - let precious Jesus be our song through all the New Year. The text gives us the title for today: “God Crowns the Year with Goodness.”
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS PRAISEWORTHY.
Ex.18:8-9, Ps.107:8-31.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS PLENTIOUS AND ABUNDANT.
Ex.34:6-7, Ps.33:5-9.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS PROMISED.
2Sam.7:27-29.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS POWERFUL AND GREAT.
Neh.9:25, Ps.31:19-24, 145:6-7, Isa.63:7.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS PLEASURABLE AND SATISFYING.
Ps.65:4, Jer.31:14.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS PENETENTIAL LEADING TO REPENTANCE.
Romans 2:4.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS THE PRODUCE OR FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
Ephesians 5:8-10.
THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS PRAYED FOR.
2Thess.1:11-12.
CONCLUSION: This New Year can be a very good year for you. God is good and He crowns the year with goodness. Think on the goodness of God. Thank God for His goodness. Let us pray that the goodness of God might be shed abroad and abundantly upon us as this New Year begins. It is so easy to focus on the sad news and the bad news all around us but the goodness of God is so much better. He has promised to bless us with His goodness. His goodness is greater than anything this wicked old world can give us. May His goodness be such to us that we are led to the satisfaction that is found only in Him. He will dwell in us and with us and by His grace we shall prevail to His honor and glory. AMEN. 1/11.