Last night in as we were turning out the light on 2016 my lovely wife spoke an encouraging word to me, "This is going to be a great year!" When she said it I felt hope and faith leap up like igniting a polite light in my spirit. This morning (New years day) the Spirit expanded on this through a sentence from the lips of Jesus recorded in gospel of Luke 12.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Lk 12:32

John Piper says about this verse, "It's a verse about what makes God glad — not merely about what God will do or what he has to do, but what he delights to do, what he loves to do and takes pleasure in doing."

This word from Jesus is targeted to overcome at least 4 fears that most all of us struggle with,

1. Fear of sickness and death - Luke 12:4
2. Fear of persecution and rejection - Luke 12:11
3. Fear of provision - Luke 12:22
4. Fear that is not good and not happy - Luke 12:32

So "This is going to be great year..." because God is not irked with us, not wanting to withhold from us, God is good to his children and his goodness is not somehow forced or constrained, not reluctant or half hearted. God loves a hilarious giver, because he is a hilarious giver! He not only is a father who says yes but a father who prays for the yes to break through to us. It's God's free and joyful pleasure to give extravagantly to us! God is the father that gives us inheritance and does not tax his own children.

"God is a mountain spring not a watering trough. God wants drinkers! "God is not stingy. He is not a scrooge. He is not miserly or tight-fisted or parsimonious or niggardly. He is liberal and generous and ungrudging and bountiful. It is his good pleasure to GIVE us the kingdom." (See Luke 8:10 He gives us the secrets. I hides things for us not from us.) He is the Psalm 23 God." John Piper

So let's dive into 2017 (Hebrew Year 5777) expecting, drinking and marinating in God's goodness, pleasure and delight!

Blog

It's going to be a great year!

MORE POSTS

I See You! הִנֵּה (hinneni)*

CALL FOR 333 & Ekballo Prayer

What is Jesus favorite place on earth?

iSIGHT