In judgment remember mercy!
INTRO
- There is lots of revelation in Scripture about MERCY! The Bible has a lot to say about it! It is very important! It’s part of the Lord’s nature. He is a God of MERCY- He’s RICH in MERCY, ABUNDANT in MERCY & MERCIFUL!
- PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!
- Psalm 23:6 –Surely GOODNESS & MERCY are going to follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
- Review key points from last week
- MERCY is an integral part of the gospel message that Jesus came to bring to us. He is a channel of lovingkindness and MERCY to the world.
- We would all be doomed to destruction without God’s MERCY & GRACE!
MERCY TRIUMPHS
- James 2:13 – … MERCY TRIUMPHS over judgment.
- (In context) – God will have judgment without mercy upon those who have not shown mercy… Judgment & mercy are both very important.
- Mercy triumphs when it is lovingly demonstrated. If we are not willing to pass along the mercy that we have received – there will be judgment.
- Matthew 5:7 –Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
- 2 Samuel 22:26 –“With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
MERCY & JUDGMENT
- God will have judgment without mercy upon those who have not shown mercy… JUDGMENT & MERCY are both very important.
- Mercy triumphs when it is lovingly demonstrated. If we are not willing to pass along the mercy that we have received – there will be judgment.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
- Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the MERCIFUL for they shall obtain MERCY.
- 2 Samuel 22:26 – “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;…
THE UNMERCIFUL
- Matthew 18:23-35 – Story of the UNMERCIFUL SERVANT
- The king had a servant who owed him a huge debt
- 10,000 talents in debt, & could not pay!
- Needed to sell all he had to pay.
- He begged for mercy.
- The Master had compassion, released him, and forgave his debt
- But that servant found someone who owed him a small debt
- He demanded payment and even threw the debtor into prison until he could pay all.
- The master was very angry – called him a wicked servant. He had been forgiven, but had not been forgiving & passed along mercy to his debtor
- He was judged and delivered to torturers until he repaid his own debt.
- So will our heavenly Father do to those do not from their heart forgive those who trespass against them.
- Romans 1:31-32 – the judgment of God is coming on the unmerciful
MERCY DEFINED
- Overlooking an offense;
- Treating an offender better than what he deserves.
- Forgiveness of trespasses and injuries;
- Forbear punishment &
- Reduce consequences of an offense less than what is warranted.
- An act or exercise of mercy or favor.
- Pardon.
- Pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress.
- The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected.
- to have no means of self-defense, but to be dependent for safety on the MERCY or compassion of another, – in the power of that which is irresistible…
TRIUMPH DEFINED
- Among the ancient Romans, a pompous ceremony performed in honor of a victorious general,
- State of being victorious.
- Victory; conquest.
- Joy or exultation for success.
- A card that takes all others; now written trump,
- TRIUMPH, verb intransitive To celebrate victory with pomp; to rejoice for victory.
- To obtain victory
- To be prosperous; to flourish.
- triumph over, to succeed in overcoming; to surmount; as, to triumph over all obstacles.
TRIUMPHING THROUGH CHRIST
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 –Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
- Colossians 2:15 –Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
- Exodus 15:1,21 –Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!
- Psalm 41:11 –By this, I know that You are well pleased with me because my enemy does not triumph over me.
- Psalm 92:4 –For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
- Psalm 106:47 – Save us, O Lord our God, And gather us from among the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise.
JESUS IS MERCIFUL
- Matthew 9:13 – “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I will have MERCY & not sacrifice.. for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance
- Matthew 12:7 – But if you had known what this means, ‘I will have (desire) MERCY and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
GOD’S MERCY
- Romans 12:1 – …by the mercies of God present your bodies a living sacrifice
SALVATION
- I Peter 2:10 – … in time past were not – but now are the people of God: which had not obtained MERCY, but now have obtained MERCY
- Titus 3:5 –…according to His MERCY He saved us…
- I Peter 1:3 –…according to His abundant MERCY He has begotten us again unto a lively hope…
HOW TO GET MERCY
- Hebrews 4:16 – …come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain MERCY…
WHAT DOES MERCY LOOK LIKE?
- Comfort
- Everlasting kindness
- Goodness
- Mercy
- Reconciliation
- Forgiveness of our sins
- Divine guidance
- God’s favor & glory
- Reconciliation
- Forgiveness of our sins
- Divine guidance
- Happiness
- Life
- Righteousness
- Honor
- Help
- Grace
- Delight
- Blessing
HOW IS MERCY SEEN?
- Colossians 2:12 – put on… a heart of mercies, kindness,
- Romans 12:1-2 – living sacrifices
OUR RESPONSES
- Psalm 100:4-5 – Be thankful and bless His name, for the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting…
- Romans 12:8 – show mercy with cheerfulness
- Be kind & merciful
- Servant evangelism
- Abundant mercy
- Continual praise in our hearts for His mercy – we triumph in His praise
- Psalm 89:1 – I will sing of the MERCIES of the Lord forever!
WISDOM IS FULL OF MERCY
- James 3:17 – …the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS,…
VESSELS OF MERCY
- Romans 9:23 – that He might make known the riches of His glory on the VESSELS OF MERCY…
IN JUDGMENT REMEMBER MERCY
- IN JUDGMENT (ANGER/WRATH) REMEMBER MERCY
- Habakkuk 3:2 – (prayer) …in wrath remember mercy.
- And as you bring judgment, as you surely must, remember mercy. (MSG)
- God is a God of righteous judgment upon wickedness, but He is also a God of great mercies & lovingkindness upon the repentant. If people turn to Him and repent of their evil ways, He will forgive (2 Chronicles 7:14)
- When nations repent and turn to Him – He will forgive them!
- (Story of Ninevah, when they repented)
CONCLUSION
- JESUS is so merciful to us – let’s be a channel of His mercy to others.
- MERCY triumphs over judgment. In judgment remember mercy!