Therefore Be Merciful
Introduction:
What is mercy? And what does
it mean to be merciful as your Heavenly Father is
merciful? (Luke
6:36)
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is
merciful.”
NKJV Mercy
is more than just feeling sympathy for someone. It is
showing compassion or pity for someone suffering or in
distress and doing what you can to relieve that
suffering. This lesson will examine instances where God
displayed mercy both in the Old and New Testaments. By
learning of these examples, we too can become more
merciful to others!
Body:
I.
Mercy in the Old Testament
·
God showed mercy to
Lot and his family. (Genesis
19:15-17)
·
The Lord through
His prophet Moses told the nation of Israel He would
extend mercy to them in exile. (Deuteronomy
4:29-31)
Note:
II Chronicles 30:9, Nehemiah 9:31
·
Mercy was shown to
King David even though he had sinned. (II
Samuel 24:10-14) Note this psalm
of David:
Psalm 103:8-14
·
David showed mercy
to Saul. (I
Samuel 24:8-12, 15, 17-19)
·
God’s mercy is said
to be “new every morning” (Lamentations
3:23);
“great” (Isaiah
54:7)
and “enduring.” (Psalm
136:1-26)
II.
Mercy in the New Testament
·
Jesus showed mercy
to the child with epilepsy. (Matthew
17:14-16, 18)
·
He showed mercy to
the two blind men outside Jericho. (Matthew
20:29-34)
·
God’s mercy
manifested in Christ. (Ephesians
2:4-7)
·
Christ’s mission
was a mission of mercy. (Luke
1:67-72)
·
Salvation by Christ
is by mercy. (Titus
3:4-6)
III.
Mercy in the Christian’s Life
·
Put on tender
mercies – be clothed with it. (Colossians
3:12-13,
Zechariah 7:9)
·
Show mercy with
cheerfulness. (Romans
12:8)
Helping the sick, the poor, those in sorrow needs to be
done in a cheerful manner.
·
Godly wisdom is
shown in a merciful life. (James
3:17)
·
Mercy is shown to
those close to losing their salvation by snatching them
out of the fire. (Jude
22-23)
·
We must show mercy
to others if we expect mercy from God. (Matthew
5:7)
Conclusion:
We should thank God daily for
His abundant mercy. (I
Peter 1:3-5)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us
again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in
heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through
faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time.”
NKJV
If any will turn from their sinful ways, He will freely
pardon them. (Isaiah
55:7)
As Christians, we can approach God’s throne of grace and
obtain mercy in our time of need. (Hebrews
4:16)
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time
of need.”
NKJV
Bobby Stafford
March 8, 2015
Video
