10.06.2021 | BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Matthew 5:7 (NLT) – “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
What does it mean to be merciful?
Merciful – to show kindness and concern to someone in need
Mercy embraces both forgiveness for the guilty and compassion for the suffering and needy.
Justice – getting what we deserve
Mercy – not getting what we deserve
Grace – getting what we don’t deserve
Vision of John Wimber – He saw a giant honeycomb over many people, dripping honey upon them.
Psalm 119:64a – “The earth…is full of Your mercy.”
1. Our God is a God of Mercy!
What are some verses about the mercy of God that come to mind?
Exodus 34:6 – “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth.”
Psalm 103:8b – “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.”
Psalm 103:11 – “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.”
Ephesians 2:4-5a – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
Titus 3:5 – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
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.”
Psalm 107:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
2. Our God Responds to Our Cry for Mercy
“When you don’t know what to pray, pray for mercy.” – John Wimber
Psalm 51:1 – “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.”
Mark 10:47 – “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.’”
Luke 18:13 – “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’”
3. Our God Invites Us to be Merciful as He is Merciful
Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
Luke 6:36 – “Therefore be merciful, just as Your Father also is merciful.”
4. He Who Extends Mercy Receives More Mercy. Refusing to Extend Mercy Hinders Us from Receiving Mercy
Psalm 18:25a – “With the merciful, You will show Yourself merciful.”
Matthew 5:7 (NASB) – “Blessed are the merciful, they will receive mercy.”
Matthew 18:33 – “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?”
5. We Want to Walk in Mercy and Truth
Psalm 25:10a – “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.”
Proverbs 3:3-4 – “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 16:6 – “In mercy and truth atonement is provided is for iniquity; and by fear of the Lord, one departs from evil.”