7/28/2014. Matthew 5:7

Transcription

1 Matthew 5:7 Mercy embraces the characteristics of forgiving others, having compassion for the suffering, being generous, and providing healing of every kind. 1

2 Mercy = not receiving/giving a punishment is rightfully deserved Grace = receiving/giving a reward that is not deserved Deuteronomy 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath. 2 Samuel 24:14 David said to Gad, I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands. Psalm 25:6-7 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good. Psalm 79:8, NLT Oh, do not hold us guilty for our former sins! Let your tenderhearted mercies quickly meet our needs, for we are brought low to the dust. Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the honor of your name. Oh, save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your name. 2

3 Romans 9:14-16 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God s mercy. Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Psalm 103:8-13 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 3

4 Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to LOVE MERCY and to walk humbly with your God. Hosea 6:6 For I DESIRE MERCY, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Matthew 9:10-13 (including a quotation of Hosea 6:6) While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." So we see the call to MERCY is not a new law or ideal this is the KINGDOM HEART that flows directly from God and is saturated throughout His Word it is what He has intended for His people through all time. In contrast, it is the Pharisees that had brought on a new, man-centered, legalistic, cumbersome system one that fit their needs and wants; one that they could control; but one that missed the very heart of God and the heart of Kingdom Life. 4

5 The MERCIFUL are those who demonstrate FORGIVENESS toward the guilty & KINDNESS/COMPASSION toward the hurting and needy The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Matthew 18 Identify anyone who has hurt you, offended you, or let you down When you do this it certainly doesn t settle all the questions of blame and fairness, but it does allow you to MOVE ON What happens if we refuse to flex this mercy muscle?! If you hang onto that issue that anger that un-forgiveness it will fester inside of you and squeeze the life and joy out of you 5

6 Always remember this We don t forgive because people deserve it; we forgive because we have been forgiven! Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 Compassion Flex 1 - Recognize the need or distress Compassion Flex 2 - Reject apathy, busy-ness, fear, or prejudice Compassion Flex 3 - Respond with compassion and personal action (Loving + Living Mercy!) 6

7 We can know this 100%...we do not receive God s mercy as a result of how nice and kind we are towards others. If that were the case, honestly, we would all be in deep trouble. No one yes I m talking to you! is good enough for that plan to work out well. Here s the reality it goes this way those who know and experience the mercy of God in their own life are going to, as an overflow of that amazing goodness, love and live out mercy towards others! That s the KINGDOM HEART of MERCY! 7