WE ALL EXPECT GOD TO BE MERCIFUL TO US AT ALL TIMES
BUT HOW MERCIFUL AND COMPASSIONATE ARE WE?
MATHEW 12:1-8“At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.2: But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.3: But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;4: How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5: Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.7: But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.8: For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
MARK 3:1-6 “And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.2: And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.3: And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.4: And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.5: And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.6: And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
HOW FORGIVING ARE WE? MATHEW 6: 9-15“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11: Give us this day our daily bread.12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.14: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE FROM US?
MICAH 6: 1-6 Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.2: Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.3: O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.4: For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.5: O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.6: Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? ,
MATHEW 18: 21-34 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22: Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.23: Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.24: And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.25: But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.26: The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.27: Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.28: But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.29: And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.30: And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.31: So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.32: Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:33: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34: And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
BENEFITS OF BEING MERCIFUL AND FORGIVING
YOU WILL OBTAIN MERCY MATHEW 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
YOUR SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN MATHEW 6:14 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you”
YOUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED MARK 11: 20-26“And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.21: And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.22: And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.25: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.26: But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
GOD WILL NEVER FORGET TO REWARD YOU HEB 6:10“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
YOU WILL BE HEALED, DELIVERED AND BLESSED PSALM 41:1-3“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.2: The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.3: The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL ENDURE FOREVER PSALM 112:5-10 “A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.6: Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.7: He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.8: His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.9: He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.10: The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH , OUR FAITH MUST HAVE COMPANION 1 CORINTHIANS 13
OUR FAITH MUST HAVE GOOD WORKS JAMES 2:14-26 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16: And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23: And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.