Keys to the Kingdom - Mercy

Services

Sunday -9:15 AM Bible Study / 10:30 AM Worship Service / 6:00 PM Evening Service --- Wednesday - 6:15 Bible Study & PBYF

by: Elder Randy Waters

04/01/2023

0

Greetings church family! This time of year is especially encouraging because we see dead things coming to life, hear more melodious sounds and feel a little warmer too. When God sends the spring season, He puts a little spring in our steps too. Trees and grass that seemed dead prove to be only dormant. Shrubs that were bare and hardly noticed, suddenly catch our eye with showy, colorful blooms. The purple martins have arrived once again and their songs as they soar seem to make us want to do more. Spring is one way God sends to us a message of hope. It doesnt take long to find a spot of yellow! There is more light in the day and the birds and the bumble bees remind us that God will make a way even when our way is wandering and wanting. If God can change the earth so drastically and make it more glorious, how much more can He change our lives so that we can bring Him more glory.

God is so good its really hard to describe Him. Words just dont seem to do justice to His grace and mercy to us. Just so, its hard to tell someone what springtime looks like, you just have to see it to appreciate it. I cannot adequately describe what an azalea bloom looks like nor can I tell you what Gods amazing grace feels like. Neither can I get you excited about green leaves, a tree or green grass on the lawn if you have not seen a tree bare and the grass brown. The secret of the springtime is to be there! Look out of your window and see God at work. His tracks are everywhere. Following His tracks in creation will lead us to the cross of Calvary. Knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ died on that cross to pay our sin debt which we could not pay and rose again the third day, after that should not only put a spring in our steps but also put holy spunk in our state! God resurrects His creation this time of year but, even more glorious and grander, is the new creation He makes us to be because of His only begotten Sons resurrection.

In a world where its hard to believe anything or anybody, its good to be reminded that we can still and always will be able to trust and believe God. Springtime is also a testament that the Almighty is not kidding when it comes to His word and promises.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22

This is our Fathers world and we are His people and He has placed us where we are in His world for a purpose. And that purpose is to make much of Him and help each other do the same! The Lord not only created this world, He also sustains it, that is, He keeps it going by His manifold maintenance and provisions. Likewise, God not only saves us, He keeps us saved by shaking the sin out of us, and putting us on solid ground through the righteous merit of Jesus Christ.

The motivating freshness which spring brings reminds us of the renewing feeling we experience during worship on Sundays. Thats because we worship in Gods house on the first day of the week to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and springtime is sort of a metaphor for the resurrection. Natures apparent deadness comes to life and so do forgiven sinners! Both the resurrection and springtime are miraculous. Neither are manmade and each require the power of God to happen.

Spring is the greatest show on earth and the greatest show in the universe is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Springtime assures us that winter is over, its getting warmer and there is more light. Jesus’ resurrection assures us that our sin debt is paid in full, and our greatest enemy, death, has been conquered. Have you ever thought how horrible it would be if spring didnt come? Far worse would be Jesus’ “no show” following His death on the cross and His burial in a borrowed tomb. It is no coincidence that following the darkest, hardest times, our Lord and spring show up in the same place — a garden.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” John 20:15

The least we can do is be there.” And when we are we will realize His mercy is greater than His majesty!

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5

Regarding our salvation, mercy is a pretty big deal! Actually, given our proneness to sin and our inadequacy apart from Christ to please or offer God anything worthwhile, its the only deal. It will help us to see the importance of mercy by understanding that our God is not only Holy, but Holy, Holy, Holy! This thrice Holy God cannot and will not put up with or have anything to do with sin.

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity...” Habakkuk 1:13a

Mercy is Manifested

Manifest means to be clearly seen or revealed. The Lord Jesus Christ was plainly seen by over five hundred people besides the apostles after His resurrection. When you and I are convicted of sin, confess those sins, and turn from them, trusting Jesus, we are looking at mercy, for we are by faith looking at the resurrected Lord! By Gods electing love, all of His redeemed people have been mercifully placed in a position of graceful favor because when Christ died, they died with Him and when Christ arose, they arose with Him. The they” in the previous sentence are you and me and it looks a lot like mercy. God didnt have to save us nor anyone else, but because of His mercy He did so. Mercy is stronger than love because salvation is provided for the unlovable. Jesus died for sinners, not good people. There are no good people and therefore mercy is manifest in manifold ways. The truth is, God takes the no good” and makes them good because He is a merciful God. When people worship God in spirit and truth and pray in a humble, needy spirit, the goodness of God is manifest.

Manifest mercy brings hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless. The resurrection proves that nothing is too hard for God. Yet, the power of God would only intensify His wrath were it not for His mercy. Kingdom life is nothing more or less than merciful living. We should all try every day to see Gods mercy. When we do, well find, like Jesus, if we seek mercy with all our heart, well find it. Actually, Kingdom life is a platform not only for us to see Gods mercy every day but also an opportunity for us to show God we appreciate Him saving us by obeying His command to a merciful lifestyle.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord re- quire of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Mercy Motivates

Mercy is motivational because it is a catalyst which strengthens the inner person to begin again no matter where or how down one has been. When we get mercy, we dont get what we deserve, we get what God wants us to have and that is the very best.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

Without mercy we would get death, hell and the grave because that is what we all deserve. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death and since we all have sinned (The Bible also tells us that.) the payroll is a death roll. Unless, of course, Jesus Christ died for us, paid that debt and gave us what we did not deserve — His righteousness. Now if that doesnt motivate one to live for Him, I dont know what will! Jesus didnt die for us to be nice, He died to show us His mercy. When we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and love Him as a precious treasure, we will never ever die — never! The gift of eternal life is ours not because of our merit but because of Gods mercy. And just the fact that we believe that is another motivating miracle when mercy catalyzes.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Corinthians 2:14

Motivate means a provision for the desire to do something. Prayer is not a catechism nor a cultish call to religious postures and literary responsive readings. Prayer is conversing with Almighty God and is prompted by His Holy Spirit and addressed in the context of the merit provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In other words, prayer is motivated by Gods mercy and heard because of His grace. Think how merciful God must be to allow, even invite sinful creatures like us to pray to Him, often for our needs He has already promised to provide. If you want to know what mercy sounds like, listen to someone praying. If you want to know what mercy feels like, then go to Jesus with a broken heart and talk to Him without words because you dont know what to say nor how to say it! The truth is, every time we pray to God, we will find His mercy right there motivating us to keep on keeping on in His kingdoms work.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Mercy is made new every day.

Nothing exemplifies mercy any more than birth does. Every morning we should remember mercy because God has sent us a new day — a new beginning so to speak with an assignment to glorify and enjoy God. The new birth is the breaking down of Gods mercy. Just as the Lord breathed into the nostrils of Adam and he became a living soul, He breathed His Holy Spirit into our souls. Birth is a traumatic experience, but its also a mercy filled one. A little baby comes into this world crying, but its a cry which reveals life is present. When God saves us by His grace and we are born again we cry too. We cry out for His mercy just like the publican in Luke eighteen did when he said Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner!” This morning I held mercy in my arms. Her name is Palmer Grace Cook and she is my first great-granddaughter. I know I must be one of the youngest great-grandfathers that has ever lived! Not only did I think of Gods mercy as I held her because she appears to be a healthy baby, but also because of how Gods mercy will protect and care for her as she grows up in a world that is growing worse.

As great as mercy is and as much of it as all of us use up every day, you would think it might run out. But nothing changes with God, not even His mercy.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 136:1

Sometimes God sends His mercy to us in ways we may not recognize at the time He sends it. But God knows we need mercy and He knows the kind of mercy we need. My father-in-law, Emory Deloach, was a faith filled, godly man, and probably the happiest man Ive ever known in my life. When he grew old and dementia clouded his mind and bodily pain took away his laughter and zeal for life, he said to me and Penny one night as we were departing a visit with him in a nursing home in Vidalia, Lord, have mercy on me.” Those were the last words I heard Mr. Emory speak and I have often thought of how God answered his prayer for mercy. There are things worse than death, especially for saints of God.

The mercy of God is made new every day just like the dew that falls from the sky. It comes at night when things are still and it doesnt make a sound at all. Tomorrow morning go outside your home and notice the dew and when you do, dont forget how God has blessed you with His mercy and that it came even though you did nothing, nor saw it coming nor understood its coming. Because our God is a merciful God, we should always want to be closer to Him through His word and prayer and worship. Never try to run from God. We cannot get away from Him, nor can we get away from His mercy because it follows us everywhere we go.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

Brother Randy

Blog comments will be sent to the moderator

Greetings church family! This time of year is especially encouraging because we see dead things coming to life, hear more melodious sounds and feel a little warmer too. When God sends the spring season, He puts a little spring in our steps too. Trees and grass that seemed dead prove to be only dormant. Shrubs that were bare and hardly noticed, suddenly catch our eye with showy, colorful blooms. The purple martins have arrived once again and their songs as they soar seem to make us want to do more. Spring is one way God sends to us a message of hope. It doesnt take long to find a spot of yellow! There is more light in the day and the birds and the bumble bees remind us that God will make a way even when our way is wandering and wanting. If God can change the earth so drastically and make it more glorious, how much more can He change our lives so that we can bring Him more glory.

God is so good its really hard to describe Him. Words just dont seem to do justice to His grace and mercy to us. Just so, its hard to tell someone what springtime looks like, you just have to see it to appreciate it. I cannot adequately describe what an azalea bloom looks like nor can I tell you what Gods amazing grace feels like. Neither can I get you excited about green leaves, a tree or green grass on the lawn if you have not seen a tree bare and the grass brown. The secret of the springtime is to be there! Look out of your window and see God at work. His tracks are everywhere. Following His tracks in creation will lead us to the cross of Calvary. Knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ died on that cross to pay our sin debt which we could not pay and rose again the third day, after that should not only put a spring in our steps but also put holy spunk in our state! God resurrects His creation this time of year but, even more glorious and grander, is the new creation He makes us to be because of His only begotten Sons resurrection.

In a world where its hard to believe anything or anybody, its good to be reminded that we can still and always will be able to trust and believe God. Springtime is also a testament that the Almighty is not kidding when it comes to His word and promises.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22

This is our Fathers world and we are His people and He has placed us where we are in His world for a purpose. And that purpose is to make much of Him and help each other do the same! The Lord not only created this world, He also sustains it, that is, He keeps it going by His manifold maintenance and provisions. Likewise, God not only saves us, He keeps us saved by shaking the sin out of us, and putting us on solid ground through the righteous merit of Jesus Christ.

The motivating freshness which spring brings reminds us of the renewing feeling we experience during worship on Sundays. Thats because we worship in Gods house on the first day of the week to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and springtime is sort of a metaphor for the resurrection. Natures apparent deadness comes to life and so do forgiven sinners! Both the resurrection and springtime are miraculous. Neither are manmade and each require the power of God to happen.

Spring is the greatest show on earth and the greatest show in the universe is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Springtime assures us that winter is over, its getting warmer and there is more light. Jesus’ resurrection assures us that our sin debt is paid in full, and our greatest enemy, death, has been conquered. Have you ever thought how horrible it would be if spring didnt come? Far worse would be Jesus’ “no show” following His death on the cross and His burial in a borrowed tomb. It is no coincidence that following the darkest, hardest times, our Lord and spring show up in the same place — a garden.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” John 20:15

The least we can do is be there.” And when we are we will realize His mercy is greater than His majesty!

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5

Regarding our salvation, mercy is a pretty big deal! Actually, given our proneness to sin and our inadequacy apart from Christ to please or offer God anything worthwhile, its the only deal. It will help us to see the importance of mercy by understanding that our God is not only Holy, but Holy, Holy, Holy! This thrice Holy God cannot and will not put up with or have anything to do with sin.

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity...” Habakkuk 1:13a

Mercy is Manifested

Manifest means to be clearly seen or revealed. The Lord Jesus Christ was plainly seen by over five hundred people besides the apostles after His resurrection. When you and I are convicted of sin, confess those sins, and turn from them, trusting Jesus, we are looking at mercy, for we are by faith looking at the resurrected Lord! By Gods electing love, all of His redeemed people have been mercifully placed in a position of graceful favor because when Christ died, they died with Him and when Christ arose, they arose with Him. The they” in the previous sentence are you and me and it looks a lot like mercy. God didnt have to save us nor anyone else, but because of His mercy He did so. Mercy is stronger than love because salvation is provided for the unlovable. Jesus died for sinners, not good people. There are no good people and therefore mercy is manifest in manifold ways. The truth is, God takes the no good” and makes them good because He is a merciful God. When people worship God in spirit and truth and pray in a humble, needy spirit, the goodness of God is manifest.

Manifest mercy brings hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless. The resurrection proves that nothing is too hard for God. Yet, the power of God would only intensify His wrath were it not for His mercy. Kingdom life is nothing more or less than merciful living. We should all try every day to see Gods mercy. When we do, well find, like Jesus, if we seek mercy with all our heart, well find it. Actually, Kingdom life is a platform not only for us to see Gods mercy every day but also an opportunity for us to show God we appreciate Him saving us by obeying His command to a merciful lifestyle.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord re- quire of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Mercy Motivates

Mercy is motivational because it is a catalyst which strengthens the inner person to begin again no matter where or how down one has been. When we get mercy, we dont get what we deserve, we get what God wants us to have and that is the very best.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

Without mercy we would get death, hell and the grave because that is what we all deserve. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death and since we all have sinned (The Bible also tells us that.) the payroll is a death roll. Unless, of course, Jesus Christ died for us, paid that debt and gave us what we did not deserve — His righteousness. Now if that doesnt motivate one to live for Him, I dont know what will! Jesus didnt die for us to be nice, He died to show us His mercy. When we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and love Him as a precious treasure, we will never ever die — never! The gift of eternal life is ours not because of our merit but because of Gods mercy. And just the fact that we believe that is another motivating miracle when mercy catalyzes.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Corinthians 2:14

Motivate means a provision for the desire to do something. Prayer is not a catechism nor a cultish call to religious postures and literary responsive readings. Prayer is conversing with Almighty God and is prompted by His Holy Spirit and addressed in the context of the merit provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In other words, prayer is motivated by Gods mercy and heard because of His grace. Think how merciful God must be to allow, even invite sinful creatures like us to pray to Him, often for our needs He has already promised to provide. If you want to know what mercy sounds like, listen to someone praying. If you want to know what mercy feels like, then go to Jesus with a broken heart and talk to Him without words because you dont know what to say nor how to say it! The truth is, every time we pray to God, we will find His mercy right there motivating us to keep on keeping on in His kingdoms work.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Mercy is made new every day.

Nothing exemplifies mercy any more than birth does. Every morning we should remember mercy because God has sent us a new day — a new beginning so to speak with an assignment to glorify and enjoy God. The new birth is the breaking down of Gods mercy. Just as the Lord breathed into the nostrils of Adam and he became a living soul, He breathed His Holy Spirit into our souls. Birth is a traumatic experience, but its also a mercy filled one. A little baby comes into this world crying, but its a cry which reveals life is present. When God saves us by His grace and we are born again we cry too. We cry out for His mercy just like the publican in Luke eighteen did when he said Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner!” This morning I held mercy in my arms. Her name is Palmer Grace Cook and she is my first great-granddaughter. I know I must be one of the youngest great-grandfathers that has ever lived! Not only did I think of Gods mercy as I held her because she appears to be a healthy baby, but also because of how Gods mercy will protect and care for her as she grows up in a world that is growing worse.

As great as mercy is and as much of it as all of us use up every day, you would think it might run out. But nothing changes with God, not even His mercy.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 136:1

Sometimes God sends His mercy to us in ways we may not recognize at the time He sends it. But God knows we need mercy and He knows the kind of mercy we need. My father-in-law, Emory Deloach, was a faith filled, godly man, and probably the happiest man Ive ever known in my life. When he grew old and dementia clouded his mind and bodily pain took away his laughter and zeal for life, he said to me and Penny one night as we were departing a visit with him in a nursing home in Vidalia, Lord, have mercy on me.” Those were the last words I heard Mr. Emory speak and I have often thought of how God answered his prayer for mercy. There are things worse than death, especially for saints of God.

The mercy of God is made new every day just like the dew that falls from the sky. It comes at night when things are still and it doesnt make a sound at all. Tomorrow morning go outside your home and notice the dew and when you do, dont forget how God has blessed you with His mercy and that it came even though you did nothing, nor saw it coming nor understood its coming. Because our God is a merciful God, we should always want to be closer to Him through His word and prayer and worship. Never try to run from God. We cannot get away from Him, nor can we get away from His mercy because it follows us everywhere we go.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

Brother Randy

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