Introduction

A.W. Tozer
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

How do I know if I have created my own image of God? If God agrees with everything you think.

Simple definition of Mercy – God does not give us what we deserve.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. You must acknowledge your guilt to receive mercy.

We are all guilty of breaking God’s laws.
James 2:10 says if we break one law we are as guilty as someone breaking all of the laws

Mercy is an emotive word, synonymous with compassionate, forgiving, patient.

The children of Israel needed mercy after mercy after mercy after mercy.

Listen to what Lamentations says:

Lamentations 3:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

2. God’s motive for mercy is to restore relationship.

Exodus 34:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

Hebrew – Jealousy – qana –Red in the face

3. We must be merciful.

Luke 6:36 New King James Version (NKJV)
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

But yet my father in heaven never runs out of mercy for me.

4. Mercy changes our countenance.

Exodus 34:29 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.

The other side of Mercy is grace

Grace – Getting what we don’t deserve.

Grace is the unmerited favor of God.

Gracious, the Hebrew word channun, in its verb form, means to be considerate, to show favor.

Mercy is a compassion grace is the action.

Salvation is by God’s grace..
Ephesians 2:8-9 it is by God’s grace we have been saved.

Mercy - God does not give us what we deserve.
Grace - Getting what we don’t deserve.

How do we respond to God’s Mercy and Grace?

Exodus 34:8-9 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. 9 Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked[a] people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”

We worship him.
We confess our sin.
We accept his Mercy and Grace.
We put down our own images of God.
We surrender to His Will.

Father’s Day Discussion Questions:

This Sunday we talked about God revealing himself to Moses as merciful and gracious. What is the opposite of merciful and gracious? What do you identify God with more merciful and gracious or cruel and angry? Is it possible to be both?

When have you seen God’s mercy in your life? Why is it important to remember God’s work of mercy in our life?

Who do you need to give mercy to? In Jonah 4, Jonah is angry that God has given Nineveh mercy. Have you ever thought that somebody else didn’t deserve mercy? Is it hard when people you don’t like get mercy they don’t deserve?

Along with mercy comes grace. God forgave the children of Israel and still gave them a chance to receive their inheritance. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. How have you seen God’s grace at work in your life? How has God blessed you despite your short comings?

What are some things you are hoping to learn during this new sermon series? What hurdles might hinder you from growing in these areas?