Happiness Through - Mercy (Beatitudes) Series

Happiness In An Unsettling World

Steele Creek Church, Eastfield Campus

Dr. Tom Bartlett – October 18, 2020

Matthew 5:7

Mercy

OUTLINE

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Vs. 7)

Mercy: “Love in Action”

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:8 (ESV)

Why would we show mercy?

• God has shown mercy to you

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV)

• Other people need it from you

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” Matthew 23:23 (ESV)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 (ESV)

• In the future you’ll need it again

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13 (ESV)

"The man who makes no allowances for others will find none made for him." James 2:13 (Phillips translation)

What does biblical mercy look like?

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:31-40 (ESV)

Mercy’s general principle: you get what you give

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41-46 (ESV)

Mercy’s general result:

Christians serving others as if they’re serving God

MANUSCRIPT

Good morning and welcome to Steele Creek Church, Eastfield. Whether here in person or watching online, we are so glad you’re with us today.

As a kid, I can think back to so many dumb decisions I made in my life. As I rethink these things, I wonder if I even had a brain at the time.

• One time while swimming in a canal in Lake Tarpon, FL me and some friends decided to do some bridge jumping. The bridge that went over the canal was a 4-lane bridge so looking back to see if someone is coming was nearly impossible. After waiting to jump for what felt like a very long time, I decided to go for it. I jumped and as I was in the air, a boat came speeding through the canal. I’m in the air, nothing I can do. I hit the water just inches from the back of the boat. A few choice words were sent out toward me by the boater attesting to my diminished intellectual ability and other comments connecting my brain with my backside.