God Of Mercy

MESSAGE 2021.05.16 GOD of Mercy Pentecost-Shavuot

William Akehurst HSWC

GOD of MERCY, a message for Shavuot-Pentecost. Shavuot, celebrates GOD's WORD given to the Israelite Nation. Pentecost, celebrates GOD giving HOLY SPIRIT to believers in Messiah. Together, GODS WORD in written and living form, plus GOD's SPIRIT, bring a fuller completeness to the individual believer who has received GOD's MERCY.

Define Mercy - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

One who has the power to punish, yet shows compassion or forgiveness toward the one to be punished.

INTRODUCTION (this could be a sermon in itself)

Note: I had forgotten that today is Pentecost Sunday, but the LORD reminded me…for this purpose.

Pentecost Sunday marks 50 days since the Passover celebration.

In the Old Testament, 50 days after the original Passover, when the Hebrews exited Egypt, they waited at the bottom of the mountain for Moses to return with the WORD of GOD, the 10 commandments.

In Jewish teachings, Shavuot is celebrating the day when the Children of Israel, the Hebrews, received Torah, the Law, or the WORD of GOD. The 10 Commandments.

This day of Shavuot aligns with Pentecost, the Day the Christian Jews received the Holy Spirit. Acts 1-2

And scripture tells us that the believer in JESUS CHRIST is Sealed by HIS SPIRIT.

So What can we learn from this?

GOD's WORD represented by the Torah is written for our benefit to study and learn.

But there's more to the WORD than this...it is JESUS...

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And there's more to JESUS than just the WORD of GOD, it is HIS SPIRIT.

HIS SPIRIT, the Comforter, who shall teach us in HIS WORD.

John 14:26 (KJV) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH will guide you in all truth

John 16:13 (KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

JESUS says, I must go away so I can send the Comforter, the SPIRIT.

John 16:7 (KJV) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

JESUS gave up HIS SPIRIT (so that we could receive!)

Luke 23:46 (KJV) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

HIS SPIRIT fills the believers

Acts 2:4 (KJV) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

HIS SPIRIT Seals us!

Ephesians 1:13 (KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

So when you have both GOD's WORD, written and living (JESUS)...AND...HIS SPIRIT, you have been made complete!

I think of the many times I read through a passage (even the same passage or verse like John 3:16-see below) and learn something new each time. This is the HOLY SPIRIT teaching me and applying or writing these things that "jump off the page" to the tablets of my heart. This is the Work of the Holy Spirit in every believer that combines the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT with GOD's HOLY WORD.

So it is important to ask for the LORD's guidance, HIS SPIRIT to reveal the hidden things when we read GOD's WORD, so that the SPIRIT can impart the message, the attribute, the defining moment of that passage into our heart.

Prayer:

FATHER, we ask that YOUR WORD and CHRIST through it, would open our understanding, by the teaching and application of YOUR SPIRIT within us. Let us hear and know YOUR still small voice, in the quietness of our time with YOU. In YOUR NAME FATHER, and JESUS and HOLY SPIRIT, Amen.

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MESSAGE: GOD of MERCY

In the OT passage today, we read of the people receiving GOD's Word. And in this passage, we learn an attribute of GOD, the GOD of Mercy. Let's take a look.

Note: I received and added this passage from Exodus by the promptings of HOLY SPIRIT this morning in my last preparations of the message; I believe it completes the message, PRAISE THE LORD!