Introduction

Good morning, church family. I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There's a warmth in the air today, a warmth that speaks not only of the weather but of the love and fellowship we share in this sanctuary. As we gather here, let's remember that we are not just a group of individuals, but a body, a community, bound together by the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.

Today, we're going to spend some time together in the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 18:9-14. This passage recounts a parable that Jesus shared with His disciples, a story that speaks of two men, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector, and their contrasting attitudes towards prayer and righteousness.

In the words of Luke, "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

'But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

'I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'"

In this passage, we see a clear picture of what it means to approach God with humility and a contrite heart. The Pharisee, in his self-righteousness, fails to see his own need for God's mercy. The tax collector, on the other hand, acknowledges his sin and pleads for God's mercy with a humble heart.

As we reflect on this passage, let's consider the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon who once said, "I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need." This quote beautifully encapsulates the essence of our sermon today - the need for mercy, the greatness of God's mercy, and the transformative power of His mercy.

Before we begin, let's bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the fellowship we share, and for Your Word that guides us. As we delve into Your Word today, open our hearts and minds to understand Your mercy. Help us to see our need for Your mercy, to accept it with humility, and to extend it to others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Manifesting Mercy

In the parable we read, we see two men. One is a Pharisee, a religious leader, well-respected in society. The other is a tax collector, despised and looked down upon. The Pharisee stands tall, proud, thanking God that he is not like the sinners around him. The tax collector, however, stands at a distance, unable to even lift his eyes to heaven. He beats his chest and pleads, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

There's a stark contrast here. The Pharisee is self-righteous, confident in his own goodness. The tax collector is humble, aware of his sinfulness. And it's the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who goes home justified before God. Why? Because he manifested mercy. He recognized his need for God's mercy and asked for it.

Now, what does it mean to manifest mercy? It's about recognizing our own need for mercy. It's about acknowledging our sinfulness and our inability to save ourselves. It's about understanding that we are all, like the tax collector, in desperate need of God's mercy.

The first aspect of manifesting mercy is recognizing our need for it. We are all sinners. We all fall short of God's glory. We all need His mercy. The Pharisee in the parable failed to recognize this. He thought he was righteous on his own. He didn't see his need for God's mercy. But the tax collector did. He knew he was a sinner. He knew he needed God's mercy. And because he recognized his need, he was able to receive God's mercy.

The second aspect of manifesting mercy is asking for it. The tax collector didn't just recognize his need for mercy; he asked for it. He pleaded with God to have mercy on him. He didn't try to justify his actions or make excuses. He simply asked for mercy. And God, in His infinite love and grace, granted it.

The third aspect of manifesting mercy is receiving it. When we ask for God's mercy, He gives it to us. He doesn't hold back. He doesn't make us earn it. He simply gives it. But we have to be willing to receive it. We have to open our hearts and let His mercy in. The tax collector in the parable was willing to receive God's mercy. He opened his heart and let God's mercy in. And because he did, he went home justified before God.

The fourth and final aspect of manifesting mercy is living it. Once we've received God's mercy, we're called to live it out. We're called to show mercy to others just as God has shown mercy to us. This doesn't mean we ignore sin or condone wrong behavior. But it does mean we treat others with kindness, compassion, and understanding, just as God treats us.

Mastering Mercy

Mastering mercy is a process that requires us to first understand the depth and breadth of God's mercy ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO