Nehemiah 9:31-32
Nevertheless for thy great mercies 'sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
Now in the history of Nehemiah he was the cup bearing to the King and also known as a man who desired to make a difference for the glory of God. Think about the times where Gods people had faced so much turmoil but yet they had God’s grace and mercy upon them even in their restoration.
Now let us look at today's society and we see that the world is revolving right to left, Instead of left to right as the sun revolves around the earth. And recognizing that these changes are not according to the Gods word. Therefore it is clear today that in order to get back on track we must rely on pray, faith, but Grace and Mercy are the key source to us all. Understand that these inseparable twins are sufficient for us all. There are 4 points we must reflect in this message today
1. Hope. - God is merciful when we are not aware
2. Salvation - God is merciful even we are disobedient
3. Love - God mercy does not come of our worthiness
4. Grace is not self-righteousness - mercy is not pride
Let me give you the meaning of the two key words in this message. Grace is a word that holds several meanings one of elegance and beauty, pleasing quality, goodwill, a manifestation of favor. Mercy is defined an act of kindness, compassion, or favor, and something that gives evidence to divine favor.
Now in this scripture of Nehemiah 9 we have to realize that the children of Israel were facing trails and turmoil in their time. Understand that they broke their covenant with God which cause them to face all that they did. Realize that the children of God that the Kings had failed, the princes had failed, the priest had failed and even the prophets failed yet they serve a Gracious and Merciful God. Understand that thou centuries have passed the same problems still exist in the world today for we all fall short of the Glory of God but where it not for his Grace and Mercy. Take a moment and Think about how every time we turn on the television or read a newspaper there is so much negative news being reported from murders, to laws changing to appease man desires to rumors of wars. Yet the question today is where is the church? Are we protesting the things that are abominations unto our Father in Heaven? For instance, in the midst of this devastating world God still loves us and his love is greatest love of all. See we are his chosen people that have made a choice in our hearts and minds to live by his word but are we truly speaking and teaching his word to others or are we ashamed to speak out. The aspect of God’s grace is so beautiful that regardless of what we do he still forgives us for he is gracious and merciful unto us. Keep in mind that his grace is our Hope for when we repent unto him our sins he is just to forgive regardless of how many times we sin.
See that is the HOPE he has embedded into our hearts. Just think of how his Grace and Mercy has carried us through many trails we have faced seen and unseen. In Genesis 20:1-18 displays how our God is merciful even when we are unaware of his mercy. God uses dreams and visions at times to warn us of unforeseen encounters that is his mercy unaware but the key is to have obedience to the message as a warning which was Gods way of advising us when we are heading in the wrong direction. We have to keep in mind that God speaks to us through visions and dreams the question are you listening? Even thou God grants us the choice but we have to realize he trust us to completely follow his word. Yet we sometimes make wrong choices but his Mercy prevails through his Grace therefore so many times when God has worked in our favor by use of grace and mercy. This is the Hope that rest in grace and the protection that rest in mercy.
Now as we move forward to salvation in Ephesians 1:7-8 he is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his son, and our sins are forgiven. He had showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. In this word we have to understand that God’s grace is voluntary and loving favor given to those he saves. We can't earn nor do we deserve anything from The Lord. There is no religious, intellectual, or moral effort that gives us access to grace only God himself grants Grace and mercy. Nevertheless salvation is nothing you can earn or purchase you have to be willing to change your attitude, behavior and also surrender total unto his will. With that we have to recognize when we are wrong and be willing to accept Gods punishment for are disobedience. Just as King David had to seek compassion unto The Lord for the sins he had done against God. See even David acknowledge that even as King he could not save himself therefore we have to do the same and realize that it is God that grants our salvation by his grace and mercy. So I say where it not for Grace and Mercy the loving God we serve could have easily turn his back completely on this world for all the sins yet he loves us all and granted salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Do you realize that true love, pure love ask for nothing it's acceptance is the way it comes straight from the heart which is what we receive from our father in heaven even when we sin against him. We must understand that we become Christian not through any efforts, or ability and not even an intelligent choice It is through Gods unmerited Grace. In spite of what others may say or do we have to love them just as our father in heaven loves us. See this is where we have to become servants for The Lord understanding that his grace frees us but his mercy comes when we repent of our sins and turn from the ways of the world.
This is quite clear in his word 2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. It is clear that God is seeking us to turn from our wicked ways by just standing still and allowing the ways of the world to prevail. When we who are called by his name have the authority and power through pray and meditation we can change many results we see in the land. But we chose to keep silent as a whole in the body of Christ Jesus. This is why grace and mercy are so powerful for in spite of our silence God still sees fit to protect our lives and forgive us. We have be like the old song I sung as a child I may never march in the infantry ride in the Calvary shoot the artillery but I'm in the Lords Army. We have to speak like Donnie mckurklin did when he said "I'm walking in Authority" those words alone gives the power to say I cancel every assignment of the enemy that is over your life, family, finances, career & marriage in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Now we have understanding of our Hope, the importance of our Salvation, and now we have that unconditional Love which gives us Grace and Mercy so know this one don't walk without the other. We at the final point which is removing self-righteousness and pride out the way; so we as his children must understand that self-righteousness is not acceptable in eyes of God. He views such behavior as foolish prideful acts yet we do them anyway. By making statements such as I did this and I did that and I have accomplished this all by myself. Do you realize that such statements are promoting self are sinful acts against our father in heaven for without him we Are nothing but filthy rags. In Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Paul addresses such thoughts and acts letting the people know that such acts are not pleasing to our father in heaven; for he loved us so much that he gave his son to redeem the world. Yet we still choose to allow sin to run wild over the land. Where do we stand? Are in the army for our Lord or are we silent for Satan. See eventually God’s grace and mercy is going prevail just as he did in Luke 18:13-14 he brought the tax collector who had wealth clearly realized that he is sinner and confesses with his mouth and from his heart seeking forgiveness.
See there is a short pray we can use:
Dear my Heavenly Father, I thank you for your Grace and Mercy. You give me the strength and power to extend that same Grace and Mercy to those in my life who have hurt me in any way. Amen.
Nevertheless it is time to stop playing church and starting being who God called each of us in the church to be (Ambassadors for Christ) by allowing the spirit of our father in heaven take full control of us. By loving our God deeper allowing his spirit to grow stronger and deeper in our hearts and souls by how we think speaks and walks. We have to surrender as the old hymns says for when we yield unto our God begins to manifest miracles in our daily lives things we thought were not possible become possible by his Grace and Mercy. That is what carries us day by day. We have to realize that God gives us 86,400 seconds a day and we only give him 14,400 seconds on Sunday morning which is 10am to 2pm. And Wednesday we give 3,600 seconds for Bible Study. We have to understand that our God is gracious and merciful unto each of us every second of the day. Just by him loving us always regardless of our sins for it’s by Grace and through Mercy that his son Jesus Christ surrendered his life to save all mankind from death. See we have to show love, hope and faith unto our Father in heaven.
For he is our
Elohim-the God above all Gods
Jehovah Jirah- Our provider
Jehovah Shalom-God of Peace
Jehovah Shammah-God is present
Jehovah Rapha- our Healer
JehovahNissi-God of Victory
Jehovah Tsidkenu- God of righteousness
Jehovah Raah- God is my Shepherd
El Shaddai- the Almighty God
For it is his grace and mercy that brought us through, I'm living this moment because of you I want to thank you and praise you too. For your grace and mercy brought me through. Understand that hope, salvation and love are important components in grace and mercy. Therefore let go of self-righteousness and pride for these are thoughts of vanity. And our God is not vain. He is a loving kind and forgiving God. So in the words of the late Frank Williams.
Your Grace and mercy brought me through. I'm living this moment because of you. And I want to thank you and praise you too. But your grace and mercy brought me through.
Your Grace and mercy brought me through. I'm living this moment because of you. And I want to thank you and praise you too. But your grace and mercy brought me through.
Thank you saving a sinner like me. To tell the world that salvation is free. There were times when I just didn't do right but you watched over me morning and night.
Your Grace and mercy brought me through. I'm living this moment because of you. And I want to thank you and praise you too. But your grace and mercy brought me through.
Justice demanded that I should die. But grace and mercy said we already paid the price. I once was blind but thank god I can see it was because grace and mercy came along and rescued me.
Your Grace and mercy brought me through. I'm living this moment because of you. And I want to thank you and praise you too. But your grace and mercy brought me through.
