Expecting Mercy
1-13-02 AM
Isaiah 1: 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Pray
How many times have we gone astray, knowing that the Lord will forgive us when we come back?
How long will the Lord tolerate our intentional rebellion.
I. The view of the Lord
a. As a sinner
i. Filthy
ii. Rebellious
iii. Stained, with blemish.
b. As a Christian
i. Cleansed by the blood of Jesus
ii. Therefore seen as His son
c. As backslidden
i. Marred by sin
ii. Rebellious
II. The cost of the Lord to change His perspective
a. The Father sees us as sinners.
b. Romans 3: 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
c. Our perspective of the Father is always as the Father, judge, punisher, provider, supreme, unattainable.
d. Our perspective cannot be changed. Our feelings for Him might, but not our perspective.
e. So He must change His perspective of us.
f. How does He do that?
i. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: recall Adam.
ii. Plan of salvation
iii. Sacrifice of the Son Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
iv. Intercession of the Son.
v. For those that believe then, The Father is looking at His Son.
III. Living a life of expectancy
a. Everyone expects something spiritual
i. Eternal life in heaven
ii. Eternal damnation in Hell
b. Attaining heaven becomes the trick.
c. Some live their lives saying that “when I can clean up my life, then I will turn to God.”
d. Some give up saying that they “just can’t change”
i. The cost is too much
ii. They have tried and can’t do it.
e. Others live in belief but walk in rebellion
i. Sin today
ii. Get forgiveness tomorrow.
IV. Taking for granted the gift of mercy.
a. What is mercy? Seven marvels of mercy (according to Handfuls on Purpose)
i. That God should forgive at all. Man sinned at first without a cause; why should man expect a God, so greatly insulted, to forgive.
ii. That God is willing to forgive. He Is not willing that any should perish
iii. That God should condescend to reason with sinners (refer to Is. 1)
iv. That He should offer to reason with us (Is. 1)
v. That God not only forgives, but transforms the sinner
vi. That He should do it on such easy terms
vii. That God should bear patiently with refusals. His patience with rebellion, time after time.
b. Mercy is the gift of Salvation, given to a fallen man who is undeserving.
V. Hampering Mercy
a. Those that put off receiving the gift of mercy because of other(strange) reasons.
i. I have to clean myself up first.
ii. I love my lifestyle too much.
iii. Jonah, while in the belly of the great fish, reflected on what had gotten him there.
1. Looking back, he knew the sailors had thrown him overboard, but knew it was the hand of God.
2. He also knew that God was giving him a second chance.
3. Jonah 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
b. Not sharing the Gospel, not obeying the will of the Father and being the minister you are called to be.
c. Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy
d. Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
e. He has given His mercy as a gift to those that will receive. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
f. We didn’t earn it
g. We are not worthy in and of ourselves.
h. But Jesus says we are.
i. Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
j. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
VI. Altar Call
a. Call to the lost, receive His mercy
b. Call to those that continue to test His mercy, Walk in holiness.
