Pursuing God's Heart - Reflecting His Mercy - Being Merciful

2023.07.09.Sermon.The Heart of the LORD - Have Mercy

William Akehurst, HSWC

I was reflecting on the “Walk through the Bible” study we did a few years back, when we recognized the 1st three kings over Israel, and the words and hand motions to describe each.

King Saul had no heart for the LORD

King David had a full heart for the LORD

King Solomon had half a heart for the LORD.

We should be like David, with our hearts FULLY FOR THE LORD. “Pursuing GOD's Heart”. Sounds like a good title for a series…

LORD HAVE MERCY!

Pursuing GOD’s Heart – Reflecting HIS Mercy

BIG IDEA: The heart of the LORD is about Mercy towards us, and as HE gives mercy, we are also to be merciful to others. We love, because HE first loved us. We forgive, because HE first forgave us. We have mercy because HE first was merciful to us.

Scriptures: Psalm 103:8, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 22 :36-40, Matthew 5:7, Hebrews 4:14-16, Luke 6:27-36, Proverbs 11:17, Matthew 6:22-23, Romans 4:4, James 2:13, Micah 6:8, Colossians 3:12-15, Matthew 15:18, Matthew 7:1-2

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Portions adapted from “The Heart of the LORD” – by John Parsons

Psalm 103:8 “Merciful and gracious is the LORD, longsuffering and full of love” (Hebrew Translation)

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Psalms 103:8 (NKJV) 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

It’s been said that grace is getting what you don’t deserve, whereas mercy is not getting what you deserve. Yeshua said, Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

This is not a reciprocal principle like “karma” (the Buddhist teaching that you supposedly get in return what you first give).

NO, instead, we have received of the LORD, that which we are to give.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:23 "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you:"

Matthew 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

COMING TO THE THONE OF GRACE TO OBTAIN MERCY AND GRACE

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.