The Reward Of Mercy Series

1. Opposite of Mercy - Revenge

We like stories where the bad guy gets his dues

Trucker is in a restaurant minding own business and a motorcycle gang begins to harass trucker.

One in particular got right in his face. "Big man in the 18 wheeler, out of your truck you’re a wimp", he shouted, pouring coffee all over his food. Trucker pays his bill and walks out.

The biker says to the waitress, "He’s not much of a man out of his truck"

Waitress causally shoots back, "not much of a truck diver either he just ran over 6 motorcycles on the way out."

- It seems like revenge is the theme of half the movies shown in theaters today.

Scripture tells us - don’t take revenge.

Proverbs 17:9 (AV)

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

2. Beatitudes

- We have come to a transition from the first four, which focus on our need

• We are bankrupt in spirit – We have a need we can’t fix ourselves – Mt 5:3

• Broken with grief - Mourning over our sin – Mt. 5:4

• Which leads to meekness - A surrender of ourselves – Mt. 5:5

• Should lead to a hunger for God – His righteousness Mt. 5:6

3. Beatitudes Transition to Mercy

So far to do with our need

What do I believe? – How I think

We now move to how I act my behavior, responsibility

What it means to follow Jesus

- Mt. 5:7 - Blessed are the mercy full”

- (Those "full" of mercy)

Mercy is to feel the pain of another so deeply that we’re compelled to do something about it

4. What Does Mercy Look Like?

2 Sa 9 – David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

- Show kindness restored to him Saul’s property

- Five times speaks of eating at the Kings table

Lk. 10:25-37 – Mercy of the Samaritan

- Samaritan was an outcast showing mercy to a Jew

- Here was one on a lonely & dangerous path beaten & robbed

- Do I walk pass the needy lying in the road

- Does fear, embarrassment, helplessness harden my heart to mercy

- Samaritan mercy did not expect recognition & praise

- Both in OT & NT could have held a grudge

“Holding grudges is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.”

- Jesus sees sinners as sick and miserable people in need of a physician

5. The Reward Of Mercy

- The lawyer’s question Luke 10:25 …. Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 10:27–28 (AV)

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

- Both David & Samaritan put aside their honor & dignity for one in need

Mercy identifies with the needs of others.

It removes selfishness and self-centeredness

Demonstrated in real time of what we believe

When we let go of ourselves we enter into full freedom

6. Mercy Given

Don Richardson “Peace Child” – He was a missionary to the cannibalistic, headhunting Sawi tribe of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Try as he would, he could not find a way to make the people understand the gospel message, especially the significance of Christ’s atoning death on the cross.

Sawi villages were constantly fighting among themselves, and because treachery revenge, and murder were highly honored there seemed no hope of peace. The tribe, however, had a legendary custom that if one village gave a baby boy to another village, peace would prevail between the two villages as long as the child lived.

The baby was called a “peace child”.

Christ lives forever and His peace will never end

His mercy is demonstrated and given at the cross