The Beattitudes part 5, Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain Mercy:

Introduction:

Good, Morning Everyone its good to be here today to be able to come and worship God this wonderful morning. Last week we talk about what it means to hunger and Thirst for God, and Christ. This week we will be looking at the 5th part of the Beatitudes, Let turn in our Bibles to Mt 5:7

Matthew 5:7 NKJV

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

This week we are going to be looking at what means be merciful, How we as Christians should strive to be Merciful, and How do we as Christians obtain mercy. From this verse here Matthew we are going to try to understand what Christ was trying to teach through the Beatitudes.

What does it Mean to be Merciful:

So, our First point for today is what does Christ mean by Blessed are the Merciful? what does it mean to be Merciful? Well let us look at the definition of merciful. it means to have compassion, to be forgiving. today many people struggle with forgiving others, but we as Christians have a merciful God. a God who gave us his son. Lets turn in our Bibles to John 3:16-17

John 3:16–17 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

From these two verse here we see the very extent of our God’s Mercy for mankind. God send his son to die for all who sin, Mankind by nature is sinful. through out the old Testament we see God has, and was willing to give mercy to those who prove them selves by doing his commandments. God is very patient, compassionate, and merciful, we can also tie Gen 19:16-33, From this passage here in Genesis we a conversation between God, and Abraham over Sodom, and Gomorrah. Abraham went to God, and ask for mercy on the two Cities if they could find a certain amount of people who were still righteous among. This when on all the way down to finding ten righteous people within the city, unfortunately there was no righteous in both cities, because of this they were destroyed. Throughout the Bible we see the God provides mercy for all, like mention before John 3:16-17, and Gen 19:16-33 we come to see that God is willing to have mercy for those who are willing to change their ways. from the book of Psalms we see that David had experience God’s Mercy. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Psalms 26:11

Psalm 26:title–12 NKJV

A Psalm of David. 1 Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart. 3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. 4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord, 7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works. 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. 9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My foot stands in an even place; In the congregations I will bless the Lord.

From this Psalm, As Christians we know the story of David, David was a man after God’s own heart. David was known for making mistakes throughout his life, yet because of his repenting heart, he was given this title as the Man after God’s own Heart. we also see that throughout David’s life God was merciful, but David still had to face the consequences of life, even though he considers to be the man after God’s own heart.

How do we As Christians Strive to be merciful?

Our Next point for today is How should we as Christians strive to be Merciful? well as Christians we have biblical Examples we look up to from within the Bible. Our first example of being merciful is King David himself. Let’s turn in our Bibles to 1st Sam 24:16-22

1 Samuel 24:16–22 NKJV

16 So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.” 22 So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

From this passage here in 1st Samuel, we see the conversation between Saul and David. David had to run from Saul because of Saul’s Jealously of David. during these times of struggle for David, David was given opportunity to strike Saul down. As Christians we see the whole picture, how David decided to spare Saul life. David had mercy on the man who wanted to kill him. Today many people struggle with worldly thought within themselves. it is easy for our nature to hate others who cause us harm. it much more difficult to give mercy towards those who wish to cause harm to others. As Christians we should want to strive to be like David from the Old Testament. As Christians we should want to have compassion, and forgive, than to hate. Not only are we to be like David from the Old Testament, there one whom we need to strive be more like in everything. His name is Jesus Christ, From the gospels as we study the life of Christ. We’ll see Christ’s compassion and forgiveness for others throughout his ministry. Lets turn in our Bibles to John 8:1-11.

John 8:1–11 NKJV

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

From this passage here The Gospel of John, we see that the Scribe, the Pharisees, and the Sadducee try to test Christ with law, which command them to stone this women who caught. Christ knowing their thoughts saw through their plan of testing him answer them by asking them a question “he who is without sin may cast the first stone” The Pharisees, The Sadducees, and the Scribes were trying to trap Christ, with that they maybe able to accuse him later. Now we can see that even Christ had compassion and forgave this women at the end of the passage. Christ had given this women a chance to turn her life around. Today as Christians we need to be willing to give others a chance of Mercy, or be merciful towards others. its not us that will judge, God who judges all. Not This women is not the only one who was forgiven, from the Scriptures Mankind was Given mercy through the son of God, who was Jesus Christ, Remember John 3:16, not only that Christ ask for mercy on those were killing him. Let turn in our Bibles to Lk 23:34

Luke 23:33–35 NKJV

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

From this passage here in the Gospel of Lk we see Christ mercy for mankind, because of his death we are able to come to the throne of God with confidence. Because of this Mercy we able to change our ways, and we as Christians should strive to be like Christ, to give mercy to all.

How do we obtain Mercy?

Which leads us to our last point for today. How do we as Christians obtain Mercy. As Christians we understand that God has given us mercy through his son Jesus Christ John 3:16. because of this of gift of mercy we are able to come to the Throne of God with confidence. Let turn in our Bibles to Heb 4:16

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

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.

From this verse here in Hebrews we see that Author is reminding all Christians we can come to throne of God with Confidence because of God’s grace and mercy through his son Jesus Christ. As Christians we understand that were made alive again through God’s son. Let turn in our Bibles to Eph 2:4-5

Ephesians 2:4–7 NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

From this passage in Ephesians, Paul talks about God is rich in Mercy, because of his love for us. Paul also reminds the early church about this love for us. As Christians we come to understand that because of this love, it through grace and mercy that we able to turn from our transgressions, and live according to God’s standard within this life, this does not mean that continue to live in sin but it means we live a life for God and Christ.

Conclusion:

Today the world wants us to be blind from God’s mercy, but God is merciful still today. God provides his mercy through his son Jesus Christ. it because of Christ we have mercy from God. I may not know what you Struggle in your personal life, but God does, and he wants a relationship with all of us, because God cares for all of mankind. if you are seeking for compassion or forgiveness then you come to right place because have God who is rich in mercy. if you are struggling, if you are in need of prayers, if you have questions, or if you wish to be baptized please come forwards as we stand and sing.