Act with Justice, show mercy (We believe)

I'm in pain our heart and let's pray for pastor day. Lord. We thank you for what you have place in a birthday card. You know, that he has been repairing and he has something to share with us. Let now your holy spirit to guide him, through all words and no knowledge North. So we can be touch this morning. And that the word that you are giving us would be Transforming Our Lives. Thank you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Just wanted you start something of the verses for somebody in the room over there. It's for somebody at home but I just sent you said you got this morning. If you really that, would you speak to me? You said to go this morning, I really need to hear from you. And this is his response to you. He loves you, he's got a plan in the puppets for you, and he's going to do great things. So I do not give out because you cried, he heard. And this is his response. Received the blessing of what God has for you walking confidence, even though you don't see the next steps walking competence. I just want to share that with you cuz I just sense. Something was on the father's house this morning,

We're in all series of looking at, We Believe. And I don't know. What do you believe in Justice? Anybody Believe In Justice. This is some people kind of we not sure what you mean by that, just east of what you mean. But you know what? We can see Justice we have courts in. All lines are all courts around the world and the judge will sit and somebody will come forward and Justice will be meted out to you know I'm going to I'm going to show you my little bit of the language here. This morning going to try and use one or two Hebrew words if that's okay with you. So we can let me stop in Micah 6:8. Let me know. Very often not what I actually turned two or one goddamn eleventy-seven. You will find the words Justice and mercy regularly appear in places like a cook. Joe Micah James Proverbs Zechariah he has shown you a he has shown you are mine. What is good? And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly. So, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Justice begins with God, doesn't begin with us is not mines. This is God's justice. God is a God of Justice and it begins with him. If you go back through the fella, found the foundations of the old Summit, you will find scripture. Because we were a Christian Nation that are many other nations around the world that had a Christian foundation and you will find that our Christian principles in the lives of all and praise God. So, Justice begins with a political agenda, you can really happily easily politicize Justice and it's not about doing just doing good, it's rooted in the very character on nature of God. It's supposed to be just and to be merciful, you will find those two words again and again and again you'll find them quite a bit of research. And we going to Great tools. Now right tools that we can just type things in and we can also tap cheese pizza or something else to go and find out how many times in the same sentence in the Bible. I'm going to leave that for you to do your homework. I'm not going to, I'm not going to give you the answer to that question.

But let's look at some of the Hebrew words here behind Mercy. Entry class Presley. Look at mishpat mishpat. Sorry I'm P A W. T is the second part of that in terms of protons in Michigan. Is the Hebrew word that turns the right directly, Justice, Encompass, encompasses, fanus equity and impartiality. It's more than just Justice, it's more than just Justice pet side. Ted said, which means the term for must see, God's unconditional Grace and compassion. So we have Justice and we have mercy and they come together like come together in the joints together. But you know, I want to give you a third word that you will find often appraising job as well. This is the one going to really struggle with sciatica and the Hebrew word often translated as being Josh. Not just but being just opening righteous emphasizing of relationships. So Justice can be worked out by somebody standing outside. The law says this, this is what is going to happen but you know what? I firmly believe but actually, if we would just Ted sadada. Catch the DACA if we would just do this, then I see we wouldn't need quite so much Justice. If we living good relationship then we don't need luck was quite so much. For the reason we need Lewis is cuz our relationship so broken. Why do people have what are they called? In prenuptial agreements? Now, some people choose to get married and you will find people have sometimes people will be advised to have a prenuptial agreement. Think about it, a lawyer has advised, you someone is advise you to set down The rules. In case what you're just about to step into breaks down. Go to Bright Star. Is it already love you. Find this prenuptial agreement just in case, it all goes wrong.

Fast facts about the law. But you know what, if we lived in right relationship, we would never get to that situation. If we lived in, how many people have a perfect marriage, I'm up by the way, my hands clap. I was just asking because I'm not perfect because we make mistakes recite things. We didn't want to say, we don't say things, we should have said, but you know what? If we live in right relationship and I see some of the laws just disappeared. In fact, we have a batch of standard than the law cuz we choose to go further because she's Beyond just what we believe and I still have 117. It says learn to do. Good seek Justice rebuke the oppressor defend the fatherless plead for the Widow. This Justice in action is very much about those who are disenfranchised to separate those, who are refugees, those who are in need widows or for play. Messi is Justice in action, is not a cold abstract thing. It moves us to Mercy.

Ted sadaka Musa from the north to a response of a horse.

Zechariah Chapter 7 verses 9 and 10 says, this is what the Lord Almighty said administer. True Justice show, mercy. And compassion to one another. Do not oppress the Widow and the fatherless. All the following are all the pool, do not plot evil against each other. In many of the lost, people will have him places to go to see what happens when they too.

I wonder sometimes when I sketch sites by some of the news that we see,

We see stuff on the news and it made me put everything into a box and said everybody who speaks that language or has that skin color will come from that country. Suddenly has that mindset. We very good at generalizations but you know as soon as you meet someone and build a relationship with them, something the old is Lewis got an ounce of your head because you've got someone, you know,

Let me just give you an example, which I thought that I think would ring bells. You don't have the second mobile and you would know that that was a rising up in Germany of the Nazi movement. So as soon as I use the word Nazi immediately in your history, It's very easy and we have it in our history that we look how old Germans to say, actually, they got a legacy in that Heritage. Many, German friends. That good people. But we, we default to some of these things and I don't want to go to the current trends because it would be very easy to give it right out to you very quickly.

But Justice requires self-examination. He stops with us.

We kind of act justly when we ignore the scene in our own lives. Selfishness kicks in.

Repentance precedes. Renew an acting in Justice and showing Mercy is built upon the heart of God. He wants to reach out to the needy in the fatherless and the Widow in the open, and feed them and comfort them, and not just deal with that physical needs. But also deal with that their emotional needs.

I want to remember what you do and I used to go to an Anglican Church many many years ago. When we first got married, I didn't mean the piece. I need to walk around and it would say something like they said, the peace with somebody and you won't grind in Shanghai and some people check out and some people would know some people just say, the words want to see people would hug My particularly remember, this is particular, Sunday. When I was young lady in the church and she's about four foot ten, she was she was with me and I kind of Let the Peace of the Lord be with you and she said her head was down and I was looking at the top of her head and she said the Peace of the Lord be with you. She mumbled. You know what? I was a quickening in my spirit. I meant to say, I didn't say there was anything wrong. I just said that again. Would you look at me? Could you please do that again until the Peace of the Lord be with you before she even try to respond to me she burst into tears?

She was going through religious ritual. We were going through religious ritual. The first time when we connected in relationship and looked at one another at the Peace of the Lord be with you. She could. Then open up beside Lord. I'm I'm in a mess and we got surprise you just, this is not about setting, download Jessie's about living, right life, right?

Luke chapter 6. Verse 36 says, be merciful just as your father is, merciful, merciful full of Mercy. Mercy. Mercy comes with Justice and flows around Justice. Mercy flourishes in community Mercy. Should flourish in church?

I was in a car driving across America and the car had an American call soribel. Jump off to myself and to South African pasta and we were chatting away driving along in this particular State. We were in the speed limit on the freeway was 50 miles an hour. We were driving along and chatting and the pasta who was driving the car. Suddenly flashing lights behind. The alarms went off. Got pulled over. I'm just before he got just before he hit the flashing lights, he looked down his Speedo when whoops. Cuz he's not been paying attention, they've been enjoying the conversation that was going to the condo, a good thing, ready?

I'm just as well, she should have got ticket, don't think we were doing 65 in the middle of nowhere. But anyway, the policeman pulled us over and then because it was quite clear that South African was not an American. You said very gentleman from And I thought we explained and he said, see your possible. So we will have to pull a possible. It's out and not to show who we were. And he said, how are you, why you here is that? We were here for a conference and we just seen the countryside and he said, you know, you're naughty voice but I'm going to release you and show you a little bit of mercy on your way and be how you better next time.

Ya must see will show Absolutely or Philadelphia where it was driving 50 in a 30 year, 65 and 50 limit, you could kill somebody. But Marcy was showing Mercy flourishes in committee, Mercy, should flourish and Ashford and I G and angle fieldgreen as we do community together. And let me explain a little bit about how I recommend working on the messy Factor. How well do you know your life is? He's a bank holiday weekend. Many of us will be out now. God was doing something it says if the sun was buy out for long enough and we will have the opportunity to speak to 1029 take a moment, just to find out a little more about your neighbors, get to know them, just a little bit better for those who live on campus. I'm not talking about Over the Garden, famous, just who else lives in your kitchen? And who else lives on the same Corridor? As you must be flourishes in community. Without Mercy will be shown to anyone who is not being merciful Mercy, triumphs over judgement.

Why is because Messi confronts sing. biblical Justice Kohl's as to challenge, not just our own personal wrongs, but institutional rules, Think of Wilberforce everybody. Not how to Wilberforce. Okay, thank you for your honesty. What do you will before Stu He confronted slavery. He confronted Sly tree stood up in Parliament and confronted slavery. Ultimately slavery went It went in British law. There still an enormous amount of slavery around today, another example of justice and mercy.

Justice confronts. Systemic sin.

That sometimes we feel that, I'm just lost. Sometimes we want to appeal to the judge, that's why Messi can be shown All compressor happening before judge I'll go to parking ticket.

And I put my parking ticket. All my car. I came back to a parking ticket. No, I don't know what you think, but I told me she's on just, I'm not breaking any laws are done it, right? So, I sent my ticket in, like, you do like you told to, and I got a confirmation back saying, well, we have pictures to prove that you did not have your ticket on your dashboard. I don't know what you're thinking now, but I was honestly still sitting there thinking. Okay, this is challenging my Integrity. Now, for any reason I had I was just okay. The fine is too. I'll pipe quickly cuz you get it half price, but happiness. So I said, please send me the photos so they send me the photos and they showed me and that was a picture of my car with no visibility.

What's going on here?

Cuz if I hadn't taken a picture of my ticket on my dashboard, when I parked the car and then I stood back and try to take a similar picture to the parking lot, and then I took a similar picture. Sorry, my ticket. Because I have a double step dashboard and so you could put something on the first one, it's hidden by the second one. So anybody I went all the way in front of a judge and there was somebody that who said, but we think he's guilty as I presented all the information. I don't even know why I'm here. I think I present to you after he said, he's the thing about Justice and mercy, the gentleman who was defending for the parking company said, well, the person that posted the ticket is not here today but he's a very professional person.

And like, I just have to look at the doctor in sight, so, you know that matters to me is the food. He said, the reality is you've demonstrated how this is possible, I believe you and the in Sikeston Mo bike parking ticket sense cuz I've done other things. But the point is, that was a sense where I worked out thinking justice has been served on most. He has been shown Proverbs 3:31 9, speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. For the rights of all who are thirsty to speak up and judge fairly defend the rights of the poor and needy and we have to do right now who's asking you can do in Jinja Uganda, in an orphanage in Uganda looking out the 21 plus children who are orphans

And she even right now, she said she said, this is a friend that you said. I got a week left to go in the sun needs to do. Please pray. Love with you accelerate time. Would you bring the gifts that she needs? Would you release the connections to local authorities? That she needs that, so that she can stand up for the orphans in Jinja Uganda? Even though she's there?

I told you this before but it's relevant. Here, I got into London from time to time, and if you got to London, you'll often find people that was sitting banking in different places locations. And I was walking across the Footbridge from Waterloo Iowa to Worlds can cross. And there was somebody sitting there not had time, is this particular? I just felt prompted, the Lord instead of putting money in, I sat down next to him. Westside Connection on the floor. So it isn't comfortable sitting on concrete is not a comfortable thing as painful as people walking pause sling. How do you find yourself here? When he lost his job, when he found himself on the street and then you find yourself drinking a bit too much in this moment. So I said, you know what, rather than just give you some money, I'd love to take you to a place of your choice McDonald's or whichever place you on and buy whatever you want. I thought you said I was coming across. Isn't McDonald's. Just be on Charing. Cross Wednesday in the

I said, you can have what you want.

He said, I can have two cheeseburgers.

So do you want the quarter pounder? I'm to know what is yet too cool to pound us into double chips. He was obviously so hungry. But you know what? His expectation of me showing up, it's a must-see was just one cheeseburger one. She sees expectation was just a little, you know, what I believe. God has so much for more for us if we would just act generously sometimes and show Mercy than actually has more phosphorus

So did I speak out for those? When we have the opportunity?

And then finally lost scripture, Matthew, 23, verse 23, you have a tenth of your spices, many minutes till and cumin. But you have neglected, the more important matters of the law, Justice, mercy and faithfulness, you should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former Justice comes to focus at the foot of the cross. It's all about Justice and mercy make perfectly at the foot of the cross. The gospel compels us to pursue Justice, not just as an end in itself, but as a response to God's grace,

so, I'm not going to try and print out some again in Hebrew, but those three words maybe you wrote them down maybe you'd like to just consider them again. So it's not just Justice and mostly but the lifestyle of Justice, it's all going to return to the scriptures. I started with will read it first before the message. How do you say is this? But he has already made it plain how to live what to do, what God is looking for, in men and women. It's quite simple. Do what is fair and just to your neighbor be compassionate and loyal in your love and don't take yourself too seriously, take god seriously. So let's just read this first again, back in New King James, and it's the memory verse because I saw you practicing already. Let's read this together. He has shown you, oh, man, what is good? And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Douglas Bryant. Father, I thank you little to show us the way Jesus showed us so. So so many times, the woman who is about to be standing at the altar and he said, let him who is without sin cast the first stone and they all walked away. Father God help us to ax in Mercy, help us to see Justice for others who cannot voice that I need for justice. Help us to go the extra mile to help him to give the extra B. Help us to give wisdom time and insight to those around us who maybe don't have to say. And so father, help us to be people who welcomed the refugee, who welcomed All Nations to RCF &, Beyond's, who touch all nations. Not even as we touch the rest of the world and help us to be welcomed. Its first, do on Labor's to a friend's butt to the stranger is well in Jesus name, amen.

Thank you Dave. Well