THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF MERCY

Romans 12:6–8 (NASB95)

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

The Motivational Spiritual Gifts of Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation or Encouraging, Giving, leadership, and Mercy all encompass who Jesus is. Just think about it. He was prophetic is predicting His death and declaring the kingdom of God. He was a servant in washing his disciples feet among serving in many other ways. He was a teacher in explaining and helping people understand the counsel of God. He was giving as he gave his life as a ransom for many. Now we will see how merciful Christ is and how he manifested that in his life.

The Spiritual gift of mercy is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals, both Christian and non-Christian, who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds that reflect Christ’s love and alleviate the suffering.

Every Christian is expected to be merciful. This is a role that reflects the fruit of the Spirit. But those who have the gift of mercy incorporate compassion and kindness into their lifestyle. They do not simply react to emergencies, as every Christian is expected to do. They continually seek opportunities to show pity for those who are down-and-out.

It said the good samaritan was moved with compassion. Now this word compassion in the greek is Splanchnizo.

Compassion in the greek is σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai)

It means to have a deep empathy for a person. Now empathy is when we experienced the same feelings emotionally as another person where as sympathy is just saying you care about someone sufferings. This word compassion or Spanchnizo is this feeling in your gut or stomach. When was the last time that you were literally sick to your stomach about someones suffering? There are many times that we here about how Jesus was moved by this type of compassion for those who suffer.

The first three letters of Compassion are “COM”. It means in joint of or together with. That’s why they make websites end with that. It’s the organization in conjunction with the internet.

So com-passion was the joint effect of the father and the son. Jesus didn’t do anything that was outside of the father’s will.

There are plenty of opportunities to give life

We hear about the violence and evil in this world. We hear and see the looting, rioting, and wickedness that comes from a political landscape. Fear has gripped mankind not only through that but also this world-wide pandemic known as Covid-19. There is no shortage of problems in the world.

We all know people who are in need of mercy and compassion such as the poor, the wounded, the sick, the outcasts of society and the down troddened. So there are plenty of opportunities.

To give life where there is death.

To give light where there is darkness.

To give hope where there is despair.

I. God’s Mercy Reaches Upward

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him” (Ps. 103:11).

How merciful our great God is! While we deserve the severest judgment, He has instead offered us His grace.

“Tired from the noonday heat, a tired farmer sat under a walnut tree to rest. Relaxing, he looked at his pumpkin vines and said to himself, “How strange it is that God puts such big heavy pumpkins on a frail vine that has so little strength it has to trail on the ground!”

And then looking up into the cool branches of the tree above him, he added, “How strange it is that God puts small walnuts on such a big tree with branches so strong they could hold a man!”

Just then a breeze dislodged a walnut from the tree. The tired farmer wondered no more, as he rubbed his head ruefully and said, “It is a good thing there wasn’t a pumpkin up there instead of a walnut.”—SOURCE UNKNOWN

And it is a good thing for believers that eternal mercy and grace awaits us, as we cannot imagine what life would be like if God gave us what we really deserved.”

A. God’s mercy reaches upward, and his glory fills the earth. Even the rich and proud are included.

Think about the story of the rich young ruler...

The young man had observed all of these commandments and asks Jesus what he still lacks. Jesus then responds that he should go sell all of his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor in order to receive treasures in heaven, and then to follow Jesus. The man leaves in sorrow, as he has many possessions.

B. Presidents, kings, and generals—all those who humble themselves and accept Christ as Savior and Lord—may be saved.

C. The Scripture Declares, “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ps. 136:26).

II. God’s Mercy Reaches Downward

“Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ps. 136:23).

“It has been said that grace is getting what we do not deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. Because we are sinners, we deserve to face the full force of the law—hell, separation from God, spiritual death for eternity. But God chose instead to be merciful to man, to give him the opportunity to be saved. Such is the case in the following account.

Quite a few years ago, Governor Neff of the State of Texas received an invitation to speak at one of the penitentiaries in that state. He spoke to the assembled prisoners, and afterward said that he would be around for a while to listen to anything any of the convicts might wish to tell him. He would take as much time as they wanted, and anything they would tell him would be kept in confidence.

The convicts began to come, one at a time. One after another told him a story of how they had been unjustly sentenced, were innocent, and wished to get out. Finally one man came through who said to him, “Governor Neff, I do not want to take much of your time. I only want to say that I really did what they convicted me of. But I have been here a number of years. I believe I have paid my debt to society, and that, if I were to be released, I would be able to live an upright life and show myself worthy of your mercy.”

This was the man whom Governor Neff pardoned.”

A. God’s mercy is great. It reaches downward to the discouraged, distressed, and depressed.

B. God’s mercy accepts all who forsake their sins with simple, trusting faith.

C. God’s mercy reaches up to the proud and haughty and down to the lowest, setting them on the same level, when they become one in Christ.

III. God’s Mercy Reaches Inward

Luke 18:11–14 (NASB95)

11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

A. God’s tender mercy reaches inward to the heart, mind, and soul, bringing comfort and contentment.

B. God’s mercy feels with compassion and love. It cheers the bereaved and lonely and heals the brokenhearted.

C. God’s tender mercies reach inward, exchanging our sorrow for his joy. His stability replaces our frustration and changes our disappointments to his appointments (see Ps. 136:23, 24).

IV. God’s Mercy Reaches Across

James 2:13–14 (NIV)

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

A. God’s mercy extends across to the whole world. It reaches the great and small, black and white, rich and poor, old and young alike.

B. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ may be saved at all times, in all places

C. We who have been shown mercy by God need to show that same mercy to others.

V. APPLICATION

A. Do you have the Spiritual Gift of mercy? How often do you feel that Splanchnizo. That gut wrenching feeling when you see someone in need, someone who is hurting. If it’s often, then you probably have the spiritual gift of mercy.

B. God’s Mercy reaches Up. It reaches down. It reaches within and it reaches across.

C. The Shape of God’s mercy is the cross and Christ Crucified.

D. By God’s mercy for us, Jesus died on the cross because of the compassion and love he has for you. He took the punishment that we deserved

E. Because of Christs’ mercy shown to us, we should show it to others.

REMINDER: TAKE TITHES AND OFFERINGS AFTER SERVICE