Text: Exodus 33:19, Romans 9:15-16
Theme: Salvation and blessings flow from God’s sovereign mercy, not man’s effort.
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever asked: “Why me Lord? Why did you bless me and not the other person? Why did you spare me?”
The answer is in one sentence: God’s Mercy.
Romans 9:15-16 – “For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
Today we will look at three truths about God’s Mercy.
1: MERCY IS GOD’S SOVEREIGN CHOICE
Exodus 33:19 – “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
This was God speaking to Moses after Israel sinned with the golden calf. Israel deserved judgment, but God chose mercy.
Enriching Verses:
1. Ephesians 2:4-5 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
2. Lamentations 3:22-23 – “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”
3. Psalm 103:10 – “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.”
Truth: You are not alive today because you are better. You are alive because God decided to be merciful. Mercy is not earned. It is given.
2: MERCY IS NOT BY WORKS, BUT BY GOD
Romans 9:16 – “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
We live in a world of “work hard and earn it”. But salvation doesn’t work that way.
Enriching Verses:
1. Titus 3:5 – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…”
2. Luke 18:13-14 – The tax collector prayed, God, be merciful to me a sinner” and he went home justified.
3. Psalm 130:1-2 – “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord… For there is forgiveness with You…”
Illustration: Two men were crucified with Jesus. Both were sinners. One mocked Him, the other said “Remember me”. Jesus told him “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:42-43. Same crime, different mercy.
Truth: Stop running. Stop striving. Cry for mercy. That’s where breakthrough starts.
3: THOSE WHO RECEIVE MERCY MUST SHOW MERCY
God’s mercy is not just to save us, it’s to shape us.
Enriching Verses:
1. Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
2. Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good… and to walk humbly with your God.”
3. Colossians 3:12 – “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering”
If God had mercy on you despite your past, who are you to deny mercy to others?
Your marriage, business, ministry will grow when you become a vessel of mercy.
4 LESSONS ABOUT GOD’S MERCY
1. Mercy meets you at your worst – Romans 5:8 “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
2. Mercy is new every morning – Lamentations 3:23 You didn’t wake up by your power
3. Mercy cancels what justice demands – Psalm 103:12 “As far as east is from west, so far has He removed our transgressions”
4. Mercy leads to purpose – 1 Peter 2:10 “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy”
DECLARATIONS
1. Father, have mercy on me and my household, in Jesus’ name! Psalm 51:1
2. Every judgment against my life, be cancelled by the blood of mercy, in Jesus’ name!
3. Lord, let Your mercy speak where my efforts have failed, in Jesus’ name!
4. By mercy, I will not be wasted. I will fulfill my destiny, in Jesus’ name!
5. Make me a carrier of mercy. Let me show others the mercy You showed me!
PRAYER: Father, we come like the tax collector. We cannot boast. We only ask for mercy.
Have mercy on our nation Nigeria. Have mercy on our families, our youths, our economy. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner and save me.
Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Today, that throne is open. Go and obtain mercy. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
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