Who Is God?Who Is God?Lesson Nine: Lesson Nine:

The Father of MerciesThe Father of Mercies

What is mercy?What is mercy? The The feelingfeeling of sympathy for the of sympathy for the

misery, misfortune, or affliction misery, misfortune, or affliction of others.of others.

The The outwardoutward demonstration of demonstration of pity or compassion.pity or compassion.

Shown to those who are Shown to those who are undeservingundeserving of it and/or for of it and/or for those those under your authority.under your authority.

God is God is the sourcethe source of mercy. of mercy.

2 Corinthians 1:3 (NKJV)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV)Ephesians 2:4-5 (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).

If we want mercy from God, If we want mercy from God, we need to learn how to be we need to learn how to be

merciful ourselves.merciful ourselves.

Matthew 5:7 (NKJV)Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Being Merciful is who God Being Merciful is who God is!is!

God’s name stands for God’s name stands for mercy.mercy.

Exodus 3:14 (NKJV)Exodus 3:14 (NKJV)

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Exodus 33:18-19 (NKJV)Exodus 33:18-19 (NKJV)18 And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." 19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

Being Merciful is who God Being Merciful is who God is!is!

God’s name stands for God’s name stands for mercy.mercy.

Despite our sins, God Despite our sins, God shows mercy shows mercy (Neh. 9:17; (Neh. 9:17; Micah 7:18-20; Ps. 103:8-Micah 7:18-20; Ps. 103:8-11). 11).

On earthOn earth, God shows mercy , God shows mercy to the righteous and to the righteous and unrighteous.unrighteous.

Yet, in eternityYet, in eternity, only those in , only those in Christ will receive God’s Christ will receive God’s mercy and be able to enter mercy and be able to enter Heaven for eternal life.Heaven for eternal life.

““Be Merciful, Just as Your Be Merciful, Just as Your Heavenly Father is Heavenly Father is

Merciful.”Merciful.” Practicing mercy as God Practicing mercy as God

does.does. God God commandscommands us to be us to be merciful (Col. 3:12).merciful (Col. 3:12).

Luke 6:27-31 (NASB)Luke 6:27-31 (NASB)27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 "And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.

Luke 6:32-34 (NASB)Luke 6:32-34 (NASB)32 "And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 "And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount.

Luke 6:35a (NASB)Luke 6:35a (NASB)"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great…

Why be merciful?Why be merciful?

Luke 6:35-36 (NASB)35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

““Be Merciful, Just as Your Be Merciful, Just as Your Heavenly Father is Heavenly Father is

Merciful.”Merciful.” Practicing mercy as God Practicing mercy as God

does.does. Practicing mercy is what Practicing mercy is what

genuinegenuine children of God children of God do!do!(Eph. 5:1 / Luke 6:36) (Eph. 5:1 / Luke 6:36)

Proverbs 11:17 (NKJV)Proverbs 11:17 (NKJV)

The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Danger signs we are not Danger signs we are not merciful people…merciful people…

Proverbs 12:10 (NKJV)A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Danger signs we are not Danger signs we are not merciful people…merciful people…

Proverbs 14:31 (NKJV)He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

Matthew 23:23 (NKJV)Matthew 23:23 (NKJV)"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

James 2:13 (NKJV)James 2:13 (NKJV)

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We need to examine We need to examine ourselves ourselves in all honestyin all honesty on on

whether or not we are whether or not we are merciful people (James merciful people (James

1:22-25).1:22-25).

IF we are thankful for the IF we are thankful for the mercy God has shown us mercy God has shown us

in His Son, we in His Son, we willwill be be merciful unto others…merciful unto others…

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NASB)Ephesians 4:31-32 (NASB)

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

God’s Abundant Mercy is God’s Abundant Mercy is Available in Christ!Available in Christ!

God’s mercy is extended God’s mercy is extended to you through His Son to you through His Son Jesus.Jesus. God’s Son took away the God’s Son took away the punishment that you and I punishment that you and I deservedeserve for our sins on the for our sins on the cross (Luke 23:39-41).cross (Luke 23:39-41).

1 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV)3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

God’s Abundant Mercy is God’s Abundant Mercy is Available in Christ!Available in Christ!

God’s mercy is extended God’s mercy is extended to you through His Son to you through His Son Jesus.Jesus.

All who calls on God for All who calls on God for mercy (in Christ) will mercy (in Christ) will receive it.receive it.

Even the “chief of sinners’ Even the “chief of sinners’ can be shown mercy in can be shown mercy in

Christ!!! Christ!!! (1 Tim 1:15-16; 1 Cor. 6:9-(1 Tim 1:15-16; 1 Cor. 6:9-

11).11).

Acts 2:21 (NKJV)Acts 2:21 (NKJV)

““WhoeverWhoever calls on the calls on the name of the Lord name of the Lord shall be saved”shall be saved”- cf. Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16- cf. Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16

Psalms 51:1 (NKJV)Psalms 51:1 (NKJV)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. - cf. 1 John 1:9

Seek God’s mercy Seek God’s mercy “while He may be “while He may be

found.” You will not found.” You will not be disappointed! be disappointed!

(Isaiah 55:6-7)(Isaiah 55:6-7)

Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV)Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV)

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.