From Grace to Grace Bible Studies
By Kermit Hall
Lesson N
A Mercy Message
Mercy is Vital to All that Call Themselves Christians
There are 276 verses in the bible that talk of mercy. When we look into the scripture concerning mercy, we see it is a power that is generated from God that cannot be denied. In fact, Moses was directed to make a seat for God in the Holy of Holies called the Mercy Seat; also know as the Ark of the Lord, the Ark of God, the Holy Ark, the Ark of His Testimony, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Ark of thy Strength. When we show others mercy (as God has shown to us), the strength of God will be revealed because the very seat that God sits on is the Mercy Seat. Lev 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, …for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. The testimony of Christ is that he showed us mercy, and in that ark we find great power, lightning, voices, thundering, earthquakes and great hail all of which point out natures uncontrolled forces allowing us to look into the great power of mercy.
People throughout the ages have discovered that the mercy of God is everlasting, just as the Word of God states God’s mercy endures past our physical death into eternity. As men become aware of God’s mercy, they get inspired to sing songs about the perpetual mercy of God. These songs and testimonies of God’s mercy have enriched him with a great deal of praise and glory from the mouth of holy men.
2 Chron 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
We can dress like an Apostolic Christian, look like an Apostolic Christian, talk like an Apostolic Christian, and appear to be an Apostolic Christian in our action, but an Apostolic Christian is only beautiful in appearance in their mercy. If we show people no mercy we are repulsive before the Lord. All Christians must understand that our beauty is only seen in how much mercy we show others. The more mercy we show, the more beautiful we are; the less mercy we show, the less attractive we become.
The Foundation of Our being God's House is Our Mercy:
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. If God dwells in our house as his temple, then we must prepare a seat for him to sit. As the Holy of Holies had a mercy seat, there must be great mercy at the center of our being. It could be said that how much mercy you show others determines whether you are the house of Christ or not.
The bible tells us that Christ owns us, as we are his house. If we are God’s house, we hold the ark within us and on that ark is the mercy seat of God. How much strength does your house have with God? What do you give when you are asked for mercy? Mercy has no respect of persons. Christ said if you are asked to go a mile, go two (Matt 5:41-42). What you give will determine how much strength there is in your house. If mercy flows like a river from your house, the beauty of God will be evident. Men of a great God are great men of mercy.
Bartimaus was just another man in the crowd until he ran to the mercy seat of Jesus. He cried out for mercy and Jesus heard him. Despite others telling him to be quiet, he cried out again. While the disciples showed this poor blind man no mercy, Jesus stopped in his tracks and said What would you have me do unto you (Mark 10:51)? Bartimaus cried out, I want to see; Jesus said, Your faith hath made thee whole (Mark 10:51-52). Christ loves to give mercy when asked. But notice Batimaus had to ask, he sought after and he knocked on the door of mercy.
Matt 17:14-18 … a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. We are the Disciples of Christ and we should recognize God’s desire to show mercy. We should have faith in his enduring mercy and we should cry out to God for the knowledge and faith to apply his mercy on the behalf of others. It was mercy that the father desired from the disciples, but it was Christ that supplied the mercy.
Rom 11:30-36 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
I love this verse because it gives an excellent understanding of the saving mercy of God toward all men. It reveals that the mercy of Christ is deep and unsearchable. He tells us here that we obtained mercy that we might make mercy available that others might obtain it.
Jesus Explains how Mercy is Applied
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreat, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. If you are Christ-wise then you are full of mercy. It is obvious that the mind set on envy and strife is not merciful, but brings confusion and evil actions. The mind that is focused on Christ is pure, peaceful, gentle and will be provoked to quickly answer the needs of others. The merciful will bear good fruits and will not be bias or prejudice toward the disadvantaged.
Great men must take the time to bless the lowly, the deprived, the poor, the modest, the ordinary, the humble and the afflicted – this is mercy. Jesus never turned away anyone that asked him for mercy. However, Jesus rebuked those that failed to show mercy, even his disciples and the great religious leaders. Jesus held the highest position as the Chief Shepherd over the flock of God; he is the head of the church and never is it recorded that he was too important to be dismissed from showing mercy to those that asked.
What are the Bad Fruits of the Unmerciful?
Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Those that live in the flesh according to the above are still under the law, as the law will judge them for their unmerciful actions.
Gal. 5:18 and 22 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
When people lack mercy they seek their own selfish desires. Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. The merciful are not envious or involved in things that hurt others, but are content and desire to bless others.
Jude 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. We are to be consistently looking for the mercy of Christ. His greatest mercy will be given on the day we are caught away to spend eternity in his presence.
It is safe to say that those that show mercy should have eyes that look for mercy. It is also safe to say that those that show no mercy should expect no mercy. James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Our mercy toward others will defend us and plead our case to bring lasting freedom on the Day of Judgment.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Mercy isn’t patronizing with lip service; talk is cheap, but mercy is the action of giving to those that ask.
All the mercy that was shown to man was in giving. Even now, when mercy is shown we see it is by giving something. Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us...
Mercy is the love wherewith that God gave us, and we give this love to others. Matt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
To obtain mercy, it must be given. Mercy is a guarantee of mercy. Matt 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. All the sacrificing we do is meaningless if we fail to give mercy. Mercy never condemns the innocent people. To make men angry isn’t the worst anger toward man, but to anger God is to get into big trouble because one who is unmerciful will be delivered to the tormentors.
Matt 18:23-35 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. Mercy is wonderful when your receive it, but is much more blessed to give it. God’s will is that we bless others with mercy that we may obtain mercy. Notice in the next few paragraphs how things changed. God gave mercy, but the one that received didn’t give mercy.
Matt 18:28-34 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
When there is no mercy given, no mercy will be obtained. God gave us mercy and if we fail to give mercy, we will not obtain mercy.
God showed great mercy toward us by the way of the cross. He taught his disciples to baptize the repentant person in his name for the forgiveness of sins, and then he filled us with the power to overcome sin through the Holy Spirit to live a lifestyle of mercy, faith, hope and charity.