God's Mercy in the middle of your mess.

Let's Pray,

Father God we come to you today with a heart of thanksgiving. I ask that we have ears to hear your word and put into practice and apply your teaching in our lives as we go about our daily routine. Let everything we do and say bring glory to your name. In Jesus Christs name we pray. Amen.

The title of today's message is God's Mercy in the middle of your mess.

First to understand what God's Mercy is, We have to understand the Biblical Definition of Gods mercy. What is the biblical definition of mercy? Mercy appears in the Bible as it relates to forgiveness or withholding punishment. For example, God the Father showed mercy on us when he sacrificed his son, Christ Jesus, on the Cross to pay the price for our sins. God made a trade with us. Jesus took our punishment on the cross for every sin we ever committed and in return gave us His righteousness (So we can be in right standing with God) in return. When God looks at us all He sees is His son Jesus. He doesn't look at us and say you really messed up this time. So I'm going to hold a grudge against you for the next 50 years. NO GOD IS NOT LIKE THAT. Instead, as soon as we REPENT and say we are sorry to God we are forgiven. Repentance is a thing we need to do daily. Not a one time event but a lifestyle. We need to say sorry and turn away from our sinful ways. Not to stay saved but to show God how much we love Him. He says if you love me you will obey my commandments. Open up your bible with me to the book of Romans 12:1-2 12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. The next bible verse I want you open up to is Psalms 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. AND WHEN WE PRAY THIS PRAYER HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OF ALL OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. The same way that we expect Jesus to forgive us when we mess up is the same way He expects us to forgive and love eachother. Jesus gives us mercy when we don't deserve it and so He wants us to show eachother mercy when we don't feel they deserve it. Have you ever been in a situation where someone said or did something to you that was unfair? You want to just hold it over their heads forever. You know remind them every once in a while that they did you wrong. Well God says STOP IT. Don't go one more day like that. Forgive them. Show them mercy and kindness. LET THEM OFF THE HOOK THE WAY JESUS LET YOU OFF THE HOOK FOR WHAT EVER IT WAS THAT YOU DID LAST WEEK. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ASKED HIM FOR FORGIVNESS FOR. IT MAY NOT EVEN HAVE BEEN A BIG THING BUT YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT. YOU SAID JESUS PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I WON'T DO IT AGAIN. AND HE INSTANTLY FORGAVE YOU RIGHT THEN AND THERE. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. THIS IS THE KIND OF MERCY HE DESIRES FOR US TO SHOW OTHERS. THE BIBLE SAYS BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY. WHEN WE SHOW GOD'S MERCY TO OTHERS GOD WILL SHOW MERCY TO US WHEN WE MESS UP AGAIN. HIS MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING. SO WAKE UP EACH DAY WITH THE EXPECTANCY THAT GOD IS BEING MERCIFUL TO YOU. YESTERDAY IS OVER. YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND FIX IT BUT YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT FUTURE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT JESUS IS ON YOUR SIDE.