Crossroads Community Church

June 3, 2016 · 0 Comments

We joined to worship and praise God this morning as Pastor Don prayed for individuals and needs in our church and the worship team lead us in a time of refreshing as we opened our hearts and minds to God.

After General Lee’s surrender in 1865, President Lincoln spoke from the White House balcony about his proposed policy for the south.

In response to, “What shall we do with the rebels?” the vindictive crowd shouted “Hang them!” Lincoln’s 11-year-old son encouraged him to “Hang on to them!”

Although each one of us has felt vindictive towards one another at some time Galations 6:11 encourages the people of God to not only demonstrate mercy but to help others.

John 13:34-352 tells us Jesus is our ultimate example of the representation of love and mercy.

Love and mercy are more than simple feelings, they are an attitude revealing themselves in action.

We all experience challenging seasons, but that doesn’t mean we need to stay there. Those around us may fall, but it is not our place to judge because one day it could be us. A great example of Jesus showing mercy concerns a woman caught in adultery about to be stoned. John 8:7-113 Jesus told her to “go and sin no more!”

We don’t need to condone a sin but we in Christ need to show mercy, love and forgiveness.

As humans, we can sometimes be very unkind and cruel, but God is rich in mercy. Ephesians 2:44 We should show humble patience and tolerant mercy, for others who seem unworthy and undeserving of our love and compassion.

We have all been rebellious towards God at one time. Since God’s mercy is shown to us, we too need to show mercy to others.

Romans 12:15 We must become a living sacrifice. The Old Testament speaks of animal sacrifice, but made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important. 1 Samuel 15:226 Religious ceremonies and rituals are empty unless they are performed with an attitude of love and obedience. Going through the motions is not enough. You must live your life to please Christ.

1 Corinthian 10:317; Matthew 6:338; Ephesians 5:15-209 edifies, we must live for Him and not for ourselves.

In view of the fact that God is rich in mercy we are called to “NOT” give into the world! Galatians 5:1710 instructs us to live by the Spirit even though sinful nature encourages evil. The Spirit gives us desires opposite to that of our sinful nature. We live in a constant fight of opposing natures. Pray and seek His guidance and God will help you resist these temptations.

Galatians 3:2212 says, we were and are all prisoners of sin; beaten down by past mistakes, choked by desires we knew were wrong. We receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

The world is a killer of our Faith therefore we must not give into the world or worldly ways. We must always look to Him and, as followers of Jesus, be lights in this dark world.

We receive God’s great mercy when he forgives us for our sinful ways rather than give us what we really deserve.

Even people in the Bible made mistakes. Exodus 2:1213 Moses killed a man. Sarah laughed when told she would have a child at her old age. David had an affair with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. Peter denied Jesus three times. God always shows His mercy when we repent and come back to Him. We have all, and still do, make mistakes, but no mistake is too much for the mercy of God.

Considering God is rich in mercy we need to Change Our Thinking.

Romans 12:214 reminds us to not conform to the behaviour and customs of this sinful world. Let God transform you through his pleasing and perfect will, by changing the way you think. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, re-educates and redirects our mind are we truly transformed.

The key to all action in life is in the mind.

When tempted, it must become second nature to ask if what we are doing is pleasing to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:1615 An intimate relationship with Jesus Christ comes from spending time consistently in his presence and in his Word. Psalms 119:916 teaches we can find strength and wisdom to stay pure by reading God’s word and doing what it says.

Because we know God is extremely merciful towards us, we are called to become a living sacrifices for Him. We are to Change our Thinking.

2,000 years ago Jesus died on the cross for our sins and only by God’s mercy are our sins forgiven. May our paths this week be filled with God’s mercy as we accept and follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Amen