CRCF\u201d\u201d10-18-09<\/p>\n
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Mercy Matters<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n James 2:10-13<\/p>\n \n ME:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Tony Evans:\u00a0 \u201cJustice is getting what you deserve.\u00a0 Mercy is not getting what you deserve.\u201d <\/em>(210)<\/p>\n I\u201d\u2122ve always needed a lot of mercy in my life\u201d\u201dstill do!<\/p>\n I was about 7 years old, I suppose.\u00a0 My Daddy had taken me to play golf with him.\u00a0 I loved being out there on the course, but I particularly enjoyed riding in the golf cart!\u00a0 And I pestered my Daddy all day long about driving that golf cart.\u00a0 Well, finally, after we were coming off the course and putting Daddy\u201d\u2122s clubs back in our car, Daddy finally broke!\u00a0 I was still pestering him about driving the cart and he finally gave in and told me that I could drive the cart from our car, through the parking lot back to the shed where they kept the golf carts.\u00a0 I was ecstatic!\u00a0 And so, off I went all by myself\u201d\u201dwide slam open!\u00a0 The ride was going great until I realized that there was a truck\u201d\u2122s rear bumper quickly approaching the front of the golf cart.\u00a0 I went to slam on the brakes but simply stomped the accelerator to the floor and plowed into the back of someone\u201d\u2122s new, and parked, Ford F-150 pickup, bending the bumper and shattering the front of the fiberglass golf cart!\u00a0 Now, I did receive quite a talking to and was restricted from driving any golf cart for several years.\u00a0 But Daddy paid to have all of the damage repaired.\u00a0 Justice would have demanded that I pay for the damage because I did the damage.\u00a0 But a father\u201d\u2122s mercy took care of it for me.<\/p>\n But the crazy thing is that I went home and still related to my little sister on the basis of justice, not mercy.\u00a0 Even though Daddy had been so merciful to me, I did not extend that same sort of mercy to Karli\u201d\u201dI wanted justice to fall hard on her when she would aggravate me.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If you don\u201d\u2122t show mercy it proves that you don\u201d\u2122t know Mercy!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n WE:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Have you ever needed mercy from someone\u201d\u201dand received it?\u00a0 Have you ever struggled to show mercy to someone else who needed it?<\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If you don\u201d\u2122t show mercy it proves that you don\u201d\u2122t know mercy.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n GOD:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 8<\/sup><\/strong> Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: \u201cLove your neighbor as yourself.\u201d 9<\/sup><\/strong> But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.<\/p>\n 10<\/sup><\/strong> For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God\u201d\u2122s laws. 11<\/sup><\/strong> For the same God who said, \u201cYou must not commit adultery,\u201d also said, \u201cYou must not murder.\u201d So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.<\/p>\n 12<\/sup><\/strong> So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13<\/sup><\/strong> There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.<\/p>\n If you don\u201d\u2122t show mercy it proves that you don\u201d\u2122t know Mercy. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe true standard of judgment is perfect faith manifested in perfect works.\u00a0 The \u201d\u02dcroyal law\u201d\u2122 (v. 8), \u201d\u02dcthe law of liberty\u201d\u2122 (v. 12; 1:25), is the second great commandment of Christ:\u00a0 love your neighbor (John 13:34).\u00a0 The standard by which we judge is that by which we will be judged; the mercy we give will be the mercy we receive.\u201d (Orthodox Study Bible, 543).<\/p>\n Now, again, all of this doesn\u201d\u2122t mean that our mercy towards others earns God\u201d\u2122s mercy to us.\u00a0 It means, rather, that a heart that has received God\u201d\u2122s mercy must extend mercy to others<\/em>!<\/p>\n If you don\u201d\u2122t show mercy it proves that you don\u201d\u2122t know Mercy.\u00a0 In fact, it may be that you are deceived about your relationship with God\u201d\u201dthinking that you know Him personally when you really only know about Him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Romans 5:8 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.<\/p>\n 11<\/sup><\/strong> To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: \u201cA man had two sons. 12<\/sup><\/strong> The younger son told his father, \u201d\u02dcI want my share of your estate now before you die.\u201d\u2122 So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.<\/p>\n 13<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cA few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14<\/sup><\/strong> About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15<\/sup><\/strong> He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16<\/sup><\/strong> The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.<\/p>\n 17<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cWhen he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, \u201d\u02dcAt home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18<\/sup><\/strong> I will go home to my father and say, \u201cFather, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19<\/sup><\/strong> and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.\u201d\u201d\u2122<\/p>\n 20<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cSo he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21<\/sup><\/strong> His son said to him, \u201d\u02dcFather, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.\u201d\u2122<\/p>\n 22<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cBut his father said to the servants, \u201d\u02dcQuick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23<\/sup><\/strong> And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24<\/sup><\/strong> for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.\u201d\u2122 So the party began.<\/p>\n Mercy Came Running<\/span> (Phillips, Craig, & Dean)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mercy came running Once there was a broken heart Walls I never meant to build I was bound by the chains repeat chorus<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes I still feel so far repeat chorus<\/strong><\/p>\n How can we do any less than be merciful to those who need it most?<\/em><\/p>\n If you don\u201d\u2122t show mercy it proves that you don\u201d\u2122t know Mercy. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n YOU:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n How should this change the way we relate to others?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Show mercy to all\u201d\u201despecially the needy\u201d\u201dbecause God has shown mercy to you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 21<\/sup><\/strong> Then Peter came to him and asked, \u201cLord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?\u201d<\/p>\n 22<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cNo, not seven times,\u201d Jesus replied, \u201cbut seventy times seven!<\/p>\n 23<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cTherefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24<\/sup><\/strong> In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25<\/sup><\/strong> He couldn\u201d\u2122t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold\u201d\u201dalong with his wife, his children, and everything he owned\u201d\u201dto pay the debt.<\/p>\n 26<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cBut the man fell down before his master and begged him, \u201d\u02dcPlease, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.\u201d\u2122 27<\/sup><\/strong> Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.<\/p>\n 28<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cBut when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.<\/p>\n 29<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cHis fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. \u201d\u02dcBe patient with me, and I will pay it,\u201d\u2122 he pleaded. 30<\/sup><\/strong> But his creditor wouldn\u201d\u2122t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.<\/p>\n 31<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cWhen some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32<\/sup><\/strong> Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, \u201d\u02dcYou evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33<\/sup><\/strong> Shouldn\u201d\u2122t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?\u201d\u2122 34<\/sup><\/strong> Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.<\/p>\n 35<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cThat\u201d\u2122s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n Show mercy to all\u201d\u201despecially the needy\u201d\u201dbecause God has shown mercy to you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Matthew 6:9-15 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n Pray like this:\u00a0 \u201cOur Father in heaven, may your name be honored.\u00a0 May your kingdom come soon, may your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.\u00a0 Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us<\/em>.\u00a0 And don\u201d\u2122t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.\u00a0 If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.\u00a0 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Show mercy to all\u201d\u201despecially the needy\u201d\u201dbecause God has shown mercy to you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Do you remember what James said \u201ctrue religion\u201d is?<\/p>\n James 1:27<\/strong><\/p>\n Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.<\/p>\n This reminds me of the orphans in Ghana (Slide with their picture).\u00a0 Beverly McDaniel was able to extend mercy to these children about a year ago.<\/p>\n Show mercy to all\u201d\u201despecially the needy\u201d\u201dbecause God has shown mercy to you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n WE:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n What would our world be like if every Christ-follower showed mercy to folks that didn\u201d\u2122t deserve it? <\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Brennan Manning said: \u201cSomething is radically wrong when the local church rejects a person accepted by Jesus; when a harsh, judgmental and unforgiving sentence is passed on homosexuals; when a divorcee is denied communion; when the child of a prostitute is refused baptism\u201d\u00a6Jesus comes to the ungodly, even on Sunday morning. His coming ends ungodliness and makes us worthy. Jesus sat down at the table with anyone who wanted to be present, including those who were banished from decent homes. In the sharing of a meal they received consideration instead of the expected condemnation. A merciful acquittal instead of a hasty verdict of guilty. Amazing grace instead of universal disgrace. Here is a very practical demonstration of the law of grace \u201d\u201c a new chance in life\u201d\u00a6It is true that the church must always dissociate itself from sin, but it can never have any excuse for keeping any sinners at a distance.\u201d<\/p>\n As we come to the Lord\u201d\u2122s Table now, may God help us to be merciful as followers of Christ\u201d\u201dboth individually and as a church.\u00a0 As you come to receive Communion, think about God\u201d\u2122s mercy to you and ask God to show you a relationship in your life where you need to show mercy to someone else.<\/p>\n Martha Chastain and Judi Godowns are the eldest members of our congregation\u201d\u201dand they\u201d\u2122ve both walked with Jesus a long time and trusted Him through many different circumstances in life.\u00a0 I\u201d\u2122ve asked them to come and serve us communion this morning.<\/p>\n As they come to the front, let\u201d\u2122s go to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to prepare our hearts to feast on His grace in Jesus.<\/p>\n Prayer<\/p>\n READ 1 Corinthians 11 and Explain<\/p>\n ME take communion first<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CRCF\u201d\u201d10-18-09 Mercy Matters James 2:10-13 ME: Tony Evans:\u00a0 \u201cJustice is getting what you deserve.\u00a0 Mercy is not getting what you deserve.\u201d (210) I\u201d\u2122ve always needed a lot of mercy in my life\u201d\u201dstill do! I was about 7 years old, I … Continue reading James 2:8-13\u00a0(New Living Translation)<\/h2>\n
Luke 15:11-24\u00a0(New Living Translation)<\/h2>\n
\nLike a prisoner set free
\nPast all my failures to the point of my need
\nWhen the sin that I carried
\nWas all I could see
\nAnd when I could not reach mercy
\nMercy came running to me<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWay to human from the start
\nAnd all the years left it torn apart
\nHopeless and afraid<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nLeft this prisoner unfulfilled
\nFreedom called but even still
\nIt seemed so far away<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nFrom the wages of my sin
\nJust when I felt like giving in<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nSo far from where I really should be
\nHe gently calls to my heart
\nJust to remind me<\/strong><\/p>\nMatthew 18:21-35\u00a0(New Living Translation)<\/h2>\n