Blessed are the Merciful

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Well, friends, we all need it bestowed upon us, and we need to bless others with it. What am I talking about? We’re going to talk about mercy. That’s today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.

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It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:38

Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you to our Jay Webb, and greetings to all of you. It’s always good to have you with us for our broadcast here from the International Gospel Hour. We always try to study the things that be of God from His Word, and we’d like to share with you information that will help you in your study of the Word of God, and to tell you a little bit about our work here at International Gospel Hour. In a little bit, you’ll hear more from our J-Web, but for now, let me share with you some contact information. You can always write to us, P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. That’s P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. Our website is internationalgospelhour.com. That’s internationalgospelhour.com. You can click on the contact tab and leave us a message. But please feel free to peruse through our website and see the things that are available. Previous programming is available. A link to our YouTube channel. Resources you can refer to and you can study as well. Also, our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. That’s 855-IGH-6988 or 855-444-6988. Feel free to call and just tell us where you’re listening to our broadcast. We’re never going to ask for your money. We’re grateful to share everything with you absolutely free. Jay Webb will have more to say about that in a moment. Today we’re going to talk about the mercy of God. Let me introduce this with a few thoughts. When we speak of God’s mercy, we also think of His grace. My brother in Christ, Chris Grota, put it this way. Grace is God giving you what you don’t deserve. Mercy is God withholding what you do deserve. When you look more at the definition of mercy, biblically speaking, it is sympathy in action. And I love this. It assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. Now, I give credit to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, or if you will, the Webster’s Dictionary of the Bible. One more time, looking at that word mercy. It assumes need on the part of him who receives it and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. Wow, friends, that’s great. You see, it assumes the need of the one that needs it, who receives it. There it is. But the one receives it has the resources adequate to show it to other people. When mercy is mentioned, I suppose the verse that comes to mind would be Matthew 5, 7, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Of course, the words of Jesus within the Sermon on the Mount, just as he was beginning that wonderful lesson. Within the context of studying this section of text called the Beatitudes, We see one at the mature stage of these blessings where the person who is forgiven now is to in turn show mercy because mercy was shown unto him. One cannot imagine being unmerciful when God has shown mercy to one’s soul through his grace. Titus 2, 11 and 12, the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men teaching us that. denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. How we’re grateful for the grace of God that teaches us the importance of faith, as in John 8, 24, and Hebrews 11, 6. The importance of the command of repentance in Luke 13, 3, and 5, as well as Luke 24, 44-47, and Acts 2, verse 38. of confession of our faith, Romans 10, 9 and 10, along with Matthew 10, 32 and 33, and how every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of the glory of God the Father, Philippians 2, 11. And oh, to be baptized, to be placed into the death of Christ through baptism, Romans 6, 3 through 6. Raised to walk in that newness of life with our sins forgiven, Acts 22, 16 and Mark 16, verse 16. So friends, what a beautiful thing to respond to the grace of God and how thankful we are for His mercy upon us. Let’s talk a little further considering, rather, blessed are the merciful. But first, as I mentioned a few moments ago, here’s something else about our work here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 02 : 5:36

Since 1934, the International Gospel Hour has been heard over the radio. We are one of the longest-running weekly religious programs in the history of American radio. We are very blessed to continue over the air through gracious giving of congregations of Churches of Christ, faithful Christians, and devoted friends. That’s why you will never hear us asking for money from you, our listeners. Our study material is free, always has been, always will be. We appreciate you listening.

SPEAKER 01 : 6:09

Now, friends, let’s talk about blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the merciful because mercy is Christ-like. When we look at Ephesians 2, verses 4 through 6, it says, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened or made us together, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you are saved. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You see, God is rich in mercy. And to place us with Christ upon our obedience to him. Christ, the high priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. He’s not like a high priest on this earth who could not be touched. Jesus could be touched. Let me read that verse again. Hebrews 4, 15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Oh, I love the psalmist in Psalm 85, 10. Mercy and truth are met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. What great affection and what great need. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. That’s a great attitude, a great beatitude, an attitude to become. So you see, mercy is Christ-like. That as mercy is shown upon our lives, we in turn need to be merciful. That brings us to our second thought. Blessed are the merciful because mercy is commanded by the Father. Mercy is commanded by God. Luke 6.38 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. With the commandment of mercy before us, how can we build mercy in our lives? Well, number one, let’s remember where we stood at one time. And when we remember where we were, it makes it easier for us to grant the same thing to someone else. God was merciful to us. Let us be merciful to others. Second, we keep looking and longing for the mercy of God. Jude 20-23 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Third, we would put away the things of the heart that would alter mercy. Ephesians 4, 31 and 32, Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Let’s put on the things needed to be merciful people, such as the elect of God, according to Colossians 3, verse 12, Individuals who are holy and beloved put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering. Now, friends, there is the promise. For those who exhibit mercy, mercy will be granted. Mercy is two times blessed, if you will. It blesses those who receive it and those who give it as well. It shows need on the part of him who received it and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. So friends, we must be merciful people because mercy has been shown unto us to where we could obey the gospel and walk in God’s mercy. Friends, we hope we’ve talked about some things today that would prompt your research, your study. We’re always blessed to offer a Bible study tool each and every broadcast. We make sure that it is free, but we want to look and make sure the quality is the very best. For a number of years, we’ve offered our long-time free Bible study course by mail, and our friends at the Mount Leo Church of Christ in McMinnville, Tennessee help us toward that end. We’d like for you to try this study. Here is our J-Web with the details of how you can receive your Bible study course by mail.

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Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 11:46

Well, friends, mercy is God withholding what we deserve. Oh, I’m so thankful for that. Are you not thankful for that? Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. And oh, how I am thankful that He sent His Son to die for me. Aren’t you? How evident it is that mercy be in our lives. And friends, as God showed mercy upon us, then let’s always remember to show mercy upon others. We’ll continue our studies together at another time. But for now, thank you for joining me here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:29

Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com. And join us next time.