Connecting The Dots - Week 22 (Notes)

  Connecting The Dots – Week 2 (Mercy)

Key Verse: “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23 NKJV)

The economy of our God, of Heaven in general, is a polar opposite to the kingdom of this world and the ruler of this world (Satan). Mercy is the grace of God poured out so that we did not and do not get what is rightly coming to us. Our accuser makes his accusations before God and speaks death over us day and night. (Revelation 12:10) Our redeemer sits at the right hand of God and lives daily to make intercession for us and for our salvation. (Hebrews 7:25) How much more should we who have been renewed and justified now strive daily to speak life into and over one another? Because of God’s mercy shown to us we are not devoured, the eternal life we have will never be expended. Mercy for us is to follow the example Jesus left; to see our neighbor in need, then “go and do likewise”. (Luke 10:25-37), (Matthew 5:7)  

• “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7 NIV)

• “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:12-13 NASB)

God’s mercies can originate from compassion or blessing. No matter what outward appearance they take on, we can be sure that his forgiveness, sympathy, relief, generosity, and even his humanity are all promises. Whether he imparts them to us or to another through us, they are each a stone in the foundation of his character we can count on at all times and draw from daily to be the men and women he has called us to be. When we make the choice to love and to turn our hearts toward what pleases God, when we choose to place others’ needs before our own and live, The Holy Spirit confirms all of it and we are assured of our adoption as sons and daughters of The Kingdom.

• “The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, And Your godly ones shall bless You.” (Psalms 145:9-10 NASB)

• “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:14-16 NIV)

 

 

Questions to consider:

1. Do you consider the mercy of God toward you in the way you treat and deal with others?

2. Of all the adjectives scripture uses to describe God’s mercy, which of them most resonate with you and which are you more likely to exhibit during a typical day?

Ref. Scripture: (Ephesians 2:3-5 NIV), (Psalms 86:5-7 NIV), (1 Peter 2:9-10 NASB), (2 Samuel 22:26-27 NKJV), (James 1:19-21 NASB), (1 Corinthians 16:14 NASB)