~ Is denoted by the implicit assumption that the one who helps is moved by compassionate feelings and that the one who is helped has no right to expect assistance ~
We read in St. Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the Merciful: for they shall obtain Mercy."
When a person is willing to give of themselves when they are in no way obligated to do so, this is Well Pleasing unto the Lord. One Scripture says in essence, “whatsoever a person sews, that is what they will receive," Galatians 6:7. If you are a person that shows mercy to others then, you can expect to receive Mercy from the Lord.
In St. Luke 1:49-50 we read, "For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. *And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation."
King Solomon said that the Fear of the Lord is to Hate Evil. Proverbs 8:13 - The Righteous Soul of Lot living in and among the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah was vexed because of their evil deeds. 2nd Peter 2:7-9
King Solomon in Proverbs 8:13 wrote in part, "The Lord is Merciful and Gracious, slow to anger, and Plenteous in Mercy."
The Lord bears long with the imperfections of the Saints, He even gave that wicked Jezebel space to repent of her evil deeds. Revelation 2:18-22 - As long as there is breath in our body, there is hope that we will come into the place where God “YHWH” would have us to be.
In Psalms 103:8-18, King David wrote, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. *He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. *He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. *For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. *As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. *Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. *For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. *As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. *For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. *But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; *To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them."
Although the Lord is Merciful and desires that none should be lost, there is coming a time when He will withdraw His Mercy and all those that are unwilling to do things the way He wants them to be done, will be forever lost.
Sometimes, I think that people tend to think that because they have not received wrath or immediate correction or punishment from God for the things that they are doing wrong or not doing right, they tend to think that they are OK. But the Truth is, there is coming a Time when Mercy will be no more.
However, to those that abhor sin and endeavor not to sin, the Mercy of the Lord is ever with them ~
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:4-10 wrote, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, *Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) *And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: *That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. *For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: *Not of works, lest any man should boast. *For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
God “YHWH” from the beginning showed His Great Mercy to mankind while they were unrepentant in sin, in that He Gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus Who Is His Express Image to be a Sacrifice for the sins of ALL who are willing to accept Him, Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Praise His Holy Name!
The Faith that the Apostle Paul is talking about is an ACTION Faith; it is a Faith that has verifiable evidence to prove that it exists; like love, faith is an action word.
In Titus 3:3-5 the Apostle Paul wrote, "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. *But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, *Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
Righteous Faith is the opposite of the Works of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes and the Lust of the Flesh mentioned in the above Scripture.
The Saints are Washed in the Water of His Holy Written Word, the Bible by the Power of the Holy Ghost. When Jesus saved mankind from their sins, He gave them the ability to be restored to His Image.
The Apostle James in James 2:12-20 wrote, "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. *For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. *What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? *If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, *And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? *Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. *Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. *Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. *But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
The above Scripture is fairly self explanatory on what Faith is and how it works.
I am so thankful that the Written Word of the Lord the Bible says, "If we would judge ourselves we would not be judged." 1st Corinthians 11:31 - The way that a person judges themselves is in, through and by the Written Word of God “YHWH” the Bible.
The way a person makes sure that they are traveling the right road, from one location to another location, is by paying attention to the road signs; the Bible has been given to the Saints -if you will- as a Road Map to Glory.
The above Scripture states that the devil fears and trembles God but that is not the type of fear that the Lord wants His Saints to display; He wants them to hate evil and to cease from doing evil / sin.
In Proverbs 11:17-18, King Solomon wrote, "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. *The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward."
If you bite your finger, it will hurt you; if you bite the finger of another person, it will hurt them and it can also ill affect you. If we plant the seeds of fruits and vegetables that are good for food, we will be more likely to obtain good food to eat, than if we plant the seeds of briers and brambles expecting to receive good, edible food.
The Apostle James in James 3:17-18 wrote, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. *And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
The above Scripture is an example of how a Righteous person, a Saint, is suppose to live. If a person wants to have peace then, they should be a person of peace. The Written Word of the Lord says in essence, “As long as possible live peaceable with ALL men." Romans 12:18
The Apostle Paul in 2nd Corinthians 4:1-2 wrote, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; *But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the Truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God."
The Saints of God have been given a Ministry of Mercy and Peace to share the Good News that Jesus IS the Saviour of our Soul and that in, through and by Him we can Live and have Eternal Life. Praise His Holy Name!
We read in St. Matthew 23:23, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
The Saints want to be mindful that they do not bear too heavy on one portion of the Written Word of the Lord and all together forget to observe other portions that are just as valuable and important for living a Righteous life.
In Jude 1:20-21 we read, "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, *Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
It is written that without faith it is impossible to please God and that if a person has faith as a grain of mustard seed they have the ability to do all things therefore, if this is true and I believe that it is, then we need that Most Holy Faith that comes by praying in the Holy Ghost.
If a person has not received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost they cannot pray in the Holy Ghost. Receiving Salvation does not automatically give a person the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Neither, does being Baptized in Water automatically give a person the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost comes as the Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son Jesus deems fit ~
We read in Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the Thrown of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need."
It is in, through and by accepting the Precious Shed Blood of Jesus for the Remission “Forgiveness” of sin that mankind has the Privilege of coming before the Throne of God and receiving All Good Things. Praise His Holy Name!
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email Us: hope@preachersteacher.org
