PENTECOST SUNDAY

THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD--PART I

SERMON TITLE: HAVING HOPE WHEN YOU ARE HURTING

SERMON THEME: GOD IS MERCIFUL

INTRODUCTION: SO MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS IN LIFE COME FROM NOT

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE CHARACTER OF GOD.

LAMENTATIONS 3:19-23

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

· HIS MERCIES NEVER CEASE. GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS FOR HIS MERCIES BEGIN AFRESH EACH MORNING.

THREE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD THAT ARE CLOSELY RELATED, BUT

THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN FUNCTION.

· JUSTICE--WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE.

· GRACE--WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU DO NOT DESERVE.

· MERCY--WHEN YOU DO NOT GET WHAT YOU DESERVE.

THERE IS A GREATER NEED FOR MERCY, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT YOU COULD NEVER COME CLOSE TO GOD.

EPHESIANS 2:1-5

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

KING DAVID CAME TO SEE THAT IT WAS GOD'S MERCY ALONE

THAT HE COULD DEPEND ON

PSALM 86:1-7
¹ Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
² Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; ³ have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
⁴ Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.

⁵ You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
⁶ Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
⁷ When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

I) GOD'S MERCY BRINGS FORGIVENESS.

PSALM 86:5a

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

· EVEN THOUGH YOU DESERVE TO BE PUNISHED, BUT BECAUSE GOD IS RICH IN MERCY, GOD DOES NOT GIVE YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE.

GENESIS 1:27-28; 31

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

· GOD LIVES IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF UNENDING MERCY.

II) GOD'S MERCY COMES WITHOUT LIMITS.

PSALM 86:5b

abounding in love to all who call to you.

II SAMUEL 24:14

¹⁴ David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

· GOD SHOWS MERCY, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT, OR CANNOT SHOW MERCY.

PSALM 103:8-10

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

· WHERE WOULD YOU BE IF IT WAS NOT FOR GOD'S MERCY?

III) GOD'S MERCY IS AVAIABLE TO ALL.

PSALM 86:5-6

⁵ You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
⁶ Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

· IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW GOD'S MERCY, YOU MUST CALL ON HIS NAME.

EXODUS 25:17; 22

¹⁷ “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

²² There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

· MAKE ROOM FOR MERCY BY RECEIVING IT AND GIVING IT.

I TIMOTHY 2:3-4

³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

IV) GOD'S MERCY IS GUARANTEED TO YOU.

PSALM 86:7

When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

· WHATEVER YOU NEED FROM GOD, HIS ARMS ARE OPEN WIDE WITH MERCY.

ROMANS 10:11-13

¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

CONCLUSION: IF YOU FIND YOURSELF HURTING TODAY, HEAR THE GOOD NEWS: GOD'S MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY SINGLE MORNING, AND GUARANTEED TO YOU. TAKE IT TO GOD