MESSAGE – THE MERCY OF GOD
Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.  (16) so then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”
As I read the above Scripture, I realized in a fresh new way that we are nothing without God.  If we have any talent God chose to give it, if we have any accomplishments God gave us the ability to do them.  We are nothing without God’s mercy.
Mercy says, “I will not give you what you deserve.”  Grace says, “I will give you what you do not deserve.”
Those of us who have received Jesus as Savior and are on our way to Heaven, it’s all because of God’s grace.  We all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and are cut off from God with the sin but God in His mercy accepts us when we have a repentant heart that wants to change and lives as God says to.  We should be consumed in the fires of hell but Mercy shouts, “no”; Mercy shouts, “forgiven”; Mercy shouts “accepted.”  Lamentations 3:22 says it’s because of the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not.
This passage of Scripture in Romans 9 tells how God chose Jacob to rule over Esau while they were still in the womb of their mother.  God knows who will serve Him while even yet unborn.  But the point is, Jacob did nothing to deserve it.  God “chose” him.  This chapter also talks of God’s choosing Moses and hardening Pharoah so that God’s power might be displayed and His name would be known throughout the whole earth. (See Romans 9:17)
The Isarelites were a stubborn and rebellious bunch of people but God kept working with them, kept showing mercy and compassion.  They certainly did not deserve to be God’s chosen race in the earth but He did chose them to be His own family.  He chose them and they prospered in cattle, land, gold, silver and descendants.  They became the leaders, the conquerors of the Promised Land.  But they began to boast about their own good works, how they kept the Law and felt worthy through their own actions to approach God.  They forgot about God’s mercy.  He chose them to rule and reign in life.  Pride entered in and He took them out – out into slavery, exile, out of gladness to sadness. (Read Titus 3:5-7)
Guard against pride.  It will be your downfall.  Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Always remember to give God the glory in and for your successes.  He’s the one who gave you your abilities.  Yes it’s true you have to use the brains, muscles, thoughts, gifts He gives to they best of your ability.  Yes, you must be committed, work hard, be focused, be faithful in a little so He will promote you to be faithful with much.  But always remember without God’s mercy and His choosing you, you would be a complete failure.  All good things come from God. (James 1:17)
When Hezekiah led Israel into battle against three other nations, He sent the praise leaders out first in battle.  (II Chron. 20:31) They sang, “Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever.”  As they sang the enemy began to fight among themselves and Israel was victorious.  Did they get into pride over their victorious battle?  No – they called the name of the place “Valley of Berachah” (or “Valley of Blessing”) because the Lord blessed them there. (vs. 26.)
Romans 9 also shows us that it is only because of His mercy that the Gentiles were grafted in and can be adopted as sons and daughters of God, as joint heirs with Jesus.  Do we deserve it?  No -but we receive it.
So remember always give God thanks for everything you perceive to be good.  Thank Him for our talents and abilities, our health, His love, His Son, for making a way for us to enjoy this life and have love, joy and peace, for our victories and the big and little things we accomplish.
God’s Mercy Gets Us To Heaven.  God’s mercy has made it possible for us to live eternally; forever with Him in Heaven.  It’s not through our good works; it is through His love.  Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (9) not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”  Have you received God’s gift of eternal life by receiving His Son Jesus as ‘Savior.  If you want to now pray this prayer from your heart, “Dear God, have mercy on me, the sinner, I turn away from my sins right now and I ask you to forgive me of all my sins and I receive Jesus who died for me on the cross to come into my life to be my Savior and Lord of my life.  Because of your mercy I am now a child of God, born again into the family of God.  Heaven is now my home.  Thank You for saving me – In Jesus Name I Pray.”  Now get baptized, read the Bible and pray everyday, meet often with other believers.
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE:  Mercy Trips – We go out to rodeos and bull ridings, calf and team ropings, barrel races and other Cowboy Churches to present the gospel of God’s love and mercy.  You can be a “Cowboy Partner” with us and send us out with prayers and finances. Together we can help build the kingdom of God.