Mercy bk cover · STUDY GUIDE LESTER SUMRALL TEACHING SERIES THE MIRACLE OF MERCY MAN’S GREATEST...

STUDY GUIDE

LESTER SUMRALL TEACHING SERIES

THE MIRACLE

OF MERCY

MAN’S GREATEST HOPE

A Lecture Series By DR. LESTER SUMRALL

LeSEA Publishing Company

This special teaching study guide is a workbook. The space prepared for your personal notes is for the text to grow into your own material. Audios and videos are available from LeSEA Publishing to assist you. All scriptures, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee, 1982.

Copyright © 1986. All Rights Reserved.

THE MIRACLE OF MERCY: MAN’S GREATEST HOPE ISBN No. 0-937580-48-1

Printed by LeSEA Publishing Co. 530 E. Ireland Rd. South Bend, Indiana 46614

www.leseapublishing.com

STUDY GUIDE


THE MIRACLE OF MERCY MAN’S GREATEST HOPE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. WHAT IS MERCY?................................................................................... 5

2. THE DIVINE REGULATION OF MERCY ................................................. 9

3. JEHOVAH THE MERCIFUL ONE .......................................................... 13

4. THE MERCY THRONE .......................................................................... 18

5. HISTORY’S MOST UNMERCIFUL GENERATION ................................ 24

6. THE KING DISCOVERS MERCY FOREVER ........................................ 27

7. THE FRUIT OF MERCY......................................................................... 31

STUDY GUIDE



Lesson 1

WHAT IS MERCY?

5

INTRODUCTION: Mercy is one of the nine beatitudes showing the characteristics of Jehovah God. Mercy appears in the Bible 282 times. Jesus, the master illustrator, revealed the eternal truth regarding the meaning of mercy.

READING:

Matthew 5:7, Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

1. Responding to a lawyer. Luke 10:25-29 (NKJ), And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him,

saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

v. 26, He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

v. 27, So he answered and said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

v. 28, And He said to Him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

v. 29, But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

WHAT IS MERCY? Lesson 1

6

2. THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD MERCY

The word “Mercy” comes from the Hebrew work Kapporeth meaning “to cover.” Its origin in Greek is Oiktirmon and Hilasterion which means “sympathy with the misery of another.” It also means to “be compassionate, to conciliate, propitiate, to be merciful.” Mercy is propitiatory or atoning. It works a conciliation between God and man, putting us in a more favorable position.

I John 2:2, And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (NKJ).

3. WHAT IS MERCY?

A. Mercy is expiation, or compassion and pity, for the undeserving.

B. To fully understand this life-giving quality, we must turn to the Bible—for it is the only viable textbook, which defines and teaches about mercy.

C. Mercy is a forebearance in inflicting judgment.

D. Mercy is a form of kindness in excess of what is demanded for fairness or justice. It lifts the penalty.

E. The mercy of a judge is to give the prisoner pardon beyond his worthiness. The judge calls it “clemency.”

F. Mercy is forgiveness, even when you had been forewarned of your deed.

4. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRACE AND MERCY

A. God’s grace gives a sinner salvation and forgiveness which he does not deserve.

B. God’s mercy is when God does not give the transgressor the judgment he deserves. He has mercy.

C. A human being realizes his need for mercy when he has come to the end of himself and his own abilities. In our church we sing a song that signifies this mercy:

“I owed a debt I could not pay; He paid a debt He did not owe. . .”

D. Mercy is the divine essence within a person who will let you get up from the ground when you started the fight!


7

E. Mercy is a divine attribute of Jehovah God. Mercy is born of God, and it

has to be given from God to humans. F. Universal mercy—God’s mercy has no perimeters, no edges, no

boundaries, no walls. It is universal for all mankind.

5. MERCY ADAPTS TO MAN’S NEED

A. To Adam, mercy was a coat of covering for his sins, given to him by the heavenly Father. It removed his humiliation of nakedness.

B. To Noah, mercy was the seven days of grace before the rain fell.

C. To Moses, mercy appeared with the blood on the door post, saving the first-born sons.

D. To Jonah, mercy provided the salvation of hundreds of thousands of the people of Ninevah.

E. To David, mercy was forgiveness for adultery and murder.

F. To the world it was Jesus, God’s lamb, on Calvary.

6. CHRIST SAID OF THE UNWARY ISRAELI

A. He came down from Jerusalem without any protection. He was traveling to Jericho, a city God had destroyed for Israel, when he was attacked by robbers.

Luke 10:30-37, Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

v. 31, “Now by chance a certain priest came down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

v. 32, “Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

v. 33, ”But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

v. 34, ”And went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

v. 35, ”On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ ”

v. 36, “So which of these three do think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”


8

v. 37, And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise” (NKJ).

God’s mercy to the Israeli traveling to Jericho was the Samaritan who took care of him after he was attacked and robbed.

STUDY GUIDE



Lesson 2

THE DIVINE REGULATION OF MERCY

9

INTRODUCTION:

There are divine laws regulating mercy.

READING:

James 2:13 (NKJ), For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1. GOD’S MERCY FOR GOD’S ANOINTED

II Samuel 22:51 (NKJ), “He is the tower of salvation to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.”

2. MERCY TO GOD’S SERVANTS

II Chronicles 6:14 (NKJ), And he said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

3. THE APPROACH

Come boldly to the throne of grace and receive mercy.

Hebrews 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

THE DIVINE REGULATION OF MERCY Lesson 2

10

4. THERE ARE BOWELS OF MERCIES FOR THE BELIEVER

A. Philippians 2:1, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies.

B. Colossians 3:12, Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.

Mercy works by set laws as real as the laws of gravity, if the receiver accepts and keeps his part of the agreement.

5. MERCY IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS

A. When Jesus saw the multitude, he had compassion upon them.

Matthew 14:14 (NKJ), And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

B. When Jesus saw Jerusalem, he wept.

Luke 19:41 (NKJ), Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.

C. At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus wept.

John 11:34-35 (NKJ), And He said, “Where have you laid him?” T hey said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

v. 35, Jesus wept.

This is the shortest verse in the Bible. Maybe it has the deepest meaning of all the verses in the book.

D. The woman caught in the act of adultery.

John 8:3-11(NKJ), Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,

v. 4, They said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

v.5, “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

v. 6, This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

v. 7, So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”


11

v. 8, And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

v. 9, Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

v. 10, When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

v. 11, She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

E. The thief on the cross.

Luke 23:39-43, And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save yourself and us.

v. 40, But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

v. 41, And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

v. 42, And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

v. 43, And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

6. THE LAW OF MERCY IS DIVINE

Only God understands and gives out mercy. He is the Father of mercy.

A. Luke 6:36, Be ye therefore merciful, as you Father also is merciful.

B. II Corinthians 1:3, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

7. THE LAW OF MERCY DENIES HUMAN EGO

You cannot stand up for your own rights and manifest mercy.

8. THE LAW OF MERCY

A. Matthew 5:7, Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

B. James 2:13, For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.


12

9. HOW LONG IS THIS LAW IN FORCE?.

Jeremiah 33:11, The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth forever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

10. DIVINE MERCY IS ABUNDANT

I Peter 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

11. RICH IN MERCY

Ephesians 2:4, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.

12. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR MERCY

Romans 12:8, Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

13. REAPING IN MERCY

Hosea 10:12, Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy: break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

STUDY GUIDE



Lesson 3

JEHOVAH, THE MERCIFUL ONE

13

INTRODUCTION:

The gods of the heathen are not merciful.

READING:

Ephesians 2:4, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

1. JEHOVAH IS MERCIFUL

Mercy is part of His own character, it best expresses His nature.

A. Exodus 34:6-7, And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

v. 7, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

B. Jehovah does not forget mercies.

Deuteronomy 4:31, (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

JEHOVAH, THE MERCIFUL ONE Lesson 3

14

2. JEHOVAH IS THE FATHER OF MERCIES

II Corinthians 1:3, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

3. JEHOVAH HAS GREAT MERCY

A. Nehemiah 9:31, Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

B. Numbers 14:18, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

4. JEHOVAH HAS MULTITUDES OF MERCIES

A. Lamentations 3:32, But though he cause grief, yet will he have com-passion according to the multitude of his mercies. (God is not short on mercy.)

B. Psalm 69:13, But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

5. MERCY DEMANDS SACRIFICE

By the mercies of God, Paul entreated the church to live holy lives.

Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

6. ISRAEL WAS SCATTERED AMONG NATIONS AND GATHERED BY MERCIES

Isaiah 54:7, For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

7. REACTION TO MERCY

Sing of God’s mercies.

Psalm 89:1, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.


15

8. GOD KEEPS HIS MERCIES

Daniel 9:4, And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.

9. GOD DOES NOT LEAVE MAN DESTITUTE OF MERCY

A. Genesis 24:27, And he said Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

B. Height of mercy.

Psalm 103:11, For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

C. Duration

Psalm 103:17, But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to ever-lasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.

10. MERCY FOLLOWS THE BELIEVER

Psalm 23:6, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

11. JEHOVAH HAS GREAT TENDER MERCY

A. Psalm 145:8-9, The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

B. Proverbs 12:10, A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

C. Psalm 103:4, Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

D. Psalm 119:77, Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

E. Psalm 119:150, They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

F. Psalm 25:6, Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.


16

G. Psalm 51:1, Have mercy upon me, O god, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

H. .Psalm 40:11, Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

I. Psalm 77:9, Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah

J. Psalm 79:8, O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

12. JEHOVAH IS THE GOD OF MERCY

Psalm 136:3-11, 17-26, O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 4, To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 5, To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 6, To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 7, To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 8, The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 9, The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 10, To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 11, And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 17, To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 18, And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 19, Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 20, And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 21, And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 22, Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 23, Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever.


17

v. 24, And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 25, Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 26, O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

STUDY GUIDE



Lesson 4

THE MERCY THRONE

18

INTRODUCTION:

The mercy seat is one of the greatest mysteries of history. We do not worship God; we remember His mercy.

READING:

Exodus 26:34, And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

1. JEHOVAH EXPRESSED HIS MERCY

When He chose Israel as His people, He instructed Moses as to how to construct and erect a place of solemn worship.

A. It was portable, but exquisitely lovely.

B. In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the covenant.

C. God told Moses the size of the Ark of the Covenant and the materials to use to construct it.

D. Jehovah God promised to speak from the Kapporeth, or Mercy Seat, to the nation of Israel.

E. The Shekinah glory was over the Mercy Seat revealing the mighty presence of Jehovah.

THE MERCY THRONE Lesson 4

19

Numbers 7:89, And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

F. This ark of the covenant was a chest or box made of Acacia wood, which God commanded to be overlaid with pure and everlasting gold.

G. Inside the Ark of the Testimony were the slabs of stone upon which Jehovah had written the Ten Commandments.

H. A layer of pure gold covered the lid of the Ark. This lid or covering was called the Mercy seat (or throne). Two golden Cherubim as angels with outstretched wings, covered this Mercy Seat. God promised to speak to the High Priest who annually came into the presence of God between the two hovering angels.

I. When the High Priest sprinkled innocent blood on the Mercy Seat, God promised to forgive the sins and transgressions of the nation of Israel.

2. WHAT IS THE MERCY SEAT?

A. It was planned by God Himself.

Hebrews 8:2, A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 8:5, . . .the pattern shown. . .in the mount. Moses was instructed to duplicate that which he had been shown.

B. Except for the atonement money (Exodus 30:11-16), all of the materials of the tabernacle were given as voluntary offerings by the people. The people gave specific materials for construction according to the careful directions of the Lord.

C. The Ark

Exodus 25:10-11, 21-22, And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

v. 11, And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.

v. 21, And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

v. 22, And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.


20

1) Because the description of the tabernacle begins from the inside and proceeds outward, the ark is the first article of furniture mentioned. It would have been the last article met by the approaching worshipper.

The ark may be thought of as the most important of all the furniture and the central object towards which everything else pointed.

2) In construction, the ark comprised a chest or trunk within which the tables of the law might be preserved. In size it was three feet, nine inches long and two feet, three inches deep and wide (assuming a cubit was eighteen inches).

3) It was made of shittim wood (Acacia vera—hence popularly known as acacia) and was covered within and without with an overlay of gold. There was a golden rim or border about the top and at each corner there was a golden ring through which the carrying staves were passed.

4) It has been pointed out that the wooden box overlaid with gold speaks of the incarnate Christ with deity enshrined within humanity. Desert acacia is thought to be the reference in the phrase root out of dry ground (Isaiah 53:2).

5) The top or lid of the ark was known as the mercy seat. It typically represented the throne of God. The Psalmist thus expressed himself:

Psalm 99:1, The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

6) It was there that the blood was sprinkled as a symbol of the appeasement of God through sacrifice. Though the sinner deserved condemnation, God looked at him by way of the blood-sprinkled mercy seat and on that basis granted pardon and blessing.

D. The word “mercy seat” has a dual meaning and may be rendered: “propitiation, place of atonement, or covering over of sins.” Thus, Romans 3:25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (or mercy seat) through faith in his blood. . .

The New Testament believer understands that Christ is the meeting place between a Holy God and a penitent sinner just as the mercy seat was Israel’s place of meeting with God. As the shed blood of Christ, so the sprinkled blood upon the imperishable golden lid rendered God favorable to one who deserved only destruction.

E. At the mercy seat, the Old Testament believer learned that sin could be covered and God might be propitiated.


21

F. On the basis of I Kings 8:9 and II Chronicles 5:10, it is usually considered that, at least in the temple, the ark was used as a repository for nothing except the two tables of Law.

However, perhaps during the time of the tabernacle, the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were also placed there. Exodus 16:34, So Aaron laid it (i.e. the pot of manna) up before the Testimony, to be kept. The description of the tabernacle in the book of Hebrews definitely described these items as being in the ark, . . .wherein was the golden pot that had manna.

3. THE MERCY SEAT IS NOT TO BECOME COMMON

Only on the Great Day of atonement could the highest religious priest approach the Mercy Seat. The Mercy Seat was a solitary and holy place from which God promised to appear to the High Priest. Once a year Jehovah would speak to man in mercy.

A. Leviticus 16:2, And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

B. Psalm 103:17, But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.

4. MERCY SEAT A REMINDER

A. It was a memorial of forgiveness. The Mercy Seat was a continuing witness of God’s dealing in mercy with man.

B. The Mercy Seat was Israel’s reminder that God had made a provision for their sins.

Exodus 25:21, And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

C. The Law was covered by mercy.

5. CHRIST JESUS IS THE ETERNAL MERCY SEAT

A. Hebrews 9:1-5, Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly (earthly) sanctuary.

v. 2, For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

v. 3, And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;


22

v. 4, Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

v. 5, And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

B. Calvary, the perfect Mercy Seat.

Hebrews 9:14-15, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

v. 15, And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

C. The propitiation of sin is our Mercy seat.

Romans 3:25-27, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

v. 26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus,

v. 27, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

D. God teaches man to love mercy

A prophet of God preferred mercy.

Micah 6:8, He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

E. Two blind men cried for mercy.

Matthew 20:30, And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

F. The Canaanite woman begged for mercy for her daughter.

Matthew 15:22, And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is greivously vexed with a devil.

G. Human mercy: Man reaps what he sows.

The sinful man does not comprehend Jehovah’s mercy.


23

The Pharisees could not understand God’s mercy. They cried for judgment and not mercy.

Jesus said that if you forgive others, God would forgive you. God can only forgive you as you forgive others.

Luke 6:37, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven.

Mercy dies when it is not given to others. God’s mercy heals all hurts. It never says to the one who is hurt, your sorrows are good enough for you.

STUDY GUIDE



Lesson 5

HISTORY’S MOST UNMERCIFUL GENERATION

24

INTRODUCTION:

All mercy was born of God and came from heaven.

A. The devil has no mercy.

B. Demons have no mercy.

C. Wicked men have no mercy.

D. Death has no mercy.

E. Oftentimes nature has no mercy.

READING:

Mark 5:1-5, And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

v. 2, And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

v. 3, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

v. 4, Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

v. 5, And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

HISTORY’S MOST UNMERCIFUL GENERATION Lesson 5

25

Isaiah 14:17, That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities there-of; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

1. GOD REQUIRES MERCY OF YOU!

A. When Hosea took back his harlot wife, he demonstrated mercy and not justice.

Hosea 6:6, For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

B. Matthew 9:13, But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

C. Matthew 12:7, But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

2. NO MERCY FOR HUMAN LIFE

Murders occur every 24 minutes in the U.S.A. We live in a nation where respect for life and mercy are not taught.

3. ABORTIONS

One and a half million babies are aborted each year in America. Abortion is a terrible form of showing no mercy. It means destroying something that is part of your own personality. God recognizes the unborn as persons. He spoke of knowing Jeremiah while he was still in his mother’s womb.

4. HIJACKING

Hijackers regularly attack innocent travelers on vacation and business. Many times, innocent tourists are murdered in cold blood, leaving their families weeping and crying.

5. UNPROVOKED MURDER

Strangers kill strangers for no reason.

6. COMMUNISM

A. In Ethiopia, while the people were starving, the government bought a boat- load of liquor to celebrate its anniversary.

B. In China, thirty million people were killed in order to wipe out imperialism.

C. In Russia, Stalin killed millions.

D. In Afghanistan, the nation is at the mercy of Russian aggression.

E. In Poland, the Russian bear keeps the nation under its thumb.

HISTORY’S MOST UNMERCIFUL GENERATION Lesson 5

26

7. FORECLOSING ON MORTGAGES

Many families are losing their homes and farms because unmerciful bankers foreclose on them instead of offering extensions on the loans. One bad harvest can cause a farmer to lose a lifetime of investment.

8. PARENTS IN NURSING HOMES

Children show no mercy when they refuse to take care of their elderly parents and even less mercy by neglecting to visit them.

9. COURTS OF LAW ARE FULL OF HATE

Neighbors and families fight and sue one another. Jesus showed mercy to Judas, his betrayer, but we will not show mercy over the least offense.

STUDY GUIDE



Lesson 6

THE KING DISCOVERS MERCY FOREVER

27

INTRODUCTION:

Twenty-six times in this one Chapter of Psalms, King David proclaimed that the mercy of God is not for an occasion, but for forever.

He sings it for the nation of Israel. He sings it in memory of God’s mercy.

READING:

Psalm 136:26, O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1. THANKFULNESS FOR GOODNESS

In verse one the king cried aloud that Jehovah is good. God’s goodness is linked to His mercy forever!

Psalm 136:1, O Give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2. THE SUPREME DEITY

Jehovah is proclaimed to be the God of gods. Jehovah rules the gods of the heathen—He made the materials they serve!

Psalm 136:2, O Give thanks unto the GOD of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

THE KING DISCOVERS MERCY FOREVER Lesson 6

28

3. THE UNIQUE MERCY

Jehovah is celebrated as the Lord of all lords. Men exalt themselves as lords, presidents, kings, fathers, etc., but Jehovah is the supreme and unique Lord of all.

Psalm 136:3, O give thanks to the LORD of lords: for his mercy endureth forever.

4. THE GOD OF WONDERS

Psalm 136:4, To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

A. Jehovah does great wonders alone.

B. He opened the Red Sea for Moses.

C. He made the sun stand still for Joshua.

D. He opened the heavens to rain for Elijah!

E. He gave the Lord Jesus from heaven.

5. THE WISDOM OF MERCY

Jehovah through His own wisdom, created the elements of the heavens.

Psalm 136:5, To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

6. CREATION OF LAND MASS

Jehovah stretched out the earth from pole to pole. The mountains, plains and valleys He made. These He laid out above the waters of the oceans and seas.

Psalms 136:6, To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

7. LIGHT AND DARKNESS

Psalm 136:7-9, To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 8, The sun to rule by day; for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 9, The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.


29

8. SUPERNATURAL DELIVERANCE BY MERCY

Those who sought to destroy the hope of the world—Abraham’s seed.

Psalm 136:10-15, To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 11, And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 12, With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 13, To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v.14, And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever.

v. 15, But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

9. LED BY MERCY

Psalm 136:16, To Him which led His people through the wilderness: for His mercy endureth for ever.

10. ENEMY KINGS DEFEATED BY MERCY

Psalm 136:17-22, To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 18, And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 19, Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 20, And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 21, And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

v. 22, Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

11. MERCY IN SALVATION

Psalm 136:23, Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy en-dureth for ever:

12. REDEMPTION THROUGH MERCY

Psalm 136:24, And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.


30

13. FOOD PROVIDED THROUGH MERCY

Psalm 136:25, Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

14. FINALE OF MERCY—THANKSGIVING

Psalm 136:26, O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

A. Jehovah is the God of heaven. What expanse! What glory!

B. We give thanks to the God of Mercy.

STUDY GUIDE



Lesson 7

THE FRUIT OF MERCY

31

INTRODUCTION: Matthew 5:7, Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

The “blessed” is happiness; the merciful will receive the fruit of mercy.

READING:

Colossians 3:12-13, Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

v. 13, Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

1. THOSE WHO JUDGE WITHOUT MERCY James 2:13, For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shown no

mercy: and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

2. THOSE WHO SHOW MERCY Psalm 18:25, With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright

man thou wilt show thyself upright.

3. MERCY ABOUT THE NECK—MERCY WRITTEN ON THE HEART Proverbs 3:3-4, Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy

neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: v. 4, So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and

man.

THE FRUIT OF MERCY Lesson 7

32

4. MERCY IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL Proverbs 11:17, The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is

cruel troubleth his own flesh.

5. HAPPINESS COMES FROM MERCY Proverbs 14:21-22, 31, He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that

hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. v. 22, Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them

that devise good. v. 31, He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that

honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

6. LIFE COMES FROM MERCY Proverbs 21:21, He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,

righteousness, and honour.

7. HISTORY’S GREATEST ACT OF MERCY A. At Calvary, Jesus displayed mercy upon the unrighteous. B. Christ’s sacrifice demanded God’s mercy toward mankind. C. Jesus’ blood of mercy paid the price for man’s unmercifulness. D. He had no sin, yet He paid the price of sin. E. He had no hate, even for those who crucified Him.

Date post:	08-Apr-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	13 times
Download:	7 times

Mercy bk cover · STUDY GUIDE LESTER SUMRALL TEACHING SERIES THE MIRACLE OF MERCY MAN’S GREATEST...

Documents