OH, MERCY!!--Matthew 5: 1-7

Matthew 5:1-7 (New Living Translation)

One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them. [2] This is what he taught them: [3] "God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.

Matthew 5:1-7 (continued)(New Living Translation)

[4] God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [5] God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. [6] God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full. [7] God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5

Matthew 5:1-7 (The Message Translation)

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down [2] and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: [3] "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

Matthew 5:1-7 (The Message Translation)

[4] "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. [5] "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. [6] "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. [7] "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.

TAKE HOME

• Mercy and compassionate are great indicators of my gratitude for God's great mercy to me.• Make no doubt about it, the unmerciful have a dim future.• I can afford mercy. It's right here in my hands. And it has the power to lift and validate others.• God is interested in how I treat people who are indebted to me. He expects mercy.

• Mercy and compassionate are great indicators of my gratitude for God's great mercy to me.• Make no doubt about it, the unmerciful have a dim future.• I can afford mercy. It's right here in my hands. And it has the power to lift and validate others.• God is interested in how I treat people who are indebted to me. He expects mercy.

O Lord, I want to be O Lord, I want to be forgiving, forgiving, compassionate and compassionate and gentle. May I always gentle. May I always remember how you remember how you have treated me have treated me when I deal with when I deal with people who are people who are somehow indebted somehow indebted to me.to me.

O Lord, I want to be O Lord, I want to be forgiving, forgiving, compassionate and compassionate and gentle. May I always gentle. May I always remember how you remember how you have treated me have treated me when I deal with when I deal with people who are people who are somehow indebted somehow indebted to me.to me.

Commitment:

ANNOUNCEMENTSANNOUNCEMENTSANNOUNCEMENTSANNOUNCEMENTS

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No Mention of:• Tidiness• Punctuality• Cleanliness• Frugality• Fitness• Efficiency

THE BEATITUDES ARE ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

It is much like the 10 Commandments!

JESUS' CENTRAL (AND MOST WELL KNOWN) SERMON IS ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND OTHERS, much like the 10 Commandments!

• Poor in Spirit

• Mourning

• Hungering and Thirsting

SOME QUALITIES DEAL WITH OUR ATTITUDE WHEN THE WORLD IS

HEAVY ON OUR SHOULDERS

• Others have offended you.• Another's actions put them indebt to

you.• Somebody is at your mercy, you have

an opportunity to make them squirm, pay up or cringe in embarrassment.

THIS BEATITUDE IS ABOUT OUR BEHAVIOR WHEN WE HAVE THE

UPPER HAND

• "Power" implies "Influence over somebody" ...some sort of leverage.

THE MESSAGE IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. SHOW

MERCY AND YOU'LL BE SHOWN MERCY.

• Isn't it fair that a debtor repay his debt on time?

• Shouldn't all who do us wrong be held accountable and made to pay some kind of penalty?

• What's wrong with holding others to our agreement?

IN A MOMENT OF FORGETFULNESS, A CHRISTIAN MAY BE SO BENT ON

FAIRNESS THAT MERCY IS OVERLOOKED.

Self-Restraint is one of the greatest virtues of God.

• Sometimes it is called Forbearance.

• In other places we read about Patience.

• In yet others we see God's forgiveness.

ITS ALL ABOUT RESTRAINT

COMMUNION!A TIME TO REFLECT

Confession:I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus is my Lord Jesus is my Lord and Savoir.and Savoir.

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JESUS CALLS US TO BE MERCIFUL.

"RESTRAINED FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS"

THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL DEBTOR. --Matthew 18:21-35

The merciful will receive mercy from God.

● JESUS' PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS"Forgive us as we forgive our debtors". --Matthew 6:12

● PAUL'S DIRECTIVE TO BE TENDERHEARTED TO OUR OFFENDERS.

● "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other." --Ephesians 4:32

• Freely you have received, freely give. --Matthew 10:8

• Forgiving one another, just in God Christ has forgiven you. --Ephesians 4:32

• Jesus' comments after telling the "Unmerciful servant" parable: "This is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from the heart." --Matthew 18:25

THE MOTIVATION FOR MERCY: GRATITUDE

• Ponder the gift of your own forgiveness.

• Reflect on our own unworthiness and God's immense love.

• Remember that we are ambassadors of Christ, and our own life is the medium.

THE KEY TO A MERCIFUL HEART, GRATITUDE!!

• Love for others, people are bound to hurt and offend us. Here's a moment we've waited for! Here is the moment to show love, mercy and restraint in a real-life situation.

• (The most powerful expression of Jesus' mercy was spoken when his enemies had done him wrong. --Acts 2:36)

THE KEY TO A MERCIFUL HEART, GRATITUDE!!

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PRAYER & PRAISE

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TAKE HOME

• Mercy and compassionate are great indicators of my gratitude for God's great mercy to me.• Make no doubt about it, the unmerciful have a dim future.• I can afford mercy. It's right here in my hands. And it has the power to lift and validate others.• God is interested in how I treat people who are indebted to me. He expects mercy.

• Mercy and compassionate are great indicators of my gratitude for God's great mercy to me.• Make no doubt about it, the unmerciful have a dim future.• I can afford mercy. It's right here in my hands. And it has the power to lift and validate others.• God is interested in how I treat people who are indebted to me. He expects mercy.

O Lord, I want to be O Lord, I want to be forgiving, forgiving, compassionate and compassionate and gentle. May I always gentle. May I always remember how you remember how you have treated me have treated me when I deal with when I deal with people who are people who are somehow indebted somehow indebted to me.to me.

O Lord, I want to be O Lord, I want to be forgiving, forgiving, compassionate and compassionate and gentle. May I always gentle. May I always remember how you remember how you have treated me have treated me when I deal with when I deal with people who are people who are somehow indebted somehow indebted to me.to me.

Commitment:

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

Go and be a blessing to others.