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( This message is a must read. We must take it seriously and apply it to help us. Even the virus we face today, must lead us to seek mercy, God will give mercy to whom He will. May we be counted among them to receive His mercy.)
Shalom !
INTRODUCING THE MESSAGE
Life is a race and people get up each morning to face this race. Every one gets up each day with a determination to continue a fine journey with great effort.
But like those in COMPETITION, some never knew there will be muscle pull, to make going ahead too difficult to complete the race.
A man in a competition who is struck by muscle pull did not enjoy divine mercy that day.
When such happens the next thought is how to get well. Some will look up to God, some to their finances and some to nothing, such people might say life is “fate”.
THE MESSAGE
GOD DETERMINES THE DIRECTION OF EVERY RACE.
9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. ( Romans 9 : 16).
You may have the will to win on your way, and you may run, but the outcome of the struggle comes fine only from God.
Many people have struggled so much, but some have come better, and God is the champion for those who trust in Him as they run. Some struggled and came out with nothing. Many things come into such matrices.
Note that everything we do in this life, is like we are running. So we are not like the cherry fruit that drops from the tree and just picked by anyone passing by. We are a creature of purpose in the hand of God.
We need the mercy of God to get on and God looks at our heart and life for Him to give us mercy. We must pray for mercy and live the life that will grant mercy.
If we do not remember that we are here for a purpose we could be stopped on the way.
The purpose here is to obey God in order to receive His promise. The promise is a mixture of present blessings and eternal life.
9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
But did Pharoah seek the purpose? He instead enslaved the people of God terribly. God was therefore bent to punish him and his people.
9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (Romans 9 : 17-18).
God hardened Pharoah and denied him mercy.
The way we live our lives, as like or unlike Pharoah, will determine how God will deal with us. He could make some to harden their hearts so that they will never have His mercy.
Israel History.
The history of Israel where ever it is mentioned, (Read Exodus thoroughly ), will not fail to mention Pharoah.
But you know God dealt with Pharoah, because of his stiff-neck. God hardened his heart to put the biggest terrors in his life and in the life of the Egyptians, because Pharoah was not prepared to bend low.
Let us note the following in today’s message :
God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy and will harden who He will. In all this God works in His righteousness. All the works of God are righteous.
1. God chose Isaac over Ishmael.
2. He chose Jacob over Esau.
3. He chose righteous people over sinners.
4. He chose Israel over Pharoah and the Egyptians.
On the same grounds, God hardens people, to deal with them as He shows mercy on whom He will show mercy.
Note:
If men will accept mercy He will give it to them. If they will not, thus hardening themselselves, He is only just and righteous in judging them.
We are priviledged to humble ourselves and receive mercy or exalt ourselves and refuse mercy.
Mercy is the effect of right attitude, and hardening is the effect of stubbornness or wrong attitude towards God.
You must endeavour not to be stubborn before men for in that way you 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Psalmmay unconsciously be stubborn towards God.
ATTITUDE
A man will receive mercy if he has the right attitude towards God. Many are wise in their own hearts.
Baring all catasropies in life, whether a man succeeds or fails are controlled by his attitude.
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Romans 11 : 25)
THE PARABLE OF THE CLAY AND WAX
It is like the clay and the wax in the sun.
The same sunshine hardens the clay and softens the wax. The responsibility is with the materials and not the sun, for they have wills to make proper choices.
MAKE RIGHT CHOICES WITH GOD AS YOUR GUIDE.
You can choose to be clay or wax, but the wax might receive mercy and the clay may not. The clay gets fixed and the wax is flexible to all.
HOW PRACTICAL SHOULD THIS MESSAGE OF TODAY BE IN OUR HEARTS.
Let us begin with the following exhortations :
119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.” (Psalm 119 : 32 – 38)
Prayer For The Moment :
Help us Lord that we will be in a position to receive thy mercy.
Miracle Valley Sermon March 22 , 2020.
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