WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.919 And now let's turn to our reading for tonight, which will be taken from Matthew chapter 19. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:16.059 And our second reading will be from Acts 16. 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:26.519 So our first reading from Matthew chapter 18, from verse 21 to the end of the chapter. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:42.880 Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:48.700 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:55.260 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 00:00:55.259 --> 00:01:06.099 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:09.239 The servant fell on his knees before him. 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:13.359 Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything. 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:18.920 The servant's master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go. 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:25.920 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:28.579 He grabbed him and began to choke him. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:31.000 Pay back what you owe me, he demanded. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:38.640 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, be patient with me and I will pay you back. 00:01:39.320 --> 00:01:40.320 But he refused. 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:45.680 Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:53.540 When other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything they had happened. 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:56.860 Then the master called the servant in. 00:01:57.600 --> 00:01:59.180 You wicked servant, he said. 00:01:59.580 --> 00:02:04.240 I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 00:02:04.800 --> 00:02:09.659 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:18.859 In anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:27.039 This is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:37.840 We'll move on to our second reading, which will be Acts chapter 16, verse 22 to 32. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:41.259 So verse 22. 00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:51.960 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:59.640 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 00:03:00.980 --> 00:03:07.180 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:16.080 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:22.120 Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:28.039 At once, all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:39.620 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 00:03:39.620 --> 00:04:09.599 But Paul shouted, 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:11.860 That's the word of the Lord. 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:23.780 As we've been thinking about the counter-cultural values of God's kingdom, here we come to Beatitude number 5, Matthew chapter 5, verse 7. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:29.519 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:37.519 I want to begin with an interview from the Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave. 00:04:38.419 --> 00:04:44.939 He was in a wide-ranging Q&A with some of his fans online, and he was asked the question, 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:48.019 What do you think of cancel culture? 00:04:48.019 --> 00:05:01.399 We heard of cancel culture, where there is backlash and boycott and social media attack because someone has said something or acted in a way that's deemed to be offensive, 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:05.899 and so the call comes cancel that person. 00:05:05.899 --> 00:05:07.459 Here's what Nick Cave said. 00:05:08.459 --> 00:05:14.839 As far as I can see, cancel culture is mercy's antithesis. 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:16.379 So the exact opposite of mercy. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:23.779 Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world. 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:29.719 It embodies all the worst aspects that religion has to offer and none of the beauty. 00:05:30.559 --> 00:05:38.379 Moral certainty and self-righteousness shorn even of the capacity for redemption. 00:05:39.339 --> 00:05:44.239 So here is Nick Cave, not a Christian, but he's looking at our society, 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.280 and he's recognising there's so much judgement and a lack of mercy, 00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:52.139 and people can be really brutal when somebody has opposing views. 00:05:53.280 --> 00:05:57.199 It doesn't take us long to recognise that we live in a polarised world, 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:03.120 and that call for people to be shut down, that tendency to talk over or to talk down, 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:08.259 to condemn another because their views don't fit. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:13.439 It should be so different for Christians and for the church. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:23.259 As we seek to allow the beauty of the light of Jesus to shape us and then to transform us, 00:06:23.340 --> 00:06:27.139 that should have a distinct character in the world. 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:33.040 We should be a different kind of friend, and indeed, we should be a different kind of enemy. 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:36.439 When people regard the Christian church as the enemy for our views, 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:40.819 the way that we love and the way that we continue to extend mercy 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:46.180 should point to the hope and the beauty and the life that there is in Jesus. 00:06:47.779 --> 00:06:53.399 So we're going to see, I think, that this is another beatitude that challenges our culture. 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:59.279 But it's one that Jesus would say, again, is essential to every Christian life. 00:06:59.740 --> 00:07:04.259 It is of the essence of the Christian faith and the Christian life to be merciful. 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:07.420 And there's a cause and effect of mercy. 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:14.740 To receive Christ, to receive the mercy of God, to have our sins forgiven, 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:19.599 to be adopted into the family of God, to have the hope of glory. 00:07:19.659 --> 00:07:20.459 That's mercy. 00:07:21.219 --> 00:07:25.199 So that's the cause for us then to be merciful. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:29.699 It should lead us to extend mercy to others. 00:07:31.459 --> 00:07:38.019 We enjoy a Niagara Falls, as it were, of mercy from God. 00:07:38.579 --> 00:07:41.519 Every day, his mercies are new to us each morning, 00:07:41.659 --> 00:07:45.899 and that should then flow from us to others. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:52.599 And so one of the things I hope we'll do this evening is to examine ourselves. 00:07:52.600 --> 00:08:02.160 You know, there are these streams of mercy never ceasing that flow from God to us as Christians. 00:08:02.900 --> 00:08:07.120 Do those streams of mercy then flow out from us? 00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:12.760 Self-examination is important to help. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.320 I have here my handy-dandy peak flow meter. 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:18.620 Some of you will recognise this. 00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:24.120 So I have asthma every now and again, especially around this time of year. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:26.480 It can be a bit of a struggle. 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:29.180 And so the peak flow is really helpful. 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:36.379 So when I get to the point where I realise that I have the same lung capacity as the average 60-year-old lady 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:41.019 who is five feet in height, I realise that I need to do something about it. 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:42.419 I need to up my medication. 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:45.339 And maybe I need to speak to my doctor. 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:49.399 At some point, the flow has been blocked. 00:08:49.479 --> 00:08:51.339 And so I need change. 00:08:52.179 --> 00:08:56.240 And I want to think about that in our own Christian experience. 00:08:56.479 --> 00:09:00.699 Am I grateful for God's mercy 00:09:00.700 --> 00:09:08.440 to the extent that it's transforming my relation to other people? 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:13.000 Am I willing to take up the trouble of others 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:18.700 because I see how God has met me and shown kindness to me in my distress? 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:22.920 So that's where we're going to go this evening. 00:09:23.140 --> 00:09:27.160 Now, what's the mercy that we are called to show here? 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:33.039 Well, all around us, I am sure we can see there is misery, there is distress. 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:37.179 So we live in a broken, in a sin-filled world. 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:44.980 In this particular time, there are so many different layers of distress that people are experiencing. 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:50.079 And mercy, as it were, looks another person in the face 00:09:50.079 --> 00:09:56.319 and looks to express God's kindness to somebody in distress. 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:05.719 And Bonhoeffer said that mercy means that we are willing to lose things that we would consider to be treasures. 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:08.360 So we're willing to lose comfort 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.279 or we're willing to lose dignity and honour 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:16.539 to pick up and shoulder the distress of another. 00:10:17.459 --> 00:10:21.720 So our beatitude today is calling those who have enjoyed God's grace, 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:27.040 who have enjoyed mercy, to pass it forward to others. 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:31.740 And there's a counter-cultural aspect to this. 00:10:31.920 --> 00:10:34.120 So John Calvin, a long time ago, he said, 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:36.620 the world says we're blessed if we're trouble-free. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.700 We recognise that. 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:40.779 We love a sense of comfort and security. 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:47.000 But Jesus says you are blessed both if you put up with your own troubles and suffer well 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:53.879 and if you are willing to take on the suffering, the distress, the misery of others. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:56.360 So it's quite a different value system. 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:02.139 Now, an important clarification when we think about this beatitude. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:05.259 When Jesus says, 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:09.639 blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy, 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.319 does Jesus mean we will receive mercy only if we are merciful? 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:17.779 And to that, well, the answer is yes. 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:21.379 But we need to ask a second question. 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:27.299 Is my mercy then the basis for receiving God's mercy? 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:31.579 Is this salvation by mercy ministry? 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:33.879 Is this a form of salvation by good works? 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.120 And the answer to that is absolutely not. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:38.620 So what's the logic then? 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:39.620 What's going on here? 00:11:40.479 --> 00:11:43.000 Remember, Jesus is speaking to disciples, 00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:46.199 to those who have already received mercy and grace from God. 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:49.500 And he is saying to know that mercy, 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:55.500 to have received the life-transforming good news that is in the gospel, 00:11:55.500 --> 00:12:00.379 that out of sheer loving kindness and in response to his covenant promise, 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.500 God has sent Jesus to be our saviour, 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:05.820 to be the once for all sacrifice for sin, 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:09.360 to take us from death to life, from darkness to light. 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:16.259 And to have our hearts and lives transformed leads to the showing of mercy, 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:22.580 that that is the natural result and consequence of having a new heart. 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:29.860 It's an evidence of receiving the mercy of Christ in our lives. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.900 And so it's important to recognise that. 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:36.440 Now, to help us to think about mercy, 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:40.180 I want us to think about two parables on mercy. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:42.440 One which is sort of taught in the negative, 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:44.520 one which is taught in the positive. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:49.699 Daniel read for us from Matthew chapter 18, 00:12:49.939 --> 00:12:51.519 verses 21 to 35, 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:54.460 often known as the parable of the unmerciful servant. 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:59.559 The parable, as you'll remember, 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:05.379 is told because Peter is asking a question about forgiveness. 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:10.199 How often should I extend forgiveness to someone? 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:13.419 That's a form of mercy in itself. 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:17.939 And Jesus tells a story about a king, 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:22.099 about a king who wants to check on his account 00:13:22.099 --> 00:13:23.740 and who wants debts to be settled. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:27.860 And so he calls in a man who owes a huge debt, 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:30.179 equivalent of millions of pounds today. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:35.039 And he demands that the man pay all the debt 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:36.099 or be thrown in prison. 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:39.599 And the man, before the king, falls on his knees and he pleads. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.120 He pleads for mercy. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:46.019 And the king's response is to show mercy and to cancel that debt. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.060 So while the parable is about the unmerciful servant, 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.759 we also see a very merciful king. 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:53.340 But the response of the man is significant 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:56.139 because he then goes out having received this gift. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:14:00.440 He sees a fellow servant who owes him a few hundred pounds 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.500 and he grabs him and he demands from him. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:06.799 And because the man is unable to pay, 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.879 he throws his family into prison. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.799 And of course, the other servants are outraged. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.299 They report it back to the king. 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:16.159 The man is brought again before the king 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:20.700 and he is sent to prison and he faces judgment. 00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:21.300 Why? 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:25.740 Well, here in the words of the king, 00:14:26.300 --> 00:14:30.060 shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant 00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:32.879 just as I had on you? 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.800 So there was a gift of mercy, 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:42.780 but that left the servant's heart cold and unchanged. 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:48.500 He did not share the king's merciful heart, 00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:56.459 which is a way of showing that he has no part in the kingdom. 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.720 And the point that Jesus is making, 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.079 and he says it in verse 35, 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:05.399 this is how my heavenly father will treat each of you 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:08.439 unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart. 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:13.740 If we find ourselves harsh and judgmental 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:16.640 and critical of others, 00:15:17.180 --> 00:15:18.360 quick to talk over them, 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:19.560 quick to talk them down, 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.840 quick to point the finger, 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:24.120 then it is a sign that we also 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:28.540 are taking the mercy of God, our king, for granted. 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:31.560 We have a false view of ourselves 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:33.360 where we have lost sight of the fact that 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.520 in God's eyes, 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:40.620 we have a massive debt of sin to a holy God, 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.519 a debt that we could never repay. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:45.100 And the only way that we are in God's kingdom 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:45.899 and we've been forgiven 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:49.639 is entirely because of the mercy of forgiveness. 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:53.840 And if we lose sight of that, 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:55.860 then like the servant, 00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:59.939 we can very easily become unmerciful. 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:03.720 So Jesus tells that parable as a warning 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:06.760 against having a small and a closed 00:16:06.760 --> 00:16:08.880 and an unmerciful heart. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:15.640 But then to tell the positive parable on mercy, 00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:19.000 perhaps one of the most famous parables 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.180 that Jesus taught in Luke chapter 10 00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:24.400 and verses 25 to 37, 00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:27.160 we find the parable of the Good Samaritan. 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:33.000 And that parable is told to challenge a man 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.799 who is full of self-righteous pride. 00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:37.519 He thinks he has kept all the commandments. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.659 He thinks he has it in and of himself 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:43.519 to attain eternal life. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:46.980 And Jesus says to him, 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:48.179 if you want to truly live, 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:50.019 you need to love your Lord your God 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.100 with all your heart, soul, mind and strength 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.279 and love your neighbour as yourself. 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.620 And what becomes clear is the man 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:57.480 has a very narrow view of who is my neighbour. 00:16:57.620 --> 00:17:01.299 He wants a self-contained, 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.320 nice and clear, 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:06.200 not a messy view of who is my neighbour 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:09.279 and what neighbour love will look like. 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:11.579 And Jesus tells a story 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:14.180 that shatters his illusions 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:18.960 and shows us how wide mercy is to go. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:21.340 Because in the Good Samaritan story, 00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:23.799 what we have is an enemy 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.680 who is better at showing love 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:30.120 than so-called friends are. 00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:32.380 So you have the Samaritan who shows mercy 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:33.579 compared to the Levite 00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:36.120 and the Pharisee, the priest, 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:39.240 who don't show mercy. 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:43.960 We really see three lessons about mercy 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:46.340 from that very famous story. 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:49.379 The first thing is that mercy is costly. 00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:52.599 There is risk involved. 00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:55.959 The priest and the Levite don't want to take a risk. 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:57.119 They don't want to cross the street. 00:17:57.199 --> 00:17:58.159 They don't want to get involved 00:17:58.159 --> 00:17:59.639 in case there's a risk to their life 00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:01.559 or a risk to their cleanness. 00:18:02.899 --> 00:18:04.679 But the Samaritan, he takes a risk. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.919 He makes himself vulnerable 00:18:05.919 --> 00:18:09.459 in order to meet this man 00:18:09.459 --> 00:18:11.319 at the point of his desperate need. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.879 Mercy is costly. 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:17.220 Mercy is also generous. 00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:19.460 As Jesus tells the story, 00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:22.900 we see various resources are used 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:26.300 to meet this injured man's need. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.300 He is bound up. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:31.340 There is oil used for his wounds. 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:34.040 He is placed on the man's own donkey. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.820 He is taken to an inn 00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:38.120 where payment is made 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:41.020 so that the man can continue to be cared for. 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:43.039 And to follow on from that, 00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:44.799 mercy is also sacrificial. 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.799 We see in the Samaritan 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.980 an ongoing willingness to bear the cost. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:53.420 He is going to inconvenience himself. 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:55.660 He's going to return another time 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:57.519 to check on the patient. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:01.519 He's going to pay any further medical costs 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.579 that are required. 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:06.379 Here's a holistic response to distress 00:19:06.379 --> 00:19:08.740 that goes the extra mile 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:13.119 because he has seen someone in distress. 00:19:13.939 --> 00:19:16.960 That's what mercy looks like. 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:20.939 Jesus, having told the parable, 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:24.359 then turns to the self-righteous man 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:24.720 and he says, 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.900 which of these three do you think 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.839 was a neighbour to the man 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:28.259 who fell into the hands of robbers? 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:30.299 The expert in the law replied, 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:32.620 the one who had mercy on him. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.380 And Jesus said, 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:36.740 go and do likewise. 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:41.660 As we think about showing mercy, 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:44.579 maybe we can consider together 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:46.759 three important factors. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:49.779 One, we need to think about 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:54.039 the lens that we wear 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:57.119 because there is the danger, 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.359 as we see in both these parables, 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.819 of being short-sighted, 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:05.559 of failing to see clearly 00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:09.180 that salvation depends on God's mercy to us. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:14.500 And that should change how we view others, 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:17.740 that we would learn to see others 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:23.180 as fellow image bearers of God, 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:28.400 that we would aim to see the best in others 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:31.420 and not be so quick to condemn 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:34.039 a person for the madness of a single moment. 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:39.539 And it should also make us ask a wisdom question 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:42.119 as we have those lenses on 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:43.440 where we're looking to see 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.720 how we can show mercy. 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:48.740 How can I best help answer distress? 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:52.400 So it's about the lens that we wear. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:55.160 It's also about the honour that we give. 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.380 In Hebrews, 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.000 there is a wonderful statement 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.340 where it says that Jesus, 00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.620 our great high priest, 00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:05.180 he is not ashamed 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:08.519 to call us brothers and sisters. 00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:11.640 Jesus is not ashamed of us. 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:14.380 And his shameful death 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:18.900 becomes the vehicle for us 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:22.680 receiving honour from God. 00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:26.740 The gospel secures our honour 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:29.340 in view of the one 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:31.920 whose opinion of us matters the most. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.580 And knowing that, 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:38.580 we can then be willing to face loss, 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:40.279 the loss of dignity and honour 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.779 to care for others, 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:44.380 to honour somebody else 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:47.300 who stands in need of mercy. 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:51.240 And the other important factor 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.220 for us as Christians 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:53.339 in showing mercy 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:55.960 is to think about the Saviour 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.240 that we follow. 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.240 Because think about the pattern 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.099 of Jesus' ministry. 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:04.819 Think about the list of people 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.839 that he loved and helped 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:09.000 and reached out to and cared for. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.640 There was the touch 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:13.140 to the lepers. 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:15.059 There was the welcome 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:17.140 to the Samaritans. 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:20.380 There was eating and drinking 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:22.099 with the despised 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:23.559 as a way of extending 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.579 grace and mercy 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.279 from God 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.859 to them. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.380 It's the pattern 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:29.359 of his life. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.440 He is the 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.859 good Samaritan 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:33.019 coming to meet us 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.059 in the point 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.740 of our distress 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:36.259 and needs 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:39.319 to pay the ultimate price 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:41.559 to restore us, 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.319 to restore us 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.420 to fellowship with God. 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.299 It's the nature 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.259 of his work 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.599 on the cross 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:51.660 that seeing 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.819 the misery 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:53.740 that sin 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:55.160 had brought us into, 00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:57.680 the breakdown 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.460 of relationships, 00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.660 including our breakdown 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:01.339 in our relationship 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:01.779 with God 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.400 and knowing that 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.400 we are unable 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.599 to fix or rescue 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.879 ourselves. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:08.240 Jesus came 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.419 to do what we couldn't do, 00:23:11.459 --> 00:23:12.619 to be the answer 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.779 to our distress 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:16.079 by becoming 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.939 the sin bearer 00:23:16.939 --> 00:23:17.599 of the world, 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:19.740 by being our representative, 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.439 by being 00:23:21.439 --> 00:23:22.439 the one 00:23:22.439 --> 00:23:23.759 perfect sacrifice 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.539 to deal with sin, 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.439 to show us mercy. 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:29.119 And as we think 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:29.879 about the work 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:30.299 of Jesus 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.079 on the cross 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.859 and his mercy, 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.240 that's where mercy flows. 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.679 Three barriers 00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:37.059 to mercy. 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.659 Even reading 00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.279 the parables, 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.039 we can probably 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.039 recognise it 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.619 as we look 00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:44.579 into our own hearts. 00:23:45.459 --> 00:23:46.119 If you're anything 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:46.500 like me, 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.299 I'm sure you can 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.179 recognise it. 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.359 As we begin 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.139 to examine 00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:51.659 ourselves, 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.259 that can be 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.759 painful, 00:23:56.459 --> 00:23:57.219 can be 00:23:57.219 --> 00:23:57.779 humbling, 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:59.839 revealing, 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.099 can be 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.740 revealing, 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.879 but it's the way 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:04.299 towards healing. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.019 Just like my 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.099 peak flow 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.539 meter 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.740 reveals 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.859 where 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:12.059 I'm struggling, 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.720 where there's been 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.920 a blockage, 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.399 and I need help. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:17.019 So we need to reflect 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:19.079 on our own lives 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.700 so that we might 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.160 see 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.519 how 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.539 we can 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.180 reconnect 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:25.220 and appreciate 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.660 the mercy 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.019 of God 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:26.600 in our own lives 00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.440 to pass it forward. 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.500 Because the most 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.259 common cause 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.240 when mercy is blocked, 00:24:30.320 --> 00:24:30.920 when it's not flowing 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:31.320 from us, 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.840 it's me and you, 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.519 it's ourselves. 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.740 When we are 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:37.120 self-centred, 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.200 when we feel 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.900 that we are just 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.799 unable to 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.640 enter into 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.140 the distress 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:42.900 of someone else, 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.420 where we're always 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.700 standing at a distance, 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.039 or where we, 00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:46.900 for the sake of 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.400 our own comfort, 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.620 we insulate ourselves 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.180 to the hurt 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.100 and misery of others, 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:50.580 we can be 00:24:50.580 --> 00:24:52.120 very self-centred. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.460 Or when we're 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.420 full of self-pity, 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.500 it doesn't matter 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.200 what someone else 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.560 is facing, 00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.240 we always feel 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.100 like my trouble 00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:01.519 always eclipses 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.560 that of others. 00:25:03.340 --> 00:25:04.519 Or we simply think, 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.840 I have my own stuff 00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.620 to deal with, 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.539 I don't have the capacity 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:10.960 to care for anybody else. 00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:13.720 Or there's self-preservation, 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.380 maybe especially 00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.240 with our resources, 00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.660 but I feel so time poor, 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.140 how can I 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.400 give my time 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.500 to a hurting friend? 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.980 Or there's 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.039 the emotional drain, 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.700 I feel so 00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:25.099 low emotionally, 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.720 how can I 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.859 then try and 00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.740 extend sympathy 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.859 and care to someone else? 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:30.039 Or maybe we feel 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.240 tight financially, 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.440 how can I give 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.000 generously 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.619 in that 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:36.079 circumstance? 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:39.319 When we recognise 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.339 and examine 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:40.680 ourselves 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.200 and we see 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.000 that there are 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.500 blockages, 00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:45.019 how do we 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.839 remove 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.740 those barriers? 00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:47.299 How can we 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.940 allow those 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.779 streams of mercy 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.460 to flow 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.879 from us? 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.880 again, 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.500 the answer 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.440 is to preach 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.520 the gospel 00:25:55.520 --> 00:25:57.000 to ourselves 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.360 so that we would 00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:59.320 live in the 00:25:59.320 --> 00:26:00.120 overflow 00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:01.920 of the Niagara 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.140 of God's 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.860 mercy 00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:05.260 to us. 00:26:06.040 --> 00:26:07.040 Knowing that 00:26:07.040 --> 00:26:07.340 we are 00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:08.600 blood-bought 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:10.200 children of God 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.300 because of 00:26:11.300 --> 00:26:12.000 his mercy, 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:14.120 it should cause 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:15.340 mercy to well up 00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:15.780 in us. 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:17.240 to see how 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:17.680 God has 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.240 answered our 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.839 distress, 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.259 should give us 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.899 new eyes 00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:21.680 and new hearts, 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:22.759 soft hearts 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.099 to meet the 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.639 distress of 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:24.960 others. 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.039 And also, 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.980 we should focus 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.359 on future 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:29.879 glory 00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:31.420 and of the 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.279 mercy still 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.180 to come 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:35.460 to cling 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.119 on to that 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:36.619 so we'd be 00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:37.220 willing to 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:37.799 lose 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.200 temporary 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.779 treasure 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.500 for what is 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.539 eternal. 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.740 all. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.460 Now, 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.139 as we 00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:46.599 finish, 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.000 I want to 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.759 turn back 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.879 to Acts 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.399 16, 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.680 which again 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:52.059 Daniel read 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.399 for us, 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:54.920 where we 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.779 found Paul 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.599 and Silas 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:58.180 in Philippi 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.460 in prison. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:26:59.859 They have 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.599 been arrested 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:02.559 for rescuing 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.559 a slave 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.259 girl from 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.379 demon 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.619 possession. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:07.799 They have 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.559 been attacked, 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.440 they have 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.399 been flogged, 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.079 they have 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.119 been imprisoned, 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.159 they have 00:27:13.159 --> 00:27:14.059 been chained, 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.019 they are 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.779 regarded as 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.659 enemies of 00:27:16.659 --> 00:27:17.259 the state 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:19.299 for their 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.359 radical teaching, 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.159 turning the 00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:22.220 city upside 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.680 down. 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:23.539 But what do 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:23.960 we find 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.460 Paul and 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.039 Silas doing? 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.460 We find 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:25.940 them engaged 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.220 in a 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.519 midnight 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.240 hymn sing. 00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.659 That's 00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:28.059 wonderful. 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.019 We find 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.659 them praying 00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:30.480 to God, 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:31.940 praying to 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.700 God and 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.279 singing in 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.619 such a way 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.200 that everybody 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.720 could hear, 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.579 prisoners and 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.200 the jailer 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.659 alike. 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.279 And then 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.559 that great 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.139 act of God, 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.639 the earthquake 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.339 comes, 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:42.079 doors fling 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.480 open, 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.359 chains fall 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:43.599 off, 00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:43.859 there is 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.420 release, 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.440 and as 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.099 the jailer 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.539 comes to 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.000 his senses 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.940 and realises 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.539 what's going 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:48.879 on, 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.460 there is 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:49.859 terror, 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.460 isn't there? 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.059 If he 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.759 loses these 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.220 prisoners, 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.960 he might as 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:58.759 well give 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.559 up until 00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.079 he's about 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.099 to kill 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:01.639 himself. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.319 But what 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.960 do Paul and 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.759 Silas do? 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:06.119 Paul and 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:07.359 Silas show 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.259 him mercy 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.480 in his 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:09.859 distress. 00:28:10.159 --> 00:28:10.460 Remember, 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.059 they were 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.700 regarded as 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.259 the enemy, 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:13.819 but they're 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.140 a different 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.620 kind of 00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:15.080 enemy because 00:28:15.080 --> 00:28:15.420 they're an 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.340 enemy that 00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:16.900 loves Jesus 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.240 and so 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.460 they're 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.080 determined to 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:18.559 love and 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.120 show kindness, 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.519 to show 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:19.980 love and 00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.600 not hate. 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.640 And what 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.200 happens is 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.519 that their 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.559 connection to 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.000 the God 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.680 of mercy 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.600 has kept 00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:27.380 their hearts 00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:28.140 soft, 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.220 has enabled 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.799 them to 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:31.080 present the 00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:31.960 mercy of 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.920 Christ so 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.259 that they 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.559 spare this 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:34.960 man. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.460 and when 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.079 he asks 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.319 them, 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:37.740 sirs, 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.100 what must 00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.480 I do 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:38.880 to be 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.319 saved? 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:41.759 They say, 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:42.360 believe in 00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:42.720 the Lord 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.299 Jesus and 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.640 you'll be 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:43.940 saved, 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.059 you and 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.680 your 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.640 household. 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.620 Their 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.240 mercy 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.160 received from 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.840 God is 00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:52.480 a constant 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.120 supply that 00:28:53.120 --> 00:28:53.500 they're so 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.039 conscious of 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.440 that allows 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:54.779 them to 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.200 share that 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:55.740 mercy with 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.100 others. 00:28:59.299 --> 00:28:59.819 It's 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.340 mercy in 00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:00.740 action. 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:02.019 What does 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.640 the mercy 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.240 that is, 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.039 in the 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.400 words of 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:04.640 Jesus, 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.059 what's the 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.480 mercy that 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.319 is blessed 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.759 look like? 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.740 How do we 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.319 see mercy 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:09.880 in action? 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:10.819 So I was 00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:11.480 thinking about 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.220 sort of the 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.339 last few 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:13.700 weeks, 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.299 things that 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:14.799 I've heard 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.299 in church 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:15.640 or just 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.220 conversations 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.720 with people 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.559 because mercy 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.039 takes on 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.920 many forms. 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.940 When we 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.279 heard from 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.759 our friends 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.359 in Columbia 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.980 and they 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.359 were talking 00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:24.779 about the 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.640 importance of 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.759 giving at 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.279 a place, 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.220 at a safe 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.420 place for 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:29.920 people to 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.440 share how 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:30.620 their 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:30.959 feeling, 00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:31.879 to ask 00:29:31.879 --> 00:29:32.139 someone, 00:29:32.239 --> 00:29:32.779 how are 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.879 you really 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.919 to struggling 00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:35.579 pastors and 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:35.959 to struggling 00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:36.419 Christians, 00:29:36.959 --> 00:29:37.359 that's a 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.799 mercy because 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.359 they're realising 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:39.739 so many 00:29:39.739 --> 00:29:40.139 people are 00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:40.639 in distress. 00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.199 We talked 00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:43.439 to our 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:43.879 friends in 00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:44.239 India, 00:29:44.919 --> 00:29:45.679 mercy looks 00:29:45.679 --> 00:29:46.259 like feeding 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.879 the poor 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:48.179 in pandemic, 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.839 that when 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:51.239 the church 00:29:51.239 --> 00:29:51.559 could have 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:51.959 their own 00:29:51.959 --> 00:29:53.299 worries to 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.639 care about, 00:29:53.719 --> 00:29:53.879 and they 00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:54.899 certainly did, 00:29:55.439 --> 00:29:55.739 they were 00:29:55.739 --> 00:29:56.359 still going 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.019 to the 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.599 towns and 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:57.839 to the 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.479 villages to 00:29:58.479 --> 00:29:58.979 try and 00:29:58.979 --> 00:29:59.859 care for 00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:00.539 others. 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:03.399 mercy looks 00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:04.000 like gathering 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.399 online to 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:06.899 pray for a 00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.519 sick friend. 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:10.739 Mercy is 00:30:10.739 --> 00:30:11.419 being prompted 00:30:11.419 --> 00:30:11.919 by the 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:13.239 spirit to 00:30:13.239 --> 00:30:14.779 give a 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.579 homeless person 00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.399 money to 00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:17.000 stay in a 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.599 hostel and to 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.039 get a hot 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.539 shower and a 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.000 hot meal. 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:21.319 Mercy looks 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:21.979 like walking 00:30:21.979 --> 00:30:23.099 with a family 00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:23.939 that's going 00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:25.159 through hard 00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:25.719 times. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:28.720 mercy looks 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.220 like leaving 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.900 everything behind 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.279 to go and 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.839 serve refugees 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.880 in another 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.319 country. 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.960 Mercy looks 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.480 like taking 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.240 the time to 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.600 call a 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:38.519 lonely friend. 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.299 Mercy takes 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.100 many forms, 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.460 but it's 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.000 whenever we 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.559 look someone 00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.120 else in the 00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:45.160 face and 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.640 we help 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.680 them in 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.100 distress. 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:49.879 let me ask 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:51.079 you today, 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.939 do you feel 00:30:51.939 --> 00:30:53.219 tired? 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.980 Do you feel 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.459 weighted down 00:30:57.459 --> 00:30:59.119 by your own 00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.759 troubles? 00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:01.779 Do you feel 00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.619 powerless 00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:05.000 when you see 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:06.000 so much need 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.099 around and 00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.559 you find it 00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:10.879 hard to 00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:11.519 show mercy? 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:14.859 how can 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:15.639 we in that 00:31:15.639 --> 00:31:16.240 situation 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.440 unblock 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.299 the flow? 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.119 It's where 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:21.660 we need to 00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:22.639 look and 00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.599 keep looking 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.339 to Jesus 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:25.539 and his 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.099 work on the 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:26.519 cross. 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:27.879 Look back, 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.240 look back to 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.299 God's response 00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:30.960 to the misery 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.420 of sin, 00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:32.960 that he sent 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.599 Jesus to 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.220 love you 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.400 and rescue 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.319 you and 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:36.879 now Jesus 00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:38.240 lives in 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.680 you and 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.240 he's with 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.160 you always. 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.500 Look back 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.200 until your 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:43.460 heart bursts 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:44.900 with a sense 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:45.700 of gratitude 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.759 and from 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.839 that gratitude 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.779 look to 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.160 help and 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.160 extend kindness 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.000 to others in 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.539 the strength 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:52.839 that he 00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.400 supplies. 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.660 But don't 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:55.000 just look 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.500 back, 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.599 look forward 00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:58.299 also. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.299 Remember that 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.099 this beatitude 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:00.660 promises 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.460 blessing. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.200 Blessed are 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:03.680 the merciful 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.200 for they 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:04.940 will be 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.519 shown 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.319 mercy. 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.420 In this 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:07.819 life, 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:09.099 that ongoing 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.839 stream of 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.440 forgiveness 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.019 and 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.720 compassion 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.460 and the 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:12.779 presence 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.379 and help 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:15.000 of God 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.259 of the 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.759 Lord Jesus 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.680 but also 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:18.339 mercy and 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.859 glory, 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:20.980 treasure and 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.480 heaven that 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:21.859 can't be 00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:22.460 taken from 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:22.619 us, 00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.000 honour and 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.839 joy and 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.680 love and 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.700 life and 00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.359 having that 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.920 treasure and 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.619 delighting in 00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:31.420 that, we 00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:32.920 can then lose 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:34.279 treasure to 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.879 show mercy to 00:32:35.879 --> 00:32:36.839 those in 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.079 need. 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:43.019 Didn't 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:43.539 honor and 00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:44.519 you 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.799 said it 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.400 so 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.379 it's 00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:50.519 so 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.639 it's 00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.359 great. 00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:52.940 You 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.440 devotion