Happy Are the Merciful B

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. But I would say against the same twofold thing in order to be in God's kingdom. You must be one who seeks mercy and when you are in God's kingdom. You will be one who gives mercy asked, staying up night after night with a sick family member or turning the other cheek when you're insulted. And yet, as John MacArthur will show you today on grace to you. There is a link between being merciful and being truly happy.

A link that you probably never thought of. Discover the key to knowing a joy that's unshakable and see what God honoring biblical mercy looks like.

Here's John to continue his series from Matthew five, titled simply, the Beatitudes turn with me to Matthew chapter 5 and will continue our study in the Beatitudes. Let's read through the first 12 verses seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain and when he was seated his disciples came on to him and he opened his mouth and taught them saying blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. Now let's look at what it means to be merciful. Verse seven Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. This concept of mercy runs from one end of Scripture to the other from one end of God's history since the fall of man to the time of the consummation is that a gigantic reality, but I want to see if we can draw together at least four aspects of mercy for aspects. The significance the source of the substance in the SQL significance source substance SQL what is the significance. In other words, what is it mean to be merciful. It says in verse seven. Happy or Blessed are the merciful, was it me beloved. This simply said it's this you be merciful to others and God will be merciful to you. That's what say God is the subject of the second phrase, God will give you mercy that takes us to our second point very quickly source of mercy was the source well you know who it is. It's God. It's God.

God is the source of mercy is a gift from God. I want to tell you something.

It's only for the people who've gone through the other four Beatitudes. It's only for the poor in spirit who mourn their sins and stand meek before a holy God and hunger and thirst for his righteousness, and when they receive his righteousness when they receive his gift of mercy for them than they can be merciful.

Listen people, mercy is not a normal human at you'll never make it happen. It doesn't work you be merciful to people and they'll be merciful you don't believe it now and then.

Some might but that is not a normal human attribute. The only way to be a merciful person is to have within you the God-given mercy and the only way to have God given mercy is to have the righteousness of God comes through Christ and that's what Jesus is saying unless you come by this path to the place of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and you be filled by God will never know mercy because mercy as part of his filling there. Lots of people who want the blessing, but they don't want the belonging. You know they want the blessing, not the lessor there like bail me no bail in this false prophet, he said, remember his prayer. He said let me die.

Death of the righteous, and he said let my last stand be like his old Puritan said he wanted to die like the righteous. He just didn't want to live like the righteous, and there may be some people who want mercy, but they don't want it on God's terms, and the only people who have mercy are the people who qualify under the first four Beatitudes. Those who have come with a broken and a beggarly spirit before a holy God and sought his righteousness that comes only in Christ.

And when God gives us his righteousness with it comes a capacity for mercy. Listen God is merciful and we possess God. Ephesians 3 says we are filled with all the fullness of God in his mercy shows through us. God has two kinds of attributes did you know that we call absolute and relative two kinds. For example, you say water is absolutely attributes God is love.

God's truth. God's holiness and if nobody ever lifted still be love, truth and holiness. If you were never born and still be love, truth and holiness. But when you and I came into the world. Those absolutes took on a relative character and his truth became faithfulness to us. His holiness became justice and his love became grace and mercy. Those are the relative attributes of spring from his absolute nature is love became mercy and grace love it. God is the one rich in mercy, and he is the one who gives it and the only one in Psalm 10 311, the psalmist said as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. We fear God, we come to Christ and God gives us his mercy, and thus does our Lord say in Luke 630 6B, ye therefore merciful, as your father is merciful.

So God is the source, God is the only one who can give us mercy. The supreme act. Obviously of God's mercy was the cross.

There is no active can rival that for mercy. Jesus comes to the cross, he gets inside the skin of man.

He's merciful and that's what made him a merciful high priest Dr. Barnhouse put it this way when Jesus Christ died on the cross all the work of God for man's salvation passed out of the realm of prophecy and became historical fact, God is now had mercy upon us, for anyone to pray God have mercy on me is the equivalent of asking him to repeat the sacrifice of Christ. All the mercy that God ever will have on man. He has already had. When Christ died.

That is the totality of mercy there couldn't be any more than God can now act toward us in grace because he is already had all mercy on us.

The fountain is now open that it is flowing and it continues to flow freely. We speak of adult we sometimes when we say he saw me ruined in the fall, he loved me notwithstanding all he saved me from my loss to state his mercy oh, how great we correctly sing mercy. There was great in grace was free pardon, there was multiplied to me there. My burden soul found liberty where at Calvary there was God's act of mercy.

Did you know Micah 718 says he delights in mercy. He was merciful to us on the cross and we receive Christ.

He gives us his mercy, God is the source of mercy. Third, the substance of mercy was of me to be merciful and I was going to quickly tell you the summer skip some things I have just that I want you to just get the simple thought substance of mercy what you mean by that John will I mean this how I make practical. This thought. How does my life become a merciful life. Oh so many scriptures so many Romans 15 second grade is one Ephesians 4 Colossians 3 Galatians 6 Matthew five Matthew six. Call us to be merciful. Call us to be merciful ever again and again and again say how can I be merciful.

First of all, in the physical way. First of all you can be merciful in a physical way say how giving a poor man money hungry man food. A naked man close a man without a bed to bed by changing a grudge into forgiveness all others in many way the Old Testament is loaded with loaded with ways that we can show mercy bigger than just forgiveness meeting needs of all kinds, you know, in Deuteronomy 15. Eight but thou shalt open nine hand wide on the him and surely lend him sufficient for his need and that which he lacks.

Beware that there be not a thought and I wicked heart saying the seventh year, the year of release is at hand. And then I be evil against type were brother and thou givest him nothing that he cried to the Lord against the even when you know you're going to lose your slave in the next couple of months.

Give them anything that he needs given anything that he needs, even if it's a year of release given anything that he needs even if you know the debt will have to be removed because in the year of release.

All debts were canceled doing what he needs. That's mercy when somebody wants something. I pray to God if he ever come to me.

I high given to them. I never ask anything of anybody because mercy give to me to need. So in the physical there so many many ways.

Mercy never holds a grudge.

It never retaliates. It never is vengeful and never flaunt somebody's weakness.

It never make something of someone's failure.

It never recites a sin. St. Augustine was so merciful to others that he had in his dining room, a big beautiful table and he always invited people to come to his table, who had no place to eat and he fed them there and he had something engraved on the top of the table and this is what it said whoever loves another's name to blast this table is not for him, so let him fast so we to be merciful not only to the physical, but to the reputation story is a Jesuit will never forget reading this story is the Jesuit reported that Luther Martin Luther learned his theology from the devil and died drunk, slanderous people have no mercy to others, betray themselves listen people of your Christian if you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you will be merciful you will be merciful alien. The Roman writer of natural history in his history writes about an interesting animal.

He said that in India he heard about a Griffin GRI F. FIN. And that was interesting because no one ever the Griffin before and he described this way. It had 4 feet like a big beast and wings like an eagle and said alien. It's hard to classify only the gods know and I thought to myself. It sounds to me like a lot of phony Christian.

They claim to fly but their feet are fast to the earth their griffins professed sons of the kingdom, but never get out of the dirt so there's a lot of ways you can show mercy to people physically. What about spiritually and this is the climax. What about spiritually to give you for suggestions very quickly.

First of all by pity, pity. St. Augustine said, if I weep for the body from which the soul is departed.

Should I not weep for the soul from which God is departed. We cry a lot of tears about dead bodies.

I wonder what we do when it comes to souls. If I is a Christian lesson if I as a Christian have seen and experienced mercy and boy I have my eye experience in every day as God continues to cleanse me and forgive me if I who had no righteousness but was poor in spirit if I stood mourning over my sin to the beggarly and hopeless condemnation. If I ratchet and doom than me if I hungering and thirsting for what I must have until you get if I was given then mercy and pity from God's great heart. Do not let that same mercy flow to others what kind of inconsistency is that I hear Stephen annex 760 saying to God as they cast the stones and crushed his life out of his body, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Oh God, don't hold them's accountable for this he was pitying their souls is it's Jesus on the cross, father forgive them what they're doing. That's pity and you and I must look at the lost with pity not lording it over them are thinking ourselves better. Secondly I believe we can be merciful to men.

Souls not only by pity, but by what I'll call prodding by prodding say what you mean by that second Timothy 225 tells us in meekness instructing those that oppose him. If God perhaps will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. In other words, prodding means to confront people about their sin in order that God might give them forgiveness you should have got to hear the gospel, you know it says in Titus 113 rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. If you don't rebuke people there will be sound in the faith. You know, I can care for your soul by rebuking you I can care for the soul of a sinner by rebuking that sinner to his face. That's not unloving cleanly says nothing. You see, in June 23 at the end of that marvelous book it says there are some people that you have to save with fear, snatching them out of the fire hating even the garment that is spotted by the something when you got a snapshot of the fire. That's not hatred that's love and I get accused of not having love a lot I get criticized for lack of love that's not uncommon, but beloved.

It is not a lack of love, Mercy Prasad you see mercy prions because there's got to be the confrontation about sin before there can ever be a realization of sinfulness third thing I think we care for the souls of people mercifully when we not only prod and pity, but when we pray the sacrifice of prayer for the souls of those without God for the souls of believers in sin is an act of mercy. How merciful you are can be indicated by how faithfully you pray for people you pray for the lost. You pray for your neighbors do pray for people without Christ you pray for the people who are Christians who are walking in disobedience your prior is an act of mercy, for it releases God's blessing. And lastly, by preaching, I believe that when you preach the gospel. That's the most merciful thing that you can possibly do for the soul of someone so I say you can be merciful to a person soul by pity by prodding by prayer by preaching God wants merciful people finally we seen the significance the source. The substance finally the SQL say if I merciful.

What happens blessed, blessed said our Lord are the merciful, for they shall obtain what mercy or what a beautiful thing you see the cycle here to cycle God gives us mercy.

We are merciful and God gives us more mercy fantastic. The cycle of mercy and by the way, it's the emphatic pronoun again.

They only they alone obtain mercy. They only that's not a new truth in the Bible. Second Samuel 2226 is the same thing. It is the merciful who receive mercy James to in verse 13.

Identically the very same thing. James 213 for it says, he that hath shown no mercy shall have no mercy. It's the same truth in Matthew chapter 6.

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. In verse 14. If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will forgive you. It's the same thing it's there in Psalm 18 it's there in Proverbs 14 it is those who are merciful to get mercy now want to warn you right here. This is really critical. Some people think as I get saved that you satisfy God, and God gives you mercy when you do, merciful deeds, and that that spawned a whole pile of monasteries and monks and the whole shooting match came out of a misrepresentation of this.

This is not what you earn salvation. The point is not that you do not get mercy for merits. Otherwise, mercy wouldn't be mercy, right mercy can only apply when there is no merit or it isn't mercy so you can have mercy for merits what is meritorious is is deserving of reward, not mercy, no mercy is given because mercy is needed even by those who show it. The key is in Matthew 18, where the man brought his servant and he said listen, you pay me everything you owe me an immense at all.

I'll pay you everything in any the master said well on second thought, I'll forgive you your forgiven and the man he would just been forgiven something he couldn't pay in his entire lifetime ran out found a guy lording a little bit that could've been paid and he grabbed him by the neck and he said pay me everything you only awfully imprisoned. What's the picture you see here you have the true master being God. He offers mercy to this servant but that servant never really was converted. He never really accepted the salvation offered him he never really talked at mercy because he never confessed his sin. He never related it to the truth and so mercy and truth never kissed each other was phony mercy and never worked in his case because he never admitted his sinfulness and it's obvious because when he turned around and had an opportunity to show mercy.

Learning to strangle the guy and threw him in jail and what our Lord was saying in that parable in Matthew 18 is this when somebody shows no mercy. They prove they received none. On the contrary, this verse is saying if you are one who shows mercy you give evidence of one who is receiving that's what he saying that man in Matthew 18. Never had true mercy. That's why couldn't give it the one who is receive mercy gives it and receives more receives more on a beautiful thought. He is saying the one who has received mercy, will be merciful. The one I was receive forgiveness will be forgiving. That's what he saying you know what's so wonderful about it. If you are a merciful person you are because you receive mercy and God gives you more mercy. Every time you send me forgiveness every time you have a need.

He meets the need. He just pours mercy upon mercy upon mercy to those who show mercy because they've received from the merciful God, I guess we could say what we've been saying all along. Look at your lack are you merciful if you're not good possibility, not a Christian because those who show mercy are those who received and continue to receive it from the hand of God. What about this, they shall obtain mercy.

Some people think it just means the judgment in the future. I do believe that for a minute. I think it's a now and the future we receive it now. David cried over and over, be merciful to me, will God be merciful to me, will God be merciful to me.

Oh God, he wasn't talk about the future.

Talk about the present. In Psalm 86, three said be merciful to me. Oh God.

For I cry on to the daily and what did Psalm 23, six, say. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me in the future. Don't goodness and mercy shall follow me when all the days of my life and God's son is a merciful high priest. Mercy is for now.

Oh, and for the future. Also in second Timothy 116 we see the future where the apostle Paul says, and it's a beautiful prayer for honesty for us.

He often refreshed me. He was not ashamed of my chain the Lord give mercy to the house of on the surface. I think Paul there's perhaps looking ahead to a judgment. Looking ahead to the salvation day. But there's more than just that. No wonder the psalmist said I will sing aloud divine mercy. Father, we thank you for giving us time in your word. God, I'm so grateful for the patience of these people I share so many things in my heart and I I just trust your spirit their purposeful and direct were to have such a deep love for your word that I don't like to miss anything. I just pray Lord that you have you would've used it to the greatest extent in the lives of these people make us merciful all God, may we not be corrupt to be selfish. May we know that we of all people who ever live desperately in need of mercy. You gave it to us, may we not be like that man who took it from his master and never gave it to another, may we not be counterfeit Christians, may we give evidence of being real because we are merciful and then in turn, we know the constant benediction of your continued mercy. So father give you are set make us merciful in a world that is merciless. Jesus and that's John MacArthur showing you the biblical roadmap to lasting joy. It's a path outline for you and me and everyone in Jesus sermon on the Mount, John's current study here on grace to you examines the opening section of Jesus sermon.

John is titled the series. The Beatitudes with the subject of mercy still in mind, you know, there are many secular charities that do a lot to meet practical and physical needs through disaster relief, medical services, food and shelter. But John, you made the point today that only Christians can truly be merciful. So how do we reconcile that. Doesn't God bless needy people or work through the secular groups that seem to do so much good.

Yeah on a temporal level God makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He says this is what theologians call common grace. Unbelievers enjoy the bounty of God's creation.

The beauty of his world. The richness of this this earth.

Which brings forth boundless riches for man to enjoy. So I it is true that God does provide for us evidences of his kindness and love and mercy and care even on a temporal level so we affirm that it's wonderful that people do that that makes life better for many people it gives other people a sense of well-being. To commit themselves to that kind of care, but in the end it all ends at the grave.

In the end it's temporary. It's temporal.

It's over. It has no eternal consequences whatsoever, either for the people doing the charitable things are the people receiving there's nothing connected to salvation, and that so that it's far more important than that. While that's good to do caring for poor people. That's biblical but far more important and far more critical because it's eternal is to give them the gospel, giving them food and clothing and all that. That's for now. That's temporal.

It's like bodily exercise, it profits little only for this season of life. Our concern should be to do that in the name of the Lord in the name of Christ to give a cup of cold water in his name. He sees that as a as a righteous work, but beyond that, is to make sure we get to the full declaration and proclamation of the gospel were talking today just here, grace to you that we don't often think about evangelism as a proclamation we think about it kind of is a debate or argument or confrontation know we got a get somebody pinned him to the wall with the law of God, you sort of make an enemy before you make a friend, but the Bible says that the great commission is to proclaim his glory among the nations as wonders among all people. I think we just need to proclaim the glory of God and his eternal salvation and the Lord will do with that proclamation what his sovereign purposes have already determined to do. Yes, that is certainly our goal to proclaim the glory of God in salvation through Christ and friend if you'd like to help us in that mission of connecting people with biblical truth.

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Thank you for helping us strengthen believers around the world with the truth of God's word especially during these difficult days. We are grateful all the more for you ship again to make a donation dial 855 grace or go to TTY.and while you're at the website spent some time at the grace to you blog you'll find practical articles from John and from our staff on issues that affect your life in your church. You can also download any of John's sermons from 51 years of his public ministry that includes, by the way, all 10 lessons from our current study of the Beatitudes, so take advantage of everything you find at our website and come back often. TTY.org now for John MacArthur and the entire grace to you staff on Phil Johnson reminding you to watch received television this Sunday on DirecTV channel 370 that's in our BTV or check your local listings for channeling times and be here tomorrow for another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on Thursdays. Recently