1. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
RCCG Canaan Land Digging Deep
October 17, 2017
UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)

2. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
(Jonah 4:1-11)
What do we understand from the text we have read?

3. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
What do we understand from the text we have read?
God’s ways are not man’s ways. They are beyond searching
God is the embodiment of mercy and compassion
God hates the sin but loves the sinner
Human lives matter to God, including sinners
The purpose of God’s anger and judgment is repentance and restoration, not separation or destruction
God wants us to be like Him and to show mercy when we find repentance
God feels sorry for sinners living in darkness. Do you and I feel for them?

4. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
What other examples of great mercy are in the Bible?

5. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
What other examples of great mercy are in the Bible?
God is merciful to Cain even after he killed his brother – Gen 4:1-16
Joseph is merciful to his brothers and kisses them – Gen 45:3-15
David shows Saul mercy; spares him twice – 1 Sam 24:1-22; 26:1-25
Abigail intercedes for Nabal with David – 1 Sam 25:23-35
David shows mercy to Saul’s family – 2 Sam 9:1-12
God is merciful to David after his murder of Uriah – 2 Sam 12:13-31
God is merciful to Solomon despite his sins – 1 Kg 11:9-13
God is merciful to Ahab when he repents – 1 Kg 21:17-29
Job forgives his friends (& wife) and God restores him – Job 42:1-17

6. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
Why do we find it hard to show mercy to the guilty?

7. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
Why do we find it hard to show mercy to the guilty?
A feeling of superiority/self-righteousness – Jn 8:1-11
Bitterness and resentment – Michal (2 Sam 6:16-20)
Pride and selfishness – Jonah (Jonah 4:3)
Anger at loss or affliction – Joab, Absalom (2 Sam 3:22-30;13:23-39)
Wickedness – The unforgiving debtor (Matt 18:21-35)
Ignorance of the law of retribution – Lk 6:31

8. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
Why should we be agents of mercy?

9. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
Why should we be agents of mercy?
Unforgiveness breeds anger, hatred and ultimately murder – Joab (2 Sam 3:22-30), Michal (2 Sam 6:16-23), Absalom (2 Sam 13)
It is a show of strength to forgive – David & Saul (1 Sam 24, 26)
You gain far much more when you forgive – Joseph, Job
You will find mercy in your time of error – Matt 5:7
It is God’s command that you show mercy – Matt 5:38-42
It is a sign that you are a child of God – Matt 5:43-48
You are not expected to judge – Matt 7:1-2
You are a recipient of divine mercy – Jn 3:16

10. UNITY IN DIVERSITY – AGENTS OF MERCY (Jonah 4:1-11)
Jonah 4:2b “I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…”
Conclusion: Mercy multiplies while unforgiveness divides
Proverbs 17:9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
It really doesn’t matter what your brother or sister or your friend or neighbour has done to offend you, God’s command is that you forgive as many times as the other party shows repentance. However, God takes His example even further by forgiving you and I way before we ever came to the point of repentance. In doing so, just like in the case of Nineveh, God won over 7 billion people to Himself today. Truly, mercy multiplies. Make it a habit to show mercy whenever you have the opportunity. It is a sign of godliness in you.