1. Who Is God? Lesson Nine: The Father of Mercies

2. What is mercy? The feeling of sympathy for the misery, misfortune, or affliction of others. The feeling of sympathy for the misery, misfortune, or affliction of others. The outward demonstration of pity or compassion. The outward demonstration of pity or compassion. Shown to those who are undeserving of it and/or for those under your authority. Shown to those who are undeserving of it and/or for those under your authority.

3. God is the source of mercy. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

4. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

5. If we want mercy from God, we need to learn how to be merciful ourselves. Matthew 5:7 (NKJV) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

6. Being Merciful is who God is! God’s name stands for mercy. God’s name stands for mercy.

7. Exodus 3:14 (NKJV) And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

8. Exodus 33:18-19 (NKJV) 18 And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." 19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

9. Being Merciful is who God is! God’s name stands for mercy. God’s name stands for mercy. Despite our sins, God shows mercy (Neh. 9:17; Micah 7:18- 20; Ps. 103:8-11). Despite our sins, God shows mercy (Neh. 9:17; Micah 7:18- 20; Ps. 103:8-11).

10. On earth, God shows mercy to the righteous and unrighteous. On earth, God shows mercy to the righteous and unrighteous. Yet, in eternity, only those in Christ will receive God’s mercy and be able to enter Heaven for eternal life. Yet, in eternity, only those in Christ will receive God’s mercy and be able to enter Heaven for eternal life.

11. “Be Merciful, Just as Your Heavenly Father is Merciful.” Practicing mercy as God does. Practicing mercy as God does. God commands us to be merciful (Col. 3:12). God commands us to be merciful (Col. 3:12).

12. Luke 6:27-31 (NASB) 27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 "And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.

13. Luke 6:32-34 (NASB) 32 "And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 "And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount.

14. Luke 6:35a (NASB) "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great…

15. Why be merciful? Luke 6:35-36 (NASB) 35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

16. “Be Merciful, Just as Your Heavenly Father is Merciful.” Practicing mercy as God does. Practicing mercy as God does. Practicing mercy is what genuine children of God do! (Eph. 5:1 / Luke 6:36) Practicing mercy is what genuine children of God do! (Eph. 5:1 / Luke 6:36)

17. Proverbs 11:17 (NKJV) The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

18. Danger signs we are not merciful people… Proverbs 12:10 (NKJV) A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

19. Danger signs we are not merciful people… Proverbs 14:31 (NKJV) He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

20. Matthew 23:23 (NKJV) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

21. James 2:13 (NKJV) For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

22. We need to examine ourselves in all honesty on whether or not we are merciful people (James 1:22-25). We need to examine ourselves in all honesty on whether or not we are merciful people (James 1:22-25).

23. IF we are thankful for the mercy God has shown us in His Son, we will be merciful unto others… IF we are thankful for the mercy God has shown us in His Son, we will be merciful unto others…

24. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NASB) 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

25. God’s Abundant Mercy is Available in Christ! God’s mercy is extended to you through His Son Jesus. God’s mercy is extended to you through His Son Jesus. God’s Son took away the punishment that you and I deserve for our sins on the cross (Luke 23:39-41). God’s Son took away the punishment that you and I deserve for our sins on the cross (Luke 23:39-41).

26. 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

27. God’s Abundant Mercy is Available in Christ! God’s mercy is extended to you through His Son Jesus. God’s mercy is extended to you through His Son Jesus. All who calls on God for mercy (in Christ) will receive it. All who calls on God for mercy (in Christ) will receive it.

28. Even the “chief of sinners’ can be shown mercy in Christ!!! (1 Tim 1:15-16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Even the “chief of sinners’ can be shown mercy in Christ!!! (1 Tim 1:15-16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).

29. Acts 2:21 (NKJV) “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” - cf. Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16

30. Psalms 51:1 (NKJV) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. - cf. 1 John 1:9

31. Seek God’s mercy “while He may be found.” You will not be disappointed! (Isaiah 55:6-7)

32. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.