Mercy, Mercy Me!

Sunday, April 23, 2017
Woodstream Church
John 20:19-23

What’s new in your life:  a newborn, new home, new relationship, new career, new normal or new concerns?  Although there are many things and events we identify as new, we often relegate the things of God as old.  God’s nature is immutable, but His works are not.  Over and over the Lord proclaims in scripture “I will do a new thing.”  When God rolls out something new it is an expression of His mercy towards us.  These new mercies imply new assignments and new obligations.  John uses an analogy of the creation motif in Genesis to describe the new creation through Jesus the Messiah.
Extraordinary Equipping. The extraordinary equipping of the Holy Spirit is necessary because our mission is extraordinary.  We cannot do this in our own strength, wisdom or counsel.  The mission of the Great Commission supersedes our capacity, but not the capacity of the Holy Spirit.  The mission is daunting, but we can do all things through Christ.

Extraordinary Signs Become Sacraments. In the Old Testament, God parted the Red Sea (symbolically baptizing Israel) and sent manna from heaven to feed Israel.  These Old Testament signs became sacraments in the New Testament through Christ (baptism and the Bread of Communion).  Our extraordinary mission of mercy reflects the early signs and wonders of God through the more plentiful extraordinary sacraments of God to convey His promise, mercy, forgiveness and pardon.
The Merciful Have Extraordinary Wounds. Without exception, all of the Apostles had their fair share of physical and emotional wounds.  Performing the Ministry of Extraordinary Mercy will subject you to betrayal, hurts, gossip, loneliness, discouragement, depression, anger, jealousy and vindictiveness by others you are trying to save.  But we note the greater the wounds, the greater the mercy.  Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we endure to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives.