GROWING IN MERCY
(week 14/09)
Olubi Johnson
In our last article, we saw how to pray without ceasing which will cause us to grow in the mercy of God.
Recall that the mercy of God is God’s compassion that causes Him to release a measure of life upon our souls, bodies and circumstances.
To grow in mercy is to grow in the measure of the life God His mercy releases to us.
It is instructive to note that there are 3 levels of the mercy of God:
1. Mercy to be preserved from either temporal or eternal destruction.
Lamentations 3:22 KJVR: It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
For instance Lot received mercy to be delivered from Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19.12-24); Jonah received mercy to be preserved in the belly of the whale (Jon. 2.1-10). This is the 30-fold (Mk. 4.20) level of the mercy of God.
2. Mercy to be faithful to keep the Word of God.
Paul received mercy to be a faithful steward of the revelation given to him:
1 Corinthians 7:25 AMP: Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion and advice as one who by the Lord’s mercy is rendered trustworthy and faithful.
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 MKJV: (1) Therefore since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not faint. (2) But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the Word of God, but by the revelation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
This is the 60-fold level of the mercy of God.
3. Mercy to triumph always.
2 Corinthians 2:14 MKJV: (14) Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and He revealing through us the odour of the knowledge of Him in every place.
Hebrews 4:14-16 MKJV: Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. (16) Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The Lord Jesus received mercy to triumph always: He was tempted in every way like we are and yet lived without sin for 33 years.
In particular at Gethsemane, under tremendous Satanic pressure with His soul exceeding sorrowful even unto death, He triumphed over the temptation of not going to the cross by the mercy of God shown to Him through the angel that appeared unto Him, strengthening Him.
Luke 22:40-45 KJVR: and when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation. (41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (42) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (43) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (45) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
This is the 100-fold level of the mercy of God.
Isaiah 55:3 MKJV: Bow down your ear, and come to Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
As we learn to exercise honesty of heart (speaking and accepting the truth of God’s Word in our hearts) and keep our hearts with all diligence and pray without ceasing we will grow in both the grace and mercy of God to the point where we experience the sure mercies of David’s greater Son: the Lord Jesus: the mercy to triumph always!
