Embracing God's Mercy: A Call to Intercede

Devotional

Day 1: God's Relentless Pursuit of Mercy

God's heart is inclined towards mercy, even when judgment seems deserved. In Ezekiel 22, God reveals the corruption of the nation and the failure of its leaders. Despite the nation's deserving of judgment, God sought someone to stand in the gap and intercede for mercy. This reflects God's heart, which is inclined towards mercy rather than judgment. It reminds us that God is always looking for opportunities to extend His mercy if we are willing to stand in the gap. [05:54]

Ezekiel 22:30-31 (ESV): "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God."

Reflection: Who in your life needs you to stand in the gap and intercede for them today? How can you be a vessel of God's mercy in their situation?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of Intercession

The story of Moses in Exodus 32 shows that even one person's prayer can influence God's actions. Moses' intercession turned God's wrath away from the Israelites. This teaches us the power of prayer and the impact it can have on God's decisions. It encourages us to believe in the power of our prayers and to intercede for others with faith and persistence. [09:03]

Exodus 32:11-14 (ESV): "But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, 'O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, "With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth"? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.'"

Reflection: Is there a situation or person you have given up praying for? How can you renew your commitment to intercede for them today?

Day 3: Rediscovering Our Spiritual Foundations

The visit to Plymouth, where the pilgrims prayed for God's mercy, serves as a reminder of the nation's spiritual foundation. It calls us to return to our roots, seek God's guidance, and pray for a "mercy moment" for our nation. This historical moment serves as a powerful reminder of the nation's beginnings and the importance of returning to our spiritual roots. [17:53]

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Reflection: What are some spiritual practices or traditions from your past that you can revisit to strengthen your faith today?

Day 4: Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

The story of Jonah and Nineveh illustrates God's willingness to show mercy even to the most wicked. It challenges us to extend mercy to others, just as we seek it for ourselves. God's heart is always inclined towards forgiveness and restoration. We are reminded that while we often seek mercy for ourselves, we must also be willing to extend it to others. [12:17]

Jonah 3:10 (ESV): "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who has wronged you. How can you extend mercy to them today, reflecting God's heart for forgiveness and restoration?

Day 5: An Invitation to Experience God's Mercy

The message concludes with an invitation for individuals to experience God's mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. By admitting our sins and accepting Christ's sacrifice, we can be reconciled with God and become new creations. This invitation extends to individuals who feel lost or distant from God, offering them the opportunity to experience God's mercy and forgiveness. [28:22]

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you feel distant from God? How can you take a step towards experiencing His mercy and forgiveness today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound theme of mercy, particularly God's desire to extend mercy even when judgment seems imminent. We began by examining Ezekiel 22, where God reveals the corruption of the nation and the failure of its leaders. Despite the nation's deserving of judgment, God sought someone to stand in the gap and intercede for mercy. This reflects God's heart, which is inclined towards mercy rather than judgment. We also looked at the story of Moses in Exodus 32, where God was willing to relent from His wrath due to Moses' intercession. This demonstrates that even one person's prayer can influence God's actions.

The heart of the law, as we discussed, is mercy. God's ultimate desire is to show mercy to His creation. This was evident in the story of Jonah, where God showed mercy to the city of Nineveh despite its wickedness. We are reminded that while we often seek mercy for ourselves, we must also be willing to extend it to others.

We then transitioned to a personal story about a visit to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the spiritual foundation of America was laid by the pilgrims. In a moment of divine orchestration, we found ourselves in the very house where the pilgrims prayed for God's mercy and guidance. This historical moment serves as a powerful reminder of the nation's beginnings and the importance of returning to our spiritual roots.

The message concluded with a call to action, inviting everyone to join in a prayer meeting in Plymouth to seek a "mercy moment" for America. We are encouraged to confess the sins of the nation, seek reconciliation, and ask for God's healing and guidance. The invitation extends to individuals who feel lost or distant from God, offering them the opportunity to experience God's mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Heart for Mercy: Despite the corruption and deserving judgment of the nation in Ezekiel's time, God sought someone to intercede for mercy. This highlights God's heart, which is inclined towards mercy rather than judgment. It reminds us that God is always looking for opportunities to extend His mercy if we are willing to stand in the gap. [05:54]
2. The Power of Intercession: The story of Moses in Exodus 32 shows that even one person's prayer can influence God's actions. Moses' intercession turned God's wrath away from the Israelites. This teaches us the power of prayer and the impact it can have on God's decisions. [09:03]
3. Returning to Our Spiritual Roots: The visit to Plymouth, where the pilgrims prayed for God's mercy, serves as a reminder of the nation's spiritual foundation. It calls us to return to our roots, seek God's guidance, and pray for a "mercy moment" for our nation. [17:53]
4. Mercy Over Judgment: The story of Jonah and Nineveh illustrates God's willingness to show mercy even to the most wicked. It challenges us to extend mercy to others, just as we seek it for ourselves. God's heart is always inclined towards forgiveness and restoration. [12:17]
5. Invitation to Experience God's Mercy: The message concludes with an invitation for individuals to experience God's mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. By admitting our sins and accepting Christ's sacrifice, we can be reconciled with God and become new creations. [28:22]
** [28:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Introduction and Prayer
[01:33] - Ezekiel 22: The State of the Nation
[02:31] - Corruption in Leadership
[04:37] - God's Search for an Intercessor
[06:49] - The Heart of the Law: Mercy
[07:11] - Moses' Intercession in Exodus 32
[09:03] - God's Willingness to Relent
[11:22] - Jonah and Nineveh: A Lesson in Mercy
[12:54] - Personal Story: Plymouth Visit
[17:53] - The Spiritual Foundation of America
[20:23] - Solomon's Prayer and God's Response
[22:41] - A Call to Return to Our Roots
[26:04] - Invitation to the Plymouth Prayer Meeting
[28:22] - Invitation to Experience God's Mercy

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Ezekiel 22:23-30
Exodus 32:7-14
Jonah 3:1-10

Observation Questions:

In Ezekiel 22, what specific corrupt behaviors and failures are highlighted among the leaders and people of the nation? [02:04]
How does God express His willingness to show mercy in Ezekiel 22, despite the nation's corruption? [04:59]
What was Moses' response to God's anger towards the Israelites in Exodus 32, and what was the outcome of his intercession? [09:03]
How did the people of Nineveh respond to Jonah's message, and what was God's reaction to their actions? [12:17]

Interpretation Questions:

What does God's search for someone to "stand in the gap" in Ezekiel 22 reveal about His character and His relationship with humanity? [05:54]
How does the story of Moses in Exodus 32 illustrate the power and potential impact of intercessory prayer?
In the story of Jonah, what does God's willingness to relent from judgment upon Nineveh's repentance teach us about His nature?
How does the personal story of the visit to Plymouth connect to the theme of returning to spiritual roots and seeking God's mercy? [17:53]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt called to "stand in the gap" for someone or something. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [05:54]
Moses' intercession changed God's course of action. How can you incorporate intercessory prayer into your daily life, and who might you be called to pray for right now? [09:03]
The people of Nineveh repented and received mercy. Is there an area in your life where you need to seek God's mercy and make a change? [12:17]
The sermon mentioned a call to return to spiritual roots. What are some practical steps you can take to reconnect with your spiritual foundation? [17:53]
The invitation to the Plymouth prayer meeting was a call to collective prayer for mercy. How can you participate in or organize a similar prayer initiative in your community? [26:04]
Consider the personal story shared about the visit to Plymouth. How can historical moments of faith inspire your current spiritual journey? [17:53]
The sermon concluded with an invitation to experience God's mercy through Jesus Christ. How can you share this message of mercy and forgiveness with someone in your life who may feel distant from God? [28:22]

Sermon Clips

The heart of the law, the scripture tells us clearly, the heart of the law is mercy. The heart of all the law that was introduced in the Old Testament is to bring us to the point where we understand that we need the mercy of God, and but a secondary and even more important understanding, that God's heart's desire is to show mercy to His creation. [00:06:49]

Moses pleaded with the Lord his God. So this is the incredible thing: these people have corrupted themselves, the Lord says, "I've come down, I've had it with them, I'm finished with them, I'm going to destroy them, and I'm going to make out of you a great nation." Now God says something really interesting, and you have to see this because this conveys the heart of God and it can affect the way we see God in our generation. [00:08:59]

Jonah ran from God, ended up in a storm, goes to this wicked, wicked city called Nineveh, who are known for their violence and their cruelty and their godlessness. And he obeys God, and for three days he travels through the city and says, "Judgment's coming in 40 days, it's all over, you're all going to burn, you're all going to die." And then he sits on the hill and waits for the judgment, and it doesn't come. [00:11:22]

I began to hear the voice of God calling for mercy in August of 2019. Pastor Theresa Conlon, my wife, and myself were coming home from our vacation in eastern Canada. She had been reading a book called the Mayflower, and she asked me, she said, "Can we stop in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and I'd like to see this stone called Plymouth Stone which is purported to be the place where the pilgrims who landed in 1620 first set their foot in America." [00:12:54]

The 51 surviving pilgrims, now 103 or 104, that's disputed a little bit, but it's around 104 landed the year before, and in that first winter, more than half of them died. So the surviving 51 gathered in that house, in the not in that house but in the house that was on that very, basically in the living room, the 20 by 20 square foot piece of real estate, and they prayed. [00:15:03]

Solomon was dedicating the temple in Israel. Now the temple represented God's presence, represented His purpose for the people of God, His willingness to walk among the people, His willingness to make that particular group of people a praise in the earth to His name. That was the purpose in the sense of Israel and of God dwelling in the midst of His people. [00:18:06]

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin, and heal their land. Then he goes on to say something powerful: he says, "Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive or listening to prayer made in this place." [00:20:23]

I want you to confess the sins of the nation. I want you to start at the beginning and go right through to the present day. And he said, "I want you to call them by their real names. Don't be generic, call them by their names." And then after you've done that, have different people from different persuasions, backgrounds, and cultures ask me for a mercy moment. [00:23:40]

I hear this moment in the heart of God where he says, "You deserve to be judged, now leave me alone." But to leave me alone implies, is there anybody out there who's still willing to believe that I can show mercy? Is there anybody out there who can still hear my heart? Is there anybody out there that still knows I'm God? [00:26:04]

If today you will turn to God in your poverty, if you will turn to God and simply just admit that you're a sinner, don't try to hide it and don't make excuses for it, call it what it is. Sin means you're living in a way that is not the way that God has prescribed your life should be lived. You're doing things that God said you shouldn't do. [00:28:22]

Admit you're a sinner, admit you've failed, admit that your life has not lived the way that you should, and believe that God in His mercy sent His son Jesus Christ to die on a cross so that you don't have to die and be separated from God for eternity. That's mercy, that was the mercy call of God. [00:28:22]

The Bible says you'll become a new creation, the old things will pass away, and all things will become new. And who can debate but that God answered that prayer for the pilgrims 400 years ago, and He will answer your prayer today if you want to be a believer in Christ, if you want to be forgiven, if you want to know that heaven can be your home when you die. [00:30:53]

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