Embracing God's Mercy: Redemption and Deliverance
Summary
Today, we gathered to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God, recognizing that every breath we take is a reason to praise Him. We reflected on the truth that God’s mercy is not just a one-time event, but a daily gift—His mercies are renewed every morning. Even though we may not have a “Mother’s Day message,” the Lord has a word for every heart, especially for those who feel trapped by their past, their mistakes, or the lingering effects of trauma.
We looked at the story of Adam and Eve, and how God, in His mercy, moved them from eternity into time after their failure. This was not just a punishment, but an act of divine mercy—God created time so that redemption could be possible. Unlike the devil, who was trapped in his failure for eternity, God gave humanity the gift of time so that we could be redeemed, restored, and made whole. God is not angry at you; He is angry at the things that hold you captive. He is determined to bring you out of bondage, not just with a mighty hand, but with great judgments against the things that bind you.
We all have moments we wish we could go back and change—words we wish we hadn’t said, choices we wish we hadn’t made, pain we wish we hadn’t endured. But while we cannot go back in time, God, who exists outside of time, can restore the years that have been lost. He can heal the wounds of our yesterdays, fill in the gaps left by absent parents, broken relationships, and deep traumas. God’s redemption is not limited to our present; it reaches back into our past and forward into our future, making us whole in every dimension of our lives.
But there is a call to action: once God delivers us, we must not return to the environments or relationships that once held us captive. Deliverance is not just about being set free from an event, but also about being severed from the ongoing effects of that event. God wants to break the cycle of shame, guilt, and trauma so that we can move forward in His purpose. Just as He restored the young boy who could not eat because of trauma, God is able to sever the effects of every trauma in our lives, enabling us to live, to praise, and to move forward in wholeness.
Key Takeaways
- Praise is a Mandate for the Living and the Remembering
Every person who is breathing is under a divine mandate to praise God—not because of emotion, but because of memory. When we recall the goodness of Jesus and all He has done, our souls cannot help but cry out in gratitude. Praise is not reserved for the perfect, but for those who remember how far God has brought them, despite their flaws and failures. This is the foundation of authentic worship: honest remembrance and grateful response. [01:01:30]
- God’s Mercy Created Time for Redemption
When Adam and Eve fell, God’s response was not simply judgment, but mercy—He moved them from eternity into time so that their failure would not be eternal. Time is God’s gift, a space where redemption and restoration are possible. The devil’s strategy is to trap us in our mistakes, but God’s mercy ensures that we are never encapsulated by our failures. In time, God works to redeem, restore, and bring us out of bondage. [01:11:46]
- God Judges What Binds Us, Not Us
God’s anger is not directed at His people, but at the things that hold them captive. He is determined to bring deliverance, not by condemning us, but by passing judgment on the forces and circumstances that keep us bound. This is a profound shift in perspective: God is not our adversary in our struggle, but our deliverer, fighting against the very things that oppress us. [01:19:56]
- Redemption Heals the Past, Not Just the Present
While we cannot go back and undo the events of our past, God, who exists outside of time, can restore the years that have been lost. His redemption is so complete that it heals not only our present, but also our yesterdays—our traumas, our losses, our regrets. God’s promise is to make us whole in every dimension, filling in the gaps and erasing the effects of what we cannot reconcile ourselves. [01:25:06]
- Deliverance Requires Separation from the Past
After God delivers us, we must make the choice to stay out of the environments and relationships that once held us captive. True freedom is not just about being set free from an event, but about being severed from its ongoing effects. God’s desire is to break the cycle of shame, guilt, and trauma, enabling us to move forward in His purpose and live in the fullness of His restoration. [01:31:06]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[57:25] - Opening Scriptures: Exodus, Joel, Ephesians
[01:01:30] - The Mandate to Praise
[01:04:45] - Remembering God’s Goodness
[01:08:30] - Adam, Eve, and the Mercy of Time
[01:11:46] - God’s Gift of Redemption Through Time
[01:16:44] - God’s Anger at Bondage, Not at You
[01:19:56] - Deliverance from What Holds Us
[01:21:25] - The Desire to Undo the Past
[01:22:10] - God Restores the Years
[01:25:06] - Healing the Yesterdays
[01:27:19] - Severing the Effects of Trauma
[01:31:06] - Staying Out of the Old Environment
[01:34:30] - Testimony: Deliverance from Trauma
[01:38:38] - Call to Receive Restoration
[01:42:12] - God is Restoring and Making Whole
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “God’s Mercy, Redemption, and Moving Forward”
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### Bible Reading
- Exodus 6:5-7
“I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments…”
- Joel 2:25-26
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.”
- Ephesians 5:14-16
“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
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### Observation Questions
1. In Exodus 6, what does God say He will do for the Israelites who are in bondage? What does He promise to judge?
2. According to Joel 2, what does God promise to restore, and what is the result for His people?
3. In Ephesians 5, what does Paul mean when he says “redeeming the time”?
4. The sermon said, “God is not angry at you; He is angry at the things that hold you captive.” What are some examples the preacher gave of things that can hold people captive? [[01:16:44]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that God’s mercy is described as “renewed every morning”? How does this affect the way we see our past mistakes? [[01:11:46]]
2. The sermon talked about God moving Adam and Eve from eternity into time as an act of mercy, not just punishment. What does this teach us about God’s character and His intentions for us? [[01:11:46]]
3. The preacher said that God judges what binds us, not us. How does this change the way we view God’s discipline or correction in our lives? [[01:19:56]]
4. The message emphasized that God’s redemption can heal not just our present, but also our past. How is this different from simply “moving on” or “forgetting” the past? [[01:25:06]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon said, “Every person who is breathing is under a divine mandate to praise God—not because of emotion, but because of memory.” What is one specific thing from your past that you can remember and praise God for this week? [[01:01:30]]
2. Is there a mistake, regret, or trauma from your past that you still feel trapped by? How does the promise that God can “restore the years” encourage you? What would it look like to invite God into that area? [[01:22:10]]
3. The preacher shared a story about a boy who stopped eating because of trauma, and how God severed the effects of that trauma. Are there effects from past events in your life that you still feel today? What steps could you take to let God begin to sever those effects? [[01:36:14]]
4. After God delivers us, the sermon said we must not return to the environments or relationships that once held us captive. Is there a relationship, habit, or environment you need to separate from in order to walk in freedom? What is one practical step you can take this week? [[01:31:06]]
5. The message said, “God is not mad at you; He is mad at the thing that’s got you in bondage.” How does this truth affect the way you approach God in prayer, especially when you’re struggling? [[01:19:56]]
6. The preacher talked about the difference between being delivered from an event and being delivered from the ongoing effects of that event. Can you think of a time when you experienced freedom from something, but still struggled with its effects? How did you (or how could you) seek God’s help for full healing? [[01:33:01]]
7. The sermon called us to “move forward in His purpose and live in the fullness of His restoration.” What is one area of your life where you want to move forward, and what is holding you back? How can the group pray for you in this? [[01:42:12]]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help each person receive His mercy, walk in freedom, and move forward in wholeness.
Devotional
Day 1: God Delivers Us from Bondage
God is not angry with you, but with the things that hold you captive. He hears your groaning and sees your burdens, and He is determined to bring you out of bondage with His mighty hand. Just as He delivered Israel from Egypt, He desires to break every chain that keeps you bound, passing judgment not on you, but on the very things that have tried to keep you down. You are not meant to stay trapped; God’s heart is to set you free and bring you into a place of deliverance and restoration. [01:19:56]
Exodus 6:5-6 (ESV)
"Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel bound or trapped? Ask God today to reveal His power to deliver you from that specific bondage.
Day 2: God Restores the Years Lost
No matter what you have lost or what has been taken from you—whether through your own mistakes or the actions of others—God promises to restore the years that have been devoured. He is able to heal your yesterdays, fill in the gaps of your past, and make you whole not just in your present, but in your memories and emotions as well. Even when you cannot go back and change the events, God can redeem the time and bring restoration to every broken place. [01:25:06]
Joel 2:25-26 (ESV)
"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."
Reflection: What is one loss or regret from your past that you need God to restore? Bring it to Him in prayer and ask Him to begin His work of restoration in that area.
Day 3: Redeeming the Time—Living Awake and Wise
God calls you to wake up from spiritual sleep, to rise from the dead places in your life, and to walk wisely, making the most of every opportunity. Redeeming the time means not letting your past mistakes or wasted years define your future, but instead living intentionally and purposefully in the light of Christ. Today is a new day, and God’s mercies are new every morning—He is in a giving mood, ready to help you walk forward in wisdom and freedom. [01:27:19]
Ephesians 5:14-16 (ESV)
"For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can “redeem the time” today—whether in your relationships, your work, or your walk with God?
Day 4: God Severs the Effects of Trauma
Even after the event is over, many still carry the effects of trauma, shame, and guilt. But God’s desire is not just to deliver you from the event itself, but to sever the lingering effects so you can move forward in freedom. He is able to heal the wounds that remain, to break the power of the past over your present, and to restore your ability to live and thrive. You do not have to be defined by what happened to you—God is able to set you free from every effect of trauma. [01:33:01]
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
Reflection: Is there a lingering effect of a past hurt or trauma that still influences your life? Ask God to begin severing that effect and to bring you into new freedom today.
Day 5: Praise as a Pathway to Wholeness
Praise is not just an emotional response, but a mandate for all who are breathing and who remember God’s goodness. When you praise God, you acknowledge His mercy, His deliverance, and His faithfulness in your life. Praise lifts you above your circumstances, reminds you of God’s power to redeem, and positions you to receive His ongoing restoration. No matter what you have been through, let your soul cry out in praise for all that He has done and all that He is doing in you. [01:01:30]
Psalm 150:6 (ESV)
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!"
Reflection: Take a moment today to recall a specific way God has shown you mercy or delivered you. Let your praise rise from that memory, and thank Him out loud for His faithfulness.
Quotes
The only thing you need to be a praiser is to be breathing and number two you must have a good memory. Because the last I think I heard somebody pick it up and said when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he's done for me, my soul cries out. [01:03:20] (24 seconds)
I wish I could go back in time. I wish I could undo some of the mistakes. Maybe I'm the only one. I wish I could undo some of the stuff that I've said. I wish I could undo some of the things that I have done and at ways I have acted in. [01:21:27] (25 seconds)
The event is over, but you're still dealing with the effects of the event. Did you hear what I just said? You're still dealing with the effects of the event. But God sent me to Del City to tell this church today, I'm not just going to deliver you from the event. I'm going to sever the effects of the event. [01:32:23] (28 seconds)
I know the event is over, but I'm still carrying the effects. I know the event is over, but I'm still carrying the shame. I know the event is over, but I'm still carrying the guilt. And God sent me here today to tell you that after today, you're going to be able to move forward in his kingdom. Move forward in his purpose. [01:33:45] (30 seconds)
Some of you have not been eating spiritual food and drinking spiritual drink because you cannot get above the trauma. But God sent me here right now in the name of Jesus to sever you from it. To get you above it. I don't know who needs this, but if I were you, I'd run up here as fast as I could. God is going to sever it from you. [01:38:10] (28 seconds)
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