Embracing Mercy: Preparing Hearts for the Day of the Lord

Devotional

Day 1: Memory as a Source of Spiritual Strength

Reflecting on God's past acts of deliverance and guidance is not merely a historical exercise but a profound means of grace that empowers believers to live faithfully in the present. The memory of Lot's wife serves as a warning, illustrating the dangers of looking back with longing at what God has called us to leave behind. Similarly, the rallying cry "Remember the Alamo" fueled a fight for freedom, showing how memory can inspire courage and resolve. By remembering God's faithfulness, believers can fortify their faith and resolve, drawing strength from the past to face present challenges. [02:39]

"Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you." (Deuteronomy 32:7, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific instance in your life where you experienced God's faithfulness. How can you draw strength from that memory to face a current challenge?

Day 2: The Day of the Lord as a Promise of Justice

The prophecy of the day of the Lord is a powerful reminder of God's ultimate victory and justice. While evil may seem to prevail for a time, believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith, knowing that God's justice will ultimately prevail. This day is not just about judgment but about the triumph of good over evil, where all wrongs will be righted. It serves as a beacon of hope, urging believers to hold fast to their faith and trust in God's perfect timing and justice. [13:20]

"For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head." (Obadiah 1:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God's justice and timing? How can you remain steadfast in your faith as you wait for His ultimate victory?

Day 3: Mercy Before Judgment as an Invitation to Repentance

God's sending of Elijah before the day of the Lord is a profound act of mercy, offering humanity a chance for repentance and reconciliation. This highlights God's desire for restoration rather than destruction, urging people to respond to His call with humility and repentance. The ministry of Elijah, and by extension all who preach the gospel, is to turn hearts back to God and to one another, healing relationships and fostering unity. This divine invitation is a reminder of God's heart for restoration and His desire for all to come to repentance. [17:20]

"Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." (Joel 2:12-13a, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need to seek repentance and reconciliation? How can you respond to God's invitation for restoration today?

Day 4: Reconciliation in Relationships as a Reflection of God's Love

The call to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and vice versa is a call to heal and restore relationships. It challenges individuals to break cycles of neglect, abuse, and bitterness, and instead, nurture love, understanding, and forgiveness. This turning is not just about avoiding a curse but about embracing the fullness of life that God intends for us. As believers prepare for the day of the Lord, they are urged to reconcile and restore their relationships, reflecting the love and mercy of God in their lives. [21:40]

"And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." (Malachi 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that needs healing. What steps can you take today to begin the process of reconciliation and reflect God's love?

Day 5: Divine Appointment as a Call to Action

The message of repentance and preparation for the day of the Lord is not coincidental but a divine appointment. It is a call to action, urging individuals to lay down their defenses and accept God's terms of amnesty through faith in Jesus Christ. This divine appointment is an opportunity to respond to God's call with humility and repentance, embracing the life-transforming power of the gospel. Believers are encouraged to seize this moment, recognizing it as a pivotal point in their spiritual journey. [18:04]

"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.'" (Hebrews 3:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to take action? How can you respond to this divine appointment with faith and obedience today?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the ministry of Elijah, we are reminded of God's profound mercy in sending forerunners to prepare us for the day of the Lord. This preparation is not just about avoiding judgment but about embracing a life transformed by God's word. The call to "remember the law" is a call to let the past empower our present through memory. Just as the memory of Lot's wife serves as a warning, and the cry "Remember the Alamo" fueled a fight for freedom, remembering God's past acts of deliverance and guidance can fortify our faith and resolve in the present. The past is not just history; it is a source of strength and a reminder of God's faithfulness.

The prophecy of Elijah's return before the great and terrible day of the Lord speaks to both God's victory and His mercy. The day of the Lord is a day of God's ultimate triumph, a day when justice will be served, and all wrongs will be righted. Yet, before this day, God sends Elijah as a messenger of mercy, calling people to repentance and reconciliation. This is a reminder that God's heart is for restoration, not destruction. The ministry of Elijah, and by extension all who preach the gospel, is to turn hearts back to God and to one another, healing relationships and fostering unity.

In our relationships, particularly between fathers and children, there is a call to turn our hearts toward one another. This turning is not just about avoiding a curse but about embracing the fullness of life that God intends for us. It is about breaking cycles of neglect, abuse, and bitterness, and instead, nurturing love, understanding, and forgiveness. As we prepare for the day of the Lord, let us heed the call to reconcile and restore our relationships, reflecting the love and mercy of God in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Memory as a Means of Grace: Remembering God's past acts of deliverance and guidance is not just a historical exercise but a means of grace that empowers us to live faithfully in the present. Just as the memory of Lot's wife serves as a warning, our memories of God's faithfulness can fortify our faith and resolve. [02:39]
2. The Day of the Lord: The prophecy of the day of the Lord is a prophecy of God's ultimate victory. It is a reminder that while evil may have its hour, God will have His day. This should encourage us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God's justice will prevail. [13:20]
3. Mercy Before Judgment: God's sending of Elijah before the day of the Lord is an act of mercy, offering a chance for repentance and reconciliation. This highlights God's desire for restoration rather than destruction, urging us to respond to His call with humility and repentance. [17:20]
4. Reconciliation in Relationships: The call to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and vice versa is a call to heal and restore relationships. It challenges us to break cycles of neglect, abuse, and bitterness, and instead, nurture love, understanding, and forgiveness. [21:40]
5. Divine Appointment: The message of repentance and preparation for the day of the Lord is not coincidental but a divine appointment. It is a call to action, urging us to lay down our defenses and accept God's terms of amnesty through faith in Jesus Christ. [18:04]
** [18:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - The Ministry of Elijah
[00:40] - God's Word of Mercy
[00:57] - Remember the Law
[02:00] - The Warning of Lot's Wife
[03:35] - The Power of Memory
[05:11] - Remember the Alamo
[06:26] - God's Deliverance at Horeb
[07:29] - The Sword of the Spirit
[09:58] - The Day of the Lord
[10:51] - Jesus in Gethsemane
[13:00] - God's Victory
[14:12] - The Coming of Elijah
[17:20] - Mercy Before Wrath
[19:39] - Reconciliation in Relationships

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Malachi 4:4-6
- Luke 17:32
- Ephesians 6:4

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Observation Questions:

What is the significance of Elijah's ministry in preparing people for the day of the Lord, as mentioned in Malachi 4:4-6? [00:20]
How does the sermon describe the role of memory in strengthening faith, particularly through the examples of Lot's wife and the Alamo? [02:17]
According to the sermon, what are the two aspects of the future that the prophecy of the day of the Lord highlights? [10:17]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between fathers and children, and how is this related to the message of Elijah? [20:08]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the call to "remember the law" in Malachi 4:4 relate to the examples of Lot's wife and the Alamo in terms of using memory as a means of grace? [06:26]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the prophecy of Elijah's return is both a message of mercy and a warning of judgment? [17:20]
How does the sermon interpret the phrase "turn the hearts of fathers to their children" in the context of modern relationships? [21:40]
What does the sermon imply about the urgency of repentance and reconciliation in light of the coming day of the Lord? [18:04]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when remembering a past experience or lesson strengthened your faith. How can you intentionally use memory as a means of grace in your daily life? [02:39]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of reconciliation in relationships, especially between fathers and children. Is there a relationship in your life that needs healing? What steps can you take to begin that process? [21:40]
How can you prepare for the day of the Lord in your personal life? Are there specific areas where you need to seek repentance or reconciliation? [18:04]
The sermon mentions the importance of turning hearts toward one another to avoid a curse. How can you actively nurture love, understanding, and forgiveness in your family or community? [21:40]
Consider the role of divine appointments in your life. How can you be more open to recognizing and responding to these moments as opportunities for growth and change? [17:48]
The sermon discusses the power of memory in the context of faith. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you remember and apply God's past acts of deliverance in your life? [06:26]
How can you ensure that your heart is turned toward God and others, especially in challenging situations? What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate this commitment? [21:40]

Sermon Clips

The ministry of Elijah is to help you avoid being smitten by God. That's mercy. God sends his forerunners, Elijah, Pipers, and many, many thousands of others whose purpose is to help people avoid being smitten in the last day of the Lord when the fire of judgment comes. [00:00:20]

Memory can be a means of grace and salvation. There are a lot of people who have been taken by the hand and brought out of the city of destruction only partway to salvation to resist the drawing, turn with an ungrateful desire back for Sin City, and die in that very moment, forever hard as salt in a pillar form. [00:02:39]

The past has power in the present through memory. People that say today history is bunk, all that matters is the present, that's all we've got, no frittering around in old history books, they do not know what life is about. They don't know the way human beings work. The past has tremendous power when it flows through the channel of a challenging memory. [00:05:11]

Remember when I brought you on eagle wings out of Egypt, how I split the sea for you, how I led you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, how the shoes didn't wear out on your feet nor the shirt on your back, how I brought water from the rock and manna from the sky. [00:06:26]

The prophecy of the day of the Lord is a prophecy of God's victory. What a folly it would be this morning to stay on the side of Satan, on the side of unbelief, when you know God's going to get the victory in the end. All the more so when you see the mercy in this verse. [00:13:20]

God precedes wrath with mercy. The first Elijah was a merciful preparation for the day of the Lord. So will the second forerunner be, and so are all the messengers in between, including me here this morning. It's no accident that you're here this morning or that I'm preaching on this text. [00:17:20]

Prepare for the day of the Lord. I am a kind of Elijah this morning. I'm not the biblical Elijah, wouldn't claim it at all, but God has appointed me in a wilderness called America to cry and say prepare for the day of the Lord. And I say to you this morning with all my heart, prepare for the day of the Lord. [00:18:04]

The result of Elijah's preaching, and I think it means the result of all faithful Bible Holy Spirit anointed preaching, will be that he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers lest I come and smite the land with a curse. [00:19:39]

The ministry of Elijah is to help you avoid being smitten by God. That's mercy. God sends his forerunners, Elijah, Pipers, and many, many thousands of others whose purpose is to help people avoid being smitten in the last day of the Lord when the fire of judgment comes. [00:21:40]

To help us keep from being cursed, we must be changed, and specifically our hearts must be changed, and even more specifically our hearts towards our parents must be changed. Our hearts towards our children must be changed. And I want to close this morning by pleading with you to turn your heart towards your father and mother and children. [00:21:40]

Fathers, your heart could be turned away simply by ignoring your children, being so caught up in your work that all they get is the dregs of your life. Can't stay awake on the couch, or your heart may be turned away from your children by abuse of them. I think the most common form of abuse is unintentional. [00:21:40]

Fathers, turn your hearts towards your children. This is the word of Elijah, the word of John, the word of God. Turn your hearts toward your children. Don't neglect them. Give them time. I just went back and reread some of my journals because this is my wife's 40th birthday, and I want to read her some old times together this afternoon. [00:21:40]

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Embracing Mercy: Preparing Hearts for the Day of the Lord

Devotional

Day 1: Memory as a Source of Spiritual Strength

Day 2: The Day of the Lord as a Promise of Justice

Day 3: Mercy Before Judgment as an Invitation to Repentance

Day 4: Reconciliation in Relationships as a Reflection of God's Love

Day 5: Divine Appointment as a Call to Action

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Mercy: Preparing Hearts for the Day of the Lord

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