God's Unfailing Mercy and the Call to Discernment
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God’s word never fails, and His mercies are renewed every morning. This is a reminder of the steadfastness of God’s compassion, which is beyond our comprehension. In times when words fail us, the simple prayer, "Lord, have mercy," is powerful and effective. We are encouraged to cut through the noise of the world, which often distracts us from the truth. In these last days, deception is rampant, and we must be vigilant, discerning the truth from misinformation and disinformation.
Jesus warned us about the signs of the end times, emphasizing the importance of not being deceived. We live in an age where knowledge is abundant, yet the truth is often distorted. It is crucial to guard our hearts and minds, being careful about what we allow through our eye and ear gates. Our spirit, soul, and body are interconnected, and what we consume affects our soul, influencing our emotions and decisions.
The word of God is our tool for discernment, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce through the noise and reveal the truth. It is both our defensive and offensive weapon in spiritual warfare. We are reminded that we are dual citizens of heaven and earth, and our allegiance is to the kingdom of God, which transcends earthly politics.
We are equipped with the armor of God, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation. These protect us from the enemy's attacks and help us stand firm in our faith. Jesus, our great high priest, intercedes for us, understanding our struggles and weaknesses. He perfects our prayers and presents them to God, ensuring that our needs are met.
Key Takeaways:
- God's mercies are new every morning, a testament to His unwavering compassion. In moments of inarticulate prayer, the simple plea for mercy is powerful, as God understands our deepest groanings and emotions. [46:16]
- In these last days, deception is prevalent, and we must be vigilant. Jesus emphasized the importance of discernment, warning us to watch out for false prophets and misinformation. The truth is under attack, and we must guard our hearts and minds. [50:25]
- The word of God is a powerful tool for discernment, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates the soul and spirit, revealing the truth and cutting away falsehoods. It is both our defensive and offensive weapon in spiritual warfare. [57:05]
- We are dual citizens of heaven and earth, and our allegiance is to the kingdom of God. This kingdom transcends earthly politics, and we must not get caught up in human personalities or misinformation. Our focus should be on God's truth. [59:20]
- Jesus, our great high priest, intercedes for us, understanding our struggles and weaknesses. He perfects our prayers and presents them to God, ensuring that our needs are met. We are encouraged to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence. [16:15]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[45:41] - New Mercies Every Morning
[46:16] - The Power of Mercy
[47:23] - Cutting Through the Noise
[48:03] - Understanding Noise
[49:01] - Signs of the Last Days
[50:25] - The Age of Deception
[51:24] - Information, Misinformation, and Disinformation
[53:10] - The Truth Under Attack
[54:32] - Guarding the Eye and Ear Gates
[57:05] - The Word of God as a Sword
[59:20] - Kingdom Over Politics
[01:02:20] - Spiritual Warfare and Discernment
[01:06:22] - Righteousness Through Christ
[01:14:33] - Jesus, Our High Priest
[01:25:03] - Encouragement and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Lamentations 3:22-23 - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
2. Matthew 24:4-5 - "And Jesus answered them, 'See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.'"
3. Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the significance of God's mercies being renewed every morning? How does this relate to our daily lives? [45:41]
2. What are some of the signs of the last days mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to the warnings Jesus gave in Matthew 24? [50:25]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Word of God in spiritual warfare? What are its defensive and offensive capabilities? [57:05]
4. What does it mean to be dual citizens of heaven and earth, and how should this influence our perspective on earthly politics? [59:20]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of God's mercies being new every morning impact a person's approach to prayer and reliance on God during difficult times? [46:16]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest believers can guard their hearts and minds against deception in these last days? How does this align with Jesus' warnings in Matthew 24? [50:25]
3. What does the sermon imply about the interconnectedness of spirit, soul, and body, and how does this understanding affect our daily choices and spiritual health? [54:32]
4. How does the sermon explain the role of Jesus as our high priest, and what implications does this have for our prayer life and relationship with God? [16:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed by life's challenges. How can the understanding of God's new mercies each morning change your perspective and response? [45:41]
2. Identify a source of misinformation or distraction in your life. What practical steps can you take to cut through this noise and focus on God's truth? [48:03]
3. Consider the ways you currently engage with the Word of God. How can you incorporate it more effectively as both a defensive and offensive tool in your spiritual life? [57:05]
4. In what ways have you allowed earthly politics to influence your spiritual focus? How can you realign your allegiance to prioritize the kingdom of God? [59:20]
5. Think about a time when you struggled to articulate your prayers. How can the knowledge that Jesus intercedes for you encourage you to approach God with confidence? [16:15]
6. What specific actions can you take to guard your eye and ear gates against negative influences? How might this practice improve your spiritual and emotional well-being? [54:32]
7. Reflect on your current prayer life. How can you deepen your understanding of Jesus as your high priest to enhance your prayers and spiritual growth? [16:15]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Renewed Mercies and Compassion
In the midst of life's challenges, it is comforting to know that God's mercies are new every morning. This truth is a testament to His unwavering compassion and love for us, which are beyond human comprehension. When we find ourselves at a loss for words, the simple prayer, "Lord, have mercy," becomes a powerful expression of our deepest needs and emotions. God understands our groanings and is always ready to extend His mercy to us. This daily renewal of mercy is a reminder that no matter what we face, God's compassion is steadfast and reliable. [46:16]
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a situation where you feel overwhelmed. How can you invite God's mercy into that situation today through a simple prayer?
Day 2: Vigilance Against Deception
In these last days, deception is rampant, and it is crucial to remain vigilant. Jesus warned us about false prophets and misinformation, emphasizing the importance of discernment. We live in an age where knowledge is abundant, yet the truth is often distorted. It is essential to guard our hearts and minds, being careful about what we allow through our eye and ear gates. By doing so, we protect ourselves from the enemy's attempts to lead us astray. The truth is under attack, and we must be diligent in seeking and holding onto it. [50:25]
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one source of information in your life that may be leading you away from the truth. How can you replace it with something that aligns with God's word?
Day 3: The Word of God as a Tool for Discernment
The word of God is a powerful tool for discernment, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates the soul and spirit, revealing the truth and cutting away falsehoods. In spiritual warfare, it serves as both our defensive and offensive weapon. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we equip ourselves to discern truth from lies and stand firm in our faith. The Bible provides clarity and guidance, helping us navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and understanding. [57:05]
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need discernment? How can you use Scripture to seek God's guidance in that area today?
Day 4: Allegiance to the Kingdom of God
As dual citizens of heaven and earth, our allegiance is to the kingdom of God, which transcends earthly politics. It is easy to get caught up in human personalities and misinformation, but our focus should remain on God's truth. This kingdom perspective helps us navigate the complexities of the world without losing sight of our ultimate purpose. By prioritizing our heavenly citizenship, we align our lives with God's will and become ambassadors of His love and truth in a divided world. [59:20]
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have earthly concerns distracted you from your heavenly citizenship? How can you refocus your priorities to align with God's kingdom today?
Day 5: Jesus, Our Great High Priest
Jesus, our great high priest, intercedes for us, understanding our struggles and weaknesses. He perfects our prayers and presents them to God, ensuring that our needs are met. This assurance allows us to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we are heard and loved. Jesus' intercession is a source of comfort and strength, reminding us that we are never alone in our journey. His empathy and advocacy empower us to face life's challenges with hope and courage. [16:15]
"Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25, ESV)
Reflection: What is one struggle or weakness you are currently facing? How can you invite Jesus to intercede for you in this area today?
Quotes
1) "And the scripture said it is of the Lord's compassion His mercy that we are not consumed His mercy is so wonderful, so kind And so beyond comprehension We cannot understand it all All we can do is say thank you For your mercy That's what the saints used to pray in the Old Testament And the New Testament was Have mercy on me That's one of the greatest prayers you can pray When you don't have the words to say You can't articulate everything Your feelings, your emotions But God knows He knows your groanings He knows what you're trying to say in your heart But you can't get the word out All you can say is Lord, have mercy." [46:16] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "In these last days There's something That Jesus spoke about As you know We are in the last days Some say we're in the last day The beginning of the last day Middle of the last day The end of the last day We've been hearing it for so long But we are definitely in the last days And there are certain signs That goes with the age That we are living in And Timothy He talks about perilous times Lovers of themselves Lovers of money Haters of good Lovers of pleasure And also we hear about The lawless one The antichrist Where it says that He will come at the lying wonders And deceiving people He got false prophets And those who are trying to deceive So we are in the age of deception." [49:01] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "The truth is under attack Nobody is speaking the truth In its full term Because the truth hurts And the truth can be hard So they're trying to dilute the truth With a little bit of thing That you like Or that you want to hear To be the hook You can call it Half truth But it's really not true Because like I shared earlier Truth cannot be mixed Truth is truth You can't mix truth and untruth And call it truth Truth is the truth Without any mixture or additive The word of God is truth You don't add to it Or take away from it." [53:10] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "You got to be careful what you see And what you hear Because what it does It goes into your body Your spirit And it goes to your soul So what you hear and see Is affecting your soul So to break down the soul The soul is the will That's your decision maker The will You can make decisions You can make right decisions Wrong decisions No decisions Your choice Your will So you got the will in your soul Your emotion You got anger Then you got love You got wrath You got violence You got kindness You got general All these are emotions So whatever can goes in When you hear something Sometimes it excites emotion." [55:04] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "The word of God is quick Is living Is active Sharper than any two-edged sword Piercing To listen to this Division Meaning division He's separating the division And the soul The soul And the spirit Of joints and marrow Discerning The thoughts Intentions Of the heart That's what the word of God does And no creature is hidden from his sight But all are naked And exposed to the eyes of him To whom we have to give an account Now look at the word Let me break it down The word of God first is It's a lie It's living It's active It's dynamic It's piercing to division of soul and spirit." [57:05] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "The enemy Is trying to deceive you Trying to get you caught up In the politics Or the words of parties And Democrats Or the people Republican Independents But we gotta remember That we are In the kingdom And the kingdom of God Is above politics Because the kingdom of God Is what Is the God rule We are Dual citizenry We are Citizens in heaven We are also citizens Of the earth We are dual Citizenry So we can't get caught up With human personality Because of what they are saying Because some Are saying Information Misinformation And disinformation You don't know Who to believe Or who to trust You just have to pray And vote As the Lord leads you And not get caught up With this." [59:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "The emotion is so strong That it will Overrule logic You may feel Something so emotionally For a person For a thing So much That even it may be Detrimental to you But you got the emotional Tied to it That it bypasses Your interest To let you will It doesn't make sense Why you going after this Or why you doing that Why you still with that person Or this person Because their heart Their emotion Is caught up But not their They overriding their mind It doesn't make sense It doesn't make logical But the emotion Is so strong That people make Emotional decision And not necessary Intelligent decision Because of the soul So it's best to just Feed your Emotional decision Your soul With the word of God And your mind." [01:00:17] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "The prayers of the righteous Availeth much So we are the righteousness of God And that let you know Your prayers are powerful You are the righteous You've been declared righteous We just do communion We're in a new covenant We're under the blood covenant Jesus Christ Under better promises And the blood of Jesus Has justified us In Romans 5 Justified us And made us righteous So therefore Your prayers are powerful The prayers of the righteous Availeth much And it makes tremendous power Available And you know what In God's righteousness Christ's righteousness And not your own righteousness So we got the belt on That holds everything together Then we got the breastplate Also cover your heart Your chest Your upper torso." [01:07:24] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "The great part I like Is that Jesus Is our high priest We are in The most Redeemed Season God's appointed time Passover Unleavened bread First fruits Pentecost Feast of trumpets Day of atonement Day of atonement Was last night These are the Appointed times of the Lord And it was This time with a high priest We're going to The holy of holies Once a year To pray And to intercede For the people But what I like this Is that Jesus Is our high priest And look at what Jesus did Some people think that When Jesus was resurrected I know the Bible say He went back to heaven And he sat down On the right hand of God What he did was Going back to the resurrection When he Was Crucified He gathered his blood From the ground." [01:12:40] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10) "When you break down prayer Prayer can be People just like to Lump everything in prayer But if you kind of Distinguish prayer Or petition Is making a request You can have a wide range Of prayer requests Lord pray for my house My car My job You know just a general request And then you got The prayer of supplication That's more of a passionate Specific prayer Like Lord if you don't help me now I need you Lord If you don't come through It's going to be over I can't make it without you That's the prayer of supplication Have more It's more passionate A deep desire Then when you pray for intercession You're not praying for yourself You're praying for someone else You are interceding For someone else And this is what Jesus is doing now." [01:18:42] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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