Prepared To Cry For Mercy

Q: What does the Bible say about crying for mercy?

The Bible emphasizes the importance of crying out for God's mercy, as seen in Psalm 25:16-18, where David expresses his desperation for God's intervention. The Bible speaks powerfully about the need for mercy, highlighting that true understanding of our sinful nature leads us to cry out to God for His grace. In Psalm 25:16-18, David beseeches the Lord for mercy, acknowledging his affliction and sinfulness. This cry signifies a heart that recognizes its utter dependence on divine mercy, contrasting sharply with the superficial familiarity many have with God today. True worship begins with humility and an acknowledgment of our need for God's intervention.

Q: How do we know God's mercy is essential for salvation?

God's mercy is central to salvation; as emphasized in Romans 3:26, He is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus. The necessity of God's mercy is foundational to Christian doctrine. Romans 3:26 states that God is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. This underscores that no one can stand before God based on their righteousness; instead, it is God's mercy granted through Christ's sacrifice that ensures salvation. The reality of our sinful state necessitates a savior, highlighting that only through recognizing our need for mercy can we truly accept God’s grace.

Q: Why is understanding our sinfulness important for Christians?

Recognizing our sinfulness is crucial as it leads to a deeper appreciation of God's mercy and grace. Understanding our sinfulness is essential for a genuine Christian faith. As emphasized throughout Scripture, an accurate view of ourselves reveals our inability to save or justify ourselves before God. The acknowledgment of our sinful nature enables believers to grasp the depth of God's mercy and the significance of Christ's sacrifice. This recognition fosters a spirit of repentance and dependence, turning us away from self-reliance toward the grace offered freely through Jesus.

Q: What is the significance of God's sovereignty in mercy?

God's sovereignty in showing mercy underscores that mercy is not earned but freely given according to His divine will. The sovereignty of God in bestowing mercy reveals that it is not dependent on human effort or merit. Ephesians 2:8-9 illustrates that salvation is by grace through faith, highlighting that it is a gift from God and not a result of works. Such understanding deepens our appreciation for God's character as merciful and just. It emphasizes that, while we may be deserving of judgment, God, in His sovereignty, chooses to extend mercy to those who are humble and contrite in spirit, aligning with His eternal purpose and plan.

Q: How can we cultivate a heart that seeks God's mercy?

To cultivate a heart seeking God's mercy, one must practice humility, repentance, and deep reflection on God's holiness. Cultivating a heart that seeks God's mercy involves actively engaging in humility and repentance. Regular prayer and introspection help in recognizing one's sins and the overwhelming need for God's grace. Scripture encourages believers to confess their sins and turn away from self-sufficiency (Psalm 51). Additionally, meditating on God's holiness and justice instills a profound respect and fear of God, which in turn drives us to seek His mercy eagerly. Understanding our dependence on His grace fosters a heart poised to receive the mercy He generously offers.

Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. My text for today can be found in the 25th Psalm, a Psalm of David, and let me just read for a starting place as a text, just three verses. The 25th Psalm, verses 16, 17, and 18, where King David wrote these words. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh, bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine afflictions and my pain and forgive all my sins.

What a passage. religious world that surrounds us today, specifically that which professes to be Christian. I know we're surrounded by religion, all kinds of different religions, but I'm talking about specifically that which professes to be Christian has a has a really fleshly familiarity with their God. Do you hear what I'm saying? I said their God. I fear the problem is they don't know the true and living God. They have this, as I said, fleshly familiarity with their God.

They do not view him as Isaiah viewed him. Listen to how Isaiah viewed God. And in Isaiah, Chapter six, this is what Isaiah wrote, and I would encourage you to go to Isaiah, go to chapter one of Isaiah, and just start reading through Isaiah chapter one, and you see Isaiah pronouncing all these woes against all these people. But then listen what Isaiah records in Isaiah six, just the first few verses. Isaiah wrote this, in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train, that is all that which followed back behind him, and his train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphims. Each one had six wings. With twain, or that is two, he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet. And with twain he did fly, and cried one unto another, and said, now these are angels, unfallen angels, mind you, these are angels, and they're flying, they're around the throne of God, they got six wings, okay, two flying, two covering their feet, two covering their faces. And they cried, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried. And the house was filled with smoke. Now here it is. Then said I, do you see it? Then said, hey, been pronouncing all these woes against all these other people. Then said I, woe is me. Do you see that? Woe is me!

This is not some familiarity he had with God. Do you see what I'm saying? Again, this religious world that surrounds us, especially that which professes to be Christian, calls itself by the name Christian, claims to believe the Bible, claims to believe in Jesus, they have this familiarity with this idea they have about Jesus, but this is God Almighty. This is none other than Jesus Christ as well.

For Christ said, I and my Father are One, look, then said I, woe is me, for I am undone. Do you see it? Now you kind of get that when we read David's words, couldn't we? Turn thou unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged, O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction. It's not about me looking upon you, per se. You look upon me. Look upon my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins. You see that? Forgive all my sins. Again, I say this religious world has this familiarity with God, but the problem is it's their God. It's their imagination of God. It's what they think about God, not God as he declares himself to be in this book.

Even the Apostle John. Listen to how the Apostle John reacted in Revelation. We'll read it in Revelation chapter one. And remember, this is the same John, John the Apostle. This is the same John. who at the supper where they were partaking of the Passover, and our Lord instituted the Lord's table and spoke of John as he was leaning up, right up against Christ, leaning right up in here. And this is that John, the John who spoke more about the love of God than most any other writer in scripture. And this is how John viewed, listen now, Jesus Christ. Now, I mentioned Jesus Christ in relation to Isaiah chapter six, but you listen to this. Listen to how John, this John, how he viewed God. Revelation one, let me just begin in verse 12. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.

And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and a girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire. And his feet like into fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars. Out of his mouth went a sharp, two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

When I looked at him, it was like looking at the sun. It's like this, do you see it? Shineth in his strength. Now listen, here it is. Here's how John viewed Jesus Christ. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. Do you see it? Do you see it? And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. Oh, but look. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not. Fear not. I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death.

Doesn't sound like the way people talk about God today, is it? Well, they're doing this. Huh, aren't they? They're doing this. I was at work one day and there was a heater, a large fan heater up in the corner of a hallway and it wasn't working right. And we were trying to figure out what was going on with it.

And I reached my hand up in the air to feel, to see if there was any heat coming off of that fan, off of that heater. Somebody says, oh, he's a worshiping God. I said, no, I worship God on my face. And of course they responded, well, I worship God with my hands in the air. Well, maybe so, maybe so.

This is not how Isaiah reacted. This is not how John reacted when they seen him in his glory. Oh yeah, we'll be very familiar with a God when we have our own imagination about him. But when we see him as he is, we will fall at his feet as dead men. as dead men. King David understood this. King David understood something of God's holiness. And knowing such, David cried for mercy.

Now I read you verse 16, 17, and 18. But let me just take the time. Let me, let God's word speak for itself. I'll read this and make just a couple statements as we read through it. Look at it. Psalm 25. Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up, what? Here's what you lift up, my soul. Do you see it? My soul. O my God, I trust in thee. Let me not be ashamed. Let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed. Let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Show me thy ways, O Lord, teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation. On thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindness, for they have been ever of old. Yes, we ought to remember them, but we cry unto God, oh God, you remember them toward me. Remember not, listen, remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. According to thy mercy, remember thou me for thy goodness sake, oh Lord.

Who is the goodness sake of the Lord? It's the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He's the one whose hands were spread out between heaven and earth and hung upon the accursed tree for sinners. He's the one that did that. Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy. Remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord.

Therefore he will teach sinners. Do you see it? Therefore he will teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment. Not the proud, boy I'm ready to come right up to God and stand right before him. No sir, no sir. The meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his ways.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity. Do you see that? Because God is just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. God is just and the justifier of the unholy, based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ shed blood on Calvary's tree. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great. Do you see it? Mine iniquity is great. and your mercy's great, it's both. It applies to both.

What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord for he shall Walk my feet out of the net, and then we have our text.

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh, bring thou me out of my distresses. Do you see how David is crying out for God to do the work? For God to act, he's not sitting there bragging about what he's done for the Lord or what he's going to do for the Lord. Oh God, will you act for me?

Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins. You see, David knew that he was a great sinner, a great sinner, and that mercy cannot be merited. That's the whole nature of the word. and the act of God's mercy is you cannot be merited.

Has God ever broken you down? Has he ever done that? Has God ever made you kind of like Isaiah? God ever made you kind of like John? God ever kind of made you like David here? Has he ever brought you so, so, so low? And so low because of one thing, your sins. You see, your sins. See, it brought you so low that you cannot but cry out for mercy. You dare not cry out for merit.

Oh God, give me what I deserve. If you do, you'll cast me off forever. I need your mercy. I need your mercy. This is an inner lowliness. Read it again. For the troubles of my, what is that next word? For the troubles of my heart. are enlarged. Do you see it? You see it's a, our problem is a heart problem.

It's not just a deed or a doing problem. Now, yes, we have a deed and a doing problem. There is no doubt about that. Don't you go around and say that preacher said it doesn't matter what we do or how we act or how we think. No, I'm talking that's a heart problem. Our problem is not just out here what we do with our hands and our feet and our eyes and our tongue. It's a heart problem. Our problem flows from a dirty, rotten, stinking, corrupt fountain. It's a heart problem.

The Lord Jesus Christ was fit sent for such people as this and that's what he himself said Let me read it to you. This is how Matthew this is the words Matthew recorded from the Lord Jesus Christ and in Matthew chapter 9 the Lord Jesus Christ Himself said these words and it came to pass as Jesus said it meet in the house behold many publicans and sinners now Do you see that? Publicans, let me try to quickly summarize, they were sellouts. They were Jewish people who were sellouts to Rome concerning taxes. Many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, the really religious, moral people. When the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, why eateth your master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, they that behold need not a physician, but they that are sick, but go ye and learn what meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Do you see it? Do you hear what Christ himself says? I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And bless your heart when we read these words of David in the 25th Psalm, these are words of repentance, you see it. You see, again, I say the Lord Jesus Christ was sent for such people as we are, sinners.

The question is, do I see it? The question is, do you see it? Do you see it? You see, Has God ever, what I'm trying to say, I'm trying to get this across, but only God can make it real to your heart. I understand that. Has God ever so broken you that you cannot relate to anything else but this? Prepared to cry for mercy. That's my title. That's my subject. That's what's been so far. That's what it'll be for the next 12 minutes or so.

Prepared to cry for mercy. Now not preparing myself to cry for mercy. but God Almighty so wearing on me. God Almighty so coming down on me. God Almighty so convicting me by the power of his spirit and the preaching of his gospel that he is preparing me to cry for mercy. That's what it's all about, prepared by God to cry for mercy. That's my title. That's my subject though, prepared to cry for mercy.

What I'm talking about no place else to look Ever been there no place else to look no other person Than the Lord God of heaven in the person of his son no place else to look No other person to look to Shut up. I'm talking about has God ever shut you up unto the mercy of God in Christ now religion It's sad that I even have to mention this, but I must.

Religion has brainwashed people. Now think about it. You listen to me. I'm not building a straw man and beating the daylights out of it. I will tell you the facts about how religion conducts itself. Religion has brainwashed people into this attitude. Put your best foot forward in regards to God. Give God your best efforts. No, sir. No, sir.

My brother Isaiah said that even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight. They may look pretty good to us. They may look pretty good to others around us. We may stand, as we say, head and shoulders above a lot of other people, but it's not about other people. It's about who, how does God view me? How does God see me? Religion, like I said, religion has brainwashed people into this. Put your best foot forward in regards to God.

I say no, sir. I say no, sir. I say this. Confess to him your utter need. Do you hear me? Confess to him your utter need. Confess to God your utter ruin. God knows what you are. God knows what I am. Even when I do not. Even when you do not. Mmm, if he ever shows you began even let me rephrase that even if he begins to show you to you What you really are you'll say I have some idea of what David is crying out here You'll have some idea what Isaiah meant when he said woe is me I am I am undone. You'll have some idea of what John meant when he said, when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

No sir, it's not about putting your best foot forward toward God and in regards to God. It's not about giving God your most sincere, righteous, religious deeds. No sir, it's confess to him your utter deed. Confess to him your utter ruin. Confess to him your utter helplessness.

Scripture puts it this way, lest the Lord build the house, the laborers labor in vain that build it. The state of the heart. And the answer of the tongue comes from God when it's in regards to things like these. No sir, not about you trying to present your best self to God. Confess what you really are, in utter deed, in utter ruin, in utter helplessness.

May God give me and may God give you this attitude. Now let me turn to it. It said, Jeremiah, this is this attitude This is the attitude that Jeremiah talks about. Here's the attitude. God save with those that be of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. That's what the book of God says. And listen to how Jeremiah put it in Jeremiah chapter 31. And this is what Jeremiah wrote. Jeremiah 31 verses 18, 19, and 20.

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, not bragging about himself. Not boasting about himself, not putting his best foot forward toward God. No, sir. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus. Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised. Oh, that God would chastise us. Chastisement's not a bad thing. It's a good thing. That conviction. worked by God, purposed by God before the world was, and wrought by God. That conviction of the Holy Spirit is a good thing, but it don't feel good when it happens to you. Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised. Listen, Ephraim's telling the truth now. as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. You see, just that yoke, that bullock, that yoke just pulling, kicking against it. Yes, sir, we kick against it. But look, turn thou me and I shall be turned. Do you see that?

That's what it's all about. Not about your best foot forward, about God Almighty showing you mercy and compassion. and grace through and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Listen, listen to what he says now. Surely after that I was returned, after that I was turned, I repented. Now do you see the order of that? This is the way it happens when God shows mercy to anyone.

It's not we turn toward God, then he does something. It's not you take the first step, God'll meet you halfway. I've heard that for years, years ago when I was in religion. You take the first step, God'll meet you halfway. That's a hogwash lie. You know what that is, don't you? It's a hogwash lie.

Surely, after that I was turned, I repented, and after that I was instructed, I smote up on my thigh, I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear The reproach, do you see it? I did bear the reproach of my youth. Is he from my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? It's rhetorical. Both of those are rhetorical. Yes, he is my dear son. Is he a pleasant child? No, he is not. You see it? Look at it. Is he from my dear son?

Yes, he was one of the 12 tribes of Israel. And this is speaking in a symbolical, metaphorical way. of the whole tribe, okay? But it was only individuals in that tribe that God had showed mercy to. Paul said, they're not all Israel which are of Israel. They never were, they are not now.

Is he from my dear son? Yes, he is. Is he a pleasant child? No, he is not. For since I spake against him, do you see that? I do earnestly remember him still. That's mercy. That's compassion. That's grace. Do you hear God again? Look at it. For since I spake against him, and rightfully so. Why? Because he wasn't a pleasant child. He kicked like that bullet. I got accustomed to the yoke. Look. Yet, I earnestly remember him still. Therefore, my bowels are troubled for him.

Listen listen, I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord Now folks that that is blessed to me that's blessed to this sinner That's blessed to this sinner saved by the grace of God May God give me I'm not preaching down to you. May God give me and God give you like-mindedness with the Apostle Paul himself. Listen to how the Apostle Paul put it. It's recorded in Philippians chapter three. Listen to how Paul put it. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed, is not grievous, but for you it's safe. Beware of dogs." He's talking about people now. Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers.

Beware of the concision, the circumcisors. For we are the circumcision. That's an inward circumcision, a circumcision where it matters, the heart. For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might have confidence in the flesh, if any man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of Hebrews as touching the law, a Pharisee concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless, but what things were gained to me, those I counted lost, for who? For Christ, yea, doubtless, and I count all things but lost. for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I've suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dumb, that I might win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I might know him, and the power of his resurrection. Do you see it? You see, I'm not talking about a flash in the pan. You know what I'm talking about.

I'm not talking about, oh, I feel bad today and I'm gonna cry out for mercy and I feel so guilty and then tomorrow you go right back to where you was again. I'm not talking about a flash in the pan. I'm not talking about some religious spasm. As you go to some message and some preacher's ranting and raving, he's in this rhythmic chant of preaching and damning everybody to hell and you need to get right with God and you need to start living right. You have this spasm and you run forward and you cry tears and you pray prayers and cry out for forgiveness. I'm not talking about a flash in the pan or some religious spasm, no sir. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a troubling of the heart that is so real and so intense that only Christ, only Christ can give you relief. Do you understand what I'm saying?

I pray you do. I pray you do. I pray it's like this. I pray that when push comes to shove, you'll not just be able to cry with David, you'll have to cry with David. Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh, bring down me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins. You know what, when God starts His work on you, He gives you relief, but overall it never ends. So again, I'm asking you, are you ever, have you ever been, are you troubled in heart this way? Amen.

Prepared To Cry For Mercy

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about crying for mercy?

How do we know God's mercy is essential for salvation?

Why is understanding our sinfulness important for Christians?

What is the significance of God's sovereignty in mercy?

How can we cultivate a heart that seeks God's mercy?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Music

Recent Comments

About

Legal

Subscribe

Account

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Recent Comments

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

Prepared To Cry For Mercy

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about crying for mercy?

How do we know God's mercy is essential for salvation?

Why is understanding our sinfulness important for Christians?

What is the significance of God's sovereignty in mercy?

How can we cultivate a heart that seeks God's mercy?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

More from Walter Pendleton

Related Sermons

Same Scripture

Suggested for You

Where this book stands in the tradition

Plato

Augustine

The Western Christian Tradition

This Book