Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to a look at a passage of scriptures in the Book of Psalms but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a story.
A couple times each year I like to take out a barbeque grill and get it all set up for a cookout with the kids. We usually buy our hot dogs, brats and hamburger meat from town and then get ready for a picnic. It sure is fun hearing the sizzle of cooking meat, and the smell is unbeatable. As the kids play games and have gunnysack races or try hitting some golf balls, I patiently prepare the food. After half an hour or so, I’ve got a pile of meat stacked up in a pan. The food is prepared and waiting to be eaten up by hungry tummies. “Come and get it” I yell. “Supper is Ready.”
When something is ready, it’s prepared for immediate use. God has got forgiveness waiting for us and He is ready and waiting to give it to us, we just need to go and get it.
Psalms 86:5 – For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
God is waiting each day for us to come to him and confess our faults so he can forgive us. God doesn’t desire anybody to perish but wants all people to recieve mercy from Him.
Joel 2:13 – And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
When somebody shows contrition, they feel sorry for what they have done to God or others. Humility in the heart has a desire to express those feelings.
Psalms 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Exodus 34:6 – And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Jesus was ready to forgive somebody when He walked through Jericho. Listen to what happened.
Luke 18:35-43
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Psalms 86:15 – But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalms 103:8 – The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Here is another example of the readiness of Jesus to forgive and to show people mercy
Matt 9:27-31
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
Even though we’ve each made mistakes in our lives, our Lord is rich in Mercy towards us. We can come boldly to the throne of grace in time so that we can wash away our sins in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Daniel 9:9 – To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Micah 7:18 – Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Our God is plenteous in mercy. Plenteous means having an abundant supply. It’s like having a great amount of food to eat off of the barbecue. There’s plenty to go around for everyone.
Ephesians 2:4 – But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Psalms 69:16 – Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
God is ready to forgive but remember God’s forgiveness is completely different than the world’s concept of forgiveness.
At the very center and heart of the Christian faith is forgiveness. You can’t forgive and reconcile with people if you don’t care about them. Jesus commanded to love one another but without reconciliation love is not present. Christ died to forgive us of our sins and to reconcile us to God, therefore true forgiveness results in immediate reconciliation, just as happened with The Prodigal Son. Can you imagine in that parable if the dad told his son I forgive you, but I don’t want you being around me anymore and I don’t want you living here. Without reconciliation there is no love for the other offending party.
Jesus taught His disciples that they must forgive those who sin against you. If someone chooses not to forgive, God is not going to forgive them of the trespasses either.
Our God is ready and willing to forgive when we need it. Are you ready to apologize and come and get some? Are you ready to cry out, thou son of David, have mercy on me a sinner? He’s waiting. Praise God for His mercies.
That’s where I’m going to stop for right now, but Lord willing, we’ll talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.♥️
tlkjbc.wordpress.com
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 