A little more about mercy, and judgment:

James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

These verses have to do with both mercy, and with judgement. We are encouraged to so do and speak as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

What does this mean? Well, it's clear that overall it means, that while we are here on the earth, that both our actions and words will one day be judged by what is called the law of liberty.

James is saying that one day, we will be judged for the things we have said, and the things we have done. So, we ought to live with that judgement in mind. Or to be personally accountable with regards to our words and actions.

Jesus spoke about this accountability also. Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

The other very interesting thing that is said here, is that we don't have to live in fear of the judgment to come if we are living now in a merciful way towards others. On the other hand, there is a warning. That, the person who lives now without mercy towards others, will not be shown any mercy in the future judgment.

But, a person can smile in the face of judgment to come, if now they are living in, and walking in, and showing mercy towards others. It's very interesting, that we never ask God to give us justice for ourselves, but we ask for mercy. But, we may think He should give others justice. Interesting.

At any rate, God is so merciful. He has new mercies every morning. His mercies are eternal. He bestows His mercies on us. Mercy is something we can pray for daily. It's something we need daily.

Oh Merciful God. Have mercy upon us now, and may we walk in mercy now towards people we know, and come in contact with day by day. You have shown us mercy, You have not given us justice, You gave that to Your Son, but to us You have been merciful. Thank You Father.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

Application/Promises

1. It's by His mercies we are saved.

2. God's appeal to us now, is based on His mercies ( Rom 12: 1 )

3. Why not be merciful towards others?

4. Does God ever run out of mercy?

5. Would He give You mercy today?

6. Shall we not rather be merciful now?

7. I want mercy later from God also.

8. Blessed be the Lord of mercy.

A little more about mercy, and judgement:

James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

These verses have to do with both mercy, and with judgement. We are encouraged to so do and speak as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

What does this mean? Well, it's clear that overall it means, that while we are here on the earth, that both our actions and words will one day be judged by what is called the law of liberty.

James is saying that one day, we will be judged for the things we have said, and the things we have done. So, we ought to live with that judgement in mind. Or to be personally accountable with regards to our words and actions.

Jesus spoke about this accountability also. Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

The other very interesting thing that is said here, is that we don't have to live in fear of the judgment to come if we are living now in a merciful way towards others. On the other hand, there is a warning. That, the person who lives now without mercy towards others, will not be shown any mercy in the future judgment.

But, a person can smile in the face of judgment to come, if now they are living in, and walking in, and showing mercy towards others. It's very interesting, that we never ask God to give us justice for ourselves, but we ask for mercy. But, we may think He should give others justice. Interesting.

At any rate, God is so merciful. He has new mercies every morning. His mercies are eternal. He bestows His mercies on us. Mercy is something we can pray for daily. It's something we need daily.

Oh Merciful God. Have mercy upon us now, and may we walk in mercy now towards people we know, and come in contact with day by day. You have shown us mercy, You have not given us justice, You gave that to Your Son, but to us You have been merciful. Thank You Father.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

Application/Promises

1. It's by His mercies we are saved.

2. God's appeal to our lives now, is based on His mercies ( Rom 12: 1 )

3. Why not be merciful towards others?

4. Does God ever run out of mercy?

5. Would He give You mercy today?

6. Shall we not rather be merciful now?

7. I want mercy later from God also.

8. Blessed be the Lord of mercy.

Are you in a pit of despair today?

God can pull you out. He did it for David, and He can and will do it for you. See Ps 40:1-5

Are you in a pit of despair today?

David was in a pit. And, the Lord brought him out of it.

There are about 6 things that he shared from his own experience.

Ps 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.

Ps 40:2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

Ps 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

Ps 40:4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Ps 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

The above portion of Ps 40, was one of David's many Ps's and testimonies of what the Lord had done for him. There is so much to be said here about what David went through in difficult times, what he did, or how he acted, and then what the LORD did for David. May it be an encouragement to us.

Here's what David said happened to him......

First of all, how David waited was "patiently"

which means, to wait, to look for, to hope, and to expect, and to look eagerly for. While David was in this particular difficulty, he was nonetheless hoping in the LORD, and expecting that the LORD would help him, and He did.

Secondly, the LORD brought him up and out of a horrible ( destructive ) pit. It's the imagery of being in spiritual clay, not able to move, or being a prisoner, who cannot get out of his confinement. But, David's point is that the LORD brought him up and out of that horrible pit.

Thirdly, the LORD set David's feet upon a rock. Or a stronghold, a place of security. He went from the clay pit to a rock of stability.

Fourthly, the LORD established David's way. Or, made him stable, secure, and steadfast. The Lord put him on a straight path.

Fifthly, the LORD put a new song in David's mouth. It was praise to our God.

Lastly, David's makes this most profound and true statement. "Blessed ( means, happy, to go straight, to advance, make progress ) is the man who makes the LORD his trust, or confidence.

How wonderful to have this and other Ps's to encourage us in our own experiences in life. Maybe you are in a pit today. Maybe someone has put you in that pit. Or, perhaps, you have gotten yourself in that pit. May what happened to David, be your testimony and personal experience. May you have a song to sing because of what the LORD will do for you.

Thank You LORD for this Ps, and the many others which testify of YOUR greatness, and YOUR faithfulness to us. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. Even Kings, ( those in leadership ) can get into a pit.

2. Being in the pit's is very difficult.

3. In a pit, it seems like there is no way out.

4. In fact, there really is no way to get yourself out of pit.

5. God is able to reach down if you will, and pull you out.

6. God is a pit puller if you will.

7. How many people do you think He has pulled out of a pit.?

8. How many times has He already pulled you out?

9. May He reach down and help you today if you need help.

Are we judges with evil thoughts?

God calls us to treat each other the same way He treats each of us. That is with unconditional love, not based on who we are, but on who He is.

Are we judges with evil thoughts?

I hope not, James hoped his readers were not, and the Lord calls us to love our neighbor, not judge them. James was trying to correct a problem among his readers, of "showing partiality" See the 4 verses below.

James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

James 2:2For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

James 2:3and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”

James 2:4have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

As those who hold the faith of Jesus Christ, we are called to not be partial to people. We are called to avoid treating a person a certain way because of who they are. James gives in the next portion of his letter, that partiality shown to the rich and to the poor. And, he says if your doing this, then you have become judges with evil thoughts. Ouch.......that's serious, and it's of great concern to God, who is the judge, and who has called us to relate to one another by loving each other, and avoiding partiality.

Human nature is such, that it can do things that are evil and destructive. This is one of them. None of us would appreciate it if we went into an assembly of believers, and because of how we look, or how we are dressed that we would be treated without the respect shown to others. And, if we were told to "just go stand over there, or sit in this really low place" It would not be a blessing to us, and of course, it's not a blessing to anyone else if treat them that way.

So, James is laying out this issue, and calling all who believe in Jesus Christ, to fulfill the royal law, which is, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" and, if we do that he says, we "doing well" See James 2:8.

We must admit, at least I must admit, I can see this tendency within myself, and I imagine that any christian would say, that they have had to deal with this. But the blessing is, and the good news is, that we change that behavior, and we can put partiality aside, and make a real concerted effort, to just be genuine lovers of all people.

We needs God's help, power and grace to do it. And, God would never ask us to do something that we can't do in Christ.

Lord, we admit it, we have this kind of thing in us from time to time, and we pray to be delivered from it, and to established, more and more in your kind and unconditional, impartial love, and find ourselves pleasing You. You are so great, that You command us to love one another. What a command. Thank You Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. God is not partial.

2. God loves everyone the same.

3. God's church is not to be partial.

4. God's love in the church is to be the same to each one.

5. God will give us His love for every person.

6. God corrects us and changes us if we let Him

7. God is so wonderful. He loves You.

8. God says, "love one another"

Will God bless You?

Does God really want to bless You? How does He do it? Do you have a part in it. ?