God’s wrath and mercy





Romans 9:19~29 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for his glory. (22~23)




♬ Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #615 What Great Works He Has Done (#182 Down at the Cross Where My Savior Died in previous version)
 





 If you have an assortment of worries and problems, or you do not know how to carry something out, you must first enter into the depths of the mystery of Immanuel. If you can enter into prayer until God gives you the answer, you will be able to see what is most urgent. God is the potter and we are the clay. If God has made us into a vessel for a certain purpose, what can we say in the face of that? If God were to destroy a vessel that wasn’t made correctly, who can say anything against that? There are a few things that we must urgently discover.




1. We have been called in order to call those who are under wrath
 Not knowing God is the greatest wrath. Many people are underneath the wrath of darkness, chaos, and emptiness. The forces of darkness enter into their hearts and drive them into eternal destruction. The forces of darkness enter into culture. They tempt people with the prospect of success without God. In the end, their lives become like the Tower of Babel - destined to crumble and face wrath. There is nothing more urgent than saving the people who are mired within this. God has called us in order to save the countless many people who are under wrath.






2. We must not lose hold of the blessing of God’s mercy
 Wrath and mercy are within the hands of God. The Bible tells us not to lose hold of the blessings of God’s mercy in His forgiveness and salvation of us. God shined the light of creation, and that light is mercy. “The Offspring of the woman will crush the head of the serpent,” “Anyone who enters into the ark will live,” “God will work when the blood of the lamb is applied on the Passover,” “You have received the spirit of Sonship, not the spirit of a slave.” This is how God has bestowed His mercy upon us so that He would never lose us. There is nothing more blessed or more urgent that preaching this blessing.






3. The complete blessings that arise from God’s mercy
 There are a few complete blessings that come out within God’s mercy. God sent His Son in order to break the forces of darkness. He solved our problems and sins upon the cross. By resurrecting, He gave evidence that He is the Christ. When we confess Him to be Christ, God will work upon us right now by His Holy Spirit.






° Forum Topic - Even now, the forces of darkness drive us into curses and disasters. However, even today, God extends His hands of mercy. What have I chosen? To what extent do I know the blessing of God’s mercy? To what extent am I enjoying it? Deeply meditate on God’s mercy in your life today.




Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 2nd Service / 2009.8.23