Summary of preaching
Sunday January 8, 2023 – Apostle Billey.
Heb. 4.16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We have entered a new season in this new year.
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What are Mercy and Grace?
Both refer to God’s unlimited goodness, but mercy and grace describe two different aspects.
Mercy is synonymous with Compassion.
Grace, on the other hand, means Favor.
The Lord can manifest mercy and grace at the same time in man’s life.
Let us remember the case of Saul who became the apostle Paul.
Before his conversion, he persecuted and killed Christians.
And all the while, the world acclaimed him and loved him for everything he did, but at the same time heaven condemned his actions, God had rejected him.
Paul was not aware of his bad deeds, so he could not even turn to the mercy of God.
When the Lord Jesus came to him, Paul was able to return to the path of truth. God thus showed him mercy.
So here, without the mercy of God, Paul would never have been converted.
And furthermore, the Lord called him to do the most noble and great work on this earth – to be a minister of God, speaking and proclaiming mysteries from the Lord.
At this level, it is the manifestation of the grace of God.
Beloved, we have entered a special season of mercy, grace and faith.
You know there is a festive atmosphere after Thanksgiving until Christmas… With Christmas songs in every place, every media. It’s often excitement, joy, Merry Christmas wishes from all sides, joy that we bathe in until the holiday is over.
And for us in this year of mercy, grace and faith, that is the atmosphere we need to be in during these 52 weeks of 2023.
Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
God sits on the throne of mercy.
- How do we approach the throne of grace/mercy? In spirit and in truth. - Where is the throne of mercy? It is where God is, or sits.
When God met Moses on the mountain – Exodus 3:5: “… Take off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. “For he God was present there.
And so where God is, his throne is also there.
(Math18.20) And where two or three are gathered in the name of the Lord, he is in their midst. And if God is present, then his throne is also there.
Heb 10:19 – Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.
- How do we enter the sanctuary of God? We enter by faith.
When you have chronic financial problems, family problems, health problems … And no matter what you have done or tried, nothing has changed.
And you meet a person who tells you about a place where many people have gone and their problems have been solved.
Will you go – yes or no ? Yes, you will go. And certainly, you will go with faith because of what you have heard.
Faith will already be present in your heart from the moment you set out.
Now, in the sanctuary of God, there is the throne of mercy. And so we must approach with faith.
Heb10.22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Beloved, in this year you must do exploits with God.
Three key points to remember about the mercy of our God:
- 1. Mercy is manifested on all spiritual levels and in all areas.
- 2. It is in relation to God alone – it does not depend on your merits, the length of your prayers, your offerings, your tithes, the beauty of your prayer, the multitude of your prayers or good deeds…
Put all this aside and go before Him, just as you are.
- 3. See only the ability, the greatness, the power, the love of God.
It is not our prayers, not even the intensity or the level of our distress that will make the Lord act, but only God decides in his mercy to help us with power.
So with the spirit of mercy, we can come to him and talk to him with confidence.
Know that in order for grace and mercy to flow into your life, you must learn to listen and speak to God with your heart.
The language of the heart is the language of God.
Ézéchiel 3.9-10
10 Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.
Before the throne of mercy, it is only with the heart that one presents oneself. (Mat 13, 14-15)
** When we listen with our heads, we see the impossibility of the situation in which we find ourselves. ** However, when we listen with the heart, we see God's possibilities.
For example, when God says to you: you are blessed!
-How do you see yourself?
** If you listen to this word with your head, you will doubt, because you will continue to see yourself unhappy, with many problems, alone, rejected….
** If you listen to this word with your heart and accept his word, you will see yourself happy no matter what situation you are going through.
– How will you know that you have accepted his word?
When you are aware that it is true, you will feel confidence, strength, joy, peace, faith ….
And every time you feel this assurance and it is strong within you, it means you are connected.
So from that moment on, you lean on it and you pray, praise, worship, prophesy, decree with strength and loudness…It is fulfilled with certainty.
You must know that it is not pleasing to the Lord that a soul is kept in captivity, it is not to the glory of God that you are in a chronic suffering or in a constant state of afflictions.
-So what to do?
From now on, you must refuse the devil’s words and accept God’s.
If God says that you are blessed, it is so. His words are yes and amen.
The Lord is able to do all things, and He was able to reconcile you to Himself through His son.
We must redeem the time, with Jesus: it is possible.
We must learn to go before him with our hearts.
Listen with our hearts and speak with our hearts, the Lord is the God of mercy!
LET US PRAY →
Lord, I stand before you and need you every day.
May your grace and mercy abound in my life throughout this year.
Give me the grace to know you and walk with you.
Help me to be a successful Christian for you.
Have mercy on my home, spouse, fiancé(e), my children, parents, entourage…
Without you, we can do nothing, we are lost. Remove from our lives everything that is not yours.
I need your mercy in all areas : my health, my finances, my career…
Show your mercy in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Amen !