Praying for Mercy

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Theme: Lament asks God for mercy. Purpose: To empathise with others by praying for God's mercy for them. Gospel: We receive Mercy and Restoration in the Resurrected Jesus. Mission: Discipleship involves praying for others.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction: Biblical Lament is a unique Christian way of grieving where we turn to the Lord, name our grief, ask God for Help, Remember God’s Love, and Trust God. What are we asking God for?

People Need Mercy.

Brief background....

The Lamentor begins by asking God to Remember his people

It is not that God forgets - But it is a request for Action.

The Lamentor, or Lamentors then pray collectively about the needs different people have for Mercy.

Loss of Family - Orphans, Widows, etc...

Sustanence can’t be afforded...

Over-worked..

Dependent on others for our needs - shame.

Bearing the sins of our fathers

Famine

Women abused (raped)

Leaders are tortured.

Young men put into forced labor.

The whole community has lost their joy.

People today still need Mercy.

People who are unemployed

People who have become sick.

The honor for working for you livelihood for some has been taken.

Families who have lost loved ones.

Not everyone is experiencing the same pain, but we all need God’s mercy.

The - Experiencing the Consequences of future generations sins.

And we are Sinners

All have fallen short of the Glory of God, and the wages of sin is death.

We can not pull ourselves out of these holes, we need God’s Mercy.

That is what the Chapter is about.

Lament asks God for Mercy.

Story of Caring Bridge Journals - We were able to express what was happening to us, ask for Prayer, and then feel the empathy of the Church lifting up our Lament to God.

This Lament is Communal - It is from first person plural - And so it is the Community Interceding on Behalf of those who need mercy

It names the need.

Brene’ Brown insight on Shame

1. But, according to shame expert, Dr. Brene Brown, shame cannot exist: 1) When it is spoken about; 2) When it meets empathy. In other words, we can be free from reproach and shame in Christian community by calling it what it is when we feel it,

“You need the shadow up in front of us where we can see it so it does not get you from behind.”

Intercession does this - When we pray to God for Mercy on Behalf of others.

It requires us to name the need before God.

It requires us to listen to others so that we can empathise and speak those words to God. -

People wonder what to pray for when people are suffering. Pray what they, “Say,” use their words. - It helps people feel like you have empathised, and that God is hearing them.

The opportunity to pray with other people - Praying with a family new in the experience of Ben's treatment, and then that family prayed for us when Ben relapsed.

This is where the Body of Christ is so important.

During this COVID-19 period of time our Elders and Care Shepherds and Life Groups have challenged each other to call our people. Check-In and pray for one another. - Before and During and After...

A number of people being the hands and feet of Jesus by remembering those in need - Driving food for Hand2Hand or delivering for Love INC.

When we Intercede (stand in the gap) for others it causes us to grow in Christ-likeness, to empathize as Christ did for us, and so empathize with what Christ did for us. Lamenting with others then is a way in which we grow closer to others and Christ, and when we model Lamenting with others, we disciple others in Christ’s way.

Will we receive Mercy?

This passage seems to leave the question unanswered.

God is sovereign and has the power to show mercy - vs 19

But it also ends wondering if God will be unforgiving for ever, and maybe God’s anger will totally reject them - vs. 22

But the request for Mercy, Restoration, is still there.

Sometimes it feels like this - God will not show mercy.

Remember though that Chapter 3 is the apex of the book - and the Gospel answer that question. God’s Love is forever, the Resurrection of Jesus points to full restoration.

Last Week we were reminded in Chapter 4, that God’s withholding of his protection/his wrath is temporary. - We can know these things, and at the same time feel the opposite.

Jesus is the answer to the ambiguity of suffering. In Jesus we find Mercy, now, but not in fullness, and when he comes again, in fullness.

Until then we want to be known as a church that seeks God’s mercy together, to encourage each other in the mercy that Christ has given, and to Intercede on behalf of one another.