THE MERCIFUL GOD

4/01/2015
₦sermon 6
(A Sermon Preached by Rev. Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu)

Memory Verse “Lord, help! They cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress”
– Psalm 107:6 NLT
          Text:  Psalm 107:1-31

Our God is a merciful God.  When we rebel against him and come for repentance, he rescues us from our distress.  The fact is that when God delivers us from our enemies and troubles, we need to thank him for his goodness and mercies he has favoured us with.

The Psalmist says: If the LORD has redeemed you, then speak out! – Psalm 107:2.  Many people’s souls have been exiled by the distress and troubles of the hearts, and yet, God gathers them back as he gathered his suffering children who were exiled to Babylon and Egypt. Some wandered in the wilderness because they do not have home while some were tortured by hunger and thirsty.  All these ugly trends were as a result of their insurgencies and rebelliousness and they nearly died but when they recognized their fault and cried unto God, he rescued them from their distress. We need to retrace ourselves and know that we’re at fault and then ask God for forgiveness. The Israelites by crying unto their God denotes their coming back to God. It means that they know that it’s only God who can save when one is in a difficult situation.

There are other set of people who sit in the darkness of misery.  They don’t obey the word of God.  They show contempt to it and scorn the counsel of God.  Therefore, God breaks and tortures them with hard labour and they fall and no one is to help them.  As they cry in their trouble, LORD help, he rescues them from their distress.  This set of people needs to praise God for delivering them from their distress. The moment we scorn God’s word is the moment we sit at the verge of misery.

Also, some people who are fools by rebelling against God and as a result suffer for their sins could never think of food again because they’ve lost their appetite and come close to the gate of death but when they cry to God for help, he rescues them from their troubles. You may ask how people come close to the gate of death! Sin is a reproach and it damages the spiritual ambiance of men thereby bringing their very souls to eternal death.

Other rebellious people abandon God and go out to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.  God stirs up windstorm and waves.  Their ships are tossed here and there to the depth of the sea.  Their trials to avert such tempest prove ineffective but when they open their mouths and cry to God – LORD help, he rescues them from their distress.  He calms the storm and stills the waves.  These people need to praise God for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. The Psalmist says: Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!— Psalm 107:15.

All these show that God is a God of compassion and love.  He does not allow his wayward children to suffer and those who call him at the time of their distress, he delivers them all. He shows his mercy even at the point of our death. We become sick and come at the gate of the grave; he bids us with love and whispers life to our health. He sends his word and we are healed. If God has rescues you from your distress and troubles, you need to praise him and testify for his goodness publicly.