When God Shows Men Mercy by Pastor Jerry Eze: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Power of Crying Out for Mercy

It is exciting to realise that the mercy of God does not even wait on proximity in order to happen. The 10 lepers are a classic description of the power of God's mercy. The Bible says the 10 lepers were very far away from Jesus. The connection they had with him was simply, "Lord, show us mercy."

Between Jesus and them, something was missing — and that was the sound of mercy. What needed to happen in their lives was the thing that only mercy could birth. They were in a leprous situation and Jesus was on the other side. To connect their situation to Jesus, all they needed to cry out was mercy.

They lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." They didn't need to speak about what was going wrong. They needed to speak to who he was — they spoke to his compassion. They spoke to his mercy, and his mercy found their situation.

Luke 17:11-19

When Men See and When Jesus Sees

When Jesus saw them, he didn't need to ask, "What do you want me to do for you?" They spoke to his compassion, and his compassion found what they needed to fix.

They didn't come describing their condition after all these years. They didn't need to spell out what the devil was doing to them. The power of his mercy is that they didn't come describing — they cried out.

Remember, for every person who was healed of leprosy, the priest was the final authority to certify the healing. And Jesus said, "Go show yourselves unto the priests." In other words, act like you have received the mercy.

• When men saw them, men put them out of the city.
• When Jesus saw them, he sent them on a journey into their future.

Man makes judgment on who you are. Man draws conclusions on your present situation and gives verdict on the now. But Jesus looks and sees what they could become. Man saw them as lepers. The law said if we find you leprous, we push you out of the city. But Jesus saw what they could become.

Move Like You Have Already Received

He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priest." In other words, move like you have received mercy. Don't step out with the mentality of someone who has not received mercy from God. Don't step out believing things are now worse. Step out like, "He has shown me mercy."

Go back to the hospital like someone who knows they should. Don't let the last report hold you. While they were on the way, God will not let them be mocked. Before they could get to where the priests were, they were cleansed on the way.

By the mercy of God — wherever they took me out of — I arise. I enter back into my place. I take back my place.

One Word Is Enough

They were ten. He gave them just one instruction. And you know the disease of leprosy affects different people in different ways — some in their hands more, some in their legs, some in their bodies. But no matter where it affected them, he only gave one word.

One word is all I need. One word is enough. When those ten men cried, "Lord, show us mercy," everything was inside it. When he decided to act, he only gave one instruction and it covered them all.

So the days when you say, "Lord, show me mercy" — don't sit back saying, "Lord, until I see a change." Jesus said to them, "Move. I've shown you mercy." You may not feel anything yet. He says, "Go. Show yourselves."

Keep moving. You may not look like it but keep moving. The answers may not have come yet but it is an error to stand still. I'm going to keep moving in the direction of what he said.

The One Who Came Back

Notice very remarkably, there was one of them who said, "Something great has happened. If mercy is about receiving my healing, I've gotten it. But mercy is about him bringing me close. He died not just for me to be a consumer."

From a distance was where he shouted, "Show me mercy." But when he came back, the Bible says he fell down on his face at his feet. When he received healing, he was far. But the healing brought him closer.

Some people receive healing and they go far. This one received healing and he came close. Some people receive what they want and you will never find them again. But here, what God did for him brought him closer.

And then Jesus asked him, "Where are the nine?" God causes the day we get used to the things he does. Never get used to the mercy of God. Make your heart fresh to receiving. That this mercy may not be as big as the last one — but, Lord, that you have even done this one is a sign you will do the bigger things.

Every Mercy of God Routes Through People

God will show you mercy. But God will need people to demonstrate the mercy he has shown you. Every mercy of God is routed through individuals. Go back to the individuals God used to show you mercy and tell them thank you. Don't say, "After all, God did it." Everyone that God used is a vessel.

The heart that understands the mercy of God doesn't just appreciate God who gives mercy. The scripture says, "I showed you mercy so that the king of Babylon will show you mercy." So I understand that he showed me mercy so that those around me can show me mercy.

Father, we ask that you do what only you can do. Let there be none of any man but all of you. By the word of God, I receive mercy. By the word of God, I receive help. By the word of God, I receive hope. By the word of God, I receive redemption. The mercy of God prevails over my life.