The Absolute Mercy of God
The sermon emphasizes the absolute mercy of God as the reason for deliverance from sin and judgment.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the absolute mercy of God through the story of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah, illustrating how even a righteous man like Lot needed divine intervention to escape impending destruction. The angels' act of physically leading Lot and his family out of the city highlights God's mercy, as it was not Lot's goodness that saved him but God's compassion. Wilkerson draws parallels to today's society, where rampant sin mirrors that of Sodom, yet believers are spared due to the grace of Jesus Christ. He urges the church to recognize that their salvation is solely a result of God's mercy, not their own righteousness. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper understanding and belief in God's promises of mercy as outlined in Scripture.
Text
In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, vile wickedness ruled and God was not pleased. He sent two angels to Sodom to warn Lot, the nephew of Abraham, of the destruction ahead. Lot was a righteous man (see Genesis 18:19) who lived in this city full of rampant evil and God wanted to alert him to the upcoming annihilation of Sodom so that he could escape with his family.
Lot was hesitant to get out of the city, so the angels literally took him and his family by the hand and led them away from the destruction. "The Lord being merciful to him ... they brought him out and set him outside the city" (Genesis 19:16). It is important to note that even though Lot was righteous and God saw something great in him, he was delivered because of the Father's mercy.
In the church today are righteous people who serve God and live moral lives. Yet, it is only because of the blood of Jesus Christ and not because of any goodness or morality the Lord has seen in them that they are rescued. Think about when you were saved. The Spirit of God took you by the hand, pulled you out of your sins and set you outside the reach of wickedness and rebellion. He brought you out of judgment -- out of Sodom -- and led you far away from destruction.
We talk about the terrible sins of Sodom but looking around our world today, we see the sins of our society mounting to heaven. Sensuality, immorality and evil are growing bolder and bolder, unrestrained almost to the point of being unimaginable. How is it that we are not swallowed up in it? Why have we not been carried away with the moral landslide?
I tell you, it is all because of the absolute mercy of God! "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth" (Psalm 86:15).
Beloved, search God's Word and believe all he has said about his mercy toward you.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Mercy of God in the Story of Sodom and Gomorrah
- A. God's desire to save the righteous
- B. The angels' role in delivering Lot and his family
- C. The importance of God's mercy in their deliverance
- II. The Mercy of God in the Church Today
- A. Righteous people are rescued through the blood of Jesus Christ
- B. The Spirit of God takes believers by the hand and leads them out of sin
- C. The deliverance from judgment and destruction
- III. The Mercy of God in a World of Sin
- A. The growing sins of society
- B. The reason for not being swallowed up by sin
- C. The absolute mercy of God as the reason for deliverance
Key Quotes
“I tell you, it is all because of the absolute mercy of God!” — David Wilkerson
“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” — David Wilkerson
“The Lord being merciful to him ... they brought him out and set him outside the city” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize that our deliverance from sin is solely due to the mercy of God, not our own righteousness.
- Believe in the absolute mercy of God and trust in His compassion, graciousness, and longsuffering.
- Acknowledge the growing sins of society and rely on God's mercy to keep us from being swallowed up by them.