The Presence of a Compassionate God!
The sermon emphasizes the presence and nature of a compassionate God, highlighting the importance of mercy, tenderness, and compassion in God's character.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the unwavering presence of a compassionate God, whose mercies are essential and never fail, as highlighted in Lamentations 3:22. He describes God's nature as one of mercy, tenderness, and compassion, comparing it to the essential qualities of light and heat. Brooks illustrates the various forms of God's compassion--fatherly, motherly, brotherly, and friendly--showing how comforting it is for believers to experience such divine presence, especially in times of trouble. The sermon encourages believers to find solace in the knowledge that they are never alone, as they are accompanied by a God who delights in mercy and compassion.
Text
"His compassions never fail!" Lamentations 3:22
Each believer has the presence of . . .
a God of mercy,
a God of tenderness,
a God of compassion.
Mercy is as essential to God--as light is to the sun,
or as heat is to the fire. He delights in mercy. Patience,
and mildness, and mercy, and compassion, and peace
are the fruits of His heart. God's compassions are . . .
fatherly compassions, Psalm 103:13;
motherly compassions, Isaiah 49:15;
brotherly compassions, Hebrews 2:12;
friendly compassions, Canticles 5:1-2.
Oh, how sweet must the presence of a God of mercy,
a God of compassion--be to the saints in a day of trouble!
The presence of a compassionate friend in a day of distress
is very desirable and comfortable; what then is the
presence of a compassionate God!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Presence of a Compassionate God
- A. God's nature is characterized by mercy, tenderness, and compassion
- B. Mercy is essential to God's nature, like light to the sun and heat to the fire
- II. The Fruits of God's Heart
- A. Patience, mildness, mercy, compassion, and peace are the fruits of God's heart
- III. The Types of God's Compassions
- A. Fatherly compassions (Psalm 103:13)
- B. Motherly compassions (Isaiah 49:15)
- C. Brotherly compassions (Hebrews 2:12)
- D. Friendly compassions (Canticles 5:1-2)
Key Quotes
“His compassions never fail!” — Thomas Brooks
“Mercy is as essential to God--as light is to the sun, or as heat is to the fire.” — Thomas Brooks
“The presence of a compassionate God is very desirable and comfortable in times of trouble.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We can trust in God's compassionate nature to comfort us in times of trouble.
- God's mercy is essential to His nature, and He delights in showing it to us.
- We should cultivate patience, mildness, mercy, compassion, and peace in our own hearts, just like God's heart.