Welcome to the Victory Blog

This past weekend, my wife Colleen took the stage and spoke about God’s mercy. This is a message that so many people need to hear. Even those of us who know it, often need to be reminded that God is forgiving. Here’s some of what she had to say:

I want to talk about something that will absolutely lift your spirits. I want to talk about God’s mercy. Most of us have heard of “throwing yourself on the mercy of the court.” This is an appeal that one who is inescapably guilty might make to the judge in hopes that he is merciful. However, not all earthly judges are merciful. But God is no earthly judge; He is 100% merciful!

Yet, we often don’t really believe that. We often think He is much less merciful than He is. We have false beliefs about God. Our minds are held captive by wrong thinking - carnal mindsets. But God wants to break those things off of us so we can know and experience His mercy. You see, if we truly believe that God is forgiving and merciful then we will have no unconfessed sin in our lives!

One of the most humbling things you will ever experience is the mercy of God. God’s mercy is His statement of perpetual determination to do whatever it takes to keep us in right relationship with Him. It is wonderful in itself that He withholds giving us what we deserve, but it reaches beyond that in extending His kindness that we do not deserve.

God’s Mercy is:

1. Awaiting us
2. Abundant
3. Eternal
4. Given According to Love
5. Given With Delight
6. Unchangeable
7. Sovereign and Free.

However, so many people are missing out on experiencing God’s mercy, because they either don’t know they need to admit their guilt, or just plain refuse to do so. As Charles Finney said, “Many are defeating their own salvation by self-justification.” The thing is, in order to trust in God’s mercy, we must have a deep, heartfelt conviction of our personal guilt and cease from excusing and justifying ourselves.

Once we begin to experience God’s mercy, we need to realize that as much as we are recipients of God’s mercy, we are to be dispensers of His mercy. Read Jesus’ parable about the unforgiving servant found in Matthew 18:32-35. We are to love mercy in the same manner that God does, and through humility our hearts will have the capacity to offer unrestrained forgiveness and mercy. Think of what our lives will be like as we get a hold of this truth! Think about what our world will be like! Let us freely pour out forgiveness on others, just as we grow in understanding that God is…Forgiving!

“May the mercy that caused the Father to send the Son, be found in us to break the cycle of retribution for offenses received at the hands of those who hate us. And, may we always remember that mercy is more than the withholding of punishment, but it is the loving kindness of God.” - Charles Finney