MEMORY SCRIPTURE
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
The gifts of mercy and helps go hand in hand. You can’t demonstrate the gift of helps without being merciful/compassionate, and vice versa.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 24: The LORD’S Mercy Purges Iniquity (Prov. 16:6)
Tue. 25: These Women Show The Gift Of Helps (Mk. 15:40-41)
Wed. 26: The Good Samaritan Has The Gift Of Mercy (Lk. 10:33-35)
Thur. 27: The Household That Helped Paul (2 Tim. 1:16-18)
Fri. 28: The Gift Of Mercy Is Imperative (Col. 3:12-17)
Sat. 29: The Indispensability Of Mercy (Jas. 2:13)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
The merciful cannot but be a helper because, help itself conveys the idea of being merciful/compassionate.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: 1 SAMUEL PSALM 78:38; MATTHEW 9:13; LUKE 8:2-3; ACTS 13:5; ROMANS 12:8; 16:1FF; 1 COR. HEBREWS 4:14 15
Thank God for our recent discussion on the GIFTS OF SHEPHERDING AND ENCOURAGEMENT. These are serving gifts meant to pilot the affairs of the flock of Christ, from the local level as well as encourage and strengthen God’s people, everywhere. This week, we are perusing: THE GIFTS OF MERCY AND HELPS. Mercy is characteristically the attitude of “kindness or forgiveness shown especially to somebody that a person has power over.” It is “a disposition to be compassionate or forgiving of others”. Help is defined as “something that is done for, or given to somebody in order to make something easier, possible, or better.” It also refers to “a person or persons who is/are paid to help, especially servants on farm lands”. These 2 gifts are similar, in that, they both look for ways they can help. The difference is where each looks for the ways. Let us study them as the Holy Spirit helps.
LESSON OUTLINE
- THE GIFT OF MERCY
- THE GIFT OF HELPS
LESSON EXPOSITION
THE GIFT OF MERCY (1 Sam. Psa. 78:38; Matt. 9:13; Rom. 12:8; Heb.
…he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:8
A) Matt. 9:13: The gift of Mercy is the spiritual ability to give others empathy; the kindness of heart that makes one overlook an offence and treat the offender better than he deserves. It is God’s character (Psa. 51:1; 89:1; Lam. 3:22; Dan 9:9; Jn. 8:3-11).
B) Psa. 78:38: It sees and feels others’ joy or sorrow, and is ready to show Christ’s great love and proclaim His restoration, though he weeps inside for the anguish and troubles lying behind an offence.
C) Rom. 12:8: It is the ability to empathise with a suffering person—the poor, sick, orphan, bereaved, and those in prison (cf. Rom. 12: 15; 1 Cor.12:26). To meet others’ needs, it shows particular care and sympathy. It values emotional support more than any other thing. We all need this grace (Lk. 6:36; Col 3:12-14).
D) Heb. 4: 14, 15: The gifted are so emotive to help others that can be taken advantage of, yet they seldom separate their help from their heart (cf. 1 Jn. 3:17). They prefer removing the causes of hurts, rather than looking for benefits from those hurts.
E) 1 Sam. 22:1,2: The young David was a great leader with this gift. The Good Samaritan is another (Lk. 10:33-35).
THE GIFT OF HELPS (Lk. 8:2-3; Acts 13:5; Rom. 16:1ff; 1 Cor.
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, … then gifts of healings, helps.
1 Corinthians 12:28
A) 1 Cor. 12:27,28: Help is listed among the spiritual gifts here. It is the ability to perceive the needs of others and desire to fulfil them, regardless of personal benefit or loss. It contributes to doing God’s work.
B) Lk. 8:2-3: One with this gift aids others to do little things so that, they in turn, will have more time to use their gifts to do God’s work. It is inspired by the grace of servanthood (Matt. 23:11; Php. 2: Iff).
C) Acts 13:5:John was with them as their helper (NIV), i.e., he was helping them to do other things that would give them ample time for their missionary work (cf. 6:2-4). People with this gift often gladly work behind the scenes to get things done and relieve others of their responsibilities.
D) They are like Martha who was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen to help Mary concentrate on sitting at the feet of Jesus (Lk. 10:40TBCL).
E) Rom. 16:1ff: Paul mentioned those who have helped him and his ministry. These obviously showed the gift of helps. Onesiphorus also refreshed him (2 Tim. 1:16-18). We must bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).
LESSONS DERIVED
- God has given believers the gifts of mercy and helps so that we can rightly bear one another’s burdens. Covet and pray for them!
- Jesus is our perfect Example of showing mercy and helping hands. Follow His path!
QUESTIONS
- The spiritual gifts of mercy and helps are sure ways of serving one
another in the body of Christ. Discuss. - How does Christ demonstrate the gifts of mercy and helps?
