Knowing Mercy

Paul and his team are now in Philippi, a Macedonian city, a Roman Colony. Through the ministry of Paul and his team we have seen a rich woman and her family converted to a follower of Christ. We have also seen a slave girl who is demon possessed come and try to hinder the gospel message by omitting important elements of the gospel message. The demons job was to deflect but Paul put an end to this demons taunts. This didn’t end well for Paul and Silas because the slave girls owners, were not happy they lost their means of support so they had Paul and Silas arrested on trumpet up charges. They said nothing about what Paul actually did, which was cleanse the slave girl of a demon, but they instead said this, “these men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs which is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” These were lies by these slave girl owners. The only real truth here was that Paul and Silas were Jews but even this was a half truth because as we will soon see, they are Roman citizens. They were not throwing the city into confusion, they were going about freely without any issue until they cast out the demon. This was said to arouse the magistrates authority because they were there to keep the peace and they didn’t want their city being stirred up, especially by these foreigners, these Jews. They were preying on their civil allegiances, their religious allegiances, and their legal allegiances. These men were hucksters and they knew how to use people for their own benefit and this was done to punish Paul because Paul had freed their salve girl from being enslaved to a demon that was controlling her every move and word.

Their lies prevailed because the people and the magistrate became angry.

Mercy filled Reliance

Psalm 62:5–8 NASB95

5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 85:8–13 NASB95

8 I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven. 12 Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce. 13 Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way.

Mercy filled Response

Romans 9:14–18 NASB95

14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

The jailer responds to the mercy of God.

Paul tells Timothy about mercy.

1 Timothy 1:15–16 NASB95

15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

Mercy filled Resolution

Romans 12:9–21 NASB95

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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