I will have mercy.

[Rev.Anthony Ray Smith]

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth,: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

In the last fifty years we have seen many men killing themselves to make political statements, some believed they were advancing good causes, some believed they were doing God a service, but in reality they were condemning their souls to everlasting punishment.

Men still, in today’s world, kill themselves and others in the name of God, God had never spoke to them and neither did God send them. The Lord states of these false prophets; “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.”

The deceiving of the heart is the greatest danger in these end days.
Jesus never came to make a political statement, nor did he come to change any political process but he came to seek out and save those that were lost, just as is written; “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Salvation comes from the admission that one is lost and the repentant heart. In today's society we see the break down of morality, we see many mainline churches teaching a different gospel than the one brought to us by Christ. This puts a burden not only on those that hold true to the Gospel but it also puts a burden upon the lost who see a division in the churches.

What do we say then to those that ask about this division, we tell them not our opinion but what God says about it. “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” Why then would he be partaker of his evil deeds? Because he would give credence and authority behind the false doctrine.

We know that in these end days many false prophets and teachers shall arise and deceive themselves and others, we know by Biblical prophecy that we shall see and hear of false doctrine. We have also seen our own government officials spouting false doctrine in the laws that many have passed and promote as being good for the general welfare, saying that they are followers of God but denying His word as being the ultimate authority on legal, civil and moral matters. The Lord says, Come let us reason one with another.

Why is this good to know? Deception comes in many forms, sizes shapes and genders. Because any man can make a god unto himself out of anything, another man, animal, plant, political party, ideology, or even an entire governmental system. The Lord established government for the sake of man, because they refused to be ruled by Him, but man has taken the gift of government and have corrupted it. We are to obey the law but resist evil.

I will have mercy.
Mercy, It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency. God will have mercy upon all who will confess their sins and repent thereof. His mercy hides the sin of those that ask and sends their sins to the deeps of the sea never to be remembered again. God grants mercy to men who commit sin, murder, adultery, fornication, and suchlike and we must remember that the Lord stated of men in bondage to sin;
they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. Alcoholism, homosexuality, adultery, theft and murder(which includes abortion.) are all some of the things that have brought multitudes into bondage to sin and Satan.

“and not sacrifice.” Sacrifice; An offering made to God by killing and burning some animal upon an altar, as an acknowledgment of his power and providence, or to make atonement for sin, appease his wrath or conciliate his favor, or to express thankfulness for his benefits.
The Lord no longer will accept sacrifices, He stated that He was full of the blood of animals. No man can offer any sacrifice that will appease God nor will any sacrifice be accepted for the forgiveness of sins except the sacrifice of the Lords Son Jesus.

Which brings us to the difference between those that are saved and those that are still lost.
We know that God will not hear the prayers of a sinner unless he is repenting, I want to make that perfectly clear; “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” I have heard many that are lost state that they have prayed to God for different things and they received them, but they must remember that the Lord stated of the lost and saved, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Just because you receive that for which you asked for doesn’t mean that the Lord gave it to you, nor does it mean that the Lord had a hand in it, for good things, and bad things, happen to the just and unjust.

In times of peril, the saved can turn to the Lord for deliverance, those that are lost cannot. In times of persecution the saved can turn to the Lord for strength, the lost have no where to turn except to other men. But who is man, is he someone that can deliver in times of famine, peril, tribulation, persecution, can any man save those that are lost without direction in life? Who is man that the Lord should take account of Him.

Be not deceived, hell is real, the lake of fire was built by God for the unrighteous and eternity is only one heart beat away. You may be called to repent only one time, for no man is guaranteed a second chance, your entire future may rest upon your answer. You give nothing away when you accept Jesus but you inherit eternal life. The things that had you in bondage, sin, the pride of life and the pride of the eyes, will be removed by yourself, for you will be reborn into a new man seeking only those things that are of God. All things pass away behold all things become new. Look at this world, do you really believe things can remain the same, do you really believe that there is no end to this earth as it is, no end to time?

Mat 9:13 Jer 14:14 2Jn 1:10-11