OUTLINE:

We should appreciate God’s mercy for us, not test it.

Putting God’s Mercy To the Test???
This is one of the hallmarks of believer-testing. While we can't be tempted to the point where we lose our salvation (1Co 10:13; 2Pe 2:9), we can be tempted to disregard God's mercy (cp Mt 4:6-7).

1Co 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

2 Pe 2:9 [Amplified]
then [in light of the fact that all this is true, be sure that] the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,

Putting God’s Mercy To the Test???
This is one of the hallmarks of believer-testing. While we can't be tempted to the point where we lose our salvation (1Co 10:13; 2Pe 2:9), we can be tempted to disregard God's mercy (cp Mt 4:6-7).

We should appreciate God’s mercy for us, not test it.

Disengaging From God’s Mercy
This may be one of the most common things we believers do. When we disengage from our Lord's mercy, we relegate ourselves to the imperfect abilities of the flesh to deliver us from despair unto hope (cp Heb 6:19).

Is 64:6
For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

“all our righteous deeds”
This may come as a shock to a LOT of Christians in this world. It's difficult to fathom that what man thinks is good is mere rubbish to the Holy God of the Universe. Why? Because man habitually uses the wrong standard of measure (Pr 16:11).

Is 64:6 [Amplified]
For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper],
And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags;
We all wither and decay like a leaf,
And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from God’s favor, toward destruction].

Our Wretched Basements
His Spirit is reminding us of our own horribleness that He saved us from.... even of the good we did in the past that was "dressing up the pig" in an attempt to earn God's favor... that's in our secret basement too.

Childhood Deception
We've been deceived, from childhood, that we just aren't all that bad. And therefore - here's the dangerous consequence - we don't think we're fully dependent upon God's mercy.

We Are NOTHING Without the Lord
To accept this is to be set free by it, knowing it does not depend upon us, but upon God who is merciful. Thank God! (Ro 9) Instead of propping up "self", we should be bowed low at the foot of the Cross, knowing our total depravity.

Being Perfected By the Flesh?
Is it because we don't believe God's love for us???

Eph 2:4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…

Were It Not For God’s Mercy…
We would have all been consumed as vessels of wrath, due to our unrighteousness. In kindness, He transformed us into vessels of mercy, through Christ. (Ro 9:22-23)

Totally Helpless and Hopeless?
Throw yourself upon the Mercy of the Court! God's glory is His mercy and grace and compassion! (Ex 33:19-20, 34:6-7, Eph 1:6-8)

“firm”
from stereos - means solid (firm); referring to what is immoveable (will not budge); stable (not changeable), standing fast without buckling or giving way (steadfast).

Learning To Appreciate Mercy
Do we fully appreciate the pure mercy we've been shown by the God of all glory? (2Co 4:1-7, 2 Ti 2:20-26)

The Things We Do For Love!
For the benefit of all the people observing our daily choices, and because all men are weak in certain areas, we consider their weaknesses, even while we act in the liberty given to us by Christ.

Striving
Have you ever strove for something out of fear (love, friendship, acceptance, etc.)?

Jn 15:17
“This I command you, that you love one another.”

Be yourself!

Glossophobia - blog
So many speakers I work with are more afraid of being afraid than of the actual speaking. - gingerpublicspeaking.com

“but overcome evil with good”
This takes divine perspective to enact. This is diametrically opposed to the deepest desires of the flesh. Jesus said, “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Lk 6:27). Remember, such “hearing” is a gift from God for believers only.

Lk 17:1-4
That is what functional love looks like.