Recognized by Our Compassion

All right, we'll start with the word of prayer is Father. We thank you for bringing us here and Gathering us together. And though I forgot to pray for one thing earlier father as you know, and I forgot to remember Tanya and her surgery this week. We do pray that you would be with Tanya that you would give her courage and strength as she goes up there that you would be with the doctors and giving them wisdom and understanding about what's going on and father. We do pray that the results would be all that Tanya could possibly hope for from it be with them and guide them. father we do pray for your hand up on our ministry in your word this morning that your spirit would be active in a live in each of our hearts and father especially active in me that as I speak. I would be humbly yielded to your guidance. And your direction for it is in you and you alone the true change can come and so father may you bless us richly and guide us in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, you know we've spent. The last 3 weeks without me here, but we had started the series. I'm a Christian because I'm recognized by certain things in my life. And so are you if you claim to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior there are certain things about your life. That should be on display to the world. Those aren't what I think those are what God thinks because that's what Jesus talks about in Luke chapter 6 which we have been going through in this time. We first took a look at that. We were recognized by our fruit. You know, what comes from our lives that which is growing within us when we were recognized by our love that we display towards others. We talked a lot about that in our Sunday school class this morning and then next week. We'll talk about we are recognized by our choices those decisions we make as we go along should display our recognition of God in our lives. But today we're going to take a look at the whole idea that we are recognized by our compassion and sometimes it Go compassion and all that sort of thing short story to get us started here Marion, IA as the most of you know, where missionaries for 10 years over in Europe and to become missionaries. We had to go out and raise support. We were attending a very large church at the time and they actually offered a quarter of whatever support we needed for our missions group, but we had to make application. Their application progress was really more difficult than we applied for. Anything else did a lot of forms. We had to fill out six different forms that were looking at our mental. And where we were at but we got done with that and we went in to talk with one of the pastors of the church about where we were and he says what you two are a really unusual couple normally when we look at Compassion. We think of the ladies is having that great compassion and the guys are coming iffy about it. He said but you guys are different. He said when we look at it Don your compassion level is really high and we tend to worry about that a little bit because people can take advantage of people that are really compassionate in their desires. He said but you don't have to worry Mary has no compassion whatsoever.

Well, that's not exactly true. I probably didn't have as much compassion as there's nothing showed and certainly you know that Mary has a great deal of compassion story to take a look at to begin the process compassion a very powerful statement. It's really recognizing the struggles and others. But not looking at those struggles to judge them but looking at those struggles to see what you might be able to do to help them. God talks a lot about compassion in the Old Testament and the New Testament Jesus speaks to it. And even there are situations that he comes across where he has great compassion for the people and so he becomes involved in their lives, even though he has needs that he's trying to meet himself. And so when we take a look at Compassion, we're taking a look at people with struggles in those sort of things. So we're going to look at some of this that as we look at them.

They looked pretty jacked something in our lives that changes us. What are things we have to remember is that because we have shows the follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and you can if you've accepted Jesus rising you say Jesus is my Lord and my savior what you're saying is that yes, he's saved me but he is also my Lord which means I have to live in obedience to what he has to say. All right, you know if if he truly is my Lord he needs to be my Lord my savior the one I Look to and follow and so that is what we're looking at. Not only today but everyday when I stand up here and I preach the word of God. Those are God's words. And we are to live in obedience to those words. Okay. So taking a look at Compassion in this life. We're going to start off by reading this first section and you're going to from Luke chapter 6 off the page here, but Luke chapter 6 and it may not seem like I'm passionate thought but let me lead you into that idea here verse 37 of chapter 6 of Luke. It says do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Okay, so there's three statements here that are very powerful and they all relate to compassion and are thinking about a what compassion is all about and how we deal with it in our lives Hebrews 10:34 speak to this whoever wrote Hebrews. These are words that he expressed of the Jews of the day and he says these words Hebrews 10:34 you sympathized with those in prison. And joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property because you knew that you yourselves had better and more lasting possessions. Okay, taking it back to where we are. I am a follower of Jesus Christ and I have great possessions, but they aren't possessions here on this Earth. The great possessions I have our up and Glory when I get up there, that's where my possessions are. So I don't have to worry about what God is doing here on this Earth. So it changes my entire perspective about how I live life. I'm not living it for every moment here. I'm living it for God's glory in my life here. Okay kind of expresses where we're going in terms of these terms of judging terms of condemnation in terms of forgiveness.

as far as judging goes

Paul writes Romans 14:4, why are you to judge? Someone else's servant to his master? He stands or Falls and he will stand for the Lord is able to make him stand. Okay, one of the things that we talked about this morning is that that a lot of our interaction involves the Church of the church and those people that are in the church and if you look around you're looking at people you are supposed to be in love with About that, you're supposed to love each other, you know, and that's why sometimes we spend some time afterwards to talk with one another because it expresses that love that we should have for one another anyway, when he's talking in this particular passage is talking to Believers. Okay, he's saying you you have these people of yours that you are supposed to be involved with and and not judging because I'm not judging them. See God knows every part of their heart and he says I'm not judging them. I forgiven them. They are believers in Christ. I forgive them for their sins. Now you take a look at them and see what you see, but if you see something that you're struggling with You need to be involved in helping them to become more like me and other words. The goal is christlikeness. My goal for each of you is that you grow in Jesus Christ and your goal for each and every one of the other people in here want to be that somehow through the influence of your life you change them to be more like Christ. So when it comes to judging them You're not judging them for the evil that is in their life, but for helping them to see the truth of what?

God doesn't judge him we should. We should just say I am here to serve the Living God to make a change in their locks. The second part was that the whole idea of condemnation do I condemn people for what they've done, you know? Everyone this is speaking to all of us. There are times in each of Our Lives where we do judge people and we probably shouldn't and we know we should there are times when we condemn people for what they've done and we're called not to do that. In fact, Jesus speaks of that very clearly and Matthew 12:7. He says if you know what these words mean I desire Mercy not sacrifice. You would have not condemn the innocent. Okay, one of the struggles that Jesus had of course was with the leaders of the spiritual movement in Israel at the time. They were a very judgemental group and they condemn people and they thought of themselves as being more Worthy. You know, so they were the elitists of the religious community. They were lost and they weren't helping others to find their way. And that's what happens when we condemn people for the things that they do. What we ought to do is either encourage them in the right way, or at least be in prayer for their lives to help them see the truth of where they are demonstrated in your own life. How you walk And how you are demonstrate compassion. And the last thing is that the whole idea of forgiveness. Did Jesus speaks up here he touches these three areas trying to see how we think about the world and where we're going and so he gets to this last portion the whole idea of forgiveness and remember in chapter 6 of Matthew. He teaches the Lord's Prayer as he doesn't Luke and goes through the prayer and then he gets to the end and he goes back to one thing that he mentions in the prayer. You noticed that as you read it Matthew 6:14 after he's finished the prayer. He says these words for if you forgive men when they sinned against you your heavenly father will also forgive you.

You know, that's a pretty powerful statement when you think about it, you know, I when I get upset with somebody who is offended me and some way and I choose not to forgive them. I'm standing. In God's judgement on my life. That's a pretty top thing to stand you. But Jesus says how many times should we forgive when he gives you a number? But that number is a long number and we need to remember that we always need to forgive and there's a lot of issues that come along with that. But the whole idea of the whole concept is forgive it clears your conscience and it makes you ready to walk this life is God would have you walk it he is with you if you forgiven if you are not forgiving people remember God isn't going to hang around with you is not going to be there to guide you because you have a corruptness in your life that you haven't exposed to him and sought his forgiveness for forgive others Okay, so that's a that's a tough one. Let's get onto the next issue. And that is the whole idea of giving you know, how does understanding goes tough issues connect with our lives in terms of how we respond to those things and so much of what we think of his giving his money, but I think that there is far more in our lives that is important for us to remember that we have to God and this it is in verse 38. So we were just read 37 verse 38 says give and it will be given to you measure pressed down shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured to you. In other words. Again, your willingness to give is also a demonstration of God's willingness to pour out his Blessing on you. He wants to bless each of us tremendously, but it begins with our willingness to be obedient to God and yield ourselves to him and allow him to use us in whatever ways that might be Financial. It might be care. It might be a lot of different reasons that we give our lives. It might be a teaching moment. It might be just a hug that you have to give but there are times God calls us to give and he says if you will give With love and caring for the person that is in need then I will give back to you abundantly. I will get back to you abundantly Marca 8 37 and 38 has some interesting things to say or what can a man give in exchange for his soul if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation. The son of man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his father's Glory with his holy angels in other words. God wants us to be willing to give in this is our lives are that once we yield ourselves into God's hands we have given our lives over to him and it is for him to you. As he wants to use it not for us to make the decision. Well, I'll do this but I am not going to be involved in that sometimes. God says no, I want you to be involved in this other thing even though you don't want there because there's a lesson here for you and for others and so sometimes God calls us to do things. We don't necessarily.

But it's a great Exchange. You know God gets my soul for all eternity and I have that Joy of Eternity and I don't have to go to the place. I don't want to have to go help. So that's a that's a good Exchange.

Okay.

there's a

There in chapter 25 of Matthew he goes through the scenario of judgment and there are three areas of judgment. He talks about in that chapter. The first area has to do with your soul. Does your soul belongs in the Living God, you know, the little angels that are there and they they come for the people in if they're Candle is lit, you know God they are received by God at the candle is not lit. They're not received by God. That's the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit and that's that's Glory then they go through the second one, which is talents what talent is god-given you we talked about that a little bit and Sunday school this morning to your gifts each and everyone of you who claims Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has been given a gift and God says use that gift. Use that gift for for his glory. Okay, and so God judges us on our willingness to use the gifts. That he is giving us and the final thing is you know that you have an obligation as a person to be involved in the lives of other people. Are you involved in those locks and your actions will be on display before the Living God and you'll talk about that. So let's get back to the whole idea of talents though using those talents those gifts that you have for God's glory in the scenario. He talks about somebody receiving telling somebody receiving 5-gallon somebody receiving a one Talent people with the 10 in the 5 to go out of use those talents for his glory and they're accepted in and they're giving even more blessed and then there's one that buries his talent doesn't use it at all. It's wasted talent for his life. OK and here we get to Matthew 25:29. And Jesus says in the end for everyone who has will be given more and he will have abundance as we stand before the Living God in eternity and he passes judgment on our lives. He says well done good and faithful servant. You used what I gave you for my glory in this world, and now you get abundance of blessing because of that. That's one of those things that we have to look forward to when we get to heaven that abundant blessing and it says whoever does not have even what he has will be taken away. In other words that talent that was given to that person that buried in the sand. That Talent will be taken away and given to somebody who actually used it. If you're using your talents for God's glory, there may be even more that's given to you when you get to heaven. That one that's pretty exciting. Are receiving an abundance.

There's a also a.m. You know Jesus talk about abundantly giving you know, if you give you know, I'll give it back to you more. There's an Old Testament parallel to that from Malachi chapter 3 verse 10 and people weren't giving to the church and this is financial giving that he's talking about but it's giving in a lot of different ways. We all give in different ways to the church and yeah In this passage of that Malachi 3 verses 10 11, he says bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be a food in my house test me in this says the Lord Almighty and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven. And pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops and the vines of your Fields will not cast off their fruit says the Lord Almighty in other words. God says test me see if I will not bless you. So whatever gifts and talents he is laid upon your life. He says, Use them for my glory if you do I will bless richly. I will bless you, richly. You know, I'm Yours the problem. Sometimes we we take the added we say well, okay my blessing. My expectation is I will have a lot of things. Have you ever read the book The Prayer of Jabez real short one Wilkinson right wrote it and you can read through the ad and I remember well, let me go to the passage here. It says it's taken from 1st Chronicles. 1st Chronicles 4 verses 9 and 10. This is the Prayer of Jabez that was referred to in the book. It says Jabez was more honorable than his brothers is mother had named him Jabez saying I gave birth to him and pain Jason has cried out to the god of Israel mark my territory let my hand let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from Pain and God granted his request. Okay in the book was saying, okay. This is a prayer. We need to make before God that we will cry out to him and ask for rich blessing. Here's the struggled all that we have with that so often the rich blessing that we seek is the blessing of Earthly Earthly blessings. And there were people that would read this book and then they would go out and pray from their business and a blessing upon their home that they would receive stuff and they did and they said wow, it works. God actually blessings in this way. But what they're missing out is that God really wants to bless us in the spiritual sense. He wants to use us to be a reflection of the glory of Christ in our world and connect with people. And truly the richest blessing is from there. And so when we seek God's blessing the most important we receive is the understanding of knowing Christ the understanding of being able to present price to a world that is in desperate need. I mean when we walk out this building today, we will be walking into a world where people are dying and going to hell on a regular basis.

Does that touch your heart it on to it on the touch each of our hearts that we would be in Desperate prayer for those people, but we would also be demonstrating what God is laid Upon Our Lives that is a demonstration of compassion for people that you want them to see the truth of God's word in your life. That's the demonstration of real compassion. There is an abundance of it and then there's a measure, you know, how much do I really want to give you know, there's times when we go through life and we look at the wet. What energy we have? We say? Well, I just simply you know, I can't deal with that. God calls us to be involved in to measure and we have to wisely do that. But Jesus speaks to that measure of what we give. And he says it a mark for 24 and 5 consider carefully what you hear he continued with the measure you use it will be measured to you and even more Whoever has will be given more. Whoever does not have even what he has will be taken away and given A measure of understanding and wisdom and guidance from God those gifts that help encourage others to follow him.

God gives us lots of opportunity to grow in him. This morning is one of those you're here. You're in God's house you're doing something that is powerful and mighty to understanding and growing and knowing god the little bit more.

We should continue to seek that throughout our week throughout her day what I give to God.

And that's the whole idea of measuring and out and seeking to know it and understand it. Okay. So how does all this happen? You know, we've looked at the empty of Judgment of condemned of condemnation and forgiveness and know that you know, we need to be careful really careful in those areas. We've looked at what we receive how God wants to pour out his Blessing on us in those activities. So, let's see where this all goes in terms of life and so will read verses 39 through 42 to finish this off. He says he also told them this parable. Can it can a blind man lead a blind man with a knife both fall into the pit A student is not above his teacher who's the teacher Jesus Christ is the teacher is trying to teach us what is important? We're not above what he does. So we need to examine his life and what he has taught us to really understand and know what's going on. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother brother? Let us take the let me take the speck out of your eye when you all's you yourself failed to see the plank in your own eye you hypocrite first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. I think that's said sometimes were invisible to those planks in her eyes. We need to examine ourselves regularly, don't we?

God is saying be careful. You know, there are certain things in our world that we want to live up to and we want to do but God has a plan for our lives and remember if we go back and we take a look at what has God called us to first of all he's called us to believe on Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. And to follow him you say check I've got that taken care of. That's wonderful. If you can say that if you do not if you cannot say that if you cannot say that you've committed your life to Jesus Christ. I encourage you I plead with you to examine that step and take it in your life. The second thing is that God wants us to be used to encourage. Others to know Jesus Christ first in the body of Christ so that they will grow and Achieve that Unity that God desires for each and every one of us in the fullness of Jesus Christ, but also in our world as we go through our world we need to live for Jesus Christ in our lives. Ephesians 5 15 to 17

It says be careful then how you live not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Understand what the Lord's will is, you know, sometimes we take a look at our lives. We want to live it the way we want to live it but God says no now that you're my child. I want you to live it the way I want you to live it not the way you want to live it. Because the blessing is my way not your way.

I think about that a little bit God's blessing comes from our willingness to be obedient to who he is. Speaking of obedience John speaks about that in first John if I love God if I truly love God and I think most of us would say yeah. Yeah, I truly love God. Okay. Well, here's what John says about it first John 5:3. This is love for God to obey his commands. You obey his commands? And his commands are not burdensome. In other words. I read these words from Luke chapter 6 and he's speaking to me about my fruit that I produced. My love I have for people my compassionate my choices in life and will speak about next week. Those are God's desire for our lives. Am I living in obedience to those?

Each and every one of you have to answer that question. I can answer it for myself, but I can't answer it for you examine Mi truly loving God if I am I'm being obedient to God. And that comes from listening. Remember God Jesus says you don't listen to the teacher. I'm the teacher. Are you listening? Then? You hear me? John 8:43 says why is my language I clear to you because you're unable to hear what I say. Do you know? So often will read through the word of God and will say wow. That was interesting.

But do we really examine what we just read? How does it apply to my life? What is it calling me? How can I make changes that make me what the word of God calls me to those are important thing.

You and I ought to be working together to do this. The Bible continually goes over that be of Aid we read about it this morning and and 1st Corinthians 1 13. I mean 13 chapter chapter 13, but we also looked at in 14 and and 12 chapter 14 because they're kind of a combining and it talks about being in the body of Christ and having those gifts and those gifts are for what the common good of all of you. In other words a gift I have is for your good and the gift you have is for all the other people's good. We are AIDS in that and it's the same in Ephesians that talks about the gifts given and Romans. It talks about the gift given it says in Ephesians 4:13. After he's talked about the gifts and he's talked about using them. He says this until we all reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. in other words Your job and my job is to help others know Christ to work in unity to that. That's what we're doing. Today. We're working together to grow in Christ. You and I are doing that as we serve one another today. But it doesn't end just a day it goes on throughout the week you and I are servants in the more we are involved in God's work and in life and those things it draws us closer to that fullness and that Unity. One of the problems is that if your if you have a gift and God has blessed you with a bad gift and you choose not to use it. You're hurting my grow your hurting everybody else's wrote in this. Body of Christ

I want to help you grow. Hopefully you want to help others grow. And so that means that you attend to that gift that God has given you to bless others in knowing Jesus Christ.

Do you know Jesus Christ? Have you saw him? Are you seeking him regularly in his work?

We have lots of things going on that help us going near we teach Sunday school classes kids go to Sunday school class adults can go to Sunday school class. They can be involved in that. We're just starting back up the Bible study that we can do. We have a new Bible study coming the men's bible study is changing direction here a little bit. And so we've got some great stuff on Tuesday at 10. I forgot to mention that sorry and grow in Christ. So that you can help others grow in Christ. All these things are there as gifts from God to help us know him. anyway

As we grow in our understanding of God and knowledge of him we can use that to demonstrate our compassion to the world. God gives us that greater compassion as we understand and know him as he becomes more a part of our law. And so when we say that. We are recognized by our compassion for others. It means that there's a demonstration that is coming from our laws that is changing other people. In Christ, whether it's to come and know him or come and growing him.

That's what we all ought to want. Why because it's what God's called. God has called us. Let's play. Grace's Father in heaven, we thank you that you're the god of compassion. Apart from your compassion for the Lost of this world, we'd all be bound for hell and Eternity of a pain and suffering but because of your great compassion and willingness to even die for our lives. We have an eternity of incredible hope and joy and happiness of Wonder. I'm so excited. And really know all that you've done for us, but father what we're here. We have a responsibility to help us do a change of that responsibility and to be compassionate for the lives. First of all the body of Christ and then for our world for father the need is immense. And we need you and your strength to lead us in that so father may you bless us richly in all of this. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior who loves us immensely. amen