Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 142:4

Introduction

In the text before us David is a hunted man, running from King Saul.

He has been hiding and fleeing for his life for sometime.

He feels the pressure of the armies of Israel daily, there is no relief in sight from the constant danger he is in, as an enemy of the King.

Desperate, he hides out in a dark wet cave and cries out, “No one cares for my soul.”

How like David are so many in our day, who are truly enemies of King Jesus.

They are in the wrong kingdom (Ephesians 2:1-3).

They are constantly on the run, looking for peace and satisfaction.

Only to find themselves hiding in the dark cave of despair without hope desperate for relief.

Sadly most are blinded to their true state.

Yet, if they understood their plight, they would join David in crying out “No one cares for my soul.”

Will no one care?

Why should we care?

How can we care?

\\ 1A.

An Example of Godly Compassion (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1)

1B.

The source of Paul’s compassion (9:1-2)

Paul was motivated by the Holy Spirit (9:1)

Ø      God enabled Paul to have compassion by the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life.

Paul was moved emotionally as well as spiritually (9:2)

Ø      *Great Sorrow* refers to mental and~/or physical pain

Ø      *Continual Grief* refers to mental~/emotional distress

2B.

The scope of Paul’s compassion (9:3)

If he could he would go to Hell in their place.

3B.

The desired result of Paul’s compassion (10:1)

Paul not only feels sorrow over the misery of the perishing.

He feels longing that they might be saved.

*Desire*, refers to what is pleasing to Paul

\\ 2A.

An Exhortation for Godly Compassion

Why should we care?

1B.

Because of the dreadful calamity that awaits the lost.

The joys they miss

Ø      In this life (John 10:10)

Ø      In the life to come

*Revelation 21:4-5* "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."

And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

The sorrows they will experience

*Mark 9:44* "where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'

*Matthew 24:51* "and will cut him in two and appoint /him /his portion with the hypocrites.

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2B.

Because God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

*Ezekiel 18:23* "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "/and /not that he should turn from his ways and live?

*Matthew 23:37* O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under /her /wings, but you were not willing!

3B.

Because we have been saved by God’s wonderful grace.

*Ephesians 2:4-5 * But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

*Luke 12:48*  But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few.

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

*Matthew 18:32-33 * Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!

I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

33 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'

4B.

Because we are called to be watchmen over the souls of men.

*Ezekiel 33:8-9 *  "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked /man, /you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked /man /shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

9 "Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

“You cannot live in a district without being responsible to God for doing something towards the bettering of the people among whom you reside.

Can you endure it then, that your neighbors should sink into hell?

Do not your hearts long for their salvation?”

Spurgeon

3A.

The Pathway to Godly Compassion

How can we have a heart like Paul?

1B.

Never forget the plight of the unsaved

*John 3:36* "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

2B.

Meditate on Christ’s sufficiency to save

Anyone~/everyone who repents and believes in Him will be saved!

*1 Timothy 1:15-16* This /is /a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

God saved the worst first to show us that there was hope for the rest!

\\ 3B.

Trust in the Holy Spirit’s convicting and drawing power

*John 16:8* "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

*Ezekiel 36:26-27* "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes…

Never think that anyone is beyond God’s grace.

When John Wesley arrived in Newcastle-upon-the-Tyne in May, 1742, he wrote these memorable words: "I was surprised; so much drunkenness, cursing and swearing (even from the mouths of little children) do I never remember to have seen and heard before in so small a compass of time.

Surely this place is ripe for Him who 'came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'"

4B.

Anticipate your joy at the conversion of one lost soul

*1 Thessalonians 2:19* For what /is /our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?

/Is it /not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

*3 John 1:4* I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5B.

Remember the measure of God’s grace you have received.

As we think on God’s grace made evident in our lives, we will want to extend that grace to others.

\\ 6B.

Put your compassion into action.

*1 John 3:18-19* My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

7B.