Developing the Heart

Developing the Heart Developing the Heart Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Love; Compassion; Jesus feeds the 5000 / Luke 9:11-17 CrossFit means we are fit to carry our cross and follow Jesus as His disciples. In order to become crossfit - the heart must be strengthened and we do that through compassion. Luke recounts the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000 to gve us a picture of compassion and how we work that out. Introduction 1. We have looked at the strength of the heart before - we know it is one of the most enduring muscles of the body a. Despite this - in order to have good heart health we must exercise the heart specifically - for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise i. Equates to about 22 minutes a day ii. Thats the minimum recommended by the way - you can do more b. You can cut that in half if you up the intensity a little bit 2. In Luke 7 we saw the power of the heart as we looked at Jesus' compassion - this morning Jesus is going to teach His disciples how to develop their hearts for compassion. a. Spiritually - like physical heart health must be developed b. We must develop the compassion of our spiritual life in order to reach the level of crossfit for a disciple of Jesus › SLIDE Luke 9:11-12 CSB 11 When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12 Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, "Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here." › SLIDE Luke 9:13-15 CSB 13 "You give them something to eat," he told them. "We have no more than five loaves and two fish," they said, "unless we go and buy food for all these people." 14 (For about five thousand men were there.) Then he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 They did what he said, and had them all sit down. › SLIDE Luke 9:16-17 CSB 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces. › SLIDE We need eyes to see › SLIDE Luke 9:11 CSB 11 When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 1. Compassion is born,grown, developed from first truly seeing people in their need a. We dont see it here - but this miraculous event is one that is recorded in every single Gospel account - let look at Matthew's account › SLIDE Matthew 14:14 CSB 14 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick. i. Jesus saw a large crowd - and had compassion on them - literally was moved with compassion ii. It first came from seeing the people - really seeing them b. Luke's account of the events - verse 10 tells us that Jesus and the disciples had come away for a little R&R i. The crowds found out - and followed Him ii. Mark's account gives us a little more information about the state of Jesus and the disciples › SLIDE Mark 6:31 CSB 31 He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while." For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 1. They were hungry 2. They were tired 3. They were supposed to be taking time away by themselves to rest iii. Jesus saw them was moved with compassion - verse 11 1. He welcomed them - received them 2. Spoke to them of the kingdom of God 3. Healed those who needed healing 2. Jesus was not bothered by the crowd finding Him and following Him a. Though like the disciples He was tired, and was resting i. Jesus saw them - had compassion and served their needs › SLIDE Jesus' attitude is always one of reception and love with service - because He had compassion b. Though in solitude - He remained available i. Jesus never missed an opportunity to speak about the kingdom of God - especially to those who had come to hear ii. Jesus remains available even now to any and all who would seek Him out › SLIDE We need to move to action › SLIDE - Luke 9:12-14a Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9 12 Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, "Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here." 13 "You give them something to eat," he told them. 1. Compassion is unleashed when we not only see but when we act upon what we see a. The disciples were content with Jesus to minister but soon they realized these people were going to be a problem i. The day was getting late and the disciples decided it would be good to send the people away before they became a problem - for they would get hungry and they would need a place to stay › SLIDE We move to action when we stop seeing people as the problem but instead as the purpose ii. It was far easier to send the people away than it was to be responsible and care for them 1. Crowds were ok - ministry was ok until it became inconvenient - or a problem 2. Besides they came here to get away from crowds not serve more crowds right? b. The disciples didnt want to personally care for them - because they werent moved to action 2. We become moved to action when we stop waiting for others to fix and tend to what we see a. The disciples told Jesus send the crowds away - so they can take care of themselves - or someone else can i. They see the problem and determine this problem is someone else's problem ii. Jesus wasnt going to turn away the crowd just because they might be inconvenient or troublesome › SLIDE Compassion doesnt turn one away because you might be a burden to care for b. Jesus responds awesomely - YOU give them something to eat! i. Its easier to send the crowds away - then to do something ii. Jesus has called His disciples to do something 1. Despite their lack of care or concern for the needs of the crowd - Jesus is trusting His disciples to feed them 2. He is challenging them - their faith and their compassion Matthew West - Do Something Verse 2 I'm so tired of talking About how we are God's hands and feet. But it's easier to say than to be. Live like angels of apathy Who tell ourselves, "It's alright: somebody else will do something." Well, I don't know about you, But I'm sick and tired Of life with no desire. I don't want a flame, I want a fire. I wanna be the one who stands up and says, "I'm gonna do something." Chorus If not us, then who? If not me and you? Right now. It's time for us to do something. Yes, it is. Come on. If not now, then when? Will we see an end To all this pain? Well, it's not enough to do nothing. It's time for us to do something. › SLIDE As disciples wanting to be CrossFit - we must choose to do something › SLIDE We need to take steps of faith › SLIDE - Luke 9:13b-17 Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9 "We have no more than five loaves and two fish," they said, "unless we go and buy food for all these people." 14 (For about five thousand men were there.) Then he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 They did what he said, and had them all sit down. › SLIDE Luke 9:16-17 CSB 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces. 1. To accomplish the goal of us meeting human needs - we need to exercise compassion powered by faith a. There are four solutions to this situation i. Ignore the problem - which Jesus and our compassion says isnt a solution ii. Throw money at it 1. Unless we go and buy food for all these people › SLIDE John 6:7 CSB 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn't be enough for each of them to have a little." a. Raise funds b. Count the cost 2. Throwing money at problems doesn't always solve them a. Dont believe me - just look at Government iii. Human resources 1. We have no more than 5 loaves and two fish - Andrew took up an offering › SLIDE John 6:8-9 CSB 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There's a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish-but what are they for so many?" a. Loaves of barley - more like rolls and barley being lowest form of bread b. 2 Fish i. Not whole tilapia even - 2 sardines or anchovies mmm mmmm 2. What are they among so many? a. 5000 - men - not counting women and children b. Season of passover - so more in the area than normal - wouldnt be entirely out of the estimate to be about 10-20 thousand people › SLIDE Matthew 14:21 CSB 21 Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 3. Human resources are always insufficient in terms of meeting great human needs iv. Faith in Divine resources - Jesus 1. Significance of the barley loaves should not be missed by the disciples › SLIDE 2 Kings 4:42-43 CSB 42 A man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with his sack full of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first bread of the harvest. Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat." 43 But Elisha's attendant asked, "What? Am I to set this before a hundred men?" "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said, "for this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat, and they will have some left over.' " › SLIDE Numbers 11:21-23 CSB 21 But Moses replied, "I'm in the middle of a people with six hundred thousand foot soldiers, yet you say, 'I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.' 22 If flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?" 23 The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm weak? Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you." › SLIDE Faith sees possibilities while sight sees problems 2. When the situation is beyond our ability - monetary or resource wise - dont forget resources of Jesus never run out 2. Faith is exercised in obedience a. Jesus says have them sit down in groups of 50 each i. About 100 groups of just the men - possibly 200 or even up to 400 groups of men women and children 1. Breaking these groups like this actually adds validity to the count of people ii. Sit down - literally recline 1. This wouldnt be hasty and done quickly 2. This is having the people stick around and enjoy this time b. The next thing we read after Jesus gives the instructions - is the disciples did what Jesus said i. The first steps of faith are obedience to Jesus › SLIDE Any procrastination to move in obedience leads to a loss or lack of compassion ii. They didnt know what Jesus would do - but they knew He was going to do something 1. Many people are waiting - something like this "God show me and I will..." 2. God is saying "Do... and I will show you" › SLIDE You dont have to see the whole staircase just take the first step › SLIDE Faith knows God already has the solution to the problem worked out 3. Faith remembers what role we each have a. Our place in ministry is in distribution i. Like the disciples gave Jesus the bread and fish - we give our materials, talents, gifts and resources to Jesus ii. He kept giving to the disciples to set before the crowd - He gives us back and we distribute to the people b. Jesus' place in ministry is in manufacturing i. Notice Jesus took what was given blessed God and broke it ii. When we give everything to Jesus - what little we may have is always multiplied and goes further in His hands › SLIDE Jesus performs the miracle but often He does it through the hands of His disciples because He wants us to partner with Him 4. Faith knows that Jesus satisfies a. Everyone ate and was filled i. John's gospel says everyone had as much as they wanted not needed but wanted › SLIDE God's provision is not scarce, it is overflowing in abundance b. They even had twelve baskets of leftovers i. 12 disciples who also were hungry - hungrier I am sure after feeding those people ii. They had enough to feed the crowd and themselves Conclusion 1. When we focus on people - to love them and serve them we develop compassion 2. Criticism, comparison, complacency are all enemies of compassion 3. Whenever there is a perceived need, give all you have to Jesus a. Begin with what you have - but be sure to give it all to Him b. That boy was willing to share so little among so many i. His mother also in what she gave to her son - gave to Jesus 4. Instead of complaining about what we lack - let us give thanks to God for what He has provided and He will make it go further 5. Whatever we need now or in the future Jesus satisfies a. It says here everyone ate and that all were filled b. What if someone wasnt? - Everyone who ate was filled i. If they didnt eat - then they didnt take what Jesus offered › SLIDE - Psalm 14:1 - Psalm 53:1 The fool says in his heart, "There's no God" ii. The fool says there's no God - the "There is" is italicized - because it has been added for clarity 1. What the fool has really said is "No, to God" - to what He offers to what He provides 2. They arent filled because they have said No, God Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:52 PM May 23, 2020.