A Spirit Of Compasion

“A SPIRIT OF COMPASSION ”

By: Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com

JOHN 5:1-16

ETS: Jesus had compassion on the impotent man.

ESS: We ought to have a spirit of compassion for people.

COMPASSION

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club and you discussed my hunger.

I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel in the cellar to pray for my release.

I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.

You seem so holy; so close to God.

But I’m still very hungry and lonely and cold.

So where have your prayers gone? What have they done? What does it profit a man to page through his book of prayers when the rest of the world is crying for help?

The Tale Of The Tardy Oxcart Charles R. Swindoll, Word, pp. 112-113.

Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him],

What can we learn about a spirit of compassion from this event n the life of Jesus?

It is an (a):

1. INDISPENSABLE SPIRIT 5:5

1. Accept our responsibility

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

2. Adjust our schedules

3. Apply our best

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

2. PERCEPTIVE SPIRIT 5:6 Perceptive to:

1. The need of the recipient 5:3

1. Impotent - without strength

2. Blind - in their understanding hearts to Jesus

3. Lame (halt) - crippled in their feet, so that they are unable to walk in God’s way.

4. Paralyzed (withered) - in their hands unable to work totally - incapacitated to work for God.

2. The willingness of the recipient 5:6

3. The Sincerity of the recipient 5:7

Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

3. DISTURBING SPIRIT

1. Because it’s Unappreciated 5:13 & 15

2. Because it’s Criticized 5:10

Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

5:14 “go and sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee”

a worse evil than that from which Jesus had delivered him. In other words, the consequences of sin are far worse than physical problems.

3. Because it’s overwhelming 5:3 “a great multitude”

You can’t meet all the needs.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.