THE COMPASSION OF THE CHURCH
ACTS 3:1-23
A CHURCH MUST ALWAYS BE KNOWN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD BY IT’S COMPASSION AND LOVE, BOTH FOR THE CHURCH COMMUNITY, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT.
THE AREA OF SOCIAL ISSUES IS A VERY TROUBLESOME ISSUE FOR THE CHURCH TODAY. EACH YEAR THERE IS LESS AND LESS RESPECT FOR THE CHURCH FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. SOMETIMES THE CHURCH IS SEEN AS AN OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS BECAUSE OF ITS THEOLOGICAL STAND ON SOCIAL ISSUES.
THE CHURCH IS RESPONSIBLE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE FOR SOME OF THIS THOUGHT.
MORE NEWS STORIES ARE BEING AIRED ON TELEVISION, ON THE INTERNET, AND IN NEWSPAPERS, ABOUT CHURCH LEADERS CONCERNING: SEX SCANDALS
THEFT
ADULTEROUS RELATIONSHIPS
THE PROBLEM BEING THAT THE NEWS MEDIA IS ONLY INTERESTED IN PRINTING NEWS THAT WILL SELL PAPERS AND GET PEOPLE TO WATCH THEIR PROGRAM. VERY LITTLE IS SAID ABOUT THE GREAT WORK FOR SOCIETY THAT MANY CHURCHES ARE DOING. ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE PICTURE IS BEING REPORTED, SO HOW CAN PEOPLE COME TO ANY OTHER CONCLUSION, BUT THAT PUT FORWARD BY THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. THERE IS ENOUGH ON THIS ISSUE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT FOR THE REST OF OUR TIME HERE TODAY, BUT I WANT TO FOLLOW ANOTHER MORE POSITIVE ROAD.
WHILE THE WORLD AROUND US MAY TEND TO DWELL ON THE SOCIAL SCANDALS OF THE CHURCH, LETS NOT FORGET THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE COMPASSION OF THE CHURCH, IS STILL VERY PRESENT IN OUR WORLD TODAY.
IT IS THE CHURCH THROUGH OUR MISSION EFFORTS THAT HAVE HELPED THOSE IN NEED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
THE CHURCH IS ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS TO SEND AID WHEN NATURAL DISASTERS STRIKE.
IT WAS THE CHURCH WHO LED THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD LABOR IN ENGLAND
SOME OF OUR GREAT PROGRAMS HERE IN CANADA WHERE HEADED BY CHRISTIAN MINISTERS:
THE MEDICARE PROGRAM WAS STARTED SO THAT ALL CANADIANS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL HELP. T.C.DOUGLAS (MINISTER)
THE REFORMED PARTY LEADER (PRESTON MMANNING – MINISTER)
I KNOW OF CHURCHES WHO ARE HELPING PEOPLE PAY MORTAGES WHEN THEY FALL BEHIND.
CHURCHES ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HAVE HAD BENEFIT SUPPERS AND FUNDRAISERS TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY CHILDREN WERE BLESSED BY PROGRAMS LIKE OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD.
ALL THESE THINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT NESECCARILY GO TO THAT PARTICULAR CHURCH, OR POSSIBLY ANY CHURCH.
I GEAR OUR BENEVOLENT FUND TO HELP THOSE OF OUR CONGREGATION FIRST, WE CAN AND HAVE USED IT TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.
OFTEN THE GOOD DEEDS OF THE CHURCH TO THE COMMUNITY ARE OVERLOOKED, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE CHURCH IS MORE THAN JUST AN ORGANIZATION LOOKING FOR AN OFFERING.
WE DO MORE THAN JUST FINANCES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MANY TIMES WE MINISTER IN A PROPER WAY. BY THAT I MEAN WE DO NOT BOAST ABOUT IT. CONSEQUENTLY I CANNOT SAY MUCH ON THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW OF THE DRIVES PEOPLE OFFER, THE VISITS THEY SHARE, A COMFORTING NOTE OR A PHONE CALL.
THE CHURCH IS VERY RELEVENT TODAY, AND WE MUST NOT ALLOW THOSE WHO FEEL IT ISN’T TO DISCOURAGE US.
COMPASSION IS THE ESSENCE OF THE GOLDEN RULE.
MATTHEW 7:12: ““DO TO OTHERS WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO TO YOU. THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF ALL THAT IS TAUGHT IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”
WE RECOGNIZE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND SO THEREFORE WE REACH OUT TO THEM IN COMPASSION.
IT IS A SAD FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST, BUT WHO ARE MORE COMPASSIONATE TO THEIR FELLOW HUMANS THAN PEOPLE IN SOME CHURCHES. THE FACT IS THAT SOME PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH TREAT THEIR DOGS BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE OF THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS OUGHT NOT TO BE.
AS A CHURCH WE ARE TO EXTEND COMPASSION WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN. DO NOT EXPECT A SLAP ON THE BACK, OR A HANDSHAKE OR HUG FOR DOING A GOOD DEED. WE ARE TO DO THESE DEEDS BECAUSE WE CAN, AND PRESENT CHRIST AS PART OF IT.
YES, PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHURCH AND OUR COMPASSION, BUT THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE CHURCH TO BE EXCUSED FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER IT.
CHAPTER THREE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE COMPASSION OF THE CHURCH BEING OFFERED. WHAT A CONTRAST IS PRESENTED TO US. HERE AT THE TEMPLE GATE CALLED “BEAUTIFUL” IS A MAN WHO IS ANYTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL. WE ARE TOLD THAT THE MAN WAS CRIPPLED FROM BIRTH AND WAS CARRIED THERE EACH DAY TO BEG.
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE BEGGAR IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE NON-CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD TODAY. ALL TO OFTEN WE ARE CRIPPLED BY OUR FEAR AND HATRED. WITH NO SPIRITUAL LIFE TO FALL BACK ON, HE CRIES FOR THE WORLDS ANSWER TO ALL THINGS, MONEY. THE REACTION OF PETER AND PAUL TO THIS INDIVIDUAL IS A REACTION THAT WE ALL MUST HAVE.
POINT ONE: WE MUST BE CONCERNED FOR THE WHOLE PERSON:
THE FIRST THING THAT PETER AND PAUL SHOW US IS THAT WE MUST BE CONCERNED FOR ALL OF THE PERSON’S NEEDS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL.
THIS HAS BEEN A RAGING QUESTION IN CHRISTENDOM FOR MANY YEARS, “WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FIRST, A PERSON’S PHYSICAL NEEDS, OR THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS?” IF YOU MINISTER TO THE PHYSICAL NEEDS FIRST, YOU KEEP THEM ALIVE TO LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL AND MAKE A DECISION. IF YOU MINISTER TO THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS FIRST, THE PERSON MAY DIE, BUT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE FOR THEM TO RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL AND GO TO HEAVEN. IT’S A MISGUIDED DEBATE THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAS RAGED ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO RAGE ON FOR MANY YEARS.
CHRIST IN REALITY MINISTERED TO THE WHOLE PERSON. HE ALLOWED THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO DICTATE THE ORDER.
PHYSICAL – SPIRITUAL
SPIRITUAL – PHYSICAL
IN NO CASE WAS ONE USED AND NOT THE OTHER. EACH HAD IT’S PROPER PLACE. CONSIDER THE FEEDING OF THE 5000. NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY MORE LIKE 12,000-15,000. THE SCRIPTURES DECLARED THAT JESUS:
LUKE 9:11: “BUT THE CROWDS FOUND OUT WHERE HE WAS GOING, AND THEY FOLLOWED HIM. HE WELCOMED THEM AND TAUGHT THEM ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HE HEALED THOSE WHO WERE SICK.”
IT IS CLEAR THAT JESUS IS DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL NEEDS HERE FIRST, AND THEN MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEM TO BE FED PHYSICALLY. THERE ARE PLACES IN SCRIPTURE WHERE JESUS USED PHYSICAL MIRACLES TO BE ABLE TO MINISTER TO PEOPLE ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL.
WE CAN APPLY THE SAME PRINCIPLE IN OUR WORLD TODAY. WE CAN ADDRESS PEOPLE’S PHYSICAL NEEDS TO OPEN DOORS TO SPEAK TO THEM ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL.
POINT TWO: THE CHURCH MUST GIVE WHAT IT HAS
THE CHURCH MUST NEVER BE SEEN AS AN IMPERSONAL AGENT THAT MAKES GIFTS THAT COST US NOTHING. THERE WILL BE TIMES WHERE TO GIVE WILL NOT HURT US FINANCIALLY, BUT WE MUST ALSO BE READY TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MINISTRY THAT MAY COST US DEARLY.
I REMEMBER PETER REID OUR EXECUTIVE MINISTER, TELLING US ABOUT A SITUATION RIGHT FROM THIS PULPIT A FEW YEARS AGO. SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY NEEDED AN OPERATION AND HIS RELATIVE, AN UNCLE OR PERHAPS CLOSER WAS IN THE CONGREGATION. HE WAS EXP[LAINGIN AT A MEETING THAT MONEY WAS TIGHT AND THE OPERATION HAD TO BE PERFORMED IN THE UNITED STATES. THE COST WAS ABOUT $100,000.00.
THE CHURCH AT THAT MEETING DECIDED TO TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE ON THEIR CHURCH TO GET THE MONEY AND ALLOW THE PERSON TO HAVE THE OPERATION. GOD ALLOWED THEM TO PAY IT OFF IN LESS THAN A YEAR.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER WILL OCCUR, AND WE NEED TO BE READY FOR IT WHEN IT DOES. I’VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES OCCUR FROM WALKING DOWN AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK OURSELVES IS ARE WE WILLING TO BECOME VULNERABLE TO OTHERS, FOR THE SAKE OF THE MINISTRY? ARE WE WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE?
POINT THREE: THE PRIORITY IS ALWAYS TO SPIRITUAL NEEDS
COMPASSION SAYS THAT WE ALWAYS REACH OUT WHERE WE CAN TO MINISTER TO A PERSON’S PHYSICAL NEEDS, THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE PERSON TAKES PRIORITY. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE SPIRITUAL MESSAGE IS ALWAYS PRESENTED.
PHYSICAL HEALING IS ONLY TEMPORAL HEALING. WE GET SICK AGAIN, BONES BREAK AGAIN, UNTIL THE TIME WE REACH THE POINT WHERE NO PHYSICAL HEALING IS POSSIBLE.
SPIRITUAL HEALING IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE. THE BEGGAR IN THIS PASSAGE IS LOOKING FOR A TEMPORARY FIX. HELP ME FOR TODAY IS HIS CRY. IT IS ALL THAT HE KNOWS.
IT IS THE SAME CRY FROM THE WORLD TODAY. HELP US IN OUR PRESENT SITUATION, BUT DO NOT TALK TO US ABOUT ETERNITY.
NOTE PETER’S REPLY TO THE MAN:
ACTS 3:6: “BUT PETER SAID, “I DON’T HAVE ANY SILVER OR GOLD FOR YOU. BUT I’LL GIVE YOU WHAT I HAVE. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENE, GET UP AND WALK!’’”
PETER’S CHALLENGE TO THE MAN IS SPIRITUAL IN NATURE. BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND YOU SHALL WALK AS AN EVIDENCE OF THAT BELIEF. HIS PHYSICAL HEALING WAS A SIGN OF HIS SPIRITUAL HEALING. PETER THEN GOES ON TO PREACH A MESSAGE.
AS WE REACH OUT TO HELP PEOPLE ON A PHYSICAL PLAIN IT WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF TERRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
LESLIE AND I WENT TO NEW YORK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND ONE PLACE WE STOPPED AT WAS A VERY SMALL BUT IMPORTANT CHURCH. THIS CHURCHED HOUSED BEDS AND FOOD FOR RESCUE WORKERS DURING 911. THERE WERE PICTURES OF IT ON THE WALLS, AND COUNTLESS NAMES PRINTED ON FLAGS OF THE VICTIMS. I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT AS THEY OFFERED A PLACE TO REST, THAT THEY ALSO WERE OFFERED THE COMFORT OF SCRIPTURE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD AS A REGIONAL PICKUP POINT. WE PREPARE THE LOCAL BOXES TO BE SENT TO A CENTRAL PLACE WHERE THEY WILL BE CHECKED AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET THE PHYSICAL STANDARDS SET, AND THEN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS PLACED INSIDE EACH ONE.
WE DO LOOK AFTER THE PHYSICAL, BUT THE SPIRITUAL HAS PRIORITY.
CONCLUSION:
WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS? WHY SHOULD WE REACH OUT? I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU A FEW REASONS AS WE CONCLUDE.
WE REACH OUT TO OTHERS BECAUSE SOMEONE REACHED OUT TO US. I REMEMBER THE PRAYERS OF MY MOTHER. I REMEMBER THE LOVE THAT WAS LAVISHED ON ME BY MY CHURCH. I HAVE FELT THE LOVE OF GOD IN MY LIFE. THAT LOVE MUST BE PASSED ON TO OTHERS.
WE NEED TO REACH OUT IN COMPASSION BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE NEED TO REPENT AND BE BORN-AGAIN. WE ARE ALL SINNERS, AND AS SUCH FACE THE SAME PENALTY FOR SIN, WHICH IS AN ETERNITY WITHOUT CHRIST IN HELL.
PETER DESCRIBED IT THIS WAY:
ACTS 3:19: “NOW REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, SO THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE WIPED AWAY.”
THE PAPYRUS SCROLLS THAT WERE USED AT THIS TIME WERE OF A DENSITY THAT THE INK COULD BE WASHED AWAY WITH A WET SPONGE, AND BE MADE CLEAN TO USE AGAIN. THIS IS WHAT PETER WAS REFERRING TO HERE WHEN HE WAS TELLING THE PEOPLE TO REPENT. THEY MUST START NEW.
WE NEED TO REACH OUT IN COMPASSIONG BECAUSE PEOPLE’S ETERNAL DESTINIES ARE AT STAKE.
ACTS 3:20-23:
“20 THEN TIMES OF REFRESHMENT WILL COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AND HE WILL AGAIN SEND YOU JESUS, YOUR APPOINTED MESSIAH. 21 FOR HE MUST REMAIN IN HEAVEN UNTIL THE TIME FOR THE FINAL RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS, AS GOD PROMISED LONG AGO THROUGH HIS HOLY PROPHETS. 22 MOSES SAID, ’THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM AMONG YOUR OWN PEOPLE. LISTEN CAREFULLY TO EVERYTHING HE TELLS YOU.’ 23 THEN MOSES SAID, ’ANYONE WHO WILL NOT LISTEN TO THAT PROPHET WILL BE COMPLETELY CUT OFF FROM GOD’S PEOPLE.’”
THE TIME IS RAPIDLY COMING WHEN THE LORD IS GOING TO RETURN AND CLAIM HIS OWN AND ETERNITY IS A LONG TIME TO BE WRONG. HISTORY IS POINTING US TO THE NEAR RETURN OF CHRIST.
AS A CHURCH WE MUST BE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE AND REACH OUT IN COMPASSION. WE MUST ASK OURSELVES IF WE CARE TO GO THE EXTRA MILE TO HELP OTHERS, AND IN DOING SO, PRESENT CHRIST TO THEM.
