HAVE THE HEART OF JESUS! August 13, 2006
(Mat 9:35 KJV) And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
I. We must see with the eyes of Jesus! He saw the multitudes.
A. He saw the hungry he fed them. Matt 14:15-21.
B. The sick. Matt. 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
C. The tormented. Mark 5:2-15.
II. We need to feel like Jesus felt. He was moved with compassion.
A. Ten times the New Testment refers to Jesus moving with COMPASSION.
B. Pity is not compassion.
1. Pity just feels bad.
2. Compassion does something about the situation.
a. Pity is a human emotion but compassion is work of faith and love.
3. Jesus knows all about us, our feelings and needs. (Heb 4:15 KJV) For we
have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
C. Jesus wants us to treat one another with compassion.(Mat 18:33 KJV) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
D. Jesus saw the blind. (Mat 20:34 KJV) So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
E. The leper. (Mark 1:41 KJV) And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
F. Jesus wants you to spread the His message of compassion. (Mark 5:19 KJV) Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
G. Jesus sees the lost. (Mark 6:34 KJV) And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
H. Compassion for the hungry. (Mark 8:2 KJV) I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
I. He sees the broken hearted. (Luke 7:13 KJV) And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
J. He teaches us compassion. (Luke 10:33 KJV) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
III. We need to do what He did. He healed them all. (Mat 12:15 KJV) But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
(Luke 6:19 KJV) And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
A. We need to do the works of God. (John 14:12 KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
III. We need to pray like Jesus prayed.
A. In the garden He prayed.
1. His prayer was one of intercession.
2. His prayers were for others. John 17: 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
3. Pray for your enemies. (Mat 5:44 KJV) But I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
IV. Give like Jesus gave.
A. Jesus gave His all. Your treasure is what He wants. (Mat 6:21 KJV) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
1. He wants you, your heart. (Mat 6:33 KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2. An unusual news story that came out of Sydney, Australia. A man obsessed with his hobby, it was reported by authorities, had discovered 435 bikes in his house after his death. It took police seven days to remove the bikes along with hundreds of frames, wheels and other parts from [his] house." The bicycles that the man had collected over the years were literally stacked to the rafters in his 3-bedroom house. Some of the bicycles were bought, some were traded, and police believe many of the bicycles were stolen The focus of that man’s life is obvious! JESUS talked about a man who was so obsessed with his "stuff" that he had to tear down his barns and build bigger barns to store it (Luke 12:13-21). But God said to him, "Fool! This night your SOUL will be required of you; then whose will those "things" be which you have provided?" (Luke 12:20). Then Jesus gave the following application: "So is he who lays up treasure for HIMSELF, and is not rich toward GOD" (Luke 12:21).
Let me assure you – if the focus of your life isn’t "serving God", then it really doesn’t matter WHAT your focus is! We need to have the Heart of Jesus! Whether it’s bicycles, jewelry, or a vacation home at the beach or the mountains, it’s all just ‘clutter’ that one day will be worthless. I mentioned the man’s death, but I failed to tell you how he died. He died after hitting his head after falling off a bicycle!. Some obsessions result in DEATH, and whenever (or however) death comes, it means the loss of everything. Only one "obsession" results in LIFE: a SAVING RELATIONSHIP with God through Jesus Christ. Paul said, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). You may enjoy this SAVING RELATIONSHIP with God through Christ by: placing your trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6), repenting of sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confessing one’s faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10. AND by faithfully following Him the rest of one’s life. Jesus said, "Do NOT lay up for yourselves TREASURES on EARTH, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves TREASURE in HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your TREASURE is, there your HEART will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21).
Where’s YOUR treasure?
