H- Hearts of Compassion

Matt 14:14 tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion and took care of them. The compassion was not simply putty, it was not just a casual hand out, the word compassion when properly understood means that he was deeply pained. It tore him up. It was not something that he could just feel sad about for a moment and then just go on about his day. It moved him to action. It caused him to stop everything, to change his plans, alter his course, and intervene. (Although this was always his plan)

As followers of Jesus, I pray that God will give us these hearts of compassion for those that are in need. That as we see the crowds, we will not just have a sad feeling, putty then, and go on about our day. That it will cut to our very soul and break our hearts – and move us to action! I pray that as we meet people this Sunday, we would truly have hearts of compassion for them, and that we will in that moment allow the Holy Spirit to use us to meet their needs and offer HOPE.

O – Offering to Meet Their Needs; Physically and Spiritually

In order to offer true HOPE, as Jesus did, me have to look for ways to offer to meet both there physical and spiritual needs.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion and gave them food and heals their sick. He did not come to just meet there earthly physical needs, but he came to restore the relationship that once existed, to love them back to the father by going through with the greatest act ever, giving his life for the forgiveness of sins. “He was moved with compassion because they were like lost sheep without a shepherd.” He did not come to just give them a full belly, heal the sick, cause the blind to see and leave them on their way to hell. We are not here to help them continue on the journey of life in the wrong direction with the right size pair of pants and a nice pair of shoes. Let us take this opportunity to point them to Jesus.

Let us have hearts of compassion as we are the hands and feet of Jesus offering to meet the needs of the people that God is sending us. The physical and spiritual needs. Let us be praying for the Holy Spirit to even now be preparing their hearts and preparing ours for the opportunity to share the TRUE HOPE that only Jesus can bring.

P – Praying for Them and the Power of the Holy Spirit

This is going to take prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, no one comes to me unless the Spirit draws them. Let us be praying even now that the Holy Spirit will be drawing them into himself. That they would have ready hearts to receive them.

Jesus also said, I will send the spirit and then you will be my witnesses… Let us even now be praying for the Holy Spirit to prepare and empower us, to fill us so that we can be the instruments in His hands to lead those He is sending to us to Him.

Let us be praying and never ceasing. Let us be praying silently in our hearts and mind for them as we are walking by there side, as we are sorting through clothes, as we are painting their faces and serving them food. Let us be constantly praying for their hearts to be open and for them to receive the love of Christ and for God to give us opportunities to share it.

Let us engage in asking them – “Hey, before you leave today, is there anything that I can pray with you about?”

Let us not just pray for their earthly needs, but also look for opportunities to pray with them for their spiritual needs as well. Let us be praying that God gives us the opportunity to talk with them about Eternity.

E – Eternity

Helping them see the love of God and the relationship that He wants with them is what this is all about. Both here and now, and for eternity!

Let us be willing to have the discussion about eternity.

This is an opportunity for us to allow a few moments to change eternity for them. Let us go out if our way to share with them these things: (and we will have the Salvation bracelet to help us as well).

Transition statement:

We are so glad you came and we are here doing this because Jesus did it for us.

We are here to care for them because Jesus loves them.

Ask them:

Do you know that Jesus loves you? Despite anything we have ever done.

Do you know that He died on a cross for all of us to pay for our sins and offer us forgiveness for all we have ever done?

Do you know that he loves you and wants to come into your life and have have a relationship with you and make you new?

Would you like to ask him in your life today? I am willing to pray with you right now.

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I am praying that we will do everything that we can to be the hands and feet of Jesus in offering the true HOPE that can only be found in Him! I am Praying that you will be ready for God to use you even more then you can imagine!

I love you!

I love what God has for us!
John