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We are going to turn in our
service here to Romans chapter 12.

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If you have your Bibles, turn
with me to Romans chapter 12.

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And we're going to be in verse
number eight here this morning.

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This morning's message is
entitled Moved with Compassion.

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And we're looking at the very
last gift that is listed here in

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Romans chapter 12.

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We've been going through these
gifts now for quite some time, and

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we've been looking at these
unique gifts that God has graced

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us with to use within the body
of Christ.

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And the big idea is this, this
morning that God gives the gift of

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mercy to reflect the
compassionate heart of Christ by

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bringing comfort, hope and
healing to those who are hurting.

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Really, God gifts individuals
with the gift of mercy, with the

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gift of compassion so that
people can experience the type of

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love and hope and comfort and
healing that God extends to us in

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his grace.

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In Romans chapter 12, it says
that those that are called to be

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gifted in the gift of mercy,
it says, he that showeth mercy with

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cheerfulness.

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Throughout this series, we've
been studying God's motivational

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gifts, and we've seen that
some are called to proclaim truth.

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We see that some are called to serve.

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Behind the scenes we we see
that some are called to teach, some

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are called to encourage.

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Some are gifted to give
generously, some are gifted to lead

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diligently.

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And here we see that some are
gifted to show mercy with cheerfulness.

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Every one of these gifts are
to be exercised with love.

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But Paul intentionally here
closes this section with the words

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with cheerfulness.

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Why?

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Because mercy should never be
offered reluctantly, almost against

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our will, or done in such a
way that causes bitterness in our

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own life.

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But it should be offered
joyfully, willingly, excited to see

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what God is going to do
through this act of mercy.

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And so we're going to study
the topic of mercy here this morning.

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Let's go ahead and open up
with a word of prayer, and then we're

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going to dive right into the
text here this morning.

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Lord, we do thank you for this
time that you've given us.

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We're thankful for the
opportunity to continue to study

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these gifts of service that
you've called us to exercise, Lord,

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that you've given us to edify
the church, to glorify you, Lord.

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And I pray that through this
study that each and every person

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who is a believer in you can
understand what his or her gift is.

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And to exercise that gift and
to walk in the strength and the joy

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that that gift provides.

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And so, Lord, we just thank
you for your love and what you're

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going to do in the service.

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I pray that if there's someone
here today who does not know you

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as personal savior, that today
can be the day of salvation.

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I pray that you remove me out
of the way.

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Lord, I pray that your word
can be seen clearly here this morning.

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We ask all those things in
Jesus name.

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Amen.

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So we see here at the end of
verse eight, Paul saying, he that

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showeth mercy with cheerfulness.

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What is mercy?

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Well, mercy is the God given
motivation to compassionately identify

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with the suffering of others.

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So this individual has the
gift of God to identify people who

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are suffering and not only to
identify them, but joyfully meet

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their emotional, physical and
spiritual need.

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So it's the person who is
gifted by God to recognize that someone

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is hurting, to recognize that
someone is struggling, and then meet

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them in that place and provide
emotional, physical and spiritual

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support.

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So it's not just about feeling
sorry for someone.

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Sometimes I'm driving and I
see someone and I feel sorry for

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them.

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I look and I go, wow, I
really, really wish that their life

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would change or.

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Or that they would be able to
have that.

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This gift is not just feeling
sorry for someone.

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It's more than that.

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It is entering into a person's pain.

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It's identifying their pain
and saying, yes, I can see that pain,

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but yes, I'm also feeling that
pain with them.

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What's the motivation?

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Well, the motivation is this.

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The person with the gift of
mercy is motivated to relieve the

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suffering and demonstrate
God's love through compassionate

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action.

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And I want you to think about
that word, action, because the person

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who is gifted with compassion,
their heart naturally notices hurting

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people.

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It notices lonely people.

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It notices forgotten people.

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It notices broken people.

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It notices people who are discouraged.

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And so while others notice the
crowd and.

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And maybe notice activity, the
person who is gifted in the gift

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of mercy notices the
individual, notices their heart.

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And so we're going to go to a
text that I believe is a good example

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of an individual who exercises
this type of compassion, this type

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of mercy.

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And that's going to be found
in Luke chapter 10.

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Jesus is in the middle of his
earthly ministry here in Luke chapter

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10, and he is faced with a question.

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And this question is coming
from a certain lawyer.

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And this isn't a lawyer of our
day where he's a professional on

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the law of the land.

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Well, I guess it would be kind
of the law of the land, but it's

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really the law of God.

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This would have been an
individual who would have understood

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the Mosaic Law.

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This would have been an
individual who would have had it

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all memorized backwards and forwards.

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And he comes to Jesus.

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And Luke, chapter 10, verse 25.

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And he asks Jesus a question.

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And we know that this question
was coming from probably a place

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of pride, coming from a place
maybe of curiosity.

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But really, at the end of the
day, we do see that Jesus is addressing

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a problem in their midst.

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Because we know that the
religious people of Jesus's day were

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selfishly motivated to abuse
and overlook people who are going

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through difficulties.

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They were not focused on a
relationship with God more.

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It was about a relationship
with money or power.

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And here In Luke, chapter 10,
verse 25, this lawyer comes, and

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we know that through this text
there is a real temptation.

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He's not coming with a heart
of compassion.

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He's not coming with a heart
of faith.

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He's coming as it says,
they're tempting him, testing him.

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And behold, a certain lawyer
stood up and tempted him, saying,

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master, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?

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That's a loaded question, right?

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If I was to come here this
morning and say, what should I do

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to inherit eternal life?

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Well, it's not about what I
do, but it's about what I believe

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in.

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But Jesus understood his
question, and so he addresses him

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in the law that he understood.

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And he answering, said, thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with

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all thy heart, with all thy
soul, with all thy strength, with

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all thy mind, and thy neighbor
as thyself.

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Jesus basically tells this
man, it's the love that you have.

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Love God with everything that
you are, and love your neighbor as

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yourself.

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And we know that in other
passages of scripture, like in the

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book of Matthew, it says on
these two commandments hang all the

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law and the prophets.

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The idea would be that if we
love God with everything, and if

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we love our neighbor as
ourself, we're going to obey God,

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right?

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If I love God with all of my
heart, I'm not going to commit idolatry.

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Because if I love God with
everything, I'm not going to allow

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anything else to steal my
worship, to steal my love, to steal

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my attention.

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We're not going to put any of
the gods before him.

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We're not.

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We're not going to forget
about what he has done for us.

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No, we.

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If we are in God's love and we
are resting in his love, we're going

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to follow him with everything
that we have in our life.

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But then secondly, he says to
love your neighbor as yourself.

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If I love my neighbor with the
type of biblical love that God has

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called me, to love in, then
I'm not going to steal from them,

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I'm not going to hurt them,
I'm not going to abuse them.

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And so the Bible says here
very clearly that everything that

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we do within our faith is
wrapped up in loving God with all

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of our heart, with all of our
soul, with all of our strength, with

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all of our mind, and to love
our neighbor as ourself.

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And so let's see what the
response of this man is.

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And he said unto him, thou has
answered right this do and thou shalt

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live.

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And he but he willing to
justify himself.

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And so we see here, verse 29,
that this individual is trying to

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justify himself.

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He's trying to give excuses.

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He says unto Jesus, and who is
my neighbor?

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I think that's sometimes what
we do.

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We go, yeah, I know I'm
supposed to love my neighbor, but

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who's my neighbor?

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Who do I really have to love?

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Because I don't want to love
this group over here.

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I want to love people that are
loving to me.

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I want to show compassion to
people who are showing compassion

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to me.

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So this individual here says,
this, this lawyer, he says, well,

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I get that I'm supposed to
love my neighbor, but who's my neighbor?

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He's trying to get himself out
of it.

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He's trying to get a loophole
into the love that he's supposed

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to have.

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And Jesus now is going to give
this wonderful parable, this story

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about the Good Samaritan.

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And Jesus answering said, a
certain man went down from Jerusalem

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to Jericho and fell among
thieves which stripped him of his

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raiment or his clothing and
wounded him and departed, leaving

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him half dead.

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This road from Jerusalem to
Jericho was a well known road that

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would have been a dangerous road.

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It would have been a road that
most people would have not gone on

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with just themselves.

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They would have gone with a
larger group because they knew that

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there were thieves.

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They knew that there were
people trying to steal and to hurt

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them.

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And so this individual that
went on this road in this story would

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have been someone who was
going and basically setting themselves

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up for a difficult situation.

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But nonetheless, we see an
individual who is hurt.

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We see an individual who is
left half dead, as it says here.

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And all the individuals that
would have been listening to the

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story that Jesus was telling
would have understood this situation.

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They probably had even heard
of someone that had gone through

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this.

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Verse 31, it says, and by
chance there came down a certain

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priest that way, and when he
saw him, he passed by on the other

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side.

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Now all the people that were
listening to the story, would have

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thought that this priest was
the one who would have helped, right?

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He's religious, he's esteemed, he's.

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He's lifted up in that community.

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And so it would have made
sense for the priest to identify

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this need and help.

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But what does it say?

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It says that he passed by on
the other side, probably had some

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excuses.

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He probably said, I got to get
to the temple.

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I've got to handle this.

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Or maybe that guy is a thief himself.

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Or he probably had all the
justification of why not to help

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that person.

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And let's see the next guy
that comes along.

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Verse 32, another religious
figure and likewise a Levite, when

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he was at the place, came and
looked on him and passed by on the

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other side.

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Same thing, comes up with a
reason not to help this individual

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who is going through this type
of pain and this type of loss.

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You know, for.

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For me, I look at the story
often, and I think of myself as the

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good Samaritan, right?

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Because I always want to paint
myself in the light of the one who

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does the right thing.

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But, folks, how many times
have I.

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And maybe you have been the
Levite and the priest that have seen

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a need, but yet saw every
reason not to help?

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And I think sometimes we can
come up with good excuses.

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We can come up with great justification.

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We can say, yeah, but maybe
there's this or maybe there's that.

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And the truth is, is that many
of us are not naturally inclined

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to help that person in need.

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The Bible tells us that all of
these gifts that we see In Romans

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00:11:50,990 --> 00:11:54,510
chapter 12, even though we
might not be naturally gifted in

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00:11:54,510 --> 00:11:56,230
them, we are all called to do them.

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00:11:56,230 --> 00:11:59,550
And so all of us are called to
have the measure of compassion that

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this next individual has.

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Look at it with me in this
next verse.

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Says, but a certain Samaritan.

252
00:12:07,470 --> 00:12:08,470
Now, let's stop there.

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This would have caused the
people that were hearing this story

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00:12:12,550 --> 00:12:14,550
to get a little bit uncomfortable.

255
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Why?

256
00:12:15,260 --> 00:12:18,100
Because the Jews did not like
the Samaritans for many different

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00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:18,620
reasons.

258
00:12:19,020 --> 00:12:22,340
The Jews didn't like the
Samaritans because they believed

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00:12:22,340 --> 00:12:26,020
that the Samaritans, which
truly they did, intermarried with

260
00:12:26,020 --> 00:12:29,540
Gentiles and therefore
corrupted the pure bloodline.

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00:12:29,540 --> 00:12:32,220
Other reasons why they didn't
like the Samaritans was for the most

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00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:35,740
part, the Samaritans were
worshiping with some sort of pagan

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00:12:35,740 --> 00:12:38,140
idolatry blended in with their worship.

264
00:12:38,140 --> 00:12:41,820
And therefore, the Jews
despised the Samaritans.

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00:12:41,820 --> 00:12:46,060
And even in some cases, the
Jews would call Samaritans dogs.

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And really, on the other side
of things, the Samaritans didn't

267
00:12:48,380 --> 00:12:48,900
like the Jews.

268
00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:50,940
And so there was this conflict
between them.

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00:12:50,940 --> 00:12:54,260
And so naturally, the Jews and
the Samaritans would have never helped

270
00:12:54,260 --> 00:12:54,700
each other.

271
00:12:55,100 --> 00:12:57,580
It would have been
understandable for a Jewish person

272
00:12:57,580 --> 00:12:58,940
to help a Jewish person.

273
00:12:58,940 --> 00:13:02,300
But for a Samaritan to help a
Jew or a Jew to help a Samaritan

274
00:13:02,300 --> 00:13:04,660
was completely foreign in
their minds.

275
00:13:04,660 --> 00:13:08,100
Even in some cases, the Jewish
people that were traveling would

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00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:11,540
travel the long way around so
that they wouldn't even have to step

277
00:13:11,540 --> 00:13:13,460
foot in the land of the Samaritans.

278
00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:16,500
Now we know Jesus came with a
different type of mindset.

279
00:13:16,740 --> 00:13:19,900
You remember, in certain
cases, Jesus says, I need to go through

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00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:20,580
Samaria.

281
00:13:20,660 --> 00:13:23,140
We even know that Jesus
addressed the woman at the well,

282
00:13:23,140 --> 00:13:24,660
who was the Samaritan woman.

283
00:13:24,820 --> 00:13:27,460
And so Jesus shows that
there's a different type of compassion

284
00:13:27,460 --> 00:13:31,620
that crosses the different
cultural norms that are seen back

285
00:13:31,620 --> 00:13:31,860
then.

286
00:13:31,860 --> 00:13:35,580
And so what happens is that
the Samaritan is the one who is going

287
00:13:35,580 --> 00:13:38,650
to do the thing that Jesus
says is the good thing, and that

288
00:13:38,650 --> 00:13:41,010
is to exercise compassion.

289
00:13:41,730 --> 00:13:43,530
So let's see point number one.

290
00:13:43,530 --> 00:13:47,970
The good Samaritan saw the
pain of the man who had been beaten

291
00:13:47,970 --> 00:13:51,490
and stolen from, says a
certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,

292
00:13:51,490 --> 00:13:57,490
came where he was, and when he
saw him, here it is, he had compassion

293
00:13:57,490 --> 00:13:57,970
on him.

294
00:13:59,090 --> 00:14:00,850
He's moved with compassion.

295
00:14:01,970 --> 00:14:06,450
It's this understanding of, I
see the need, I moved and I'm going

296
00:14:06,450 --> 00:14:07,050
to act.

297
00:14:08,090 --> 00:14:10,250
Everyone else saw a problem, right?

298
00:14:10,250 --> 00:14:13,610
The, the priest saw the
problem, the Levite saw the problem,

299
00:14:13,930 --> 00:14:15,450
the Samaritan saw the problem.

300
00:14:15,610 --> 00:14:19,130
The difference between those
three would be that the Samaritan

301
00:14:19,290 --> 00:14:21,930
didn't just see a problem, but
he saw a person.

302
00:14:23,050 --> 00:14:26,690
And so compassion begins with
seeing people the way that God sees

303
00:14:26,690 --> 00:14:26,970
them.

304
00:14:27,530 --> 00:14:28,850
Sometimes I struggle with that.

305
00:14:28,850 --> 00:14:33,360
Sometimes I see somebody as an
obstacle, or I see someone as a commodity,

306
00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,080
or I see someone as a distraction.

307
00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,920
But folks, when we're dealing
with individuals, we have to look

308
00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:40,480
at them the way that God sees them.

309
00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:45,760
As a soul who needs salvation,
who needs help, who needs faith,

310
00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,800
who needs sanctification, who
needs discipleship.

311
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,520
And so therefore this
individual was different because

312
00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,400
he saw the need and he wanted
to act upon it.

313
00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:59,410
Mercy or compassion notices
the things that everyone else overlooks.

314
00:15:00,050 --> 00:15:05,410
And so the Samaritan saw the
pain, he perceived it.

315
00:15:05,730 --> 00:15:09,010
And in the spirit filled act
of mercy, he noticed that hurting

316
00:15:09,010 --> 00:15:11,970
person and he saw that he
could help.

317
00:15:13,010 --> 00:15:16,770
We've looked at this in this
study of how an individual can exercise

318
00:15:16,770 --> 00:15:17,770
the gift of mercy.

319
00:15:17,770 --> 00:15:21,650
In the spirit and how one can
exercise the gift in the flesh.

320
00:15:21,650 --> 00:15:23,330
And that's really for all the gifts.

321
00:15:23,780 --> 00:15:27,660
Well, one way that a person
can act in spirit filled mercy is

322
00:15:27,660 --> 00:15:31,780
that a person can notice those
who are hurting notice hurting people.

323
00:15:32,180 --> 00:15:35,340
Another way that a person who
is gifted in the gift of mercy can

324
00:15:35,340 --> 00:15:38,700
be spirit filled and acting in
that is that they see needs that

325
00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:41,940
others miss and then they
refuse to look away.

326
00:15:42,820 --> 00:15:46,660
Sometimes I'm going to be
honest this morning that I can see

327
00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:51,260
a need, I can feel what needs
to be done, but I'm tempted just

328
00:15:51,260 --> 00:15:52,900
to look away and get distracted.

329
00:15:53,300 --> 00:15:55,940
If I can just get my mind off
of that and go somewhere else, I'll

330
00:15:55,940 --> 00:15:56,580
be okay.

331
00:15:56,580 --> 00:16:00,060
But someone who is walking in
the spirit with the gift of mercy

332
00:16:00,060 --> 00:16:02,500
or compassion refuses to look away.

333
00:16:03,060 --> 00:16:07,260
Where a flesh filled person
working in the gift of mercy can

334
00:16:07,260 --> 00:16:10,820
become emotionally
overwhelmed, possibly even enable

335
00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,100
sinful behavior rather than
helping people.

336
00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:17,720
Biblically, someone, someone
with the gift of compassion can,

337
00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:22,200
if working in the flesh,
identify with someone's pain and

338
00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,200
try to love on them so much
that they overlook the sin that might

339
00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,600
be causing some of that pain.

340
00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:31,200
And though with good
intentions, it can lead to enabling

341
00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:35,320
a person to continue on in the
pain that's causing the, the pain

342
00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:36,760
over and over again in their life.

343
00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,280
Sometimes a person that's
flesh filled in the gift of mercy

344
00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:41,880
shows compassion without wisdom.

345
00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,080
Well, I'm just going to help
this person and give them everything

346
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:44,720
that they want.

347
00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,520
Well, no, that's not always
the best thing to do because compassion

348
00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,240
is giving them what they need
with godly wisdom.

349
00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,520
So mercy without truth can
become unhealthy.

350
00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,000
Truth without mercy can become harsh.

351
00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,600
And so Jesus tells us to merge
those two together, Remember love

352
00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:00,560
and truth.

353
00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,360
And so the Samaritan sees the need.

354
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,480
But then we see in verse 33
that he stops to help.

355
00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:11,040
A certain Samaritan comes and
it says that he was moved with compassion.

356
00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:17,810
He had passion on him, verse
34, and went to him and bound up

357
00:17:17,810 --> 00:17:21,970
his wounds, pouring in oil and
wine, and set him on his own beast

358
00:17:21,970 --> 00:17:24,770
and brought him to an inn and
took care of him.

359
00:17:25,250 --> 00:17:26,770
We see that he stops.

360
00:17:27,730 --> 00:17:30,610
Compassion always moves
towards suffering.

361
00:17:30,930 --> 00:17:34,850
The priest passed the Levite
pass, the Samaritan stopped.

362
00:17:35,890 --> 00:17:38,770
The gift of mercy doesn't ask
who deserves my help.

363
00:17:39,850 --> 00:17:41,370
It asks, how can I help?

364
00:17:41,690 --> 00:17:43,530
I think that's often what happens.

365
00:17:43,530 --> 00:17:45,370
We think like, well, do they
deserve my help?

366
00:17:45,610 --> 00:17:46,730
Is that going to be a good investment?

367
00:17:47,290 --> 00:17:49,290
Is that going to be something
that's going to be worth my time?

368
00:17:50,250 --> 00:17:52,810
Well, that's not acting in
biblical compassion.

369
00:17:53,290 --> 00:17:55,209
Because if we weigh out all
the things, guess what?

370
00:17:55,370 --> 00:18:00,530
Think about if God did that to
us and his mercy to us, is that person

371
00:18:00,530 --> 00:18:02,170
going to be completely
faithful to me?

372
00:18:02,410 --> 00:18:05,610
Is that person going to do
everything that I tell them to do?

373
00:18:06,010 --> 00:18:09,210
Well, we know that God extends
his mercy and grace to us regardless

374
00:18:09,210 --> 00:18:10,330
of our good works.

375
00:18:10,330 --> 00:18:12,410
It's, it's because of his love
for us.

376
00:18:12,410 --> 00:18:16,570
And so a spirit filled mercy
person is able to be interrupted.

377
00:18:16,970 --> 00:18:22,970
A spirit filled mercy is going
to be available, patient, gentle,

378
00:18:23,210 --> 00:18:23,610
kind.

379
00:18:24,730 --> 00:18:30,770
I love the fact that one time,
Pastor Spicer, some of you remember

380
00:18:30,770 --> 00:18:31,850
Pastor Spicer here.

381
00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:34,120
I don't remember everyone's sermons.

382
00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:36,560
I wish I could remember all
the sermons that I listened to in

383
00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:37,000
my life.

384
00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:38,840
I can't remember all of them.

385
00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,920
I can only remember probably
like 1% of all the sermons that I've

386
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:42,240
heard.

387
00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,000
But I do remember one sermon
that Pastor Spicer preached here.

388
00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,040
And he was preaching on God's interruptions.

389
00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,760
And I identified with that
because sometimes when God puts something

390
00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:56,320
in my life, I see it as an interruption.

391
00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,840
I'm like, I've got a plan,
I've got a list, I've got an agenda.

392
00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:01,400
I've got to get this accomplished.

393
00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,600
And this popping up in my way
is not conducive to my schedule,

394
00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:07,360
to my plan.

395
00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:11,320
And what he basically was
saying was this, sometimes the best

396
00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,080
thing is that God interrupts
us from doing what we thought we

397
00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,040
should be doing and brings us
to a place of what we need to be

398
00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,320
doing, particularly by helping
others in need.

399
00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,440
And so instead of seeing
someone as an interruption, see them

400
00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:27,640
as an opportunity to, for
God's love to be seen through us.

401
00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:31,800
So a spirit filled person
acting in the gift of mercy will

402
00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,800
be willing to be interrupted.

403
00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,040
They'll be gentle, they'll be
patient, they'll be kind.

404
00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,720
But a flesh filled person
acting with the gift of mercy will

405
00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,920
neglect personal
responsibilities, maybe becoming

406
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:48,040
manipulated by others with
emotions, or maybe finding even identity

407
00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:49,720
in rescuing people.

408
00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,200
You ever found someone like that?

409
00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:55,330
Like, they only find their
value in rescuing people out of problems.

410
00:19:55,410 --> 00:19:58,010
And even though rescuing
people out of problems is a good

411
00:19:58,010 --> 00:20:00,170
thing, that's not where our
identity is found.

412
00:20:00,170 --> 00:20:01,570
Our identity is found in Christ.

413
00:20:01,570 --> 00:20:04,410
And really, if we go back to
all these gifts In Romans chapter

414
00:20:04,410 --> 00:20:06,930
12, our identity can't be in
any of those things.

415
00:20:07,330 --> 00:20:10,290
Let's say, for example, I'm,
I'm gifted in the area of teaching.

416
00:20:10,290 --> 00:20:12,930
And I said, if I'm not
teaching, I'm nobody.

417
00:20:13,090 --> 00:20:16,610
If I'm not teaching, then I
can't be a good servant of the Lord.

418
00:20:16,690 --> 00:20:19,410
I I have all of my identity in
this gift.

419
00:20:19,660 --> 00:20:22,660
Well, folks, the truth is, is
that our identity is not in our gift.

420
00:20:22,660 --> 00:20:23,900
Our identity is in Christ.

421
00:20:23,900 --> 00:20:26,300
The Bible tells us that over
and over again.

422
00:20:26,540 --> 00:20:30,940
The gift is something that God
blesses us with as we identify with

423
00:20:30,940 --> 00:20:31,260
him.

424
00:20:31,740 --> 00:20:33,820
And we use that to glorify him.

425
00:20:33,820 --> 00:20:36,100
We use that to lead other
people to Him.

426
00:20:36,100 --> 00:20:38,780
We use that to strengthen
others in the truth.

427
00:20:38,780 --> 00:20:43,300
And so we see that the second
step of this process is that he stopped.

428
00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:46,460
But then we see number three
that he sacrificed.

429
00:20:46,910 --> 00:20:47,430
Catch it with me.

430
00:20:47,430 --> 00:20:51,110
It says that he bound up his
wounds pouring oil and wine.

431
00:20:51,110 --> 00:20:54,870
He uses his resources to help
this individual.

432
00:20:54,870 --> 00:20:56,950
He doesn't say, well, hey
buddy, do you have any oil and wine

433
00:20:56,950 --> 00:20:57,390
over here?

434
00:20:57,550 --> 00:20:59,630
Do you have any bandages in
your packet?

435
00:20:59,630 --> 00:20:59,910
No.

436
00:20:59,910 --> 00:21:01,070
That guy had nothing.

437
00:21:01,390 --> 00:21:04,190
And he says, no, look, I'm
going to give you what I have.

438
00:21:04,270 --> 00:21:08,430
He sacrifices and mercy always
costs something.

439
00:21:08,510 --> 00:21:09,950
There's always a sacrifice.

440
00:21:10,270 --> 00:21:12,110
And so he pours oil and wine.

441
00:21:12,850 --> 00:21:14,690
This speaks of giving him medicine.

442
00:21:14,690 --> 00:21:14,970
This.

443
00:21:14,970 --> 00:21:17,170
This speaks of addressing his wounds.

444
00:21:17,490 --> 00:21:19,770
And it says that he set him on
his own beast.

445
00:21:19,770 --> 00:21:20,090
He.

446
00:21:20,090 --> 00:21:23,610
He gave this individual his
own beast, and he brought him to

447
00:21:23,610 --> 00:21:24,730
an inn and took care of him.

448
00:21:24,730 --> 00:21:27,930
And we're going to even see in
verse 35 that he gave him his own

449
00:21:27,930 --> 00:21:28,130
money.

450
00:21:28,130 --> 00:21:31,450
He says, on the morrow when he
departed, he took out 2 pence and

451
00:21:31,450 --> 00:21:35,210
gave them to the host and said
unto him, take care of him, and whatsoever

452
00:21:35,210 --> 00:21:38,530
thou spend us more, when I
come again, I will repay thee.

453
00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:44,820
The Samaritan gave his time,
his resources, his transportation,

454
00:21:45,380 --> 00:21:47,460
his money, his future commitment.

455
00:21:48,020 --> 00:21:52,660
What we see here through this
is that compassion that costs nothing

456
00:21:52,980 --> 00:21:56,580
usually isn't compassion
right, because it's, it's not sacrificial.

457
00:21:56,900 --> 00:22:00,500
But here the Samaritan was
willing to sacrifice something for

458
00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:02,020
this person that he didn't know.

459
00:22:02,180 --> 00:22:05,660
He was willing to sacrifice
for this person who didn't earn it,

460
00:22:05,660 --> 00:22:06,780
who didn't do anything.

461
00:22:06,780 --> 00:22:10,380
And we really know that in the
greater picture of the story, Jesus

462
00:22:10,380 --> 00:22:11,820
is that Good Samaritan to us.

463
00:22:11,820 --> 00:22:14,780
Even though we're called to be
that Good Samaritan to other people.

464
00:22:14,780 --> 00:22:16,860
We're the person in the ditch
who has nothing.

465
00:22:16,940 --> 00:22:19,820
We're the person who in the
ditch is eventually going to die

466
00:22:19,980 --> 00:22:21,260
in our own sin.

467
00:22:21,260 --> 00:22:24,540
But Jesus comes and extends
that gift of mercy and compassion

468
00:22:24,540 --> 00:22:25,020
to us.

469
00:22:25,180 --> 00:22:29,820
And he gives us his
everything, his love, his forgiveness,

470
00:22:30,310 --> 00:22:31,190
our eternal life.

471
00:22:31,270 --> 00:22:34,750
And so spirit filled mercy
gives joyfully, serves humbly, and

472
00:22:34,750 --> 00:22:36,150
loves sacrificially.

473
00:22:36,150 --> 00:22:40,390
Where flesh filled mercy
becomes resentful, expects appreciation,

474
00:22:40,550 --> 00:22:41,590
and burns out.

475
00:22:41,590 --> 00:22:44,470
Because we're working in our
own strength and not the strength

476
00:22:44,470 --> 00:22:45,270
of the Lord.

477
00:22:45,990 --> 00:22:48,470
So we see that he recognizes
the problem.

478
00:22:48,470 --> 00:22:54,150
He sees the problem, he stops
to help and he sacrifices personally.

479
00:22:55,920 --> 00:23:00,760
But really in the most
ultimate way, he shows Christ like

480
00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:01,120
love.

481
00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,320
Jesus then breaks out of the
story and comes back to the individuals

482
00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:07,120
that he's addressing.

483
00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:11,999
And he says this, which now of
these three, remember the priest

484
00:23:11,999 --> 00:23:15,600
Levi and the Samaritan, which
one of these three thinkest thou

485
00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,040
was neighbor unto him that
fell among the thieves?

486
00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:21,480
This is a pointed question.

487
00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:21,840
He's.

488
00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,740
He's asking the question to
the lawyer, basically saying this,

489
00:23:25,140 --> 00:23:27,380
which one of these guys was a
loving neighbor?

490
00:23:28,420 --> 00:23:32,660
And it's hard for this person
to admit that it's the Samaritan.

491
00:23:32,660 --> 00:23:34,460
Actually, he doesn't even say
the Samaritan.

492
00:23:34,460 --> 00:23:35,140
He says this.

493
00:23:35,620 --> 00:23:38,540
He says, and he said, he that
showeth mercy on him.

494
00:23:38,540 --> 00:23:40,060
He couldn't even say Samaritan.

495
00:23:40,060 --> 00:23:41,500
He says, the one who showed mercy.

496
00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:41,980
Right, right.

497
00:23:41,980 --> 00:23:43,380
And that's really what it is.

498
00:23:44,020 --> 00:23:49,180
When we are exercising in the
power of God, it's the one who shows

499
00:23:49,180 --> 00:23:52,740
mercy that is proving that
we're loving the Lord.

500
00:23:52,740 --> 00:23:55,980
It's the one who shows mercy
who is displaying that they have

501
00:23:55,980 --> 00:23:56,940
received mercy.

502
00:23:56,940 --> 00:23:59,740
Then Jesus said unto him, go
and do thou likewise.

503
00:23:59,980 --> 00:24:04,860
We're all called to have the
type of compassion and mercy that

504
00:24:05,820 --> 00:24:06,940
the Samaritan had.

505
00:24:06,940 --> 00:24:10,420
But in a greater sense, we're
all called to have the type of compassion

506
00:24:10,420 --> 00:24:11,740
and mercy that Jesus had.

507
00:24:12,620 --> 00:24:17,150
Mercy isn't merely something
we feel because if we're based off

508
00:24:17,150 --> 00:24:20,590
of our feelings, and sometimes
the, the one who is gifted in the

509
00:24:20,590 --> 00:24:23,590
area of mercy is guided by
their feelings.

510
00:24:23,590 --> 00:24:23,870
Why?

511
00:24:23,870 --> 00:24:26,790
Because mercy is all about
that emotional connection.

512
00:24:26,950 --> 00:24:27,270
Right?

513
00:24:27,270 --> 00:24:28,790
I got to feel your emotions.

514
00:24:29,190 --> 00:24:32,790
And though that's an important
gift to be able to discern and perceive

515
00:24:32,870 --> 00:24:35,870
the emotions of somebody else
and their pain and suffering, we

516
00:24:35,870 --> 00:24:37,630
can't be guided by our emotions.

517
00:24:37,630 --> 00:24:42,600
Because what's going to happen
is, is that if, if compassion is

518
00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,880
only an emotion, it'll stop there.

519
00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,120
Well, I really feel for that person.

520
00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:48,200
But what has changed?

521
00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:48,560
Nothing.

522
00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:53,520
So true compassion, true
mercy, though, might start with an

523
00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,680
emotional appeal to someone
who is in need, must be completely

524
00:24:57,920 --> 00:24:59,440
satisfied through action.

525
00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:00,680
Right?

526
00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:02,240
Compassion is action.

527
00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:03,760
Think about it from that perspective.

528
00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:09,120
I can have that emotional tied
to somebody, but if it stops at an

529
00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:11,960
emotion, then it stops there
and there's nothing done to help.

530
00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:16,280
And so that emotion should
stir that, that decision to walk

531
00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:18,200
in the truth and help that
person in need.

532
00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,080
And that's why all these gifts
need to be utilized together.

533
00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:21,520
Why?

534
00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,160
Because if I have Mercy.

535
00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:24,280
But I don't have resources.

536
00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:25,000
What do I do?

537
00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,320
Well, I'm attached to the
person who does have resources.

538
00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:28,120
They're the giver.

539
00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:29,120
Hey, you know what?

540
00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:32,280
I might not have what this
person needs, but I'm able to bring

541
00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:33,320
this person or this person.

542
00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:34,280
And the giver can help.

543
00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:37,320
Or maybe they are in need of a
spiritual teacher.

544
00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,600
I can bring them to the person
who's gifted in teaching.

545
00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,200
Or maybe they need an
exhorter, or maybe they just need

546
00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:43,880
someone who's able to serve them.

547
00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:45,640
That's how all these gifts
work together.

548
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,480
So the person who is gifted in
the gift of mercy is able to identify

549
00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,160
with that person and then take action.

550
00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:55,000
One commentator said it this
way, compassion always has feet,

551
00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:59,560
meaning there's that emotional
appeal, but now there's movement,

552
00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:00,200
there's action.

553
00:26:02,700 --> 00:26:06,660
So spirit filled mercy extends
forgiveness, offers hope, reflects

554
00:26:06,660 --> 00:26:11,260
Christ, and rejoices when
others are restored to his fellowship.

555
00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:16,779
Sometimes flesh filled mercy
avoids difficult truth, confuses

556
00:26:16,780 --> 00:26:18,460
acceptance with approval.

557
00:26:19,100 --> 00:26:20,220
What do I mean by that?

558
00:26:20,380 --> 00:26:24,060
Well, they say, well, I love
someone, I have to accept them and,

559
00:26:24,220 --> 00:26:26,460
and approve of everything that
they're doing.

560
00:26:27,450 --> 00:26:30,010
Folks, when you're exercising
the gift of mercy, you're going to

561
00:26:30,010 --> 00:26:32,490
be exercising the gift of
mercy with people who are broken.

562
00:26:32,490 --> 00:26:34,810
And people who are broken
don't need to stay broken.

563
00:26:35,130 --> 00:26:37,970
Sometimes people that are
broken are broken because of sins

564
00:26:37,970 --> 00:26:40,090
that they are committing in
their life and things that they believe

565
00:26:40,330 --> 00:26:41,770
about what might be true.

566
00:26:41,770 --> 00:26:44,890
But folks, just because I'm
showing love and compassion to someone,

567
00:26:44,890 --> 00:26:48,410
that doesn't mean I need to
approve and accept and celebrate

568
00:26:48,410 --> 00:26:49,130
what they are doing.

569
00:26:49,290 --> 00:26:51,050
I can still speak the truth in love.

570
00:26:51,050 --> 00:26:54,340
So all of you that are gifted
in the area of mercy, don't sacrifice

571
00:26:54,340 --> 00:26:56,340
the truth along with your mercy.

572
00:26:56,980 --> 00:26:58,100
You can show love.

573
00:26:58,340 --> 00:27:02,100
And the world wants us to
think that showing love and telling

574
00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:03,460
truth is actually not love.

575
00:27:03,460 --> 00:27:04,180
It's hateful.

576
00:27:04,420 --> 00:27:06,660
But that's actually the
definition of biblical love.

577
00:27:06,660 --> 00:27:10,460
And so Jesus is the greatest
example of mercy because Jesus always

578
00:27:10,460 --> 00:27:14,100
extends compassion, but at the
same time always extends mercy.

579
00:27:14,740 --> 00:27:18,340
Where we see that happening is
in Matthew chapter 9, verse 36.

580
00:27:18,340 --> 00:27:21,730
It's where we started today
and it's where we will Conclude Matthew

581
00:27:21,730 --> 00:27:23,130
chapter 9, verse 36.

582
00:27:23,130 --> 00:27:26,530
We're going to see a time in
which Jesus was moved with compassion.

583
00:27:26,530 --> 00:27:29,090
There's many times in which
Jesus is moved with compassion.

584
00:27:29,650 --> 00:27:32,850
Ultimately, we know that Jesus
was moved with compassion enough

585
00:27:32,850 --> 00:27:34,210
to go to the cross for us.

586
00:27:34,610 --> 00:27:37,810
But here in Matthew chapter
nine, earlier on in his earthly ministry,

587
00:27:37,810 --> 00:27:39,210
Jesus is healing people.

588
00:27:39,210 --> 00:27:42,850
He's casting out demons, he's
preaching the gospel all over.

589
00:27:43,250 --> 00:27:46,770
And it says that he comes to a
place and he sees the multitude.

590
00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:49,680
And he could have a lot of
different reactions to seeing the

591
00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,920
multitude, but he gives us the
greatest example of what we should

592
00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:54,840
be seeing when we see the multitude.

593
00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:59,320
Verse 35 of Matthew 9 says,
and Jesus went about all the cities

594
00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,560
and villages, teaching in
their synagogues and preaching the

595
00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,720
gospel of the kingdom and
healing every sickness and every

596
00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:06,840
disease among the people.

597
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:08,440
Do you see it in verse 35?

598
00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,200
He's giving tender hearted
mercies to people by healing them,

599
00:28:13,250 --> 00:28:14,490
by, by taking care of them.

600
00:28:14,490 --> 00:28:16,290
But he's also preaching the Gospel.

601
00:28:16,290 --> 00:28:18,050
He's also giving them the truth.

602
00:28:18,610 --> 00:28:23,530
So as Jesus heals physically,
he provides the spiritual healing

603
00:28:23,530 --> 00:28:24,290
in the Gospel.

604
00:28:24,530 --> 00:28:27,490
As we help those who are
physically hurting, we should also

605
00:28:27,490 --> 00:28:31,170
help in giving them the Gospel
who can spiritually heal them.

606
00:28:31,650 --> 00:28:35,450
Verse 36 it says, but when he
saw the multitudes, he looks out

607
00:28:35,450 --> 00:28:36,450
and sees all the people.

608
00:28:37,250 --> 00:28:41,460
He was, here's our phrase for
the day, moved with compassion on

609
00:28:41,460 --> 00:28:44,300
them because they fainted.

610
00:28:44,620 --> 00:28:46,060
They, they, they weren't focused.

611
00:28:46,060 --> 00:28:48,020
They were, they were passing
out, so to speak.

612
00:28:48,020 --> 00:28:51,500
They were losing their vision,
he says, and they fainted and were

613
00:28:51,500 --> 00:28:53,820
scattered abroad as sheep,
having no shepherd.

614
00:28:54,139 --> 00:28:55,340
He sees their need.

615
00:28:55,340 --> 00:28:56,900
Their need is salvation.

616
00:28:56,900 --> 00:29:00,820
Their need is faith in really Him.

617
00:29:00,820 --> 00:29:02,380
In this case, faith in the Lord.

618
00:29:03,020 --> 00:29:05,900
Then saith, he done to his
disciples, the harvest truly is plenty

619
00:29:05,900 --> 00:29:06,940
as, but labors are few.

620
00:29:07,190 --> 00:29:08,510
So what is Jesus response?

621
00:29:08,510 --> 00:29:10,550
He says, we need more people
to give them the message.

622
00:29:11,030 --> 00:29:14,590
Pray therefore the Lord of the
harvest that he will send forth laborers

623
00:29:14,590 --> 00:29:15,590
into his harvest.

624
00:29:15,830 --> 00:29:17,670
Jesus was moved with compassion.

625
00:29:17,670 --> 00:29:17,990
He.

626
00:29:18,150 --> 00:29:21,750
He healed the lepers, he
healed the sick, he fed the hungry,

627
00:29:21,910 --> 00:29:23,510
he comforted those who are grieving.

628
00:29:23,510 --> 00:29:26,910
He forgave sinners, he
welcomed children, he restored the

629
00:29:26,910 --> 00:29:27,310
broken.

630
00:29:27,310 --> 00:29:30,870
But we know ultimately he
preached the message of the truth.

631
00:29:32,310 --> 00:29:34,870
The message of the truth is
fulfilled in the fact that Jesus

632
00:29:34,870 --> 00:29:35,590
came to this earth.

633
00:29:35,590 --> 00:29:36,630
He lived that perfect life.

634
00:29:36,630 --> 00:29:38,310
He died on the cross for our sins.

635
00:29:38,570 --> 00:29:40,130
He conquered death through the resurrection.

636
00:29:40,130 --> 00:29:43,210
That's the greatest act of
compassion and mercy.

637
00:29:44,730 --> 00:29:46,170
Good works can't save us.

638
00:29:47,690 --> 00:29:49,130
Religion can't save us.

639
00:29:49,850 --> 00:29:51,690
The only one who can save us
is Jesus Christ.

640
00:29:51,690 --> 00:29:54,609
And when we trust in his mercy
and his grace, when we trust in his

641
00:29:54,609 --> 00:29:58,250
sacrifice for us, we're able
to experience that type of mercy

642
00:29:58,250 --> 00:30:01,250
and compassion and then extend
that type of mercy and compassion

643
00:30:01,250 --> 00:30:02,250
to others around us.

644
00:30:03,210 --> 00:30:07,850
Titus 3:5 says, not by works
of righteousness, which we have done.

645
00:30:09,420 --> 00:30:11,900
Nothing that we have in our
life is because of what we have done.

646
00:30:11,900 --> 00:30:15,420
When it comes to the Blessings
and the grace of God, it says.

647
00:30:15,900 --> 00:30:21,660
But according to his mercy, he
saved us ultimately because of his

648
00:30:21,660 --> 00:30:22,140
mercy.

649
00:30:22,860 --> 00:30:25,060
So everything that we have in
our life is because of Him.

650
00:30:25,060 --> 00:30:32,340
Therefore, we're able to
really, in many cases, exhibit that

651
00:30:32,340 --> 00:30:36,700
type of mercy, not because we
are the source of that mercy, but

652
00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:39,380
because of the mercy of God
that's reflected from our lives.

653
00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:45,740
So we look back to Romans
chapter 12, and it says to exercise

654
00:30:45,740 --> 00:30:49,060
the gift of mercy or the gift
of compassion with cheerfulness.

655
00:30:50,180 --> 00:30:53,620
How many of you don't raise
your hand, but how many of you have

656
00:30:53,780 --> 00:30:54,900
struggled in that area?

657
00:30:54,900 --> 00:30:57,260
How many of you say, you know,
I'm supposed to be compassionate

658
00:30:57,260 --> 00:31:00,100
to these people that are lost,
but I'm not doing it cheerfully.

659
00:31:00,740 --> 00:31:02,420
Well, I understand that.

660
00:31:02,420 --> 00:31:07,100
I understand sometimes the
hardship of seeing through the people's

661
00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:09,740
problems and getting to the
deepest problem, and that is the

662
00:31:09,740 --> 00:31:10,940
problem of their hearts.

663
00:31:11,660 --> 00:31:15,380
But really, all of us are
called to see the multitudes and

664
00:31:15,380 --> 00:31:17,980
to be like Jesus, moved with
compassion upon them because they

665
00:31:17,980 --> 00:31:21,500
don't have a shepherd, because
they don't have a Savior.

666
00:31:22,380 --> 00:31:26,340
The reason why we show mercy
to people is not because they'll

667
00:31:26,340 --> 00:31:27,660
be nice to us when they're healed.

668
00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:32,560
The Samaritan that helped that
man didn't expect anything back.

669
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,800
So the type of mercy that
we're called to have for people,

670
00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,360
the type of compassion we're
supposed to have for people is not

671
00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:40,880
based out of a motive of
selfish receiving.

672
00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,640
It's about doing something for
someone because Jesus Christ has

673
00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:45,600
done something for me.

674
00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,240
And so Romans chapter 12, it
says that we're supposed to do it

675
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:48,960
with cheerfulness.

676
00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,840
Well, why don't I have
cheerfulness when I'm showing compassion?

677
00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,560
Well, it might be, number one,
that you're just not spiritually

678
00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:55,880
gifted in the area of mercy.

679
00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:57,480
I can identify with that.

680
00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,560
I can understand what it means
not to be gifted in the area of mercy,

681
00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:03,160
because that's not one of the
areas that God has supernaturally

682
00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:04,040
gifted me in.

683
00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,120
But at the same time, even
though I'm not supernaturally gifted

684
00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:10,000
in that area, I do need to
grow in that area and learn from

685
00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:13,880
others who are gifted in that
area and ultimately look to my Savior.

686
00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:15,520
So it says we're to do it with cheerfulness.

687
00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:16,640
So why don't I have cheerfulness?

688
00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,080
Well, it might be, number one,
that I'm not gifted in that area.

689
00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:22,620
But number two, it might
simply be that I'm moving and serving

690
00:32:22,620 --> 00:32:23,900
with the wrong motivations.

691
00:32:24,620 --> 00:32:26,860
The right motivation must be
to exalt Christ.

692
00:32:26,860 --> 00:32:30,420
If it's about Christ and not
about me, it's okay if I'm slighted,

693
00:32:30,420 --> 00:32:33,860
it's okay if I'm not
recognized, it's okay if I'm overlooked

694
00:32:33,860 --> 00:32:34,660
at the end of the day.

695
00:32:34,660 --> 00:32:38,620
As long as God sees it, as
long as God is glorified, we are

696
00:32:38,620 --> 00:32:41,860
can be happy, we can be
joyful, and we can celebrate what

697
00:32:41,860 --> 00:32:43,180
God is doing through us.

698
00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:45,940
So we come to the end of this
study, right?

699
00:32:46,010 --> 00:32:46,970
Romans, chapter 12.

700
00:32:47,290 --> 00:32:50,250
Over the last several weeks,
we've discussed that every believer

701
00:32:50,250 --> 00:32:51,850
has uniquely been gifted.

702
00:32:52,090 --> 00:32:55,570
Those that have been gifted in
prophecy or perceiving speak God's

703
00:32:55,570 --> 00:32:56,290
truth boldly.

704
00:32:56,290 --> 00:32:59,530
They recognize God's truth and
they speak it boldly.

705
00:32:59,530 --> 00:33:00,970
They proclaim it to the world.

706
00:33:01,530 --> 00:33:05,050
Those that are gifted in the
gift of serving are gifted to meet

707
00:33:05,050 --> 00:33:08,290
practical needs faithfully
within the ministry, to help people

708
00:33:08,290 --> 00:33:10,330
serve as God has served them.

709
00:33:10,330 --> 00:33:13,770
Those that have been gifted in
teaching explain God's truth clearly.

710
00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:17,140
Those who have been gifted in
the gift of exhortation encourage

711
00:33:17,140 --> 00:33:19,020
people towards spiritual growth.

712
00:33:19,580 --> 00:33:22,860
Those that have been given the
gift of giving share resources generously

713
00:33:22,860 --> 00:33:24,380
to help the cause of the gospel.

714
00:33:24,780 --> 00:33:27,340
Those that have been gifted
with administration or leadership

715
00:33:27,340 --> 00:33:29,900
organized people in a diligent fashion.

716
00:33:30,140 --> 00:33:32,860
And then we conclude today
with those that are gifted with a

717
00:33:32,860 --> 00:33:33,740
gift of mercy.

718
00:33:33,820 --> 00:33:38,660
They display God's compassion
with a cheerful heart, and they're

719
00:33:38,660 --> 00:33:42,710
able to reflect the mercy of
God in their daily walk.

720
00:33:42,870 --> 00:33:44,630
Everyone has at least one of
these gifts.

721
00:33:44,630 --> 00:33:46,790
Every believer has at least
one of these gifts.

722
00:33:47,190 --> 00:33:49,510
And every gift matters within
the church.

723
00:33:49,990 --> 00:33:51,230
Every member matters.

724
00:33:51,230 --> 00:33:53,510
And Pastor Ethan mentioned
this a while ago.

725
00:33:53,510 --> 00:33:55,190
Every member must be a minister.

726
00:33:55,270 --> 00:33:58,790
Every one of us are called to
exercise these gifts within the body

727
00:33:58,790 --> 00:33:59,350
of Christ.

728
00:33:59,590 --> 00:34:02,670
Maybe some of you are gifted
in more areas than others, but the

729
00:34:02,670 --> 00:34:05,230
reality is, is that all of us
at four believers, and we're part

730
00:34:05,230 --> 00:34:07,350
of the body of Christ, were
gifted in one area.

731
00:34:07,810 --> 00:34:10,690
And God calls us to exercise
those to the best of our ability

732
00:34:10,690 --> 00:34:13,570
the way that God has called us
to exercise those, whether it be

733
00:34:13,650 --> 00:34:16,890
prophecy, teaching,
exhortation, mercy, whatever it might

734
00:34:16,890 --> 00:34:17,170
be.

735
00:34:17,490 --> 00:34:20,330
So I want to leave you with
three challenges as we conclude here

736
00:34:20,330 --> 00:34:23,570
today with this series on the gifts.

737
00:34:23,970 --> 00:34:26,690
First of all, I challenge you
to discover your gift.

738
00:34:27,970 --> 00:34:29,810
God didn't save you to sit.

739
00:34:30,690 --> 00:34:32,690
God saved you to serve.

740
00:34:33,659 --> 00:34:38,739
And so maybe you can ask this
question, lord, have you given me

741
00:34:38,739 --> 00:34:39,059
a gift?

742
00:34:39,059 --> 00:34:40,539
And the answer is always going
to be yes.

743
00:34:40,539 --> 00:34:42,779
If you're a believer in Jesus
Christ, he's given you a gift.

744
00:34:43,819 --> 00:34:46,219
But then you could ask the
question, lord, now I know you've

745
00:34:46,219 --> 00:34:46,859
given me a gift.

746
00:34:46,859 --> 00:34:50,459
How have you designed me to
strengthen your church?

747
00:34:51,019 --> 00:34:54,219
How have you designed me to
further your gospel?

748
00:34:54,699 --> 00:34:57,099
It might be through mercy, it
might be through teaching.

749
00:34:57,099 --> 00:34:58,219
It might be through giving.

750
00:34:58,870 --> 00:34:59,910
But God has gifted you.

751
00:34:59,910 --> 00:35:01,470
And so discover that gift.

752
00:35:01,470 --> 00:35:05,070
We have booklets in the back
Spiritual Gift Test.

753
00:35:05,070 --> 00:35:08,830
And though those aren't 100%
accurate in every single way, at

754
00:35:08,830 --> 00:35:12,270
least will allow you to get on
the right track by answering some

755
00:35:12,270 --> 00:35:16,150
questions that can at least
give you some clarity and understanding

756
00:35:16,150 --> 00:35:18,310
of where you're at in that process.

757
00:35:18,790 --> 00:35:19,870
So discover your gift.

758
00:35:19,870 --> 00:35:21,430
But number two, develop your gift.

759
00:35:22,870 --> 00:35:26,430
Spiritual gifts mature through
use to exercise.

760
00:35:26,430 --> 00:35:32,230
Then some of you know how
difficult it is sometimes to be disciplined.

761
00:35:33,830 --> 00:35:37,270
So a little while back, Micah
reminded me.

762
00:35:37,270 --> 00:35:39,630
He says, dad, at the peach
festival, we always do the 5K.

763
00:35:39,630 --> 00:35:40,390
We always run.

764
00:35:40,870 --> 00:35:42,670
I'm like, yeah, I know.

765
00:35:42,670 --> 00:35:44,270
And I was trying to get out of
it this year.

766
00:35:44,270 --> 00:35:45,150
I didn't want him to tell him.

767
00:35:45,150 --> 00:35:46,390
I was like, well, you can run
it on your own.

768
00:35:46,390 --> 00:35:47,750
He goes, no, Dad, I want to do
it with you.

769
00:35:49,270 --> 00:35:50,830
And I haven't been running recently.

770
00:35:50,830 --> 00:35:52,190
I haven't been exercising as much.

771
00:35:52,190 --> 00:35:53,870
And I'm like, oh, man, I'm
gonna hurt myself.

772
00:35:53,870 --> 00:35:55,390
But I went ahead and signed up
for it anyway.

773
00:35:55,390 --> 00:35:57,490
So if any of you guys want
entertainment, come out.

774
00:35:57,490 --> 00:35:58,050
Or if you need.

775
00:35:58,130 --> 00:36:00,930
If you can help out with first
aid, probably you might need to be

776
00:36:00,930 --> 00:36:01,330
out there.

777
00:36:01,490 --> 00:36:06,010
But anytime someone is about
to do something as a physical goal,

778
00:36:06,010 --> 00:36:09,170
there's got to be disciplines
that are set about to get ready for

779
00:36:09,170 --> 00:36:09,330
that.

780
00:36:09,330 --> 00:36:12,970
For example, if I was going to
run, I needed to probably think about

781
00:36:12,970 --> 00:36:15,010
what I was doing about six
months ago and.

782
00:36:15,170 --> 00:36:18,250
And eat the right foods and
exercise and all that kind of stuff.

783
00:36:18,250 --> 00:36:20,650
I was telling someone in our
Bible study this morning, there was

784
00:36:20,650 --> 00:36:23,650
a day where I was able to eat
a whole pizza and ice cream and drink

785
00:36:23,650 --> 00:36:26,410
soda, then go out the next day
and exercise and feel completely

786
00:36:26,410 --> 00:36:26,810
fine.

787
00:36:27,050 --> 00:36:27,730
That's not today.

788
00:36:27,730 --> 00:36:28,170
That's not.

789
00:36:28,170 --> 00:36:30,570
I have to really, really be
careful about that.

790
00:36:30,650 --> 00:36:34,490
And so the idea would be that
as a Christian, if we want to get

791
00:36:34,490 --> 00:36:39,730
to a place where our spiritual
goals are honoring God and exercising

792
00:36:39,730 --> 00:36:43,490
our spiritual gift and living
that life of boldness for him, there's

793
00:36:43,490 --> 00:36:46,890
spiritual disciplines that we
have to take to get to that goal.

794
00:36:47,050 --> 00:36:49,170
And those spiritual
disciplines might be that I need

795
00:36:49,170 --> 00:36:50,410
to remove things from my life.

796
00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:54,800
I need to remove elements that
are distracting me from exercising,

797
00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:55,440
these gifts.

798
00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:57,680
Or maybe I need to add
something into my life.

799
00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:01,840
I need to supplement my life
with these areas like Bible study,

800
00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,920
like small groups like prayer
that can infuse into my life and

801
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:07,640
give me the strength to
exercise These gifts.

802
00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:10,800
And so doing that, we're able
to have our gifts sharpened.

803
00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,240
And we even know the Bible
says that iron sharpens iron.

804
00:37:13,240 --> 00:37:17,120
So if you see somebody that's
gifted in an area that you think

805
00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:18,610
you're gifted in, guess what?

806
00:37:18,610 --> 00:37:23,250
Get with them, sharpen that
tool, be able to grow in that area,

807
00:37:23,490 --> 00:37:26,290
use them as an example, use
them as a resource.

808
00:37:26,850 --> 00:37:30,450
Ultimately submit yourself to
the word of God and serve faithfully,

809
00:37:30,450 --> 00:37:32,410
and you're able to develop
those gifts.

810
00:37:32,410 --> 00:37:36,490
But then what I would say with
that development comes number three,

811
00:37:36,490 --> 00:37:38,770
depending on the Holy Spirit.

812
00:37:40,290 --> 00:37:43,250
The difference between the
flesh and the Spirit isn't ability.

813
00:37:44,780 --> 00:37:47,580
It's not about, well, he's
more successful than this Christian.

814
00:37:47,660 --> 00:37:50,860
No, the difference between
living in the flesh and living in

815
00:37:50,860 --> 00:37:52,380
the Spirit is about surrender.

816
00:37:52,940 --> 00:37:56,540
Am I going to surrender to the
Spirit in my life, or am I going

817
00:37:56,540 --> 00:37:57,740
to give into my flesh?

818
00:37:58,460 --> 00:38:03,020
The same gift can either build
the church up or create division

819
00:38:03,020 --> 00:38:03,780
within the church.

820
00:38:03,780 --> 00:38:07,020
So let's say there's someone
gifted in the area of giving.

821
00:38:07,020 --> 00:38:10,860
Let's say that someone that's
exercising the gift of giving within

822
00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:14,560
the realm of the Spirit is
going to only bring the church together

823
00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:16,800
and ultimately glorify God and
strengthen the church.

824
00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,640
But if someone is exercising
their gift of giving or any other

825
00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:25,320
gift in the flesh and see that
happening flowing out, that's going

826
00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:28,360
to eventually cause division,
that's going to cause chaos, and

827
00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:30,200
that's going to cause weakness
within the church.

828
00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:33,440
And so the challenge would be
to walk in the Spirit, to serve in

829
00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:37,120
love, to remain humble, and
ultimately to give glory to God.

830
00:38:37,770 --> 00:38:41,170
And So Romans chapter 12
teaches that every believer belongs

831
00:38:41,170 --> 00:38:42,090
to the body.

832
00:38:43,290 --> 00:38:45,970
Now, we have different parts
of the body, but every one of us

833
00:38:45,970 --> 00:38:46,730
are part of the body.

834
00:38:48,170 --> 00:38:49,610
Every member is necessary.

835
00:38:50,730 --> 00:38:53,290
You might think, well, my gift
isn't as important as that person's

836
00:38:53,290 --> 00:38:53,810
gift, folks.

837
00:38:53,810 --> 00:38:54,810
Your gift is important.

838
00:38:54,890 --> 00:38:58,530
It's vital for the health of
the church for you to exercise your

839
00:38:58,530 --> 00:39:00,970
gift to the best of your
ability in the power of the Spirit,

840
00:39:01,130 --> 00:39:03,930
to edify other saints and to
glorify the Lord.

841
00:39:04,590 --> 00:39:06,190
The church is the healthiest.

842
00:39:07,550 --> 00:39:11,630
When every believer discovers,
develops, and deploys their spiritual

843
00:39:11,630 --> 00:39:14,510
gift within the church for
God's glory.

844
00:39:14,590 --> 00:39:16,510
That's when the church is thriving.

845
00:39:17,230 --> 00:39:19,110
We're not going to be a
healthy church if we all just try

846
00:39:19,110 --> 00:39:19,950
to do our own thing.

847
00:39:20,109 --> 00:39:22,470
We're not going to be a
healthy church if we're all trying

848
00:39:22,470 --> 00:39:27,110
to do what we want to do,
regardless of what other people are

849
00:39:27,110 --> 00:39:27,350
doing.

850
00:39:27,350 --> 00:39:27,870
Whatever.

851
00:39:28,030 --> 00:39:30,150
Whatever they're doing is
they're doing, they can do their

852
00:39:30,150 --> 00:39:31,360
thing Doing my thing.

853
00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:31,920
That's great.

854
00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,320
No, the whole idea is that
we're working together.

855
00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:39,840
That takes communication, that
takes conviction, that.

856
00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:40,400
That takes.

857
00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:42,560
That takes biblical compassion.

858
00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:46,920
And so the church is
healthiest when we discover and develop

859
00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:48,280
and deploy our gifts.

860
00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:50,840
And so I want to ask you a few
questions here, and then we will

861
00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:56,420
conclude, number one, am I
serving where God has gifted me?

862
00:39:57,690 --> 00:40:00,170
Maybe we could go back another
question and say, am I serving?

863
00:40:01,130 --> 00:40:02,610
You know, what is spiritual growth?

864
00:40:02,610 --> 00:40:05,130
Spiritual growth isn't serving
because we know that we can serve

865
00:40:05,530 --> 00:40:07,770
without a heart of the Lord.

866
00:40:07,770 --> 00:40:09,690
We could just be serving for ever.

867
00:40:09,690 --> 00:40:10,490
Motivation we have.

868
00:40:10,490 --> 00:40:12,250
But the question is, is, am I serving?

869
00:40:12,250 --> 00:40:14,890
But number two, am I serving
where God has gifted me?

870
00:40:15,370 --> 00:40:18,090
Am I walking in the spirit, or
am I walking in the flesh?

871
00:40:18,090 --> 00:40:21,650
Am I strengthening Christ's
body, or am I weakening and dividing

872
00:40:21,650 --> 00:40:22,490
the body of Christ?

873
00:40:23,140 --> 00:40:26,220
Am I using my gift to point
people to Jesus, or am I using my

874
00:40:26,220 --> 00:40:28,180
gift to point people to
anything else?

875
00:40:30,020 --> 00:40:34,700
The greatest gift that you
possess is not your spiritual gift.

876
00:40:34,700 --> 00:40:36,820
You might say, well, my
identity is in my teaching, or my

877
00:40:36,820 --> 00:40:37,980
identity is in my compassion.

878
00:40:37,980 --> 00:40:40,660
No, the greatest gift is the
gift of salvation.

879
00:40:40,980 --> 00:40:42,100
That's where we all start.

880
00:40:42,580 --> 00:40:46,340
And if we're not in Christ,
we're not able to experience these

881
00:40:46,340 --> 00:40:50,120
gifts and walk in accordance
to the Spirit, in contrast to the

882
00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:50,360
flesh.

883
00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:52,520
It's the Savior who gave us
the gift.

884
00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:53,880
He's the greatest gift.

885
00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:56,560
His salvation that he extends
to us is the greatest gift.

886
00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:59,080
So we serve him faithfully
until he comes.

887
00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:01,200
We serve within the church.

888
00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:02,520
We serve in our community.

889
00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:06,680
God's not just concerned with
what we do, but how we do it.

890
00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:12,000
And so a gift exercised in the
flesh can wound the body, but a gift

891
00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:16,320
exercised in the Spirit builds
the church up and glorifies our Lord

892
00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:17,320
and Savior, Jesus Christ.

893
00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,880
And so Romans chapter 12,
particularly the first eight verses,

894
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:24,120
are not just about identifying
our gifts, even though that's part

895
00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:27,720
of it, but ultimately it's
about what we saw back in verse number

896
00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:27,880
one.

897
00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:32,520
It's about presenting
ourselves, a living sacrifice, holy,

898
00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:35,119
acceptable unto God, which is
our reasonable service.

899
00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,640
And so it's allowing the
Spirit of God to use our gifts for

900
00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,280
the purpose of giving
ourselves over to Him.

901
00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:44,360
And so, just as we started
Romans chapter 12, verse 1, we'll

902
00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:48,650
end with at least this portion
of Romans chapter 12 with verse 1.

903
00:41:48,970 --> 00:41:51,810
Paul says, I beseech you,
therefore, brethren, I plead with

904
00:41:51,810 --> 00:41:52,010
you.

905
00:41:52,010 --> 00:41:54,890
I beg you, by the mercies of God.

906
00:41:55,130 --> 00:41:56,850
It starts with the mercies of God.

907
00:41:56,850 --> 00:41:58,730
It starts with what we've
received from him.

908
00:41:58,730 --> 00:42:02,210
And he says, where you Start
is understanding what God has given

909
00:42:02,210 --> 00:42:02,530
you.

910
00:42:02,530 --> 00:42:05,450
He says, when you understand
that, what do you do?

911
00:42:05,450 --> 00:42:10,330
You present your bodies, your
everything, a living sacrifice, holy,

912
00:42:11,270 --> 00:42:13,590
acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service.

913
00:42:13,590 --> 00:42:15,510
That word reasonable is just logical.

914
00:42:15,830 --> 00:42:19,030
It's the logical thing that we
would do as Christians when we understand

915
00:42:19,030 --> 00:42:22,710
his mercy, his compassion,
that we would respond in exercising

916
00:42:22,710 --> 00:42:26,710
these gifts for him to not be
conformed to this world, but to be

917
00:42:26,710 --> 00:42:30,910
transformed by the renewing of
our mind that we may prove or demonstrate

918
00:42:30,910 --> 00:42:33,510
what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God.

919
00:42:33,750 --> 00:42:36,830
When we are walking in the
gifts that God has given us, we're

920
00:42:36,830 --> 00:42:38,230
walking in the will of God.

921
00:42:38,430 --> 00:42:40,990
And when we're walking in the
will of God, that's the safest, most

922
00:42:40,990 --> 00:42:43,230
rewarding, most fruitful place
to be.

923
00:42:43,790 --> 00:42:47,430
And my prayer for you as the
church is not to be a church that's

924
00:42:47,430 --> 00:42:47,950
perfect.

925
00:42:47,950 --> 00:42:49,070
None of us can be perfect.

926
00:42:49,230 --> 00:42:50,030
That's the reality.

927
00:42:50,030 --> 00:42:53,190
And we don't want to set a
standard that isn't realistic.

928
00:42:53,190 --> 00:42:58,110
But what I do want us to do is
all of us to think and to pray and

929
00:42:58,110 --> 00:42:59,910
to strive to be in the will of God.

930
00:42:59,910 --> 00:43:02,750
Because if we're all in the
will of God, we're able to exercise

931
00:43:03,470 --> 00:43:07,380
in freedom, we're able to
exercise in power, we're able to

932
00:43:07,380 --> 00:43:10,780
exercise in effective
fruitfulness for the Lord.

933
00:43:11,260 --> 00:43:15,740
Now, Pastor Ethan did an
analogy on one Sunday evening service.

934
00:43:16,380 --> 00:43:20,420
So I don't really want to give
the same analogy, but the truth is,

935
00:43:20,420 --> 00:43:23,500
is that all of us could face
one situation here.

936
00:43:23,900 --> 00:43:27,020
Let's say, for example, let's
use the Good Samaritan as an illustration.

937
00:43:27,020 --> 00:43:31,100
And I was going to call Pastor
Ethan up and use him as an illustration

938
00:43:31,100 --> 00:43:32,500
and have him lay on the ground
as the.

939
00:43:32,500 --> 00:43:33,100
As the guy.

940
00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:34,060
But I'm not going to do that.

941
00:43:34,230 --> 00:43:37,430
But just pretend like Pastor
Ethan's up here on the steps and

942
00:43:37,430 --> 00:43:38,870
I walk by, right?

943
00:43:39,830 --> 00:43:45,030
If I'm the person with the
gift of teaching, I might be tempted

944
00:43:45,030 --> 00:43:47,630
to come alongside that guy and
say, hey, man, if you would have

945
00:43:47,630 --> 00:43:50,990
just not come out here, you
know, there was a better route to

946
00:43:50,990 --> 00:43:54,190
go around that you wouldn't
have had to go from Jerusalem to

947
00:43:54,190 --> 00:43:54,670
Jericho.

948
00:43:54,670 --> 00:43:55,950
That wouldn't be a smart route.

949
00:43:55,950 --> 00:43:58,830
Or if I was a prophet, I could
just walk by and tell him, hey, you

950
00:43:58,830 --> 00:43:59,550
should have never done this.

951
00:43:59,550 --> 00:44:01,030
You got yourself in problems, right?

952
00:44:01,550 --> 00:44:04,270
But that's exercising in the flesh.

953
00:44:05,470 --> 00:44:08,870
All of these gifts are tied
together with the very next verse

954
00:44:08,870 --> 00:44:10,910
of Romans, chapter 12, verse 9.

955
00:44:11,150 --> 00:44:14,190
Love without dissimulation or
love without hypocrisy.

956
00:44:14,190 --> 00:44:16,270
So what I mean by that is this.

957
00:44:16,430 --> 00:44:19,470
All of us could see that
person lying in the ditch a different

958
00:44:19,470 --> 00:44:20,590
way because of our gift.

959
00:44:20,750 --> 00:44:24,990
But all of the aspects of our
gift being executed would be done

960
00:44:24,990 --> 00:44:25,550
in love.

961
00:44:25,790 --> 00:44:28,190
So if I'm going to teach that
person, I'm not going to make them

962
00:44:28,190 --> 00:44:30,510
feel bad and say, well, that's
all of your problems here.

963
00:44:30,510 --> 00:44:31,750
You should have went here,
here, here.

964
00:44:31,830 --> 00:44:34,910
I'm going to meet them in that
need with love, and then bring them

965
00:44:34,910 --> 00:44:36,270
to a place where I can exercise.

966
00:44:36,270 --> 00:44:36,710
Teaching.

967
00:44:36,870 --> 00:44:39,550
Maybe the time to teach him is
not when he's bleeding out on the

968
00:44:39,550 --> 00:44:40,150
side of the road.

969
00:44:40,230 --> 00:44:43,510
Maybe the time to teach him is
after he gets back to the hotel,

970
00:44:43,830 --> 00:44:46,350
after he gets a little bit
stronger, say, hey, maybe next time

971
00:44:46,350 --> 00:44:47,510
he shouldn't be going that route.

972
00:44:47,510 --> 00:44:50,630
Okay, maybe it would be a
right thing for the prophet to let

973
00:44:50,630 --> 00:44:52,710
that person know that they
were doing the wrong thing.

974
00:44:52,710 --> 00:44:55,470
But at the same time as enact
that type of love and patience and

975
00:44:55,470 --> 00:44:58,950
create a relationship with
that person, maybe the giver would,

976
00:44:58,950 --> 00:44:59,630
hey, what if.

977
00:44:59,630 --> 00:45:01,590
What if someone walked by the
guy on the side of the road and just

978
00:45:01,590 --> 00:45:03,110
threw money at him, said, hey,
figure it out.

979
00:45:03,110 --> 00:45:03,830
Here's some money.

980
00:45:03,830 --> 00:45:05,990
Well, that guy's not going to
do very much with that money because

981
00:45:06,070 --> 00:45:07,270
he's not able to get up.

982
00:45:07,750 --> 00:45:11,270
So the giver would have to
equip that person to be able to receive

983
00:45:11,270 --> 00:45:13,350
that and to properly utilize that.

984
00:45:13,350 --> 00:45:16,470
So I hope you understand what
I'm saying here is that it's just

985
00:45:16,470 --> 00:45:20,450
because we're enacting the
gift in a very particular way, we're

986
00:45:20,450 --> 00:45:22,490
supposed to tie it all
together with love.

987
00:45:22,810 --> 00:45:27,010
And so for the rest of this
passage In Romans chapter 12, we're

988
00:45:27,010 --> 00:45:30,530
going to see how we live out
all these gifts in a particular way

989
00:45:30,530 --> 00:45:32,090
and how we deal with other Christians.

990
00:45:32,490 --> 00:45:36,529
Romans chapter 1 through 11
was all about what we believe about

991
00:45:36,529 --> 00:45:36,970
God.

992
00:45:37,450 --> 00:45:39,450
Love God with all your heart,
soul, mind and strength.

993
00:45:39,610 --> 00:45:44,530
The next part of Romans is all
about how we live with others, how

994
00:45:44,530 --> 00:45:47,720
we live with the government,
how we live with difficult Christians,

995
00:45:47,800 --> 00:45:50,920
how we live with all of our
people within the world.

996
00:45:50,920 --> 00:45:53,320
And that's what Romans 12 is
going to start talking about.

997
00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:56,280
Love without dissimulation,
talks about forgiveness.

998
00:45:57,480 --> 00:46:01,680
It talks about how we can be
fervent in business serving the Lord.

999
00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:03,680
There's all these different
things that we're going to be talking

1000
00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:05,080
about within Romans chapter 12.

1001
00:46:05,240 --> 00:46:09,560
But I think one of the hardest
things to do within the church is

1002
00:46:09,560 --> 00:46:13,860
to practically live out these
spiritual truths with people that

1003
00:46:13,860 --> 00:46:16,580
might not agree with what
we're doing, who might have their

1004
00:46:16,580 --> 00:46:19,180
own personality who might have
a different gift.

1005
00:46:19,340 --> 00:46:20,420
And that's the hard part.

1006
00:46:20,420 --> 00:46:23,300
The hard part is, how do I
love someone who doesn't see the

1007
00:46:23,300 --> 00:46:25,020
situation the same way that I
see it?

1008
00:46:26,140 --> 00:46:29,700
I, I, I, I could sit with
someone who's a mercy, and we could

1009
00:46:29,700 --> 00:46:33,700
go round and round, and I'd be
like, yeah, but they should be doing

1010
00:46:33,700 --> 00:46:33,980
this.

1011
00:46:34,620 --> 00:46:38,860
And oftentimes what happens is
that people with differing gifts

1012
00:46:39,350 --> 00:46:44,550
can have division if we're not
exercising what Romans chapter 12

1013
00:46:44,550 --> 00:46:45,790
says for the rest of this passage.

1014
00:46:45,790 --> 00:46:47,550
So I encourage you to come
back because we're going to look

1015
00:46:47,550 --> 00:46:53,270
at really practical steps that
we must take as Christians to walk

1016
00:46:53,270 --> 00:46:55,990
in unison with people within
the body of Christ.

1017
00:46:56,870 --> 00:46:59,070
And so I hope that this study
has been helpful for you.

1018
00:46:59,070 --> 00:47:02,710
Again, I encourage you to make
sure you grab one of those spiritual

1019
00:47:02,870 --> 00:47:06,960
gift tests so that you can
identify that gift, so that you can

1020
00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:10,840
strengthen that gift, so that
you can deploy that gift and maybe

1021
00:47:10,840 --> 00:47:12,720
teach others about those gifts.

1022
00:47:13,200 --> 00:47:16,600
I know for me, it wasn't until
someone sat down with me and walked

1023
00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:19,520
me through this that I had a
greater understanding of what the

1024
00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:21,280
word of God has to say about
my spiritual gift.

1025
00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:24,080
I just thought, you're
supposed to serve wherever they call

1026
00:47:24,080 --> 00:47:24,400
you.

1027
00:47:24,960 --> 00:47:27,520
And though that's an
opportunity to do within the church,

1028
00:47:27,600 --> 00:47:31,360
there is a very important
reason why God lists these gifts

1029
00:47:31,360 --> 00:47:34,460
so that we can identify them
and properly utilize them and then

1030
00:47:34,460 --> 00:47:35,940
teach others how to do that as well.

1031
00:47:36,420 --> 00:47:40,300
And so one of my goals at
Middletown Baptist Church is not

1032
00:47:40,300 --> 00:47:41,860
just to be the only teacher.

1033
00:47:42,580 --> 00:47:45,980
I want to teach you truths,
not so that you can go, great, check

1034
00:47:45,980 --> 00:47:46,700
that off the box.

1035
00:47:46,700 --> 00:47:48,260
Learn that now I'm going to go
back home.

1036
00:47:48,340 --> 00:47:51,180
No, the whole idea for
teaching within this church is so

1037
00:47:51,180 --> 00:47:54,740
that you can learn, so that
you can teach, so that they can learn,

1038
00:47:54,820 --> 00:47:55,900
so that they can teach.

1039
00:47:55,900 --> 00:47:57,220
And that's the whole model.

1040
00:47:57,540 --> 00:48:00,180
We want to equip the saints
for the work of the ministry.

1041
00:48:00,180 --> 00:48:01,060
You're the saints.

1042
00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:03,080
There's the work of the ministry.

1043
00:48:03,160 --> 00:48:04,160
It's equipping you.

1044
00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:05,720
It's giving you every tool
that you need.

1045
00:48:06,600 --> 00:48:09,000
So now all of us as a church
can't say, well, I don't know what

1046
00:48:09,000 --> 00:48:10,000
the spiritual gifts are.

1047
00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:10,920
You know what they are.

1048
00:48:11,080 --> 00:48:12,960
Okay, you can go back and look
at the videos.

1049
00:48:12,960 --> 00:48:15,560
You can go look at these
things and we can say, okay, now

1050
00:48:15,560 --> 00:48:16,840
where do I fit in that?

1051
00:48:17,319 --> 00:48:19,760
Now how can I grab someone
else in the church and say, hey,

1052
00:48:19,760 --> 00:48:21,360
have you figured out your
spiritual gift yet?

1053
00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:22,520
Well, no, I don't even know
what that is.

1054
00:48:22,520 --> 00:48:25,960
Well, let me walk you through
it that's the purpose of the spiritual

1055
00:48:25,960 --> 00:48:27,320
life, to pass it on.

1056
00:48:27,990 --> 00:48:28,710
That's the hope.

1057
00:48:28,790 --> 00:48:30,990
That's discipleship, and
that's what we want to do here at

1058
00:48:30,990 --> 00:48:32,070
Middletown Baptist Church.

1059
00:48:32,070 --> 00:48:34,350
Well, I'm going to ask if
you're able to just stand with me,

1060
00:48:34,350 --> 00:48:35,590
every head bowed, every eye closed.

1061
00:48:35,590 --> 00:48:39,270
We're going to have a time of
invitation, time of response.

1062
00:48:39,590 --> 00:48:41,750
We've talked about a lot of
things in this study.

1063
00:48:43,270 --> 00:48:45,270
We talked about a lot of
different gifts.

1064
00:48:45,350 --> 00:48:47,830
We've talked about how we
exercise those gifts.

1065
00:48:47,910 --> 00:48:50,710
But ultimately, I think if
you've been here for all of them,

1066
00:48:50,710 --> 00:48:54,950
you've seen a theme, that
every one of these gifts are perfectly

1067
00:48:55,570 --> 00:48:58,530
embodied in the person and
work of Jesus Christ.

1068
00:48:59,970 --> 00:49:03,650
It's impossible to live out
these gifts without him.

1069
00:49:03,890 --> 00:49:07,810
It's impossible to be merciful
in the way that Christ called us

1070
00:49:07,810 --> 00:49:09,090
to be merciful without him.

1071
00:49:09,170 --> 00:49:13,570
It's impossible to be the way
that God has called us to be without

1072
00:49:14,210 --> 00:49:16,650
understanding who Jesus is and
what he has done for us.

1073
00:49:16,650 --> 00:49:17,570
So it starts there.

1074
00:49:17,650 --> 00:49:19,970
Do you have a relationship
with Jesus Christ?

1075
00:49:20,130 --> 00:49:21,410
Have you trusted in him?

1076
00:49:21,720 --> 00:49:24,880
Have you given everything over
to him and said, lord, I know that

1077
00:49:24,880 --> 00:49:27,760
I can't save myself, but I
believe that you could save me, save

1078
00:49:27,760 --> 00:49:28,200
me today.

1079
00:49:28,360 --> 00:49:31,440
If you have never done that,
today is the day that you need to

1080
00:49:31,440 --> 00:49:33,400
trust Jesus Christ as your
personal savior.

1081
00:49:33,400 --> 00:49:35,400
And I can guarantee you this.

1082
00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:38,560
And it's not just my opinion,
this is the word of God, that your

1083
00:49:38,560 --> 00:49:39,840
life will be changed.

1084
00:49:39,840 --> 00:49:41,160
It will be transformed.

1085
00:49:41,720 --> 00:49:45,240
But if you trusted in Jesus
Christ, but yet, as Second Peter

1086
00:49:45,240 --> 00:49:46,520
says, you've lost sight.

1087
00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:49,000
You've been blinded by the
goodness of what God has done for

1088
00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:49,240
you.

1089
00:49:49,640 --> 00:49:51,640
Maybe you've lost sight of the compassion.

1090
00:49:51,640 --> 00:49:55,840
Maybe you've lost sight of all
the things that the Lord has sacrificed

1091
00:49:55,840 --> 00:49:56,280
for you.

1092
00:49:56,760 --> 00:49:59,920
Maybe today is just a reminder
to go back to him and thank him for

1093
00:49:59,920 --> 00:50:02,760
his mercies so that you can
extend those mercies to others.

1094
00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:05,360
But maybe it's a broader message.

1095
00:50:05,360 --> 00:50:05,960
It's this.

1096
00:50:06,920 --> 00:50:10,040
The Lord, through this study,
has revealed to me at least one area

1097
00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:10,640
that I believe.

1098
00:50:10,640 --> 00:50:14,720
He has called me to live out
in my life as way of a spiritual

1099
00:50:14,720 --> 00:50:15,080
gift.

1100
00:50:15,550 --> 00:50:18,630
If he has called you to that,
I encourage you to stand in that.

1101
00:50:18,630 --> 00:50:20,710
I encourage you to develop
that gift.

1102
00:50:20,710 --> 00:50:24,190
I encourage you to deploy that
gift and to teach others and to serve

1103
00:50:24,190 --> 00:50:27,670
others and to lift up the body
of Christ and to ultimately glorify

1104
00:50:27,670 --> 00:50:30,190
Jesus through that spiritual
gift that he has gifted you with.

1105
00:50:30,350 --> 00:50:32,470
Lord, I pray that you be in
this time of invitation, working

1106
00:50:32,470 --> 00:50:33,230
hearts and lives.

1107
00:50:33,470 --> 00:50:37,910
I pray that you can lead us to
your truth, help us to live in your

1108
00:50:37,910 --> 00:50:41,450
truth and help us to lead
others to that truth.

1109
00:50:42,160 --> 00:50:45,880
I pray that you lead those who
this morning might need you as a

1110
00:50:45,880 --> 00:50:49,080
Savior to come forward and to
look into the word of God and see

1111
00:50:49,080 --> 00:50:50,360
what it means to know you as Savior.

1112
00:50:50,360 --> 00:50:53,120
I pray that you lead other
Christians who maybe have been struggling

1113
00:50:53,120 --> 00:50:56,760
to come to you and to lean on
you and to rest in your love and

1114
00:50:56,760 --> 00:50:57,920
care and your compassion.

1115
00:50:57,920 --> 00:51:00,240
Lord, I pray that you be in
this time of invitation working hearts

1116
00:51:00,240 --> 00:51:01,200
and lives in Jesus name.

1117
00:51:01,200 --> 00:51:01,560
Amen.

1118
00:51:01,560 --> 00:51:04,400
As the music plays so we've
already come Follow as the Lord leads

1119
00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:04,960
here this morning.