1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,880 Alan Smith: **AUTOMATED TRANSCRIPTION** Good morning, Springhouse. Good morning, those that watch online. It's good 2 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,905 Alan Smith: to have you with us. Michael, if you'll just stay right there for a little 3 00:00:11,905 --> 00:00:15,664 Alan Smith: bit. Did this in the 1st gathering. Why does he always cry? 4 00:00:15,664 --> 00:00:16,164 Alan Smith: Anybody 5 00:00:21,070 --> 00:00:24,450 Alan Smith: going through anything? Anybody been sick lately? Anything 6 00:00:24,750 --> 00:00:27,410 Alan Smith: weighing heavy on your minds? Work 7 00:00:28,175 --> 00:00:32,015 Alan Smith: situations, relationships? I know just today, I've 8 00:00:32,015 --> 00:00:35,850 Alan Smith: heard that there's gonna be somebody that has to have a hip replacement. I've heard 9 00:00:35,850 --> 00:00:39,370 Alan Smith: that somebody is, sitting in the hospital. 10 00:00:39,370 --> 00:00:42,810 Alan Smith: In fact, I went and saw them. They're in ICU room 11 00:00:42,810 --> 00:00:46,555 Alan Smith: 12 with ketoacidosis, something along 12 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:49,454 Alan Smith: that line. I just know that there is stuff 13 00:00:50,875 --> 00:00:54,269 Alan Smith: there is stuff going on in people's lives. 14 00:00:55,129 --> 00:00:58,030 Alan Smith: But aren't we glad that we have a father? 15 00:00:58,865 --> 00:01:02,385 Alan Smith: Aren't we glad that we have a savior that is touched by our 16 00:01:02,385 --> 00:01:06,225 Alan Smith: infirmities? And he knows what it is that we go 17 00:01:06,225 --> 00:01:09,880 Alan Smith: through, and he's moved with compassion toward us. And he seeks compassion toward us. 18 00:01:10,020 --> 00:01:13,780 Alan Smith: And he seeks to answer our prayers. I 19 00:01:13,780 --> 00:01:17,535 Alan Smith: got turned on to Oswald Chambers about 16 years ago, and I've 20 00:01:17,535 --> 00:01:18,035 Alan Smith: I 21 00:01:21,852 --> 00:01:22,352 Alan Smith: read 22 00:01:26,570 --> 00:01:30,170 Alan Smith: But I read something again February of this 23 00:01:30,170 --> 00:01:34,009 Alan Smith: year at the beginning, and it's been hounding me for the last 24 00:01:34,009 --> 00:01:37,565 Alan Smith: 10 days, and I just wanna share that with you. 25 00:01:38,665 --> 00:01:42,400 Alan Smith: Because sometimes, I don't know about you, but when I pray, I start asking 26 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,080 Alan Smith: God for answers. And 27 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,875 Alan Smith: that's not the key to prayer. Whenever the 28 00:01:49,875 --> 00:01:53,715 Alan Smith: insistence is on the point that God answers prayer, we are off track. 29 00:01:53,715 --> 00:01:57,450 Alan Smith: This is February 7th. The meaning of prayer is 30 00:01:57,450 --> 00:02:01,210 Alan Smith: that we get hold of God, not the 31 00:02:01,210 --> 00:02:05,025 Alan Smith: answer. Because here's the deal. Too many 32 00:02:05,025 --> 00:02:08,405 Alan Smith: times we seek the answer versus the giver of the answer. 33 00:02:09,905 --> 00:02:13,510 Alan Smith: He knows what's best for us. He knows the 34 00:02:13,510 --> 00:02:17,190 Alan Smith: timing that it needs to take place. He knows the way and the method it 35 00:02:17,190 --> 00:02:20,834 Alan Smith: needs to take place. But the most important thing is 36 00:02:20,834 --> 00:02:24,515 Alan Smith: not the answer we seek is the giver. We 37 00:02:24,515 --> 00:02:28,020 Alan Smith: get 2 let me rephrase that. Maybe y'all got this down. 38 00:02:28,180 --> 00:02:31,080 Alan Smith: I get too caught up looking for his hand 39 00:02:33,060 --> 00:02:36,545 Alan Smith: than his face. When the 40 00:02:36,545 --> 00:02:39,845 Alan Smith: the answer is this, if I'll seek his face, 41 00:02:40,705 --> 00:02:44,385 Alan Smith: I'll receive the rest of it because then he's gonna freely give. So if 42 00:02:44,385 --> 00:02:48,180 Alan Smith: that's you this morning and you're in something, I don't 43 00:02:48,180 --> 00:02:51,160 Alan Smith: know what it is, but if you're in something, will you just yield? 44 00:02:52,075 --> 00:02:55,135 Alan Smith: Will you yield this morning? Raise your hands. Father God, 45 00:02:55,995 --> 00:02:59,455 Alan Smith: we come to you because you are a good 46 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,239 Alan Smith: God. And we don't understand the depth of the meaning of that word good, 47 00:03:04,239 --> 00:03:07,885 Alan Smith: but you are a good God. And your 48 00:03:07,885 --> 00:03:11,645 Alan Smith: word says you watch over it to perform it in 49 00:03:11,645 --> 00:03:15,270 Alan Smith: our lives, lord. So today, God, we come 50 00:03:15,270 --> 00:03:18,730 Alan Smith: broken. We come in despair. We come hopeless. We come 51 00:03:18,950 --> 00:03:22,310 Alan Smith: tainted and tattered and torn and dirty and filthy in our 52 00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:25,805 Alan Smith: righteousness, God. But we seek your face. 53 00:03:27,944 --> 00:03:31,465 Alan Smith: Give us the spirit of Mary that we would sit at your feet, 54 00:03:31,465 --> 00:03:35,129 Alan Smith: God, and not look for 55 00:03:35,129 --> 00:03:37,629 Alan Smith: your hands, but we'd look for your presence 56 00:03:38,730 --> 00:03:41,870 Alan Smith: because in your presence is a fullness of joy. 57 00:03:42,995 --> 00:03:46,755 Alan Smith: God, and when we draw close to you, you draw close to us, and 58 00:03:46,755 --> 00:03:50,135 Alan Smith: you buoy us up, and you hold us up in your right hand, God. 59 00:03:51,489 --> 00:03:55,250 Alan Smith: Hear the cry of your people today. In Jesus' 60 00:03:55,250 --> 00:03:58,150 Alan Smith: name. Amen. Amen. 61 00:03:58,769 --> 00:04:00,275 Alan Smith: Today's gonna be a little different. 62 00:04:08,100 --> 00:04:11,540 Alan Smith: So much that I don't have a lot to pray. But yesterday, the bikers I 63 00:04:11,540 --> 00:04:15,380 Alan Smith: work with had a chili cook off. And it's bad when the 64 00:04:15,380 --> 00:04:19,015 Alan Smith: pastor is the Ghost one at the bar, isn't it? I beat all the bikers 65 00:04:19,015 --> 00:04:22,215 Alan Smith: to the bar yesterday. I was the 1st one in the well, not the Ghost 66 00:04:22,215 --> 00:04:25,940 Alan Smith: one, the bartender and her helper. But I was the Ghost one. I'm knocking on 67 00:04:25,940 --> 00:04:29,220 Alan Smith: the door. It was locked. And I said, hey. Where's everybody at? So I beat 68 00:04:29,220 --> 00:04:32,440 Alan Smith: them to the bar. I had 9 shots of chili, 69 00:04:33,095 --> 00:04:36,775 Alan Smith: little 2 ounce cups of chili because we 70 00:04:36,775 --> 00:04:40,190 Alan Smith: had 8 different pots. You know what? A cup of chill 71 00:04:40,270 --> 00:04:43,810 Alan Smith: or a a shot of chili is okay, but when you got 8 different ones, 72 00:04:46,190 --> 00:04:50,035 Alan Smith: some of them were Ghost, And some of them were not, 73 00:04:50,035 --> 00:04:52,695 Alan Smith: but they were they were chilly. 74 00:04:53,875 --> 00:04:57,235 Alan Smith: And then you could buy a flight. You could buy 4 bowls for 75 00:04:57,235 --> 00:05:00,009 Alan Smith: $10. And so I had 4 bowls of chili, 76 00:05:03,430 --> 00:05:07,235 Alan Smith: 4 cans of diet dew because I've thank God I've changed from 77 00:05:07,235 --> 00:05:10,355 Alan Smith: sun drop to diet dew. There's 0 calories in dew. So I got them to 78 00:05:10,355 --> 00:05:13,875 Alan Smith: make that conversion for me. But then like a 79 00:05:13,875 --> 00:05:17,570 Alan Smith: dummy, I said, hey. Bring me some of them creakle cut fries, and 80 00:05:17,570 --> 00:05:21,330 Alan Smith: I'll make chili cheese fries. And I thought it was gonna 81 00:05:21,330 --> 00:05:24,705 Alan Smith: hit me last night, but it hadn't hit yet. So be warned today. 82 00:05:27,745 --> 00:05:31,585 Alan Smith: For the person that told me this morning that I'm channeling my inner Patrick 83 00:05:31,585 --> 00:05:34,920 Alan Smith: Mahomes with my, thing because he I'm 84 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:39,000 Alan Smith: no. And for the person that was older, and this 85 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,745 Alan Smith: is for people 50 and older, it said I look like Robert Tilton because 86 00:05:42,745 --> 00:05:46,284 Alan Smith: of my haircut. Honey, I need a haircut, Wednesday. I want it spiky again. 87 00:05:46,664 --> 00:05:49,884 Alan Smith: If you're from the old generation, name it, claim it, and the televangelist. 88 00:05:50,629 --> 00:05:54,389 Alan Smith: Somebody said I had a Robert Tilton haircut, so I don't know 89 00:05:54,389 --> 00:05:57,590 Alan Smith: about that. 2 quick things. We had 90 00:05:58,105 --> 00:06:00,845 Alan Smith: we've got 37 people signed up to go to Mexico. 91 00:06:02,185 --> 00:06:05,990 Alan Smith: If you are praying about this, you need to see 92 00:06:05,990 --> 00:06:09,690 Alan Smith: me ASAP because I'm gonna have to cut it off at 50. So, 93 00:06:10,390 --> 00:06:14,004 Alan Smith: wow, Alvin. You're gonna have to cut a missions trip to 50. Who knew? But 94 00:06:14,004 --> 00:06:17,825 Alan Smith: God has put the people. So if you're interested, see me soon. And 95 00:06:17,825 --> 00:06:21,585 Alan Smith: then next Sunday, we'll talk about, Ghost responders. So that's right 96 00:06:21,585 --> 00:06:24,990 Alan Smith: after service. If you hadn't registered, come on anyway, and we'll talk about 97 00:06:24,990 --> 00:06:28,290 Alan Smith: that. So all that being done, hallelujah. 98 00:06:29,230 --> 00:06:31,650 Alan Smith: Oh, we'll still get out of here by 12:40 or 11:45. 99 00:06:34,595 --> 00:06:38,354 Alan Smith: I'm not making a promise. If you would, let's stand and read the 100 00:06:38,354 --> 00:06:41,900 Alan Smith: word today. Hey. They fixed me. Thank you. 101 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,740 Alan Smith: As pastor Kevin and miss Vonda says with gusto. 102 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:49,800 Alan Smith: Alright. Praise be to the God and father of our 103 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,245 Alan Smith: lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion 104 00:06:53,865 --> 00:06:57,465 Alan Smith: and the God of all comfort who comforts us 105 00:06:57,465 --> 00:07:01,150 Alan Smith: in all our troubles so that we can comfort 106 00:07:01,290 --> 00:07:04,730 Alan Smith: those in any trouble with the comfort we 107 00:07:04,730 --> 00:07:08,085 Alan Smith: ourselves receive from God. In Colossians, 108 00:07:09,025 --> 00:07:12,005 Alan Smith: therefore, as God's chosen people, 109 00:07:12,465 --> 00:07:15,860 Alan Smith: holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves 110 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,220 Alan Smith: with compassion, kindness, humility, 111 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,695 Alan Smith: gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other 112 00:07:23,835 --> 00:07:27,675 Alan Smith: and forgive one another if any of you has a 113 00:07:27,675 --> 00:07:31,510 Alan Smith: grievance against someone. Forgive as the lord 114 00:07:31,510 --> 00:07:34,730 Alan Smith: forgave you. Father, thank you that you are 115 00:07:35,350 --> 00:07:38,795 Alan Smith: the God of compassion. And, lord, once more, 116 00:07:38,935 --> 00:07:42,295 Alan Smith: your son modeled that out for us. So today, lord, we ask you 117 00:07:42,295 --> 00:07:46,055 Alan Smith: to pour into our spirit. Let your word remain. Let my 118 00:07:46,055 --> 00:07:49,630 Alan Smith: foolishness go away. And, lord, teach us your 119 00:07:49,630 --> 00:07:53,170 Alan Smith: ways today in Christ's name. Amen. You may be seated. 120 00:07:53,790 --> 00:07:57,555 Alan Smith: So So if you're looking for slides today, that was your 2. That's all you 121 00:07:57,555 --> 00:08:01,314 Alan Smith: get today. No clicker. Boy, I'm not don't tell 122 00:08:01,314 --> 00:08:05,160 Alan Smith: pastor Kevin. Don't tell pastor Ronnie. But boy, I feel so liberated. Y'all 123 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,360 Alan Smith: better watch out. I don't have to worry about half of my time whenever I 124 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,000 Alan Smith: get to speak. I'm worried about it in my click, and y'all ain't gotta worry 125 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,675 Alan Smith: about that today. Now you just gotta worry about if I can scroll and read. 126 00:08:14,675 --> 00:08:17,895 Alan Smith: Help him, lord. Listen. 127 00:08:18,995 --> 00:08:22,820 Alan Smith: We serve a God who is full of compassion. From 128 00:08:22,820 --> 00:08:26,500 Alan Smith: the very beginning with Adam and Eve when they fell prey to sin in the 129 00:08:26,500 --> 00:08:30,340 Alan Smith: garden, to the Hebrew children who were captive in Egypt. And 130 00:08:30,340 --> 00:08:34,145 Alan Smith: God it says the word said he heard their cries and was 131 00:08:34,145 --> 00:08:37,585 Alan Smith: moved. And he brought a deliverer through Moses all the way to 132 00:08:37,585 --> 00:08:41,365 Alan Smith: Jesus hanging on the cross and bearing the sin of humanity, 133 00:08:42,179 --> 00:08:46,020 Alan Smith: though he was blameless and perfect because of 134 00:08:46,020 --> 00:08:49,754 Alan Smith: the compassion and the obedience he had to his father. All through 135 00:08:49,754 --> 00:08:53,295 Alan Smith: scripture, we see the compassion of God bleeding 136 00:08:53,355 --> 00:08:56,795 Alan Smith: through. Now 137 00:08:56,795 --> 00:09:00,149 Alan Smith: listen. That being said, we all should 138 00:09:00,149 --> 00:09:03,990 Alan Smith: know that God compassion, like 139 00:09:03,990 --> 00:09:06,955 Alan Smith: his grace, is something we can't earn. 140 00:09:07,735 --> 00:09:11,335 Alan Smith: It's it's something that he chooses to give to 141 00:09:11,335 --> 00:09:14,890 Alan Smith: us. And if that's the case, Alan, in your filthiness, 142 00:09:15,110 --> 00:09:18,710 Alan Smith: when you receive the compassion of God, it should 143 00:09:18,710 --> 00:09:22,505 Alan Smith: be easy for me to be able to give compassion 144 00:09:22,505 --> 00:09:26,205 Alan Smith: to somebody else. No matter what it is, it should be. 145 00:09:27,065 --> 00:09:30,889 Alan Smith: But yet, somehow I seem to put 146 00:09:30,889 --> 00:09:34,329 Alan Smith: conditions and qualifications and 147 00:09:34,329 --> 00:09:37,149 Alan Smith: requirements on the amount of compassion that I give to somebody. 148 00:09:38,154 --> 00:09:41,375 Alan Smith: It's easy to be compassionate toward Renee. 149 00:09:42,154 --> 00:09:45,915 Alan Smith: 35 years this May. Hallelujah. She's put up 150 00:09:45,915 --> 00:09:47,380 Alan Smith: with me. God bless her. 151 00:09:50,308 --> 00:09:53,700 Alan Smith: Pray, it's easy to give compassion to my 152 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:57,324 Alan Smith: children because I love my kiddos. 30 and 153 00:09:57,324 --> 00:10:01,024 Alan Smith: 25. I love my kids. It's easy to be compassionate with them. 154 00:10:01,564 --> 00:10:05,240 Alan Smith: I'll be honest with you. It's pretty easy to be compassionate with most of you. 155 00:10:05,620 --> 00:10:09,300 Alan Smith: That was supposed to be a laughter. In my notes, I've 156 00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:12,805 Alan Smith: got a bracket. Maybe they'll laugh. So we'll no. I'm 157 00:10:12,805 --> 00:10:16,405 Alan Smith: kidding. He's preaching. He's 158 00:10:16,405 --> 00:10:20,245 Alan Smith: talking. But there are so many times 159 00:10:20,245 --> 00:10:24,029 Alan Smith: where I will put a distinction or a 160 00:10:24,029 --> 00:10:27,649 Alan Smith: qualification on whether I truly am compassionate 161 00:10:27,790 --> 00:10:31,485 Alan Smith: to somebody. See, in in this, pastor Barbee 162 00:10:31,485 --> 00:10:34,765 Alan Smith: gave me a great word between services, and I wanna share it now before I 163 00:10:34,765 --> 00:10:37,825 Alan Smith: lose it. There is a difference between sympathy, 164 00:10:39,230 --> 00:10:42,829 Alan Smith: empathy, and compassion. And the 165 00:10:42,829 --> 00:10:46,485 Alan Smith: difference is this, I can empathize with 166 00:10:46,485 --> 00:10:50,005 Alan Smith: somebody in a time of sorrow or struggle. I can be 167 00:10:50,005 --> 00:10:53,225 Alan Smith: sympathetic towards somebody in a a a difficult 168 00:10:53,365 --> 00:10:57,089 Alan Smith: situation. But compassion requires 169 00:10:57,230 --> 00:10:59,970 Alan Smith: an action on my part. Yes. 170 00:11:00,829 --> 00:11:03,889 Alan Smith: Empathy is a feeling. Sympathy is a thought. 171 00:11:04,704 --> 00:11:08,245 Alan Smith: But genuine compassion requires 172 00:11:08,625 --> 00:11:12,464 Alan Smith: an action on my part. And we see all through scripture 173 00:11:12,545 --> 00:11:16,360 Alan Smith: lord, I don't know. Boy, help me stay with notes somehow. We see 174 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,040 Alan Smith: all through scripture that God the 175 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,855 Alan Smith: father when moved with compassion created a reaction. 176 00:11:25,675 --> 00:11:29,435 Alan Smith: The word or phrase compassion happens 43 times in 177 00:11:29,435 --> 00:11:32,510 Alan Smith: scripture. 22 in the Old Testament, 21 in the New. 178 00:11:33,130 --> 00:11:36,970 Alan Smith: Specifically that phrase. But there are near I got exhausted trying 179 00:11:36,970 --> 00:11:40,635 Alan Smith: to look them all up of phrases like feels 180 00:11:40,635 --> 00:11:44,475 Alan Smith: like, or moved with, or stirred within. There are so 181 00:11:44,475 --> 00:11:48,140 Alan Smith: many passages littered throughout the scriptures of God the 182 00:11:48,140 --> 00:11:51,980 Alan Smith: father and Jesus Christ and others, his 183 00:11:51,980 --> 00:11:55,120 Alan Smith: disciples, reflecting that compassion. 184 00:11:57,615 --> 00:12:01,375 Alan Smith: Now here's the thing. We 185 00:12:01,375 --> 00:12:05,135 Alan Smith: say we words are tricky, aren't they? I remember how many years 186 00:12:05,135 --> 00:12:08,690 Alan Smith: ago, Justin? 5, 6 years ago he preached about words are 187 00:12:08,690 --> 00:12:12,209 Alan Smith: hard. We just use so many words in our 188 00:12:12,209 --> 00:12:15,029 Alan Smith: vocabulary. Sometimes we really forget 189 00:12:16,355 --> 00:12:20,194 Alan Smith: the true meaning or the depth that's contained in a word. So 190 00:12:20,194 --> 00:12:23,954 Alan Smith: I had to look up the word compassion because Allen thought with his big 12th 191 00:12:23,954 --> 00:12:26,980 Alan Smith: grade education that he knew what it meant. 192 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,380 Alan Smith: And I wanna jump back to some scripture. 193 00:12:32,995 --> 00:12:36,055 Alan Smith: The Hebrew word that is most often 194 00:12:36,355 --> 00:12:40,055 Alan Smith: connected with the word we translate as compassion, 195 00:12:41,250 --> 00:12:44,530 Alan Smith: It it it comes from a derivative of root word that means 196 00:12:45,010 --> 00:12:48,850 Alan Smith: and we'll read it to you so I get it right. A word related 197 00:12:48,850 --> 00:12:52,595 Alan Smith: to a mother's womb. Suggesting the depth 198 00:12:52,595 --> 00:12:56,055 Alan Smith: of God's compassion for us is likened 199 00:12:56,515 --> 00:12:59,875 Alan Smith: to a mother's care for her child within a 200 00:12:59,875 --> 00:13:03,700 Alan Smith: womb. Now I've never given birth. I went like I'm 201 00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:07,480 Alan Smith: about 7 months prayer. But but I've never gone through that process. 202 00:13:07,515 --> 00:13:11,275 Alan Smith: But I've watched my wife and I've seen other women that have. And 203 00:13:11,275 --> 00:13:14,415 Alan Smith: here's what I know. There is something 204 00:13:15,660 --> 00:13:18,959 Alan Smith: about that life within that womb for that mother. 205 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:23,120 Alan Smith: That there is just a connection on such a deep 206 00:13:23,259 --> 00:13:27,105 Alan Smith: guttural level. And when that that life is growing within 207 00:13:27,105 --> 00:13:30,865 Alan Smith: that womb, and they start to feel that baby move. And when 208 00:13:30,865 --> 00:13:34,430 Alan Smith: they're speaking and that baby responds within that womb, 209 00:13:34,570 --> 00:13:38,269 Alan Smith: there is such a depth in connection to that 210 00:13:38,410 --> 00:13:41,965 Alan Smith: child that that mother has. That when that 211 00:13:41,965 --> 00:13:45,725 Alan Smith: child is born, no matter how excruciating, no matter how 212 00:13:45,725 --> 00:13:49,565 Alan Smith: painful childbirth may be, when that child is put 213 00:13:49,565 --> 00:13:52,770 Alan Smith: in that mother's arm and she puts it to the bosom. 214 00:13:53,550 --> 00:13:57,149 Alan Smith: That mother would fight through heaven and hell to protect that child 215 00:13:57,149 --> 00:14:00,615 Alan Smith: from any pain or injury that it could ever she would do 216 00:14:00,615 --> 00:14:04,455 Alan Smith: anything she could to take away any pain or suffering that child 217 00:14:04,455 --> 00:14:07,980 Alan Smith: may ever endure. That is 218 00:14:07,980 --> 00:14:11,740 Alan Smith: what compassion is from the father God. That is how he 219 00:14:11,740 --> 00:14:15,279 Alan Smith: feels about humanity. And there are so many Holy testament 220 00:14:15,339 --> 00:14:18,835 Alan Smith: scriptures that bear that witness. Let me give you just a few. 221 00:14:19,535 --> 00:14:22,755 Alan Smith: The psalmist have several. Psalm 222 00:14:22,895 --> 00:14:26,680 Alan Smith: 103 is a father has compassion on his children. So the 223 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,120 Alan Smith: Lord has compassion on those who revere him. Psalm 224 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,774 Alan Smith: 86. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, 225 00:14:33,774 --> 00:14:37,394 Alan Smith: slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Isaiah 226 00:14:37,454 --> 00:14:41,060 Alan Smith: 3018. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious. He 227 00:14:41,060 --> 00:14:44,360 Alan Smith: yearns. He earnestly desires to be gracious to you. 228 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:48,175 Alan Smith: Therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For 229 00:14:48,175 --> 00:14:51,775 Alan Smith: the lord is a God of justice, and blessed are those 230 00:14:51,775 --> 00:14:55,555 Alan Smith: who wait for him. Too many times, we don't have the patience 231 00:14:55,615 --> 00:14:59,410 Alan Smith: to wait on God in our situation to allow 232 00:14:59,410 --> 00:15:01,990 Alan Smith: him to come through with his compassion. 233 00:15:04,050 --> 00:15:07,745 Alan Smith: Nehemiah 9. I'm I'm not 234 00:15:07,745 --> 00:15:11,365 Alan Smith: real edumacated with grammar. The word before 235 00:15:12,785 --> 00:15:16,245 Alan Smith: is an adverb or an adjective, whatever it describes something. 236 00:15:17,029 --> 00:15:20,810 Alan Smith: It says, have mercy on me, oh God, according to your unfailing love, 237 00:15:21,110 --> 00:15:24,649 Alan Smith: according to your great we just read right through that pray compassion. 238 00:15:25,485 --> 00:15:27,905 Alan Smith: Do you know what that word great means right there? 239 00:15:28,925 --> 00:15:32,225 Alan Smith: According to your huge, ample, elaborate, 240 00:15:32,525 --> 00:15:35,990 Alan Smith: remarkable, grand, superior. That kind of 241 00:15:35,990 --> 00:15:39,290 Alan Smith: passion, God the father has for us, 242 00:15:39,990 --> 00:15:43,815 Alan Smith: that he would blot out our iniquities. Lamentations, 243 00:15:45,315 --> 00:15:49,154 Alan Smith: we don't like to spend time there, but there is such a great 244 00:15:49,154 --> 00:15:52,990 Alan Smith: person there. Lamentations 322 says, because 245 00:15:52,990 --> 00:15:56,610 Alan Smith: of the lord's great, use all those definitions, love, 246 00:15:56,750 --> 00:16:00,595 Alan Smith: we're not consumed for his compassions never 247 00:16:01,295 --> 00:16:04,975 Alan Smith: fail. Never fail. God's 248 00:16:04,975 --> 00:16:08,630 Alan Smith: compassions never lose strength. They never fall short. They never 249 00:16:08,630 --> 00:16:12,010 Alan Smith: fade away. They never stop functioning. They never become 250 00:16:12,070 --> 00:16:15,830 Alan Smith: deficient or disappoint in our 251 00:16:15,830 --> 00:16:16,330 Alan Smith: expectation. 252 00:16:24,295 --> 00:16:25,879 Alan Smith: Hell you've lived through. It don't matter what life you're in. It It don't matter 253 00:16:25,879 --> 00:16:29,639 Alan Smith: what hell you've lived through. It don't matter what life you're in. It don't matter 254 00:16:29,639 --> 00:16:33,475 Alan Smith: what hardship you're going through. When you rise up in the morning, God 255 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,005 Alan Smith: compassion is there waiting for you. 256 00:16:38,185 --> 00:16:41,785 Alan Smith: New every morning. I don't know I don't know about you, but I've 257 00:16:41,785 --> 00:16:44,699 Alan Smith: used up my grace 258 00:16:45,639 --> 00:16:48,379 Alan Smith: and compassion with some people in this life. 259 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,925 Alan Smith: I've burnt bridges. And that 260 00:16:52,925 --> 00:16:56,625 Alan Smith: ran out in those relationships but God's compassion 261 00:16:56,925 --> 00:16:59,825 Alan Smith: never fail. They'll never fail. 262 00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:05,260 Alan Smith: Well, those are old testament, preacher. What about the new 263 00:17:05,260 --> 00:17:08,700 Alan Smith: testament? What about Jesus? What about 264 00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:12,265 Alan Smith: Jesus? Hebrews 1. 265 00:17:13,125 --> 00:17:16,965 Alan Smith: Long ago, God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and 266 00:17:16,965 --> 00:17:20,540 Alan Smith: in different ways. In these last days, he has 267 00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:23,900 Alan Smith: spoken to us by his son, whom he has 268 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:27,500 Alan Smith: appointed heir of all things, and through him, he made the 269 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:31,325 Alan Smith: universe. He, Jesus, is the radiance of God's 270 00:17:31,325 --> 00:17:34,545 Alan Smith: glory, the exact expression 271 00:17:35,245 --> 00:17:38,870 Alan Smith: of his nature, And he sustains all 272 00:17:38,870 --> 00:17:42,010 Alan Smith: things by his powerful word. John 273 00:17:42,950 --> 00:17:46,475 Alan Smith: recounts the, occurrence with the disciples, and he's telling 274 00:17:46,475 --> 00:17:49,755 Alan Smith: them that that he and the father are 1. Those who see the father see 275 00:17:49,755 --> 00:17:53,135 Alan Smith: me. And Philip says, when have we seen the father? 276 00:17:53,620 --> 00:17:56,520 Alan Smith: And Jesus says, have I been with you not long enough? 277 00:17:57,380 --> 00:18:01,059 Alan Smith: When you see me, you've seen the father. For the 278 00:18:01,059 --> 00:18:04,065 Alan Smith: father is in me and I am in him. We are 279 00:18:04,645 --> 00:18:08,445 Alan Smith: one. Which means that Jesus carried 280 00:18:08,445 --> 00:18:12,240 Alan Smith: out in the flesh the exact compassion that God 281 00:18:12,299 --> 00:18:15,980 Alan Smith: the father carried out through the old history scriptures. He was the 282 00:18:15,980 --> 00:18:19,554 Alan Smith: physical. What and listen, if God if 283 00:18:19,554 --> 00:18:22,995 Alan Smith: God never sent him, his compassion as a 284 00:18:22,995 --> 00:18:26,570 Alan Smith: godly father in heaven is enough. But he cared 285 00:18:26,570 --> 00:18:30,029 Alan Smith: about us enough that he sent his son that we might 286 00:18:30,090 --> 00:18:33,450 Alan Smith: touch him. That he could touch us in our 287 00:18:33,450 --> 00:18:37,255 Alan Smith: infirmities. To know what it's like to be human on this 288 00:18:37,255 --> 00:18:40,955 Alan Smith: earth. And in that part of Christ manifest 289 00:18:41,015 --> 00:18:43,760 Alan Smith: in our life, his compassion 290 00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:48,080 Alan Smith: is so deep. And it cuts to the quick. 291 00:18:49,505 --> 00:18:53,044 Alan Smith: There's so many passages in the New Testament. I put a few of them together. 292 00:18:56,865 --> 00:18:58,804 Alan Smith: Come on, Spirit. Here we go. 293 00:19:02,820 --> 00:19:05,960 Alan Smith: Before I go there, I wanna tell you this. We were talking about the word. 294 00:19:06,394 --> 00:19:10,154 Alan Smith: The Holy Testament word, the New Testament word in the Greek is too 295 00:19:10,154 --> 00:19:13,514 Alan Smith: many letters, has a g h, a k, and an I and all those, so 296 00:19:13,514 --> 00:19:17,260 Alan Smith: I'm not even gonna try. But here's what it 297 00:19:17,260 --> 00:19:20,780 Alan Smith: means. It means a stirring of the inward 298 00:19:20,780 --> 00:19:24,435 Alan Smith: parts. Usually, literally, the twisting of the 299 00:19:24,435 --> 00:19:27,815 Alan Smith: intestines. Have you ever encountered somebody or been in a situation 300 00:19:28,275 --> 00:19:31,955 Alan Smith: that it just gripped you inside, almost doubled you 301 00:19:31,955 --> 00:19:35,540 Alan Smith: over because you felt the anguish of their 302 00:19:35,540 --> 00:19:39,220 Alan Smith: their pain, the the situation they were in. That's the 303 00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:42,665 Alan Smith: Greek word for compassion. So that changes the 304 00:19:42,665 --> 00:19:46,505 Alan Smith: whole outlook when we start thinking about we read 305 00:19:46,665 --> 00:19:50,029 Alan Smith: so many times we just read through, and I challenge you. Listen. The 5 for 306 00:19:50,029 --> 00:19:53,470 Alan Smith: 5, I'm doing it with you. But sometimes we read it just to check it 307 00:19:53,470 --> 00:19:57,205 Alan Smith: off and mark the little box and put the date by. Hey. Don't just do 308 00:19:57,205 --> 00:20:00,885 Alan Smith: it for that. Read it. Take time and read it 309 00:20:00,885 --> 00:20:03,490 Alan Smith: again, and look at words and understand words 310 00:20:11,090 --> 00:20:14,835 Alan Smith: preparing for this when I have studied and read the word compassion, now 311 00:20:14,835 --> 00:20:18,515 Alan Smith: that I understand that that depth of it from the father 312 00:20:18,515 --> 00:20:21,980 Alan Smith: like a mother has for her child in the womb, in the inward 313 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:25,880 Alan Smith: twisting of the intestines, in that guttural thing. It's giving me a 314 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,635 Alan Smith: whole different look. Jesus said in Matthew 9 and Mark 6, it 315 00:20:29,635 --> 00:20:33,315 Alan Smith: says, Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages teaching in their 316 00:20:33,315 --> 00:20:36,890 Alan Smith: synagogues, proclaiming the gospel to the kingdom, and 317 00:20:36,890 --> 00:20:40,570 Alan Smith: healing every disease and affliction. When 318 00:20:40,570 --> 00:20:43,950 Alan Smith: he saw the crowds, he had compassion 319 00:20:45,215 --> 00:20:48,675 Alan Smith: because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 320 00:20:49,375 --> 00:20:53,220 Alan Smith: Matthew 15 in Mark 8 says, Jesus called the disciples to him. I have 321 00:20:53,220 --> 00:20:56,900 Alan Smith: compassion on the crowd because they've been with me now 3 days and have 322 00:20:56,900 --> 00:21:00,580 Alan Smith: nothing to eat. And I'm unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they 323 00:21:00,580 --> 00:21:03,865 Alan Smith: faint on the way. He cares about our physical needs. 324 00:21:04,885 --> 00:21:08,565 Alan Smith: The healing of the 2 blind men, they were sitting out, son of David have 325 00:21:08,565 --> 00:21:12,000 Alan Smith: mercy on us. And everybody said, shut up. Leave the 326 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,460 Alan Smith: rabbi alone. And they cried out even louder, have mercy. 327 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:20,420 Alan Smith: And it said, Jesus looked at them with compassion 328 00:21:22,125 --> 00:21:25,725 Alan Smith: and he healed them. And immediately they began to 329 00:21:25,725 --> 00:21:28,705 Alan Smith: see the leper. 330 00:21:31,008 --> 00:21:34,630 Alan Smith: Spirit what will I do for you? And he said, if you will, you 331 00:21:34,630 --> 00:21:37,290 Alan Smith: can make me clean. And Jesus was moved 332 00:21:38,315 --> 00:21:41,755 Alan Smith: with compassion. And he didn't just speak 333 00:21:41,755 --> 00:21:45,515 Alan Smith: it. He touched him. He 334 00:21:45,515 --> 00:21:49,340 Alan Smith: made him clean. Sometimes we just need 335 00:21:49,340 --> 00:21:53,179 Alan Smith: to feel him touch us. And you know what? That's hard to do 336 00:21:53,179 --> 00:21:56,644 Alan Smith: now because he is now seated at the right hand of the 337 00:21:56,644 --> 00:22:00,184 Alan Smith: father. So do you know how he touches us now? 338 00:22:01,445 --> 00:22:05,250 Alan Smith: With us. With each other. We 339 00:22:05,250 --> 00:22:08,850 Alan Smith: are now the hands and feet of Christ. We are the ones that are called 340 00:22:08,850 --> 00:22:12,675 Alan Smith: to be moved with that guttural deep level of 341 00:22:12,675 --> 00:22:16,515 Alan Smith: compassion that requires an action on our part. And 342 00:22:16,515 --> 00:22:20,295 Alan Smith: then when we are moved like Christ was moved 343 00:22:20,809 --> 00:22:24,570 Alan Smith: and we church somebody, I'm praying for you, man. I 344 00:22:24,570 --> 00:22:28,330 Alan Smith: know it's hard. I'm praying for you, sister. I know 345 00:22:28,330 --> 00:22:31,935 Alan Smith: it's difficult to grieve the loss of a loved one. When we 346 00:22:31,935 --> 00:22:35,395 Alan Smith: do that action, we become 347 00:22:36,175 --> 00:22:38,595 Alan Smith: the hands and feet of Christ's compassion 348 00:22:39,730 --> 00:22:43,169 Alan Smith: in this world. 2 of my 349 00:22:43,169 --> 00:22:43,669 Alan Smith: favorites 350 00:22:47,145 --> 00:22:49,085 Alan Smith: the stories of his compassion. 351 00:22:51,705 --> 00:22:55,260 Alan Smith: Many of us know this story. It's John 11. Pastor 352 00:22:55,260 --> 00:22:58,780 Alan Smith: Jonathan did amazing teaching in the 12 of couple of weeks 353 00:22:58,780 --> 00:23:02,605 Alan Smith: ago. So if you have the capacity, go look it up online and watch it. 354 00:23:02,845 --> 00:23:06,605 Alan Smith: Because he prayer some things that I I've seen it twice now. Once in 355 00:23:06,605 --> 00:23:10,445 Alan Smith: person and 2 in my office. But he prayer something that I really didn't 356 00:23:10,445 --> 00:23:13,950 Alan Smith: think about. And he was talking about when he's talking about Jesus was 357 00:23:14,330 --> 00:23:18,170 Alan Smith: coming and they were traveling back Ghost, technically, there's 2 different Bethanies in 358 00:23:18,170 --> 00:23:21,725 Alan Smith: the Bible. And so he was coming to where and 359 00:23:21,725 --> 00:23:25,165 Alan Smith: he said, Mary and Martha and 360 00:23:25,165 --> 00:23:28,765 Alan Smith: Lazarus lived. And he named the place and he names 361 00:23:28,765 --> 00:23:31,860 Alan Smith: names because Jesus was making a connection 362 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,159 Alan Smith: that this is not just somebody. He knew 363 00:23:36,159 --> 00:23:39,825 Alan Smith: them. He had relationship. They were important to 364 00:23:39,825 --> 00:23:43,585 Alan Smith: him in life. And so he was moved. And 365 00:23:43,585 --> 00:23:46,784 Alan Smith: we think, well, he waited and he delayed 2 days. And then by the time 366 00:23:46,784 --> 00:23:50,320 Alan Smith: he gets there, he's dead. Why didn't he move quicker? Because his 367 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:54,160 Alan Smith: ways are not our ways. His thoughts and ideas are 368 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,565 Alan Smith: higher than ours. And there was a purpose because when he 369 00:23:57,565 --> 00:24:01,245 Alan Smith: came, not only was he gonna raise Lazarus back in life, 370 00:24:01,245 --> 00:24:05,010 Alan Smith: but it was that he might glorify the father. 371 00:24:05,790 --> 00:24:08,130 Alan Smith: And those that would see would recognize. 372 00:24:09,230 --> 00:24:12,845 Alan Smith: Sometimes we go through things in our life 373 00:24:12,845 --> 00:24:16,365 Alan Smith: that is not about us. I sat in an ICU room for 374 00:24:16,365 --> 00:24:20,130 Alan Smith: 14 days 2 years ago, and I am certain in my mind 375 00:24:20,130 --> 00:24:23,970 Alan Smith: it had nothing to do with me. But it was so that I could minister 376 00:24:23,970 --> 00:24:27,775 Alan Smith: to 23 different nurses, doctors, and technicians in that 14 377 00:24:27,775 --> 00:24:31,215 Alan Smith: days to show them the love of God while I was laid up in that 378 00:24:31,215 --> 00:24:35,010 Alan Smith: bed. It was because there were countless numbers of you that were 379 00:24:35,010 --> 00:24:38,850 Alan Smith: praying for me that maybe Ghost stirred your faith to reach 380 00:24:38,850 --> 00:24:40,710 Alan Smith: out on somebody else's behalf. 381 00:24:43,115 --> 00:24:46,255 Alan Smith: And all that was that God would be glorified through it. 382 00:24:47,835 --> 00:24:51,590 Alan Smith: So we see Jesus. He shows up. And Martha comes 383 00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:54,950 Alan Smith: running in tears. And it says there were Jews around and they were 384 00:24:54,950 --> 00:24:58,785 Alan Smith: crying. And then we get these words that says, Jesus 385 00:24:59,485 --> 00:25:03,005 Alan Smith: was moved in his spirit and 386 00:25:03,005 --> 00:25:06,640 Alan Smith: groaned. The 387 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:10,240 Alan Smith: grief and the compassion of God. And then we 388 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,840 Alan Smith: know, spoilers, pastor Jonathan said, you raised him from the 389 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,395 Alan Smith: dead. And then there's another 390 00:25:17,395 --> 00:25:20,595 Alan Smith: story that I love in Luke 7. I've heard it before as a child, and 391 00:25:20,595 --> 00:25:24,355 Alan Smith: I've heard it taught different times. But it says, Jesus, see it 392 00:25:24,355 --> 00:25:27,789 Alan Smith: if you will. Forget these comfy chairs in the air 393 00:25:27,789 --> 00:25:30,450 Alan Smith: condition. We're in Jerusalem 394 00:25:31,630 --> 00:25:35,385 Alan Smith: and we're walking with the master and the disciples and 395 00:25:35,385 --> 00:25:39,085 Alan Smith: the people that are walking around him. And Jesus 396 00:25:39,145 --> 00:25:42,950 Alan Smith: sees a funeral possession. It made me 397 00:25:42,950 --> 00:25:46,470 Alan Smith: think about Alice Taber this 398 00:25:46,470 --> 00:25:50,169 Alan Smith: week. I was ready to went home to be with the Lord this past 399 00:25:50,495 --> 00:25:52,355 Alan Smith: sun Saturday, Sunday morning. 400 00:25:55,215 --> 00:25:58,980 Alan Smith: It says that after he was on his way to a town called 401 00:25:58,980 --> 00:26:02,520 Alan Smith: Nain, his disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 402 00:26:03,059 --> 00:26:06,675 Alan Smith: And just as he neared the gate of the town, a 403 00:26:06,675 --> 00:26:10,355 Alan Smith: dead man was being carried out. You know what I love 404 00:26:10,355 --> 00:26:13,875 Alan Smith: about the state of Tennessee? That when we see 405 00:26:13,875 --> 00:26:15,335 Alan Smith: funerals, we pull over. 406 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:20,580 Alan Smith: And you know, I know I get in my flesh and it makes me so 407 00:26:20,580 --> 00:26:22,680 Alan Smith: upset when I see people pass by. 408 00:26:24,195 --> 00:26:27,875 Alan Smith: Listen, I've been on the way to somewhere, and 409 00:26:27,875 --> 00:26:31,549 Alan Smith: I've been late because of it. But I pull over 410 00:26:31,549 --> 00:26:35,309 Alan Smith: and I put my lights on and I sit there because 411 00:26:35,309 --> 00:26:39,149 Alan Smith: somebody in a hearse, somebody in the car behind the hearse, 412 00:26:39,149 --> 00:26:42,545 Alan Smith: and people in those numerous cars behind it are 413 00:26:42,545 --> 00:26:46,145 Alan Smith: grieving the loss of a mother, a father, a son, a a 414 00:26:46,145 --> 00:26:49,390 Alan Smith: loved one, a coworker. And for just 415 00:26:49,710 --> 00:26:53,410 Alan Smith: that moment, as simple as pulling over and put my lights on, 416 00:26:54,670 --> 00:26:56,690 Alan Smith: it renders an action of concern. 417 00:26:58,645 --> 00:27:02,164 Alan Smith: I've been in those lines and seen the 418 00:27:02,164 --> 00:27:04,345 Alan Smith: cars pulled over and I felt, man. 419 00:27:05,809 --> 00:27:09,570 Alan Smith: So imagine Jesus is walking through the crowd, and they're he's 420 00:27:09,570 --> 00:27:13,410 Alan Smith: going, hey. If you've tried to leave a ballgame somewhere and there's thousands of 421 00:27:13,410 --> 00:27:16,795 Alan Smith: people, if you're trying to go that way and the crowd's going this way, you're 422 00:27:16,795 --> 00:27:20,235 Alan Smith: just gonna walk all the way around till you get over there because you're not 423 00:27:20,235 --> 00:27:24,040 Alan Smith: gonna get through that crowd. And Jesus was moving 424 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,740 Alan Smith: with that throng of people, and it says he saw 425 00:27:29,775 --> 00:27:33,395 Alan Smith: the dead man's funeral. He saw the woman. 426 00:27:34,175 --> 00:27:37,535 Alan Smith: Sometimes we have to just 427 00:27:37,535 --> 00:27:39,980 Alan Smith: stop and look. 428 00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:45,020 Alan Smith: Sometimes we just got to be able to see 429 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:47,660 Alan Smith: what's right in front of us. 430 00:27:56,490 --> 00:27:58,990 Alan Smith: And she was a widow. 431 00:28:00,810 --> 00:28:04,645 Alan Smith: A large crowd from the city was also with her. And when 432 00:28:04,645 --> 00:28:08,105 Alan Smith: the lord saw her, he had compassion. 433 00:28:11,845 --> 00:28:15,070 Alan Smith: Sometimes I see the need, 434 00:28:16,490 --> 00:28:20,090 Alan Smith: but I stop there. And I 435 00:28:20,090 --> 00:28:21,549 Alan Smith: fail to be moved 436 00:28:24,205 --> 00:28:27,745 Alan Smith: with compassion. See, 437 00:28:27,885 --> 00:28:31,700 Alan Smith: the difference is that's Alan. But if I 438 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:35,460 Alan Smith: yield myself to the Holy Spirit, Jesus says it's expedient that I should go because 439 00:28:35,460 --> 00:28:38,419 Alan Smith: I'm gonna send 1 just like me, and he will teach you in all things. 440 00:28:38,419 --> 00:28:41,695 Alan Smith: He will comfort and guide you in all 441 00:28:42,955 --> 00:28:46,715 Alan Smith: truth. And most of the time, he doesn't use a 442 00:28:46,715 --> 00:28:49,549 Alan Smith: bullhorn. It's the whisper. 443 00:28:51,130 --> 00:28:53,950 Alan Smith: It's that tug. It's that, 444 00:28:55,915 --> 00:28:59,615 Alan Smith: and he wants to see if you'll be obedient. He wants to see, 445 00:29:00,235 --> 00:29:04,015 Alan Smith: I know you see it. Will you now 446 00:29:04,890 --> 00:29:08,410 Alan Smith: do it? And it says Jesus saw 447 00:29:08,410 --> 00:29:12,030 Alan Smith: her. And then it says he was moved 448 00:29:12,970 --> 00:29:16,255 Alan Smith: with compassion. And he said, don't cry. 449 00:29:17,515 --> 00:29:21,294 Alan Smith: Then he come up and touched the open coffin. The pallbearer 450 00:29:21,434 --> 00:29:25,179 Alan Smith: stopped and he said, young man, I tell you get up. 451 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,700 Alan Smith: And he rose and began to speak and Jesus 452 00:29:29,799 --> 00:29:33,405 Alan Smith: gave him to his mother. Can you see it? 453 00:29:34,985 --> 00:29:38,665 Alan Smith: A widow with no husband to provide. Her 454 00:29:38,665 --> 00:29:42,430 Alan Smith: only it didn't say her son. There's 455 00:29:42,430 --> 00:29:46,270 Alan Smith: a reason it said only son. He was 456 00:29:46,270 --> 00:29:49,674 Alan Smith: her only source of provision. Her only source of 457 00:29:49,674 --> 00:29:53,434 Alan Smith: protection, her only source. And 458 00:29:53,434 --> 00:29:57,090 Alan Smith: now she's with nothing. And Jesus was 459 00:29:57,090 --> 00:30:00,549 Alan Smith: moved with compassion and he gave her back 460 00:30:00,610 --> 00:30:04,289 Alan Smith: life. What is it you need him to 461 00:30:04,289 --> 00:30:08,134 Alan Smith: give you life in today? Is it a relationship? 462 00:30:09,154 --> 00:30:12,855 Alan Smith: Is it a mental state? What is it that you feel is gone 463 00:30:13,315 --> 00:30:17,110 Alan Smith: and I have nothing left? That you need 464 00:30:17,110 --> 00:30:19,570 Alan Smith: him or somebody 465 00:30:20,670 --> 00:30:24,030 Alan Smith: used by him to give you that life 466 00:30:24,030 --> 00:30:24,530 Alan Smith: back. 467 00:30:28,465 --> 00:30:32,305 Alan Smith: Just as Jesus set for us an example when he washed 468 00:30:32,305 --> 00:30:34,850 Alan Smith: the disciples' feet, his immeasurable compassion 469 00:30:35,950 --> 00:30:39,550 Alan Smith: displayed throughout his season of ministry on earth has left for 470 00:30:39,550 --> 00:30:43,165 Alan Smith: us as an example, not just to one 471 00:30:43,165 --> 00:30:45,505 Alan Smith: another within the kingdom, 472 00:30:46,845 --> 00:30:50,460 Alan Smith: but also to those that yet believe. If you come 473 00:30:50,460 --> 00:30:54,299 Alan Smith: on midweek, pastor Wayne's been 474 00:30:54,299 --> 00:30:57,885 Alan Smith: doing a series about seeing Jesus the last 6 weeks. In a 475 00:30:57,885 --> 00:31:01,725 Alan Smith: couple of weeks ago, when he wrapped it up again with the the one this 476 00:31:01,725 --> 00:31:05,536 Alan Smith: Thursday, he used the scripture in 2nd Corinthians 5, and it said that God 477 00:31:06,850 --> 00:31:09,670 Alan Smith: himself, through Christ Jesus, 478 00:31:10,290 --> 00:31:13,970 Alan Smith: was reconciling us. And Wayne asked the question, who 479 00:31:13,970 --> 00:31:16,794 Alan Smith: is us? The answer is not us. 480 00:31:17,895 --> 00:31:21,115 Alan Smith: The answer is humanity. All us. 481 00:31:21,895 --> 00:31:25,320 Alan Smith: Said God was reconciling to himself through Ghost, 482 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,460 Alan Smith: us while we were still in sin, not counting 483 00:31:31,159 --> 00:31:34,765 Alan Smith: our transgressions against us. In other words, he 484 00:31:34,765 --> 00:31:38,385 Alan Smith: didn't quantify, qualify, or place requirements 485 00:31:38,524 --> 00:31:42,110 Alan Smith: on it. He did it for all of 486 00:31:42,110 --> 00:31:45,950 Alan Smith: humanity. And then it says that we have been given the 487 00:31:45,950 --> 00:31:49,710 Alan Smith: ministry of reconciliation, which means we are to go do the same 488 00:31:49,710 --> 00:31:52,435 Alan Smith: thing. It's pretty easy. 489 00:31:54,495 --> 00:31:58,150 Alan Smith: That's a oxymoronic statement. To 490 00:31:58,150 --> 00:32:00,570 Alan Smith: be compassionate to somebody in this room. 491 00:32:02,390 --> 00:32:06,010 Alan Smith: We're almost 400 between the 2 services and all the children. 492 00:32:06,235 --> 00:32:10,075 Alan Smith: And I apologize if you've been coming 6, 8, 10 months, 2 years, 493 00:32:10,075 --> 00:32:13,855 Alan Smith: and I can't get your name right. I I but I see your face. 494 00:32:14,910 --> 00:32:17,790 Alan Smith: And it's pretty easy to go, yeah. I'm gonna help you. Or I see you're 495 00:32:17,790 --> 00:32:21,230 Alan Smith: in need or you're moved in something and I've come to try to help 496 00:32:21,230 --> 00:32:24,945 Alan Smith: you. But he's not just talking about taking care 497 00:32:25,005 --> 00:32:27,025 Alan Smith: of us, us ins. 498 00:32:28,845 --> 00:32:31,970 Alan Smith: We have to be compassionate to those 499 00:32:32,269 --> 00:32:35,870 Alan Smith: who don't speak like us, who don't look like us, who 500 00:32:35,870 --> 00:32:39,549 Alan Smith: don't smell like us, who don't dress like us, who don't act 501 00:32:39,549 --> 00:32:43,195 Alan Smith: like us. Let me tell you something. A sinner's gonna act like a 502 00:32:43,195 --> 00:32:46,955 Alan Smith: sinner, but we're still called to love and minister 503 00:32:46,955 --> 00:32:50,390 Alan Smith: to them. And if they find themselves in a 504 00:32:50,390 --> 00:32:54,070 Alan Smith: place that is deserving I'm sorry. That's the 505 00:32:54,070 --> 00:32:57,865 Alan Smith: wrong word. None of us deserve compassion. If they 506 00:32:57,865 --> 00:33:01,565 Alan Smith: find themselves in a place of needing 507 00:33:02,665 --> 00:33:06,045 Alan Smith: compassion, it is our responsibility 508 00:33:07,270 --> 00:33:10,890 Alan Smith: to be those hands and feet and see them 509 00:33:11,830 --> 00:33:15,495 Alan Smith: and be moved to meet their 510 00:33:15,495 --> 00:33:19,015 Alan Smith: need and compassion. And sometimes, it's as 511 00:33:19,015 --> 00:33:22,235 Alan Smith: simple as just sitting with a grieving widow. 512 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:26,680 Alan Smith: Sometimes it's as simple as hugging that 513 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:27,740 Alan Smith: lonely person. 514 00:33:30,385 --> 00:33:33,825 Alan Smith: It'd be amazing what small acts of 515 00:33:33,825 --> 00:33:37,025 Alan Smith: compassion can do. I wanna read something to you that came from one of our 516 00:33:37,025 --> 00:33:40,450 Alan Smith: brothers in the men's ministry. We have 3 or 517 00:33:40,450 --> 00:33:44,290 Alan Smith: 4 different threads in our pursuit minutes 518 00:33:44,290 --> 00:33:48,095 Alan Smith: page. One's a prayer thread. One's a help needed page, And then 519 00:33:48,095 --> 00:33:51,934 Alan Smith: one's just a thing where we try to encourage each other. And I think it 520 00:33:51,934 --> 00:33:55,315 Alan Smith: was maybe Wednesday or Thursday of this week, this maybe Thursday, 521 00:33:55,789 --> 00:33:59,230 Alan Smith: This brother posted this. He said, I was walking from one area of the gym 522 00:33:59,230 --> 00:34:02,909 Alan Smith: to another yesterday, not really paying attention when I noticed a little bit 523 00:34:02,909 --> 00:34:06,695 Alan Smith: of water on the floor. Then about 2 feet in front of it, 524 00:34:06,695 --> 00:34:10,074 Alan Smith: there was more. In another kip couple of feet, there was more water. 525 00:34:10,534 --> 00:34:13,415 Alan Smith: I looked up and I saw a woman carrying a water bottle by her sit 526 00:34:13,494 --> 00:34:17,040 Alan Smith: side, but the lid wasn't screwed on tight. And the angle at which she was 527 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:20,020 Alan Smith: holding it caused water to pour out every few feet. 528 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:25,034 Alan Smith: This had gone on for about a stretch of maybe 529 00:34:25,034 --> 00:34:28,554 Alan Smith: 50 feet or so. So I called up to her and I told her, I 530 00:34:28,554 --> 00:34:32,270 Alan Smith: said, you're you're spilling water 531 00:34:32,489 --> 00:34:35,150 Alan Smith: in in your drink, and I just didn't want you to be thirsty 532 00:34:36,650 --> 00:34:38,190 Alan Smith: because you ran out of water. 533 00:34:40,474 --> 00:34:44,154 Alan Smith: Now he could've said, hey. Hey. You're 534 00:34:44,154 --> 00:34:47,969 Alan Smith: making a mess. You're spilling water all through here, and I 535 00:34:47,969 --> 00:34:51,330 Alan Smith: almost tripped on that. I almost slipped. Clean up your 536 00:34:51,330 --> 00:34:53,670 Alan Smith: stuff. He could've. 537 00:34:56,464 --> 00:34:57,765 Alan Smith: Sometimes we do, 538 00:35:01,984 --> 00:35:03,765 Alan Smith: but that wasn't his heart posture. 539 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,673 Alan Smith: His heart posture was I didn't want you to be out of theater. 540 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:13,765 Alan Smith: I didn't want you to be thirsty. And it says she looked at 541 00:35:13,765 --> 00:35:17,605 Alan Smith: him. She looked embarrassed, but said thank you, and 542 00:35:17,605 --> 00:35:21,309 Alan Smith: that she'd clean it up. I almost went right back to my 543 00:35:21,309 --> 00:35:24,450 Alan Smith: workout, but instead you ever had one of those? 544 00:35:25,710 --> 00:35:27,490 Alan Smith: I was going to and then 545 00:35:33,745 --> 00:35:36,725 Alan Smith: I went and grabbed some paper towels and started walking 546 00:35:37,790 --> 00:35:40,050 Alan Smith: the water from the opposite end of the trail. 547 00:35:41,550 --> 00:35:45,310 Alan Smith: And when we met in the middle, she looked as if she was 548 00:35:45,310 --> 00:35:48,965 Alan Smith: about to cry. She said thank you 549 00:35:50,625 --> 00:35:52,965 Alan Smith: because I'm not used to people helping me. 550 00:35:54,910 --> 00:35:57,890 Alan Smith: And I could see the genuine gratitude in her eyes. 551 00:35:58,510 --> 00:36:01,550 Alan Smith: I'd never seen her before, but I told her if she ever is in need 552 00:36:01,550 --> 00:36:04,145 Alan Smith: and sees me here, she can come ask. 553 00:36:05,325 --> 00:36:08,765 Alan Smith: You see, even the smallest acts of kindness can have the biggest impact on 554 00:36:08,765 --> 00:36:12,385 Alan Smith: people. It cost me less than 5 minutes, 555 00:36:13,630 --> 00:36:17,230 Alan Smith: but I can imagine that she thought about it for much longer. I 556 00:36:17,230 --> 00:36:21,035 Alan Smith: bet she did too. And you know why 557 00:36:21,035 --> 00:36:24,714 Alan Smith: I know she did? Because she said when she looked at him, I'm not used 558 00:36:24,714 --> 00:36:28,390 Alan Smith: to people helping me. 5 559 00:36:28,390 --> 00:36:31,990 Alan Smith: minutes of wiping up water on it. I don't know the woman's 560 00:36:31,990 --> 00:36:35,510 Alan Smith: spiritual state. Maybe she's a believer. Maybe she's 561 00:36:35,510 --> 00:36:38,915 Alan Smith: not. But I believe that brother in that 5 562 00:36:38,915 --> 00:36:42,515 Alan Smith: minutes of extending his kindness because he 563 00:36:42,515 --> 00:36:44,935 Alan Smith: was moved by compassion to help her 564 00:36:46,230 --> 00:36:49,990 Alan Smith: Could be seeds that Ghost an eternity for her. Maybe she's 565 00:36:49,990 --> 00:36:53,290 Alan Smith: a believer and she's wandered because she's felt deserted or left 566 00:36:54,310 --> 00:36:58,135 Alan Smith: alone. And this act restored 567 00:36:58,135 --> 00:37:01,734 Alan Smith: her hope that God has not forgotten me. Maybe 568 00:37:01,734 --> 00:37:05,470 Alan Smith: she's an unbeliever and can't believe anybody would take their 569 00:37:05,470 --> 00:37:09,150 Alan Smith: time out. And he listen. It's easy to point out people's 570 00:37:09,150 --> 00:37:12,735 Alan Smith: mess ups. Guess what? Most of the 571 00:37:12,735 --> 00:37:16,175 Alan Smith: time we know we're messing up, but 572 00:37:16,175 --> 00:37:19,990 Alan Smith: sometimes we don't. But how 573 00:37:19,990 --> 00:37:23,609 Alan Smith: much better is it when we negate the error 574 00:37:23,670 --> 00:37:27,210 Alan Smith: in the pointing out of the thing rather than getting in the ditch and helping 575 00:37:27,815 --> 00:37:29,275 Alan Smith: and minister onto them. 576 00:37:32,295 --> 00:37:35,690 Alan Smith: The smallest acts of kindness can have the 577 00:37:35,690 --> 00:37:39,310 Alan Smith: biggest impact on people. It Ghost me less than 5 minutes. 578 00:37:40,170 --> 00:37:42,830 Alan Smith: Then he writes, lend a hand. Be the change. 579 00:37:44,085 --> 00:37:47,065 Alan Smith: Be like Jesus. 580 00:37:48,405 --> 00:37:52,244 Alan Smith: Don't worry about what others think. Praise and worship team, you can come 581 00:37:52,244 --> 00:37:55,720 Alan Smith: out. Don't worry about the snickers or the stairs 582 00:37:56,980 --> 00:38:00,440 Alan Smith: because we all need help 583 00:38:01,140 --> 00:38:04,785 Alan Smith: at times. So help someone when you 584 00:38:04,785 --> 00:38:05,285 Alan Smith: can. 585 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:17,460 Alan Smith: John says this in first John. 586 00:38:19,835 --> 00:38:22,415 Alan Smith: This is how we know what love is. 587 00:38:24,315 --> 00:38:27,615 Alan Smith: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, 588 00:38:28,580 --> 00:38:32,340 Alan Smith: and we ought to lay down our lives for our 589 00:38:32,340 --> 00:38:35,984 Alan Smith: brothers and sisters. If anyone 590 00:38:35,984 --> 00:38:39,664 Alan Smith: has the material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need, 591 00:38:39,664 --> 00:38:43,400 Alan Smith: but is not moved with compassion for them, 592 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,780 Alan Smith: how can the love of God be in that person? 593 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:51,905 Alan Smith: Dear children, let us not love with 594 00:38:51,905 --> 00:38:55,585 Alan Smith: words or speech, but 595 00:38:55,585 --> 00:38:58,165 Alan Smith: with actions and in truth. 596 00:39:01,460 --> 00:39:04,619 Alan Smith: I can say all pray, 597 00:39:07,780 --> 00:39:11,555 Alan Smith: and I can preach and proclaim it all I want 598 00:39:11,555 --> 00:39:14,915 Alan Smith: to with my mouth. But until my 599 00:39:14,915 --> 00:39:18,615 Alan Smith: life reflects through my 600 00:39:18,675 --> 00:39:20,810 Alan Smith: actions, my words are useless. 601 00:39:23,430 --> 00:39:26,810 Alan Smith: You ever been told something by body? And you know, 602 00:39:28,485 --> 00:39:32,325 Alan Smith: you know you know, they ain't gonna 603 00:39:32,325 --> 00:39:35,859 Alan Smith: do it. They 604 00:39:35,859 --> 00:39:39,539 Alan Smith: have every intention. They mean 605 00:39:39,539 --> 00:39:42,519 Alan Smith: well. But you know, 606 00:39:43,895 --> 00:39:46,955 Alan Smith: soon as it comes out it falls to the ground. Coach, you know. 607 00:39:48,375 --> 00:39:52,200 Alan Smith: But have you met people also? That they never 608 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,300 Alan Smith: say a thing? But when you need them, 609 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:59,100 Alan Smith: when you're in that grind, you're in that hard place, 610 00:40:00,865 --> 00:40:04,485 Alan Smith: you know they're coming. You know they're praying. 611 00:40:04,785 --> 00:40:08,085 Alan Smith: You know that whatever you need, they're gonna do. 612 00:40:09,160 --> 00:40:12,840 Alan Smith: Because their actions speak louder than their 613 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,300 Alan Smith: words. I wanna be a person 614 00:40:18,795 --> 00:40:20,495 Alan Smith: that my words 615 00:40:22,315 --> 00:40:23,535 Alan Smith: reflect my actions. 616 00:40:26,100 --> 00:40:29,880 Alan Smith: I want my life to be one that's consistent. 617 00:40:30,180 --> 00:40:33,265 Alan Smith: So if I say, you know I will. 618 00:40:34,605 --> 00:40:38,285 Alan Smith: And listen, I'm gonna blow it. I'm gonna miss it. You 619 00:40:38,285 --> 00:40:42,030 Alan Smith: are too, so don't point at me. But God, 620 00:40:42,170 --> 00:40:45,869 Alan Smith: that my heart would be so attuned 621 00:40:45,930 --> 00:40:49,665 Alan Smith: to his spirit that when I hear him 622 00:40:49,665 --> 00:40:53,265 Alan Smith: whisper, if I say, then I will 623 00:40:53,265 --> 00:40:56,405 Alan Smith: do. And I think that's what he's called us 624 00:40:56,900 --> 00:41:00,420 Alan Smith: as believers to be. Because there's a world out 625 00:41:00,420 --> 00:41:04,260 Alan Smith: there, Spirit earlier, sinners gonna 626 00:41:04,260 --> 00:41:07,234 Alan Smith: sin. And they already have a misconception 627 00:41:09,055 --> 00:41:11,635 Alan Smith: about the genuine body of Christ. 628 00:41:13,990 --> 00:41:16,090 Alan Smith: But oh, that we would be a people 629 00:41:18,390 --> 00:41:22,150 Alan Smith: that genuinely lived a life 630 00:41:22,150 --> 00:41:25,445 Alan Smith: of grace, and mercy, and compassion 631 00:41:25,984 --> 00:41:29,365 Alan Smith: with no restraint, with no qualifications 632 00:41:31,580 --> 00:41:35,340 Alan Smith: that they could taste and see that the lord is good. For 633 00:41:35,340 --> 00:41:37,920 Alan Smith: those that are gonna pray with people, if you'd come down. 634 00:41:39,635 --> 00:41:43,315 Alan Smith: Maybe you're here this morning and you're on one side of the 635 00:41:43,315 --> 00:41:46,855 Alan Smith: coin or the other. Pastor, I'm in a difficult place. 636 00:41:47,234 --> 00:41:51,000 Alan Smith: Brother, I'm in a place of grief, mental 637 00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:54,680 Alan Smith: anguish. I've got sickness. I've got things in my life. And I 638 00:41:54,680 --> 00:41:58,335 Alan Smith: just need to sense the lord's compassion in my life again. 639 00:41:58,635 --> 00:42:00,815 Alan Smith: There are people here that will pray with you. 640 00:42:02,235 --> 00:42:05,800 Alan Smith: Maybe you're on the other side of that. Lord, I blow 641 00:42:07,080 --> 00:42:10,647 Alan Smith: it. I blow it more than I get it right. And I need your Holy 642 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:14,315 Alan Smith: Spirit to help me to hear your 643 00:42:14,315 --> 00:42:18,095 Alan Smith: voice so that I can move with compassion 644 00:42:18,155 --> 00:42:21,595 Alan Smith: when you speak. There are people that are here pray with you for that 645 00:42:21,595 --> 00:42:25,150 Alan Smith: too. So would you stand and let's worship? And if that's you, 646 00:42:25,450 --> 00:42:27,390 Alan Smith: come spend some time down here with