Episode 9

The Lord's Favor: Restoring Compassion (North OC)

Our world is loud, divided, and exhausted. What if the answer isn’t more effort — but restored compassion?

In this powerful message from our series The Lord’s Favor, Marcel Hall explores how God restores compassion in our hearts so we can reflect the character of Jesus to a hurting world.

Drawing from the biblical foundation of Jubilee and the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10, Marcel shows how compassion grows when we remember the mercy we’ve received, truly see and hear the people around us, and help others spiritually.

This message invites us not to strive in our own strength, but to let Jesus restore what has grown dim — so compassion can flow from us the way it flowed from Him. Whether you're exploring faith or seeking deeper spiritual transformation, this sermon will encourage you to reset your heart, release what’s been holding you back, and join Jesus in restoring compassion in the world.

Click here to donate to the program

Click here for more sermons

OC Church of Christ

Transcript
Marcel:

Have coined this time here, the season of the Lord's favor.

2

:

And so we are studying out and we are

experiencing and trying to experience

3

:

more of God's favor in our lives, not only

individually, but most of all as a church

4

:

family, as a communal, , spiritual family.

5

:

And so we have,, been doing things here,

over the, last couple of months here.

6

:

Since we had our LA Jubilee in

August, and so for September we

7

:

had a prayer and fasting chain.

8

:

Last month we had this

really powerful moving time.

9

:

We called it Release Sunday, in which we

were able to release our burdens there.

10

:

And then, this month we

have, , we're in Restore and we

11

:

are, having the gratitude wall.

12

:

We had a time of service

at the end of October.

13

:

We have a toy drive coming

up here in December.

14

:

And so we're trying to really,

not only again, uh, study this

15

:

out, but really experience this.

16

:

As a church family, and so we

also have a sermon series that we

17

:

have, , been studying out since

September called The Lord's Favor.

18

:

And, , in the Lord's favor we see that

there is a time where God wants us to

19

:

have, where we can have a spiritual reset.

20

:

Also a spiritual release of things

that are holding us back, and then also

21

:

having ourselves be spiritually restored.

22

:

And so we began talking about

a spiritual reset, resetting

23

:

our relationship with God, our

priorities, and our views of people.

24

:

Then we moved on over to release

and releasing the burdens, the

25

:

things that prevent us from

walking fully in God's favor.

26

:

Then last week we started our

time in restore and restoring

27

:

what has been lost or broken.

28

:

And Dallas did a great job preaching

last week on how the part of the

29

:

Lord's favor is restoring peace.

30

:

And so today we'll be talking about how

the Lord wants to restore compassion.

31

:

And so that's what we're

gonna be talking about today.

32

:

The Lord's favor, restoring compassion.

33

:

Let's go to God in prayer.

34

:

Father, thank you so much already

for the chance to, , be encouraged,

35

:

the chance to encourage others.

36

:

I know I feel, , built up already

being able to sing, being able to

37

:

connect with the brothers and sisters.

38

:

Father, I'm excited about what

you are doing in our church.

39

:

I'm excited about what

you're doing and my life.

40

:

And Father, I pray right now that

you will lead us to a greater faith.

41

:

You will lead us to take steps toward

you to experience more and more of your.

42

:

Favor, father, I know that some of us

come in excited, some of us come in

43

:

and we, we barely made it here today.

44

:

And Father, wherever people

are at God, I pray to you,

45

:

minister to them this morning.

46

:

Father, every soul will walk away

with strength, hope, and faith.

47

:

It's in Jesus' name, a men.

48

:

I want us to, , go back here a little

bit and understand that, , this all is

49

:

coming from what God had established.

50

:

With his people.

51

:

In the Old Testament, we call

it, under the old covenant,

52

:

this idea of the Jubilee.

53

:

And so in the Jubilee, God had

every 50 years his people to

54

:

have a year where there was rest.

55

:

Did you hear that?

56

:

There was a year where they

were called to just rest.

57

:

Boy, we wanna bring back

that jubilee, don't we?

58

:

Can we tell our boss in school,

can I get a year of rest?

59

:

And you don't charge me any

bills or anything like that.

60

:

We would all love that, wouldn't we?

61

:

However, I don't think American

society is up for that, but let's pray.

62

:

Amen.

63

:

But a guy called his people to a time of

rest, he called them to forgive all debts.

64

:

And I know we would love to have

that today as well, wouldn't we?

65

:

Can you go ahead and release me from that

school debt, that medical debt, that car

66

:

loan, that house loan, whatever it may be.

67

:

And so God had the land take a time

of rest forgiveness, but then also

68

:

returning land to the original families.

69

:

Those who had went on hard times

and had to give up their land.

70

:

And at this time, God said, no,

you are going to restore the

71

:

land to those original families.

72

:

Now, this wasn't just

something that was economical.

73

:

This was something that actually restored

the dignity of the people because

74

:

yes, they were receiving land, but

what that was doing that was restoring

75

:

the dignity of those who had lost it.

76

:

This also restored compassion

in all of God's people.

77

:

You see what God is doing here is not

just something for the economics, not

78

:

just something for the emotional and

social wellbeing, but also what he's doing

79

:

is what is called spiritual formation.

80

:

He's forming his people spiritually

to become compassionate people.

81

:

You see, by giving back the land, by

giving back the property over to others,

82

:

what this was doing was putting them in

a position and putting them in a posture

83

:

to see people with compassionate eyes.

84

:

To see people, not with judgment

or superiority or inferiority,

85

:

but to see them as what's equals.

86

:

God is instilling, God is restoring

compassion amongst his people because it

87

:

can be lost or it could be broken, and

he's instilling and he's restoring it

88

:

so that God's people will see each other

again, not as debtors, not as slaves,

89

:

not not as burdens, but as brothers and

sisters created in the image of God.

90

:

You see?

91

:

Jesus does this today

through the Lord's favor.

92

:

He restores our compassion, which

can be lost, which can be broken.

93

:

He restores our compassion so

that we too can be compassionate.

94

:

And Jesus models this.

95

:

He teaches it.

96

:

He, he initiates it in our lives and

allows us to experience compassion.

97

:

And then he also invites

us to be compassionate to.

98

:

And so we see this in our themed passage.

99

:

Luke chapter four.

100

:

This is our theme passage

for the whole series.

101

:

Brothers and sisters,

are you with me here?

102

:

Okay.

103

:

You can't be quiet.

104

:

You know what I'm preaching.

105

:

We don't do all that.

106

:

All right, so in Luke chapter four, we're

gonna go here and, and, uh, let's see.

107

:

I clicked it here, but it's

not, it doesn't seem to be

108

:

working for some reason there.

109

:

Can you go to the next slide there?

110

:

Appreciate it.

111

:

Luke chapter four.

112

:

Or maybe it's not working.

113

:

Okay.

114

:

Y'all know what happens

with me and technology.

115

:

It just, I love technology, but

technology does not love me back.

116

:

You know what I'm saying?

117

:

It's like I keep chasing after her

and she keeps saying, that's okay.

118

:

And so I don't know what, it's okay.

119

:

We got it working.

120

:

Here we go.

121

:

So here's this situation.

122

:

Jesus gets up and we, they don't

realize it at this time, but

123

:

Jesus is making his pronouncement.

124

:

He's announcing to the world his

public ministry, that he actually is

125

:

fulfilling the Jubilee principles that

God had established, that he is the

126

:

Messiah, the long awaited Messiah.

127

:

And he goes to the church service,

he picks and scrolls up, and he

128

:

goes to this passage and he reads

it, and right after he reads it, he

129

:

says, this is being fulfilled today.

130

:

Everybody's eyes were hung up on

him, like, whoa, who is this man?

131

:

But look what he says here.

132

:

He says, the spirit of the Lord.

133

:

He's quoting Isaiah.

134

:

So this was a prophecy hundreds of

years before the spirit of the Lord

135

:

is on me because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

136

:

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for

the prisoners and recovery of sight for

137

:

the blind to set the oppress free to

proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

138

:

Now, if you look at this, we see here

the Lord's favor is rooted in compassion.

139

:

Look at all these things.

140

:

Setting the prisoners free,

setting the oppressed free to

141

:

restore sight to the blind.

142

:

Jesus did this literally

and he did this spiritually.

143

:

All of that is rooted

and based in compassion.

144

:

He is moved and therefore he

wants to restore the site.

145

:

He wants to release

those who are oppressed.

146

:

He wants the prisoners to be set free.

147

:

All of that is rooted in compassion.

148

:

And so at the heart of the Lord's

favor for his people, his favor that

149

:

he wants to bestow on all creation,

it comes from love and compassion.

150

:

Jesus's ministry flowed from compassion.

151

:

He saw the broken, he saw the

loss, and he was moved by it.

152

:

Compassion was his default mode.

153

:

We all have a default mode.

154

:

Jesus's default mode was

compassion, and it was restorative.

155

:

It brought life, it brought

healing, it brought, uh, dignity.

156

:

It brought hope.

157

:

It brought more and more.

158

:

Jesus' ministry can be labeled as.

159

:

God's compassion in action.

160

:

That was Jesus's ministry.

161

:

And we see this and we wanna study

this out over here in Mark chapter 10.

162

:

Churchill, you still with me here

this morning, mark, chapter 10.

163

:

Jesus is on his way to the

ultimate display of God's

164

:

compassion, which is the cross.

165

:

And so Jesus, and he's

on his way over to that.

166

:

To, to, to Jerusalem.

167

:

But there's all these stories and

interactions that take place, and we

168

:

stop here in Mark chapter 10 and it

reads, then it came to Jericho as Jesus

169

:

and his disciples together with a large

crowd we're leaving the city a blind man.

170

:

Bartimaeus, which means son to MEUs.

171

:

We're sitting by the roadside begging when

he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth.

172

:

He began to shout Jesus, son

of David, have mercy on me.

173

:

Many rebuked him and told him to

be quiet, but he shouted, all the

174

:

more son of David have mercy on me.

175

:

Jesus stopped and said, call him.

176

:

So they called to the blind

Man, cheer up on your feet.

177

:

He's calling you,

throwing his cloak aside.

178

:

He jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

179

:

What do you want me to do for you?

180

:

Jesus asked him.

181

:

The blind man said, rabbi, I want to see.

182

:

Go.

183

:

Said Jesus.

184

:

Your faith has healed you.

185

:

Immediately he received his sight

and followed Jesus along the road.

186

:

Let's stop right there.

187

:

Let, let's, let's.

188

:

Let's dig into the scene here.

189

:

Let's make sure we capture this

so that we can draw what God wants

190

:

us to see from this passage here.

191

:

First off, we see here that there was a

blind man sitting by the roadside begging,

192

:

and so we can kind of get a visual right

there, so they're leaving the city.

193

:

This whole group, Jesus, they're

departing, they're leaving, and as

194

:

they're leaving on the roadside, on

the side was a blind man who's begging.

195

:

He has this, his little, you know, in

our day we had this little jar there.

196

:

He is hoping to get some help

and as he's begging, he shouts

197

:

out to Jesus, have mercy on me.

198

:

So we have a blind band

begging and asking for mercy.

199

:

And what does the crowd do?

200

:

How do they respond?

201

:

What does it say?

202

:

They rebuke him and told him to shut up.

203

:

Think about that.

204

:

Here he is begging and maybe they thought,

oh, this guy, he's, he's, you know,

205

:

he's lying, or whatever the case may be.

206

:

What did they do?

207

:

Shut up, man.

208

:

Can you be quiet?

209

:

Now, think about this for a second.

210

:

They only had to deal with this for maybe

a minute or so, because they're walking.

211

:

They're on their way out, so they only had

to really deal with this for a little bit.

212

:

So my man must've been

yelling pretty loud.

213

:

But to get to the point where they rebuked

him and said, man, you need to shut up.

214

:

Can you be quiet?

215

:

We're trying to go.

216

:

We're leaving here.

217

:

You are bothering us.

218

:

And then you wanna call for Jesus, man,

somebody tell this dude to shut up.

219

:

That's what they're doing.

220

:

And what does Jesus do?

221

:

He said, Jesus stops.

222

:

No, no, no, no.

223

:

We're gonna stop writing.

224

:

Blind man over there who's calling

me, tell, tell him to come here.

225

:

And so Jesus sees the man,

everybody else what ignores the man.

226

:

Everybody else thinks he's an annoyance.

227

:

Everybody else thinks he's somebody

that needs to be discarded, that

228

:

needs to actually be rebuked.

229

:

He needs to be told that what

he's doing is unacceptable.

230

:

Oh, and Jesus though sees the men.

231

:

And what does he do?

232

:

Then he goes and he sees him

and he asks him a question.

233

:

Now, this is interesting

because again, he's blind.

234

:

He's a beggar, so in society,

he's low on the totem pole.

235

:

In fact, he's discarded.

236

:

He's to the side.

237

:

He's not valuable.

238

:

In fact, we can tell he's not

valuable because what did people do?

239

:

They just walked right by.

240

:

And in fact, they not only walked

by, they said, quiet the man.

241

:

That's how low he is viewed.

242

:

But what does Jesus do?

243

:

Just by calling him and asking

him a question and engaging

244

:

with him, he restored dignity.

245

:

You are valuable.

246

:

I see you.

247

:

And in fact, not only do I see

you, I want to engage with you.

248

:

I want to have a relational

connection with you right now.

249

:

Wow.

250

:

Let's talk.

251

:

And again, in the gospels as we

read them, remember these are

252

:

overall summaries of what happened.

253

:

They don't give us every detail, and

so I'm sure that there was a longer

254

:

conversation, but just this tells us that

Jesus gives him value and hears him out.

255

:

He hears his story,

and what does Jesus do?

256

:

Jesus blesses him and he goes

and he restores his sights.

257

:

Not only does he do that, but he helps

him out spiritually as well because he

258

:

connects all of this to the real issue

that's needed, and that's his faith.

259

:

He already has some faith.

260

:

He says, I see some faith in you and

we're gonna reward that faith, but

261

:

what does it say that the man does?

262

:

It says he followed Jesus.

263

:

I read this story many a times

and that never stood out to me.

264

:

This man became a follower of Jesus.

265

:

He literally was following Jesus.

266

:

He becomes a disciple of Jesus.

267

:

That's probably why we even have his name.

268

:

'cause they're like, oh,

this is Bar Mason's story.

269

:

Yo, that's crazy.

270

:

Barma.

271

:

Is this what happened to you?

272

:

And so he becomes not only healed

physically, but there's a spiritual

273

:

blessing of upon his life, and we see

something magnificent take place because

274

:

Jesus, again, he models compassion.

275

:

And he's also instilling and

restoring compassion in every,

276

:

well, everybody else around.

277

:

You see, compassion died in the crowd.

278

:

There's no compassion in the crowd.

279

:

Did you see that?

280

:

But compassion lived in Jesus

and the compassion restored in

281

:

everyone who was watching, wow,

this is what the Messiah is like.

282

:

This is the hearts of God.

283

:

He sees people, he hears people,

he calls people, he redeems people.

284

:

He gives them value, dignity, as

Corina shared earlier identity.

285

:

And then he reminds his people,

we need to have the same hearts

286

:

and action toward others.

287

:

You know, before Jesus restores compassion

in us, he gives compassion to us.

288

:

Just like Bar Dees, you and I, we

were the ones sitting by the road,

289

:

spiritually blind, spiritually

ignored, spiritually broken.

290

:

Jesus not only saw him,

but Jesus sees you.

291

:

Jesus not only heard him, Jesus hears you.

292

:

Jesus not only asked him what

he needed, Jesus invites you

293

:

to speak your need to him.

294

:

Jesus has been compassionate to us.

295

:

Has anybody experienced the

compassion of Jesus in this room?

296

:

Of course you can.

297

:

'cause just the fact that

you are here and hurt.

298

:

What I said, show Jesus' compassion.

299

:

And so every one of us can testify

to the compassion that we have

300

:

experience in and through Christ.

301

:

We too cried out Jesus have mercy on me.

302

:

And you know what Jesus did?

303

:

He stopped for us.

304

:

He looked at you.

305

:

He saw you.

306

:

He called you to him and he dignified you.

307

:

He raised you up.

308

:

He redeemed you.

309

:

All of those of us who have been redeemed.

310

:

Can I get an amen?

311

:

Amen.

312

:

You see, when you remember

the compassion you received.

313

:

God restores compassion in you.

314

:

You know, if the disciples who were

literally physically with Jesus

315

:

struggled with compassion, we shouldn't

be surprised when we do so as well.

316

:

You get what I'm saying?

317

:

You know, but Jesus, he keeps

instilling, he keeps restoring

318

:

compassion in his people.

319

:

Why?

320

:

Because the disciples, they

repeatedly lack compassion.

321

:

Just a couple of times here.

322

:

When we look here, Jesus

restoring compassion, they go

323

:

and there's all these people.

324

:

What do the disciples say?

325

:

Send the crowds away.

326

:

Jesus says, no, you give

them something to eat.

327

:

Two of his disciples says, let's

call fire den on a Samaritan.

328

:

Let's judge them.

329

:

Let's condemn them.

330

:

Let's, let's kill those guys.

331

:

Jesus turned and rebuked them.

332

:

Man, that's not what we do up in here.

333

:

What's wrong with you?

334

:

I'm not a fire breathing minister.

335

:

I'm a redeeming man.

336

:

When they said who sinned,

there was a guy who was blind.

337

:

Another man they said, who sinned?

338

:

His man or his parents not

seeing the person being blind.

339

:

They just wanna know who's at fault

Here following the culture, Jesus says,

340

:

neither this man nor his parents who

sinned and he heals the man showing

341

:

the disciples the hearts of God.

342

:

When they all the, the, the people

were bringing kids to Jesus.

343

:

They rebuked the people, and they

were like, man, take these kids away.

344

:

We, what are you doing?

345

:

You don't bring these kids to Jesus.

346

:

Do you know who this man is?

347

:

He's so important to be

dealing with these kids.

348

:

Jesus says, let the children come to me.

349

:

Do not hinder them.

350

:

When they saw a woman who had per perfume

because she was so grateful for Jesus

351

:

and she, she poured this expensive bottle

of perfume just to wipe Jesus' feet.

352

:

They looked and said, why

is she wasting this perfume?

353

:

Jesus says, leave her alone.

354

:

She has done a beautiful thing to me.

355

:

You see the disciples consistently lost

and compassion, and what does Jesus do?

356

:

He keeps restoring it.

357

:

No, you need to get who we are, what

we're about, because when I send you

358

:

out, you need to have this heart as well.

359

:

You need to have this compassion as well.

360

:

This is what we were doing.

361

:

This is the heart of God's

favor upon his people, upon his

362

:

creation that he wants to give.

363

:

Now, if the disciples who are

with Jesus needed their compassion

364

:

restored, how much more do we

365

:

now?

366

:

Can we have a brief moment

of honesty here for a second?

367

:

Some of y'all say yes, some of

y'all said no, we don't want that.

368

:

Like they, I want a brief moment of

false and, and faking and lying, right?

369

:

It's okay, but we ain't

gonna do that today.

370

:

So it really doesn't matter if you say

yes or no, I'm still gonna have it.

371

:

Okay?

372

:

Brief moment here.

373

:

As a church, I believe we need

our compassion restored as well.

374

:

And when I say we, I literally

mean we, because I'm a hundred

375

:

percent included in this.

376

:

And so this is not a they, this is a we.

377

:

You say, well, how do you figure?

378

:

Well, because I think we're

just like the disciples.

379

:

I don't think we've ventured and we've

went and we've reached this, this, this

380

:

high level of spirituality where we don't

follow the same mistakes of the disciples.

381

:

You get what I'm saying?

382

:

But also what are the, some of the

things that we see, I think some of

383

:

us, we can tell we need our, our,

our compassionately restored because

384

:

we see people in a worldly way.

385

:

We're viewing each other.

386

:

We can view each other in a worldly way.

387

:

We can view each other

with the lens of politics.

388

:

Oh, there's the right

wing part of the church.

389

:

There's the left wing part of the

church, and it becomes they and us.

390

:

And we use that language.

391

:

They and us, we and them.

392

:

We can look at things through

the lens of the council culture.

393

:

Somebody did something

wrong, let's counsel 'em.

394

:

We can view people, not we can.

395

:

Some of us, that's the way we're viewing

it and we don't realize it because

396

:

if we realize that we would, we would

change it, but we don't realize that

397

:

we're viewing people in a worldly

way, not seeing them as image bearers,

398

:

but seeing them in a worldly fashion.

399

:

Some of us, we've forgotten

the compassion God has shown.

400

:

Sin in the world.

401

:

It numbs compassion.

402

:

You ever notice, like when you're

like into yourself or, um, you know

403

:

you've been struggling spiritually,

have you noticed that you are really

404

:

lacking in compassion for other people?

405

:

You get more annoyed by people.

406

:

You ever notice that you get angry?

407

:

You're quicker to get angry,

you're crook to get mad, and

408

:

you don't wanna give anything.

409

:

What, man?

410

:

You want me to, to bring a dish to the,

to the thanksgiving from Friendsgiving?

411

:

I ain't bringing no dish.

412

:

I will bring my appetite though.

413

:

And them sides better be good.

414

:

'cause if they're not, somebody's

going to hear about that.

415

:

Okay.

416

:

I'll bring some napkins.

417

:

You know when we forget, we get corrupted.

418

:

Our hearts get hardened.

419

:

This is why it's so important.

420

:

It's why, man, I love God

and his, his just genius.

421

:

This is why it's so important

that there's a reset in our lives.

422

:

There's a reset in our relationship

with God and how we view people and

423

:

in what we're pursuing, and then it's

so important and vital that we have a

424

:

release of the things that hold us back.

425

:

The sin and the world's

grip on us has to be let go.

426

:

My bitterness needs to be removed.

427

:

My shame and guilt and burdens

that I carry need to be dropped

428

:

so that God can fill me back up.

429

:

With his compassion,

love, grace, and mercy.

430

:

So we have to remove it.

431

:

That's why it's so important

that we went down this road here.

432

:

You guys get what I'm saying?

433

:

Church.

434

:

Because now what God is doing communally

what he's doing to all of us, he's

435

:

restoring and it's the peace of God.

436

:

He's restoring.

437

:

And it's the compassion because

that's who he is and that's

438

:

what he wants to do through us.

439

:

And some of us, or maybe, I think

it's safe to say many of us.

440

:

We're not sharing the gospel with

people, and I'm convicted by this.

441

:

God convicted me a couple weeks.

442

:

Like Marcel, you don't

share the way you used to.

443

:

You don't share the way you need to.

444

:

You're not seeing people's true needs.

445

:

You know, we can get

caught up in opinions.

446

:

We can think politics or self-help,

tactics and quotes like that will

447

:

be the answer for those people.

448

:

That will be the answer

for my friends in need.

449

:

That's not their biggest need.

450

:

The biggest need is the gospel of Jesus.

451

:

Your biggest need was the gospel of Jesus.

452

:

Your biggest need still

is the gospel of Jesus.

453

:

So why would it be any different

for anybody outside of this room?

454

:

They need the gospel of Jesus as well.

455

:

They need to experience God's compassion.

456

:

You know, Jesus is the way, the truth

in a life, a relationship with God, and

457

:

following his example and teachings.

458

:

That's the answer at the core.

459

:

Yeah.

460

:

Then all these other things are

added benefits, which can enhance

461

:

our walking God in our lives.

462

:

You know, Jesus is what saved

your soul and made you whole

463

:

and is making you whole.

464

:

That's the same thing that's gonna

help your family member, your friend,

465

:

your colleague, your classmate, your

neighbor, and the stranger is Jesus.

466

:

When compassion gets lost in God's

people, we stop reflecting his heart.

467

:

Here's the thing.

468

:

Here's the good news.

469

:

Jesus is inviting you

and me to be restored.

470

:

He's not down on us.

471

:

He's not condemning us.

472

:

'cause that's not what he's about.

473

:

He's about inviting us to be restored

and to have our compassion restored

474

:

because he's compassionate and his people

have the same heart, same lifestyle.

475

:

So he is restoring that in us.

476

:

You say, well, how should we respond?

477

:

Well, we need to have God restore

compassion in us and how does

478

:

God restore compassion in us?

479

:

God does some cool things, but

he also gives us a, a little part

480

:

of the responsibility in this.

481

:

So I want us to go over

some of these things here.

482

:

Brother and sister, are

you still with me here?

483

:

Here's how God restores compassion,

and it's number one, remembering

484

:

Jesus' compassion for us.

485

:

That's the very first thing.

486

:

What, let's think about Bartimaeus.

487

:

Bartimaeus received this, I'm sure.

488

:

I think it's safe to say when Bartimaeus

saw another blind man or another person

489

:

in need, he responded differently

because he remembered that he too was

490

:

once that blind man in need and begging.

491

:

So I'm sure he was like, Hey guys,

y'all see that person over there?

492

:

What can we do to help?

493

:

Birdman, I'm sure, was very

familiar with his story.

494

:

That led to compassion for others.

495

:

You know, compassion is restored.

496

:

When we remember the compassion Jesus

showed us, the compassion we receive

497

:

becomes a compassion that flows to other.

498

:

We have to remember all that Jesus

has and is doing in our lives.

499

:

And second, we need to see and hear

like Jesus seen and hearing like Jesus.

500

:

Number one, we need to see people

as people and not as enemies.

501

:

Did you hear what I said there?

502

:

We need to see people as people.

503

:

You are a person made in the image

of God, you are not my enemy.

504

:

You are my fellow image bearer.

505

:

You know, that's the relational

resets having a different view.

506

:

But here's the thing, also, seeing

people's true need when it comes to

507

:

seeing, seeing people, not just the

behavior, but seeing, you know, what?

508

:

They're really hurt and they need healing.

509

:

That's the real issue.

510

:

You know, that person is actually, they're

just really insecure and they need to

511

:

know God's love and God's truth, seeing

the real need, not just the surface.

512

:

You see, that's what Jesus saw in bar

mass, but that's what Jesus sees in you.

513

:

And so we are called, and this is

how we can, uh, uh, work with God

514

:

in, in restoring our compassion

is by asking God to help us see

515

:

and hear like Jesus, but then also

hearing people's hearts and stories.

516

:

You know, we lose

compassion when we label.

517

:

Instead of listening,

we put a label on him.

518

:

We judge a story that

we've never even heard.

519

:

Or we judged the story and we

only heard the pieces of it.

520

:

We only heard the, the, the first chapter.

521

:

We didn't hear the story and

understand what's really going

522

:

on in this person's lives.

523

:

We judge and condemn, but we

don't even know the whole story.

524

:

You know, compassion grows when we

hear, see, and understand people's

525

:

true needs, not just their behavior.

526

:

Here, and this is tough and I, I

appreciate God, he's been working on me.

527

:

'cause there's things, and you, maybe

you're like me as well, but there's things

528

:

you see on TV that can boil your skin.

529

:

There's things I see on social media

that, that, that can really irk me.

530

:

And I'm like, man, are you serious?

531

:

These people, I can't believe this.

532

:

And, and I start to get angry

and I start to get mad and I, and

533

:

I wanna combat, but then I just

love it when God has me coming to.

534

:

Contact and engagement with somebody who

I think might be doing something that is

535

:

in agreement with what I'm upset by, and I

hear their story and I go, oh, I get you.

536

:

Now.

537

:

We might not even agree about

something, but I see you as a

538

:

person now and I see your need.

539

:

Now.

540

:

I see why there's this anger.

541

:

I see why there's this approach,

because you're missing the gospel.

542

:

Jesus.

543

:

I love it when I get a chance to hear

your stories, when I get a chance

544

:

because sometimes I can be at this

post here and I'm just be honest.

545

:

Okay?

546

:

Can I be honest?

547

:

It don't matter if you say yes

or no, I'm gonna be honest.

548

:

Okay?

549

:

Alright.

550

:

I'll be honest with you, I can look at

this because of my position, being in a

551

:

position of leadership, I hear a lot of

good news, but I can also hear a lot of

552

:

bad news and that can really tain me.

553

:

Then I can get frustrated like,

man, why aren't we like this?

554

:

Or why aren't we doing this?

555

:

And I can get angry and then I engage.

556

:

And I've been grateful, you know, I

was able to to in our family groups

557

:

and went to the Placentia family group,

uh, two weeks ago and just hearing

558

:

people's hearts and I'm just softened.

559

:

I got, man, this is God's people.

560

:

This is, people love Jesus.

561

:

They really do.

562

:

I go, Karina, people love Jesus.

563

:

And it softens me.

564

:

And I go, man, and it makes me grateful.

565

:

I go, man, I love God's people.

566

:

Yeah.

567

:

We're not perfect.

568

:

We, no, we, we, we got some

things we gotta work on,

569

:

but man, people are awesome.

570

:

And it makes me more compassionate.

571

:

It makes me want to help people

instead of come down and condemn.

572

:

I want to lift them up and walk with them.

573

:

This is why it's so important,

brothers and sisters that we model,

574

:

that we follow Jesus's model.

575

:

Seeing and hearing people, hearing

their hearts and hearing their stories.

576

:

Are you with me?

577

:

Lastly here.

578

:

All right, I gotta hurry up here.

579

:

Helping people spiritually, you know, I

don't know about you, but my compassion

580

:

grows when I'm involved in helping people.

581

:

I see their need and I get excited, see

the way God is moving in their lives,

582

:

and, and it reminds me of what he's

doing in my life and how he's worked.

583

:

And then I just go, wow, this helps me

have more compassion, not only upon him,

584

:

but on others that I come in contact with.

585

:

So what happens when

compassion is restored?

586

:

Well, we become like God in nature and

character, and that's what God wants.

587

:

He's a father and he wants his kids to be

like him in our nature and our character.

588

:

So when you and I have our compassion

restored, guess who we reflect?

589

:

God, the Creator.

590

:

And there's nothing sweeter,

nothing better than that.

591

:

But then also what happens is that we are

then used by God in his redeeming work of

592

:

this world, and there's nothing greater

than joining God and helping him redeem

593

:

his creation, helping people experience

God's compassion and coming to salvation.

594

:

You know, God isn't

calling you to try harder.

595

:

Please do not hear that today.

596

:

God is calling.

597

:

No.

598

:

God is inviting you to be restored.

599

:

When compassion grows, God's favor flows.

600

:

Let's get real practical here,

brothers and sisters, action

601

:

steps here for the week.

602

:

Just try this out for the week here.

603

:

Okay?

604

:

You can expand past this

week if you want to.

605

:

Number one, pray for

compassion each day this week.

606

:

Just every day have a prayer.

607

:

It doesn't have to be long.

608

:

Ask God to soften your heart.

609

:

God, soften my hearts.

610

:

Help me to see and hear

people's stories the way you do.

611

:

Restoring me.

612

:

The compassion that you have,

help me to hear what you hear.

613

:

And then secondly, help

someone spiritually.

614

:

You know, this is when compassion

moves from the head to the

615

:

hands, and that's what God wants.

616

:

He doesn't want it to stay in our heads.

617

:

He doesn't want this to be nice, cool

theory and things that we just talk about.

618

:

He wants it to be flowing through us.

619

:

And so maybe it's one conversation,

one invitation, one act of mercy.

620

:

One step of love, but just help

someone spiritually this week.

621

:

You know, God's favor

doesn't stop at freedom.

622

:

It moves us toward restoration.

623

:

God restores what's been lost or broken

in us so that we can bring restoration, so

624

:

that he can bring restoration through us.

625

:

The goal isn't just personal

peace, it's communal compassion.

626

:

God's favor is experiencing compassion

and then becoming compassionate.

627

:

God's favor is a flow of compassion.

628

:

God's compassion for us and in

God's compassion through us.

629

:

And so as we come to a close here, we're

reminded of this that a reset prepares us.

630

:

Release frees us.

631

:

Let's go back here.

632

:

Can you go back there?

633

:

Reset prepares us.

634

:

A reset, a release, freeze us and restore.

635

:

Sends us Luke four verse 18.

636

:

We'll close out there.

637

:

The spirit of the Lord is on me

because he has anointed me to

638

:

proclaim good news to the poor.

639

:

He has sent me to proclaim

freedom for the prisoners and

640

:

recovery of sight for the blind.

641

:

To set the oppressed free to proclaim

the year of the Lord's favor.

642

:

Brothers and sisters, may we

experience more of the Lord's

643

:

favor in restoring our compassion?

644

:

Amen.

All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for OC Church of Christ Sermons
OC Church of Christ Sermons
Hear the latest sermon from the OC Church of Christ

Listen for free