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THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN NEEDS IN THEIR LIFE

Introduction

Before Paul left the Church at Ephesus, he gathered together the elders of the Church to tell them goodbye and to give them some final instructions..

We see how that Paul opens up his heart. As we glimpse at Paul’s heart, we see some attributes that defined his life after He came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. (i.e. These are the things that made Paul the man of God that he was)

These attributes that we find in Paul’s heart and life are what every Christian needs.

In our first message from this passage we looked at Paul’s FAITHFULNESS.

We talked about the need for FAITHFULNESS…to our families, in our finances, to the fellowship of the church, and to the faith.

In the second message, we discussed the need for HUMILITY and saw how God rewards humility.

Tonight I want us to see Paul’s COMPASSION.

Verse 19 speaks of Paul’s serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and WITH MANY TEARS!

Also, look at Verse 31. And now look at verse 37-38.

Here we see the outward manifestation of Paul’s inward COMPASSION!

Some men think it’s not manly to cry. They think that crying is for girls, babies, and sissies. They think that if you’re a man and you cry, then something must be wrong with you.

Understand though that this man Paul was not a weak minded man. He wasn’t a basket case.

He wasn’t a crybaby. He wasn’t a sissy. In fact, he was one of the greatest men of all time.

He was a man’s man. He was brave and bold as a lion. He endured incredible things for the cause of Christ. He was beaten on several occasions and tortured, imprisoned, maligned and stoned. Yet, he never backed up and never backed down. He never gave up and never gave in! He was one tough cookie!

Yet, in spite of all of his toughness and tenacity, Paul had a heart of compassion that brought him to tears on many occasions. Just because we may shed tears doesn’t mean we have compassion.

It is possible to have tears without compassion. But that is not what we see in Paul’s life.

Also, it is possible to have compassion without tears. Some folks don’t express their emotions outwardly as much as others do.

However, tonight, I want us to look the compassion of Paul. As Christians, we need to both have compassion and show compassion to others.

I.         THE NATURE OF COMPASSION.

            A.        Paul Showed Compassion For Those Who Had Backslidden.

                        (2 Corinthians 2:1-9)

Paul is referring here to his first letter to the Corinthian Church. Have you read

1 Corinthians lately? It’s a scathing rebuke! He rebukes them for their carnality, which was evidenced by strife, schisms, cliques, and other mistreatment of brethren as well as by sexual immorality, and improper use and abuse of spiritual gifts.

                        Some might look at 1 Corinthians and say, “Paul, I don’t feel the love!”  

But Paul did not write it in anger, rather he wrote it out of his love and concern both for them and for the cause of Christ. In fact, it is not hard for me to visualize that his tears might have stained every page as he wrote it.

When is the last time you had true concern over and compassion for a believer who strayed from the Lord?

                        We find it much easier to: 

                        1)        forget about them than to weep over them!

                        2)        gossip about them than to weep over them!

                        3)        to be lifted up with pride feeling superior to them than to weep over them!

When was the last time you went to someone who had strayed away from God and with tears begged them to get things right with God?

                        That’s the kind of compassion that Paul had.

            B.        Paul Showed Compassion For Those Exposed To False Doctrine.

                        (Acts 20:28-31)

It should break our heart each time we hear of someone who is exposed to false doctrine–whether they are lost or saved.

                        False doctrine causes people to remain lost in the darkness of their sin.

                        2 Corinthians 4:3-4–“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

False doctrine causes people to be led astray, forsake the truth, and shipwreck their lives. 1 Corinthians 15:33–“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

                        It breaks my heart when I see folks get sucked in by the false prophets!

People are being fed and are swallowing all kinds of false doctrine.

                        The airwaves are full of it–both radio and television.

We must “earnestly contend for the faith.”

                        We must rebuke the false teachers. (Titus 1:9-16)

                        But, we must also show compassion for those who are being led astray.

2 Timothy 2:24-26–“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

                        Paul Showed Compassion For Those Who Had Backslidden.

                        Paul Showed Compassion For Those Exposed To False Doctrine.

            C.        Paul Showed Compassion For Those Who Were Lost. (Romans 9:1-3)

That’s a powerful statement! He wanted his people to be saved so badly that he said he would be willing to go to hell for them himself.

Would you ever say that about anyone? Your child…your spouse…you mom or dad? Paul said it about his countrymen!

Listen, we’re not asked to go to hell for them, but we are commanded to pray for them and witness to them. It sure wouldn’t hurt for us to weep for them.

How could we not weep at the thought of someone burning in a Christless hell for all eternity?!

We sing the song “Rescue The Perishing” that says: “Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save!”

So we see the nature of Paul’s compassion: 1) for backsliding Christians; 2) for those exposed to false doctrine; and 3) for those who were lost.

II.       THE NECESSITY OF COMPASSION.

            A.        Compassion Reveals The Nature Of God.

Psalms 86:15–“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

                        When we have compassion, we reveal God’s Divine nature that He has given us.

            B.        Compassion Reflects The Nature Of Christ.

Matthew 9:36-38–“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Matthew 14:14–“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”

Matthew 15:32–“Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.”

                        When we have compassion we reflect the nature of Christ.

John 13:34-35–“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

            C.        Compassion Raises Our Awareness.

When we have compassion on those around us, we are more aware and responsive to the needs of those around us.

                        Example: Luke 10:27-37 (The parable of “The Good Samaritan.”)

When we have compassion on those around us, we are more careful about our Christian testimony.

            D.        Compassion Readies Us For Service.

                        What good is service without compassion?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3–“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

            E.        Compassion Reaps A Better Harvest.

Psalm 126:5-6–“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

             F.        Compassion Reaches Where Nothing Else Can.

                        Compassion can do what nothing else can do.

                        Jude 22–“And of some have compassion, making a difference:”

Conclusion

These things that were in Paul’s life can be in our life!

            Every child of God can be and should be faithful!

            Every child of God can be and should be humble!

            Every child of God can be and should show compassion!

There are no special talents necessary.

The only qualification is a willingness to let God do spiritual surgery on us and mold our hearts in His image.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!