FIRST SERVICE AT OUR CROWLEY CAMPUS

October 30, 2011

Your Ministry Of Mercy

Mercy is love in action

Compassion-ate:To enter into someone else’s pain

Compassion is about making a decision. It’s not an emotion . . . Expressing compassion is a deliberate choice [to embrace pain that is not your own] . . .

We are most like Christ when we choose to offer the gift of our presence and choose to absorb within ourselves the suffering of the least, the last, and the lost.

Are you looking for Jesus? That’s where you’ll find him.

Kay Warren

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

(Matthew 5:7 – New International Version)

Compassion-ate Case Study 1:

Showing mercy to the least

A man with leprosy came to Jesus and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ “Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

“I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don't tell this to anyone..

But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.

As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

(Mark 1:40-45 – New International Version)

He was not WELCOME because of his disease

If you ever have leprosy, you must tear your clothes, leave your hair uncombed, cover the lower part of your face, and go around shouting,

“I’m unclean! I’m unclean!” As long as you have the disease, you are unclean and must live alone outside the camp.

(Leviticus 13:45-46 – Contemporary English Version )

Humiliation & Isolation

Compassion-ate Case Study 2:

Showing mercy to the last

One day Jesus was teaching in a house, and the healing power of the Lord was with Him.

Pharisees and religious scholars were sitting and listening, having come from villages all across the regions of Galilee and Judea and from the holy city of Jerusalem.

Some men came to the house, carrying a paralyzed man on his bed pallet. They wanted to bring him in and present him to Jesus, but the house was so packed with people that they couldn’t get in.

So they climbed up on the roof and pulled off some roof tiles. Then they lowered the man by ropes so he came to rest right in front of Jesus. In this way, their faith was visible to Jesus

(Luke 5:17-20 – Voice )

He was not WORTHY because of his disability

Compassion-ate Case Study 3:

Showing mercy to the lost

After this he went out and saw a man named Levi at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, “Come along with me.”

And he did—walked away from everything and went with him. Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner.

The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. “What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and ‘sinners’?”

Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.”

(Luke 5:27-32 – The Message)

They were all WRITTEN-OFF because of their decisions

Our Mercy Mandate -To lift people out of their pain

Step 1:

Know that I am called to be a “Compassionator”!

Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy.

(Luke 6:36 – New Century Version)

Step 2:

Look around and truly see the hurting people in your world

I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you . . .

(John 4:35 – The Message)

Step 3:

Ask what am I willing to do to really help people

If you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ!

Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you?

Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

(James 2:15-17 – The Message )

Step 4:

Mercy must start with me and must start right now

Each of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.

(John 9:4 – Living Bible )

Remember, you can’t spell MERCY without “ME”!

Here are some simple and tangible ways you can be a“COMPASSIONATOR”!

November 12-13

Helping Lee Cranford

LifePointe Church wants to fill 90 shoeboxes this year!

WE ARE COLLECTING FOR THE NEXT 4 SUNDAYS

Know

Show

Mercy is the KEY to answered prayer in our lives(Isaiah 58:5-12)

I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor, and destitute.

Clothe those who are cold, and don’t hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, God will shed his own glorious light upon you.

(Isaiah 58:5-12– Living Bible )

He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 

Then, when you call, the Lord will answer. “Yes, I am here,” he will quickly reply . . . Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. 

And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

(Isaiah 58:5-12– Living Bible )

HAGIOSCOPEThe

“Leper’s Squint”

Hagioscopes were also sometimes known as "leper windows" wherein a squint was made in an external wall so that lepers and other non-desirables could see the service without coming into contact with

the rest of the people.

BE A SUPERHERO!

BE A COMPASSIONATOR!

Let’s Pray