THE CHARACTER OF GOD | COMPASSION Sunday Experience April 24

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Message notes by Josiah Schwartz, April 24 2022

’THE CHARACTER OF GOD: COMPASSION’

THE CHARACTER OF GOD, WHO GOD IS, IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR US. BECAUSE HOW WE VIEW GOD IMPACTS EVERYTHING

Exodus 34:6-7a
“YAHWEH! THE LORD! THE GOD OF COMPASSION AND MERCY! I AM SLOW TO ANGER AND FILLED WITH UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. I LAVISH UNFAILING LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. I FORGIVE INIQUITY, REBELLION, AND SIN.”

SO THE VERY FIRST THING GOD REVEALS ABOUT HIMSELF IS THAT HE IS A GOD OF COMPASSION. AND THAT COMPASSION IS STEEPED IN DEEP EMOTION.

1 King 3:23-27
THEN THE KING SAID, “LET’S GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. BOTH OF YOU CLAIM THE LIVING CHILD IS YOURS, AND EACH SAYS THAT THE DEAD ONE BELONGS TO THE OTHER. ALL RIGHT, BRING ME A SWORD.” SO A SWORD WAS BROUGHT TO THE KING. THEN HE SAID, “CUT THE LIVING CHILD IN TWO, AND GIVE HALF TO ONE WOMAN AND HALF TO THE OTHER!” THEN THE WOMAN WHO WAS THE REAL MOTHER OF THE LIVING CHILD, AND WHO LOVED HIM VERY MUCH, CRIED OUT, “OH NO, MY LORD! GIVE HER THE CHILD—PLEASE DO NOT KILL HIM!” BUT THE OTHER WOMAN SAID, “ALL RIGHT, HE WILL BE NEITHER YOURS NOR MINE; DIVIDE HIM BETWEEN US!” THEN THE KING SAID, “DO NOT KILL THE CHILD, BUT GIVE HIM TO THE WOMAN WHO WANTS HIM TO LIVE, FOR SHE IS HIS MOTHER!” WHEN ALL ISRAEL HEARD THE KING’S DECISION, THE PEOPLE WERE IN AWE OF THE KING, FOR THEY SAW THE WISDOM GOD HAD GIVEN HIM FOR RENDERING JUSTICE.

1. GOD’S RESCUE IS THE RESULT HIS OF COMPASSION

GOD’S COMPASSION IS A HEARTFELT RESPONSE TO THE PAIN OF HIS PEOPLE. EVEN WHEN THAT PAIN IS SELF INFLICTED.

Isaiah 49:13-16
SING FOR JOY, O HEAVENS! REJOICE, O EARTH! BURST INTO SONG, O MOUNTAINS! FOR THE LORD HAS COMFORTED HIS PEOPLE AND WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM IN THEIR SUFFERING. YET JERUSALEM SAYS, “THE LORD HAS DESERTED US; THE LORD HAS FORGOTTEN US.” “NEVER! CAN A MOTHER FORGET HER NURSING CHILD? CAN SHE FEEL NO LOVE FOR THE CHILD SHE HAS BORNE? BUT EVEN IF THAT WERE POSSIBLE, I WOULD NOT FORGET YOU! SEE, I HAVE WRITTEN YOUR NAME ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS. ALWAYS IN MY MIND IS A PICTURE OF JERUSALEM’S WALLS IN RUINS.

2. HIS COMPASSION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

Ephesians 2:8-10
GOD SAVED YOU BY HIS GRACE WHEN YOU BELIEVED. AND YOU CAN’T TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS; IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD. SALVATION IS NOT A REWARD FOR THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE DONE, SO NONE CAN BOAST ABOUT IT. FOR WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.

WE CAN’T DO ENOUGH, BE ENOUGH, EARN ENOUGH TO BE LOVED ANY MORE OR LESS BY GOD

3.. WE ARE CALLED TO BE COMPASSIONATE

Philippians 2:1-2
IS THERE ANY ENCOURAGEMENT FROM BELONGING TO CHRIST? ANY COMFORT FROM HIS LOVE? ANY FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT? ARE YOUR HEARTS TENDER AND COMPASSIONATE? THEN MAKE ME TRULY HAPPY BY AGREEING WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH EACH OTHER, LOVING ONE ANOTHER, AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH ONE MIND AND PURPOSE.

Colossians 3:12
THEREFORE, AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, HOLY AND DEARLY LOVED CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY AND GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE

OUR COMPASSION FOR OTHERS SHOULD BE THE HEARTFELT RESPONSE OF HAVING EXPERIENCED THE COMPASSION OF GOD OURSELVES.