COMPASSION IN ACTION

AUGUST 9, 2020

SUNDAY SERMON: COMPASSION IN ACTION

Psalm 78:38 – 39

Introduction: “A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and to his horror saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet. He couldn’t hang on to the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff.

“So, Jack began yelling for help, hoping that somebody passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something. “HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? He yelled for hours, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice.

“Jack. Jack. Can you hear me?

“Yes, yes, I can hear you. I’m down here!”

“I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?”

“Yes, but….who are you, and where are you?”

“I am the Lord, Jack, I’m everywhere.”

“The Lord? You mean God?”

“That’s Me.”

“God, please help me! I promise---If You let me down from here, I’ll stop sinning. I’ll be a really good person. I’ll serve You for the rest of my life.”

“Easy on the promises, Jack. Let’s just get you down from there, and then we can talk. Now, here’s what I want you to do. Listen carefully.”

“I’ll do anything You say, Lord. Just tell me what to do.”

Okay. Let go of the branch.”

“What?”

“I said to let go of the branch. Just trust Me and let go.”

“There was a long silence. Finally, Jack yelled, HELP! HELP! Is there anyone else up there?”

Sounds familiar. We ask God for help and when He tells us what to do, we forget about the promises we made to Him. In this particular text God’s people failed in spite of God’s giving His all. They said good things about God, but didn’t walk their talk. Their hearts weren’t right, and they disobeyed God’s word. They deserved chastisement but received compassion.

What flows from compassion?

I.

FORGIVENESS

FLOWS FROM COMPASSION

v. 38

II.

GRACE

FLOWS FROM COMPASSION

v. 38

III.

UNDERSTANDING

FLOWS FROM COMPASSION

v. 39