Compassion in Action WHY WE HURT II COR. 1:3-4

What the Bible Says  …And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  Romans 5:2-5

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. II Corinthians 1:3-4

First “E” word for the Day: Empathy  1. Sympathy - An inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion   2. Empathy - Understanding and entering into another's feelings  You feel empathy when you've "been there", and sympathy when you haven't.  One may be sympathetic while not empathetic; the latter requires a deeper emotional involvement than the former. You feel empathy when you've "been there", and sympathy when you haven't.

Fact #1: Everyone’s “got” something Vs. Fiction #1: Others out there have the “perfect” life (a better life than I do)

If you walk with Christ, He will lead you through the life He wants you to have; He has a specific will for YOU.

We often forget— “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29

Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.”

"But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

Fact #2: Experience is Absolutely Necessary (a Walk with GOD) Vs. Fiction: Christianity as a Religion/Theory/Social Status

-God is a God of Truth, not theories -God is a God of Facts and Faith, not fiction -God is a God of Powerful Promises, not hypothesis -God is a God of Love, not man-made fear or tradition

- God is REAL, and a personal relationship with Him in Christ is more real than anything else in this life. “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the Word that was preached to you. I Peter 1:24-25

Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.24 Jeremiah 9:23-24

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ… Philippians 3:8-9

…And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.1011 Philippians 3:9-11

If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: II Timothy 2:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, II Timothy 3:12

According to Romans 5, suffering makes us experienced(mature) by driving us to Jesus. We learn the dependence, the love, the transformation of Christ, and in empathy and compassion share that with others.

We cannot follow Jesus without suffering; without suffering I cannot be like Him, I can’t be with Him. If I’m not with Him, there’s nothing I can say. I have absolutely nothing to offer anyone.

But if I know Jesus, I have everything, and He has everything to offer!

Fact #3: Not all Experiences are Necessarily Necessary! Vs. Fiction #3: Unless you’ve done everything I’ve done (ie, walked in my shoes), you can’t help me; don’t “judge” me.

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. I Corinthians 14:20

There are a lot of potential human experiences in this life that you’d be a lot better without!

There is suffering that comes as a result of TRULY following Jesus; There is suffering that comes just as part of this earthly life There is suffering that comes as a result of our ignorance and inexperience; and there is suffering that comes because we didn’t listen to the Lord!

Maturity is not being wise in the ways of the world. It is being wise in the ways of Christ and His Word, and avoiding as many worldly pitfalls and heartaches as possible! Even when the practices and the ideas of people in the world around us appear “successful”, it doesn’t mean they are.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:1-7

You do not need to be experienced in all the same things that another person is in order to help them, or warn them, or lead them to Christ…

…But you do need to know Christ intimately, and be familiar with the experiences He has given you, and the truth He has taught you from His Word. The principles are the same for everyone!

Are you: -Embracing the past and present hardships of your life to make you dependent on Jesus, and more like Him? --actively comforting others with the same compassion and faithfulness that you have really experienced and lived from Jesus? Are you able to be empathetic?