COMPASSION SUNDAY - 4-6-08

The primary point and purpose of this Sunday’s emphasis on Compassion International is NOT to get sponsors for the children we have packets available for, or to promote Compassion International, the organization.

The point and purpose is Much More than that!!

Through this and other promotions and projects and presentations, we hope that you’ll:

I. BE AWARE

A. of the needs. We tent to focus on our little world. We need to be aware of our blessings, and also be aware of the many, varied, and VAST needs around us.

B. of the call or mandate. Matt. 5:13-16 - For those of us that call ourselves Christian, there is a command and mandate given by Jesus to be salt and light in this world and make a difference. Don’t lose your saltiness by becoming unconcerned the world needs around you..

C. of the opportunities John 4:35 – “…..lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” – the needs are always there, and the time is always right to help.

D. of the goal – and this goal is more than meeting physical, social, and economic needs. It is also meeting spiritual needs. John 4:36 “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life,…” The goal is to make an ETERNAL difference. What good is meeting physical, social, economic, etc. needs, and the person still dies without Jesus Christ and spends eternity in hell?

E. of your ability to Make A Difference. Your involvement may not change the world, and it may not change you, but it will change the life and world of a child. Hudson Taylor once said that God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s supply. God said, “Go, and I will go with you.”

II. BE CHALLENGED

Aware is head knowledge and we tend to forget

Challenge is of the heart. Heb. 10:24 – “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

We need to be challenged BY the Holy Spirit

We need to be challenged TO support, and maybe even to GO!! The mission field.

III. BE RESPONSIVE

Aware is of the head

Challenge is of the heart

Response is of the hands – go and do your part

The point is NOT to respond to this challenge (Compassion Int’l) or every challenge.

The point is to respond to THE CHALLENGE – Acts 1:8 – “…….and you shall be witnesses to Me ….. to the end of the earth.”

The Specific Response can be:

A. to seek – Jesus as Lord and Savior, if never have done so

B. to embrace – Him and his mandate

C. to enthrone Him – in your heart and truly make him Lord

D. to re-enthone Him – we tend to knock Him off the throne over time

E. to adapt – life from one of self-serving to one of others-serving

F. to answer a call – that God may be placing in your heart

IV. BE EFFECTIVE be salt that’s salty, light that shines..

Octavia Baptist Church is in the saving business which is the discipling business to grow, develop, train, equip, and send forth workers.

V. BE CONTAGIOUS (infectious) Matt. 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Do good deeds so that they inspire others to do more.

VI. BE BLESSED Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Serving, giving, doing is the pathway to blessing!! Luke 6:38 – “Give and it will be given to you, …. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” This is not referring necessarily to monetary blessing,

CONCLUSION: Again, the point of this message IS NOT to sell you on Compassion International, or any similar organization.

It is to sell you on: Jesus – the MAN – teacher, Savior, Lord

The ministry – ongoing through His people

The mandate – to be salt and light. To make a difference. To make an eternal difference