and we see these two verses. The first says that if we would be people of compassion it would make a difference. Isn't that true? Even in our childhood we have had moments of compassion that made a difference in our life. When we got a boo-boo and we cried out, and our mother came over so lovingly, so kindly, so compassionately, and she hugged us and she kissed our boo-boo, and she said, there now, it's all better. And with a tear on our cheek, we would nod, yes, it's better now. I think all of us here may remember some time that we had perhaps a teacher who had just a moment of compassion for us. Maybe it was just not a good day. We're struggling. Maybe things were not just right at home. And we got to school and the teacher was keen to this and where she could have been severe, where she could have been restrictive, she was compassionate. And she saw through some of the things that were disturbing and saw a person hurting. and in need, and she was compassionate. And so this passage tells us that some have compassion, making a difference. If you want to make a difference, we have to be a loving, kind, compassionate person. This doesn't mean that we're to be soft on sin, no, no, quite the opposite of that. But there are people who are in sin who need a kind, loving touch, a tender word. We live in a cruel, harsh world today. I've never seen a time when kids are so relaxed and so free with their words to mock and to curse their own parents as the day that we live in today. But we need this compassion. Notice the second verse or the verse under it, verse 23. and others. There's some that we can make a difference by having compassion. But there's others, save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. The Bible word there, pulling, means literally snatching them as if you were in a fire. I wouldn't try to coax you out of the fire. Come out of the fire. Come out of the fire. You're going to burn. No, I would snatch you out of the fire. There's others that we just need to go. We need to snatch them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. If you want to understand compassion, there's no greater one to study, to look at, than the Lord Jesus Christ. Look back, if you would, in Luke chapter 7. And notice in verse 11, it says, it came to pass the day after that he went to a city called Nain. And many of his disciples went with him and much people. So Jesus is in this city, and there's a great multitude of people who are following him. His disciples are there with him. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much, can you turn me down just a little bit, I feel like I'm a little bit too loud, and much people, of the city was with her. So as Jesus is going into the gates of the city, he is confronted with this funeral possession that's coming out. Now, as it would be of this time, they have this young man, and he's on what would be like a stretcher, and they're holding him. And there's a great multitude of people who are weeping, and this lady, she's already buried her husband. and this is a grown son, and we're not told what happened to him, but he is dead, and she is weeping. You have to understand, she has no way of survival. After she buried her husband, her son had the responsibility of caring for her, and now he is gone. And the Bible says in verse 13, and when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her. You should underline that word compassion. And said unto her, we've not. And he came and he touched the bier. That's the stretcher that this man was on. He stopped them. And they that bear him stood still. And he said, young man, I say unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up. That's who our God is. That's what he does. Jesus wouldn't be that, but if I was a disciple, I'd say, I've seen him watch, walk on water. I've seen him feed 5,000 with two little fish and five loaves. I've seen him tell the tornadic winds, peace! Be still! But I've never seen him raise the dead. Is there anything our God cannot do? And the answer is no. You see, we see here that he that was dead set up and began to speak. I wonder what he said. Do you read the Bible? Do you just pass by stuff like that? I look at it, what did he say? Maybe he'd sit up and said, mama. Maybe he'd sit up and said, honey. I think I would have sit up and I would have said, Debbie. And then the next word would have been biscuits or something like that maybe. But he spoke and he delivered him, he gave him to his mother. He's raised him from the dead. And the Bible says, and there came a fear on all. I would think so. I don't know what they were saying in Hebrew or what they were saying in Greek or what they were saying in their language, but they were probably saying something like, holy mackerel, did you see that? He was dead and now he's risen from the dead. And they begin to glorify God, verse 16. saying that a great prophet is risen up among them and that God hath visited his people. Well, they had part of it right, but he's more than just a prophet, isn't he? And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea and throughout all the region roundabout. Someone says that compassion is not an armchair emotion, compassion is love in action. The Lord often demonstrates his astonishing, miraculous powers, some of the things I've already mentioned, but I think it's somewhat impressive that we see his profound compassion for people. The Bible records on several occasions where Jesus exercised his power over nature, over disease, over death, and out of compassion, he did these things. But Jesus's compassion is mentioned six separate times. Notice three times he had compassion on crowds that followed him. In Matthew 9 verse 36, the Bible says, but when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep that had no shepherd. In Matthew chapter 14 verse 14, the Bible says, and Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion towards them and he healed their sick. In Matthew 15, verse 32, the Bible says, And Jesus called his disciples unto him and said, I have compassion upon the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat, and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. His compassion on individuals resulted in two blind men being healed in Matthew 20 verse 34. And Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes and immediately their eyes received sight. And these blind men who can now see followed him. He has compassion, this man who was stricken with leprosy in Mark chapter 1 verse 41. And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand and touched him and said unto him, I will be thou clean. And this man's leprosy was gone. He has compassion that promotes the miracle of the resurrection. In Luke 17, verse 13, the Bible says, and when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, weep not. The rabbis, they disdained unclean people. They avoided them. They had no compassion, no concern, no love for these people who were infected in the church. ought to be like the Lord Jesus Christ and show great compassion. Look at Hebrews 13, verse 3. I want you to see this verse. Here's a command to us. Hebrews 13, verse 3. Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them. And them which suffer adversity as being yourself also in the body, concerning our regard for persecuted brethren. I think what it's telling us is that we should take on the suffrage other people are experiencing. Notice that compassion is not just a mere emotion, but it's an action. In our text, we see here compassion makes the difference. In our subtext, we see that this widow only had this son, and he had died, and she was heartbroken. She was sobbing, and in verse 13, when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, weep not. And he turns to this young man, and he tells him to arise. Let me share with you quickly, if I may, four characteristics of true compassion. The first one is, I believe, is compassion sees. In verse 13, the Bible says, and when the Lord saw her, tears and heartaches didn't go unnoticed. Tears and heartaches did not go ignored by the Lord Jesus Christ. Compassion is observant. Compassion is sensitive to the troubles of others. Compassion can see the pain, the suffrage, and the need. I believe that people come to church because they're looking for answers. I believe that church pews are laced with people who are hurting people, who are needy people. They may be convinced that they're the only ones in need, that they're the only one, that their life is a shamble, and that their life is a wreck, but I beg to diff you, that's not the true situation. The question is this, are we observant to those around us? Do we see the tears? Do we see the heartache? Do we see the brokenness behind the fake smile. When Christ saw, his sympathy was aroused, and Jesus's compassion was kindled by what he saw. In Matthew 9, 36, when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion. In Matthew 14, 14, and Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion. In Luke 7, verse 13, and when Jesus saw her, he had compassion on her. Compassion sees. I think that there are people all around us that we're blind to their need. We're blind to their struggle. Compassion sees, but not just seeing, but I believe we can say that a characteristic of compassion is that compassion feels. In verse 13, the Bible says, when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, weep not. Compassion is not some emotionalism, some warm and fuzzy feeling. Compassion, it means to suffer together with. The Greek word gives the understanding of bowels or intestines. It means a place, deeply felt emotions is what it's talking about. You ever hear anybody say, man, I found this out and it was just a kick in the gut. That's our deepest emotions. That's the way we would say it today. And seeing is the necessity to draw genuine compassion, but seeing is not enough. We just can't see in our compassion. We must also identify with the needs of those who we see, and we must feel for their need that we suffer along with them. Here's a fact. The Lord Jesus Christ feels the suffering of those loved more deeply than the sufferers themselves. Compassion fills. You see Hebrews 4 verse 15 and 16 says this, for we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the what? With the what? The fillings of our infirmities. You know that Jesus fills your pain. You know, Jesus feels your sorrow. When you feel alone and when you feel abandoned, when you feel abused, Jesus feels that too. No wonder he's a friend to sinners. But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore, look what he tells us, come boldly. You looking for boldness? Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. There's an old song, I wouldn't dare wreck your morning by singing it, but the title is Does Jesus Care? Does Jesus Care? Oh yes he cares. I know he cares. Peter knew this. He was instructed by the Holy Spirit to pen, 1 Peter 5, verse 7, casting all your cares upon him, for he careth for you. Compassion sees and compassion feels, but let me say that compassion speaks. It's not enough just to observe and to see. It's not enough just to smote our breasts and to feel their pain. Oftentimes, they will, those in great need will initiate conversation. And we see oftentimes in the scriptures where often the initiation of the need, those with leprosy, they came to the Lord, those in blindness, they came to the Lord. But here in this passage, Jesus, seeing her hopelessness, her despair, her feeling deeply a great loss, He takes the initiative. In verse 13, when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, weep not. He's the one who initiated the conversation. We need not wait until we're asked. It's not enough to anticipate them coming and us having of the mind being warmed and filled without extending ourselves to minister, to move us to action, to make a difference there. I've told this story many times. I'm sure Joe Grapes is probably wary of hearing it, but it just reminds me of it so much. And I don't know, Joe, you and Rachel have to help me. I think y'all were dating according when we were at Wendy's that time. Had you already told Rachel he's gonna tell the Wendy's story? Probably. And they were courting, they were trying to figure out some stuff. I already knew he needed to marry her and she certainly needed to marry him. I was just waiting for them to get to that point. We were at fine dining at Wendy's. You know the Wendy's on Van Drive where your feet sticks to the carpet? That Wendy's is the one we were at. They got pretty good chili over there though. And we were coming out to get in the car and I noticed, I saw this person across the parking lot by the dumpster. And I recognized quickly, they were just about to go dumpster diving. They were gonna go look, it was early in the morning. It was cold. I remember very cold. I had on a jacket. Very seldom do I wear a jacket. And this person was so bundled in layers, I couldn't tell whether it was male or female. They had a sock hat on. I have to say sock hat because if I said toboggan, the northerners think, what is she doing riding a toboggan? You know, so she had a toboggan on. I had a sock hat on. And I turned to Joe, I said, Joe, take my card and go in and buy number one. I think it's a hamburger, fry and a Coke, maybe. And he comes back out quickly. I started driving slowly. We were all in the car, started driving slowly her way. I didn't know if it was a male or female. I couldn't tell until we got closer. And to try to save dignity, her dignity, and self-respect. I wrote the window down and I said, excuse me, miss, we've ordered too much and I hate to throw it away. Would you be interested? Could you use it? And she looked at me and she said, yes. Yes, I could. Can I tell you something? She's somebody's little girl. She's somebody's sister. She's probably was someone's wife at one time. No judgment, no condemnation. I don't know her story, but I know this. I know this. She was hungry enough to jump in the dumpster and find scraps. Can I tell you something? I don't ever give these people cash. They're gonna go buy something they shouldn't buy. They're gonna consume something they shouldn't consume. Probably put them there in the first place. But can I tell you this? Seven, eight, nine, 10 bucks never broke the bank on anybody. We have people who stop here all the time, don't we, Rach? All the time. You always can tell. Let me tell you something. If you're gonna be a bum, don't send your wife in here to bum for you. You'd be mad enough to come in here and bum for yourself. Somebody say amen. Amen. I mean, if we were in need, I wouldn't say, now, David, I want to sit in the car. You go out there and sit. They'll give us some money. But this man came in. He said, I need to speak with the pastor. And he came in. And I said, have a seat. He said, my wife and my brother-in-law are out in the van. He said, we. We went to a funeral and our van broke down and he said, I've got enough money to fix the van. I had the van fixed and I've got enough money to get gas to get home on, but all three of us are diabetic. If we don't eat something, we're going to be in trouble physically. And we just wondered, did you have something that you could give us to eat? I sent one of our staff members over around the corner here. Back then you get a $5 sub. I got three foot loans for $5 a piece, got them drinks. And I went out to the car and I prayed with them and I gave them that. And you could see the embarrassment and the shame on their face. It wasn't something they were used to doing or had done often if ever before. When you deal with people like this, you can read it real quickly. It doesn't break the bank to spend five or ten bucks to feed somebody. I wouldn't give somebody panhandling on the road money. It's not going to help them. They're going to get in their car and go to home as nice as yours probably. You can't be a sucker, especially with God's money or your own money. Understand that compassion speaks. We pulled up. This woman wasn't asking for anything at Wendy's. She was trying to survive. I got to tell you, I've been hungry before. When we were in college, we were hungry, and we were trying to get established. Things were terrible. Jimmy Carter was president. Gas was a dollar a gallon. I couldn't believe it. Had gone up a dollar. I thought people would start paying for it, but we haven't. But I've never been so hungry that I was willing to jump into the dumpster to find scraps. I've never been that hungry. You see, we need to wait and ask, we need not wait and ask, or to ask someone, we need to engage them. The Bible says in James 2, verse 15 and 16, if a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled. Notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what does it profit? You see, compassion goes beyond seeing. Compassion goes beyond feeling. Compassion speaks. This is gonna upset people. And if you get upset with it, you just have to deal with it. But it's amazing to me how our culture cares more about animals than they do people. I don't even want to get started on the fur baby thing because we don't have time to go there. But if you ever lost a dog or a cat and a child, you'll know there's a great difference between that. And if you don't, you know, you need to see somebody. I love my dogs. I've had some great dogs. I don't want to get into it, but I've loved my dogs. But I cannot even bear the thoughts of losing a child or grandchild. You get that puppy. We talked about getting a puppy. We're talking about Debbie taking care of it. We've looked at a schnauzer, a miniature schnauzer, quite independent and arrogant and prideful. We've talked about that. But you know what, if it didn't work out, I could find somebody else and take them. Some years ago, listen, some years ago on Valentine. Noah, this is how much I love my wife. I want you to see this. My wife loves cats, not so much for me. And I got a little orange tabby. Look, I'm talking cat talk, people. I called him Tigger. He was orange and white striped. I got Tigger and I went to the pet store and I got a bed and I got all kinds of stuff for it to play with and to climb on. And on Valentine's Day, not only did I give her chocolate, but I gave her a tigger and a little cute little collar on his neck that had a bell that would go ring-a-ding-ding. And when I would lay on the couch, guess where a tigger would lay? Right there. And I thought, I have a rottweiler outside. Get off of me. But tigger loved me. But I'm asthmatic. and cat dander and asthma does not work well. So by the third day, I was talking like, my bronchial tubes were closing. Debbie had cats growing up, but she'd become allergic and her eyes were swollen shut. And now we have this pet that's a Valentine gift and we're waiting to see who yields first. It's a true story. How do you take back the, honey, I know I gave you that cat for Valentine's, but I gotta take care of this cat. He's out. How can she come to me and say, Ricky, the cat's gotta go. I haven't seen you in three days. So I'm praying about it, saying, Hail Mary full of grace, Lord, please, please let her give in on this thing. So she finally came to me and she said, honey, The cat was a wonderful, loving gesture, but I can't see. And I think if you went into the week, you're going to be dead. We need to get rid of the cat. I said, done. So what did I do? I gave the cat to Billy Miller. Billy Miller, I took the bed and I took the stuff, the cat looter box. I took the cat with the cute little ding-a-ling-ding-ding bell on it. I took Tigger over there, and Billy would lay down, take a nap, and Tigger would call it right here. Am I telling the truth? I'm telling the truth. And take a nap on Billy Miller. And you know what? Life rolled on for us. As a matter of fact, it got better. I started breathing better, she started seeing better, but not so with a child. She said, don't tell me. You see, you forgot where this story was headed. I didn't. That's no fur baby. Now understand this. Compassion sees. Compassion has the deep feeling. Compassion initiates and speaks. And compassion finally acts. In verse 14, the Bible says, and he said, young man, I see in thee arise. And he that was dead set up and began to speak, and he delivered him to his mother. Notice the gracious intent of the compassion that Jesus Christ had simply to lift the burden, to ease the pain, to meet the need. quietly, graciously, compassionately, he moves into action. Notice the effect of compassion, a total transformation of a humanly hopeless situation. That is what happens. when the resources of true compassion is brought to bear upon human condition. Compassion acts. Now let me ask you, do you have compassion? See, we're gonna have a soul winning clinic, and listen to me, listen to me, listen, I can put it in your hand and I can get it in your head, but it's God's gotta put it in your heart. If you don't see If you don't feel, if you don't speak, if you don't act, there's nothing changes. Compassion is not a theory. Compassion is not an armchair emotion. Compassion is love and action. Compassion is a fitly spoken word, Proverbs 15, 25, 11. Compassion is a timely, benevolent act. 1 John 3 says in verse 17, Here is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as he is, so as we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. Can I say this? The reason why we are not moving in action is because of a lack of faith in our part. We may see it. We may deeply feel it. We might even move enough in boldness to speak it. But we need to act. And it's faith that causes us to do that. Someone said this. Someone said, compassion cannot be taught. It is caught when the heart is stirred by Calvary's love in response to seeing a need. I pray that as you consider the message this morning, you probe deeply at yourself and say, am I a compassionate person? Am I a compassionate person? Do I see? Do I feel? Am I one to speak? Am I out to act? We celebrate tonight, and it's a great Time for Debbie and I, we celebrate 36 years as being your pastor and pastor's wife. It almost ended this year for me, very close. But I do pray that when I'm gone, they can say he was a fire breathing preacher. He was a, you know, he refused to compromise. He was, but I hope all things that are said, I hope at the top of this was, He loved people. He was a man of compassion. You should want that too. Would you stand with me this morning? Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. We're talking about compassion. Why do people go to Taiwan and to China and to Romania? Why do people go to Australia and Ireland? and other places of the world, compassion, to take the gospel to never-dying souls who have not heard the old, old story. Am I a compassionate person? Oh, I see things, but is that enough? I see things, but do I feel it? When I feel it, does it move me to initiate and to speak? I see things, I feel it, I speak, and I'm going to act and make the difference. And of some, having compassion, making a difference. Jesus saved you and left you here to make a difference. And on that day of judgment, we'll be glad that we did. Father, bless this morning. Help us to be people of compassion. May we come this morning and ask you to give us a deeper compassion, a deeper concern, a holy boldness to be able to not be defiant, not be confrontational, but to compassionately, brokenly, lovingly, With great mercy and kindness, give the gospel to the lost. Bless our invitation. For anyone who's not saved, I pray, Lord, that you work in their hearts as well. Save them today, bring them to us. Let us take the Bible and show them how they can be saved. But Lord, help us to be people. Help us to change from the harsh, cold, and some of the things the world and others have done to us that's made us mean spirit. God, help us to be like you. Help us to be a people of compassion. In thy name I pray. Heads bowed, eyes are closed. Are you compassionate? Do you see? Do you feel? Do you speak? Do you change? Do you make a difference? Let me encourage you to come. And maybe like I've done this week and this morning, I've asked the Lord, Lord, give me a bigger heart, a greater heart. Give me a deeper love. Help me to be observant. Help me to see and not just see, but feel their pain and make the difference. Lord, bless the invitation in thy name. You come and come now.