08-03-08 #Disciple Bible Study titled: “A Life of Compassion”

[Disciple]

“LIVING THE HD LIFE”
“A Life of Compassion”
Philippians 2:19-30
Intro.
I think that most of us would have to confess that we need help in developing and living a life of compassion.
Peter Ustinov, the actor said – “Charity is more common than compassion. Charity is tax-deductible. Compassion is time-consuming.
I like the definition that Frederick Buechner gives for compassion in “Wishful Thinking.” “Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.”
Usually when we think of compassion what comes to mind is reaching out to the homeless, the needy, the lost. But that is not the theme and idea for this message today not for the passage of Scripture we’re going to look at.
Let’s look at Phil 2:19-24
These verses demonstrate the compassion that we need for the other believers of this ministry and the resulting fellowship with one another.
John 13:35
We need the kind of love for one another that stands by in tough times. We need the kind of love for one another that is a positive testimony to other people.
We want to consider some thoughts about living the compassionate life.
I. The Compassionate Life Is Rooted In Jesus
Note Paul’s first few words in verse 19. The starting point for every endeavor of Paul’s life is always his hope in the Lord Jesus. We can look at early life of this man Paul and note that he certainly was not a man of compassion. Instead, he was a persecutor of the Christians. He hated Christians.
Gal. 1:13
Paul was out for himself. To gain honor and prestige and position. The Christians presented a threat to his goals and ambitions. But then he met the Lord and the Lord knocked him down from the high pedestal he had built for himself. Then he went from persecutor to preacher. He went from hatred to love. It is this same man who wrote 1 Cor. 13, the love chapter of the Bible.
Compassion is deeply rooted in Jesus Christ and it takes a genuine interest in other people and their needs.
Phil 2:20
Paul wanted to send Timothy to these Phillipian Christians because Timothy had a genuine interest in them. Timothy was with Paul when the church was started in Philippi. We know from other Scripture that Timothy had visited the church at Philippi. And this would account for his ‘genuine interest’ for them.
Consider that the deeper you are rooted in Jesus Christ the greater is your capacity to love others and be compassionate toward them.
Two reason why this is so. The Holy Spirit is living in you and he is directing and leading you to greater love and compassion. You share a common world view with those who have a similar commitment with you.
Col 1:17-18
I want to ask you, “Does Jesus Christ have the supremacy and is he preeminent in your life?’ Or do you just have Jesus neatly tucked away as just another compartment of your life. Along with entertainment, work, school. Are you really making Jesus the Lord of your life so that he does have supremacy in everything?
If you want to live the compassionate life, it is rooted deeply in Jesus.
II. The Compassionate Life Is Essential For Your Spiritual Growth
Here is a principle that we need to remember. We never outgrow our need for the compassion of other people.
As we grow and mature in Jesus Christ and become stronger in our faith and stronger in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we will notice there is a change in the way we grow spiritually. When you first become a Christian your primary source for spiritual growth is through preaching and teaching. You craved it. You couldn’t get enough.
But then you noticed that the Sunday School class or that particular teacher just wasn’t inspiring you and challenging you anymore. So you might begin reading and studying various Christian books to help you grow.
But ultimately as we mature and grow in Christ we discover that the primary source for our spiritual growth becomes the compassionate relationships we have with other Christians.
Proverbs 27:17
In order for iron to sharpen iron, iron is rubbed against iron and that produced friction that sharpens the iron. This picture then is applied to the relationship between two friends. This proverb describes the abrasion and friction necessary for growth in one’s personal character and moral development. Do you have such a compassionate relationship?
Being a friend sometimes means that you act as the abrasion or friction that will sharpen the life of your friend. Being a friend sometimes means that you speak out about issues and problems that your friends has. Thank God if you have such a compassionate relationship.
We never outgrow the need for compassion from other people. We need encouragement in difficult times.
I know you think I’ve forgotten about the memory verse for this week, but I haven’t
Phil 2:20
We need accountability in tempting times. It doesn’t matter who you are, how long you’ve been a Christian, what positions you might hold in the church. We all are vulnerable to fall to the temptations he puts in front of us.
Prov. 18:1
“Unfriendly” is one who removes himself/herself from other people. The literal idea is “a separated person sees his own desire’. It is describing one who chooses to go his own way and does not acknowledge the value of community and sharing in the lives of other people. This person ‘goes against conventional wisdom’. He ‘defies all sound judgment.’ They isolate themselves from others within the body because they think they do not need the insights and understanding of others. The Scriptures teach us that we are not to isolate ourselves from one another. We need compassionate relationships to help us grow and mature in Christ
III. The Compassionate Life Is Expressed By Sacrifice Of Self Interests
Let’s consider what is going on with Paul. He is in prison. Timothy is a constant companion. Timothy is a big help for Paul. Perhaps even Timothy wrote this letter as Paul dictated it. I can imagine that Paul needed Timothy very much. Yet Paul says in verse 19 that he hopes to send Timothy to them soon.
He is also going to send Epaphroditus back to them (verse 25). Epaphroditus had been sent by the Philippian church for the needs of Paul. Epaphroditus became sick and almost died and the church had great concern for him. And Epaphroditus was concerned over their concern. Though he had come to minister to Paul’s needs, Paul sacrifices his own needs and wants to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi.
We can learn a valuable lesson here. Christian compassion isn’t clinging. Christian compassion let’s go. Christian compassion doesn’t always look after its own interests.
Conc.
Will you answer Paul’s call for compassionate living?
If you pick a book and just hold it for a few minutes, there will be evidence left behind that you touched that book. We leave our fingerprints on everything we touch. There is always evidence left behind when we touch something.
What kind of evidence are we leaving behind that shows compassion? Are we leaving any prints that would reveal our compassion toward others?
Will you develop more compassion like Jesus your Lord?