THE HEART OF GOD

Text: Luke 6:20-38

Thesis: “Be merciful as your Father is merciful.” (vs. 36-NIV)

I. God’s heart hurts for the needy.

A.    God goes the extra mile to meet mankind’s spiritual needs.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5: 8

B.    In the “sermon on the mount” Jesus drops a bombshell on the religious community.

1.     Jesus held radical and revolutionary ideas concerning the way the followers of God treated their fellow man, especially those who are less fortunate

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.  Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.  Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.  Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.  Luke 6: 24-26

2.     Jesus wants us to be Christian (CHRISTLIKE) and share with others what God has blessed us with.

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  James 2: 15-16

II.  Jesus’ commands us, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (vs.27-36)

A.    Jesus’ simple but profound logic begs the question, “If I were in trouble would I want help?  The honest answer is obviously, YES!!!”

B.    Jesus radically closes the loop hole that would allow the believer to escape responsibility by stating the “Golden Rule” which includes everyone, even our enemies.

1.     Jesus commands us to love (Agape) our enemies.

a.)   The three Greek words for LOVE.

* Eros               means a passionate love. The love a husband and wife would share.

* Philao               describes a love for those near and dear to us. A warm affection of the heart.

* Agape               describes an active feeling of benevolence towards another person.  The

               desiring of the highest good for another.

III. Do not make harsh judgments concerning another person or we will be judged harshly. (vss.37-38)

A.    Charitableness is often neglect because we have adopted philosophies such as “they made there bed now let them lie in it” or “nobody helped me when I was down, they can make on there own as well.”

1.     Remember Jesus’ words,

“With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you”

2.     God says elsewhere,

A generous man will prosper; He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 11: 25

He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.  Proverbs 19: 17

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.  Proverbs 21: 13

B.    The Mountain View Church seeks to reveal the compassionate heart of God through the following ministries:

            Salvation Army Shelter Lunch Ministry

            One Saturday a month under the leadership of Pam Brown a team of people from our Church will prepare and serve a lunch to the homeless at the Salvation Army in Nampa.

            Good Samaritan Ministry

            Led by the Men’s and Women’s ministries, individuals seek to meet the practical needs of local church or community members (pantries have been filled with food, appliances & windows repaired, roofs shingled, sprinklers installed, etc.)

            Church Benevolence Fund

            Helps with immediate emergency needs.

            Love Inc.- Love in the name of Christ

            An Interdenominational effort to meet the needs of area residents with food, clothing, household goods and budget training programs. In our local Church

            Donna Shenk heads up the food collection and distribution, and the collection of Baby items.