Just today, a friend of mine put something on her Facebook page which caught my eye. I clicked on it and read it through. i want you to read it too. (Now, Don't read it and "Freak" when you see the words "holy man". just read it and watch for the "Truth".)
"A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said.
"Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.
Is a suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it.
In the story we see that in the second room, everyone was in the same "Predicament" as the first room, they were using the same "Instruments" as the others, but with a totally different "Outcome". What made the difference? "Compassion" did!
How did this make all the difference? Think with me about it. The story told us that the people that were "Dying" in the first room, were "Dying" because of "Selfishness"! Selfishness has absolutely nothing to do with Compassion! You see, on order for the people in that first room to begin to be fed, they must learn to work together in reaching the common goal.
Now take our Churches for example... We also need to learn this very vital lesson. We ALL must work together to reach the entire world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and what He did in dying on the cross for our collective and our individual sins.
I am reminded of a passage of scripture that talks about this very subject.
Acts 4:31-35
(31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
(32) And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
(33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
(34) Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
(35) And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
In this portion we read where the "Church" had revival when the Lord showed up (vs 31). The effect of this reviving showed itself in vs. 32, "... they had all things common." Then we see in vs. 34, "Neither was there any among them that lacked:". Lastly from vs. 35, "... and distribituion was made unto every man according as he had need."
These three facts, or results from being revived, (or made alive again.) were able to be written down in The Bible as "Truth". How was all this made possible?? The answer is very simple... When God comes and openly shows Himself in a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit, the end result is a complete change in the way "Christian" mankind walks through life.
Here in Acts chapter 4, we see such a change in the Christians that were there. We see everyone, not just the rich, but everyone (i.e. "...the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:") All of them joined in from a heart of "Compassion" for others.
I know that there are still those today who want to accuse these folks in the Church there in Acts 4 of just getting "Emotional"... I say your "Nuts"! When God is the One who is conducting the movement in our hearts, there is no way that HE will allow "Emotion" to cause someone to foolishly sell all that they have and give it away. Notice I said "When God Is The One"! Do you remember what The Bible says in Mark 10:28-31?
Mark 10:28-31
(28) Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
(29) And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
(30) But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
(31) But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
We need to remember that God does not do anything "Foolish"! God did not cause the disciples to act rashly or foolishly when He called them into service. I know that "Man" sometimes like to accuse Christian Brothers or Sisters of acting foolishly, however, I must stand and say that if God has called someone to service, then who am I, or who are you for that matter, to say that God did not call them.
We must use "Compassion" in dealing with everyone! We are commanded to take the message out to a lost and dying world. Why would we do that if not because of the "Compassion" of Jesus in coming and dying, shedding His Blood for ALL SIN!!?? You see, Jesus is our first example of this business of "Compassion", He performed it in His death, Burial and resurrection. Then here in Acts chapter 4 we see His Church performing under the same guidelines of "Compassion". We need to wake up to the truth that we also MUST live with this same guiding principle in our collective and individual lives too.
If we would live with "Compassion" for others as our guiding principle, we will all be able to get our eyes off of ourselves and help "Feed" those who are seated at the table with us.
Think About It,
Evangelist David J. Dunn
Philippians 4:9 "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
The Lord led the holy man to two doors.
He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in . In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, "You have seen Hell".
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand."
"It is simple," said the Lord.
"It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
When Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of you."
You want to know the part of this that spoke to me?? In reading this story, I can see the Christian Church of Today! This is describing "US"!!!
I cannot tell you just how often this same scene is played out in church after church all across this country and yes, even around the world.
The main reason that I wanted to talk about this particular story is due to the fact that in my personal opinion, Christianity, our modern day Christianity, is a "Selfish Christianaity". I know that may sound a tad bit "Harsh", but many times the truth is just that... "Harsh"! In our Churches today we see "Cliques" and just some downright "Hateful" people who call themselves "Christians". I am inclined to wonder if some of these folks have acctually received what they "Claim" to "Posess". Again, "Harsh" I know, but is it the truth?
How about your Church? Do this, on Sunday, before your main service begins, just take an "Honest" look at the people in your Church. Do you know anybody in the room who is in a "Clique"? Sadly, you might have to answer that you yourself are NOT what you claim to be.
Following in line with this thought from the above story, I am reminded of a simple little word that when it is applied to any situation in life, it can and will make a "Huge" difference! This word is simply... "Compassion"!
In Webster's Dictionary the Word "Compassion" is defined this way:
COMPASSION, n.
Is a suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it.
In the story we see that in the second room, everyone was in the same "Predicament" as the first room, they were using the same "Instruments" as the others, but with a totally different "Outcome". What made the difference? "Compassion" did!
How did this make all the difference? Think with me about it. The story told us that the people that were "Dying" in the first room, were "Dying" because of "Selfishness"! Selfishness has absolutely nothing to do with Compassion! You see, on order for the people in that first room to begin to be fed, they must learn to work together in reaching the common goal.
Now take our Churches for example... We also need to learn this very vital lesson. We ALL must work together to reach the entire world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and what He did in dying on the cross for our collective and our individual sins.
I am reminded of a passage of scripture that talks about this very subject.
Acts 4:31-35
(31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
(32) And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
(33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
(34) Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
(35) And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
In this portion we read where the "Church" had revival when the Lord showed up (vs 31). The effect of this reviving showed itself in vs. 32, "... they had all things common." Then we see in vs. 34, "Neither was there any among them that lacked:". Lastly from vs. 35, "... and distribituion was made unto every man according as he had need."
These three facts, or results from being revived, (or made alive again.) were able to be written down in The Bible as "Truth". How was all this made possible?? The answer is very simple... When God comes and openly shows Himself in a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit, the end result is a complete change in the way "Christian" mankind walks through life.
Here in Acts chapter 4, we see such a change in the Christians that were there. We see everyone, not just the rich, but everyone (i.e. "...the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:") All of them joined in from a heart of "Compassion" for others.
I know that there are still those today who want to accuse these folks in the Church there in Acts 4 of just getting "Emotional"... I say your "Nuts"! When God is the One who is conducting the movement in our hearts, there is no way that HE will allow "Emotion" to cause someone to foolishly sell all that they have and give it away. Notice I said "When God Is The One"! Do you remember what The Bible says in Mark 10:28-31?
Mark 10:28-31
(28) Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
(29) And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
(30) But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
(31) But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
We need to remember that God does not do anything "Foolish"! God did not cause the disciples to act rashly or foolishly when He called them into service. I know that "Man" sometimes like to accuse Christian Brothers or Sisters of acting foolishly, however, I must stand and say that if God has called someone to service, then who am I, or who are you for that matter, to say that God did not call them.
We must use "Compassion" in dealing with everyone! We are commanded to take the message out to a lost and dying world. Why would we do that if not because of the "Compassion" of Jesus in coming and dying, shedding His Blood for ALL SIN!!?? You see, Jesus is our first example of this business of "Compassion", He performed it in His death, Burial and resurrection. Then here in Acts chapter 4 we see His Church performing under the same guidelines of "Compassion". We need to wake up to the truth that we also MUST live with this same guiding principle in our collective and individual lives too.
If we would live with "Compassion" for others as our guiding principle, we will all be able to get our eyes off of ourselves and help "Feed" those who are seated at the table with us.
Think About It,
Evangelist David J. Dunn
Philippians 4:9 "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
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