Prayer to a Compassion Savior

Prayer to a Compassionate Savior

This is taken from a message I preached, I thought it was worth sharing:

Compassion means: a feeling of deep sympathy (empathy and understanding) and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune (adversity, trouble, hardship, and disasters) accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. (Loan-translation of Gk. sympatheia)

What God was showing me as I looked at this word was compassion has two parts. The first part is when one person (in this case, Christ) feels deep sympathy for the suffering of others. The second part is what many of us miss. The person does not only feel for the person, but they are so moved that they do something to alleviate the persons suffering. This is what Christ does. His compassion moves Him to rescue us. Let's look at who Christ has compassion on.

Christ has compassion for:

Matthew 9:36-38 “³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Christ has compassion for the ~ HELPLESS, THE LOST AND PEOPLE WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

Matthew 14:14 “...he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

Christ has compassion for the ~  SICK (we see often Christ having compassion on those that were sick)

Matthew 15:32 “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

Christ has compassion for the ~ NATURAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE (food, shelter, etc. Jesus did not want to send the people away because He knew they had not eaten, instead He told the disciples to handle their need.)

 Jesus had compassion for people that were lost (sinners), for the sick and for the everyday-natural needs of people. Again, He did not stop at feeling for their needs, HE DID SOMETHING. His compassion moved him into action.

The compassion of Christ results in:

Compassion for the lost unto salvation

Christ saw our plight. We were sinners separated from a Holy God. Our destination for our sins was death and eternal separation for this Holy God (Romans 6:23). We were powerless to do anything about it. Christ compassion moved him to demonstrate his love while we were still sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8). At the right time, Christ helped the helpless (Romans 5:6). Christ compassion moved him and in exchange He alleviated our sin debut and we are made the righteous of God, as credit to us through Christ (Romans 4:24). Being justified through faith, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1). Not only that, we can boast that we are reconciled to God through Christ (Romans 5:11). Therefore, we are no longer condemned because we are in Christ (Romans 8:1). This process of receiving God’s compassion is given to us when we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, when we do, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). We ask God to forgive us of our sins, and His compassion that saw our need in our helpless state, will forgive us and give us His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

Matthew 20:34 “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”

The Compassion of Christ results in ~ RESTORING SIGHT (to the physically and spiritually blind)

Matthew 14:14 “...he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

The Compassion of Christ results in ~ THE HEALING OF DISEASES AND INFIRMITIES

³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. ³¹ The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. – Matthew 15:30-31

Christ did not discriminate. He touched all kinds of lives and all kinds of needs. He touched the rich, the poor, men, children and women. His compassion, His love called Him to action.

As followers of Christ, we must take on the compassion that He had. No, you or I cannot heal anyone but we can be the channel of healing, restoration and salvation Christ uses. We do this by moving from only having sympathy for others needs to DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT! We do that through our prayers. and however God leads us. 

Prayer:

Psalm 6:9 “The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.”

Prayer ~ ACCESSES GOD’S MERCY (his compassion, his kindness, his forgiveness and his favor)

Psalm 86:1 “(David) Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Psalm 102:17 “He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.

Prayer ~ ACCESS GOD TO ALLEVIATE OUR HELPLESSNESS

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Prayer ~ ACCESS GOD’S PROVISIONS FOR HIS CHILDREN

Now then, it is time to pray. Just as I prayed for the church that day, let us pray now as you read this blog.

Pray for lost: Do you have loved ones you know need to meet the savior? Let's pray for them now.

Psalm 85:7 (NIV)
Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation.

Prayer: Lord today, as we call out the names of our unsaved loved ones, we ask that your Holy Spirit would touch their lives and bring them to the knowledge of their need for Jesus. Lord help them to accept your gift of salvation. May their hearts be turned to you and may you give them you Holy Spirit to guide them and help them become the person(s) you created them to be. Amen.

Pray for those in need of natural needs. Are you, or someone you love standing in need of something from God? A job, finances, food, shelter, whatever the need. Let us take it to the Lord.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 Prayer: God you are our sustainer and our provider. You promise that you would not hold any good gift from your children. Today we ask that you would meet the needs of those seeking your help. We understand that these things will not be done by our might, our abilities or from our surplus. They will be accomplished through your riches in Christ Jesus. Today we ask, that you open opportunities for income for those that in need of it. Even if the need is a $3,000 a month, you can do it. Provide clothing, food, and whatever the needs are. Provide funds to fix roofs, and other things. Nothing is to difficult for you. We pray right now that you provide and we say, yes and amen to your will as we seek your face, Amen.

Pray for the sick. While I cannot be right there with you to anoint you, I anoint myself in your proxy. God sees our hearts and our trust. There is nothing in the oil but out of obedience to scripture I anoint myself as representing a touch from God's Spirit.

James 5:14-16 (NIV)

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Prayer: I offer to you God this prayer in faith. Faith in belief that there is no sickness to great for you to heal. I speak healing right now in the name of Jesus Christ. I state, you are healed in Jesus name. Lord reverse decrees of cancer, high blood pressure, MS, depression, and all kinds of sickness. Jesus you looked upon the crowds that came to you and you were moved with compassion and healed their sickness. Today, we come and seek your compassion. Lord allow your healing oil to flow even right now as we pray. Through your Holy Spirit I ask that you touch those in need and heal them. May they feel even now, the touch of your anointing upon them. This healing we ask for because your Word says pray faithfully for healing and you, the Lord will raise them up. I ask now, Lord raise up the sick amoung us and allow them the opportunity to glorify you before others of your good works. This is our prayer, amen!