We live in a world that is constantly screaming at us to run, run, go, do, do. In our human nature, we gravitate toward checking boxes. We assume that if we read our Bibles enough, pray long enough, or drop enough money into the offering basket, we will somehow earn our certificate to Heaven. We naturally look at our relationship with God like a checking balance system: Am I good enough today? Have I made enough deposits? [02:33]
But the good news—the true Gospel—is that Jesus already did the heavy lifting so we don’t have to [03:08]. He took the punishment so that we could step out of a performance-based religion and into a life-giving relationship.
When we shift from empty religion to a real relationship, our hearts begin to beat in rhythm with the heart of Jesus. And if you look at the ministry of Jesus, his heart was defined by one overwhelming characteristic: gut-wrenching compassion.
The Uncomfortable Commute of Christ
To understand how Jesus operated, look at Matthew 9:35–38:
“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the good news about the kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.'” [05:40]
The very first thing we notice here is that Jesus traveled [07:08]. He did not stay behind the comfortable, safe, and clean confines of the temple or the synagogues. He intentionally went to places where a “good religious Jew” would never dream of going.
He didn’t want to just stay in Nazareth or Capernaum where the people already loved him [07:17]. Instead, he walked right up to the tax collector’s booth and called Matthew [07:43]. He went out of his way to walk through Samaria to meet a broken woman at a well [07:51]. He got into a boat and sailed straight into demonic territory to deliver a man possessed by a legion of evil spirits [08:12].
Jesus wasn’t afraid of getting dirty. He hung out with the lowest individuals on the social ladder, touched the ceremonially unclean leper, and allowed his feet to be washed by a weeping prostitute [09:03]. While the religious Pharisees stood far outside the house, jeering and insulting him because they were terrified of being defiled, Jesus was inside, declaring that it is the sick who need a doctor, not the self-righteous [09:30].
What Does “Compassion” Actually Mean?
When Jesus looked at the brokenness around him, the text says he had compassion. In our modern language, we use the word “compassion” rather lightly. We see someone struggling, feel a brief wave of pity, maybe throw a dollar their way, and keep walking.
But the original Greek word used here is splagchnizomai (splagnatima) [16:43].
Literally translated, this means to be moved to one’s bowels [16:51]. In ancient times, the bowels—the gut—were considered the seat of deep pity, love, and emotion.
When Jesus looked at the masses of people who were confused, helpless, and wandering like sheep without a shepherd, it wasn’t a passing thought. It made him sick to his stomach. His grace was gut-wrenching. He felt their physical pain, their spiritual bankruptcy, and their emotional abandonment deep within his core [17:13].
When we drive through downtown or see people living in tent cities, what is our immediate gut reaction? Is it hesitation? Self-preservation? Do we think of reasons why they might deserve to be there, and cross to the other side of the street like the priest and the Levite? [13:41] Or are our hearts pricked with the visceral love of the Good Samaritan? [15:21]
Jesus didn’t stay sick to his stomach; his gut-wrenching compassion moved him directly into action.
Redefining the Harvest Fields
Faced with a sea of broken humanity, Jesus turned to his disciples and gave them a command that we still quote today: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest…” [19:25]
When we picture this verse, we usually imagine beautiful, pristine, amber waves of grain glowing in the sunlight [19:37]. We think of clean, eager people waiting in line to hear a sermon.
But the reality of Jesus’ harvest field looks vastly different. The actual harvest field looks like:
- People trapped in deep poverty, wondering if they will survive the night [19:58].
- Broken, single souls waiting for anyone to show them a shred of genuine dignity [20:14].
- Ultra-religious individuals exhausting themselves at a wall, sacrificing day after day trying to earn the favor of a God they don’t truly know personally [20:29].
- Billions of people completely oblivious to their spiritual condition, hustling through daily life completely disconnected from their Creator [21:53].
This is the harvest field Jesus is crying out over. It is messy, complicated, and deeply broken.
From the Starting Lineup to the Seventy-Two
Right after Jesus commands the disciples to pray for workers, Matthew Chapter 10 opens up with the ultimate plot twist. Jesus tells them to pray for workers, and then essentially says, “Great prayer. Now put your shoes on, because you are the answer to that prayer.” [35:43]
He calls his twelve disciples together and commissions them as apostles—which literally means “sent ones.” [24:18]
Look at the starting lineup Jesus chose to change the world. It wasn’t full of elite scholars. He chose Peter, Andrew, James, and John—rough, stinky fishermen who likely didn’t pass the rigorous academic tests of the local rabbis [26:48]. He chose Matthew, a traitorous tax collector [27:30]. He chose Simon, a violent political radical [28:04]. He even chose Judas, the one who would ultimately betray him [28:04].
Yet, Jesus gave these ordinary, flawed men the exact same authority he had: to cast out evil spirits and heal every kind of disease and illness [24:46].
You might look at that list and say, “Well, that’s great for the elite twelve Apostles, Pastor, but that’s not me.” [29:33]
But scripture doesn’t stop there. In Luke Chapter 9, Jesus sends out the 12. But in Luke Chapter 10, Jesus chooses 72 other disciples [30:57]. These were unnamed, ordinary believers. He gave them the exact same commission: Go, heal the sick, and tell them the Kingdom of God is near [31:15].
When those 72 ordinary people returned, they were ecstatic, shouting, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” [31:41]
Luke was incredibly intentional about recording this because he wanted us to realize that this authority belongs to all believers [32:01]. It wasn’t reserved for a holy, specialized elite. Anyone who believes has the authority to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring life, healing, and freedom to a dying world [33:24].
Heart Over Hype
As a Pentecostal believer, I am deeply passionate about a faith that expects signs, wonders, and miracles [34:24]. But we must balance this power by choosing heart over hype [35:04].
The only reason Jesus gave the disciples authority to heal and cast out demons was because of his splagchnizomai—his gut-wrenching compassion [35:04]. Power without compassion is just a spiritual circus act. Miracles are not about creating a spectacle; they are the physical manifestation of God’s love breaking through into human suffering.
We cannot claim to be filled with the Spirit of Jesus if we don’t allow our guts to be moved by what moves him. Our compassion has to have feet on it [37:51].
Stepping into the Field
The Kingdom of God isn’t just “near” anymore—because the Holy Spirit has been poured out and lives inside of us, the Kingdom of God is “here” [37:23]. We have been deputized to be his living hands and feet [41:53].
So, how do we take this sermon out of the church building and into the world?
- Be Bold in Prayer: When you see someone hurting, don’t just offer good vibes. Ask boldly, “Can I pray for you right now? I believe in a God who does the impossible.” [36:12]
- Go Beyond Your Comfort Zone: Look for opportunities to show up where people are broken. Whether it’s feeding the hungry locally or joining us as we head out to minister to the massive, diverse crowds at the upcoming World Cup events in Dallas [38:19], find a way to get your hands dirty.
- Move from Heart to Action: Let your compassion cost you something—your time, your comfort, or your resources.
If you feel weak, timid, or unequipped, remember the original 12 fishermen and radicals. They weren’t ready until they received his grace. If you need a fresh baptism of boldness today, look to Acts Chapter 4: the believers gathered, they prayed for boldness, and God shook the room [41:09].
Let’s stop trying to check boxes to earn Heaven. Let’s allow our hearts to be broken for the lost, step into our authority, and watch the Kingdom of Heaven break out right in front of us.
To watch the full sermon and join us in worship, view the video here: https://youtube.com/live/OIIgfoh_wCU?feature=share