Point of Grace Worship 9.26.21 Sermon Notes – “The Art of the Open Heart”

So much life-giving impact flows when a heart is open! It’s the way of Jesus!

The Art of the Open Heart

Learning #1 – Open hearts notices people … grace-fully! See … Hey … Pray … … Grace-fully

Learning #2 – Open hearts are fully present … with Jesus presence! #presentwithPresence

Matthew 9 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.” Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Learning #3 – Open hearts have compassion … praying and listening!

Compassion

- splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee) to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)

- “Because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”

- “See the pain in people instead of people as a pain”

Compassion Acts

Pray – “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” We join Jesus in His work of redeeming people as we pray with our “yes” on the table.

Listen – a powerful, relevant and often first way to love with compassion.

#compassionacts#compassionprays#compassionlisten#listenfirst

Open hearts have compassion … praying and listening!

Prayer of the Week

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank you Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.

Jesus, today I want to take some time to gaze and be amazed at Your compassion for me and for all people. Compassion authored in Your heart becomes a gut-wrenched grace that removes worthiness from the qualification of whether one gets loved. In fact, your compassion has no filtering list – You just see people…… ALL needing love, grace, mercy and redeeming rescue. I am so very glad that I am counted in the, ALL, people that You view with compassion. Thank you!!! I now receive Your unmerited favor on me. I am so unworthy of Your grace but so in need Your grace. Thank you! Jesus, today I open myself up to be shaped by Your compassion FOR me so that people might receive Your compassion FROM me. I surrender to such a transformation. I want to see people through compassion lensed eyes. With these eyes You see me and with these eyes I want to see others. Moved by compassion I now pray, as You asked me to do, for You to send people to bring the good news of Your kingdom reign in words and deeds. Send workers into Your harvest field Jesus, send them.

Even as I pray, I open myself up be a part and play my role in this prayer’s answer. I affirm now that I am not alone in this harvest work but do play a significant role as a worker in Your harvest field. Use me I pray to bring Your Kingdom grace to someone today. Today, I get to listen, truly listen, with compassionate ears and follow Your lead, Holy Spirit, in all the next steps of loving people well as Your “salt and light” influencer in my part of Your world. WOW! The adventure continues. AMEN.

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 14:13-21 Tue – Nehemiah 9:16-21,26-28 Wed – Matthew 15:29-39 Thu – Matthew 9:35-10:4 Fri – Matthew 20:29-34 Sat - Colossians 3:12-14

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved