Kingdom Compassion

Kingdom Compassion
John 6:1-15 NLT

• Jesus feeds the 5000 – fourth sign
  
• The feeding of the five thousand is one incident recorded by all four Gospel writers:
  
  • Matthew 14:13-21
    
  • Mark 6:31-44
    
  • Luke 9:10-17
    
  • John 6:1-15

Pentecost Sunday

• Shavout <Hebrew> = “Weeks”
  
• Pentecost <Greek> = fiftieth
  
• According to Scripture, the “Law,” the Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai on Shavuot
  
• The Festival of Weeks also commemorates the early wheat harvest in Israel.
  
• The spiritual birthday of Israel

God’s Great Gatherings:

• The Feasts are central to the nation of Israel and key to our understanding God’s dealings.
  
• God’s holidays – Leviticus 23:1-2
  
• Exodus 12:14,24 – A permanent ordinance – Forever!
  
• Exodus 12:19 – A condition of covenant – in or out!
• Three Hebrew words are used:
  
  • Chag = appointed by God
    
  • Miqra = convocation “called out”
    
  • Mowed = Festival – A Holy Ghost party!
    
• The Feasts were special times, appointed by God where the covenant people of God come together for a time of spiritual renewal and celebration.
  
• The feasts are central in their life, culture, & identity

The Father Heart of God

• Jesus told Philip in John 14 “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
  
• John opened his Gospel with a powerful affirmation.
  
  • In Jesus the eternal Word was made flesh, bringing a new revelation to humankind.
    
  • The grace and truth which come by Jesus supersede the Law given by Moses (1:1-14)

The 7 Signs in John’s Gospel

1. Turning water into wine (2:1-11)
   
2. Healing an official’s son (4:43-54)
   
3. Healing a paralytic (5:1-15)
   
4. Feeding the 5,000 (6:1-14)
   
5. Walking on the waters (6:16-21)
   
6. Curing a man born blind (9:1-41)
   
7. Raising Lazarus (11:1-44)

The Father Heart of God

• Our God is a self-revealing God
  
• His heart is to reveal His moral nature and His Divine attributes
  
• His revelation is both general and special
  
• His creation is to reflect this nature
  
• I Corinthians 4:1 = We are both servants and stewards of these mysteries!

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. I Samuel 2:8

Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. Deuteronomy 24:14

He gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer. Job 5:11

He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong, and rescues them from the clutches of the powerful. Job 5:15

The LORD replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do. Psalm 12:5

Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. Psalm 72:4

Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. Psalm 138:6

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. I Samuel 2:8

Weary In Weakness

• We must be careful not to strengthen the layers surrounding our weakness!
  
  • Weary in Shame
    
  • Wicked in Sin
    
  • Wounded in Situations
    
  • Weakness in Self
    
• Our weakness, then, can be distinguished from our shame, our sin, and our wounds.