PUTTING YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION

Keith O’Connor

Woodland Church

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

(Matthew 15:29-38, ESV)  Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

(Matthew 15:29, ESV)  And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them.

1. Lay all we have at the feet of Jesus

(Luke 10:39, NLT) Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught

(Matthew 15:31, ESV) glorified the God of Israel

2. Have compassion for others

(Matthew 15:32, ESV)  I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way

(Psalm 145:8-9, NLT)  The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation

(Lamentations 3:22, NIV)  Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail

(Ephesians 4:32, NIV)  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you

3. Put your faith into action

(Matthew 15:33-36, ESV)  And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.