Mercy Gift

“Mercy Gift” – Search and Rescue Romans 12:8 “If you have the gift of compassion Then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion.” Search (feel) & Respond

• Brings aid to the afflicted • Full of compassion for the needs of others • Passionate about restoration • Thermometer – wrestle with what they feel/experience • Relational and sympathetic

1. Expression of Jesus

a. Has revelation of the soul condition of others – Matthew 8:3 b. Moved with compassion to act – Matthew 14:14 c. Called for us to bring burdens to Him – Matthew 11:28

2. Strengths:

a. Supernatural ability to care for others b. Aware of people’s heart condition c. High emotional intelligence and understanding of others d. Driven to see people restored and built up e. Amazing capacity to allow others to heal and process well

3. Weaknesses:

a. Can sometimes be easily manipulated or lead by the needs of people b. Mama/Papa Bear: can lash out in anger over the hurting of the helpless c. May forfeit wisdom for the approval of people d. Can take on inappropriate burdens or stretch themselves out for others beyond

what is healthy – you are not Jesus!!

4. Blind Spots: a. Can be a major enabler to the unhealthy behavior of others – too much helping

can be enabling! b. Tend to lack boundaries; Love = boundaries c. Can pick up the offenses of others and take them on as their own d. Get too emotionally involved in the needs of others and lose track of their

personal life (self, spouse, children)

5. When Tired or Unhealthy: a. Can be highly emotional; try to please all others or deflect b. May struggle with confusion – “I don’t’ know what to do” c. May get caught in the pit of self-doubt

6. Mature in Temperance:

a. Pray for God to give you focus on the good work He’s called you to b. Learn how to cast your burdens on Christ through intercession; be a river not a

swamp. c. A healthy state of temperance is strength through courage and holy confidence

7. The Enemy’s Tactics:

a. Spirit of fear and rejection/fear of rejection/self-rejection b. “You must do this to show you love others” c. “If you did more maybe this person would be better” d. Guilt, shame and condemnation e. Entanglements with inappropriate desire to fill people’s needs

8. Wisdom to Apply:

a. Seek emotional healing b. Have wise, trusted counsel that you can hear from c. Learn the signs of and to be aware of manipulation d. Invest in understanding your identity and worth in Christ e. Seek wisdom in prayer for appropriate boundaries

9. Function in the Church:

a. Intercessory Prayer b. Counseling c. Healing ministry

10. Function in the Marketplace:

a. Caregiving: medical, counseling b. Bringing the heart of Christ to the broken for healing c. Relational

11. Wisdom in Marriage and Parenting:

a. Be careful not to put your family on the back burner b. Don’t lose your marriage and family trying to care for everyone else c. Steward your time with your family; spouse and kids individually d. Too much helicopter parenting can become enabling to your kids – you don’t

have to fix everything!