Have Compassion (conclusion)

Beloved, I want to conclude this theme entitled “Have Compassion” by reminding you that the man who was robbed, stripped and left for dead on the Jericho Road (Luke 10:30-36), found no relief from the priest (man of God) or from the Levite (saint), though they were both well aware of his condition and desperate need of aid. The necessary help came from one who simply “had compassion” on him. The compassionate Samaritan (in type, a sinner), being sympathetic to the man’s plight, “went to him, and bound up his wounds”. As he brought the injured man to an inn, his own garments must have had to serve as torn bandages - dirty, and even bloody. Yet, as we discover from the scriptures, the Samaritan went beyond these acts of kindness - he even paid for the man’s further assistance. Jesus concludes this lesson by saying, “Go, and do thou likewise”. It’s amazing that sinners sometimes have more compassion than the people of the Church.

Precious Ones, we are not called to open afresh the wounds of others, but rather, to bind up those wounds! True “compassion” heals someone who is wounded - it doesn’t aid in his destruction. Yet, this does not mean that we (as strong in the Lord’s service) should fall from our own steadfastness. Jude explains this to us when he writes, “of some have compassion, making a difference: others save with fear, pulling them (the weak saints) out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 22-23). It’s easy to “have compassion” when we understand that we are commanded not to hate the individual, but rather to hate the “garment” of unrighteousness that he or she wears.

Chosen Ones, in closing, the fifth church period, called the church of “Sardis” (Revelation 3:4), seems to have been the time when the church reached it’s lowest ebb. Yet, it was said of them, “(You have) a few names EVEN IN SARDIS which have not defiled their garments (of righteousness)”. James said that “pure religion and undefiled” requires that one should serve others, and also that one should also “keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). In other words, when your compassion restores someone else, God’s “compassion” will restore you!

I will write on a new theme next week. I hope that this one has blessed you.

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Have Compassion (continued)

Beloved, in continuation of our theme, “Have Compassion”, God’s true servant gently and patiently instructs “such an one” (who falls into sin) in the restoration of his/her life to its greater potential. The greatest potential of any life is to be restored to a sinless state - the state that we once enjoyed when we were spirits, before we inhabited these fleshly bodies. The apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews, “Remember them that are in bonds, as (being) bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also (in adversity) in the body” (Hebrews 13:3). In other words, Beloved, the failure of one affects us all. Let us not fail to remember what Paul taught the church at Corinth on this subject - “whether one member suffer(s), all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it (I Corinthians 12:26). In my years of belonging to various church families, I have noticed that we have no problem wanting to rejoice in, or be a part of, one who is “honoured”. We would do well to feel the same connection with one who is “suffering”.

Precious Ones, in the story of the “prodigal son”, it is noteworthy that the older brother had no such care for his younger, disobedient (prodigal ) brother. This insensitive son was corrected by his father, who “intreated him” - urgently and earnestly pleaded with him to consider his actions (Luke 15:28). Why? Because all the children of God should care for one another as they would have God to care for them. Hence, if we want God to have compassion on our blunders, then it is simple - we must have compassion on our brothers’ and sisters’ mistakes as well!

Chosen Ones, one may ask, “why is it so easy for me to want compassion, but difficult for me to give compassion?” It’s simple - our natural eye is trained to be self-righteous, but we need a spiritual eye in order to see ourselves for who we really are. Then, and only then, can we truly administer real “compassion”. Remember, Jesus taught us a very valuable lesson about ourselves, particularly how we view others. He said, “Why beholdest thou the mote (small particle) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not (can’t see) the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:3).

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then...

I love you all SO very much.

In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Have Compassion (Part 1)

Beloved, I’m inspired to write unto you from a new theme entitled simply, “Have Compassion”. We are commanded by the Word to “restore such an one” who has been overtaken in a sin (Galatians 6:1). In the past, some may have lost sight of this admonition, and may have felt that their duty was to chastise rather than to correct. In so doing, they may have destroyed instead of restoring the character of their brothers and sisters. It is possible that some, especially in the church, may have reached a state where they, even as Job, felt themselves to be more righteous than God. Remember, the scripture says of Job that “he was righteous (not in God’s eyes but) in his own eyes” (Job 32:1).

Beloved, Jesus taught us that we should not be self-righteous, but should have mercy (compassion) on one another. Remember, He quoted from the Book of Hosea (see Hosea 6:6) when He said to the Pharisees, “go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13). Again, when the over-zealous disciples, John and James, were angry at the Samaritans for disrespecting Jesus and wanted to consume them with fire, Jesus rebuked them and said, “the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:54-56).

Precious Ones, I have heard (and I’m sure you have also heard) men say in their teaching, “You’re going to hell”. I have seen preachers and teachers determine men’s fates from the pulpit. However, God has never called any man to send other men to hell, but rather to save them from hell. Preachers and other saints should never put the words “Go to hell” into the atmosphere concerning any man. This is wrong! We, as ambassadors of Christ, should feel obligated to save rather than standing by, pronouncing judgment, as others destroy themselves. As Timothy was instructed by Paul, “a servant of the Lord must not strive (should not be quarrelsome); but (must) be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose (destroy) themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive of him (Satan) at his will” (II Timothy 2:24-26).

Chosen Ones, what this is saying is that the ones who fail may unconsciously “oppose themselves” and therefore need help to recover. That is where “compassion” needs to be exerted. When a saint goes wrong, he already knows that he is a candidate for hell - he doesn’t need to be reminded! What he needs is someone who can help him not to end up in hell!

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this...

I love you all SO very much
In His Love


Pastor William L. McCoy

Ye Which Are Spiritual (conclusion)

Beloved, in conclusion of this series of letters entitled “Ye which are Spiritual” - Paul said to those who were “called to be saints” (I Corinthians 1:2) in the church of God at Corinth, “I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal (controlled by the flesh), even as unto babes in Christ” (I Corinthians 3:1). This occurred not because Paul was not spiritual, but because the saints at Corinth were yet carnal. The Corinthian church was the largest work wrought through the hands of Paul by God, so much so that there were had “ten thousand instructors in Christ” (I Corinthians 4:15) in the church, not including the membership itself. Furthermore, the church was the most gifted church, boasting over 27 distinct spiritual gifts in operation among the assembly (I Corinthians 13 and 14). Yet, according to Paul, the church still had not yet grown into a hearty spiritual condition, since carnal saints were still to be found there. Remember, as Paul said to the church in Rome, “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29). Hence, it is possible to be gifted and talented, have a large church assembly, and yet be controlled by your fleshly appetites. That is not our desire for the Anointed Harvest Fellowship Church.

Precious Ones, you must notice that Paul did not (even in rebuke) cast out their names as evil, but rather called them “brethren”. Beloved, there is a lesson in this for us. When we disagree with some of the ways, personalities and mannerisms of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must not define them by their faults or their infirmities (weaknesses). In God’s eyes, they are still a part of the Body of Christ. Don’t forget what Paul instructed the church at Ephesus - “Grieve (make sad) not the Holy Spirit of God (and your brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what their problem is), whereby ye are sealed (preserved by God to inherit His Kingdom) unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

Chosen Ones, some of our “brethren” may yet be carnal in their attitudes, even though they may have acquired much stature among us. Yet, we must be patient, kind and understanding. This letter is not written for everyone’s benefit - it is written only to “those who are spiritual” (led by the Spirit of Jesus). I remind you of this - “if a man (or woman in this assembly) be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, (otherwise you will) also be tempted (in the same manner)” (Galatians 6:1).

Children of God, Paul acknowledged that the Corinthian Church was carnal, but criticism is not always an effective means of change. Speak words of life into the weaknesses of your brother and sister in Christ. Remember, Paul also encouraged the Corinthians to “come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 1:7). “Ye which are spiritual”, administer the same kind of healing in this body of believers.

I love you all SO very much!
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Ye Which Are Spiritual (continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Ye which are Spiritual” - James informed us that “the effectual fervent prayer of (the) righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Beloved, there are some who love to quote from the 14th Psalm that “there is none good”, “none righteous”, and “none just”; but the very reason why Jesus came into the world was to change that condition of man. Today, we have an opportunity to be “spiritual” human beings and to walk in Christ. Jesus did not come to die and shed his blood in vain. On the contrary, when Christ Jesus “gave up the Ghost” (Mark 15:37), it became possible for “any man (who was) in Christ (to become) a new (spiritual) creature: old things (were) passed away; (and)...all things (became) new” (II Corinthians 5:17).

Precious Ones, Paul writes that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. BUT HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man” (I Corinthians 2:14-15). After reading this, how can one say, “There is no one who is spiritual enough to help me?” How can one say, “I prefer to go to God for myself because there is no one who is spiritual enough to talk to?” Certainly, the one who says or thinks these things has no confidence in God’s Word, but great confidence in his own fleshly goodness. Have you forgotten that we are taught to “have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3)?

Chosen Ones, we must know that God has placed “spiritual” vessels on this earth, in the church, so that we could mature to His “perfection”. That is why we are taught that “(Jesus) gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; some pastors, and some teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). In other words, Beloved, these offices are held by certain members in the Body of Christ in order to encourage us and make us better. When you deny their gift, you are denying your “edification”!

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this...

I love you all SO very much!
In His Service and Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy