Unsanctified Compassion

When our compassion is not shaped by Christ, it will eventually stand in the way of Christ. Love that feels kind can still block the very growth, healing, and obedience God is working toward.

Speaker:	Cameron Mathers,
Series:	Hall of Mirrors
Date:	21st Jun, 2026
Download:	Unsanctified Compassion
Plays:	0
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Sermon notes:	PDF Unsanctified Compassion WHEN LOVE GETS IN THE WAY Ungodly Compassion vs. God-Shaped Compassion Sermon Outline & Discussion Guide  |  Matthew 16:13–23  |  Father's Day Sermon Outline Big idea: When our compassion is not shaped by Christ, it will eventually stand in the way of Christ. Love that feels kind can still block the very growth, healing, and obedience God is working toward. Introduction: The Satnav Illustration Picture a satnav set to an “avoidance” mode — no left, no right, no motorways, no people — until it can no longer find any road at all. Love that avoids every cost, risk, or discomfort can do the same thing to a person’s life: it blocks the very path God is offering. Definition: ungodly compassion — love that protects people from the very thing that would make them stronger. Not because love is bad, but because it can be misdirected. Scripture: Matthew 16:13–23 Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and then, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” — and Jesus blesses him and names him the rock on which the church will be built. Jesus then tells the disciples he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and on the third day be raised. Peter rebukes him: “Far be it from you, Lord. This shall never happen to you.” Jesus turns and says, “Get behind me, Satan. You are a hindrance to me. For you are not set on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Lesson 1 — The Question That Reveals the Heart If we don’t see Jesus clearly, we won’t love people wisely. Everything begins with “Who do you say I am?” — a question about identity, not just religion. How we see Jesus shapes how we see and love everyone else: Only a gentle teacher → we avoid hard truths Only a judge → we avoid compassion Only a comforter → we avoid sacrifice Only a rescuer → we avoid responsibility Ungodly compassion hides truth to spare feelings; God-shaped compassion speaks truth to heal futures. Jesus corrects Peter’s vision before he corrects Peter’s behavior — compassion always flows from who we believe Jesus is. Lesson 2 — Revelation Builds True Compassion Emotion may feel like love, but only truth knows how to love. Peter is practical and well-meaning — the same instinct that drew his sword in the garden also made him resist the cross. Peter was looking at the present; Jesus was looking at eternity. Emotion reacts; revelation responds. Emotion protects people from discomfort; revelation prepares people for growth. Illustration: a parent who ties a child’s shoe forever isn’t helping — they’re preventing strength. Ungodly compassion gives comfort; only God-shaped compassion gives healing. Lesson 3 — The Cross Tests Compassion Real compassion must embrace the cross, not avoid it. If compassion avoids the cross, it becomes opposition. Jesus reveals the road: following God involves real cost — loss, sacrifice, obedience that hurts. Peter means well, but “meaning well is not doing well.” “Get behind me, Satan” — Jesus isn’t calling Peter evil; he’s naming the role Peter has stepped into: an accuser pulling Jesus off God’s path. Where Misdirected Love Shows Up Today In personal relationships Protecting people from consequences Avoiding hard conversations Rescuing people God is trying to grow Prioritizing peace over truth In the church Avoiding hard truths and accountability Avoiding calling sin what it actually is Prioritizing attendance over transformation and discipleship Weak compassion produces weak people; God-shaped compassion produces a whole person. The “Get Behind Me” Moment Peter tried to protect Jesus from the cross; Jesus embraced the cross to save Peter. Jesus didn’t just die for us — he died instead of us. Parenting illustration: stopping a toddler from touching an electrical socket, or letting go of the bike seat so a child learns to ride — love sometimes means allowing discomfort, not preventing it. Reflection questions raised in the sermon: Where am I protecting someone from the growth God wants for them? Where am I resisting God’s path because it’s uncomfortable? Where has my compassion become a hindrance? Closing Charge Love people towards the cross, not away from it. Love people into obedience, not out of it. A child needs love and correction; an adult needs courageous truth — God gives both. He loves us too much to protect us from the cross; he sent his Son to carry it and calls us to follow

   

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Next

New season
Getting ready for a wave of the Spirit to come and hit this area with the glory of God and hundreds saved and added.
As a church – it’s a time of transition too – working on the leadership structure and systems in the church – they were great for a church of 50 – but we are 120 now and heading on to 200.

Individually – Been looking at the things Jesus takes away – shame, worry, fear, rejection and unforgiveness
And the things Jesus gives us freedom, favour and today courage.

Bill Johnson said of our need of Jesus giving us courage: When you get into the flow of grace, you will see definite benefits in your life. One is courage. God is calling us to do the impossible, to be world-changers, and we will never be able to follow His lead without the courage He supplies.

You may need courage in your workplace to stand up to a bully, to stand up for integrity.
You may need courage to parent well, “when all the other parents let them do it.”
You may need courage to face your life situation – singleness, separation.
There are so many ways in which we need courage.

With a wave of the Spirit on it’s way, If we are going to see hundreds saved and the church grow it’s going to require courage. Where better to help us than Joshua taking over as leader of the people of Israel to take them into the promised land. So please turn with me to Joshua 1

Moses – big shoes to fill
Knew God face to face
Led Israel out of slavery in Egypt
Crossed the Red sea
Hit a rock and water flowed
Led two million people
Moses obituary was quite something.
Deut 34 “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigour unabated”.. “And there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all his great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel”.

The Lord comes to Joshua and says “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over the Jordan, into the land I’m giving to them to the people of Israel.”
Moses the greatest leader thus far is dead and Joshua is taking over. The Lord’s blunt with him. Moses dead, now you do it… And the first thing He has to do is a miracle – cross the Jordan. It’s a walk of faith, a courageous walk, not a sit! He brings 2,000,000 people to the edge of the Jordan and prophecies to them as the soles of the feet of the priest carrying the ark touch the waters – it will part for them, just as it did for Moses. Huge moment – stepping out in faith – God does it. Staraight after that God says to him “see I given Jericho into your mighty hand” – looks pretty locked up to me.
It’s a walk of faith and trusting God that he’s called to. That we are called to, that you are called to. So we need Jesus to give us courage. God’s promised “I haven’t given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self control.” We get to do the stuff – to heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, make disciples, stand up for Jesus in our homes and workplaces and it is a walk of faith, walking in the Spirit.

So 3 times in this opening section God’s going to command him “Be strong and courageous” and then in four ways how to be strong and courageous.

Let’s look at it

1) Stand on the promises of God v1-4
Joshua has a clear word from God, a clear assignment.

* Lead the people across the Jordan
* Take possession of the Promised Land – with clearly defined boundaries.
* No-one will stand against you

We have a clear assignment and promises from God to.

* To be a gateway for the gospel to go to the nations
* Multinational church – every tribe and tongue in the area part of the church.
* Grow bigger than 500 people
* Wave of the Spirit and a herald of a move of God.
* Churches planted across the region and teams sent to the nations to plant

Easy to talk big like that. There was a man who once boasted he cut off a lion’s tail with a penknife. When he was asked why he didn’t cut off it’s head, he said “Well someone else had already done that.”
Going to take courage in the Lord – much easier to sit at home and watch God TV. Much easier to dream about a wave coming that grab your surfboard and ride it for all your life.
So one of the ways we can be strong and courageous. Is to stand on the promises of God. What has He said He will do? We have the prophetic words and more importantly we have the word of God – Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God has said it, let’s do it!
Just as Joshua was told to cross the Jordan by faith, let’s make disciples by faith. Let’s step out and pray for the sick, share the love of Jesus, talk to people, help people, bless people by faith. God has said He will build a big church here, the fields are white to harvest – pray for the workers. Then be the answer to that prayer!

2) Know God’s presence with you v5
There’s a lovely moment at the start of the Dad’s Army movie where Mannering and his platoon are moving steathily across fields. Mannering stands up and confronts what’s ahead. “There he is sir”, the film cuts to a bull and then back to Mannering who’s alone! The others have scarpered!
That’s the thing with fear for many of us – we think we are alone. We are the only one that has to stand up and be counted.

For Joshua God promised His presence with him. “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous!”
God promises the same for us Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” Behold I am with you. The old versions use Lo, I am with you. There is plenty of lo when we go! God promises His presence with us.

You don’t need to beg God to be with you. You don’t need to ask God for His presence. He has already promised His presence – when you go out from here and when we are gathered!

I got an iPad for Christmas – I used to ask for an iPad but I’ve stopped now I have one! You don’t need to ask for God’s presence with you. He has promised it. You may want to ask for an awareness of it! But you do have it!

Somebody once said Courage is fear that has said its’ prayers. Yes. But courage is easier with God’s presence too – you’ll never walk alone

Unlike Captain Mannering, we also have brothers and sisters in Christ walking with us too.
Jago Wynne, author of the book Working Without Wilting, talks about pastoring mid-week gatherings for people working in London. He says that those who came by themselves from their workplace as isolated Christians generally looked weary, struggling with the pressures of working life.
On the other hand, those who had found other Christian colleagues and who came to the services in groups of two or more were almost universally far more upbeat and radiant.
Jago writes, ‘If we are isolated Christians in our day-to-day environments, whether that is the workplace or school or university or home, it is good to pray for the Lord to provide us with another brother or sister in Christ. Even their mere presence can be a source of encouragement to keep going in serving the Lord in life and in mission.'

3 Keep on the path
God commanded Moses to be careful to do all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. To keep on the path of the revelation to that point. Don’t stray to the left or the right. Don’t wander off on weird tangents. Stick with the word of God. Of course we now have the new covenant revelation of the New Testament to guide us. Read it, meditate on it, put it into practice. Don’t stray off the path God has.

On your mouth – v8. When I’m helping the kids learn their German vocab – I’m always saying read it out loud, write it down and say it out loud as you do so. There’s some thing about speaking as we are reading and learning that engages more senses and burns it into memory so much better. If find with the BiOY app, it’s goes in better when I read it out loud.

Meditate on it – chew it over in your mind. Bill Johnson said, if you worry you already know how to meditate!
If you want more courage, then meditate on Scripture like “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

4 Start the process
Get on with it! if you don’t put this into practice 50% will be forgotten by tomorrow!
Joshua went from his encounter with the Lord to his leaders v10. We are going in 3 days, get ready
To the tribes that were to be on the current side of the Jordan – he ordered the men of valour to join the fight.
Each time if you read 10-18 he reminded them of God’s promises as part of getting ready to go.

Then he sent to 2 spies to goto Jericho, who stuck with Rahab – a woman of courage, with an interesting past, who hid them – don’t let your past stop you entering your God given destiny.