Today I'm completing our conversation on Empathy by discussing how we can be a ministry of empathy in a world that is poor in Spirit and hungry for the truth of God.

Scriptures Quoted: 
Isaiah 61:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
Galatians 5:22-23
1 Peter 4:8
Ephesians 4:11-14

This week we will focus on eight forms of empathy found in the New Testament. They are:

1. Empathy from God to Mankind
2. Empathy between God and Jesus
3. Empathy between sons and Mothers
4. Empathy from Jesus to His prophets
5. Empathy from Jesus to the World/ future believers
6. Jesus' empathy for his disciples
7. Empathy from one to another
8. A King's empathy for His subjects

Episode 53 Resources:
Articles:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-empathy.html
https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/four-bible-passages-that-leave-no-doubt-importance-empathy/

Check out this episode from a fellow podcaster:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/7-empathy-the-jesus-story/id1453903306?i=1000436016512

Scriptures Quoted:
John 3:16 
2 Corinthians 5:21 
Philippians 2:5-11 
Colossians 1:15-22 
Luke 4:18-19 
Hebrews 4:15
Matthew 9:36
Luke 7:11-16
1 Peter 5:7
John 11:35
John 17:20-26
John 17:6-19
John 14:3
Romans 12:15
1 Peter 3:8
1 John 3:16-18
Matthew:22:36-39
1 Peter 4:8
Matthew 28:19-20
Matthew 25:40-43 

Points to Remember:

• Failing to see the needs of others, failing to notice, is not a valid excuse to God. He has provided a lens through which to see the needs of the world (Scripture) and provided His Spirit to give 20/20 vision and wisdom.
• See, Act, Protect.
• Scatter seed. Bare fruit. Prepare the harvest.  
• There are no labels or categories to our empathic responsibility anymore. We are instructed to care for one another (meaning every one). 
• Making disciples is an act of empathy. Sharing what you know with others is a gift to the world. 
  

You will want your Bible and a notebook handy. In Episode 52 we are looking at 6 forms of empathy exampled in the Old Testament.

They are:

1. God's empathy for his people/ Creator's empathy for His creation
2. A leader's empathy for their fellow man
3. A Mother's empathy for her son
4. A leader's empathy for fellow leaders
5. A prophet's empathy a King
6. A King's empathy for his subjects

Episode 52 Resources:
Articles:
https://www.mcmaster.ca/mjtm/3-1c.htm

Scriptures Quoted:
Genesis 2:17, 3:01, 3:13, 3:21-21
Genesis 4:6-7, 4:10, 4:13-16
Genesis 6:8
Deut, 9:13-21
Genesis 18:16
Exodus 32:12-14
Exodus 21:8-10
Exodus 2:1-3
Exodus 17:12
2 Samuel 12:1-13

Points to remember:

• Consequences are tools of empathy
• Boundaries are tools of empathy
• Empathy sees inward feelings
• Empathy warns and encourages
• Empathy hears the cries of the oppressed
• Empathy offers protection and hinders further damage
• Empathy searches out (and finds) the good in the darkest times.
• Empathy prepares a way
• Empathy produces intercession and stands in the gap through prayer and fasting
• Empathy lifts others up and offers strength to the weak

A Prophet's role in regards to empathy:

• A prophet helps others engage their senses so they can understand and act empathetically (with kindness and care for others)
• A prophet works with empathy to bring God's truth that will turn hearts toward repentance and protect the people from themselves

In Episode 51, Host, Heather Randall, will answer the question "what is empathy?"  She'll also look at what an empath is, if a believer can be one and if so, is it a true spiritual gift?

Episode 51 Resources:
​Articles:
1.  https://www.iep.utm.edu/lotze/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982214007702
3. https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/there-are-actually-3-types-of-empathy-heres-how-they-differ-and-how-you-can-develop-them-all.html
4.  https://www.etymonline.com/word/empathy
5.  https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/εμπάθεια
6.  https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/empathy.htm 
7. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20009985?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Quote: 
" . . . there is a difference between feeling an emotion for someone, and feeling an emotion with someone. Empathy is more accurately characterized as feeling an emotion with someone . . ."
-Empathy by Nancy E. Snow American Philosophical Quarterly Vol. 37 No. 1 Jan, 2000 Pg,66

Videos:
"Empathy Creates Unity of Heart" 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt20f0NTp3Q

For littles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_1Rt1R4xbM

Today I'm celebrating 50 episodes as your host! I'm so excited. This is going to be a great episode!

It's so funny, but God will keep saying the same thing through different mouthpieces until His message clicks in our spirits. That's what I hope happens today. 

Join me as I reflect on and highlight the threads of knowledge that God has woven together through each interview of this last season.

It's remarkable that God would see fit to even use humanity at all. How much more beautiful it is when He builds a common, united theme within His body? Let's take note of that message and open our hearts to the voice of the Holy Spirit today. Don't miss this celebration!

As you know, my seasons/ format is structured with a rotation featuring 3 months of guests and then 3 months as the solo speaker repeating throughout the year. 

Guests are great. I love meeting new people and sharing these connections and their talents with you, but sometimes I just want the floor, you know? I have  things to say and a message of my own to bring. 

From September-November I will be flying solo with some exciting episodes that will teach, inspire and encourage you. Here's what I have planned: 
September 6th: What is Empathy?
​September 13th: Empathy in the Old Testament
October 4th: Empathy in the New Testament
October 11th: The Ministry of Empathy In Today's World
October 18th: What is Intuition and When Should You Trust It?
October 25th: The Role of Intuition, Instinct and Discernment
TBA: Where Do You Place Your Trust?
November 1st: What Is An Introvert?
November 8th: How to Reach The World As an Introvert 
November 15th: Holiday Boundaries for Highly Sensitive People
November 22nd: The Introvert's Holiday Permission Slip
November 29th: Self-Nurturing Techniques for Intuitive, Introverted, Sensitive and Empathetic Believers

As a listener this Fall, you will be inspired to love God and reflect your faith through your personality, your instincts and your emotions. You can expect to see comprehensive show notes posted here every Friday during the fall season. Learn beside me. Give feedback. Ask questions. ​I hope you'll join me each Friday wherever you listen to podcasts.