El Evangelio en LaCultura, Octubre 4, 2026

(speaking in foreign language) - It's so good to be here this morning with you. (speaking in foreign language) - Why don't you turn to the person to your left or right and say, "Tell them it's so good "to have you with us this morning." - All right, guys. (speaking in foreign language) - It's so good to share together this morning. (speaking in foreign language) - And it's that we come together and meet to worship God together. (speaking in foreign language) - And those who are watching online, we'd encourage you if you have the opportunity to come and worship with us, then come and join us. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - Because there's nothing like having a biblical community in the Lord. (speaking in foreign language) - This week, we had something really special on Wednesday night. (speaking in foreign language) - And just as Honas told us that we're eager to serve those who are in foster care. (speaking in foreign language) - The call. - We have organizations we partner with, such as the call. (speaking in foreign language)

- And it's a ministry that takes care of kids who are in this foster system. (speaking in foreign language) - And so we're praying as a church, how can we get involved with this initiative? (speaking in foreign language) - And so we're praying as a church, how can we get involved with this initiative? (speaking in foreign language) - And let me tell you that even though we're going to do this Wednesday night. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - Fellowship is a church that has been involved in these initiatives for decades. (speaking in foreign language) - But what are we doing this Wednesday? (speaking in foreign language) - We have some little cards over there on the table. (speaking in foreign language) - And in those little cards, it tells you what you need to buy. (speaking in foreign language) - And so we'll bring those things with us Wednesday night. (speaking in foreign language) - It's an opportunity to do something together as a D group. (speaking in foreign language) - And Wednesday night, we'll pack it all together. (speaking in foreign language) - And it's important for all of us

to participate in this initiative. (speaking in foreign language) - Because that card represents a child or a father or a mother who's going to receive something that's a physical demonstration of the love of Christ. (speaking in foreign language) - And if for some reason you can't go and buy what's on the card. (speaking in foreign language) - You can still come on Wednesday night and participate in our packing night. (speaking in foreign language) - And in addition to be packing those things, we'll also be praying for the families that will receive them. (speaking in foreign language) - We'll pray for those children who need to hear the gospel message. (speaking in foreign language) - We'll be praying for those families who need support as they have foster kids in their homes. (speaking in foreign language) - And at the root of this today, we have a message that's about that. (speaking in foreign language) - It's a heart for the afflicted. (speaking in foreign language) - And that heart that we're called to have. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - And so, we're gonna meditate on that this morning

and pray to God that we would have a heart for those who were in affliction. - (speaking in foreign language) - Why don't you join me in prayer? - (speaking in foreign language) - Heavenly Father. (speaking in foreign language) - We come before you this morning. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - Recognizing just how difficult sin is in our lives. (speaking in foreign language) - (speaking in foreign language) - Recognizing that the effect of sin and families is difficult. (speaking in foreign language) - We recognize Lord that those who are orphans are oftentimes a product of that sin. (speaking in foreign language) - That this need that's before us. (speaking in foreign language) - Is an opportunity to show your love. (speaking in foreign language) - We ask you this in the name of Jesus. - Amen. - Amen. (speaking in foreign language) - And it's that the reality of suffering. (speaking in foreign language) - Because of sin. (speaking in foreign language)

- Is something that we see every day. (speaking in foreign language) - But one of the tragedies that occurs in our daily lives. (speaking in foreign language) - Is that we can become (speaking in foreign language) - Unsensitive to that suffering. (speaking in foreign language) - And we can even become apathetic towards it. (speaking in foreign language) - And it's as if suffering becomes just something normal because it'll always be this way. (speaking in foreign language) - And it's as if we were blinded when it's daylight time. (speaking in foreign language) - Things in our lives that would have affected us when we see suffering. (speaking in foreign language) - Now we're not even bothered by it all. (speaking in foreign language) - And so we're blinded to seeing the need around us. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - And we're unable to feel what seeing that necessity should cause us to feel. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - And as a result, we don't serve and we don't enter into the labor the way that we should. (speaking in foreign language)

- And it sticks out to me when Paul is in Galatians 2. (speaking in foreign language) - Defending his apostleship. (speaking in foreign language) - And he tells them that when the apostles in Jerusalem recognized his apostleship. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - They told him to go, him to go, and to preach to the Gentiles. (speaking in foreign language) - But they told him one more thing. (speaking in foreign language) - That he would always remember the poor. (speaking in foreign language) - And I started to think of all the things that the apostles in Jerusalem could have told Paul. (speaking in foreign language) - They chose to tell him to remember those who are in need. (speaking in foreign language) - And it can be so easy to forget the need of others. (speaking in foreign language) - Especially when we have our own needs. (speaking in foreign language) - And that's one of the miracles of the Christian life. (speaking in foreign language) - It's not that God commands people who have no needs to go serve those who do have needs. (speaking in foreign language) - But no, he commands those who are in need

to go serve others who have need. (speaking in foreign language) - And in Psalm chapter 10, (speaking in foreign language) - We can see God's posture towards those who are in need. (speaking in foreign language) - Because the psalmist is struggling with what he's seeing around him and the suffering of those around him. (speaking in foreign language) - He's asking if God has forgotten about their needs. (speaking in foreign language) He's asking if God actually... (speaking in foreign language) - He's asking if God even cares about the affliction of them. (speaking in foreign language) - And at the end, he recognizes, yes. (speaking in foreign language) - And it says this in verses 17 through 18. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - Oh Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted? You will strengthen their heart. You will incline your ear. (speaking in foreign language) - To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (speaking in foreign language)

(speaking in foreign language) - And many people will think that God is only with the poor. (speaking in foreign language) - But that's not the point of the text. It's not that God doesn't love the rich or that God only cares about those who don't have resources. (speaking in foreign language) - But rather there are people who are suffering affliction in this life. (speaking in foreign language) - Because of this fallen world. (speaking in foreign language) - Because of the sin of others. (speaking in foreign language) - And it says that God hears their cries. (speaking in foreign language) - Think about this. (speaking in foreign language) - When we need help from someone else. (speaking in foreign language) - A lot of times we know that there's someone important. (speaking in foreign language) - Maybe that person is too important or maybe that person is too busy. (speaking in foreign language) - And you could think that maybe it would be hard for that person to listen to you. (speaking in foreign language) - But imagine that God, the creator of the universe. (speaking in foreign language)

- That has a whole world in his hands. (speaking in foreign language) - And that there are a billion things happening and he's involved in each and every one. (speaking in foreign language) - That he turns his ears to those who are in need. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - We know that one day when Christ comes. (speaking in foreign language) - There won't be any more affliction. (speaking in foreign language) - There won't be any more need. (speaking in foreign language) - There won't be any more pain. (speaking in foreign language) - But until that day comes. (speaking in foreign language) - God has left his church. (speaking in foreign language) - To be that little glimpse of the kingdom of God here on earth. (speaking in foreign language) - So that people can feel the love of God in this broken world. (speaking in foreign language) - But we need the right perspective. (speaking in foreign language) - In the first prayer that I would ask us to pray this week as a church.

(speaking in foreign language) - Is that the Lord would help us to see what he sees. (speaking in foreign language) - If there's some way that we are going to make progress with the need around us. (speaking in foreign language) - Is that God, you would ask God to help you to see the need around you the way that he sees it. (speaking in foreign language) - I know that many people in here have traveled with me to different places in Latin America. (speaking in foreign language) - And something that happens on these trips that I just love. (speaking in foreign language) - Is that there can be a paradigm shift. (speaking in foreign language) - Maybe these people that go, they arrive on this mission trip with their own needs and their own problems in their own house. (speaking in foreign language) - But when they go and they see this family living right by the river who just has one plate of food for the whole family, there's something that changes inside of their mind. (speaking in foreign language) - It's as if our needs become trivial compared to the needs before our eyes. (speaking in foreign language) has opened up to us now. - And you realize that you've been living just consumed

with thoughts about yourself. - And that selfishness has kept you from seeing the need that was in front of your eyes the whole time. - And you realize that you've been living just consumed with thoughts about yourself. - And the need that was in front of your eyes the whole time. - And when we return. (speaks in foreign language) - It's as if we start to see things that we didn't see before. (speaks in foreign language) - And you walk through the grocery store and you start to ask, how is this person in their family? (speaks in foreign language) - You start to see things differently at church and you start to see the needs of those people before you. (speaks in foreign language) - It's that we need to have a spiritual site. (speaks in foreign language) - Look at what Psalm 918 says. (speaks in foreign language) - It says, "For the needy shall not always be forgotten, "in the hope of the poor shall not perish forever." (speaks in foreign language) - God doesn't forget about our need. (speaks in foreign language) - And why should we forget about it? (speaks in foreign language) - It says that the hope of the poor will remain forever. (speaks in foreign language) - What can we do when we go to those places

where people are suffering? (speaks in foreign language) - If it's not to bring the hope of Christ. (speaks in foreign language) - Because if we're realists. (speaks in foreign language) - It's not that we're going to resolve the problems of every person in this world. (speaks in foreign language) - But it's that we have something that overcomes that. (speaks in foreign language) - A promise that goes beyond the present suffering. (speaks in foreign language) - A promise that brings light to the midst of any darkness. (speaks in foreign language) - But first. (speaks in foreign language) - We must draw near to the place where the affliction is. (speaks in foreign language) - We should die every day more and more to our ego-centrism. (speaks in foreign language) - So that we can see the need that others have. (speaks in foreign language) - And so we need to be in closeness and proximity to the need. (speaks in foreign language) (speaks in foreign language) - We need to have a posture of remembering those who are in need. (speaks in foreign language) - Because there's a danger. (speaks in foreign language)

- There's a danger of spiritual amnesia. (speaks in foreign language) (speaks in foreign language) - Because in the culture we live in with the very short-term memory, the culture of TikTok and social media. (speaks in foreign language) - It's as if we respond to the suffering around us the same way we respond to scrolling on a phone. (speaks in foreign language) - We look at a circumstance of suffering on social media. (speaks in foreign language) - You look at it for a second and then you move on to the next thing. (speaks in foreign language) - And that's why we need to pray in this way. (speaks in foreign language) - And ask the Lord that He would let us feel what He feels. (speaks in foreign language) - That we could have the passion that the Lord has for those He loves. (speaks in foreign language) - Look at how Isaiah describes the ministry of Jesus. (speaks in foreign language) (speaks in foreign language) (speaks in foreign language) (speaks in foreign language) (speaks in foreign language) - Verse one of chapter 61 in Isaiah says this, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me "because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted "to proclaim liberty to the captives

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. - The ministry of Jesus was characterized by going to the brokenhearted. (speaking in foreign language) - And we've talked through our series on the miracles of Jesus. (speaking in foreign language) - That those physical gifts that Jesus gave and did for those people. (speaking in foreign language) - They pointed to the most marvelous miracle that we need as people. (speaking in foreign language) - That is the victory over sin. (speaking in foreign language) - That's the gift of eternal life. (speaking in foreign language) - That is freedom from captivity to sin. (speaking in foreign language) - That is the ministry of Jesus. (speaking in foreign language) - But with what attitude did he do this? (speaking in foreign language) - In Matthew nine versus 35 through 36, it tells us. (speaking in foreign language) - And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. (speaking in foreign language)

- When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (speaking in foreign language) - What is it to feel compassion? (speaking in foreign language) - Think about the word, it's a compound word. (speaking in foreign language) - Calm, which means to come beside. (speaking in foreign language) - And passion is to feel what someone else feels. (speaking in foreign language) - And we see that Jesus felt the affliction of those who were oppressed. (speaking in foreign language) - And I love the combination of the ministry of Jesus. (speaking in foreign language) - It says that he would go around teaching and healing. (speaking in foreign language) - The ministry that I did serving with doctors that dabbed us a few weeks ago. (speaking in foreign language) - That's called. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - To preach and to heal. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - Because what does it matter if we only bring physical help?

(speaking in foreign language) - A missionary to India said it this way. (speaking in foreign language) - If I give them food to eat. (speaking in foreign language) - If I give them clothes to wear. (speaking in foreign language) - If I give them education. (speaking in foreign language) - And I don't give them the gospel. (speaking in foreign language) - I'm gonna send them well dressed. (speaking in foreign language) - Well educated. (speaking in foreign language) - And chubby. (speaking in foreign language) - To help. (speaking in foreign language) - We should bring them the good news of Jesus. (speaking in foreign language) - At the same time that we take care of their physical needs. (speaking in foreign language) - But when Jesus sees these sheep without a shepherd. (speaking in foreign language) - He said that the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. (speaking in foreign language) - And it's that when we have the call to go and serve and to give.

(speaking in foreign language) - Oftentimes so few respond to that call. (speaking in foreign language) - But I love how one of the songs of our church says it. (speaking in foreign language) - It says give me your heart, O God. (speaking in foreign language) - Full of passion for those that you love. (speaking in foreign language) - That's what we need. (speaking in foreign language) - We need to feel what God feels. (speaking in foreign language) - We need to renounce apathy. (speaking in foreign language) - We need to renounce self-comfort. (speaking in foreign language) - That comfort that keeps us from seeing and feeling what the afflicted around us feel. - And I would ask you, is your heart moved by the need around you? - (speaking in foreign language) - Are you being moved with compassion and the love of God? - (speaking in foreign language) - Because that's the love that keeps us from seeing others like a project. - (speaking in foreign language) - But rather to see them as people to be loved.

- (speaking in foreign language) - Because if we can see the need around us. - (speaking in foreign language) - And feel what God feels for those who are in need. - (speaking in foreign language) - Well then we can pray this last prayer. - (speaking in foreign language) - Lead us to serve according to your will. - (speaking in foreign language) - Because we don't just wanna see. - (speaking in foreign language) - We don't wanna just feel. - (speaking in foreign language) - We wanna act. (speaking in foreign language) - (speaking in foreign language) - (speaking in foreign language) - We're in a consumerist society. - (speaking in foreign language) - That trains us to consume to the maximum just everything around us. - (speaking in foreign language) - And the statistics tell us that this country consumes the highest levels of things you can consume in this world. - (speaking in foreign language) - And sometimes that keeps us. - (speaking in foreign language) - That keeps us from acting. - (speaking in foreign language)

- Because if I'm so preoccupied by what I'm going to consume. - (speaking in foreign language) - What I need. - (speaking in foreign language) - I'll never be moved to give what needs to be given to those who are in need around me. - (speaking in foreign language) - And something that also happens when we don't act in that way. - (speaking in foreign language) - And we forget that God acts within us in accordance with how we act towards others. - (speaking in foreign language) - Many of us when we reflect at the end of a missionary trip. - (speaking in foreign language) - So many people say I received more than what I was able to give to these people. - (speaking in foreign language) - Because it's more blessed to give than it is to receive. - (speaking in foreign language) - Because that's the heart of the God. - (speaking in foreign language) - It says that Jesus emptied himself. - (speaking in foreign language) - He emptied himself of his riches so that we could be rich. - (speaking in foreign language) - And obviously, it's speaking of spiritual riches.

- (speaking in foreign language) - Because you can be a believer and also be impoverished. - (speaking in foreign language) - It doesn't mean that you've been cursed in your life. - (speaking in foreign language) - That's the heart of the gospel. - (speaking in foreign language) - Jesus emptied himself of his wealth and his glory. - (speaking in foreign language) - To bring those who had nothing who were in misery. - (speaking in foreign language) - And to give us what we so desperately needed. - (speaking in foreign language) - And consumerism goes directly against the message of God. - (speaking in foreign language) - And so one of the things that God is calling us to is to take a serious look at how we're using our resources in our lives. - (speaking in foreign language) - And I'm not just talking about money, Church. - (speaking in foreign language) - I'm talking about your time. - (speaking in foreign language) - I'm talking about your prayers. - (speaking in foreign language) - I'm referring to your service. - (speaking in foreign language) - If you don't empty yourself of all those things, how can you have anything to give? - (speaking in foreign language)

- Look at Psalm 82 verse three. - (speaking in foreign language) - This is a command to the people of God. - (speaking in foreign language) - (speaking in foreign language) - Give justice to the weak and the fatherless, maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. - (speaking in foreign language) - Church, we live in a place so full of sin. - (speaking in foreign language) - (speaking in foreign language) - Where we talk about foster care. - Because many of these children have ended up in foster care because of drugs in the family. - They've ended up there because their father or their mother both abandoned them. - Because of abuse or many other different situations. - And that presents a real opportunity for men. - These families that are being destroyed by sin. - We can bring them the hope of the gospel. - So just as we seek out justice for all of the defenseless. - Just as we seek justice for those babies who are being eliminated in the womb of their mother. - And say "Sineados and el bientre de la madre." - Murdered in the womb of their mother. - And we also seek justice for those who are in the system and have no one to fight on their behalf. - Salmodo se cinco. - Salm. - 12-5.

- Por la de sola ción de la flijido. Por los emido del menesterosos. Me levantare aoradisa señor. Elo pondrella se guridad quiernela. - Because the poor are plundered because the needy groan I will now arise, says the Lord. I will place him in the safety for which he longs. - I know that many of you are already involved in the ministries that we have as a church. - I know that many of you are involved in the schools and go to places where there's great need. - And it's the fruit of a relationship with God. - Look at how James, chapter one, verses 26 through 27. - If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. - La really, he impureis in macula del ante nuestrosios, macula es mancha, sin macula del ante nuestrosios y padre hesta. - Vicitar a lo verfano y a la bueda hento afflexiones, y wardarses in mancha del mundo. - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - Pólemo pacerto el diapre un tanto ne porqueitanto su fremiento. - We can spend all day asking ourselves, why is there so much suffering in this world? - Pólemo preu un tarno cuanto tiempo doo reces su fremiento. - How long will the suffering go on? - O pólemo a ser una mejor preu un tanta. - Or we can ask a better question. - Que quieres señor que yo aga.

- What does the Lord want me to do? - Para traerza nida diapre anza, a esta citociones diaplexion. - To it, what does the Lord want me to do to bring healing and hope to these situations of affliction? - Imiento el miniserio la vansa pasa. - And as our worship team comes forward, quiero serte al guna preu un taz. - I want to ask you a few questions. - Esta bien do, tienes ojos para la nesesidad, ques yo es pone del ante de nosotros. - Do you have eyes for the need that God has put around you? - Esta hactuando con compación para que yo nesesidad. - Are you acting with compassion for those who have need? - O esta ciendo con sumido por to prop your comfort. - Are you being consumed by your own desire for comfort? - O esta ciendo con sumido por to prop your nesesidad. - Are you being consumed by your own needs? - Si es es es tu? - If that's you today? - Opo emo pada y el sanyor. - And we can ask the Lord. - Que no mueva a se a la hypotunidades. - That he would move us towards the opportunities. - Opportunia de serbeir. - Opportunities to serve. - Oportunia de amar. - Opportunities to love. - Si que esta esta esta mienta se pone empeir. - And so as we all stand.

- Que rocuremo por esta familia que venga ser serbida por tollo campos de fellowship. - I'd like to pray for those families that are gonna be served by our all-self. I'd like for you to pray with us that God would help us and take away anything that's keeping us from serving. - Oremos. - Let's pray. - Father, let's see Al. - Heavenly Father. - To save, let's see the others. - You know that we have needs. - But sometimes, we put our own needs above our love for others. - Lord, I ask that you would show us. - Lord, I ask that you would show us. - That you would open our eyes. - That we would see the opportunities to carry hope in the gospel. - Lord, there's so much need. - There's so much need for love. - For kids who just don't feel stable. - That stability that comes with a family is lacking in their lives. - Lord, we could bring the message that you're a father for those who don't have one. - Lord, for those families that are taking care of these children. - Lord, give them strength because it's difficult to serve in that one. - Lord, I ask that you are a father for those who don't have one. - Lord, put people around them to encourage them and to support them. - God, and use this initiative to show everyone who's involved in foster care just how much you love them. - So that the glory would be given to you, Lord. - God, because you've given us an infinite grace. - God, help us to live lives that give grace.

- To all those that need it. - The name of Jesus, we pray. - Amen.