God Cares About The Outcast

Join Dr. Andrew Farley in this compelling episode of The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast as he explores the powerful message of the Bible - a message that serves as a beacon of hope for the lonely and downtrodden. Dr. Farley reminds us that within the grand narrative of the Bible, we find a resounding affirmation: that you are seen, you are loved, and there is a place for you in the magnificent halls of King Jesus. This episode delves into the question that challenges us all: Are we willing to extend our hand to others the way God reached out to us? Prepare for a deep dive into the heart of faith and the transformative power of God's love.

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As you listen to these engaging stories, such as Zacchaeus and the prophecy of redemption to the people of Judah, you'll discover that Jesus is a refuge for the homeless, a father to the fatherless, and a companion to the lonely. The message is clear: no matter how broken or misunderstood you may feel, God sees you, and He has a purpose and plan for you. The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast serves as a reminder that transformation happens when God's mercy is on display. Join us on this enlightening journey and remember that, as the Bible tells us, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray. Who is like Yahweh, our God, who
has set his seat on high, who stoops down to
see in heaven and in the earth. He raises up
the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the
needy from the ash heap, that he might set him
with princes, even the princes of his people. He settles

(00:23):
the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother
of children. Psalm Chapter one, thirteen, verses five through nine.
Dear Lord, your mercy is endless, and your gaze is
set on the outcast and needy. You are a god
who pays attention to broken hearts and desperate prayers. You

(00:46):
hear me on my worst day, and you comfort me
open my ears to the cries of others as well,
so I might help them. As your ambassador and child.
May I never be so caught up in my own
circumstances that I ignore the people you have placed before me.
I pray all these things, trusting that you will work

(01:07):
in me and through me for your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen,
thank you for praying with me today. Now discover the
profound intricacies of scripture through prey dot COM's podcast The
Heartbeat of Faith with doctor Andrew Farley. Stay tuned after

(01:28):
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Speaker 2 (02:35):
The story of the Bible is a resounding reminder to
the lonely and downtrodden that you're seen, You're loved, and
there is a place for you in the Kingdom of Jesus.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
I have great plans for you, plans for good and
not evil. I'm gonna give you a future, and when
you call upon me, I will be there. When you
seek me. I will restore your soul. I will set
you free. Hi.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
I'm doctor Andrew Farley. With today's episode of the Heartbeat
of Faith podcast. We've been on a journey together, taking
biblical stories and seeing how they weave together as a
consistent message of God's glory, love and plan for our lives. Today,

(03:31):
we continue to look at things that God cares about.
Last time we surveyed God's deep passion for justice, and
today we look at his love for the outcast. It
has always been God's heart to welcome in the broken hearted,
the downcast, and the exiled. God isn't just in the

(03:55):
habit of blessing royalty. No, he sees people on the outskirts.
He considers the forgotten, those who find themselves alone or
cast aside. Remember, David's mighty men and Jesus's disciples were
not renowned nobles, but social outcasts and misfits. David and

(04:21):
Jesus reflected God's heart to use unexpected people to accomplish
great things.

Speaker 3 (04:33):
Shortly after, many men from Israel began to flock to David.
Men who were outcasts, debaters, and bitter found hope in
the presence of David. Four hundred men stood in front
of David, following his every command and hanging on every word.
This was David's new flock, a flock of misfits and
social outcasts. Broken were given purpose under David's command. This

(04:59):
would be a for shap shadowing of the Christ to come.
Hundreds of years later.

Speaker 2 (05:05):
The people of Israel were enslaved and exiled several times,
but God was faithful to them. He promised that their
exile would be met with redemption. God is passionate about
bringing the lost and broken back to his loving embrace.

(05:25):
Jesus expressed this same heartfelt desire when he welcomed tax collectors, prostitutes,
and sinners. He reminded the religious elite that he aimed
to bring those far from God close to him. He
wouldn't sit in an ivory tower judging the outcasts. Instead,

(05:48):
he humbled himself and welcomed them. The story of Zachias
highlights that same quality, reminding us that Jesus doesn't care
about law. The status only transformed lives.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
Zacchius, the voice shouted. The tax collector darted his head
in every direction, trying to pinpoint who was calling his name. Zakias,
the voice yelled again, what are you doing up there?
He darted his eyes directly below him to see Jesus
waving up at him. Come down from there. I need
to stay at your home today. How does he know

(06:30):
my name? Ziqius thought to himself. How would Jesus know
who I am? Zaccius's attempt to climb down was clumsy
and over excited. He got his leg caught in a branch,
tore apart of his robe, and got leaves stuck in
his beard. However, he could not be more excited to
host Jesus in his home. The small tax collector grinned

(06:52):
cheek to cheek. As they were walking, Jesus could hear
a few people grumbling and whispering, he is a guest
in the house of a sinner. They hissed to themselves.
Zeccius could feel the judgment of others as he led
Jesus to his home. Was he worthy to house Jesus.
Was he a good enough man? These questions raced through

(07:13):
his mind. Doubt and fear welled up within him. But
then he remembered some of the teachings he heard from Jesus.
He remembered the parabole of the pearl in a field.
He remembered the Sermon on the Mount. So Zechias decided
to take action. He stood up before Jesus and raised
his cup. My Lord Zakius declared, I have decided to

(07:35):
give half of my goods to the poor, and if
there is anything I took by greed or defrauding, I
will restore it to that person fourfold. Jesus raised his
cup to Zechius. Today, salvation has come to your household,
Jesus said, for the Son of God is come to
seek and save those that are lost.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Jesus is a home to the homeless, a father to
the fatherless, and a companion to the lonely. The story
of the Bible is a resounding reminder to the lonely
and downtrodden that you're seen, you're loved, and there is
a place for you in the Kingdom of Jesus. The

(08:19):
story of Zachias tells us that transformation occurs when God's
mercy is displayed. God promises redemption and those who are
outcasts have a place and a purpose in him. Listen
to his encouragement to the people of Judah when they
were taken captive.

Speaker 3 (08:45):
My children, God said, you will be taken captive by Babylon.
But this is not the end of you. Go there
and thrive, plant gardens, build homes, and start families. Be
there and affect the culture for good. When seventy years
are completed, I will come to you. I will free
you and bring you back. The words filled the captive's

(09:08):
hearts with both joy and sorrow. I have great plans
for you, plans for good and not evil. I will
give you a future and a hope. When you call
upon me, I will be there when you seek me.
I will restore your soul. I will set you free.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
Do you feel heartbroken or misunderstood? Have you ever felt
isolated like the world is against you? Perhaps you think
you're overlooked because you aren't as talented, or charismatic or
wealthy as others. Take heart, my friend, Not only does
God see you, but he will exalt you in due time.

(09:50):
God's heart is for the outcast, the broken hearted and
the unseen. He has a beautiful plan for you too.

Speaker 3 (10:01):
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could
oppression or anguish, or persecution, or famine or nakedness or
peril or sword. No, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I
am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,

(10:26):
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be
able to separate us from God's love, which is in Christ,
Jesus Our Lord, Romans eight, thirty five, thirty seven through
thirty nine.

Speaker 2 (10:48):
Wow. What an encouragement from Romans eight. In a world
where we're constantly bombarded with messages of inadequacy and standards
that seem impossible to meet, the simple, profound truth of
God's love and grace becomes our anchor. Every challenge we face,

(11:12):
every doubt that creeps in, and every scar from our
past is met with the overwhelming force of God's unending love.
Remember this, Your identity isn't in what you do. It's
not in how others see you or the accolades you receive.

(11:33):
Your true identity is found in Christ, and in Him
your whole forgiven and free. You're cherished not for your performance,
but simply because you're His. Let this realization transform your
every moment. Walk confidently in the truth that in Christ

(11:57):
you're a new creation, define not by the world's standards,
but by the immeasurable depth of God's love for you.
Hold on to this hope, for it is the very
essence of the grace filled life. Jesus offers you. Thank
you for listening to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. If

(12:20):
you enjoyed today's episode, please leave us a review and
let us know how this series has impacted your life.
Remember to download the Prey dot com app, and for
more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's
Andrewfarley dot org.