Let me paint a picture of Jesus so you can emotionally experience what He experienced. Then you will better understand how His compassion led to the manifestation of His power.

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, "Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger."

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
(Matt.14:6-12)

Herodias' daughter danced before Herod and seduced him until he was consumed with lust. After the whole thing was over, she told him, "You said I could have anything I asked for. I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter." So John's head was cut off because of a stupid oath Herod made while in lust.

John the Baptist was Jesus' first cousin. Put yourself in Jesus' position. You've just heard that your first cousin was beheaded and that the Romans are parading it around the city. Now, I don't care how saved you are—that does something to your emotions! Wouldn't you want to do something about it if your cousin were treated this way? Wouldn't you want to take revenge?

Jesus had the power to call down legions of angels. One word from Him, and Herod would've found himself on the other side of eternity. But look at what Jesus did instead:

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.
(Matt. 14:13-14)

When Jesus heard of His cousin's murder, He took some time to be alone. Personally, I believe He went to pray and get His emotions under control. However, when the crowd heard of His departure, they followed Him.

My first thought would've been, How insensitive! Just leave me alone! But when Jesus looked at the people, He saw a group that was hungry for food and for His anointing. He saw their need, and compassion moved Him to heal their diseases. In other words, Jesus prayed, and the healing power manifested itself.

Prayer. Compassion. Power. That's the formula for producing the God-kind of love. First we see Jesus spending time alone with His Father; then we see Him being filled with the Father's compassion. Finally we see the Father manifesting His power through Jesus by healing the sick.

Now look at it from a different angle. First we see vertical love between Jesus and the Father. Next we see horizontal love from Jesus to the people. Then we see God's power at work. Do you want power? Do you want anointing? Do you want to see lives changed? Do you want to see the sick healed and made whole? Then go to the Father, and get filled with His love first!

Prayer connects us to God and establishes our love relationship with Him; as a result, compassion is developed within us and is brought forth. When we allow the love of God to move us with compassion toward others, God can display His power through us. However, our motivation for displaying His power must be sincere compassion to see others saved, delivered and healed, rather than for earthly praise and recognition.

What moves you to feed the hungry? What moves you to witness to the lost? Are you motivated by lust and selfish gain or by love? Lust is a strong, unquenchable desire for something. It never gets enough. Instead, lust takes as much as it can without giving anything in return. Now's a good time to do a reality check. What motivates you—power, praise or God? Judge yourself carefully.

Source: Lord, Teach Me How To Love by Creflo A. Dollar, Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers