Fearing Your Neighbor

Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Abraham’s Mistakes

Abraham let fear overcome his TRUST in God’s PROMISES.

Genesis 12:10 NIV

Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Abraham’s fear made him ASSUME the WORST about his neighbors.

Genesis 12:12 NIV

When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.

Abraham’s fear made him COMPROMISE his INTEGRITY to protect himself.

Genesis 12:13 NIV

Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

Abraham’s fear made him ENDANGER God’s PLAN to protect himself.

Genesis 12:15 NIV

And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace.

Abraham’s sin brought a CURSE on his neighbors.

Genesis 12:17 NIV

But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai.

Abraham’s sin BROKE his relationship with his neighbors.

Genesis 12:18–20 NIV

So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Fearless Neighboring

Acts 9:10–19 NIV

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Ananias knew the RISKS of going to his neighbor.

Ananias trusted that Jesus was working AHEAD OF him.

Ananias loved his neighbor in spite of his REPUTATION.

Love Your Neighbor

Fear is our biggest OBSTACLE to loving our neighbors.

Fear does not come from GOD—it is a LIE.

2 Timothy 1:7–8 NIV

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.