Being a good neighbor
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29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
31 “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
(NASB95)
luke 10:
25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
(question 1)
29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;
“Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
luke 10:26-28
26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
31 “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
luke 10:26-29
(question 2)
I want to continue with the idea I had last week, of being a good neighbor.
Notice Jesus, words here.
“And who is my neighbor?”
(question 2)
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
(now notice Jesus begins to talk about the Good Neighbor or the good Samaritan)
luke 10:30
31 “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
31 “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 “Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,
34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35 “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’
36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”
37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
Now the question of the hour is……
Who is my neighbor?
Turn with me to
18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
I want to make this statement you cannot love your neighbor beyond the level that you love yourself.
Now, let us not forget the first question asked to Jesus by the lawyer.
Against the children of your people...
Here we see that the neighbor is extended to the Israelite only.
So when the man of the law ask the question he thinks his obligation is only extended to those in his people group..
Those in his circle… those he likes… those who are like him…
Those in the same political party…Those that are Christian…. Those that are the same race.. those who are in the same church… I want to make this statement you cannot love your neighbor beyond the level that you love yourself.
Martin Luther King Jr. answer the question this way,
Martin Luther King answer the question this way,
That’s why we say all the time, “hurting people, hurt people.”
what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
“He is anyone toward whom you are neighborly. He is anyone who lies in need at lifes roadside. He is niegher Jew nor gentile; he is neither Russian nor American; he is neither Negro nor white. Any needy man on one of the numerous Jericho roads of life.”
He adds this “So Jesus Define a neighbor, not in a theological definition, but in a life situation.
Or how do I get into heaven?
One of the church great tragedies throughout its history is limiting neighborly love to those who are inside its walls..
Love you neighbor as yourself. That’s why loving God is here before loving anyone else.
Or that worship with the same ideas, or energyThat’s why we say all the time, “hurting people, hurt people.”
Or that worship with the same ideas, or energyThat’s why we say all the time, “hurting people, hurt people.”
Before giving him the answer Jesus responds to him first with a question.
The fact is that we cannot give anything that we do not have in the first place.
If one doesn’t feel loved it is nearly impossible for he or she to give love or to even know what love is for that matter.
He’s talking to a lawyer and its an lawyer job to know the law
Love you neighbor as yourself. That’s why loving God is here before loving anyone else.
And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
Because it is that place where God gives us the ability and the tool to love others.
He lets him know that the answer that will come next and he should already know if he has been at all paying attention to and reading his own bible.
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Often times we become so religious that what we forget the very basic of our Christian beliefs or purpose.
says,
love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
How do we get to heaven, Jesus? Well.. you should already know this one..
He Holy Spirit gives us the fuel or the energy to be a love and without that fuel giving by Him we will run out of the ability to love.
And the man says, yes yes I remember hearing this one
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
I talked this week with both brother John and brother Bill about turn there with me
Now I’ve see the YouTube, commercials and the billboards
But I am frankly bothered by the I am second notion
"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Mainly because I believe it is altogether non biblical.
Go to the inner room and close the door… this speaks of a position rather than a place..
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
says,
When you read our text as this certain man quotes
says,
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Yes, we believe that God is seated on a real throne in heaven but this language speaks more of a position of ruler ship over our life.
He adds a very powerful and profound truth echoed by our Lord in and mark 12:30-31
He adds a very powerful and profound truth echoed by our lord in and mark 12:30-31
And it pushes us into humility in saying.. we are not in charge God is..
Love your neighbor as yourself and mark 12:30-31
There is one higher than us, there is one richer than us, and there is one wiser than is.
In Jesus says, this is the 2nd thing. Love your neighbor
In Jesus says, this is the 2nd thing. Love your neighbor
When he says Go into the inner room and close the door, speak to shutting out the business…
31 “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Church I would say to you today you are not second
Church I would say to you today you are not second
We are sooo busy.. and being alone with God.. who is in secret
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
God is first
You neighbor is 2nd
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
And you well...
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
(NKJV)
This is the shadow. This is the safe place.
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
We live in such a narcissistic and selfish age that we have not learn or been challenged to look beyond our own need.
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
But what about our neighbor?
First, I have to say that you can’t love anyone at all with out Loving God and God giving you the ability to Love
This is the shadow. This is the safe place.
The secret place is our heavenly fuel station.. it is the place where we get re-energized, challenged, convicted, rebuked, skanked, hugged, loved, and refocused.
says
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Of course prayer bring us into the secret place
and you can’t love your neighbor if you don’t love God first
and you can’t love your neighbor if you don’t love God first
Prayer brings forth an atmosphere, a position, a revelation, and His presence. Prayer brings forth a connection between God and man.
it is the very reason that we love and on the same hand
1 john 4:8 says,
The One in heaven connects to the one on earth. Prayer is the telephone that gives us access to the Father, the Creator. And this phone has not a busy signal. If we call, He answers.
Here in Matthew Jesus says go into the inner room and close the door. Jesus is not instructing man to follow a new ritual or religious tradition.
The one who does not love does not know God
But a deep inner relationship to as Andrew Murray says,
Verse 11 and 12 say this
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
1 john 4:
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us
“Close the door to men and open it to God.”
4 “Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers.” “We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.”
Then he says in verse 20 and 21
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 john 4:20-
That he who loveth God love his brother (neighbor) also.
20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother (neighbor), he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother (neighbor), whom he hath seen, how can he love God, Whom he hath not seen? 21And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother (neighbor) also.
4 “Draw me after you and let us run together!
The king has brought me into his chambers.”
Now notice what Jesus says to the lawyer
“You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
“We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will extol your love more than wine.
Verse 29
Rightly do they love you.”
29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (question 2)
Notice her request Draw me after you!
Now this is the question of the hour……
This is the desire of her heart. It maybe weak but this is what she needs and wants.
Turn with me to says
“Draw me after you and let us run together! (The Message)
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
4 Take me away with you! Let’s run off together!
Against the children of your people...
Notice the conversation
Here we see that the neighbor is extended to the Israelite only.
She prays, “Jesus, draw me away.” She longs to be drawn close to God’s heart in deep intimacy as an extravagant worshipper who loves God with all her heart.
So when the man of the law ask the question he thinks his obligation is only extended to those in his people group..
Although we have the desire and the willingness to pursue after Him, we cannot help but feel a lack of strength for the pursuit.
Those in his circle… those he likes… those who are like him…
This strength for the pursuit is not a mighty power from the Spirit that is given to us once for all. Rather, the Lord's own beauty and glory draw us.
Those in the same political party…Those that are Christian…. Those that are the same race.. those who are in the same church…
I think Watchman Nee says it best when he says
Who is my neighborrrr!!!!
Jesus responded this way, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho
Watchman Nee says,
“His drawing power is our pursuing power.”
Jesus talks about a highway, a road. Life’s journey
Jericho’s road was dark and windy.. it was dangerous..
Her desire is to be drawn away (intimacy) a cry for life changing encounter.
Long ago it was known as the Bloody Pass because robbers would hide.. jumping out to ambush innocent passerby’s
And We will run together. (This involves partnership and minister)
The King has brought me into His chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in You.
This life is not always the easiest road or the straight way.. I can’t promise there wont be trails and pains.
We will remember Your love (affection) more than wine. ()
And on this road of life a man fell to robbers was beaten stripped of his clothes and left for death…
A great injustice done to him
The result of His encounter.
Who is our neighbor? Jesus give him no name, he has no title.. those things are certain unimportant in this story.
The word "King" indicates that before we know the Lord as our Beloved, we must first know Him as our King.
Martin Luther King answer the question this way,
A life of consecration always comes before a life of love, and a satisfying experience always comes after an act of consecration.
“He is anyone toward whom you are neighborly. He is anyone who lies in need at lifes roadside. He is niegher Jew nor gentile; he is neither Russian nor American; he is neither Negro nor white. Any needy man on one of the numerous Jericho roads of life.”
"The King hath brought me into his chambers." She has previously known Him as her King. But now the King will show her the experience of the chambers.
Not just Jesus coming here but Him taking us to his presence and in His presence is gladness and rejoicing In Him
He adds this “So Jesus Define a neighbor, not in a theological definition, but in a life situation.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
One of the church great tragedies throughout its history is limiting neighborly love to those who are inside its walls..
“in His presence there is fullness of JOY.
“in His presence there is fullness of JOY.
Or that worship with the same ideas, or energy
We will remember you love more than wine.
Who is my neighbor???
His chamber speaks of a position a place of intimacy with God.
And I find myself so disappointed with the priest because he was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And the only way to access it is in the place of prayer.
"The King hath brought me into his chambers." The "chambers" are the "secret place"
Unless we have very deep friendship with a person, we will not bring him into our chambers.
I was disappointed cuz I know what was me..
And the Levite (the church people) also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Therefore, when the King brings her into the chambers, it signifies the beginning of fellowship and revelation.
We missed up again.. we blow another change..
The secret place is the place we should all long and desire to come and be in with God.
Listen we aint perfect and that comforts me but we have to do better.
Visiting the secret place is the only way we can partner rightly with His ministry and be a good neighbor.
Maybe they were on their way to an important church meeting, or their regualation required they could not touch a bloody man before performing their temple dudy..
Look at verse 5
Maybe even they where on the committee to fix that road..
Let me say this, that the Place of Prayer is wonderful
Maybe they were to concerned about what other thought or would say..
It is necessary… we should long to gain that kind of fellowship with God but notice the reality of her heart,
5 “I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon.
You know we are second right..
Verse 5
Couldn’t they have just taken the time to have a little sympathy.
I am black!!! I am weak dark beause of sin but her come another truth
Preach I know you are on your way to church but.. there is someone on the roadside that just need a little love
She is also found to be lovely to God
And if we reject them we are literally rejecting God.
Notice the shame she feels
“Do not stare at me because I am swarthy(dark),
I know youre busy sister but cant you just call and check on your sister..
For the sun has burned me.
Your neighbor is not limited to those who sit by you in church when pastor derrick says touch yo neighbor..
They are the ones on the road of life they fall down or are hurting..
She says I have been out in the sun. The world because of sin has made me dark.
Again this is the reason we go into the inner room and close the door.
They are those who are naked and weak and sometime there me and you..
Who is my neighbor?
And when we see God’s love for us in our darkness we are moved to share this same love to others.
Maybe the priest and the Levite said, what will happen to me if I help this man?
Paul says in (NASB95)
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
YOU ARE NOT SECOUND!!!
They should have asked themselves, if I do not stop and help, what will happen to my neighbor?
MLK says this,
“The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.”
As the person sitting next to you.. who is my neighbor???
Look at them and say me…. But not just me, everybod