Like a Good Neighbor

Good morning. Good morning. This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord you are just so you don't know how excited we are to have you join us here at Christian love online. We are the Christian Love Missionary Baptist Church centered in the great City of Modesto, California and the proud Pastor Reverend Rod Cochran and the fact that you are here with us this morning that you decided to join us here in this this medium to hear a message from God. We're grateful we are honored but we want to begin like we began all things. Nothing should be done without seeking God's presence God's permission and God's power. So if you would join me in a word of prayer God we come this morning rejoicing because this is indeed the day that you have made and we shall rejoice and be glad in it. Fully begin ask you for anything. We just thank you for everything. Thank you for food clothing and shelter. Thank you for family friends for finances for health strength and a reasonable portion of sanding down and depressed about but we come rejoicing because we are glad God that even though things seem out of our control. They remain firmly in your control as we separate from activity in and works around us. We coming to this space and we acknowledge that you are the The Source the author and the finisher of our faith You Are God Alone and besides you there's no other you have all power in Heaven and Earth. You are all places at all times. You are all knowing you are unchanging and now he's everything is Shifting around does Sky we take great pride on a joy and Security in the fact that you are God and you change not We come right now God emptying ourselves and we come broken before the master Potter who can put us back together again. So God, we ask you to search us know us find things that are not like you take it away created us clean heart renew the right Spirit within us. We got praying now for the power the permission. The privilege of preaching and uncompromising gospel Let It Be rooted in love Let It Be relegated by your holy spirit. Let it be regulated guy by the soundness of scripture in the certainty of your principles being played Out Among Us. We don't want to just be here as though so don't make this entertainment make it education. So plowed through the heart and places of our hearts ripped out the Thorns that choke away your seed chase away the files that seeks to Devour the word before it is nurtured in fertilized and God also help us to be good ground. Hope it default deep within us to Germany Aid to die and then grow to a new life where we're not only be here is but we have been power to be doors and provide the fruit that pleases you the most. Last but certainly not least lie. Come before you and I tell you that I am just a broken humble Floyd servant but in your hands guide message become Majestic. So use me as I am, but God change me in such a way that I'll never be the same again fill me with the riches of Heaven allow me into the treasures of your wisdom fill me till I overflow and then God is not break me so that the contents will be poured out to your people. We finally pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight for Lord. You are our strength and Our Redeemer to the name of Jesus. We pray. Amen. Amen. I'm just very happy to be with you this morning again, and I want to pause for just a second if I can because I did not get here and here would be at a very solid Place grateful for my church family grateful for the upbringing I've had. I am born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama and proud of it. But if I look around today, and I look at the events of our time, I would be negligent. If I didn't pay heed to the fact that although all these things are uncertain. Although we have no idea what will come of all this I want to give a word of confidence and reassurance that when everything seems out of our control God is still in total control and I thank God for guiding my path. Over 25 years ago my uncle. Dr. QE Hammonds the senior pastor of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City, Birmingham, Alabama, Uncle Quint affectionately known to me found out his nephew little Bobby was beginning of a life in the ministry in As I began to proclaim the good news from California Journey back to Alabama and had occasion to pasture there and then on my way to pass during the, Texas. I happened to reach out to my uncle Quint and asked him if he could do me a great favour. There was a need I had I needed to make some foundational roots in the city of Houston and my uncle can't pick up the phone and made a call to his friend. Dr. Manson B Johnson of the Holman Street Baptist Church and without ever hearing me speak without knowing me without ever seeing me because of his relationship with my uncle Quint. He allow me to enter into his pulpit in to preach the gospel there. Nicole and I laugh about all the time at that time. I was a young father with two young sons and a new wife and we were broke and that fact I have one black suit and I was machine machine washing it at the time and I went there with absolutely nothing we moved there with just our belongings and the vehicle we own it. We're going to stay with their parents for a while and Dr. Johnson was so kind to me. Dr. Johnson treated me like a son. He did it not because he knew me but that she had made connection with others and by their faithfulness. He extended me some favor. That began a 20-year lifelong mentoring and he called me back again and again to Holman Street and every time he was more and more of not only a spiritual blessing but a financial one is able to allow us to get established to stand on my feet. He went home from labor to reward due to covid-19.

and I'm not who I am where I am or anyting to be reckoned with unless I acknowledge the men and women of God who played a role in me being where I am today and all of us should remember that nothing we have done is allowed us to be here only but the favor of grace of God and the friends favor help of others so doctor man, Cindy Johnson I speak his name and I tell him thank you for being a mentor a minister of God's word and influence of force in the city of Third Ward, Houston, Texas then Kind loving man to me. You'll be missed. Hey, man. All right. I'm through being sentimental Let's Get Serious. There's a word for up this morning. And if you have your Bibles, I'd love for you to turn with me term with me. To the Gospel of Luke. That's look at Luke.

Let's call it chapter 10 you let's do verses 25 through 37. Luke chapter 10 verses 25 through 37 when you have it. Say Amen Oh boy. Today I go ahead and get this out of the way. So we won't have to Terry with it will be talkin from the subject like a good neighbor like a good neighbor. All right, you have that scripture. We're going to turn to a here in just a moment and I'll give you a moment to flip2it read along with me. Luke chapter 10 verse 25 and it says in a certain lawyer stood up and tested him saying teacher shall I do to inherit eternal life. He said to him what is written in the law? What is your reading of it? 3 answered and said you should love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength and all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. He said to him you have answered rightly do this and you will live. But he wanting but he wanting to justify himself said Jesus. Who is my neighbor? Then Jesus answered and said a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among Thieves who stripped him of his clothing wounded him and departed leaving him half-dead. Not a chance a certain priest came down that road and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. Likewise at Levi when he arrived at the place came and looked and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan as a journey. Came where he was. And when he saw him he had compassion. So you went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring oil and wine and he said him on his own animal brought him to an end and took care of him. On the next day when he departed he took out two denarii gave them to The Innkeeper and said to him take care of him and whatever more you spend when I come again, I will repay you. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? He said he who showed Mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him go and do likewise. amen again our subject today like a good neighbor a sermon for being the change

You know, I'm always struck. with the term neighbor Send interesting concept. When you think about it, it's an interesting concept neighbor because we have become such a transient people. We move into places and we go there with the thought of not staying. I don't know if you ever been able to do such a thing. But we we do that all the time. I mean, we we will take a temporary dwelling going to be here for a little while. No need to go through the old hassle of introducing ourselves to people of making our rounds and see who we are friends because we are always progressing to the next better thing no matter where we are this somewhere else. We are on our way to But I'm almost I think old enough old enough. I'm almost sure that I'm probably that last generation. That was just glad to get to that step. Let alone thinking about her next. I had no anticipation of my life being much. I knew Miss Elvira had raised me to do good because good was done for into me. But as to gaining things are being owners of things of oath of having great wealth ahead early dreams that were juvenile about being Uber rich, but quickly sobered up in my adolescent years and definitely got clear headed in my teen years that that was more than likely not going to be the case and everything. I was going to get with either come by the sweat of my brow. Or the sheer sacrificial giving of others to me. So it became important to me. I was raised in a community where neighborhood steel matter for two blocks in any direction. I knew all my neighbors. Better than that into blocks in any directions all my neighbors new me. My brother and I got into many a great adventure and even more of some. Real Throwdown butt whippings because I actions were reported from far away places by people who weren't my mama. They would have a direct line to call home to River's End in bar and say I see Bobby and then then doing what they are not doing before we can walk home and return to our house. The news had beat us there and switch or Bell or whatever is he had handy was waiting on us. I even joke with my brother as we were counted my mother's 84th birthday about the time we stood on the corner smoking a lit cigarette six or seven of our friends from the neighborhood with all of us was sneaking doing what we are not doing just as we got ready to put it on our lips to Our Lives Down K my Momma from the hill and all our neighborhood friends knew that they needed to scatter because it was going to be bad when Miss Elvira got us into the house. It was it was bad. But I'm glad for those neighborhood memories. I'm glad for Neighbors who knew me and I knew them I'm glad for people who were looking out for me. Even when I wasn't being slick enough to look out for them. Neighbors neighbors are they matter? my childhood State Farm was the advertised insurance carrier and they had this clever slogan. They made you remember their product. State Farm is just an insurance provider it it's a brokerage house where they carry home life auto insurance. But but the slogan was so catchy that you find yourself in most of most oddly play situation. It was just the way they worded their tagline that made it memorable. It went something like like a good neighbor statefarm. Is there like a good neighbor?

and that's where scripture draws our attention to this morning not a tagline from an advertising firm, but a statement of fact Let the god of Heaven and Earth did not create us to live in silos. The maker of all things the one that is the author and finisher of our faith had intentionality when he meant for us to be people who lived in community who sought out Community who substantiated and supported community and would struggle without community. Tell me about to read ourselves into narrators of the Bible, especially when we being blessed, but I wonder if precept draw the same practical attention because here we understand that the premises being a Community member broad responsibilities it brought obligation. It brought a commitment a connection of compassion and concern they even if you didn't have good neighbors you were mandated by God to be a good neighbor. He's like nature would understand that they were driven off the principle of community. And if you would lend yourself to a little bit of attention and allow me to preach for just a little while. If God be pleased we're going to look at some things that constitute connect and commit us to be a good neighbor. And then hopefully by the time we're concluded that does narrative that we presented that like a good neighbor that maybe we can resolve some of the things that are happening right around us everyday because what I see What we suffer from is that a lot of good neighbor activity. What's the scriptures going to inform some of our understanding and if you'll pray for me God of reach through me and will be better for the meeting? It's here in Luke chapter 10. That's the writer begins to expound on this depth of teaching that Jesus is bringing to his disciples and while he's instructing his disciples manufactures chapter 10 opens with sending out the 70. Did they come back with the great report that many believed on the name of Jesus? They come back saying that they make they worked Mighty Works in his name and and and Jesus is quick to hear their accounts of the success and achievement, but then bring them back to a solid place on Earth. Simply tell them that nevertheless. Do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you. But rather Rejoice that your names are written in the book of life. And that's something they're out on missionary Ministry. They're out conducting the will of God to a weary World. They are working signs and wonders and there are moments in our lives where will be using some of the ways but Jesus bring the disciples back to discernible or and says don't float in the crowds too long. Because what you do here in my name or not make you shout but the fact that's what's been done with your name in the place to come out to be your joy. Yeah, it's not man's book of recognition recognition that we need to be shouting about its the Lamb's Book of Life that we ought to be striving to be written in and it's driving ain't even that hard. If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart. God has raised him from the dead. The Bible says you shall be saved they can I translate that you will be written in the Book of Life. Timothy goes on he begins. To rejoice and it is something as soon as Joy comes in killjoys come up soon is shouting start some structures show. How do I got some witnesses here you come in with a celebration that you come in with a win in the midst of all the losses in your life. We've got these kind of neighbors. We got this kind of circle of friends that has become very from the battle. But with the the Treasures of the war under armed we want to shout about a success. We've had there's always a group that's willing to remind you not to be too happy to drag you back down to a place.

A rough consideration. I'm just simply saying no matter how much we strive for victory. There is always somebody who remind us that defeat is still possible. No matter how happy you are at making it there is a group that piss themselves to take it. He wants your job. They want your Jetta. They want your jelly. He want your joy. They that people who live to bring difficulty to your life. There's a group of people who exist to snatch defeat from the jaws of Victory is in sad to say this morning that group is a group that should have been rejoicing with Jesus instead. They find themselves on the opposite side of the side of Christ. They are the religious, right? They are the temple dwellers. They are those who have enjoyed the prominence of God without providing Provisions for God's people. They've been a focal been preaching to line their pockets not preaching to make better listeners better here is better do it. They've been the one accepting sacrifices for others, but making no sacrifices of themselves.

The Pharisees describes the Sadducees they live to turn people away from Jesus and make them lean just on them. My brothers and sisters if we practice our inductive method the scripture paint a bleak picture of these men hit plates painter of an odd parents that they they're always found fighting the cause of faithful man. What would Jesus was having disciples do in relationship they were quick to try to tie them back down to Ritual. And here they come just at Celebration at Tappan just as Jesus has Rejoice with his his his his dedicated disciples here. Come the Nay Sayers here come the Trap players Here Come Those Who want to take the smile off your face the pep out of your step and the loot out of your pocket. They want you where they are gram and and dark and damn. They they want you struggling like they are to live perfect to talk perfect to walk. Perfect, but I'm here to tell you this morning. I'm glad That ritual can't do what relationship does. What I messed up trying to live the word I can make up by believe in the word. What they wanted to do in the church. Jesus started to do in people who made the church. I want to look at a couple things and imma let you go cuz and they come on the scene. They they try to challenge Jesus in a place where no one should challenge Jesus. with the word chapter 10 verse 25 he says and behold a certain lawyer. I just love the fact that there's always a certain lawyer always somebody who thinks they've got one up. On the Incarnate Christ who think they know what's about to happen believe they can be about the father's business without being about a relationship with the father every move to that. First point. I say if we're going to be good neighbors instead of hearing first what we need to be doing. I think the first thing when you see is that good neighbors do not test big they don't Good neighbors. Do not test Bishop fact that I'm drawing your attention to this passage of scripture. We we we hear the opening barrage word that says behold when it says the hold it want you to pay special attention and it's showing you a weird dichotomy in the kingdom of God here is teachers of the word testing the word on the word. Did you catch what I was doing here to become teachers of the word coming to the word to test him about the word? That just like a tree. being questioned by a carpenter About the quality of wood, and it's like a child. Coming to the parent asking about the process is a parody. I think they are about to be certain levels little people. Don't try to climb up to talk to big people to be certain respect it there certain offenses. You are not jump over because some things on the other side of that fence might make you wish you'd never jumped. But any just like man, we got such a Godly things that we can start asking questions of God instead of answering the questions from God. Bear get like that. We wear those kind of people we think we read full chapters in 5 versus and now we can tell God what he meant to say we go out to some cemetery and now all of a sudden we know all the stuff that's useless and none of the stuff that's unifying. We learn to divide ourselves at places that are supposed to equip UPS equipment with knowledge to bring us together. So that's a reason why the world is in this mess the church has long been off task.

You're the one the one who should be teaching what Doug said the Lord was so busy challenging each other that we forgotten to charge one another.

So busy trying to impress those that sit behind us that we have met depression and impression on the focus in the front of us. and we quit call out doctrinal differences. But we don't go to the store to buy argument. If I had to say one thing that I can give them credit for it if they going to argue about the word. I'm glad they talkin to the word. They got a question to trip up Jesus. They didn't drag him into their Court there now being proud and walking into a place where Jesus has all the authority. I was John was in this conversation and they came to ask their questions. Be careful now because in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and then the word Became Jesus.

So be careful when you start throwing scripture back at Jesus when you start claiming promises. From Jesus Jesus understand that every promise in his word is attached to a practice principle. It would be like you asking for dessert and you haven't eaten your dinner. But, I ask you a question. But if you are a good day, but you wouldn't text him but let's see what the test was. I just want to see what they thought they were clever about the maybe you can see it to he came to him and said teacher Rabbi what shall I do to inherit Eternal lights to sound like for me to question may affect another gospel writer says that was a rich young ruler who asked a similar question. But it's always a question, huh? We want to know how do we get to the end game? How do we know when we're doing it? Right? Give me a test. Give me a process. Give me some practices to let me know that I don't need to worry about it that I made it. You know what I'm glad God leaves. ability to please him in Dark Places I'm glad he's not splitting open in the skies speaking down into people who are doing the right thing. You ought to be a little shaky about if you're satisfying to God because whenever you think you made it, that's when you're so far away. You'll never see it in, Oregon. Whatever you think you have a ride. That's when you're recognized that you probably haven't even left your place of original position. The walk with God is meant to be a progressive walk meant to show games and strive, but you are never be able to mark your place in the journey. No man knows the day or the hour when the son of man shall appear you better work while it's day cuz night is coming. When no man can work now y'all don't have to say man. I can't hear you. But if you type it ain't man. Thank you. Later. Because a man don't mean to preach the Mega Man on me. Hurry up. A man says, I agree. I agree that I'm somebody that sometimes that your ex to remind Jesus that he said something Jesus needs no reminders of the principles. He's put to his people. And when you think your testing God you're setting yourself up from a failure for a failure in your own security. I see it. Jesus flipping argument on you. Oh, you want to text me? That's awesome. Well, you know the scripture, how do you read it? That's what 26s. He said to him what is written in the law because you you do know you have to read the law. And you say something very poignant In this passage translated from Greek to English. He says, how do you read it? What he's really saying is show me your scholarship. Did you want to text me show me his origin? Show me my intended meaning you do the work? It's not only a Prohibition to this one testing Jesus, but it's a prescription for us before we go to Jesus. You better have done some homework. Don't don't come to him not knowing what he said to begin with. But trying to beg for something at the end game don't come to him demanding a reward and you never really clearly understood the working bar. Is that how you read it? And I love it that describe had better and answered correctly. He has a correctly he said. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all.

You're so he says with all your strength with all your mind and it gets slick here that other part of that Golden Rule is to love your neighbor. as yourself

all he's moved out to be getting excited. I just like the Rich Young Ruler in his inquiry of Jesus Jesus validates that the one trying to test him have correct information. So she's so you do know the way. That would be a shout but we're too stupid to know that should scare us. Coming Jesus has all you know it now on you're responsible for it. You can't feign ignorance now and a lot of us get away with a lot of stuff cuz we act ignorant to it. All you ain't got to tell the truth here, but can I take you down? former practice Lane need a ride You catch him out of the corner of your eye and you know, they about to ask you for a ride. You know what? Your responsibility is. You ain't really got nowhere to go. If you really do have room in the car is just you and that 8 passenger Suburban. But you don't want to be bothered. I just ain't got nothing to do. I just don't want to do nothing for you. So we act like we're ignorant. to that need my friends would say we we played Stevie Wonder today request. Oh there you see me trying to flag you down. Oh, man, I missed you. I ain't even know I ain't see you need a ride with you. You should have said something to me and you know very well you saw them, you know very well with your application was if you made eye contact you weren't going to be able to lie. You weren't going to be able to tell him know but we have learned to navigate here. It is on demand ignorance.

All my brothers and sisters on loved ones. Let me tell you when you get Before the Throne in glory when Jesus opens the book of your works and the Book of the Lamb Lamb's Book of Life. You will be able to say I didn't know the Bible says that you will give an account of every deed done in the body of Every Idle Word. Any Idle Word Worship is in the house today. mumbling under your breath why put in your eyes to the left everybody started so loud that it sounded like you were saying it. Wheaton County Folk smiling in your face

William people What the Bible says that things don't come with ignorance won't be a benefit to you but not singing. It doesn't make you not responsible for it. If the psalmist was here. He would tell us that the bird told I said that word have i hidden in your heart in my heart that I might not see it. It's in me Romans and you suppress it. You know what you ought to be doing. Don't tell me we don't know that there are people out there that need help. Don't tell me we don't know that where we are is by grace and some have not been afforded the same Grace. Don't tell me we don't know that the life we've been given one wasn't just meant for us to Ball, but we might have been called to bail out somebody. But we think the Mercedes was just for me.

4000 square foot home is just for my lonesome self it all his money is just for my pleasure to much is given.

much you said you read it, right? This is the first 28 that you read it, right? Good neighbors. Don't test the master. They don't text him. You know what I see in scripture. What if you see it with me not only do they not test. We're good neighbors. Do not justify. Jesus told him you have said well go do it. But you know what? He's mad because he didn't show up Jesus enough. Solution that wanted he was supposed to agree with me. We needed to get into an argument and it says he was intent on getting his way.

He was fixated on the outcome. He wanted.

You do know some people can't get beyond what they want from you even with what you have and go satisfy what they want. That's so blind and driven by their own desires. They can't see that the people around them are not equipped to satisfy their desire. But you keep seeking thirst-quenching water from Wells that were never designed to do that. You keep speaking belly feeling bread from food sources. That was never meant to satisfy permanently.

Who you talkin to? Total woman at the well, if if you knew who asked you for a drink you would ask him for a drink and what I give will be a well and you beeping up and I wish somebody says read the Bible.

You can get from the world what you can only get from the word and try as you must trying to trip up God on his own word. You are not wise enough there is not enough knowledge. There is not enough libraries holding enough books that you have enough life to even digest to know enough to even begin to question the wisdom of God. Grandma Elizabeth you to tell my mama he can hit straight legs with crooked sticks. He's that kind of God. His mistakes are Majestic. He's that kind of don't If he can have conversations with himself and still leave with a better idea, he's smart like that. He's the kind of guy. That means what he says and says what he means I wish somebody would say, he's God like that. He's a God that tells you to stay harmless. I'm in the business of repaying for Behavior. He's the kind of guy that you had you go ahead and forgive. I'll find them in Midnight hours. You trust me cuz I can reach him where you'll never be able to I wish somebody. We stopped trying to justify themselves. Well, I got to do it cuz God ain't doing it. Now you're ahead of God, but you're using the calendar and God has no concept of time. He has no concept of it because he's the creator of it. Nothing was until he said be and nothing will stop until he said stop. I don't care. How smart you are. How rich you are. How old you are or how much you owe no matter how much you think privileges yard. If God gave it to you. That's a God can take it away. He's serious about his sovereignty.

You said you go and do likewise, but the man got indicted. The priests had a problem described had an itch to scratch.

He said he wanted to justify himself says the Jesus and who is my neighbor At the party and give you some background ain't going to be no sense to you the Jews wear a Lot Like Us. I say us because any human breathing air and circulating blood has a prejudice.

I just said something there. Y'all don't cancel me. But we we we like to say now now I might be able to side with you that we can't be racist because it's about restricting access but the Prejudice we have that clear about the term reference looks like prejudice. Just tell me you find it easy to love some of you but the Bible tells you to love all of them. But you love who you here is prefer. That's Apprentice. Is a Prejudice when you know, somebody's last mistake and you make a present-day conclusion about what they done before that they would do it. Again. That's a prejudice. You made up your mind that folk can't be trusted that they won't be close to you that they'll never love you and you will never love them without saying one word to him. That's a president. We love to call I love you for prejudice. But president is something that must be personally pointed out don't look at what others prefer. Look at what you prefer. She want to see you lack Prejudice. Look how many Bergen things are in your intimate Circle. If everything looks like you and makes what you making sounds like you sound and thinks like you think you not only have a Prejudice you are bound to it. It has become your belief or practice your love all your friends think like you owe your music is the same. All your clothing is the same you go to the same places and do the same thing looking for the same outcomes. It's prejudice. That prepares us. We go out to the world thinking what's already true without ever experiencing. One thing the world gets not listen everything you think might happen might happen, but let it happen before you make your mind up about it.

Who is my neighbor he was saying that because he knew the crowd he was in Jesus had this habit of drawing dogs to his discipleship meeting. Yeah, yeah, he he he came to his own but his own received him not but as many as would hear him we just talked about listen up Jesus never wasted breath.

Jesus never struggled with making people hear him. I'm doing it right now. I'm trying to keep screen flipping trying to keep my hands moving so I can keep your attention cuz Candy Crush is just like to swipe away.

And you'll be gone. Since I got to keep it Lively, I got to tell music going. I got to have all these bells and whistles because my prejudices will kick in and I'll do what makes me feel good and forget stuff supposed to be doing that what what points out that the father is good. Points out that always do this cuz it's it's dead. We don't get there. But let's look at it. Let's look at it. He wanted to justify himself says who is my neighbor and I love Jesus doesn't answer the question. He tells a story. Where is Michelle Vergara Miss Miss Elvira miss her so much look like I was in her Sunday school for 28 years and she told us junior class 11 and 12 year olds. I could never get out of here. 27 Sterling Oaks way with 11 year old sitting on the front bench cuz she would let us in the back of the room.

She would say a parable. Is an Earthly thing with a Heavenly meaning? It was Jesus way of bringing it to your level for the Beast a spiritual he'd lose you. We just told you the precept you check out like you're doing right now, but I got two stories if you want to hear it.

Went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Ribeye told you Jesus doesn't waste words. It's important even the directionality in Jesus's conversation. Did he spend in the scene here? And he's a master painter? I love it. He leaves it open.

Leave it up to you because if he mailed it down, you'll excuse yourself if he said a certain black man white. List it be said of certain white man. Black. Listen. He's at a certain Married Man Singh check out. He said a certain single man married for back away. I love you. Just as I was certain man not knowing gender. He's really saying it could be any of you. Who are leaving here to go there? for leaving a place of height drop down to a low laying level Jerusalem said on the mountain Jericho was in the valley. That's a rough row between the mountain in the valley. I wish I had some witnesses here cuz you traveling more than you think you do.

David used to say yay though. I walk. in the Valley of the shadow of death that was believed to be a passage and area travel where Traders and Merchants dare not go after dark if you stay with me, you might see it. It's the bad part, but it always seems to be taking you away from the good spot in the good part of town that they do on the bad part of town. I mean you can have a good time over here. But when you go down there, you can really have a good time. Somebody here got Vegas vouchers. I know you think what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but we have a God who sees all you do. Get your hand off the slide arm. And here's all your face. You can whisper as long as you want. He's in Vegas. He's in the valley just like he's at the top of the mountain. He said his third man always leaving a high place going to a low place. It was known at this age that that travel that patch of road with a dangerous road left. It left the safety of Joyce right living and descended down into the area where heathens Jericho Road was a dangerous place brothers and sisters. You don't want to be on Jericho Road after dark. You better handle your business while the sun is high in the sky cuz when it starts to set you better get

I used to live all the bad side of town. You don't want to be in West End after Dark. You better know where you are when just start to fall. West Valley scooter Pratt City Ensley, I just remembered some storage y'all be in the Brickyard start to get dark. That's that's why I came from there was some parts of town where you want to go but sad to say I was okay in those rough spot I had problems on the mountain. Mountain Brook Hoover Homewood, Alabama, but I bet you got cities like that. You got places where privilege resides friendly Jana color privileges access. some about the privileged when the theme song for Good Times play some of us have no idea what some of that stuff is. We didn't grow up with a silver spoon, but we did have a spoon.

I'm I'm just talking about. Thank you Pastor Wilson. He said a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. And listen and when you go up when you come from up going down, you'll always fall among Thieves. He said he's fell among Thieves. Let me clear up this ambiguity in here. He didn't happen to make a wrong turn the whole road is full of Thieves. It's his fault for traveling so late. Cuz he was on the road with these congregate see whatever their privilege poverty is just outside of the gate wherever there is Rich this brokeness hangs on the outskirts where we that's Wellness sickness dwells just at the edge of hell in here. pain I'm trying to justify his offering. He said I can't do what he does. But he said be careful now seeing lines right at the door and some of you are so housebound. Did you think everybody's got it like you got it all if you would step outside your door. You found out some folk that kill you soon as kiss you. They'll cut you before they look at you that some people out there who smile in your face your place and they don't even know you they simply see you have something that they will never have and that's where they dwell. jealousy, June 12th on Jericho's Road Envy Heist out on the road from uptodown But my problem is if you would have made it up why you traveling down. Why you going what danger is? Why are you looking for looting this is where are you seeking? What are you thinking that you can't find in your satisfaction ain't that something? We always looking for love. In all the wrong I digress. Not only that only that. Not only do we see that he wanted to be justified. But I I see something else here in this passage scriptures that I think is really interesting. Jesus begins to talk about the travel and then he gets to the tragedy robbers. They were ruthless. They want just burglars. They were a bad man. Baby want to just take what he had they wanted to make what I had left useless. They robbed him of his possessions and beat him within an inch of his life. That's a tragedy. It's a bad thing when you drop your wallet, but it's a tragedy when someone takes your wallet and scratch your skull is.

It's a trial when you have to struggle to get good things, but it's a tragedy when you struggle to get good things and somebody comes along and doesn't consider you worthy to keep your good things nor even keep your life tragedies all around us is a tragedy that brought us to this place of protest. almost finished y'all is a lot of points, but I'm going to be Quick Care

They can never be a travel that never be a tragedy. Without a test. Jesus ain't telling stories to entertain. Jesus tells Parable to educate you want to text me. I'm about to text you. You better down companies road comes. a priest I love that he went here. Remember we talkin about what? A good neighbor is not a good neighbor doesn't tester a good neighbor doesn't justify. But guess what else I know. What is that sound in scripture religious neighbors are ignoring injury for Purity, and if you don't be a bad neighbor, but don't be these neighbors either.

detest, religious Neighbors religious neighbor tell you not to cut your grass on Sunday because it's holy and you should rest. Religious neighbors tell you that unless you keep the long you lost religious neighbors worry about keeping their garments clean in their hand sanitizer. Religious neighbor tell you to be well, but they won't feed you. Nobody pray for you, but they won't pay nothing. Religious merry verse pray for a man's attention. Not God, they go through motions. But they have wrong motives. I hate a religious neighbor cuz the religious neighbor wouldn't stop if it meant an inconvenience to them. Listen that priest understands levitical law. He has an obligation to help those who are in distress. It is the nature of of the Jewish mandate is to do good and good will come to you. But then why did he pass a man caught in a tragedy and go to the other side don't judge him. I got the reason why I stopped is burning and windows are broken. The reason why we're locked in our homes and have curfews is because we'd let practice Trump purpose. We'd rather look right then to write.