Loving thy Neighbor

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38  This is the first and great commandment.39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Lord Jesus stated that loving our neighbor is compared to our love for God. Look at it. Love God will all our heart, and soul and mind and the second is like unto the first – Love they neighbor as thyself. As I have been reading through Proverbs the past couple of weeks, a passage has stuck with me.   I can not get it out of my mind.

Proverbs 3:27-35 (NKJV) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. 29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,  For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. 30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; 32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. 34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise shall inherit glory,

  • Withholding is not a good thing.
  • Do not delay helping when it is within your power to do so.
  • Reaching out to those in need is an act of wisdom.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
For example:
  • I have $2.00 to buy me a diet coke and as I am approaching the check out, there is a mom who is buying baby formula but is $2.00 short. All I have is $2.00. Do I have the ability to help?
  • I am home watching my favorite tv show. I got a phone call and someone needs me to take them to the doctor. Do I have the time?
  • A young girl finds herself expecting and needs a place to stay. I have three rooms that I am using as storage. Do I have room to keep her?
  • A boy has no father in his life and needs someone to teach him to play baseball but I have to the golf course, Do I have time?
  • The church needs cleaning but I want to clean my oven even though I just cleaned it two days ago, do I have time to help clean the church?
  • My neighbor’s car broke down and needs to get to the store. My car runs fine but I have driven all day and just do not want to drive anymore. Do I have the ability to drive them to the store?
  • The widow lady’s washer is broken down and I am a repair man. Do I have the ability to fix it?

Luke 10:29-37 -But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Three men all on the same path in life.
One a religious priest – religious.
One a Levite – religious.
One a Samaritan – despised by religious crowd.
Only one became a neighbor.
God is not looking for religious people.
God is looking for committed people.

Question of the day: Are you religious or are you committed?

Being a good neighbor will:
  1. Cost you.
  2. Inconvenience you.
  3. Take you out of your comfort zone.
  4. Possibly change eternity for someone.
  5. Is it worth your time?

The Main Course

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

New Birth – Heaven

Today we will talk about the “–” which represents our life from the new birth to our going home.  We learned last Sunday that it starts with Jesus (the new birth) and ends in Heaven around His throne.  Eternity is what we all are longing for as believers.  This whole life that we as believers live is always with eternity in view.  Let us look at what this dash is all about.

It should be all about Jesus

Philippians 1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Colossians 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Romans 8:35-39 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It should be all about surrender
  • Jesus lived a life that was all about surrender. – Luke 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
  • We are to surrender our will for His. –

Romans 12:1-2 –  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

    2 Corinthians 6:14-17 – Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

    This is a very blessed life

    Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that  walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

    This life is lived with the kingdom in mind

    Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

    Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

    Matthew 6:19-20   Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

    Where it All Begins (the appetizer)

    I know some of you may wonder why I called this the appetizer.  Without this there is no main course.  Jesus is the beginning of this awesome experience, and what an awesome experience it is.  Without Him, I AM NOTHING.  With Him, I AM EVERYTHING.  I am saved, sealed, and delivered.  This it is the three course meal.  I am His, He has placed His seal of approval upon me and I will be safely delivered into His very presence. 

    1. Someday, everyone must to meet God. Hebrews 9:26-28 – For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
    2. God has one requirement to enter into eternal life. John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
    3. Sin is a problem that God hates and it has to be dealt with. Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
    4. Because God loves the sinner, something had to be done. John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    5. God has set the terms and they are nonnegotiable. Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Acts 16:30-31 – 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
    6. Conclusion:
      a. All must die.
      b. Are you ready for that day?
      c. When you stand before God, will you be stained by your own sin or will you be clean because of the blood of Jesus Christ,
      d. Will you respond to His call now? –
    Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

    The Gospel As Seen Through John’s Eyes – John 3:22-36

    The last couple of weeks we have seen the gospel as told to us in Jesus’s own words. Ye must be born again was His declaration. The remedy He gave was Himself. Condemnation was already here. Man is born condemned and Jesus declares He is the only way for condemnation to be removed. Praise the Lord, He removed it for all who believe in Him –

    John clarifies the difference between the Messiah and John the Baptist

    A. John the Baptist pointed men to Jesus.
    B. John stated clearly “I am not the Christ”.
    C. John was the friend of the bridegroom – indication here that John the Baptist was never a part of the church.
    D. The profound statement – v.30 He must increase, but I musts decrease.

    THIS IS THE KEY TO THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF CHRISTIANITY.

    1. If man is the center, it is not Biblical.
    2. If man claims any power outside of what God is doing through Him, he is not biblical.
    3. If man is pushing a personal agenda that promises riches and fame, he is not biblical.
    4. A true minister of Christ will NEVER try to bring attention to his self.
    5. A true minister will allow Jesus to be the one the light shines on

    John’s declaration

    A. God is true – v33.
    B. God the Father loves God the Son – V.35
    C. God’s way to salvation – v 36

    Here we see, in v 36 what Johns feels is of utmost importance.

    A. John repeats this in the book of I John 5:11-13 -And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
    B. God has given us the record (the proof) that eternal life is in Jesus.
    C. One must possess, not just confess.

    Romans 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

    D. Unbelievers will experience the wrath of God if they do not repent and turn to Jesus.

    Psalms 2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

    1 Thessalonians 1:10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

    1 Thessalonians 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

    Hebrews 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

    Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

    Revelation 6:16-17 – 16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

    The Most Wonderful Story Ever Told

    John 3:15-21

    That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

    There has never been a greater story told than the one of God’s redeeming love.  Think about it.  God created the worlds and everything in it and the last thing He created was man.  Man was created in God’s image, placed in a perfect environment, walked, and talked with God daily and could pretty well do whatever he wanted too, except one thing. 

    Genesis 2:16-17 –   And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

    The simple facts

    • Eat of all the fruit of the trees but one. 
    • One simple thing is all God asked. 
    • One.  What did man do? 
    • He ate of the tree anyway.
    • Eat at your own peril, but if you do, you will die!
    • Isn’t that just like man today?

    The problem

    • A sneaky snake.
    • It tricked Eve. (side note) It appears that God told Adam not to eat before He created Eve.
    Genesis 2:18 - And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
    • Eve did not get the facts right – Genesis 3:2-3 – And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
    • Eve is not the one God held responsible.
    • Adam was responsible.

    Why

    God gave the message to Adam, not to Eve.

    Adam was responsible to properly relay the message to Eve.

    Adam was present when Eve ate the fruit, but made no attempt to stop her.

    Eve was tricked – deceived!

    Adam was fully aware he was violating God’s command.

    The cure

    Genesis 3:14-15 –  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel

    • Adam did not fully understand God’s statement of redemption to come.
    • Satan surely did.
    • Satan brought condemnation to all man kind
    John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
    • The message of Christ is not one of condemnation, but of hope.
    • The world’s message is one of darkness and despair

    John 3:19-20  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

    You and I are to shine the light –

    Matthew 5:14-16 –  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

    What will our light Do?

    • It will reveal the truth to those who have no hope.
    • It will focus on the cure, not the curse. Jesus came to remove the condemnation, not to condemn – our focus should be the same. (you and I can not remove someone’s sin, only Jesus can do that – we are to make Him known.)
    • The true light will lead sinners to eternal life.
    • Man can not respond if the light is not revealed.
    • You and I are indeed the way God has chosen to take the light.

    I Corinthians 3:8-11;16 – Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

    God’s plan:

    • Provide a way to Him.
    • Use us (you and me) to share the good news.
    • To remove man’s condemnation and replace it with eternal life.
    • To make man’s part simple – Believe!!

    Romans 10:9-10;13 –  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

    Romans 10:14-17 – How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

    Matthew 28:19-20 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.