Neighbor

The point of all this is very simple. People who have mercy, don't ask the question, who is my neighbor. They asked the question who needs help getting this people who are true neighbors do not ask the question, who deserves mercy. They are merciful and why is that so important because mercy is a distinguishing mark of eternal life. Eternal life is not, but I do not go to heaven. Eternal life is you begin to see things and hear things are happening in the kingdom of God.

That's eternal life. It doesn't happen once you die go to heaven. It begins right now just a portion of the upcoming message titled neighbor Pastor Abbott on shot of Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview truly seek to be a neighbor to everyone that we meet making Christ visible in our community and beyond. We love free to join us for worship at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson checks. I don't mind I Clearview BC.org join us for the rest of this week's message in our series on the parables of Jesus and we come to the parable of the good Samaritan which is very well known, very popular parable right up there with the one called the prodigal son so you have your Bibles with you, turn to Luke chapter 20 starting in verse 30 and let's all stand once again for the reading of God's word.

Luke chapter 10 starting in verse 30.

Then Jesus answered and said, a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among thieves who stripped him of his clothing wanted him, and departed, leaving him half dead now by chance a certain priest came down that road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked and passed by on the other side but a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was and when he saw him, he had compassion he had mercy. So he went to him bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and he set him on his own animal brought him to an inn and took care of him on the next day when he departed, he took out two denarii give 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 that here's the important verse, verse 36 Jesus asked this question very important because it radically redefines who or what a neighbor is listening in verse 36. So which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves.

The question is not what you do for your neighbor. The question is, is it the priest, the Levite or the Samaritan who turned out to be a good neighbor Samaritan. Of course, the man answers verse 37 and Jesus said to him, go and do likewise.

As you know parables are like mirror they reflect who we are. So the question is very simple.

Who are you in the story men or women who are you are you the priest I get to church I go to the religious thing got a Bible study.

Are you the Levite who is too concerned about purification. He goes by the other way.

He is too busy trying to get home or are you the good Samaritan who stopped and showed mercy all you merciful person. Are you saved. If you're not would you bow your heads. The simple prayer that says Jesus I need mercy honey to be saved.

I need you to come into my life.

Forgive me of my sins and take over. I believe I believe that you are God's son, who died for my sins. I repent, which means I change my mind about sin and self and Savior. I know that I'm a sinner. I know my sin deserves God's judgment and I know that Jesus is the only way, truth in life. I believe, but more than anything, I will follow you. The rest of my life. As I mentioned to you the parable of the good Samaritan is probably the most popular parable right up there with the parable of the prodigal son. It has been the subject of numerous paintings, stories, movies, Army just name it it's it's very very popular.

In fact, a lot of charities and hospitals are named Samaritan's hospital. We know what does this parable is, but many times I believe it has been misunderstood and to understand this parable correctly.

We have to interpreted in its original context was the context of this parable would be talk about context, people usually back up to verse 25 word begins with behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, what shall I do to inherit eternal life. So, people usually go there in the go. There is, and so Jesus asked him the question what's in the law.

He says love God, love neighbor.

Then Jesus says, go do it and then he comes back with to justify himself, who is my neighbor. And so Jesus gives the parable of the good Samaritan to explain who is the neighbor now. This is partly true, but this is not the whole truth because to truly understand this parable, we actually have to back up to Luke chapter 9 and verse 51.

What is the same. Luke chapter 9 verse 51 listen carefully.

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for him meeting Jesus to be received up, that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem when Jesus knew there was time for him to be ascended, what does that mean means he came for one purpose which is to give his life as a ransom for many. This was promised. This was prophesied throughout the Old Testament people were waiting for him. And Jesus came, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, preach the gospel, but it was now time for him to do what to died on the cross for our sins to be buried to be resurrected and then to be ascended to come again, but this was all going to happen where in Jerusalem salvation is of the Jews.

This was a promise given to the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be aligned unto the Gentiles through them. Salvation was going to come.

So when Jesus knew his time. He said his face like a flint to words Jerusalem gets what happens as he is headed towards Jerusalem he sent messengers before his face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans Samaritans who are the Samaritans that if you grew up in church, Sunday school, Bible study, maybe you heard it may be hard here, maybe with other preachers Samaritans if he has them by the way, there's about a thousand of them left in Israel today they will tell you that they are the true descendents of ancient Israel.

If you go to second Kings chapter 17 we find out that these people were not what they claim to be who where there are quick history lesson member.

The people of Israel had the Kings Saul, David, Solomon, after Solomon, the kingdom was divided just like in our Civil War we have the North and the South. So also, you had the northern kingdom over the 10 tribes and the southern kingdom with Judah and Benjamin. The North and the South both of them messed up. Both of them went after falls God's the northern kingdom were the first ones to go.

And God warned them that if you don't change and stop worshiping false gods will send a foreign nation against you, and that was a Syria, the kingdom of a Syria vampire of a Syria came just as God had said in the destroyed everything, but they did something else that took the people they uprooted them and this is just in the north right now, uprooted them in the did what the Assyrians were known for resettlement that took those people to another part of the Empire and planted them and took the people from there and they planted them in the north of Israel want anything to do that very simple people have roots when they are in a place they have an identity. This is my land as my grandparents this is this is who we are when you are uprooted. What happens you lose any identity, there is no nationalism left. Everybody's a kale's a mess and so who were the Samaritans. They were the people that the Assyrians had taken from somewhere else and planted back in the northern kingdom area. These people that when they were planted there are some of them adopted the Old Testament bits and pieces of it, but the even kept their old gods and goddesses.

They intermarried with the, the Israelites that were left but they had their own customs and cultures and rituals.

These were the Samaritans. How did the people in the South who were still there for the moment, look at that welding Primus that you're not the real deal.

We know who were up there. They were our brothers and sisters from a different tribe you're not the real deal. And guess what the Samaritans did this at all. Know where the real you're not the real deal.

People that still to this day ride. Who is the real deal will lay around the southern kingdom also disobeyed God and God send them away with the Babylonians, Nebuchadnezzar came and took him away but then very soon.

They were allowed to come back. But guess what happens. Please listen carefully when they came back.

The Jewish people. The southern tribe of Judah this week a Jewish when they came back. Guess who opposed him. The Samaritans, they oppose them. They fought against.

They would not let them build their temple. They would not let them build their wall around the city of Jerusalem, Nehemiah and Malachi did talk about that.

So there was bad blood between these two. These were their neighbors. They like oh and the wish they would be gone. They wish they would just move not guess what happens this go back to our story.

Originally, where Jesus is headed towards Jerusalem. As they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for him to look for some food or shelter for the night but they did not receive him, because his face was set for the journey to Jerusalem, they would not let Jesus and the disciples come through their town that Jesus was the son did not just come for the Jewish nation who did come forth for all people. He came to die for all people, but the Samaritans said are you a Jew, are you going Jerusalem is that what all this is going to happen with and we don't want you here keep on moving. What are the disciples do at this point is a powerful Mrs. when his disciples James and John saw this, there said, Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did all of those guys don't you.

Can we just go in and kill them all right now done with the Samaritans on the did want to receive you anyways now want to hear what Jesus says he turned and he rebuked them and said you do not know what manner of spirit you are off. I could not of done it like that.

I could not have said I would be more like thank you guys were taking up for me.

I really appreciate that and I do want to be the one, but I'm appreciate you speaking for me. Jesus says you do not know what manner of spirit you are all for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them over time said let me condense the account what happens next.

I guess they keep on moving the fine food, shelter, whatever. Then Jesus the son of this commissioned 70 of his disciples to go out and he said to them, the famous verse of the harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few prayed to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send more laborers into the fields and then he said, go your way, behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. What if they reject us. Jesus well at that point that you simply dust off your shoes and go to the next village don't get this. Are y'all still with me just us to feed off and move on. Remember, if they reject you.

The rejecting me of the rejecting media rejecting my father in heaven. So don't take it personal. Move on to the next level happens very quickly in the very next verse, the 70 returned with joy, saying, Lord, listen to others is a powerful, even the demons are subject to us in your name and listen to Jesus's response to them.

He praises God in verse 23 and says Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see and I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see and have not seen it, and to hear what you have here and have not heard it when we talk about folks were talking about eternal life.

Please listen very carefully. I believe some would get us some won't, and I hope if you're tired sleepy pinch yourself into the life of yourself, and listen. This may change your life forever. Eternal life is not been a dime to go to heaven. Eternal life is seeing God moving in hearing God moving were talking about the kingdom of God. This is the kingdom of God.

All you have to do is go to the gospel of Luke and find everyplace he talks about eternal life and what you will find is is not about dying and going to heaven. It is a life that begins right now it begins to Jesus Christ. It means having a portion and what God is doing and what God will do one day in a much bigger way that is eternal life. Now comes the account of the lawyer the keep in mind. Jesus said all this to his disciples the 70 of them privately in the very next verse. This lawyer comes up.

Listen to this verse again. Verse 25 behold, a certain lot lawyer stood up and tested him saying, teacher, what shall I do to inherit life. You know what he was saying.

I want to see. I want to hear what you're doing with the kingdom.

The 70 were and they were saying they were seeing Satan losing his stronghold. The lawyer is saying. How do I get into that action. What I gotta do to see that happen and what did Jesus say to him what what is in the law of as very simple.

Love God and love people love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself will go do it was about to say this is very powerful in the very next verse, verse 29 as he says, but he wanting to what was the word justify himself. He says to Jesus, and who is my neighbor odd thing to say what is the meaning of his question he was hoping to prove to Jesus that he was a good neighbor in what Jesus was saying to him. Let me explain to you how boundaries work in the kingdom of God and then he gives us the parable of the good Samaritan very quickly manner going from Jerusalem to Jericho, he falls among teams they beat him to leave him for dead.

He is naked dying there. The priest goes by. One way the Levite goes by the other way, but who comes and helps him. Jesus goes radical. He says, but he was a Samaritan and what is he do. He comes he goes to him. He bandages him.

He pours oil and wine on him, sets him on his animal takes them to the end takes care of him all night get some of the morning and tells the innkeeper the pound. The key is the host user hears two denarii take care of him and I promise you when I return I will pay you the rest. Now comes the big question in verse 36, was the question we been going over this many time so which of these three do you think was neighbor everywhere you go you are the neighbor weathers a Jewish person or Samaritan you know for our Contras.

It would been like in Isys terrorist stops and helps cadets with a Dick teacher is the point of all this is very simple. People who have mercy, don't ask the question, who is my neighbor. They asked the question who needs help and why is that so important because mercy is a distinguishing mark of eternal life. Eternal life is not but I digress heaven. Eternal life is you begin to see things in here are things that are happening in the kingdom of God. That's eternal life. It doesn't happen once you die go to heaven. It begins right now is get it. I get but I still understand you want to see things you want to hear things is not gonna happen with your fist tightly held on your wallet.

It means the wallet has to loosen up. There are no boundaries. If you truly have mercy. No boundaries both on conservative I'm very conservative. You know where I stand in every way. I'm very patriotic aware did happen where we think that being conservative and being patriotic means that you should not be charitable when you get this idea that if you are conservative don't help anybody is let them pull themselves up while they get a check now you need to make when we get this idea wears a scuffle.

I continue this.

It does not come from this book. This does not come from this book do not follow that kind of junk because, listen, it determines whether or not you have a total life is a verification and are no right this moment.

There many of you just realized you don't have mercy in your heart, your heart is hard, you do want to help anybody you want it all for yourself and you know it and you lost. So was the big reveal. We are anxious for that last someone Chris Gooch and his wife Kim to make these crosses and they did a great job. Paul and Lynn Kearns place, and these crosses have the gospel wrapped around it. The gospel is some very simple Jesus died on the cross for your sins and soul. Our response should be to repent, to believe and follow that as a response very simple week at the end of the service you gonna get plenty of these crosses and your job is to take them and give it to people share the gospel with them.

But there's something bigger, God has opened an opportunity and this is where is not just about giving the gospel for every family unit you get across every family unit. So you might be a family of five. It might be just a husband or wife.

It might be just a single person.

Our girl does matter you get across, which also has a real genuine hundred dollar bill is not of faith is not of those tracks that so disappointed you know you'll be disappointed. On the other side.

I hate those tracks. This is a real hundred dollar bill and this is to be given per family unit and what is your job, you can break this up into five parts.

You can break it up in hundred one dollar bills us up to you. Your job is to pray and say God who is the person who just prayed that she would intervene their situation bring them in my path and I'll give this to them. You may give the whole hundred dollar bill, you may give 1020 there are 50 there are 20 there that's between you and the Lord were not going to get your name and your social security number written one that Briscoe give her family unit one of these in the have many crosses that also have this. The gospel and it begin, we can make it work in many many ways as possible to what's gonna happen. God's going to bring people in your path just like that man left for dead. It might be a waitress at a restaurant. It might be somebody in the hospital who cannot afford medicine.

It can, it might be someone you come across another town. It might be someone you heard about that you don't know. Here's my challenge to you. Do not go give it to your boy or girl was going through a difficult time. This is for people just like the Samaritan he didn't know that man right know him from anywhere and he came and he took care of him but something very important to understand which on the putting green over here. He used money and not just words and talk about this in our Sunday school class is all words you get the money to put your mind at ease. It didn't come out your tithes and offerings to just chill, just relax their people who have never set foot at Clearview church Henderson and all the time. That is been here on Oxford Road. Okay. But God has laid on their hearts because they see something happening and amazing that God is God's using displays in a powerful way is way beyond me.

This is gone way beyond me as everyone do this data suggest, as I did this I just came talking to some people and in our leaders are hundred percent behind it, but this is your chance. Your opportunity to go find those people because this has been given to you.

Did your for the earned this one. Know this has been given to you to go and say God who is that person who is that man who's that woman who's that little family down the street who is that that veteran who is hurting somebody I don't know or you may know someone it doesn't matter but not family and friends that really can use this the need. This break it up. Use whatever that something else could happen as you leave our staff has done an amazing job they do give you this testimony. Car for your name is on top, phone number, but this is not to keep up with your money, that's not our purpose is God's money city go by hundred bubblegum's with it. I hope you have cavity rest your life for what it is for him to skating lately have great people what it is for is for testimony when you come across an encounter, write it down and mail it in a will also have an online site where you'll be able to host and send it to us in December.

One of our services will actually be testimony service on mother preach and that Amon out of reach.

I will sit back, but you are going to preach Rogan have testimonies from people of what God did, just like those 70 who came back and said Jesus. We saw strongholds broken.

We saw eternal life. We saw the kingdom of God. How can you see strongholds broken the get great awakening George Whitfield was a Calvinist. John Wesley was an Arminian they understood that that's why they went out and help people how we feel, believing in them what awakening in this country. How many of y'all believe anyone in this world you can just do that hanging on to this. We put this paper around it for a reason that if you are scared to death to talk to somebody about the gospel. At least you can give this the gospel is it you're getting this, but my hope is that you will stop and at least tell them Jesus loves them. When you give this in whatever form you do 2030 4010 one that you will tell them Jesus loves don't just hand and walk away, but our hope is this you can give this away because this was given to you. Here's my question. What you have right now. As money is concerned, that is really your own hoping and praying that this will be a challenge that next time you're not waiting for the charge to hand you $100 bill that you will begin your own pocket and say here in the name of Jesus Christ of man's you see lives changed. You see hearts transform you will see things that even David and Isaiah the prophet, and Moses rest of them can know why you're not seeing stays.

Thank you so much for joining us for this message. The mark of a neighbor. The mark of the Christian's mercy are you showing mercy and compassion to those around you meeting the needs of others just like the good Samaritan did. For more information visit us online@clearviewvc.org for this sermon's notes to Exercise blog had been on shot.com