Sermon for July 14, 2019

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Sermon for July 14, 2019

This morning I’ll be reading Luke chapter 10 verses 25 through 37.
And I'll be reading the Holman Christian Standard Bible.
Parts of these verses that I'll read this morning,,, have been included in other sermons.
That's because these verses are so important to our Christian life. If we put our trust in Jesus and fully understand the meaning of the greatest commandment,,, then heaven is guaranteed.
25 Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” He asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
28 “You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’
36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning.
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, as we begin this morning, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen.
This scripture that I've read this morning is very familiar to each of you.
I'm sure that like me,,, you have heard and read it yourself many times.
I know that during sermons lately,,, as I told you at the beginning,,, I've mentioned parts of this scripture several times and I'm sure that I'll mention them over and over again because our future depends on truly hearing and getting this right!
When Jesus tells us something in scripture then we should pay attention and even though in this scripture Jesus isn't saying these words He does verify them as being correct.
So this morning as we go through these scriptures we need to be alert for things that will help us remember this command and how to really apply this to our lives.
The parable of the good Samaritan is probably one of the most popular parables of all.
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It is usually preached on one of two levels.
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The first being the most obvious,,, that we must be like the good Samaritan and help others in need.
And it takes the heart of a neighbor to see that person in need.
The second level is using the good Samaritan as an example of Jesus which takes a little bit of explaining.
The Jewish religious leaders rejected the man who fell among the robbers,,, both the Priest and the Levite.
The Samaritan, an outcast, was the only one who helped the man.
Jesus was like the Samaritan.
He was the outcast,,, the one who was willing to seek and to save people who were perishing.
He was directly opposed to the religious establishment.
This theme is seen by the word's of Jesus to the Pharisees in Luke chapter 7:44–50.
In these verses Jesus has been invited to the Pharisees home and while they are eating,,, a woman,,, who the scripture says is a sinner,,, came into the house and was anointing Jesus' feet as He was eating.
Later,,, Jesus is telling Simon,,, the Pharisee that had invited Him to his home,,, that this woman has done things that he as a host should have done,,, but hadn't.
By these verses and the verses that we read this morning,,, Jesus is comparing the religious leaders to those that they think are beneath them and they are coming up short even though they think that they are so much above everyone else.
So the theme of Jesus’ going to those who needed Him became more and more evident.
As we begin with the expert in the law that questions Jesus in the verses I read this morning,,, He asks a question which has come up in several different places and asked by others.
This question is also found in
,,, ,,, and .
And here in these verses the expert in the law wants to know what he must do to inherit eternal life.
This is something that we must know as well,,, that's what makes this parable so important for us as Christians.
Jesus answers the question by asking the expert how he interprets the law.
Jesus is also asking each of us how we interpret the law,,, how do we understand the way to inherit eternal life.
Whenever we read the Bible,,, we must be sure that we read the Bible with the intentions of allowing God to speak to us through His word.
We do that by prayer before we start,,, prayer to ask God to open our eyes to truly see,,, ears to hear His word as we read and open our hearts and minds so that we can be obedient.
If we do this,,, when we begin to read scripture then we can realize that God is speaking to us and giving us directions.
This way,,, if Jesus asks each of us,,, "how we interpret the law",,, we will be able to answer correctly.
And as soon as I said this,,, I immediately thought that we don't need to just "know" the answer,,, because the expert in the law "knew the answer".
He answered Jesus correctly,,, as we saw by the answer that we read,,, and he was so close to having the total picture,,, but it makes you wonder if he was really living the way that he thought,,, or just speaking the right words.
You must have a personal relationship with God so that Jesus knows you intimately not just as someone who talks well.
That's why Jesus spoke the words in
King James Version
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This way isn't hard,,, it's easy but it requires faith and obedience,,, not just knowledge,,, which it seems like we hear a lot today,,, (they seem to forget or ignore the obedience part)!
I've said it several times lately and I'll probably say it many more,,, but just "knowing" Jesus isn't enough.
The personal relationship we have will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into the right path to take and the right way of living that we should have.
And that works for everyone,,, no matter what sins you have committed in the past,,, no matter what lifestyle you were living,,, murderer,,, adulterer,,, thief,,, it doesn't matter.
All that matters is believing that Jesus came to earth,,, died on the cross for our sins,,, was resurrected and lives at the right hand of God our Father today and accepting Him as Savior and giving our life to Him fully!
But the expert in the law says in verse 29: 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
He wants to do like we do when things get too close to home for us and that is taking the spotlight off of himself and put it elsewhere.
Instead of asking how can I do this,,, or I'm not able to do this on my own,,, how can you help me?
He wants the focus to be on something other than himself,,, so he asks "who is my neighbor?
We are guilty of this as well.
If the conversation gets too uncomfortable,,, we try everything we can to change the subject.
If we are listening to a sermon and things hit too close to home,,, then it's easy to ignore that part of it and keep it to ourselves.
No one knows do they?
But God knows!
I can't tell you the number of sermons that I've sat through,,, and the preacher was speaking on doing the will of God,,, and God was speaking to me through whichever pastor was in the pulpit and I was able to just sit there,,, very uncomfortable,,, but no one knew it but me,,,, and God.
But the day came,,, when I had to answer the uncomfortable question of whether I was doing the will of God,,, and again,,, no one knew but me and God,,, but I had to answer,,, and I'm up here today because of that answer.
I'm so thankful that God didn’t give up on me,,, He had plenty of reasons,,, and even now,,, I still fall short,,, but through the Holy Spirit guiding me back,,, those shortfalls are getting fewer and fewer.
That's what's so important about a relationship with God,,, that you are able to hear His voice when He speaks and you are obedient to Him!
I'm not convinced that the expert in the law had everything quite figured out correctly because he does asks Jesus to explain who is my neighbor.
So Jesus begins to explain the story that we should all know of the good Samaritan.
As I begin this part of the explanation,,, I want you to imagine how someone that wasn't saved would think if they were watching these events unfold from a distance.
I say that because you know that they are always watching,,, just waiting to see if we get it right!
They are searching and want what God is more than willing to give but they don't see it from Christians sometimes.
As the story unfolds,,, you see the man coming down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and he gets beaten up, robbed and left half dead,,, according to scripture.
Then this is where the interesting part comes if you are watching from a distance.
You see a priest coming down the road,,, he will take care of him for sure you think,,, but what happens?
The priest sees the man and immediately goes to the other side of the road.
That's unbelievable,,, right?
A little later,,, you see a Levite coming down the road,,, again,,, he sees him and passes on the other side of the road.
Amazing!
What's even more amazing than this,,, is the fact that these types of things happen every day.
And I'm ashamed to admit that I've even been guilty of it in the past,,, maybe you have too!
How many times have we seen a need and ignored it?
Either because we are rushing to get somewhere,,, or traffic is too bad,,, no extra money,,, too busy to worry with that right now,,, on and on,,, the excuses don't stop.
Like I've said,,, I've used all of these and then some to justify my actions.
That doesn't make it right!
God will not understand when we are before Him during judgement if we haven't repented before that day!
But then thankfully,,, the Samaritan comes down the road,,, but you aren't expecting too much because this man hasn't lived exactly the kind of life that you think that he should have lived in the past.
But he stops and goes to the man,,, takes care of his wounds and takes him to an inn and takes care of him.
The next day he takes two denarii and gives it to the innkeeper to pay for his trouble for taking care of the man while he is gone.
What kind of witness do you think these two men of the church,,, the priest and the Levite,,, would have if these events happened today?
It wouldn't be good,,, that's for sure.
And what's so bad is the fact that this happens more than we as Christians like to admit.
It damages our witness to those outside of the church so bad.
That's why that it is so important to be sure that we act appropriately outside of church each week.
We should be like the Samaritan and take care of others without thinking of ourselves or our likes and dislikes.
Truthfully now,,, if the Samaritan would have said,,, I'm not taking care of him,,, that's a Jew!
In light of the way that he has been treated by the Jews in the past,,, would you really blame him?
But he doesn't,,, he does what's right and takes care of him as we all should.
Without regard to whether they are rich or poor, race, sexual preference, whatever the type of person that you might look down on,,, it doesn't matter!
We should see the need and fulfill it,,, not the hatred or dislike that we feel for someone that we see.
I say that because of the words of Jesus to the expert in the law,,, after he has admitted that the Samaritan was the better neighbor,,, where Jesus tells him to "Go and do the same".
He is telling us the same thing.
Don't be like the priest and the Levite,,, too busy with church business maybe,,, to stop.
Be like the Samaritan,,, even though he was despised by the Jews,,, Jesus said that he stopped and took care of him.
In it says: "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
A similar command is also found in : 43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The Samaritan was showing all of this by his actions.
I read this scripture yesterday in my devotion that I read every morning written by Billy Graham.
In it he wrote,,, the Bible says, “Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.”
That's found in .
This is the kind of love that God showed us when He sent His Son into the world to die for our sins.
We didn't love God the way that we should before we became Christians,,, but God loved us anyway!
That's what Jesus is trying to tell us today.
Love others as I loved you,,, just as I loved you before,,, whether they love you or not should not be deciding factor in what we do!
And we show that by our actions,,, not by words!
Because the way we act tells others so much more about us than words ever can!
So as we begin our week when we leave here today,,, I want us to think about these scriptures and how we should live as Jesus commanded to "Go and do the same".
And if by chance you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus,,, let me remind you that all you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your heart,,, believe that He came to earth,,, died on the cross,,, and was resurrected for your sins and give your life to Him and then live your life fully for Him.
Don't put this off because we aren't promised tomorrow.
We don't know the hour or the minute when Jesus is coming back or when our time is up on earth.
So as we sing our final hymn,,, let me remind you that the alter is always open,,,
If you feel God speaking to you,,, don't hesitate to come,,, maybe you just have questions,,, God will answer,,, you just have to ask Him,,, whatever the need may be,,,
As we sing the final hymn,,, come if needed!
Oakdale - Hymn Page -
Seminary - Hymn Page - 382
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