Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000048
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00:41 Hello, and welcome to Behold the Lamb presents.
00:44 I'm Chris Shelton your host 00:46 and I want to work in you to our program today. 00:48 We're beginning another two part series 00:51 that we have entitled, "who is my neighbor?" 00:55 In terms of Bible references for our neighbors, 00:58 we find several passages 01:00 starting back in Leviticus where instruction is given 01:03 that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. 01:07 Christ Himself repeated these words 01:09 as He walked among men on this earth. 01:12 In fact, we find that loving our neighbor 01:14 actually summarizes the last six of God's commandments 01:19 that He wrote with his very own finger. 01:21 Yet, as in the story of the Good Samaritan, 01:24 we don't fully grasp just who our neighbors really are. 01:29 Over the vast many years of recorded history, 01:31 this lack of understanding of who constitutes our neighbor 01:36 has been the excuse for many 01:39 presumably followers of God to act and treat 01:42 other people in uncaring ways. 01:45 They comfort their conscious by telling themselves 01:48 that the person whom they've treated unfairly 01:50 in some way was not their neighbor. 01:54 We've built many walls of prejudice 01:56 such as economic status, race, religion, education, and so on. 02:01 Anyone outside of our creative circles of comfort, 02:05 we declare not to be our neighbors. 02:08 Therefore we conclude that we are not bound by scripture 02:12 to love them as ourselves. 02:14 But, but, friends, 02:16 is this truly what is being taught in God's word? 02:19 Many Sadducees and many Pharisees thought so. 02:23 But what about you? 02:25 What are your thoughts about who your neighbors really are? 02:28 How are you lining up with God's word on this topic? 02:32 And does it really matter 02:34 whether or how we love our neighbor anyway? 02:37 Stay tuned today as Pastor Kenny Shelton 02:40 shares with us what God has been sharing with him 02:43 during his studies on this topic of 02:46 "who is our neighbor?" 02:48 But first we are blessed to visit the 3ABN worship center 02:52 and listen to its song entitled, 02:54 "It's Only Me, Lord" by Jim and Pam Rhodes. 03:12 It's only me Lord 03:19 It's only me 03:23 Seems like I call you every day 03:29 And you always know what I will say 03:37 But you take the time to help me see 03:41 The kind of person I should be you always listen 03:50 Here I stand so small in frame 03:57 So afraid that I might fail 04:02 That you filled my heart with happiness 04:06 You cared for me with tenderness 04:09 It's only me Lord 04:14 It's only me 04:21 Lord I love you take my heart 04:28 Help me live right from the start 04:33 Thanks for bearing all my pain 04:40 And making bright my day again 04:44 It's only me Lord 04:50 It's only me 04:56 It's only me Lord 05:02 It's only me 05:20 Thanks for joining us once again here at Behold the Lamb. 05:22 It's been mentioned already our subject. 05:24 It's a two part series "who is my neighbor?" 05:28 Oh, it sounds like an old-- some of you will say, 05:30 "Oh, yeah, well, I-- 05:32 I know what this message is going to be all about." 05:34 We're gonna spend a couple hours on it 05:36 and it may be that the Holy Spirit has something new 05:39 that he wants to bring to our attention 05:41 of really who is our neighbor? 05:43 Is it the person next door, is it the Smiths, 05:45 is it the Jones, is it the wealthies? 05:48 Who--who is our neighbor? 05:50 We're gonna find out in this study, 05:51 but as usual, 05:53 we can never open the word of God and study, can we? 05:56 Until we have prayer together. 05:58 And just before we have prayer, I just want to remind you 06:00 and I want to thank you for your calls and your letters 06:03 and, you know, supporting Behold the Lamb Ministry. 06:05 We appreciate that so very much from the bottom of our heart. 06:08 Comments and questions are wonderful. 06:10 Thank you for the things that you send. 06:12 And I need to mention from time to time, 06:14 a lot of people send a lot of things 06:17 and it's just very difficult to go through every thing. 06:20 I mean, some of you send books this thick and, you know, 06:23 to have time to write or read through some of these things 06:26 and to get back with you on all of this, 06:28 it--it takes a lot of time. 06:29 So it's not that we don't appreciate it. 06:31 Thank you for caring. 06:33 But it's gonna take some time 06:35 and you can do this if we don't respond in a time 06:38 that you think is pleasing to you. 06:40 You may call and say, "hey, remember? 06:42 I sent you some books." It's okay to do that. 06:45 We need to correspond, 06:46 we need to go back and forth. 06:48 This is how we learn, 06:49 this is how we questions our answers. 06:51 So we thank you for all that you do 06:53 for Behold the Lamb Ministry. 06:55 Now we're gonna sit at the feet of Jesus, aren't we? 06:57 We're gonna open the Bible, 06:59 we're gonna learn as we do that, 07:01 we're going to-- the first thing you do. 07:02 And, remember, though you new students, 07:03 those of you who are--right? 07:05 Just coming to Jesus, we always do what? 07:07 Good, we always pray before we open the word. 07:11 So why don't you, where you can, 07:13 just kneel with me and, you know, 07:15 some just listen to the message and others view it, 07:17 but whatever the case, 07:19 if you can kneel with me, please do it. 07:20 If not, ask God to help us 07:22 as we present these beautiful truths that maybe, 07:25 maybe are just bypassing us 07:28 and we have really forgotten how deep this subject is of, 07:32 "who is our neighbor?" Shall we pray together? 07:36 Merciful God in heaven, 07:37 we thank you again for your word today. 07:39 We pray however the Holy Spirit will consume 07:42 each and every one of your precious children. 07:45 May our ears be open, may we be able to hear 07:48 and may we be able to behold wondrous things, 07:51 out of the book, out of thy law. 07:53 We thank you for loving us. 07:54 Now we pray that you'll be with each and every one 07:57 in a very special way that we may learn a lesson today 08:00 that may be we have forgotten the simplicity of the gospel, 08:04 yet how complex that it can be. 08:06 We need your spirit, 08:07 we commit ourselves under thy care, 08:09 and thy keeping in Jesus name we pray 08:11 and for his sake, amen. 08:15 Again, those of you who have the opportunity 08:17 to get your Bible, always remember, 08:19 always study to show yourself approved unto God. 08:23 Do not take the preacher's word. 08:25 You don't want to take the evangelist's word. 08:27 You know, people, "oh, we watch T.V. 08:30 and we say that-- " Get the Bible out 08:32 and check everything by the word of God, 08:35 because you know what? 08:36 Everybody that you listen to on the radio and T.V., 08:39 I'm gonna be bold about there. 08:40 They're not telling you the truth. 08:42 And how do you know if you're not checking it out? 08:44 Well, you don't, do you? 08:46 So I always encourage check every word, right? 08:49 By the Bible, everything, my opinion means zero, zilch. 08:53 But God's word means what? Everything. 08:56 We're talking about again who is our neighbor. 08:59 And I thought it'd be a very interesting thought here 09:01 in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 19 verse 19, 09:05 just to--really the last line on there, it says right here, 09:08 I have it in my Bible. It says, 09:09 "Thou shalt, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 09:16 How many times have we, have we read this? 09:19 I mean, how many times have you, 09:21 have you heard this preached? 09:23 Oh, it's real simple, we've heard it so often, 09:25 yeah, but--because you've heard it, 09:27 or you, or you, you know, practicing in every day life. 09:31 Do you really love your neighbor the way God said? 09:34 He said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 09:39 And, you know, very seldom that we ever find somebody 09:40 that doesn't like their self. 09:42 Be careful with this. 09:44 But love, it says, "love thy neighbor as thyself." 09:47 And I've often heard this 09:48 and just allow me to go on for just a second, 09:51 if you don't mind. 09:52 You know, we have a lot of people, Christian, 09:55 let's just say Christians. 09:57 They don't like what their neighbor does, 09:59 then again, we're gonna define neighbor 10:01 maybe in a different way than you've maybe ever defined it. 10:04 Maybe you don't understand 10:06 what neighbor really is all about. 10:07 But I find this a lot of times. 10:09 If we don't like what our neighbor does 10:12 or something happens that we don't approve of, 10:14 we just up and just take them to court 10:18 and just uh-oh, sue their socks off. 10:22 Is that really proper? 10:24 Or there's a way that maybe the situation could be worked out 10:26 where everybody is happy and you can make adjustments 10:29 and I've heard people say, 10:31 I say, "Well, why are you taking so and so to court?" 10:35 Because Bible says to love your neighbor or a believer. 10:40 And some people say, "Well, they're not believers. 10:42 That's why I can't take a believer to court 10:44 because they're not a believer." Really? 10:45 Is that what the Bible really teaches? 10:49 Friend, listen. 10:51 We always justify and we make excuses 10:53 why we do what we do, 10:55 even if it's against of thus saith the Lord. 11:00 We cannot do that. 11:02 I was reading a book called "second testimonies" and again, 11:06 it might shock some of you there, 11:08 but, you know, as we read page 43, 11:10 I want you to just keep this in mind and just listen. 11:13 It starts out like this, 11:14 "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 11:17 We just read that in the book of what? 11:19 Yeah, Matthew, Chapter 19, verse 19. 11:21 Here's what it said, 11:23 "This forbids us to take advantage of our fellow men 11:29 in order to advantage ourselves." 11:31 We are never to take advantage of anyone in order to what? 11:34 Elevate ourselves up or what? 11:36 For the advantage of us. 11:37 Never are we to do that and then it goes on to say, 11:40 "We are forbidden to wrong our neighbor in anything." 11:47 The word of God forbids us to wrong our neighbor in what? 11:51 In anything. 11:53 Now let's go a little bit deeper here because this might, 11:55 ooh, ooh, ooh, hit somebody and point it a little bit, 11:58 a little bit poky, but let's listen to it. 12:01 We shall not view matters as what? 12:05 As worldlings do or from their standpoint. 12:08 See, a lot of times, we are so accustomed 12:09 to being in the world that we begin ito view God's word 12:13 How do you do this in the light of a worldling? 12:17 "Well, everybody does this. Everybody's doing this." 12:19 Listen, don't do that, it said, 12:20 "God's laws are to be obeyed, listen, to the letter." 12:26 God's laws are what? Are to be obeyed to the letter. 12:32 In all of our dealings, it says here, 12:35 our dealings with our fellow men, 12:37 listen, here's where it goes. This is very important. 12:39 Please pay attention and I'm talking to you, okay? 12:43 It's me--we're gonna talk here, 12:45 because this is an excuse that many people use 12:48 in order to take advantage and or get even 12:51 and or sort out a situation or a problem. 12:55 Because we say, "Well, they're an unbeliever, 12:57 so, well, I can do that. 12:58 Bible say we'll not take believers to court, 12:59 well--"Listen what it says here. 13:01 "In all of our dealings with our fellow men, 13:05 whether a believer or an unbeliever, 13:10 this rule is to be applied. 13:13 Love thy neighbor as thyself." 13:16 Wow, what a setting, what a foundation for us 13:20 to build on this two part series, because why? 13:24 Automatically we've already blown what? 13:26 This has blown some people out of the water already. Why? 13:29 Because you've used the excuse the believer, 13:31 unbeliever, well, they're not really my neighbor. Really? 13:35 Is that what the Bible teaches? 13:38 Maybe we need to get back to the Bible again. 13:42 Maybe we need to get back to the simplicity. 13:44 Listen, I'm telling you-- listen today. 13:46 This subject is so vital 13:48 that your eternal destiny could be decided 13:52 and will be decided on how--Oh! And how you love your neighbor 13:56 if you do or you don't or if you just don't care. 14:01 Heaven depends upon understanding of this subject. 14:06 We're not here to waste our time or to try to tickle somebody. 14:09 We're trying to get right back to the word of God 14:11 and say, what's going on here? 14:13 Do I really love my neighbor? 14:15 In the Book of Matthew, Chapter 25, 14:18 and I want you to turn there with me, 14:19 if you'll do that. 14:20 Matthew Chapter 25, we're gonna turn here. 14:22 I'm gonna read several little verses here, 14:24 but all bare long, bare long today, 14:27 and you know the subject that we're talking about here. 14:29 But it's under the heading 14:32 as you look in your King James Version 14:34 about the sheeps and the goats. 14:35 But Jesus is doing some talking here 14:38 and notice what He says, 14:39 we're going to read Matthew Chapter 25, 14:41 verses 35 and onward. Notice what it says. 14:44 It says, "For I was an hungred, 14:47 and you gave me meat, 14:49 I was thirsty and you gave me drink, 14:51 I was a stranger and you what? 14:53 And you took me in." 14:55 If you skip up to verse 32, 14:57 you get a real view of what's being talked about here, 15:01 is talking about when Jesus is going to come 15:04 and he's going to be separating the sheep from the goat 15:07 and he uses this illustration. Remember? 15:09 Sheep and the goats. 15:11 Sheep will be on the right hand, 15:12 the goats are on the left hand, 15:14 so there's a separation taken place 15:16 and Jesus said, "Listen, I'm going to separate the people 15:19 that doesn't have compassion on other folks." Wow. 15:25 Let's read on then. 15:26 You're still not grasping, are you? Let's read. 15:29 Verse 36, Jesus said here, "Naked and you clothed me, 15:33 I was sick, and you visited me, 15:35 I was in prison, and you came unto me. 15:38 Then shall the righteous answer him and saying, 15:40 'Lord, when saw we thee hungred, 15:44 oh, and fed thee, or thirsty, 15:47 and gave thee drink? 15:50 When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in or naked 15:54 and clothed thee? 15:55 Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, 15:59 and came to thee?'" 16:00 They're saying, where was you in the situation, what happened? 16:03 And then onto verse 40, 16:05 "The king shall answer and say unto them, 16:07 'Verily I say unto you, 16:09 as much as you have done unto the least of these what? 16:13 These my brethren, and you have done it unto me.'" 16:17 Wow, that's potent. 16:21 Jesus is really referring to about the-- 16:24 if you were hunger and you what? 16:26 You gave me no meat. 16:29 Wow, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, 16:33 I was stranger and you took me in. 16:35 When's the last time that we took the stranger in? 16:39 Somebody asked me for a drink or somebody needed some food 16:42 or whatever and may be in prison and we forgot about him. 16:45 We didn't visit them and Jesus said 16:49 these are things that have to do with eternal life 16:52 and we're not dealing with them, 16:54 because we have problems of our own. 16:56 Who is my neighbor? 16:57 Jesus said if you don't take care of these things, 16:59 that means you're not taking care of the king's business. 17:01 You've done it into the least of these, 17:03 you've done it what? Unto me. 17:06 Would we dare have the audacity to do that to Jesus, 17:10 King of Kings? 17:12 Little book called "Christ's Object Lessons," 17:13 oh, I love this book 17:15 and it has so many wonderful spiritual things in it. 17:18 And page 196, notice how it reaches, 17:20 little paragraph here, but please stay with me, notice. 17:23 And we're gonna be answering who is my neighbor? 17:26 It's gonna take a while to get there, 17:27 but, oh, what a good travel. 17:29 It's gonna be some good times spending in the word of God. 17:33 Because it talks about the value of a soul. 17:35 You see, if we never ever come to the point of understanding 17:40 how valuable a soul is, 17:43 we'll never understand the neighbor. 17:46 And our obligation to our neighbors 17:47 and who they are. 17:49 But we have to understand for the value of a soul, 17:53 how heaven looks at an individual. 17:56 And many times, the difference is 17:57 how we look at them. 17:59 Listen, the value of the soul, this article starts out, 18:02 who can estimate? 18:04 Who can really put an estimate on the value of a soul here? 18:08 Notice what it said. Would you know the worth? 18:12 Oh, I'm encouraging you, my brothers and my sisters, 18:14 we need to understand the worth of a soul. 18:18 It says if you want to understand 18:19 the worth of the soul, here we go, look. 18:21 Go to Gethsemane. 18:24 "What took place in Gethsemane?" you might say. 18:27 Oh, you've been reading your Bible, 18:28 you know what took place there. 18:30 And when we go to Gethsemane, 18:32 what do we do? We watch Jesus, we watch Christ. 18:35 Through those hours of anguish as he cried out, 18:39 as he sweat, as it were great what? 18:40 Drops of blood. 18:43 Why was He there? What was He doing there? 18:45 Why was He going through such agony? 18:48 Could it possibly be for somebody like you 18:51 or somebody like me? 18:54 Are you really worth that much that the Son of God 18:58 would go through what He went through? 19:00 Are you that valuable? 19:01 Do we understand the value of a soul? 19:06 Oh, dear friend, look, look, its article says, 19:09 "Look upon our savior lifted up on the cross. 19:12 Behold the cross of Calvary and what Jesus went through 19:16 and hear that despairing cry when he said, 19:20 "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 19:25 What an agonizing cry from the son, 19:29 from the King of Kings from Jesus. 19:32 Why have you forsaken me? 19:34 You can read that in Mark, Chapter 15, verse 34. 19:38 And then it goes on and says at the foot of the cross. 19:42 Oh, do you realize how important it is 19:43 that you and I spent time at the foot of the cross, 19:46 at the foot of the cross? 19:48 You know, it says where I first saw the light. 19:50 At the foot of the cross, 19:52 where we gave our life to Jesus Christ. 19:53 At the foot of the cross, 19:55 where I begin to learn the value of a soul 19:57 and what was given on my behalf. 20:00 And for you, you're valuable, "At the foot of the cross, 20:04 remembering, notice, that for one sinner, 20:09 Christ would've laid down his life." 20:12 Oh, how often you've heard this said. 20:15 But is it really ringing a bell for you? 20:17 Or is it just like "oh, I've heard it, 20:19 I've heard it, I've heard it," 20:20 and oh yes, and for the one soul you 20:26 and you know you're unworthy. 20:28 I know I am unworthy. 20:30 There's nothing good the Bible says, 20:32 but for that one soul, to win that one soul, 20:34 Jesus would have went through everything that He went through. 20:37 It's way above my head, I don't know about you. 20:42 We look at our neighbors, and our friends, 20:43 and people out on the street. 20:45 In fact, we look at him, "huh, we're not gonna look again." 20:48 We don't like what they look like, 20:49 don't like how they dress, how they talk, how they act, 20:51 what they do. 20:53 Make a judgment, throw him out. 20:55 But the Bible teaches differently. 20:58 Jesus never made stipulations on what, 21:01 this, that, He just sent for one, 21:03 He would have done this thing. 21:04 Christ would've laid down His life. 21:06 Then it said, you may then, 21:08 now we may estimate the value of a soul. 21:12 Now we can get a picture of how valuable that one 21:16 little bitty person is. 21:22 That the king came down here 21:24 and went through what he went through. 21:27 Now what we're building here, what is it? 21:29 Now we're gonna-- then who's my neighbor? 21:32 Thou shalt love thy neighbor. 21:36 Not when it's convenient, not when everything's cheery 21:39 and everything's going well. 21:40 But maybe when you think, 21:42 "Uh-oh, your rights have been trampled on 21:44 or somebody's infringing on something that you have. 21:47 Do you really love them? 21:49 Do you really value that soul? 21:52 Everyone that you see, do you say these-- 21:55 this is a potential child of God? 21:58 This is a candidate for heaven. 22:00 Oh, granted, there's a lot of people, 22:02 if we go by looks, they don't look like they're-- 22:04 look out now, a candidate for heaven. 22:06 But you know what? We're looking on the outwards. 22:08 Jesus, he looks where? 22:09 He looks on the inward part of man. 22:12 I'm thankful for that. 22:15 A soul, every individual, 22:18 whether it's staggering down the street 22:20 or their faces in the gutter-- or the gutter 22:22 or they're shooting up whatever they might be doing. 22:24 A liar, and a thief, and whatever, 22:25 procrastinator, or--whew! 22:29 He said, "I would've done it." 22:32 Oh, how we've missed some spiritual lessons here. 22:37 See, if we are in Christ as we've studied scripture here. 22:41 If we're in Christ, 22:42 we will begin to place his estimate on a soul. Right? 22:48 If he's really living in me. 22:50 If he's really living in my mind. 22:52 If I have the mind of Christ, 22:53 then I begin to place his estimate on people. 22:56 Not how I view things or how I think things ought to be, 23:01 then we will become interested in soul winning. 23:06 You cannot be-- a lot of people say, 23:07 "Well, I wanna be a soul winner." 23:09 Well, how can you when you don't love them? 23:12 When you don't care about them? 23:13 You can't be a soul winner. 23:15 You've got to love them to the point 23:17 where you give your life for them. 23:18 People say, "Well, I'd give my life for them," 23:20 but you don't really want to live for them. 23:22 Did you get it? 23:24 "I'm not gonna live my life, I'm not gonna sacrifice, 23:26 I'm not gonna--" Oh, no. 23:29 I give my life to what Jesus. 23:32 Jesus gave His life for me. 23:34 For that sinner, for that one individual here. 23:37 Now we become soul winners. 23:39 We find that-- because of God's grace here, 23:43 we're gonna be able to win souls, 23:46 not drive souls away. 23:48 Did you get that? 23:49 We're going to be able to attract souls to Jesus, 23:53 who's living in you, not repulse them. 23:57 Some people say, "I just can't understand 24:00 why I can't win these souls, man. 24:02 I'm 20, 30 years in the church 24:03 and I have never led anybody to Jesus." 24:05 You ever thought about it? Might-- 24:08 it might be you, it might be me. 24:10 It could be our conduct. 24:12 We could be driving them away. 24:14 Away from rather than what, 24:16 wooing them in by the spirit of Jesus inside of us, right? 24:19 The Holy Spirit wooing them and loving them 24:21 and encouraging them. 24:24 But how many times did we not do it? 24:27 We act opposite of that. 24:31 I want to just say this 24:33 as we're talking about "who's my neighbor?" 24:35 It's a good lesson for us. 24:37 'Cause we believe in being soul winners. 24:39 We believe in dedicating our life to the cause of Christ 24:42 and trying to get the word out and the Three Angles Message 24:44 and warn the world, but here right-- 24:46 we find that Christ 24:48 Jesus made a personal effort to rescue souls. 24:52 What do I mean by that? 24:54 To rescue souls. Why? 24:56 Because they're in peril, because we're gonna die, 24:58 we're gonna perish without Jesus Christ. 25:00 Jesus made, listen, what? 25:02 A personal effort to come down here, 25:06 to rescue me from the enemy. 25:10 Wow, and you think 25:12 and I think that we're gonna be a soul winner 25:14 if we don't put forth some kind of personal effort? 25:17 Ooh, rather than for our self? 25:19 Everything we do is for our self, 25:21 and what we do is for our self. 25:22 He came down to rescue me. 25:25 Personal effort is imperative 25:28 if you want to be a soul winner for Jesus 25:30 and, you know, I may I say this that, 25:32 every person that makes it 25:33 to the kingdom's gonna be a soul winner. Wow. 25:39 Christ says to us that we need to live a life of service. 25:45 He requires us to relieve the suffering. 25:49 He requires us to feed the hungry 25:52 and to cloth the naked. 25:55 He requires us to relieve the oppressed. 25:59 Not if you feel like it, 26:02 not if, "Well, when if I get everything done for myself 26:05 and then I have--" I related this story a long time ago 26:09 when I was just in high school, I worked at a body shop. 26:12 There was a man that worked there, 26:13 and of course, you get a 15 minute break sometime 26:15 and so, you know, we kind of get to the snack machine, 26:17 be careful now. 26:18 I don't want no letters saying, 26:19 "Well, you shouldn't went to the snack machine." 26:21 Listen to the principle, please. 26:23 You know, a lot of times it's hard to think 26:25 about bringing quarters or something and again 26:27 and this fat man-- would go to this man, 26:29 you know, because he always had a big pocketful of change-- 26:31 his name was Dennis and we'll look out now. 26:34 "Dennis, would you happen to have change for a dollar?" 26:37 He'd reach in his pocket and he'd pull out a great big-- 26:42 somebody listen to me now. 26:43 Pull out a great ol' thing of change 26:46 and he'd looked through and he'd say that, 26:48 he'd look at you and he'd look at this 26:49 big ol' handful of change and he'd say, 26:51 "Let's see if I have enough for myself first," 26:54 and he was serious. 26:55 "Have enough for myself first 26:56 and then if I have enough for myself, 26:58 then I'll go ahead and give you some change." 27:01 Interesting, wow. 27:05 It sounds minute, like it's no big deal, 27:07 but you realize what, it maybe in the man's heart. 27:10 He was willing--listen, he was willing to help 27:12 as long as he came first. 27:15 That's not what the Bible teaches. 27:18 Maybe we've forgotten the value-- 27:20 so maybe we've forgotten who our neighbor is. 27:25 Oh, friend, if you see somebody heading to a Christ-less grave 27:29 that doesn't know Jesus, never have given their life to Him, 27:32 how can you let him head there without trying to head him off, 27:35 as it were, and try to introduce Jesus in their life? 27:38 Not if he's living inside of us. 27:41 You want to bring home these beautiful truths 27:43 that you have learned 27:45 that's done so much for you in your life. 27:48 This changed you. 27:50 Oh, friends, it gets so, 27:52 oh, I almost said get too tired of it, 27:53 but I need to be careful, but it's just like, 27:56 "oh, I know, I know, I know, I know." 28:01 People over and over, "I know, I know," 28:03 yeah, but-- so you know. 28:06 Remember, the truth is something that goes what? 28:08 Good, inside of you and it what? 28:11 It works a change. 28:13 If it doesn't develop a change inside of you, 28:15 then you haven't accepted the truth in. 28:17 You've only accepted "I know it." 28:19 Mentally, did you get it? 28:21 Truth will change you and it will change me. 28:25 We bring another little book, "Six Testimonies" 28:29 and I try to read lot on these 28:31 and I think it's very good in page 275 and 276. 28:34 And because I hear people say this, 28:36 "Well, I'm not gonna be able to go out and do this. 28:39 I can't go door to door knocking." 28:41 No, you say you can't go, 28:43 number one, you don't want to go. 28:44 Let's just expose you right off the reel, okay? 28:46 Let's just and now. 28:47 If you have a physical ailment 28:49 and you can't-- I understand that, 28:50 but people that's going around and they're busy--no, 28:52 you just you choose not to. 28:53 So why don't you just say it like it is? 28:55 So they'll say, and this is okay, 28:57 "I'm gonna--I'll put some money in the plate 29:00 and that way that excuses me from going out." 29:03 Oh, we need the donations, praise God. 29:06 Message couldn't go forward without people 29:07 who are giving and you know what? 29:09 I believe God blesses those who give to the cause. 29:12 I really do. 29:13 Are you one of those that's giving sacrificially? 29:17 You know that God has ordained individuals that-- 29:20 what he has ordained-- listen, to be counted 29:22 faithful is that they just give of their means. 29:26 They go, they work, they make finances, 29:28 and they give them to ministry, they give them you know, 29:31 the Bible, you know, books and tracks 29:33 and just get the gospel out. 29:35 That's about as simple as I can say it. 29:37 That's they will be counted faithful to Jesus Christ 29:41 because that's the job that he has given them to do. 29:44 And a lot of people just really find that difficult. 29:47 But, listen, donations and money does not take your place. 29:51 I found it many times in my earlier years 29:54 as working a lot in construction that it was easier-- 29:57 oh, I'm guilty as sin on this one. 30:01 And I take it as such. 30:03 "Oh, I can't really go to there." 30:05 Oh, I couldn't do-- I was doing everything else. 30:07 But I said, well, let me drop in 20 or 40 or 50, you know. 30:11 "Here you go," Oh, everybody's, 30:12 "Oh--" But listen to this article, listen, 30:15 "Donations of money cannot take the place of personal ministry." 30:22 Wow, t's right to give means. 30:27 Many more people should do this and feel this burden, but what? 30:32 "They are according to their strength 30:36 and according to their opportunities." 30:39 That's how we work. 30:41 Strength and opportunities that God gives. 30:43 Listen, here's an underlying this, 30:45 "Personal service is required by all." 30:52 Oh, you think you're an exception? 30:53 No, you're not. I'm not. 30:55 See, we forget and I'm just doing this to remind you, 30:58 not to agitate you, but to remind you. 31:01 Personal service is required of all, 31:04 Biblical foundation principles, is that true? 31:07 Yes, it is. Personal service and listen to this. 31:13 Article goes on and says, "Every church member." 31:17 Are you a church member? 31:18 Are you a member of God's family? 31:20 "Should feel it his special duty to labor for those, 31:25 listen, living in his neighborhood." 31:30 Every Christian, every Christian, 31:33 that's every one of us, everybody should feel 31:37 their special duty to labor 31:40 for those living in their neighborhood. 31:45 Everybody lives in the neighborhood, 31:46 somewhere right surrounded by somebody. 31:48 Where does the work really began? 31:50 "Oh, I want to go over here and I want to go see the world. 31:53 I want to go do all this." Begins where? 31:56 Yeah, in our neighborhood. That which lies closest to us. 32:01 This is where it really begins. 32:02 This is evangelism. This is reaching out. 32:04 This is loving a soul, 32:06 what is the value of that person over there that--whew, 32:09 you just don't understand them sometimes. 32:12 Loving them the way Jesus said. 32:15 You see, we have to wisely improve every opportunity 32:20 that God gives to us. 32:22 He's expecting a little turn, you see. 32:25 A little bit of what? 32:27 Oh, when you're saying you invest something 32:28 you want some returns. 32:31 You know, we have to-- we--we must do anything 32:34 that it takes to win souls, 32:36 because that's what heaven did. 32:39 Heaven didn't spare anything when it comes to winning-- 32:42 we say souls, but it's very, very clear, 32:45 in order to win one soul heaven was emptied. 32:49 Wow, you mean, Lord, they're worth that much? Yes. 32:55 So who is my-- who is my neighbor? 32:59 In Luke chapter 10, I'm just going to turn over this. 33:02 Some of you need to be turning your Bibles. 33:03 You know, you're getting lazy. 33:04 You want me to do it all for you. 33:07 Oh, you got to read for yourself. 33:09 Luke chapter 10 verse 29, it starts out. 33:11 It's gonna be, you know, these are very, very, very important. 33:14 Luke chapter 10 verse 29. 33:18 Now we remember, 33:19 this is the parable of the Good Samaritan. 33:21 We're just going to touch now. 33:22 There's a lot of things to cover, 33:24 but notice, the parable the Good Samaritan. 33:26 And so verse 29 there, it goes on to say right here, 33:29 "But he, willing to justify himself, 33:32 said to Jesus, who is my neighbor?" 33:36 See, the subject matter, who is my neighbor? 33:38 This was also asked-- You remember 33:40 in the parable of the Good Samaritan. 33:42 Do you remember that? 33:44 We'll talk a little bit more about it 33:45 and get in a little more detail. 33:46 But in order to do what? In order to what? 33:49 Justify himself. Why? 33:52 Because he wasn't doing what the master had said to do. 33:55 He said, "Who's my neighbor then?" 33:59 If they're not my neighbor then or, 34:01 you know, then do I really have an obligation to them? 34:04 Well, what do you do? 34:06 You draw a line, say, "This is my neighbor, 34:07 that's not my neighbor, this one over here's not my neighbor-- 34:09 well, this one here's a different color than I am. 34:11 So that's not my neighbor. 34:12 This here, I don't like." 34:14 Come on, somebody, help me out here a little bit. 34:15 I'm digging a hole. 34:19 So where do we draw the line here? 34:22 He asked, he said, Who is my what? 34:24 "Who is my neighbor?" 34:26 So as we look at this parable of the Good Samaritan, 34:28 not spending a lot of time on that. 34:30 But just hit some high points if you just allow me to do that. 34:34 So this was a what? 34:35 This was a lawyer and oh, be careful. 34:38 A lot of lawyers are good with words. 34:41 They know how to trip you up. 34:44 They know how to get something out of you 34:45 when you don't want it out of you. 34:49 And so he thought he was gonna outsmart Jesus, 34:52 and so he said, "Well, well, who's my neighbor?" 34:54 Because he automatically knew 34:56 when Jesus began to tell him about a neighbor 34:59 and our responsibility of loving God 35:02 with all of our heart and our soul 35:03 and our mind and our neighbors as our self, 35:05 that he had been what? 35:07 Negligent of the neighbor and so he wanted-- 35:10 "Well, what would you define who the neighbor is?" 35:12 You ever deal with somebody like that? 35:16 Trying to get out of because they know 35:17 they weren't doing what they should be doing. 35:21 And then the question is awesome. 35:25 And I think maybe it's one that-- 35:26 let's ask our self today. Listen carefully. 35:30 Do you remember what it goes on as you continue to read on? 35:32 It said, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 35:39 Realize, we're not working our way here, 35:40 but he was trying to say, 35:42 "What do I need to do to inherit eternal life?" 35:45 We should be asking our self that question every day, 35:48 not get mixed up on words here. 35:49 We're talking about making our-- making to the heaven. 35:52 What does the Lord require of me? 35:56 That's easy. Wow, Jesus said this also. 35:59 Jesus simply said this and it's so different from the world. 36:03 Jesus said, "What does it say in the law?" 36:07 Wow, lawyer trying to trip him up with words, right? 36:10 But Jesus come around and said, 36:11 "Well, what does it say in the law?" 36:14 The lawyer said, "We'll love God with what?" 36:16 All your soul, your mind, heart, 36:17 and strength and mind and neighbor as thyself. 36:21 Wow. He answered correctly. 36:26 But how interesting Jesus looked to him and said, 36:28 "Oh, yes, do this and thou shall live." 36:34 How simple we see, who is our neighbor? 36:39 Jesus said, "Oh, love to God, 36:41 love to your fellow man, to your neighbor. 36:44 If you do this, you shall live." 36:48 Wow, but again that law, you're wanting to do what? 36:52 We talked but he wanted to justify himself. 36:54 So who's my neighbor? 36:56 And Jesus right quick gives him a parable. 36:58 He gives him an illustration there in Luke 10:30 and so on. 37:01 He said, "There was a man. 37:04 This man fell among what?" He fell among thieves. 37:09 And of course, you know the whole story that's not it. 37:11 He was--he was beaten. He was left for dead. 37:14 There was seemed to be no hope for him. 37:17 And then along comes the priest. 37:20 "Oh, don't want to get involved here. 37:21 Ooh, no way, no." Passed on. 37:24 We know the next one come by, the Levite came on, 37:27 seeing this man beat to death. 37:28 He's left for dead. He's robbed, he's naked. 37:33 Didn't care enough to throw something over him. 37:37 Didn't want to help him. And they passed on quickly. 37:39 "Ooh, I don't want to get involved here." 37:42 Then the Samaritan came, someone that might say, 37:45 well, enemy. They regard as an enemy. 37:49 But he had compassion the Bible said and he helped him. 37:52 And then Jesus looked to him and to the lawyer 37:55 and he said now who is the real neighbor? 37:58 Come on, say it with me. 38:00 Who is the real neighbor here? Wow. 38:04 The man said, "ooh, I guess it was the one 38:09 that showed mercy on him." 38:12 Jesus said to the man, "Go and do thou likewise." 38:17 Wow, Jesus interested in mankind. 38:23 Meeting their needs, helping them in the time of necessity. 38:27 Go and do thou what? Go and do thou likewise. 38:32 Interesting in Matthew chapter 4. 38:34 I'm gonna turn there in my Bible. 38:35 You take your Bible and you turn along with me. 38:36 Some of you are not. 38:38 You're getting lazy, maybe dozing a little bit. 38:39 I can't have that. 38:41 No, let's get into the word. 38:42 Matthew chapter 4, we're gonna be looking at something 38:44 I think very interesting that pray this, 38:46 that's going to help us along our way. 38:49 Now if we look at these verses 38:51 and we begin to try to contemplate at verses 18-20. 38:55 Matthew chapter 4 verses 18-20. 38:59 Now remember, this is where Jesus was calling the twelve. 39:03 Yes, that's it. 39:05 Notice what it says, 39:06 "And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, 39:08 saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, 39:11 and Andrew his brother, 39:12 casting their net into the sea and they were fishermen. 39:14 And he said unto them, 'Follow me, 39:16 and I will make you what? Fishers of men.'" 39:18 This thing you've heard all your life. 39:19 Verse 20, "And they straightway they left their what? 39:22 Their nets and they followed him. 39:25 These are profound statements in God's word. 39:30 Jesus is walking, you see it said here, 39:32 by the Sea of Galilee. 39:34 Was he there because he had nothing else to do? 39:36 No, he was seeking to save souls. 39:40 And He saw some men, they were fishing. 39:41 This is their livelihood. 39:42 This is--this is all-- maybe all they head in the world 39:44 was involved into their nets, into their boats, 39:48 and they had nothing else there. 39:50 And this is how they made living, 39:51 how they fed their families. 39:53 Jesus looked at them and he said, "Follow me." 39:56 It said straightway, they began to follow Jesus. 39:59 How many would do it? 40:00 We would tell, "Well, we've got this to do 40:01 and that to do and when things are right 40:03 and when everything is real, then we'll do it." 40:05 When Jesus said, "Follow me," 40:07 That's exactly what he meant and they left their nets 40:10 and they followed him. How interesting. Wow. 40:16 As I read this, I thought how interesting this is 40:19 when we study scripture 40:20 and we look at these passages of scripture. 40:22 And then I found a little article 40:24 in Desire of Ages 151, said this. 40:28 Remember, we're looking at the value of a soul, 40:29 who is our neighbor? 40:31 Why we should be interested in our neighbor. 40:32 Who is our neighbor? 40:34 How much work do we need to do? 40:35 How do we separate? 40:36 How we divide if there is? Notice this. 40:38 He said, "Jesus saw--" This is what I need to learn, 40:40 Jesus saw in every soul one to whom 40:44 must be given the call to his kingdom." 40:47 Jesus what? Come on, somebody help me. 40:50 Jesus saw in every person that he met. 40:54 Every person that he saw someone 40:57 that needed to be given the call to his kingdom. 41:00 What do you see when you meet people going down the street? 41:03 What do you see when you're in Kroger's shopping? 41:05 Ooh, all you see is food. 41:07 All you see, "Well, oh, me, mine, I, I need other--" 41:12 When you're out mowing the lawn, 41:14 when you meet people at Wal-Mart, 41:18 what do you see? Jesus saw in every soul. Why? 41:23 Because you're so valuable. You cost. 41:28 It said now, "He reached the hearts of the people 41:32 by going among them as one who desired their good." 41:40 Do people recognize that in you and me? 41:45 That you really desire their good. 41:47 You want what's best for them. 41:49 You care about them. 41:52 If you do, you'll do what Jesus said in this article 41:55 "Desire of Ages" said, 41:56 listen, He sought them on the public streets. 42:01 You think he's just walking up and down the streets 42:03 'cause he didn't have nothing to do? 42:04 You know, "Aw, man, we're just wasting time or--" No. 42:08 He sought them. He went after them in the public streets. 42:12 He went into the synagogue, as it were. 42:14 He went to the church. 42:15 Wow, why would He go to church looking for people? 42:18 Oh, maybe there's people in the church 42:19 that need to be converted. Mercy. 42:23 He went by the shores of the lakes. 42:26 He called His disciples in. He went to the marriage feast. 42:30 Do you get this? 42:31 Wherever he went, he saw that soul. Why? 42:34 He was gonna give his life for that very soul. 42:37 That this be won. 42:40 See he met them in their daily vocation. 42:44 They may have been right, driving nails and working 42:47 or--I want to say electrician, but, well, Lord help us. 42:51 But some of you will get it. 42:53 He met them where they worked, 42:56 where they lived, where they ate. 42:59 He went to them because what? 43:01 They were valuable until you understand the value of a soul, 43:05 till I understand the value of a soul, 43:07 we're just not gonna put our self out. 43:10 Jesus went out of his way. 43:12 I hope you get that. 43:14 He was interested in where they worked. 43:18 He was interested in how they felt for the day. Oh. 43:22 He was interested and, I'll be nice, 43:24 if you had a headache. Really. 43:28 That's how much he cares. 43:30 He takes note of everything. The Bible talks about it. 43:32 He takes note of the look on our face 43:33 if there's a little frown, if there's a smile, 43:38 if there's a look of puzzlement, I don't understand this. 43:41 He takes note of everything because you're so special. 43:44 Because look what you cost. 43:46 Look what I cost. Everybody. 43:51 Do we get what-- our responsibility to evangelize 43:55 and to work for other people. 43:58 He had a-- oh, Lord, help me 44:01 to have that kind of strong sympathy for people. 44:06 He sympathized with them and it helped to win hearts. 44:10 We have no sympathy. Why? 44:12 Because we're going through stress and strain of our own. 44:14 The devil's got us in chains and bondage down 44:16 to where we're just so worn out 44:18 that we don't have anything else to give anymore. We're drained. 44:25 But Jesus cared. He--sympathy. 44:30 People understand it was to win heart. 44:32 Here's a key, success for the master. Do you need a key? 44:36 Oh, you need a key and I need a key 44:38 and that may be simple, but, listen. 44:40 I'm going back to this and spending time on it 44:42 because I really believe that 44:43 we forgot the simplicity of the gospel. 44:46 We've really forgotten the worth of a soul. 44:48 We've really forgotten who our neighbor is 44:50 and how precious every person is. 44:54 Care about every person-- and you maybe get along 44:57 'cause it takes two people to get along, 44:58 but you understand, where they going to spend eternity? 45:00 Do you really care? 45:03 Here's a real key. Key to success. 45:06 May I say spiritually for Jesus 45:08 was as before he went out to work, 45:12 He went all the night 45:14 before He went into the mountains 45:16 solitary by himself? 45:18 He didn't need-- oh, an entourage, 45:21 He didn't need something to, 45:22 you know, to get him distracted from everything, but solitary. 45:25 He went into the mountain to talk to his father 45:27 to gain strength for the next day's activities. 45:30 Ooh, but this, my friend, was his preparation 45:36 for what was going to take place for his labor 45:39 among men and in active life. 45:42 You have to prepare for it. 45:44 You can't just get up and say, 45:45 "Oh, well, let's see, what am I gonna do today?" 45:47 You gotta be praying about it. 45:49 As he labored among these men, 45:51 he came forth from that what? 45:54 Enclosure with the heavenly father, 45:56 with new strength and new zeal, 45:59 a clear mind to follow that the leading of the spirit 46:03 as it spoke to Him. 46:05 And he went forth and what did Jesus do? 46:07 He came to break bread to the ignorant. 46:09 He came to give them life and understanding of scripture. 46:12 What did he do? 46:13 He came to break the chains 46:14 that the old devil has surrounded, 46:16 right, just has his wrapped up in things of this world 46:18 and in sin, problems of this life. 46:21 We're captives of Satan. 46:23 And praise God, Jesus come to set us free. 46:26 Friend, if you've been set free, 46:28 if you've not been set free, 46:29 why not? Why not? 46:33 In those chains, aren't they getting heavy? 46:35 Don't you feel like you just-- you're just, like, 46:37 tied down to certain things 46:38 or things that just can't change in your life 46:40 and you want them to change. 46:42 You need to just what? Say the name of Jesus right now. 46:44 Oh, Jesus, help me. 46:46 He's never turned down a contrite heart. 46:48 He's never turned down an honestly hearted individual 46:51 that's cried the name of Jesus. 46:52 The devils begin to tremble. 46:54 Their knees begin to shake and they have to flee. 46:57 We're not crying out the name of Jesus, 47:00 like the way we should be doing today 47:01 to break those chains. 47:02 Here's another key. 47:04 We're talking about soul winning. 47:05 So what does Jesus-- soul-winning? 47:07 Time for preparation, time alone with the master, 47:09 time to get ready for God to use you, 47:11 to equip you, to empower you. 47:14 This little one I found in "Desire of Ages" 152 said this, 47:17 we talked about it, skimmed over it. 47:19 It says, "It was by personal contact and association 47:23 that Jesus trained His disciples. 47:27 Not just talking about just, you know, the twelve. 47:29 We are disciples, aren't we? Of Christ? 47:32 Oh, we should be, I should be a disciple. 47:35 But you notice, if we're training others 47:37 to be a follower of Jesus Christ, 47:39 it said, "It was by personal contact and by association." 47:43 It wasn't by, oh, an email or a phone call sometime. 47:45 You sat down, He was with them. 47:48 He showed them by example. 47:51 Well, how often we need to do that. 47:54 No, I think about in order to be his disciples and I say, 47:58 "Oh, Lord, I wanna be your disciple." 48:01 You're saying today, "Oh, Lord, I want to be your disciple, 48:04 but there's so much that I need to learn. 48:06 So much I need to understand and, oh, many changes-- 48:10 I'm almost overwhelmed with it," 48:12 and then you make this statement 48:15 there in Luke chapter 14 verse 33. 48:20 It's a startling statement, but it says 48:24 that we have to be willing to forsake all and to follow Him. 48:30 See, are we really-- are we really willing to do-- 48:34 oh, I'm going have to read it to you. 48:36 Are you turning with me? Don't get lazy. 48:39 Luke chapter 14 verse 33. 48:41 Here's what the Bible says, 14 verse 33, 48:46 here's what the Bible says. 48:48 "So likewise, whosoever he be of you 48:52 that forsaketh not all that he hath, 48:55 he cannot be my disciple." 48:59 Are you willing to forsake all for Jesus? 49:01 Or are you putting something else? 49:02 You're putting a mate or you're putting a house, 49:04 you're putting your job, 49:05 you're putting all of these other things before Jesus, 49:07 you can't be His disciples. Don't even claim it. 49:10 Don't go around saying that you are. 49:13 If we're not willing to give up everything in this life, 49:15 we cannot be his disciples. 49:17 What are you clinging to today that stops you 49:20 from being a real disciple of Jesus Christ? 49:24 Then I try to balance being disciple of Jesus 49:26 and forsaking everything. 49:28 How does this balance with my neighbor 49:30 and the worth of a soul and a little book on life 49:33 schedules just 3 or 4 words that said here to page 206. 49:37 It said, "A soul is greater than all earthly riches." 49:42 What? Huh? 49:44 "A soul is greater than all earthly riches." 49:51 There's nothing in this life. 49:53 Nothing in the whole world--Oh. Though you gain what? 49:57 Though you gain the whole world and yet you lose your soul. 50:01 What does that profit to man? 50:03 Some of you are just working and trying to gain 50:05 and get putting in the bank, 50:07 withdrawal this and get this and do that. 50:08 You're gonna lose your soul. 50:11 We're gonna lose our soul. 50:14 So you gain the whole world and you're losing-- 50:16 what did you profit? 50:18 You haven't profited a thing. Who's my neighbor? 50:23 In Luke Chapter 10, turn back with me quickly. 50:26 Come on, we've got 4-5 minutes here. 50:27 We're gonna do Luke Chapter 10. 50:29 This is gonna reset the stages as we do the second part here. 50:31 I know there's a lot to it. 50:33 And already you said, "oh, Lord have mercy. 50:36 We need three parts." 50:40 I know my wife, she kinda shivered when she heard that. 50:45 Who's my neighbor? 50:47 Luke chapter 10 verses 25-29, let's get this set up. 50:51 Shall we--as we come together next time. 50:54 Luke chapter what? 10 verses 25-29. 50:58 That's-- you understand it, 51:00 but let's get into this a little bit more here. 51:02 This is a parable of what? The Good Samaritan. Right? 51:06 We went over that. 51:07 We went over that, certain lawyer what do-- 51:09 tempted Jesus and went right on, justified himself, 51:12 "who is my neighbor?" 51:13 So that's what we're gonna do. 51:15 We talked about the Levi. 51:16 We talked about the priest and so on so forth. 51:18 This is what we're centering around. 51:19 This is what we're focusing on right here. 51:22 Now remember, the question was this. 51:24 You know, who's my neighbor? 51:27 You say, well, how did that really come-- 51:28 how'd that come out? 51:30 You remember the Jews were good debaters. 51:32 And they always debated the questions 51:35 and they debated what the responsibility 51:38 would be to their fellow men, to God, 51:40 and to their fellow man and their neighbor. 51:43 Now this is interesting. 51:45 They ruled out-- these are the Jews, 51:47 supposed to be God's chosen people. 51:49 They already ruled out the Samaritans. 51:52 "Oh, the Samaritans-- they're not our neighbors. 51:56 Uh-uh. They're against us." 51:58 They ruled out all the Hayden. 52:00 All those who were not just like them, 52:02 looked like them, and they ruled those out too because, 52:04 "They're not our neighbor. These are strangers. 52:09 These are--these folks are different than us. 52:13 Oh, many of them are enemies." 52:15 Then they had a difficult time with this. 52:18 And Jesus said that we were to what? 52:21 To love our enemies. 52:22 Read that in just Matthew chapter 5 and Luke Chapter 6. 52:25 Jesus said, "Love your-- love your enemies." 52:27 And he's defining who our neighbor is, 52:29 but the Jews were sat down in their council and said 52:31 well--but the difficulties continued to grow. 52:36 So they're gonna try to figure out how--listen carefully, 52:40 how can I love my neighbor 52:44 and not have any contact with him? Wow. 52:49 How can I have feelings for my neighbor, 52:55 yet have no contact? 52:59 And yet I--you know, how can I not offering help 53:05 and I can't do anything for him and I'm not gonna help him. 53:08 And how am I gonna treat him? 53:12 But they said that--when I treat him as though he doesn't exist, 53:18 so how am I gonna figure this out? 53:19 I treat all these like they don't exist. 53:21 But yet I'm supposed to love them, supposed to help them? 53:25 Well, that's a tough one, how're we gonna do this? 53:28 And so they said, "well, where are we gonna draw the line? 53:31 We've already ruled this group out, 53:33 but we're gonna to draw--" 53:34 Oh, this one should be very familiar to some of us. 53:36 We're gonna have to draw a line among our own people here. 53:39 We're gonna have to draw a line to say, 53:43 who really is our neighbor? 53:45 And so they begin to classify these people. You remember? 53:47 About the first group and we're gonna 53:49 have to really close on this, but think quickly with me here. 53:52 And they--so they said, "let's divide them up. 53:54 Okay, we have the high class. 53:56 We have the middle class, and the low class." 53:58 Have you ever heard that? 54:00 High class, you know, those are the rich and the famous. 54:02 You have the middle class that we call the blue collar 54:05 and this is the-- you know, 54:06 these are the ones that are comfortable, 54:08 but they're also the wannabes of the rich and the famous. 54:10 Then you have the poor or the low class. 54:12 And they wanna be any place but where they're at. 54:16 So they're gonna say we're gonna have to put 54:17 all into the categories here to find out 54:19 how we're supposed to love them as a neighbor. 54:23 Rather than based on character and based upon, 54:27 you know, our love for Jesus. why? 54:30 What a problem they were. 54:31 They were digging quite a hole that they could not get out of. 54:33 Who is my neighbor? 54:36 And so that's why Jesus asked this question 54:39 and then we find that he gives opportunity to show 54:42 whether we really love our neighbor. 54:43 We're gonna have to close right there with that. 54:45 But I'm telling you, Jesus is gonna put it right on the line. 54:48 So who is my neighbor? 54:50 This is the first question 54:51 we're gonna answer on our second part. 54:52 Who is our neighbor? 54:54 A little article found in welfare ministry, 54:55 you won't want to miss this. 54:57 That's really opens that because it talks about 55:00 how we treat our neighbor 55:01 and how it relates to eternal life. 55:04 Wow, you've done all this other stuff? 55:06 We need to pray right now that the Holy Spirit of God 55:08 helps us to realize the worth of a soul. 55:12 What was given on our behalf? 55:14 And what are our responsibilities 55:16 to our neighbors and who they are all around the world? 55:19 Let's pray about that right now. 55:20 The Holy Spirit will open our eyes 55:22 and our understanding. Shall we? 55:23 Merciful Father in heaven, 55:24 we thank you for your precious word. 55:26 We thank you that you're opening our eyes 55:28 and our ears and our hearts to really the whole world 55:32 and the mission that you've given us to accomplish. 55:34 Thank you for Your love. 55:36 For those who have been viewing, listening, 55:37 we pray the Holy Spirit of God's 55:39 working on their heart right now. 55:40 We give you praise, honor, and glory in Jesus' name. Amen. 55:45 Again we really, really do enjoy spending this time with you. 55:49 And remember, you know, you can--you can look on 55:50 "Dare to Dream" and you can--the 3ABN radio 55:53 and the television and Youtube and all these places, 55:55 but keep tuning in. 55:57 We have people say, "You're not turning out enough program." 56:00 Faster you can turn them out, the better we like it. 56:01 Well, pray for us. We need that. 56:03 But we also realize that, cost a little bit to do it. 56:06 So we just simply say we can only get 56:07 by the free will offerings of God's people. 56:10 We solicit those. We thank you. God bless you. 56:12 You have a good day and we'll see you next time. 56:18 Well, I can just envision most of you 56:22 shaking your heads right now thinking to yourself, 56:25 "I just never realized 56:27 the vital importance of every soul. 56:30 Every soul of every race, creed, and status." 56:34 And along with that rest of us 56:36 that are learning from this message, 56:38 you may also be thinking, 56:40 "Boy, I really have some changes that by God's grace 56:45 I need to make." 56:46 The worth of a soul, how we treat our neighbor 56:49 is vitally important in our walk with God 56:52 on this road to salvation and to keep this lesson 56:56 and it's follow-up message vivid in our minds, 56:59 we are offering it to you for a love gift of just $15 or more. 57:04 This is a series, friends, 57:06 that I know you'll wanna share with your church, 57:09 your friends, your family. 57:11 It's a message to motivate us to do more, 57:14 much more for the cause of Christ 57:17 and to start doing more, we need to start this very day. 57:21 So if you like, give us a call and order your very own set. 57:25 The number here is 618-942-5044. 57:30 That's central standard time here in the United States 57:33 or you may write us to Behold the Lamb Ministries, 57:36 P.O. Box-2030, Herrin, Illinois 62948 57:42 or email us at BeholdTheLamb Ministries@Yahoo.com. 57:47 And as always, go to our website. 57:50 You can find it there as well. 57:51 It's www.BehodTheLambMinistries.com. 57:56 Until next time, may our precious Lord 57:59 continue to richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17