Bible Study - Neighbor (1) - Who is Your Neighbor - Luke 10:26-37 - July 24, 2022

 

Bible Study – Neighbor (1) – Who is Your Neighbor? – July 24, 2022

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled, “How to Love Your Neighbor.”

Our focus scripture is Luke 10:26-37.

Love compels us to be the neighbor others need.

Matthew 19:14:

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”^[a]

I am 84 years old but consider myself a little child. I am still learning and eager to learn from JESUS and through GOD’S Word, the Bible as revealed by the Holy Spirit.

In 1 Corinthians 1:1-4: (The Apostle Paul was writing)

For my part, brothers and sisters, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. ² I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, ³ because you are still worldly. For since there is envy and strife^[a] among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans? ⁴ For whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not acting like mere humans?

It is time for those of us who have been Spirit-born to grow up Spiritually by the renewing of our minds. That takes a decision on our part. Many of us need to cast out old notions and ask JESUS to help us renew our minds and allow the Holy Spirit, along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to flow through us to others, as led by the Holy Spirit.

I want to go back to our scripture in Romans 12 regarding seven (7) gifts of the Holy Spirit. The basis for these seven gifts is found in Isaiah 11:1-3 and apply to JESUS to equip HIM for HIS earthly ministry:

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him (JESUS):

a Spirit of wisdom and understanding (knowledge),
a Spirit of counsel and strength (fortitude),
a Spirit of knowledge (understanding) and of the fear of the Lord (piety).
³ His delight will be in the fear of the Lord (reverence and respect).

As Spirit-born Children use the gift or gifts listed in Romans 12, we see the hand of GOD producing fruit in our lives, in the lives of others and fulfilment in the lives of those who utilize their gift(s). As we use our gift or gifts we grow Spiritually and produce Spiritual fruit. Our carnal nature battles with our Spiritual nature. We who are Spiritual are in control of which nature within us is allowed to rule our lives, human or Spiritual. This is why the Apostle Paul admonished Spirit-born people to renew their minds. Say “NO!” to the flesh and “YES!” to the Holy Spirit in each of the areas where the Holy Spirit works. We who are Spirit-born control which nature within us dominates/controls our lives – self or the Holy Spirit, as manifested in many areas, according to GOD’S plan for each of us.

All humans are triune – body/soul/spirit. It is our spirit that must experience conversion or Spiritual birth/ Born-again. But the body loves to rule and so does the soul but the “born-again” through faith in JESUS is the “must have” for humans to have eternal life and function in HIS Kingdom. As HIS “born-again” Children, HE equips us with Spiritual Gifts to be used as HE directs.

The Apostle Paul begins with step one, “brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.^[a]”

“Here I am LORD, take me as I am and make out of me what YOU desire for me to be in YOUR Kingdom. I realize for me to function in YOUR Kingdom, I must be fully equipped and in YOUR Kingdom your arsenal is complete with everything I need to live according to your plan for me. Help me to rightly apply each Gift as I renew my mind to function according to YOUR plan and purpose in YOUR Kingdom. Open my Spiritual eyes to truth and the application of YOUR truth. I realize my neighbors are the people of the world. They are either bound for Heaven through faith in JESUS or Hell because they have rejected JESUS as their Savior. I know the truth and do not want to hide it. Thank YOU!”

Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.^[a] 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God

Do you desire to be transformed? Where do you begin? You begin by asking GOD to renew the way you think or your mind. All humans have baggage from our DNA, ancestral character and traits, influences in our formative years by various sources, our sinful nature, lifestyle and the list goes on. All of us need to ask GOD to reveal to us the things in our lives that hinder us from fully using our Spiritual Gift(s) and from serving HIM.

Paul had lots of baggage and he knew it. His life before JESUS was led by Satan. After Paul’s conversion, he spent 3 years renewing his mind (getting the facts straight) in the desert with JESUS before he went to Jerusalem. Galatians 1:12 - ¹² For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul learned about the Gift of Grace. We are all sinners saved by and live under GOD’S Grace. Spirit-born people must not get puffed up when they are anointed with Gifts from GOD but they are to use their gift or gifts as led by the Holy Spirit.  There is nothing wrong with testing our Spiritual gift as GOD gives opportunity. Ask our LORD to increase our faith to use our gift or gifts as HE directs. We must be careful not to get too big for our britches but GOD knows us like the back of our hand or the number of hairs on our heads. HE loves to teach each of us as we follow HIS lead. Afterall, we are HIS Children.

Many Gifts but One Body – These Gifts are to be used to build upon the solid foundation of JESUS as the Holy Spirit gives to us. We cannot just name it and claim it but we can desire it. Diversity is the key in the Kingdom of GOD and HIS body of believers.

Romans 12:3-8: (Seven Spiritual Gifts)

³ For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself (herself) more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. ⁴ Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, ⁵ in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. ⁶ According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s^[b] faith; ⁷ if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; ⁸ if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

These seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are believed to be common among all Spirit-born people. GOD gives these seven (7) Spiritual foundational Gifts to us but it is up to us to use them.

Christian Ethics – Romans 12:9-11:

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy (be genuine don’t fake it). Detest evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. ¹¹ Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit;^[c] serve the Lord. 

In verse 11 reference [c], references “in the spirit.” Spirit-born people are to be fervent as led by the Holy Spirit and as led, their work is accomplished jointly through human effort (or human spirit) in the power of the Spirit. Or as we have heard, the Spirit is willing but the flesh (spirit) is weak. When we are led, we must put into action what GOD leads us to do, but we may need to ask for help. GOD calls others to help us. The use of our Spiritual Gifts is designed for us to use to minister to others/neighbors. When we do, it builds our relationship with JESUS and confirms our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

As Spirit-born people, GOD equips us with Gifts of the Spirit to minister in HIS vineyard in a variety of ways. GOD develops all Gifts as HE desires to equip HIS Children/Ambassadors to minister. Let’s explore!

Just because we serve in a religious environment does not mean we are Spiritually equipped to minister to the needs of others. The key is, for us, who are Spirit-born, to be in right relationship with JESUS. Serving is not going through the motions of being Spiritual but putting into the practice of applying our Spiritual Gift(s) as we go about doing life. JESUS gave us an example as we read on------

Let’s read Luke 10:25-28:

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ Then an expert in the law (scribe) stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

The Jewish scribe and “lawyer” were the same. Scribes lived in each village and interpreted the Old Testament Law. So, the scribe was using this opportunity for JESUS to make him look good. So, JESUS asked the scribe to answer his own question.

²⁶ “What is written in the law?” he (JESUS) asked him. “How do you read it?”

JESUS knew this man knew the law and how to interpret 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.”^[j]

²⁸ “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.”

Bingo! This scribe/lawyer gave the correct reply. Notice the word “all.”

Can a person in his or her own strength and power carry out these activities? NO! The Gifts of the Spirit enable us to carry them out.

JESUS accommodated the scribe but the scribe went a step further by asking JESUS to define neighbor. The scribe likely thought JESUS would say only fellow Jews. But -----

Let’s read Luke 10:29-32:

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. 

A man had likely been in Jerusalem, which was higher than Jericho. Thus, a man was traveling down the road to Jericho. I understand robbers would hide along the road to attack and rob those traveling on it. The robbers took whatever money the man may have had, took his clothes, beat him, fled and left the poor man near death.

Along comes a priest. I understand that those who served in the temple in Jerusalem, for the most part, lived in Jericho. The priest was likely going home after his temple duty. He offered altar sacrifices and for burning incense. He was likely tired or for whatever reason the priest saw the man but passed by on the other side. If the priest had touched a dead body, he would be considered unclean or defiled ceremonially and would have to go back to Jerusalem to undergo a week-long purification process.

Next comes a Levite. The Levite was likely traveling home, as well, after serving in the temple as a temple helper e.g., liturgy, music in the temple, cared for sacred vessels, temple courts, etc. The Levite did as the priest had done and passed the wounded man on the other side. Did the priest influence the Levite? We can only speculate.

Two pillars of the Jewish religious community failed to render help to this helpless man. Who came to help this dying man? ---

Let’s read Luke 10:33-37:

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^[k] he took out two denarii,^[l] gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back, I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’

Samaritans were despised by the Jews. The Samaritans had intermarried with non-Jews and were considered half-breeds, thus unclean. JESUS used a Samaritan to be the one to render help to this dying man. We do not know whether or not the dying man was a Jew or Gentile. That was not the point. The Samaritan saw what had happened to the injured man and had compassion on him. He went over to the man and immediately knew what he needed to do. Notice, the Samaritan was prepared. He had what he needed to care for this man. He bandaged his wounds, poured olive oil and wine onto his wounds. Both olive oil and wine help to fight infection, promote healing and improve blood circulation. That was not the end of the story. No, this despised Samaritan placed the injured man onto his animal, took him to an inn, took care of him overnight, paid the innkeeper to take care of the man with the promise that he would reimburse the innkeeper for whatever extra he spent. WOW!!!

Then JESUS asked a very important question ---

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.

Notice the Scribe did not utter the name Samaritan but simply said, “The one who showed mercy to him.”

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

JESUS told the scribe to go and minister to all people. Don’t limit yourself to just the Jews because all people are your neighbors.

This is what GOD desires from us who know the truth of salvation through faith in JESUS. When we know the truth, GOD in turn desires for us to share with others physically and Spiritually as HE gives opportunity. That is why HE equips us with Spiritual gifts to minister.

What is your gift or gifts? Are you using it or them? Are you afraid to seek your gift(s)? Where does fear come from? Satan does not want you to know what your gift is and if you know, not to use your gift for fear of being labeled a fanatic.

FATHER, help all of us who know YOU through faith in JESUS and the miracle of being “born-again,” to be bold and take a step of faith as YOU direct our lives to use the Spiritual gift or gifts YOU have given to us. This is for YOUR Glory and not ours.

Blessings!!!