LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

SF, Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Prodigals & Unsaved,

Last Sunday, I taught on what & how to “LOVE THE LORD”  The meaning is pretty clear.   Much is said in the Word, of what is the meaning of “Love the Lord with ALL your heart”, this is… the first of God’s two commandments for us.  Today, I’m going to talk about what the second of these two commandments mean.  The Word as usual, has much to say, “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR” - and what we gain, through being a doer of the Word versus what we loose when we're not showing others LOVE.  

Many of you know, that I’ve been told by Google Plus, that the blog will be deleted as of April 2, 2019.  I believe I’ve found the place to go - so for the week, I’ll be working on setting up the new blog page, I’ll be sure to give  you the webpage address as soon as possible.  Blessings to ALL of you for reading these blogs and sharing them with your family and friends.

I’ve hired a lady to create a nicer layout [not so plain] and I’ll be going with WIX.com when she finishes, I’ll let you know the exact URL address you’ll be able to reach me at. WIX has 220 countries it goes to and the language for each of them.  A few may have a problem, because your country will not allow any blogs/USA domains within it.  So pray/agree with me, that you’ll be able to continue reading the blogs.

WHAT DOES LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR MEAN?

Love they neighbor as thyself, is a version of the “GOLDEN RULE”:  Basically it means, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  This was first found in the New Testament [NT] in the parable of the Good Samaritan, to illustrate this commandment [Luke 10:25-37].

The Dictionary says; "A person living near or next door to the person referred to.  Also, a person or place in relation to others near or next to a friend's friend.  Finally, any person in need of one’e help or kindness. " 

So there are a three of options here; as to who is your neighbor - someone that lives next door, or a friend living close, or anyone you know of that needs your help or a kind gesture.  Take your pick - all three are good.  NOW for the WORD.

• [Matthew 5:43-45 NASB] 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on [the] evil and [the] good, and sends rain on [the] righteous and [the] unrighteous.”
• [1 Corinthians 13:2 NASB] “If I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

OOPS, our job has been extended.  The first part would be easy, unless you have neighbors who leave their dogs out all day and part of the night, that do nothing but BARK.  Personally, I LOVE dogs but the barking causes me to leave my doors and windows closed all year.  So I’m praying for them.  I have asked the Lord to remove their larynx - but that part of the prayer hasn’t happened.  WHY?  Because Abba [God], DOES NOT WORK THROUGH ANYTHING BUT BLESSINGS!  That’s why He’s such a GOOD GOD! - He even showed me this Scripture:  I also must tell you, I was tempted to shoot all 3 of them.

[James 1:13 NASB] “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

Since Abba won’t change His ways, I figured I would have to change mine…and I did.  Now my neighbors got rid of those 3 little BARKING terriers and replaced them with 2 larger dogs, that are not barking as much - and if they are not out, I can open my windows/doors.  Working with Abba, is so less stressful, than working it in the flesh!  So I’m back on track - Loving my neighbor as myself.

A couple of ways you can help your neighbors - if you have children:

1. Give Items: Find a neighbor/friend with a child younger than yours and donate clothes, toys, books, etc.  Save your cans and bottles for another family.
2. Give Time: Donate your service to someone in need, a shut-in, or needs a ride to a grocery store, doctor, etc.
3. Give Gifts: Listen to what people say, “they needed” or possibly "broke down" on them,  if you have an extra one of what they need - give it to them.  
4. Keep in mind what the Scripture says about giving:

My favorite verse is “Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, running over and shaken together - and with what measure you give, it will be measured back to you [Luke 6:38].

[Matthew 6:1-5 NASB] 1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you. 5 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

So the smarter thing to do - is give what you can, as the Lord leads - but tell them it’s from Jesus, not you.  Let them PRAISE the LORD for their BLESSING.  Then 2 BLESSINGS will happen; their’s and yours!

[Luke 6:35 KJV] “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.”

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T LOVE

It won’t matter what gift(s) you function in, the fruit or gifts of the Spirit.  YOU will not PLEASE GOD - Remember: FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD!

• [1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV] 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.”

As you can see, your life will not be what Jesus desired for you, “life, and that more abundantly [John 10:10].  But, you’ll make the twerp [satan] happy, because you’ll be opening the doors for him to steal, kill and destroy.

MY PRAYER 4 U - Holy Spirit, lead each person to someone that they can help each day, let them be the blessing You’ve Created them to be.  Let us be obedient to Your Word, bringing Glory and Honor to our Lord and Abba. - In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Blessing in the coming week to ALL.

Love Sandy - The Lord’s Servant

PS:  Welcome to ALL the MIGHTY MEN & WOMEN of GOD who’ve join with Christ this week.