Please Help…

PLEASE HELP!

“On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Law? He replied. How do you read it?

The expert answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and, with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.’

 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this, and you will live.”

But he (the expert) wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’

In reply, Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 

So, too, a Levite (A levitical priest, a son of Levi) came to the place and saw him, but he passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his donkey, brought him to an inn, and cared for him. 

The next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

(Luke 10 “30-37)

This teaching was a painful slap in the face to the expert who was no doubt a High Priest, Pharisee, Sadducee, or Scribe. The Jews believed that all non-Jews, or Gentiles, especially Samaritans, were spiritually and culturally unclean and that it was sinful to associate with them in any way.

In His message, Jesus elevated the “Good Samaritan” above the expert.

Remember that at this time, the Hebrew Law, the Ten Commandments, and the six hundred and three man-made attachments were still in force for all Jews. Jesus fulfilled and nullified them by keeping them and by His sacrificial death, but the expert was under them.

Here is one of the King of King’s most iconic urgent teachings to us. Jesus was speaking again to those who were under the Law and dependent on works for salvation, unlike we who are saved by Grace and Belief, but the message emphasizes how we are to live:

Jesus speaking: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

(Matthew 25:34-38)

JESUS DECLARED THAT WHAT WE DO FOR OTHERS, WE DO FOR HIM! I know you, as I love doing things for the King!

A promise from Jesus:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

Amazingly there are many who define themselves as “believers” who while clinging to John 3:16 for their dear eternal lives and “believe it without doubt,” are ignorant or just flat out refuse to believe this promise.

There are those, some of whom I know, to whom giving is not in their realm. They honestly don’t see why they should give and believe that if they give, they will not have. Frankly, some folks are just too stingy to give, regardless of their means.

Cheerful givers know the opposite is true. Cheerful Givers have seen the floodgates of heaven opened up and poured out on them. They know that it is impossible to out give God. 

Cheerful givers see God’s grace abound unto them in every situation and see His infinite multiplication of their seed sown every day. More importantly, Cheerful Givers know the unspeakable joy that comes from helping others that, sadly, those who do not give will never witness. Ask a Cheerful Giver to describe the joy of giving and the joy that comes from it to you. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

This week’s message is a plea for help! The people of the Southeastern United States have been devastated by one of the worst hurricanes in history. The worst-hit areas were places that were not prepared in any way for hurricanes. From Florida to Virginia, the storm caused massive wind and flood damage. It is reported that some towns are wiped out.

The victims need everything from the basics of water and food to electricity and recognition and baby formula and diapers and pharmaceuticals like insulin and cancer meds. They need strong men and women to help clear debris and honest contractors to help rebuild. We have a family member doing just that in Florida, and we are very proud of and grateful to him.

The government has been useless. Our leaders are more interested in politics than helping. They have squandered the money needed to assist victims with food, clothing, shelter, medical needs, cell phones, cash, and education for the millions of illegals who have invaded us. FEMA

can not be counted on even though our massive taxes were supposed to have funded them.

So it’s up to us to help. I’m not too fond of the Red Cross because of its excessive administrative expenses. My support goes to SAMARITAN’S PURSE. Franklin Graham started this organization to help people in distress. It is a mission designed to teach people about the love of Jesus by demonstrating it.

You can find them online and designate that your offering goes to help the Hurricane Helene effort. If you don’t give to SAMARITANS PURSE, give through whatever organization you support. Publix is raising food; I assume most retail chains do the same. Many churches are heavily involved as well.

Please do your research and make sure the organization that you contribute to is doing the work that they claim. But PLEASE, PLEASE, HELP!

While we are on the subject of giving, we want to take this opportunity to lavish our love, praise, and heartfelt gratitude to those of you our overwhelmingly generous, faithful and committed giving partners who make our work possible. You send us to millions of folks worldwide who are starving for the love and hope of the Gospel of Jesus of “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE.”