The Good Samaritan

Jesus told the story of a man left half dead,
having fallen among thieves, who stripped and beat him, Jesus said.

There was no one to help the man until a priest came by;
but he saw him and continued on, not caring if the man would die.

After that, another, called a Levite, came upon the site,
but he, too, hurried on, with no regard to this man’s plight.

Then came a certain Samaritan, who, despite his journey’s goal,
forgot his own plans and took steps to see that this man would be made whole.

He bandaged up the man’s wounds, applying oil and wine–
“Every life is important,” he must have thought, “What if it were mine?”

He took the man to an inn and cared for him the rest of the day;
the next morning he paid the innkeeper to do so, in order to be on his way.

“If more than that is needed,” he said, “I’ll repay you when I come back.”
His compassion was deep, and he needed to see that he’d recovered from the attack.

Jesus finished the story and asked who’d been the man’s neighbor of the three.
A lawyer answered, “The one who showed mercy to him”–and, likewise, so should we…

not pass up opportunities to help any who need our care;
but instead, on a daily basis, of such times, may we be quickly aware.

(postscript to the above…)

Before Jesus told of this story, the same lawyer had put Him to a test–
“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He thought that he knew this best.

Jesus pointed him to the Law—to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and then to love your neighbor as yourself—these two, really, are intertwined.

If someone says they love God, whom they’ve not actually seen with their eyes,
yet is merciless or hates his brother whom he’s seen, the Bible says that he lies.

Jesus emphasized that loving God was the great and foremost command.
But, again, He said, that these two laws always go hand in hand.

By this, Jesus taught of God’s perfect plan–
Love God and love your fellow man.

But there’s only been one who has ever fulfilled God’s laws in a perfect way–
Jesus Christ, Himself, who has been our example, Teacher, Savior and Lord,
from then until this present day.

P. A. Oltrogge

1 John 4:20, 21 “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

Matthew 22:37-40 “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’”

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

From Luke 10:25-28 and Luke 10:29-37
From John 13:13-15

opportunities to minister
through appropriately named:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org

Prayer for the United States of America

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“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all….” 1 Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV

So we come to God in thanks for our President and all others in places of authority–God grant them wisdom, cooperation, and protection in these times. We especially pray for any who don’t know the Lord in a personal way, to come into the knowledge of Him.

Father,

Our fervent prayer today is for our country, the beautiful U.S.A.
The news reports regarding it have been very dark each day.

The rioting and looting are a war on those police who are good.
We ask for continued courage for them as they serve in every neighborhood.

We pray for their protection–through the covering of Psalm 91,
as well as for every American, who is someone’s mother, father, daughter, or son.

We’re seeing that due to lawlessness, more people have been hurt or have died.
It’s only our prayers and looking to You that can stop this dangerous tide.

We ask You for restored law and order, for without it, no one can thrive.
We know Your Word has said there are demonic forces with which we strive.

Yes, wrongs have happened in America, and those things must be addressed.
But help people to pray and to work together, in a way that keeps us blessed.

The devil would seek to divide, while You, Lord, want people to unite.
We thank You for an awakening to love…through Jesus, this world’s light.

In Jesus’ name, we, your people, pray

Amen

“…’Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6

Who do you say that Jesus is?

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, and others, Elijah, but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” Matthew 16:13-16

Some say that Jesus Christ was just a man in a world history book,
while others call Him God–so it’s best to take another look.
Assurance of eternal destiny is a topic much thought about–
If your answer for that is doubtful, the truth can easily be found out.

Wouldn’t a loving God provide help to find your way?
Yes, through the Holy Bible–it’s where He has His say.
In fact, God wants the news to spread about sending us His Son.
Through Christ’s death on a criminal’s cross, redemption for all was won.

“Why would I need ‘redemption,’” you ask; “I’ve lived a life that’s good.”
Well, we were meant to live holy, but God saw that we never could.
He alone is holy, righteous, almighty, and the supreme justice-keeper.
He’s the very source of love, of which there’s none that’s deeper.

It’s an often-told and familiar truth that Christ came down to earth
to pay the penalty for our sins, offering to every one of us “new birth.”
“In the beginning was the Word,” and in Christ, “the Word became flesh.”
He is that Word, and it’s by Him that our lives can begin afresh.

There’s no other name under heaven that has been given among men
by which we must be saved than that of Jesus Christ, my friend.
Sadly, some who don’t believe still use His name in swearing,
not recognizing that it’s the Name that signifies God’s caring.

And others, in profanity, speak carelessly, using “hell.”
Many doubt its existence, but it’s real and where some dwell.
“On what proof,” you ask, “does anyone stand who so emphatically states
that there is really no other way to gain entrance at heaven’s gates?”

The proof is in God’s goodness, confirmed as the Holy Spirit flows,
through all that’s said in the Bible and as all creation shows.
The Bible says we’re without excuse if we don’t perceive these things–
Please trust the words of Jesus and find the blessings that He brings.

Those who go on to eternity, rejecting the gift of God’s grace
will miss the joy of one day seeing our loving Savior’s face.
So simply answer Christ’s question now of, “Who do you say that I am?”
by receiving Him as your own Savior and Lord–God’s sacrificial Lamb.

P. A. Oltrogge

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:12-14

“Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

“…because that which is known about God is evident within them for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:19,20

“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe, for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26

“For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you who to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:4-7

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'” John 1:29

Scriptures NASB

Consider books, studies, You Tube:
of Billy Graham, Kenneth Copeland, Andrew Wommack

http://www.awmi.net
undeniable testimonies of Jesus as healer–
scroll down to Vonya Currey, currently featured, and others

“Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” words of Jesus in John 14:11 NKJV

Consider the Birds and the Lilies

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Look at the birds of the air…
They don’t sow, reap, or gather
their needed food into barns,
but are dependent upon God, rather.

Consider how the lilies are clothed…
They toil not, nor do they spin,
but to the heavenly Father’s care
they’re blessed to give in.

Yes, consider these,
and consider giving in,
to the message of Christ’s love
above this world’s din.

Partake, through the Bible, from God’s table
of spiritual food fit for a King’s heir–
and be clothed in the love of Jesus,
the finest thing you could wear.

Consider the children,
so gentle and so tender.
What kind of faith
to them will you render?

One that speaks dislike
and contempt of others—
or one that speaks love
and draws all men to be brothers?

The heavenly Father gave Jesus
to tell of God’s care and to guide.
When we take Him as Savior, He gives love
for all others for whom He has died.

So just like the lilies
or the birds of the air,
may people of all nations be blessed to give in
to Jesus—the way to the Father God’s care.

P. A. Oltrogge

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“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies….” Luke 6:27

“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’”
Matthew 22:37-40

“For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious, can add a single cubit to his life’s span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.

“But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

The Sword of the Spirit

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all….

1 Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV

Behold I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:19-20

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:19

Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 18:18

Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.

Nahum 1:7