(Luke 10: 25 – 37)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. There are at least two things we can learn about being our brother’s keeper.
1. It is a command: From this scripture, it is clear that being our brothers’ keeper is a command that we must obey. In II Corinthians 5:20, the Bible says we ambassadors for Christ and that we should reconcile the world back unto Him. As followers of Christ, we all have the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus promises us His presence whenever and wherever we go in search of lost souls.
2. It is a blessing: The second thing we can learn about being our brother’s keeper is that it is a blessing. The Bible says in Acts 20: 35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Being our brother’s keeper involves supporting the spiritually weak and sharing Jesus with those who have never heard before. Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 25-37 to help us to understand how we can be our brother’s keeper. There are many things we can learn from this story.
i. Sensitivity to the needs of others: whereas the priest and the Levites saw the wounded man and did nothing, the Good Samaritan was sensitive enough to do something. Let us be sensitive to the needs of the people around us, particularly the spiritual needs.
ii. Have a heart of compassion: the Good Samaritan was moved with compassion and that is why he stopped. Without compassion, we may not be effective in being our brother’s keeper
iii. Be ready to go out of your way: being our brother’s keeper will sometimes require us to go out of our way. The Good Samaritan was on a business trip but he was willing to leave his plans to meet the needs of someone else.
iv. Be other centered and not self-centered: the Good Samaritan was selfless, placing the need of the injured man above his own. We must be selfless in order to take of the needs of others.
v. Be ready to give: as mentioned before, being our brother’s keeper will require us to give. It could be the gift of our time, love, talent, finances and other things. The Good Samaritan gave of his time and finances.
vi. Be ready to follow up: we must also be willing to check up on others in order to follow up with them. The Good Samaritan not only took the injured man to the hospital, he went back to check up on him.
vii. Be ready to sow the seed of God’s word into fertile grounds. There are many ways we can sow the seed of God’s word. The Good Samaritan sowed the seed of God’s word with his life. Our lives can be a letter that others will read and follow our Christ. 1. Singing An New Song: We should sing a new song unto The Lord. There are many references in the Bible showing us that we should sing a new song unto The Lord. Ps. 33:3 says “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy”. Ps. 40:3 says “He puts a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God; many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD”. Ps. 96:1 says “Sing to the LORD, a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth”. Ps. 98:1 says “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him”. Ps. 144:9 says “I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you”. Ps. 149:1 says “Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints”. Isa 42:10 says “Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth”. We must learn to sing a new song in every situation.
2. Why do we need to sing a new song?
Ps. 92:10 says “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High”. It is because singing a new song makes the devil mad. It is to tell of the love of God because God has been our refuge and strength. It is because He is a God of joy and He wants us to be joyful. He overcame for us. Singing a new song brings deliverance in the place of defeat. Jehoshaphat and the land of Judah sang a new song to The Lord and God sent ambushment into the camp of their enemies. They sang praises in time of their distress and God came through for them. Singing a new song turns mourning into dancing (the story of Lazarus). Singing a new song will turn captivity to freedom. The story of Joseph is an example. Paul and Silas sang praises and the Lord turned their captivity. Singing a new song turns barrenness into fruitfulness. He changed the story of Hannah, Sarah and Elizabeth.
3. What do we need in order to receive from The Lord?
a. We need our faith. If we put our trust in The Lord, He will always show up. We will not abandon us.
b. We need the grace of God. The grace of God was sufficient for Paul and it is sufficient for us.
c. Total surrender to God in worship and service: Testify of God’s goodness, share your testimonies