The teaching today 6th
February, 2019 at The Lord of Hosts Miracle Chapel centred on what we must do
to have eternal life. Text is from Luke 10:17-37
There are two segments of the
teaching. The first segment was about the seventy people our Lord Jesus sent
out to profess the word of God. When they came back they reported that they did
exploits so much so that even the demons were subdued at the mention of the
name of Jesus Christ. They exuded so much excitement in their testimony.
However Jesus exhorted them to strive to always do those things that will make
their names be written in Heaven, rather than just rejoicing that the demons
were subject to them. As we go out this week may we strive to do the bidding of
our Lord Jesus Christ so that our names be written in the book of eternal life
and if already there may our names not be removed in Jesus mighty name.
The second segment was the
lawyer’s encounter with Jesus. The lawyer trying to tempt Jesus asked Him what
he must do to inherit eternal life. He thought he was smart but Jesus was
smarter when He asked what the law said in the statute books. The lawyer
answered correctly when he said “you shall 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 your neighbour as yourself.”
This shows that our love for
God must be total and not haphazard. This is as encapsulated in Luke 10:27 with
the key words HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH and MIND. And your NEIGHBOUR as yourself.
The lawyer was not done yet.
He continued in his game of smartness when he wanted to know who his neighbour
was. Our Lord once again outwitted him with a parable of a man attacked by
thieves and left half dead. A priest passed by without helping. Likewise a
Levite. But a good Samaritan stopped and helped the battered man, sheltered him
and deposited money for his upkeep in a guest house.
Now the question is who is
neighbour to the battered man. For the third time the lawyer answered correctly
pointing to the good Samaritan. And Jesus admonished him to go and do likewise.
The teaching made us to
understand that our neighbour is not just the person living near us. It could
be that person in need that we meet on our way, or the person that needs a
sachet of water from us, or that person that is hungry and we know it. The list
is endless. May God grant us the grace to have the gift of giving as we hear
this word in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Sermon by Priest Evarist
Ndibunwa.
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