Love Your Neighbor as Yourself...

[Fedusenko]

I read to post #8. You are good to want to help your neighbor, but remember the text says to love your neighbor AS yourself, not MORE than yourself. If her needs are used to move you towards iniquity, then you should distance yourself. If it is better to cut your hand off and find salvation than to keep it and go to hell, I imagine the same would apply for people who encourage bad behavior. Loving others MORE than yourself creates pride in the pious.

 

[for_his_glory]

I have a little, but she quickly changed the subject. Personally, I feel I am too young a christian, for too tough of a test case to be effective, lol. But I understand that it would not be I, but the spirit through me that would do it. Perhaps I should buck up and allow the spirit to work through me if it is so his will. I will have faith and see how the spirit moves me when I encounter her again.

It would have to be the spirit. I don't talk so well, lol. I'm terrified of ministry to be quite honest. I am ok at giving my testimony. but I'm not sure I could ever get up on a stage and speak to a crowd. Nevertheless, I do not know where God will take me, and I will not resist the spirit. God has the wheel in my life, and I am largely along for the ride.

Many times our personal testimony is all we need as that is our witness. Before you go over to her house pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words to speak and the courage to speak them. You don't have to give a sermon, just give from your heart. Few words will be remembered more than many that make no sense.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I have a little, but she quickly changed the subject. Personally, I feel I am too young a christian, for too tough of a test case to be effective, lol. But I understand that it would not be I, but the spirit through me that would do it. Perhaps I should buck up and allow the spirit to work through me if it is so his will. I will have faith and see how the spirit moves me when I encounter her again.

It would have to be the spirit. I don't talk so well, lol. I'm terrified of ministry to be quite honest. I am ok at giving my testimony. but I'm not sure I could ever get up on a stage and speak to a crowd. Nevertheless, I do not know where God will take me, and I will not resist the spirit. God has the wheel in my life, and I am largely along for the ride.

Hi Edward, no you are not too young a christian.
When you speak to her, if you first ask the Spirit of God to speak through you, He will.
The foolishness that you think you say may speak volumes to her if the Spirit of God is present.
As others are telling you, your testimony may very well be the most powerful thing you can tell someone.
If she has an interest as to why you are a christian, and it sounds like she does, then your testimony will answer her questions.
There's nothing wrong in changing the subject and directing questions to her.
What do you think of christianity?
What do you think of me being a christian?
Would you like to know more about Jesus?
How about coming to church with me Sunday morning?
There are many questions you could ask that she may actually want to be asked.

Sometimes this line of questioning will drive her away or hopefully draw her to Jesus.

 

[Edward]

The foolishness that you think you say may speak volumes to her if the Spirit of God is present.
As others are telling you, your testimony may very well be the most powerful thing you can tell someone.

You make a lot of sense. I will do this. (Even though Fedusenko does too, lol)

 

[Fedusenko]

Yeah, it is a fine line of judgment to make for yourself. You know yourself and what is going on, so you should step back and decide honestly if you can influence her without going astray. You seem smart and thoughtful.

Also, you didn't shorten my SN. You are alright, friend! ;)

 

[iLOVE]

No one has been able to accomplish Jesus greatest two commandments but Jesus. As christians majority live in the natural through good ideas without the anointing blessing from God. In other words self-effort.

Under this new covenant God says believe I have been merciful to your unrighteousness, and your sins and your iniquities will I remember no more. If you believe God says, He can then write on our hearts and our minds. He can then speak to us, lead us, guide us, heal us, and change our desires [Hebrews 10:15-18]. This living is called the supernatural. Through God's love and teaching this is how we are able to accomplish his greatest two commandments that are pleasing to Him. This is a personal intimate relationship with Lord Jesus Christ.

In the old covenant, if I did this, then God will do this. In the new covenant God said, I will, I will, I will!!!! God wants us to understand that through his beloved son Jesus Blood, Jesus has done everything for us if you just can believe.

 

[Edward]

No one has been able to accomplish Jesus greastest two commandments but Jesus. As christians majority live in the natural through good ideas without the anointing blessing from God. In other words self-effort.

Under this new covenant God says believe I have been merciful to your unrighteousness, and your sins and your iniquities will I remember no more. If you believe God says, He can then write on our hearts and our minds. He can then speak to us, lead us, guide us, heal us, and change our desires [Hebrews 10:15-18]. This is living is called the supernatural. Through God's love and teaching this is how we are able to accomplish his greatest two commandments that are pleasing to Him. This is a personal intimate relationship with Lord Jesus Christ.

In the old covenant, if I did this, then God will do this. In the new covenant God said, I will, I will, I will!!!! God wants us to understand that through his beloved son Jesus Blood, Jesus has done everything for us if you just can believe.

I have to laugh just a little because I used to think that it would have been better to live way back then instead of now! I am so glad to be living in post Jesus days. I believe this and I am overjoyed to be living now instead of then.

I have major artillery to use as protection when I encounter my neighbor. Prayer. Yea thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

You make very good points. Sometimes I doubt a little and think that perhaps I may be trimmed as chaff, but I realize that God is not willing that any should perish, and loves me so. I only have to remember to put on my suit of armor everyday and keep my focus. and my praying. Good thread.

(Thanks, Fedusenko. BTW what does that mean? Is it your name? It's not in the dictionary...)

 

[felix]

I'm struggling with loving my neighbor as myself lately. I have a single girl living across the street, and she is coming over asking me for help with mundane things more often lately. SHe's tried becoming amorous with me, and I have no interest in her in that whatsoever. She's very sinful, drinks too much, brings home different men from the bars, and who knows what else.

I know that scripture tells me that if one asks for help, to go two miles with them and so forth, but anything that I do to try to be nice neighbor, she trys to take it further and to set obligations on me like I am her boyfriend or something. I wont even let her into my house. I don't want to be rude or anything and I want to keep her at a distance, but I keep remembering how scripture tells me to love my neighbor as myself. (I also remember the scripture that say do not go in unto her because some will not come back!)

Any of you have this problem? What's a guy to do?

You must not forget who Christ called as neighbors and who He referred as dogs.

Many think everyone is a neighbor which is a blunder mistake. Christ NEVER referred everyone as neighbor. Neighbor is only when someone is within the church. Nor every dog on streets. ( sorry for this language but it is not mine but Christ's ). Once you clearly decern who your neighbor is, you will NEVER help her unless there is some emergency which is a basic human thing (just like any human would do).

If you help one of these little ones you do it do me - Now Question to you? Do you think He is referring to an unbelieving sinner as Himself? Absolutely Not! He is referring to His church. Don't worry about unbelievers, and people who actively reject and sin, for Christ do not know them. If Christ Himself does not know them, how can you even say to Him that you helped them? - It does not count as help in God's sight!

 

[Mountainshield]

This might not be a popular suggestion. You mentioned she drinks allot, this of course is not illegal in itself. But you did say that she does drugs and has even wanted you to try drugs. Maybe things are different in the US than Norway but if someone were using drugs in my neighbourhood I would call the police ASAP.

This is not a bad thing to do, its actually the LAW since you are witnessing someone breaking the law and you are not reporting it.

Call the police is my advice.

EDIT: Thank you felix for that post, that clarification I have never heard before. Can you send me a message about the scriptures that talk about it? or post them here as they are relavance to the topic?

 

[Edward]

Felix, I had come across that in Luke 10: 27-37 and posted so up in post #17. It was good to read that I wouldn't be dis-obeying God because she is not my neighbor.

Mountainshield, I'm not the type of person to call the police on people, unless it is absolutely extreme circumstances, which this is not. She can not do harm to me. I have something better I can do, an ultimate artillery so to speak. Prayer. Much better. I shouldn't have been anxious about this at all for that was a lack of faith on my part. My concern is to obey and the Lord will surely care for me. If the girl comes to me, I will stand back and do as the spirit shall move me to. If I am to give her my testimony, I will, otherwise my concentration should remain on the word always. Time is short and my concern should not be for myself but on giving praise and glory to my God, and obeying him in all things. I should have been able to see her for what she is and gave her no more thought. This was a lack of faith and a distraction. I am stronger today. Praise the Lord. As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because the Lord is with me, and he is my all. Lord forgive me for my lack of faith.

 

[Edward]

So she tried to start a conversation with me yesterday about the world coming to an end on the 21st. I said to her have some faith in God, *******...
She didn't say one more word to me and just went home. Very revealing.

 

[Fedusenko]

That made your point very well! Ha, good for you.

 

[Edward]

I feel bad for her in a way but in my mind she made a very big point as to the position that she holds...and so did I!
I prayed for her and I hope the Holy spirit works on her heart, but somehow I don't think that she will talk to me anymore or ask me for anything which is ok with me.

 

[JCitoL]

I'm struggling with loving my neighbor as myself lately. I have a single girl living across the street, and she is coming over asking me for help with mundane things more often lately. SHe's tried becoming amorous with me, and I have no interest in her in that whatsoever. She's very sinful, drinks too much, brings home different men from the bars, and who knows what else..... Any of you have this problem? What's a guy to do?

it is not about a sexual love in that place of the Scripture, but about the pure love for complete salvation and provision before one suffers/dies, moreover unto everlasting life, so her situation is like yours, because as you need and seek benediction, grace, happiness, and bliss for yourself unto everlasting life, likewise that girl needs and seeks the happiness in the life, so it is written:

Romans 13:7-10 "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery(i.e. do not intrude), Thou shalt not kill(i.e. do not hurt/harm/assassinate), Thou shalt not steal(i.e. do not bereave), Thou shalt not bear false witness(i.e. do not defame/slander/libel/vilify), Thou shalt not covet(i.e. do not curse/execrate/imprecate); and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

so, you can help her if your wife or girlfriend is not against - of course in case you already have such, and be careful that she is not a lure of some criminal act, there were cases in which some seductive woman was a lure in order to make some man goes to a certain place where her partners waylay him to cause him evil, it also is not advisable to please her sexually if she has not serious intentions for you or in case you have not such for her, but you can help her in all other conditions/circumstances, because it is written that the love works in action more than in passive denial, so the choice is yours, and moreover only you might know the situation there, which means that no other human can monitor you better, and regardless of what turns out about her, you after all can always show love towards her before the true God and Jesus in your prayers and your deeds so far as you have an opportunity

Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith(i.e. of the right faith)."

Blessings

 

[Edward]

It never was about sexual love, and I do like to help people as instructed. But she is resistant to words of faith, literally ignoring them. The spirit has not moved me to to go over there so...I plan to stay away from her.

 

[JCitoL]

in principle the infidel women are not so alarming, but (they) are comparatively harmless, however i cannot give you whatever additional advice, because i do not know what is the situation at you there, in all cases be careful

Blessings

 

[Edward]

I was concerned about loving my neighbor as myself Mark 12: 31, but Proverbs 5: 1-10 had me worried also. I have it worked out. Stay away from her because she is very adulterous and her steps lead to death. If she had responded to me when I told her to have some faith in God, perhaps I would try to help her, but as it is now, I only will pray for her.

 

[JCitoL]

I was concerned about loving my neighbor as myself Mark 12: 31, but Proverbs 5: 1-10 had me worried also. I have it worked out. Stay away from her because she is very adulterous and her steps lead to death. If she had responded to me when I told her to have some faith in God, perhaps I would try to help her, but as it is now, I only will pray for her.

by the way, in Proverbs 5:1-10 is about the human(666) religion/spirituality, the "harlot" or the "strange woman" is some unrighteous spiritual/religious activity, here is an interpretation:

Proverbs 5:1-23 "My son, attend unto my wisdom(i.e. to the righteous Word), and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge(i.e. the true Word of God). For the lips of a strange woman(i.e. for the word of an unrighteous creed/religion) drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth(i.e. and her testimony) is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword(i.e. it is twice injurious, viz. on the one hand she may affect the human with vile affections, while on the other hand she can judge it because of the vile affections which she caused it as though it is guilty of this, not she). Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way(i.e. keep your faith) far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house(i.e. of her "principality" i.e. of her spiritual place): Lest thou give thine honour unto others(i.e. unto other gods/lords i.e. which are false), and thy years unto the cruel(i.e. and your life in the hands of unrighteous spiritual rulers/servants/workers): Lest strangers(i.e. lest unrighteous spiritual servants/workers) be filled with thy wealth(i.e. to advantage their spiritual/religious iniquity by you); and thy labours be in the house of a stranger(i.e. and you to work for their sin); And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction(i.e. the righteous Word), and my heart despised reproof(i.e. Its shown up); And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers(i.e. of the true Saints), nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me(i.e. to the Righteous witnesses)! I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. Drink waters out of thine own cistern(i.e. of your own Prudence), and running waters out of thine own well(i.e. of your own right faith). Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets(viz. testify the true Word of God and do not gratify the "darkness" therein). Let them be only thine own(i.e. let your faith and testimony be Right), and not strangers' with thee(i.e. but not unrighteous as those of the unrighteous spiritual servants/workers). Let thy fountain(i.e. your spirit) be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth(i.e. with your right faith). Let her be as the loving hind(i.e. as loving refuge) and pleasant roe(i.e. and good recourse); let her breasts(i.e. let its Gods viz. the true God and Jesus) satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love(i.e. and you be always protected thereof). And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman(i.e. with an unrighteous faith/spirituality/religion), and embrace the bosom of a stranger(i.e. and embrace (a) false god(-s)/lord(-s))? For the ways(i.e. because the spiritual ways) of man(viz. of believer) are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities(i.e. spiritual/religious iniquities) shall take the wicked himself(i.e. the spiritual/religious offender/violator), and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins(i.e. of its spiritual/religious unrighteousness). He shall die without instruction(i.e. it may remain without the true Word of God); and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray."

Blessings