Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

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Luke 10:27
Am I my Brother’s Keeper?
Genesis 4:9
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?“

People who ask this question or questions like it my have a personality of hatred or a spirit of murder on their lives.
Not considering others only considering themselves.

1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

I believe Cain is trying to avoid taking responsibility for what he’s already done by not taking any responsibility for his brother Abel in any way.

We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. ..Statement at the signing of the Declaration of Independence
~Benjamin Franklin

Bitterness-
Ephesians 4:31,32
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Everyone has an effect on everyone else. Either for good or bad. The concept or idea of just leaving a sinful situation alone so it can exist and be isolated is a fantasy. Sinful people and sin’s nature is aggressive and will recruit new “converts” to it’s way of thinking and living.

Mark 8:15 "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."

The yeast of the Pharisees other places in the Bible is further defined as hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is the false assumption of an appearance of virtue.
The problem with hypocrisy is it prevents a person from admitting their need for a savior. This pride will bring about their destruction.

Consequences of Hypocrisy Illustrated
Luke 18:9-14
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Brotherly Love
The Greek word agapao is used to convey God the Father’s will to His children concerning their attitude toward one another.

John 13:34
34"A new command I give you: Love (agapao) one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

1 Thessalonians 3:12
12May the Lord make your love (agapao) increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

1 Corinthians 16:14
14Do everything in love (agapao).

2 Peter 1:7
7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love (agapao).

Galatians_5:22.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love (agapao)…
Christian Love
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, and works no ill to any; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith’.

Romans 15:2
2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Romans 13:8-10
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

One component to the previous verse that I want to re-emphasize is that you can’t love your neighbor unless you love yourself. Do you love yourself? Wives having trouble with your husband?

Ephesians 5:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Galatians 6:10
10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Jubilee Family Church

Who's Praying for You?

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea
and only two of the men on it were able
to swim to a small, desert like island.
The two survivors, not knowing what else to do,
agree that they had no other recourse
but to pray to God.
However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful,
they agreed to divide the territory between them
and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing the first man prayed for was food.
The next morning, the first man saw
a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land,
and he was able to eat its fruit..

The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely
and he decided to pray for a wife.
The next day, another ship was wrecked,
and the only survivor was a woman
who swam to his side of the land.

On the other side of the island,
there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house,
clothes, more food.
The next day, like magic,
all of these were given to him.

However,
the second man still had not a thing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship,
so that his wife and he could leave the island.
In the morning, he found a ship docked
at his side of the island.

The first man boarded the ship with his wife
and decided to leave the second man on the island.
He considered the other man unworthy
to receive God's blessings,
since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship Was about to leave,
the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming,

'Why are you leaving your companion on the island?'

'My blessings are mine alone,
since I was the one who prayed for them,'
the first man answered.
'His prayers were all unanswered,
and so he does not deserve anything.'

'You are mistaken!'
the voice rebuked him.
'He had only one prayer,
which I answered.
If not for that, you would not have
received any of my blessings.'

'Tell me,' the first man asked the voice,
'what did he pray for that I
should owe him anything?'

'He prayed that all your prayers be answered.'

For all we know, our blessings are not
The fruits of our prayers alone,
but those of another praying for us.

Jubilee Family Church

Why Have Spiritual Authority?

Brother Kenny Crafton shared a powerful message on spiritual authority. Watch the video of his message by clicking here.

Listen to the Podcast by clicking here.

Below are some notes from Brother Kenny's message.

The Subject of Spiritual Authority is hard to teach and preach. Why?
What did Kenny say was holding back revival?
Romans 13:1 People in Authority are ordained by God.

Before we’ll ever see the Glory of God we must understand there has to be Divine order. We’ll never see God’s glory fall the way we want it to fall. We’re not going to get what God really wants to give us.

We cannot disrespect holy things and expect God to move the way God wants to move.

Why have spiritual Authority? It goes all the way back to Genesis 1 where Spiritual authority is being set up before the fall of man.
All things are created by God’s authority Heb 1:3

God’s authority represents God himself. Satan rebelled against God’s authority. Is 14:12-15 Ez 28:13-17 Lucifer was the great worship leader around the throne of God.
The devil would love us to come week after week and not worship. When it’s done and done right the presence of God comes.
Sinning is more easily forgiven than rebellion. Satan wasn’t pleased where God had placed him. Pride causes us to want to exalt ourselves. We all like atta' boys. I can get you into trouble. Rebellion is what caused Satan to fall.

To violate authority is a principle of Satan.

You can stand with Christ in doctrine while at the same time stand with Satan in principle. You may agree with the word of God and at the same time be walking in rebellion. The Devil fears when we are subject to the authority of Christ. When there is divine order there are no demons in hell that can keep a marriage from being put back together. The Devil doesn’t like authority

Matthew 6:13
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We see Satan’s work here. What sets us free from Satan is the truth. The kingdom is God’s not the Devil’s. Even though Satan has a free reign and is a God of this age this is NOT his kingdom. The universe is under God’s Dominion. We have to subject ourselves to God’s authority. God doesn’t like it when anyone or anything tries to steal his glory.

Maybe the mountains on eagle mountain were crying out because some wouldn’t worship.

Let no one steal God’s glory. How can you and I establish authority on the earth if we haven’t established it in our personal lives. The greatest demand on man is to submit and obey. Obedience.

1 Samuel Chapter 15 Saul was commanded to destroy his enemy. Samuel told him’ Obedience is better than sacrifice.’ Even in sacrifice there can be an element of self will. Saul didn’t do exactly what God told him to do. His reasoning was. I want to keep the best to sacrifice to the Lord. Self will was there. Obedience takes God’s will as it’s center. God is pleased with an obedient church. God left the pattern back in the garden of Gethsemane. He obeyed God’s authority first before he went to the cross.

Jesus could’ve called down 1000’s of angels to stop the cross. Jesus was obedient and it pleased him to do the will of God for you and I. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Jesus wanted to know the will of God. He (Jesus) insisted on obeying. To know God’s will and to obey it is to be subject to authority. When we work and serve Satan will enjoy glory even through your sacrifices.

To overthrow God’s authority is to try and overthrow God himself. 1 Sam 15:22-23 Rebellion like witchcraft and stubbornness like iniquity and adultery. Witchcraft means to mess with the occult, using Satan’s power. God compares rebellion to that.

All servants, the first thing we should meet is authority.

We must be overturned by his authority. If we have done this we will encounter authority everywhere. As a servant we have to look at this and realize. Let’s not work under the rebellious principle like Saul did.

Jubilee Family Church

"Do I know You?" ~God

To Listen to this Podcast please CLICK HERE.

The Narrow Door
Luke 13:22-27
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' 26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'

1. The Door is Narrow
2. It takes every effort to enter through it
3. Many will try but will be unable to enter
4. The Door will close
5. People on the outside will plead for the owner of the house to open the door
6. He Will Reply, I Don’t know you or where you come from
7. They will reply we ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets (see #6 again)

1. The Door is Narrow
Jesus is the Door
John 10:7-9
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

John 14:5-7
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.


Matthew 7:13
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

2. It Takes Every Effort to Enter
Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.


Matthew 13:44
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

3. Many Will try but will be unable to Enter
Do God’s Will, be Obedient
Matthew 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

4. The Door will close
When the door closes there is no more opportunity to get into heaven.
The Door on this life can close two different ways.
At physical death you will discover if you have an open or a closed door into God’s presence
At the end of the age. When the wheat and Tares are brought into the barn
Matthew 13:24-30

5. People on the outside will plead for the owner of the house to open the door
Matthew 25:10-12
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!‘ 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

6. He Will Reply, I Don’t know you or where you come from
In order to be with God in eternity we must be known by Him. It’s an absolute necessity.

Relationship Relationship Relationship.

7. They will reply we ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets

Unfortunately for those people, Jesus doesn’t have the same association to the memory of these events.
Either they didn’t happen and the people lied or they did happen but the people didn’t have the right heart condition while they were happening.
Maybe they were there in body but not in heart.
Jesus wants your Heart
One Christian Comedian used to say, going into McDonalds doesn’t make you a hamburger any more than going to a church makes you a Christian.
We must do more than be in the proximity of Jesus. We must make him our Savior and Lord giving him our hearts.

• 
  
  
  Much in the same way you may go to a dinner with the governor but the two of you may never have a conversation that’s meaningful enough for the governor to remember you.
  

Are you Known in the Spiritual Realms?
Acts 19:13-16
13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15(One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Works w/o Communion = Stress
Luke 10:38-42
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Obedience vs. Ritualistic Practice
1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

John 6:29 (Amplified)
29Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

By their Fruit
Matthew 7:18-20
18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

I don’t know how to get God to know me in any other way other than to attempt to know Him. To pursue him in his Word, in prayer, in Worship, in communion, by being obedient to his word.
I believe and trust that like any relationship as I get to know God he will get to know me in a personal and deeper way. My heart will open up to him and His to mine. From this relationship all other facets of life will flow.

James 4:8
8Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Please take the time to watch the following videos in order. Listen to S.M. Lockridge describe the God he knows.

Watch this video and pray that you would know God more.








Jubilee Family Church

Keep Watch

The Harvest is Coming in

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.


At that time…


What time? Look back to Matthew 24.
Signs of the End of the Age
The Day and the Hour Unknown
The return of Jesus

Why are 10 virgins going out to meet the bridegroom? Let’s take a look at the Jewish wedding ceremony.

A Jewish marriage included a number of steps:

Betrothal (which involved the prospective groom’s traveling from his father’s house to the home of the prospective bride, paying the purchase price, and thus establishing the marriage covenant);
the groom’s returning to his father’s house (which meant remaining separate from his bride for 12 months, during which time he prepared the living accommodations for his wife in his father’s house);
the groom’s coming for his bride at a time not known exactly to her;
his return with her to the groom’s father’s house to consummate the marriage and to celebrate the wedding feast for the next seven days (during which the bride remained closeted in her bridal chamber).

These virgins are not waiting for the bridegroom in order to get married, but to attend the wedding feast. The groom already has a bride who is not mentioned in the parable. I believe these distinctions are significant and indicate that the coming of the groom for the virgins is at His Second Coming which follows upon the marriage of the Lamb described here. The virgins do not marry, but attend the marriage feast which follows. The context also supports this view:

Five Wise
Wise because they brought extra oil.
Five Foolish
The foolish are considered foolish because they didn’t prepare for an extended need of oil.

Literally these people ran out of supplies.

Figuratively the Holy Spirit is often symbolized by oil. Half of the virgins could lack the spiritual resources to remain faithful to the bridegroom even though they still have lamps.

Both the wise and the foolish virgins fall asleep because the bridegroom is a long time in coming but the wise have enough time to trim their lamps and ignite them.

The foolish ask for help but the wise virgins don’t give them any!
Don’t rely on others if you want to make sure you have enough supply.
You can’t get someone else's spiritual supply. You will need to have your own.

The Wise go into the wedding banquet and the door is shut. The foolish are left outside asking for permission to come into the banquet.

The door is NOT opened because they are told that they are not known by the bridegroom.

We’re told no man knows the hour but we’re also told to watch.

I’ve been watching.

The mark of the Beast is a mark of commerce.



Revelation 13:15-17
15He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

This economic structure, being international in it’s scope would mean that the money system we currently have will have to be dissolved or altered at some point in the future.
The U.S. dollar as well as the entire world financial structure, according to the Bible, is going to collapse at some point in the future.

Economic Horseman
Revelation 6:5-6
I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

The staple foods are effected but the luxury items are not.

How did Adolph Hitler come to power?

A word on the great tribulation.


People argue theologically over whether or not the church will go through the great tribulation.
I’d like to think not but what does it matter to you if the tribulation is great if you’re going through it.

We know when Nero was feeding Christians to lions it wasn’t the great tribulation but if you were one of those Christians to you it wouldn’t give much comfort to find out you weren't in the great tribulation. Who cares when you’re going to be eaten by a lion?

There can be tribulation before the great tribulation is my point.

The remaining portion of my blog for this week is Taken from http://www.elijahlist.com/

• A prophecy by Chuck Pierce
  I am a watchman and try to watch carefully for patterns and trends that affect each of us. The enemy loves to change times and laws. Therefore, he will use worldly structures and controls to hinder Kingdom advancement.
  
  "Watch for an economic shift by the end of this month. Between August 24 and October 17, there will be great changes in the financial system. Be aware that the banking system has not finished making its changes. We will start into an accelerated shift in structure. The government is in an open rearrangement."
  I do not believe that the Lord is talking about a big Stock Market Crash or a Bank Run. This could happen, but that is not the overall issue to understand. There is a full rearrangement of the economic system going on worldwide. If you have not read The Future War of the Church and God's Unfolding Battle Plan, there are chapters in each book on wealth that could help you.
  
  Here is one perspective that is important for you to understand: even though the dollar is changing and fluctuating, this is a time your dollar could really work for you to acquire resources.
  Many banks have resources they have acquired from loss. These resources could be redeemed by those who have extra dollar buying power. You could seek to acquire resources. Some banks must move now to alleviate themselves from the over abundance of failed loans and corresponding properties. This could be a catalyst for Kingdom advancement.
  
  However, no one seems to have extra dollars to "take the land." If we look at the "giant" that is controlling economic structures and choose to shrink back, then we could lose ground and miss an opportunity to advance now. Also, this could leave an open door for a thrust from a dark side to control the land and keep the land from being occupied with those who hold God's plan.
  So here is what I have done personally: I cashed in my retirement and paid off debts; I gave to the future of the land; I helped some others advance; I made sure the Eagles of God accounts were up to date; I helped two children advance; we analyzed foreign currency, such as the Australian Dollar, Euro, Turkish Lira, etc., to see how currencies are moving worldwide.
  
  I do not think that this is a reactive type of prophetic word—just a word to be prepared by October 17. The economic structure as we have known it will not be same. So if you are buying stocks on the same basis and understanding of a system of yesteryear, you will probably not see the return you are looking for.
  (This ends the prophecy by Chuck Pierce)

I would like to conclude with a scripture on fear.

2 Timothy 1:7

7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (NIV)

7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)
Jubilee Family Church