What Jesus Asked: Which of these do you think was a neighbor?

Luke 10:25-37 the parable of the good Samaritan
This is a story about salvation that started with the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" It's a matter of the heart - what do you love? Is it Jesus, or your own life, self, or stuff? We cannot do anything to inherit eternal life,  it was already done for us by Jesus. He lived a perfect life and went to the cross to pay the debt for our sins. Place your faith in Jesus.
Because of the love of Jesus, we are called to be good neighbors.
1. Being a good neighbor is costly. v34-35
2. Being a good neighbor can be risky and even dangerous.
3. Being a good neighbor will inconvenience you. (timing)
4. Being a good neighbor requires action, not just words. Jas 2:14-17, 1 Jn 3:16-18
5. Being a good neighbor means someone will take advantage of you.
6. Being a good neighbor will sometimes make you uncomfortable. v33 a Samaritan - looked down upon by the Jews, they hated each other. Had pity - meant he felt it in his gut, incredible love and compassion. Same word used in the story of the prodigal son when the father saw the son and ran to him.

What Jesus Asked: Why are you so afraid?

Mk 4:35-41
1. Jesus in your boat is no exemption from storms. v37
2. Jesus allows storms to drive us to him. v38, Jas 1:2-3
3. Jesus can handle any storm. v39-40, What do we have that Jesus can't handle?
4. We have a choice to respond in fear or faith. v40, Jesus equated fear with lack of faith in him. The reality is that he is with us through the storm.
5. There's a good kind of fear. v41, a healthy fear of God. Worship Him with awe, fear, and reverence.

Body Armor: Ephesians 6:17b

Ephesians 6:17b Sword of the Spirit
The first offensive weapon
Validity of the scriptures (CAMP)
Consistency - 66 books written by 40 different authors, etc. Still the scripture is consistent. 2 Tim 3:16-17
Archaeology - no finding has ever disproved the Bible.
Manuscript evidence - most copies of the original work New testament 5,600 Greek copies, plus Latin, etc.
Prophecy - 2500 prophecies in scripture, over 2000 have already been fulfilled, many by Christ.
Scripture is the Sword of the Spirit, a double edged sword. Mt 4:1-11, Jesus answered Satan with scripture each time.
Soldiers trained daily with their swords, so they were ready when the battle came.
The Word of God - the word used means specific verses (memorize verses)

Body Armor: Ephesians 6:17

Ephesians 6:17 The helmet of salvation

Three phases of salvation:
1. Justification - Jesus makes us just (right with God) so we can be in a right relationship with God.
2. Sanctification - We are being saved every day, being made more like Jesus. This often comes through trial and pain.
3. Glorification - In heaven we will be like Christ.

A helmet protects your head and your mind. Satan's greatest area of attack is in our minds. We need daily understanding of who Jesus is and our salvation to protect our minds.

Ways that Satan attacks our minds:
1. Doubt: of salvation Eph 1:11-12, of God's goodness, love and faithfulness
2. Discouragement/depression:
3. Temptation: 1 Cor 10:13
4. Exhaustion: Ps 46:10

Phil 2:12-18 ? Phil 4?
2 Cor 3:4-5 ?
Rom 12

The helmet of salvation reminds us of our future. 1 Thess 5:8

Body Armor: Ephesians 6:15

James 1:1-4
Ephesians 6:15 ...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Be ready, because Satan is coming to try and attack you. Roman soldiers' shoes were strapped on tightly and had spikes on the bottom so that they could dig in and withstand the attack.
Peace - calm and tranquility in the midst of turmoil. This is the opposite of anxiety and worry.
1. Peace of God/Peace of Salvation: Genuine peace starts with the knowledge of our sin and salvation. Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, 8-9, 14, 17-18. Jesus came to bring peace with God. Rom 5:1
2. Peace of provision: God will provide for those who have been saved. Mt 6:25-33, Eccl 2:4-11
3. Peace of protection: If you are saved, rejoice, pray and give thanks to God that He protects us and gives us peace that passes all understanding. Phil 4:4-7
God gives us strength to choose peace every day. Jn 14:25-27

Body Armor: Ephesians 6:14b

Ephesians 6:14b ...the breastplate of righteousness...
Breastplate - a chest protector that would protect your vital organs.
Righteousness - doing the right thing according to God's Word, my response to God's truth. Righteousness is not self-righteousness: to follow all of God's rules on your own (legalism). Phil 3:3-9
1. Positional righteousness: (imputed righteousness): the righteousness of Christ - his sinless life traded for my sinful life, placed upon me because of the Lord's love for me. 2 Cor 5:21. Good sees us as perfect through Jesus. Rom 3:20-22.
2. Practical righteousness: the appropriation of the righteousness of Christ (sanctification). 2 Cor 5:17, 1 Jn 3:10, 1 Tim 6:11. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart, living this out protects us from Satan. Prov 4:23 Guard your heart!
Spend time in the Word. James 1:22-24, don't stay the same if you see sin in your life.

Body Armor: Ephesians 6:14a

Ephesians 6:14a "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist."
Jn 8:44 Satan is the father of lies. His greatest lie is "there is no thing as absolute truth."
Lies:
Secularism - to make everything worldly
Humanism - I can do it on my own, I don't need God
Relativism - what's relative to you is not relative to me
Religious pluralism - believing that 2 or more religions are true
Religion within Christianity - counterfeit gospels within Christianity

Truth - the self expression of God. Jn 17:17 sanctified through the word, Jn 1:14 the word became flesh (Jesus).
The "belt" was the centerpiece of the Romans' armor, it held everything in place.
Stand firm with the proper armor! Eph 4:14