Notice the two pictures above of a sycomore tree with sycomore fruit or figs and the Lord Jesus telling two fisherman Peter and Andrew to follow Him and leave their fish in their nets. The first picture of the sycomore tree reminds Brother Bob of the prophet Amos. The prophet Amos left his occupation of being a poor shepherd herdman that gathered figs from sycomore trees and followed the Lord Jesus.
Amos 7:14 says Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman (shepherd), and a gatherer of sycomore fruit (figs): And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Jesus usually chooses poor humble people to be great and serve the Lord like Amos. To anyone reading this, if you feel like a nobody that the world has rejected, you are a blessed candidate to be used for the Lord Jesus. Hannah said at 1 Samuel 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He hath set the world upon them.
Jesus usually chooses poor humble people to be great and serve the Lord like Amos. To anyone reading this, if you feel like a nobody that the world has rejected, you are a blessed candidate to be used for the Lord Jesus. Hannah said at 1 Samuel 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He hath set the world upon them.
1 Corinthians 1:26 says For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.
The second picture above shows us how blessed Peter and Andrew were to leave everything and their occupation of fishing to follow the Lord Jesus and become fishers of men. Matthew 4:18 says And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.
Another disciple who left everything and his occupation as a publican tax collector to follow the Lord Jesus was Levi (also called Matthew). Luke 5:27 says And after these things He (the Lord Jesus) went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. This proves that you can be rich like Levi as a tax collector or poor like Amos as a shepherd and be a blessed candidate to follow Jesus.
Obadiah was a rich governor for king Ahab but was blessed to follow the Lord Jesus and remember many true prophets hidden in a cave by feeding them daily with bread and water. Let's all be like Amos, Peter, Andrew, Levi, and Obadiah and be willing to leave everything in this fading world and follow the Lord Jesus while we witness Jesus everywhere and win lost souls to God.
The second picture above shows us how blessed Peter and Andrew were to leave everything and their occupation of fishing to follow the Lord Jesus and become fishers of men. Matthew 4:18 says And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.
Another disciple who left everything and his occupation as a publican tax collector to follow the Lord Jesus was Levi (also called Matthew). Luke 5:27 says And after these things He (the Lord Jesus) went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. This proves that you can be rich like Levi as a tax collector or poor like Amos as a shepherd and be a blessed candidate to follow Jesus.
Obadiah was a rich governor for king Ahab but was blessed to follow the Lord Jesus and remember many true prophets hidden in a cave by feeding them daily with bread and water. Let's all be like Amos, Peter, Andrew, Levi, and Obadiah and be willing to leave everything in this fading world and follow the Lord Jesus while we witness Jesus everywhere and win lost souls to God.
Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Jesus said at Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
King David was blessed to leave his occupation as a poor little shepherd boy and follow the Lord Jesus to become a great king and lead Israel. Psalm 78:70 says He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young He brought him to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Notice the picture above of an innocent harmless little baby lamb that reminds Brother Bob of the Lord Jesus. When you look at the picture above of the innocent precious baby lamb, don't you just want to hold and hug this beautiful baby lamb. Brother Bob a year ago took several little children to a farm and we all got to see a precious baby lamb and pet and hold the baby lamb, giving us peace. Take a look at the picture above of the innocent baby lamb and think about the Lord Jesus who is harmless, without sin, and called the Lamb of God.
It's incredible to think that the Lord Jesus walked on this earth and never sinned because Jesus is perfect with no blemishes or any sin. But Romans 3:23 says that all men have sinned. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Note that Ephesians 4:26 says Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Therefore only the Lord Jesus who had no sin can be angry. Since all people have sinned from birth, they should not be angry.
You might want to write out the following scriptures that prove that the Lord Jesus has no sin and is perfect. When you read this lift your hands to the Lord Jesus and praise Him for being perfect. Hebrews 4:15 says For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 1 John 3:5 says And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. 1 Peter 2:21 says For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.
Notice the picture above of John the Baptist's blessed words to the Lord Jesus. John 1:29 says The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the the world. John the Baptist also said the following blessed words about the Lord Jesus at John 3:30. He must increase, but I must decrease. Let's all be like John the Baptist and realize that the Lord Jesus is the answer to everything and that we should all deny our flesh daily and look to Jesus Christ crucified to overcome this world.
Jeremiah learned to deny himself and look to the Lord Jesus, realizing that his flesh had no answers for his problems. Jeremiah 10:23 says O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Solomon warned us all from Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Paul warned us all and stated at 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Brother Bob tells everyone reading this to listen to the Lord Jesus daily and not depend on your flesh. To hear Jesus and block out the devil, look with your heart daily to the cross of Jesus and let the blood of Jesus cover you all daily. You see the devil is in the air above us trying to block our communication with Jesus. But when anyone looks with his heart by faith to the cross of Calvary and sees the Lord Jesus crucified, the blood of Jesus makes the devil flee (Revelation 12:11) and that person can hear Jesus with a direct communication to the Father that the devil can not block.
Brother Bob tells everyone reading this bible study, remember the words of Joshua and choose Jesus above everything else. Joshua 24:15 says And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Let's learn to focus on Jesus Christ crucified daily with our hearts like John the Baptist pictured above. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Notice the next scripture that proves that the Lord Jesus is your answer for all blessings. Galatians 3:14 says That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
King David was blessed to leave his occupation as a poor little shepherd boy and follow the Lord Jesus to become a great king and lead Israel. Psalm 78:70 says He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young He brought him to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Notice the picture above of an innocent harmless little baby lamb that reminds Brother Bob of the Lord Jesus. When you look at the picture above of the innocent precious baby lamb, don't you just want to hold and hug this beautiful baby lamb. Brother Bob a year ago took several little children to a farm and we all got to see a precious baby lamb and pet and hold the baby lamb, giving us peace. Take a look at the picture above of the innocent baby lamb and think about the Lord Jesus who is harmless, without sin, and called the Lamb of God.
It's incredible to think that the Lord Jesus walked on this earth and never sinned because Jesus is perfect with no blemishes or any sin. But Romans 3:23 says that all men have sinned. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Note that Ephesians 4:26 says Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Therefore only the Lord Jesus who had no sin can be angry. Since all people have sinned from birth, they should not be angry.
You might want to write out the following scriptures that prove that the Lord Jesus has no sin and is perfect. When you read this lift your hands to the Lord Jesus and praise Him for being perfect. Hebrews 4:15 says For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 1 John 3:5 says And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. 1 Peter 2:21 says For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.
Notice the picture above of John the Baptist's blessed words to the Lord Jesus. John 1:29 says The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the the world. John the Baptist also said the following blessed words about the Lord Jesus at John 3:30. He must increase, but I must decrease. Let's all be like John the Baptist and realize that the Lord Jesus is the answer to everything and that we should all deny our flesh daily and look to Jesus Christ crucified to overcome this world.
Jeremiah learned to deny himself and look to the Lord Jesus, realizing that his flesh had no answers for his problems. Jeremiah 10:23 says O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Solomon warned us all from Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Paul warned us all and stated at 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Brother Bob tells everyone reading this to listen to the Lord Jesus daily and not depend on your flesh. To hear Jesus and block out the devil, look with your heart daily to the cross of Jesus and let the blood of Jesus cover you all daily. You see the devil is in the air above us trying to block our communication with Jesus. But when anyone looks with his heart by faith to the cross of Calvary and sees the Lord Jesus crucified, the blood of Jesus makes the devil flee (Revelation 12:11) and that person can hear Jesus with a direct communication to the Father that the devil can not block.
Brother Bob tells everyone reading this bible study, remember the words of Joshua and choose Jesus above everything else. Joshua 24:15 says And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Let's learn to focus on Jesus Christ crucified daily with our hearts like John the Baptist pictured above. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Notice the next scripture that proves that the Lord Jesus is your answer for all blessings. Galatians 3:14 says That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.