Today, Brother Bob encourages all who read this bible study to put Jesus first in everything in their lives and leave everything to follow Jesus. Thirty years ago Brother Bob decided to leave his entire Jewish family, mother, father, aunts, uncles, nephews, and cousins to follow Jesus and this was the best decision Brother Bob ever made in his life. Matthew 6:33 says But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The Word of God or Jesus is the truth and for thirty years Jesus has provided everything Brother Bob needed for peace and blessings.
Now take a look at the two pictures above of a sycomore tree with sycomore fruit or figs and Jesus telling two fisherman Andrew and Peter to follow Him and leave their fish in their nets. First, let me say that the first picture of the sycomore tree reminds Brother Bob of the prophet Amos. The hebrew translation of Amos 7:14 tells us that the prophet Amos was called to be a great prophet and leave his occupation of being a poor shepherd herdman that gathered figs from sycomore trees and follow Jesus. Amos 7:14 reads 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.
Hallelujah, Jesus usually chooses poor humble people to be great and serve the Lord like Amos. To the saint reading this if you feel like a nobody that the world has rejected, you are a prime candidate to be used for Jesus. The words of the great woman Hannah state this at 1 Samuel 2:8 that says 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 tells us that 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, 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.
Now the second picture above shows how blessed Andrew and Peter were to leave everything and their occupation of fishing and follow 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 Jesus was Levi. This is recorded at Luke 5:27 and states And after these things He 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 candidate to follow Jesus.
Obadiah was a rich governor for Ahab but was blessed to follow Jesus and remember many true prophets hidden in a cave by feeding them daily with bread and water. Let us all be like Obadiah, Amos, Levi, Peter, and Andrew and be willing to lay our lives down for Jesus and place Jesus above everything in this world.Luke 9:24 says 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?
Finally, David was so blessed to leave his occupation as a poor little shepherd boy and follow Jesus to become a great king to lead Israel. This is recorded at Psalm 78:70 and reads 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.
Wow, what about the above picture of an innocent harmless little baby lamb that reminds me of Jesus. When you all 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 to pet and hold this baby lamb giving us all peace. As you look at the picture of the innocent baby lamb above, think about Jesus who is harmless and without sin and is called the Lamb of God.
It is incredible to think that Jesus walked on this earth and never I mean never sinned for Jesus was perfect with no blemishes or any sin. But the bible says that all men have sinned and Romans 3:23 says 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 Jesus who had no sin can be angry and be a Judge of all people. Therefore since all people have sinned from birth, we all should not be angry.
You might want to write out these following scriptures that prove that Jesus had no sin and was perfect. As you read this lift your hands to Jesus and praise Jesus 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 not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.
As you all look at the picture above, look at the awesome words of John the Baptist at John 1:29 that 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. Next, also look at some more words from John the Baptist at John 3:30 where John stated about Jesus, He must increase, but I must decrease. Let's all be like John the Baptist and realize that Jesus is the answer to everything and that we should all deny our flesh daily and constantly look to Jesus crucified to overcome this world.
Jeremiah learned to deny himself and look to 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 that 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 all reading this to listen to 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 any saint looks with his heart by faith to calvary and the cross and sees Jesus crucified, the blood of Jesus makes the devil flee (Revelation 12:11) and that saint can hear Jesus with a direct communication to the Father that the devil can not block.
Brother Bob tells all those reading this bible study heed to the words of Joshua today and choose Jesus as priority in your life. 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.
You might want to write out these scriptures that show us that the way of Jesus is so much better than man's way. Isaiah 55:9 says For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Proverbs 1:23 says Turn you at my reproof; behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Finally, take one more look at the picture above of John focusing on Jesus and not himself. Lord Jesus let every saint that forevermore reads this bible study learn to focus on Jesus Christ crucified daily with their hearts like John 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. Wow, look at this next verse that proves 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.
Saint reading this Brother Bob and the prophet Isaiah beckon you today to come to Jesus for mercy and be saved by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing that Jesus died for you on the cross and rose again with your heart. Isaiah 55:7 says Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Let us all heed to the instructions of the Apostle Paul and do Ephesians 4:22 that says That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
As always I have truly enjoyed writing this bible study for the nations today. Hallelujah, Brother Bob's book for Jesus has reached every continent in the world. Brother Bob prays in Jesus name, wherever you may be reading this on this planet, Jesus will reach to you and grant you peace and strength and that you all shine as lights to bless your countries with the life and joy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 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) 604-7133. Be blessed in Jesus name.
Why the focus on Jesus and the crucifixion? Shouldn't we all be focusing daily on his resurrection, his coming again, and rejoice in that? It seems to me that you are more focused on His death than His resurrection which was the true miracle.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Why would people have to leave their family and everything else behind in order to follow God? Didn't God say that the faith of a wife or husband can save the other? Didn't God say that if your spouse is not a believer to stay with them? I'm pretty sure that he did. Isn't your family the second most important thing in your life with only God coming before them? You do not have to be poor and walk away from family and everything you have in order for God to work through you. God set up marriage between a man and woman and they say sacred vows to one another before God. Would you have them break those vows because one of them does not believe in God? Or would it be better to stay and help them? I'm certain that God would say to stay. Would God want you to walk away from your children because they believe differently than you? I don't believe so. However, I am interested to hear what you have to say on this matter.
First, in response to your email, I preach Christ crucified because this is what the Word tells us as ministers to do. 1 Corinthians 2:2 says For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 1:23 says But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness. Now when a person focuses daily on the cross of Jesus Christ, that person automatically receives the power of the resurrection proven by these scriptures. Romans 6:5 says For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Also, Philippians 3:10 says That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. Therefore one can not have the power of His resurrection until that person focuses with his heart on Christ crucified daily and is made conformable unto Jesus' death. You can't put the cart before the horse. The devil is defeated by the blood of Jesus shed at the cross and not at the resurrection. Revelation 12:11. The power of the resurrection is important and we receive the power of the resurrection only by preaching Christ crucified. As to the question on leaving the family for Jesus, my response is to place Jesus first and honor your family key words in the Lord. Mark 10:29 tells us And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life. Love and cherish your family but always place Jesus first above your family. I placed Jesus first above my little brother and now my little brother is saved and knows Jesus. I always tell everyone place Jesus first above all family and everything in this life. Be blessed my brother or sister that left this comment. Jesus loves you and you are in my prayers.
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