Today, Brother Bob gives you all a blessed bible study about the many faithful women in the bible that Jesus and all of us should honor forevermore. For my first picture today, Brother Bob wants you to notice Joanna, Susanna, Mary Magdalene, and other women having the privilege of being remembered for blessing the Lord Jesus with substance, wealth, and goods. Wow, what an honor to have provided money, food, and clothing personally to Jesus. The bible scripture that references this story is at Luke 8:2 and says And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils. And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance (defined as wealth and goods).
We can learn a lesson from Joanna, Susanna, and Mary Magdalene of the importance of blessing people around us in need. Hebrews 13:2 tells us Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. When Jesus tells you saint reading this anywhere to bless a stranger with food, clothing, and money, remember you could be blessing an angel. Wow, Joanna, Susanna, and Mary Magdalene were blessing someone greater than an angel who was actually Jesus who is God and much greater than any angel.
For all women reading this bible study forevermore, please take time to meditate on 1 Timothy 2:9 that gives directions on how women should live holy lives for Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:9 says In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. Note that in greek modest is defined as a holy woman should dress decently, shamefacedness is defined as a holy woman should consider the poor and others, and finally sobriety is defined as a holy woman should be temperate having self control, daily denying her flesh while walking in the Spirit with Jesus as she daily remembers with her heart Jesus Christ crucified.
For my next picture of a holy woman that Jesus and all of us should remember forevermore we see Mary the sister of Lazarus. Mary broke a costly and precious alabaster box of ointment of spikenard and anointed Jesus' head and feet with the ointment of spikenard, wiping Jesus' feet with her hair. Mary realized that Jesus was more important than any money she could receive by selling the ointment of spikenard for what was then millions of dollars. Saint reading this anywhere, Brother Bob encourages you to be like Mary and value Jesus and the poor around you more than your wealth, possessions, and money.
The bible is like a puzzle and two separate gospels tell the story of the picture above with the gospel of John identifying Mary as the woman who placed the expensive spikenard on the head and feet of the Lord Jesus. Wow, Jesus said that Mary's deed would be memorialized forever and told to all generations forevermore. Mark 14:3 says And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good; but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could; she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Now note John's gospel tells the same story and identifies Mary as the woman that anointed Jesus with the expensive spikenard. John's gospel lets you also know that the thief Judas was more concerned about selling the spikenard for money that he could steal instead of using the spikenard to bless the Lord Jesus. Saint reading this choose to be like Mary instead of Judas and value Jesus more than any earthly possession and money. John 12:3 says Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Isacariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone; against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Saint reading this right now, make a choice now, either Jesus or money. I pray in Jesus name everyone who forevermore reads this bible study would choose to worship Jesus instead of money. The bible says you can't serve two masters; a choice must be made. Matthew 6:24 says No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (defined as treasures and riches). Let's all be like Mary pictured above and not hoard our money but release our wealth and goods to Jesus by blessing the poor. You might say where does it say in the bible that if I bless the poor I bless Jesus. Brother Bob says read Matthew 25:40 that says And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Also read Proverbs 17:5 that says Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamaties shall not be unpunished.
OK, my next story about a woman that Jesus remembered for her kindness is the picture above of the little maid that took time to care for Naaman, telling him to go to Elisha the prophet to be healed of leprosy. The story about this little maid is at 2 Kings 5:2 and says And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel, a little maid, and she waited on Naaman's wife. And she said unto her mistress, would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is in the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said, Go to, go and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
We can learn a lesson from the little maid pictured above. The little maid did what is stated at 1 Timothy 2:1 that says I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayer, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. The little maid's kindness to King Naaman allowed Naaman to take the advice of the prophet Elisha and dip seven times in the Jordan river to heal and remove his leprosy.
Saint reading this anywhere you might feel insignificant like the little maid, but be encouraged and let your light shine for Jesus. People listen to us and look at our lives for Jesus daily. Let us all share the revelations and peace of Jesus with everyone to cause others to be saved and realize that the Lord Jesus can heal and give everlasting peace to all who believe. 2 Corinthians 3:2 says Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. Take time to meditate on Jude 21 that says Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Let's all be wise like the little maid above, showing kindness to those around us in the world like Naaman, thereby winning souls to Jesus. Colossians 4:5 tells us Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Proverbs 11:30 says The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
My next woman that we all should remember is the widow of Zarephath pictured above. This widow of Zarephath blessed the prophet Elijah and gave the last of her meal to Elijah. We should all be like this widow and share our blessings with everyone. Matthew 10:42 tells us And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. The widow of Zarephath blessed Elijah with the last of her meal and as a result was rewarded where her barrel of meal wasted not and her cruse of oil failed not.
The story about the above picture is at 1 Kings 17:9 that says Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there; behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks; and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse; and behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah, and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
We can all learn a lesson from the widow of Zarephath. Jesus told us all to not be like the heathen and worry about our daily needs of food, shelter, and clothing. Like the widow of Zarephath, let's all keep blessing the poor all around us and Jesus will always create food and our needs out of nowhere and keep us alive in peace on this earth. Remember the Lord Jesus created manna out of nowhere as food to the children of Israel in the wilderness. Take a look at Matthew 6:31 that says Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be addded unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Wasn't it a blessing that Elijah trusted the instruction of the Lord Jesus and believed that an old widow woman at Zarephath could keep him alive. It does not make any sense to our natural minds that a little old lady could keep us alive. Jesus honored Elijah's faith as Elijah believed that a little old lady could keep him alive and miraculously make food appear out of nowhere. Saint reading this like Elijah take God at his word and obey the instructions of the word and I promise you that Jesus will sustain, bless, and eternally preserve you with peace in this troubled world.
Wow, what a wonderful picture of Jesus remembering and recognizing a poor widow who threw only two mites into the treasury. This widow woman was willing to give everything she had to bless Jesus. Jesus let the rich people know that this widow woman gave much more than all the offerings given by the many rich people. The story about the picture above is at Mark 12:41 and says And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and behold how the people cast money into the treasury; and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them Verily, I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury; For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Saint, reading this like the poor widow woman pictured I pray in Jesus name you will give everything you have to lift up Jesus. This poor widow woman truly fulfilled Matthew 16:24 that says Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.
Hallelujah, Brother Bob like the widow woman pictured above gave away everything, family, material possessions, and literally everything to daily lift up the name of Jesus. And praise you Lord Jesus that these writings for Jesus on a little computer in a one bedroom apartment in poor little Reynoldsburg, Ohio are blessing untold numbers of people in many lands and souls are being saved and will live forevermore in peace in the kingdom of God.
To end up today's bible study, I want everyone to remember Pilate's wife who feared Jesus but unfortunately her husband Pilate ignored her advice to have nothing to do with Jesus. Matthew 27:19 says When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
As we all look at the picture above we see that Pilate refused his wife's request and sentenced Jesus to be crucified. Over the years Brother Bob has ministered to many women who have lived with abusive husbands that did not serve Jesus. I've always told women that Jesus did not want them to have to suffer and be abused by cruel husbands that did not fear Jesus. If you are an abused woman reading this, please take time to read 1 Samuel 25 about a woman named Abigail who was married to Nabal defined as a fool who was churlish (defined as cruel and grievous). Abigail left her husband and refused to be abused. Like Abigail, Brother Bob says to all abused women, it is in God's will to leave an abusive husband and live in peace. To all men reading this, Brother Bob says to cherish your wives and treat them like queens as you daily serve Jesus as the head of your family. To all women reading this, if your husband has placed Jesus first in your family and daily shows kindness to his wife, the wife should be submissive to her husband and allow her husband to be the head and make the final decisions for the family.
To support what Brother Bob has stated above read Ephesians 5:22 that says Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and He is the saviour of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.
I've enjoyed writing this bible study about blessed women in the bible. I hope that this bible study gives all my friends everywhere peace and strength everywhere. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob at Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up the name of Jesus, have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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