OK, now open your bibles to 1 Kings 19 and I'll tell you the story about the picture above. The scripture reads And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah saying So let the Gods do to me and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba which belongeth to Judah and left his servant there.
But, he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree and he requested for himself that he might die and said, It is enough, now, O Lord take away my life for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold then an angel touched him and said unto him arise and eat. And he looked and behold there was a cake baken on the coals and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Wow, Elijah was so bold when he slew all the prophets of Baal but a woman Jezebel caused Elijah to fear for his life. Remember, sisters of God reading this bible study let the husbands make decisions in your household. God made the husband head over the wife. But, husbands love your wives as Jesus loved the church and be willing to die for your wives. I tell husbands before you make final decisions for your house, let your wives feel that they are part of your decisions but ultimately the husband must make the final decision for his household. Jezebel wore the pants in Ahab's house and made decisions for Ahab and caused trouble. Later on in Ahab's life, when Ahab could not possess a vineyard owned by Naboth, Jezebel decided to take charge of Ahab's house and had Naboth killed. Ahab suffered for allowing Jezebel to make decisions for his house and later on in life both Ahab and Jezebel were killed for the trouble they caused Naboth.
Saint reading this like Elijah when you feel no one cares and don't want to go on, I claim in Jesus name that angels will be sent to encourage you and give you hope, blessings, and life. Psalm 91:11 says For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. And note Jesus will send innumerable and not just one angel to you to preserve you all and bless you.
I must admit sometimes Brother Bob has felt like Jeremiah at Jeremiah 20:9 and said I won't preach anymore because of the mockings and persecutions I've endured for the name of Jesus. But, like Jeremiah, Brother Bob says it's like a fire shut up in my bones and I can't stay myself. I know people will persecute me for Jesus and I'll shout even louder for Jesus amidst all the persecutions. Jeremiah 20:9 says Then I said I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Now in the story above of Elijah note that Jesus did the impossible for Elijah and made a cake appear out of nowhere prepared by an angel from heaven. Brother Bob calls the cake superman cake because when Elijah ate this superman cake, the cake had special vitamins in it and strengthened Elijah for forty days and forty nights. Also, it's interesting to note that Elijah took one bite at first of the cake and then still wanted to throw in the towel and die. But, Jesus loved Elijah so much that the angel was told to wake up Elijah a second time and encourage him to eat the cake and stay alive. Saint reading this, Jesus loves you so much and like Elijah will keep encouraging you by angels to live on no matter how many times you want to quit living this life.
Saints reading this, here are a couple of scriptures to encourage you all that Jesus hears you when you pray and has not deserted you. So, when you experience times in your lives that you don't seem to see Jesus at all claim these scriptures. 1 John 5:14 says And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. Ephesians 3:20 says Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. 2 Timothy 2:11 says It is a faithful saying, For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself. Note the last verse, even when we all doubt and believe not, Jesus still abideth faithful and will bless us anyway. Isaiah 65:24 says And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Finally, saints for today I give you all a great picture of a little kid looking at herself in a mirror and Brother Bob says to all saints reading this look to yourselves and not others and try to better yourself and not judge others. Don't be like Jeroboam who had has finger shrivel up when he pointed with his finger and found fault with others in 1 Kings 13. Point your finger back at yourself and say Jesus make me a better person and as I look with my heart to Jesus Christ crucified take away all my sin and wash me of all my sins Lord Jesus in your precious blood.
Here are several scriptures that prove to be like the little girl in the picture above looking at herself in a mirror. We should all look at ourselves daily and ask Jesus to take away our sins. The scriptures are Philippians 2:12 which says Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 2 John 8 says Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. You see if you look to yourself and remember Jesus Christ crucified daily with your hearts you will get the reward which is Jesus. Revelation 22:12 And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Matthew 7:3 says And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
2 Corinthians 13:5 says Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? You see according to this verse if we look to ourselves and Jesus Christ who is in us crucified in our hearts daily, we will not be reprobates and lose our minds. I have to testify and tell you all that without looking daily to Jesus Christ crucified in my heart, Brother Bob would be in one of two places either dead or in the penitentiary. Instead of drugs, alcohol, or any other substitute, Brother Bob tells anyone reading this bible study when the stress of life occurs, look to Jesus Christ crucified and tell the devil I am crucified with Christ and according to Hebrews 2:14 all my problems past present and future have been destroyed forever by Jesus at the cross.
Again be like the little girl pictured above and look to Jesus who lives in all our hearts daily. Don't look to other people and compare yourself to other people. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. You see according to 1 Corinthians 1:30 Jesus is wisdom so when someone compares him or herself to another person they are not wise and lose Jesus. Don't look at others around you; remember look to yourselves and Jesus who lives in all our hearts. The answer is in all our hearts. I've told little 5 year old kids where does Jesus live and the little 5 year old kid points up to the sky. Then Brother Bob says to the little kid, point your finger to your heart and this is where Jesus lives. Finally Romans 14:13 says Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that no man put a strumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
As always I've enjoyed writing this bible study and please to all my international friends everywhere feel free to email Brother Bob at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write me anytime at Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Thanks for all your prayers and support and the book for Jesus continues to be written for the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Be blessed everyone in Jesus name.