For our bible study this week we see pictured above Gideon threshing wheat by a winepress as an angel appears and tells Gideon that the Lord is with him, thou mighty man of valour. Gideon was chosen by the Lord Jesus to lead and deliver Israel from the Midianites. Gideon told the angel that he was not a leader because he was poor and the least in his fathers' house.. But, the Lord encouraged Gideon and said Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. The Lord Jesus was faithful and blessed Gideon to defeat a multitude of Midianites with only 300 men.
Friend reading this anywhere, remember with the Lord Jesus you can overcome any trouble like Gideon and receive victory over any problem. Right now I claim victory for you friend in Jesus name as you say the following four scriptures. Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengetheneth me. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The story about the above picture can be seen at Judges 6:11 that says And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite, and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress to hide it from the Midianites (note the Lord Jesus chose Gideon who was afraid and hid his wheat from the Midianites to be the brave leader of Israel).
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites; have not I sent thee. And he said unto Him, O my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel, behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said unto him, Surely, I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
After the angel appeared to Gideon, the Lord Jesus told Gideon to throw down his father Joash's altar of Baal and cut down the grove (defined as sacred trees and poles for idol worship). Pictured above we see that Gideon immediately obeyed the Lord Jesus, and that same night removed his father's altar of Baal and the grove as he offered a bullock for a burnt sacrifice. Also pictured above we see that the next morning the men of the city were alarmed that Baal was destroyed and sought to kill Gideon. But, Gideon's faith in Jesus saved Gideon's life, as his father Joash spared his son Gideon and told the men of the city that Gideon has a new name Jerubbaal that means let Baal himself plead or contend with Gideon. The false god Baal failed to plead or contend with Gideon, and Jesus spared and preserved Gideon's life.
The story about the above picture is found at Judges 6:25 and says And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of 7 years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it. And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
Judges 6:27 goes on to say Then Gideon took 10 men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him; and so it was because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
Judges 6:29 goes on to say And they said one to another, who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon, the son of Joash has done this thing. Then the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out thy son that he may die, because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, will ye plead for Baal? Will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning; if he be a god let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar; Therefore, on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead (defined as contend) against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
Friends, lets be like Gideon and immediately obey any request from our Lord Jesus. Friends, like Gideon, lets immediately obey Jesus and save people for Jesus everywhere telling people to say Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that Jesus died for them and rose again Gideon immediately that same night obeyed Jesus' request to remove his father's altar of Baal and grove. As a result, Gideon's life was spared and Jesus blessed Gideon to be a great leader of Israel. Gideon got right with God in one day, tore the altar of Baal down that same night, and was the leader of the whole land the next day. Wow, Gideon came from a man hiding in a winepress to a man leading an army and he defeated the Midianites with just 300 men.
Notice that after God told Gideon to throw down the altar of Baal, Gideon didn't delay for 2 days, a month, or a year. Gideon immediately got up that same night and threw down his father's altar of Baal and grove. People asked my good friend Pastor Sonny Mull who inspired this writing, Sonny when did you get saved, and Sonny said April 19, 1963. Then they asked, Sonny when did you start preaching, and Sonny said April 19, 1963. Friends, lets be like Sonny and not wait 10 or 20 years to start preaching. Friend, if God has called you to preach Jesus, get in and go right now.
For my next picture, we see the Lord Jesus knocking on the door of a family saying Follow me. Friend reading this anywhere are you willing to follow Jesus and leave your entire family that might tell you to deny Jesus. Gideon in our story above followed Jesus, and when Gideon removed his father's altar of Baal and grove, Gideon said I'm gonna do what God told me to do even if my own daddy forgets me; I'm gonna do what God told me to do even if my own community kicks me out; If they excommunicate me, I don't give a flying rip; I'm gonna do what God told me to do. As a result, Gideon's daddy Joash got saved and defended Gideon by telling the people that they would die if they defended Baal. Also, the people of Israel stopped worshipping Baal and and entire nation began serving the Lord Jesus because of one man Gideon's obedience. Finally, Gideon became a blessed leader and gave the people freedom from the Midianite enemy.
Friend reading this anywhere be like Gideon and go all the way with Jesus, even if your entire family and community leaves you. If you follow Jesus and be like Brother Bob who at age 21 left his entire Jewish family (mother, father, aunts, uncles, cousins, and nephews) to serve Jesus, Jesus will bless and keep you alive because Psalm 27:10 says When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Jesus said at Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Thirty years ago, Brother Bob chose to follow Jesus and leave his entire Jewish family who wanted Brother Bob to deny Jesus. In 1983 my parents told me to choose Jesus or their money. After I chose Jesus, I was faced with living on the street in 0 degree weather. I called my parents for help and they hung up the phone on me and said let Jesus help you. As I cried on the cold pavement in a lonely parking lot, I looked up to Jesus and said Lord Jesus you are all I have left. Everyone has left me, mother, father, family, and even the people of the church. Jesus replied good, now Bobby I can help you. I found out that if I have Jesus only in this life, Jesus alone can fix any problem. The next day my little brother Dave drove to Columbus Ohio and gave me a place to stay and the next week I got a job that to this day 25 years later Brother Bob is still working on.
Friend, choose to follow Jesus, and Jesus will always take care of you and provide all your needs. For 30 years, Brother Bob has always had enough food, clothes, and money for a place to live all provided by Jesus. Jesus took care of Brother Bob for 30 years while his entire Jewish family abandoned Brother Bob. People tell Brother Bob you are a crazy nut for leaving everything in this world and your family for Jesus. Brother Bob replies crazy but happy as he shouts praises for being with Jesus. And hallelujah, because Brother Bob like Gideon showed up for Jesus, Brother Bob's little brother Dave and his entire family got saved.
Notice also in the story above that because Gideon showed up for Jesus and immediately removed his father's altar of Baal, his whole family got saved as they saw the change in Gideon and joined Gideon as they all served the Lord Jesus. Also, when other people saw Gideon's fire and faithful obedience to Jesus, 10 other men jumped in with Gideon and offered to remove the altar of Baal and its grove. Let's all be like Gideon, and as we all lift up our Lord Jesus, other believers will see our faith and follow Jesus and nations will be changed and begin to serve the Lord Jesus.
My friend Sonny Mull stated that Gideon's sensation by quickly throwing down the altar of Baal created a new dispensation or belief in the Lord Jesus. Gideon in one night brought in a whole new way of doing things. In one night because of Gideon, the people stopped worshipping Baal and started to worship the Lord Jesus. One night changed and blessed a whole nation because of one man Gideon who obeyed God. We need a person in our nations like Gideon not ashamed of Jesus who can also in one night change and bless their nation by speaking out against false religions and beliefs that deny the Lord Jesus and the Word of God.
For my next picture, notice that only Jesus can gather together children and parents. Malachi 4:5 tells us Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. You might say has the spirit of Elijah come to unite the children, fathers, and all generations. Brother Bob answers yes because John the Baptist had the spirit of Elijah and led us all to the Lord Jesus who unites all people of all generations. Jesus himself said at John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
I was inspired to post the above picture after my friend Sonny Mull stated that Gideon and 10 men with 2 bulls (a young and old 7 year old bull) and some ropes removed the altar of Baal. Sonny said an anointed saying as he referred to the young and 7 year old bulls pulling down the Baal idol, that if the juniors and seniors pull together, we'll throw that Baal down. As Brother Bob has preached for thirty years, Jesus has always brought together 5 year olds, 15 year olds, 30 year olds, 50 year olds, and 90 year olds. Each generation is divided by worldly fashions and fads, but only Jesus can bring all ages together.
Friend in any nation, the eyes of Jesus are running to and fro throughout the whole earth searching for saints like Gideon who are sensitive to the Spirit and willing to do the will of God to unite nations and people to serve our Lord Jesus. This is proven by 2 Chronicles 16:9 that says For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. God's eyes found a faithful man named Gideon who was strengthened to remove the altar of Baal and its grove and become a leader who delivered Israel from the Midianites.
For my final picture today I want to share a testimony about a young girl that got saved and left her entire family to serve Jesus. The little girl's faith was strengthened by 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 that says For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The testimony of the little girl is as follows: After a young girl got saved, her family excommunicated her and kicked her out and said if you don't come back to your native religion, the family will have nothing to do with you. You will not be invited to any of the family's programs, outings, or reunions. You will be dead to us if you don't come back to your native religion. She said I'm sorry, I will not deny my Lord Jesus. The family started looking at her like she was some kind of wierdo. And finally they said if you don't come back to your native religion, you can't be buried in our cemetery. (Take time to read the anointed response from this precious little girl). The young girl replied, bury me where you will, but when my blessed Lord Jesus comes back, He'll gather up every part of my body that belongs to Him and transform it into a glorious body and take me to heaven. After she stated this, some of her family members got saved for Jesus.
Remember friend, if you like the little girl show up for Jesus, your entire family will see your blessed change and join your walk with Jesus. And per our bible study today, because Gideon served Jesus and threw down his father's altar for Baal, Gideon's dad Joash got saved, served Jesus, and spared Gideon's life. And a final thought from Brother Bob to go all the way with Jesus and leave this fading world. Tell everyone like Joshua and Caleb in the bible, you can go back to the leeks and garlick in Egypt, I'm headed for the promised land, milk and honey is my desire.
As always it is a blessing to write out these bible studies for our Lord Jesus. 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.
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