Today we will continue our study of how diamonds remind us of christians. Pictured above we see that light has to shine on a diamond for the diamond to shine. This is because diamonds have no light in themselves. People without Jesus also have no light within themselves. Diamonds just shine and display the light that beams upon them. Christians also like diamonds need to allow the light Jesus to shine upon them so the world can see Jesus in the saints. Jesus said at John 9:5 I am the light of the world.
Friend reading this anywhere, I pray in Jesus name you will be like the beautiful diamond pictured above and let the light of Jesus shine through you to the nations by telling people everywhere to confess Jesus as their God, believing that Jesus died for them on the cross, was buried, and rose again. Matthew 5:16 tells us Let your light (the Lord Jesus) so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Next, we learn that diamonds are different than any other stone. Christians like diamonds are also different from any other kind of religion and this rebellious world. Pictured above we see that the people of the world marvelled how different Peter and John were because they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 says Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorent men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Friend reading this, are you willing to be like Peter and John where the world notices that you are different and have been with Jesus. Peter and John kept shouting, praising, and preaching the Lord Jesus after they were persecuted, beaten, and thrown in jail. Let's all be like Peter and John and continue to rejoice and preach Jesus, regardless of the troubles around us in this world. Acts 5:41 tells us that Peter and John rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His (Jesus) name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Be encouraged friends because 1 Peter 4:14 says If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye. For the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; On their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a christian let him not ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For our next thought about how diamonds remind us of christians, notice that in the picture above that the value of a diamond is determined by how bright they shine. A 1/2 carat diamond doesn't shine as bright as a 1 carat diamond. A 1 carat diamond doesn't shine as bright as a 2 carat diamond. Christians like diamonds also show their value by how bright the Lord Jesus shines in their lives.
Friend reading this anywhere, are you willing to let people in all nations see the Lord Jesus shining in you. Hebrews 12:14 tells us Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. According to this scripture, the only way people will see Jesus shining in us as diamonds is if we daily live holy without any prejudice to any person's race, culture, or background.
Also note that no diamond is worth what it costs. Christians like diamonds also are not worth what they cost. Someone could give their farm, house, and all their money to purchase a diamond, but the Lord Jesus paid the supreme price for saints with His own precious blood shed at the cross of calvary, and saints are just not worth what they cost. Right now say Thank you Lord Jesus for saving an unworthy sinner like me by purchasing and redeeming me with your precious blood that washed away all my sins. 1 Peter 1:18 tells us Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed (purchased) with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
OK, as you look at the above picture, notice that the only way to discover a fake counterfeit diamond is to put it next to a true genuine diamond. Like diamonds, you can discover a true genuine christian by putting him next to a fake counterfeit so called christian person. 1 John 4:2 gives the test to know a true genuine person from a fake counterfeit person. A true saint will acknowledge Jesus as God and a fake counterfeit saint will deny that Jesus is God.
1 John 4:2 says Hereby know ye the Spirit of God; Every spirit that confesseth (defined as tell the world that Jesus is God) that Jesus Christ (defined as Messiah, Anointed One, Emmanuel, or God with us) is come in the flesh is of God. (Note that a true saint will say Jesus is God come in the flesh) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God (this is the false counterfeit religions of Jehovah witnesses and muslims that deny that Jesus is God); and this is that spirit of antichrist; whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Also note that in the picture above the diamonds are not perfect because all diamonds have flaws. Like diamonds, christians also have flaws and are not perfect. But christians are striving for perfection. The apostle Paul said at Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Christians might not have reached perfection yet, but one day soon saints will have perfect new bodies in heaven with Jesus. Soon the dead in Christ and the living saints will be caught up in the clouds to be with the Lord Jesus, as they all shout for joy. The living saints will say O death where is thy sting and the resurrected saints will say O grave where is thy victory because death will be swallowed up in victory.
Take time to read the blessed promise at 1 Corinthians 15:54 that says So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immmortality; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written; Death is swallowed up in victory; O death where is thy sting; O grave where is thy victory. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law; But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Note also that diamonds have to be formed under pressure. Christians like diamonds are also formed under pressure. Pictured above the woman at the well became a christian when Jesus put the pressure on her by telling her Go call thy husband. The woman realized that she had to repent of her sins when Jesus pressured her by saying you have had five husbands and now you are shackin up with a man as a prostitute.
When the woman realized that she was a sinner, she repented and received the living water Jesus and told all the men of the city that she sinned with about Jesus. The prostitute brought all these men she had been with and led them to Jesus for salvation. Notice that Jesus always went to minister to sinners and not righteous so called religious people. Jesus ministered to the prostitute at the well and the wicked tax collector Zacchaeus. And note that the last thing Jesus did on this earth was save a wicked thief at calvary with the comforting words To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Jesus said at Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus wants us to preach repentance, and we must tell people to stop sinning by daily walking with the Lord Jesus. Jesus said at Luke 13:3 Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 2 Peter 3:9 says The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The rich man in hell preached repentance by asking Abraham to have Lazarus warn his five brothers to repent and escape the torments of hell.
Preachers need to tell sinners to repent and not just preach a happy feel good prosperity message. Unfortunately, most preachers are like the picture above and preach Mother Hubbard style; They cover everything and touch nothing. Be like Brother Bob and tell people If you is what you was then you aint.
Preach scriptures to encourage people to repent, deny sin, and live holy for the Lord Jesus. Preach Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity (our past sins) of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
For my final thought today: A man came to a preacher saying I aint got a jealous bone in my body. The preacher answered saying that's the problem, jealousy is not in your bones; it's in your heart. We are all sinners needing to repent daily by constantly looking to Jesus Christ crucified. Take time to closely read the warning of Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (hangover from drinking), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
As always, it is a blessing to write these bible studies. I pray in Jesus name they bless multitudes of people everywhere. Feel free to contact Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Until we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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