Crooked sticks seem to straighten themselves out
when they are tied in a bundle
Let's learn what happens when people gather together in peace by lifting up and praising the Lord Jesus. Notice in the picture above that crooked sticks seem to straighten themselves out when they are tied in a bundle. Individuals who are flawed and crooked on their own can support and correct one another when they work together as a group. John 15:5 tells us that christians are the branches and Jesus is the vine. Jesus said I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Let's become saved branches that gather together everywhere on this earth in fellowship and prayer by worshipping the vine who is the Lord Jesus while we create a Holy Ghost unquenchable fire to destroy the works of the devil. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Remember that if you rub two sticks together you get a Holy Ghost fire that burns up and destroys the devil.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 says Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him (the devil), two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Deuteronomy 32:30 says How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. Remember one ant can push a crumb, but ten ants can push the crumb better and faster. When the church gathered and prayed together, it caused an angel to be sent to release Peter from jail when the angel broke Peter's chains and opened three iron gates, freeing Peter from jail.
God can draw straight lines with crooked sticks
God can draw straight lines with crooked sticks. God can achieve perfect results using imperfect people. The bible is full of crooked sticks (flawed, unlikely, and rebellious people), whom God used to fulfill a straight and perfect purpose. Joseph's brothers committed the crooked act of selling him into slavery. God used that journey through prison and betrayal to place Joseph in the Egyptian palace. Ultimately, Joseph saved the world and his family from famine. Joseph told his brothers at Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Rahab was a prostitute living in Jericho who was culturally and morally crooked by the standards of the day. She protected the Israelite spies, and in return, her family was spared. She is not only listed as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11, but she also became the great grandmother of King David and Jesus Christ. Moses was a fugitive who had murdered an Egyptian taskmaster. Moses also claimed to be slow of speech and tried to talk God out of choosing him. God used stuttering Moses to confront the most powerful man on earth (Pharaoh) and lead millions of Israelites to freedom.
Though David was a man after God's own heart, David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the murder of her husband Uriah to cover it up. God used David's repentance to write many Psalms that have comforted billions of people. Furthermore, God maintained the Davidic line, leading directly to the birth of the Messiah who is the Lord Jesus. Saul (Paul) was a religious extremist who breathed murderous threats against the early church and oversaw the execution of christians like Stephen. God blinded Paul on the road to Damascus and turned the church's greatest enemy into its greatest missionary, writing much of the New Testament.
Notice in the pictures above that a singing congregation sounds fine but I wouldn't want to hear them one at a time. Snowflakes are frail but if enough of them stick together, they can stop traffic. I need you and you need me. It's important to attend church and pray together in groups. Prayers by groups of christians accomplish more than isolated prayers by individual christians. Attend your local church and pray for your brothers and sisters. Galatians 6:10 says As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
When Moses, Aaron, and Hur prayed together, Joshua won a battle against the Amalekites. Exodus 17:11 says And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
James 5:16 tells us to pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Notice that this scripture says to pray for others and not for yourself and Jesus will heal you. Most people pray for themselves. I pray in Jesus name we can learn to pray for others and preach the Lord Jesus. Right now Brother Bob prays for others instead of himself and says to all my friends everywhere get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Say every day I am crucified with Jesus Christ and covered by the blood of Jesus. Tell the devil the blood of Jesus has overcome and defeated you, evil must pass over me, and I am cleansed from all my sins.
Let's compare the two Sauls of the bible pictured above. In the first picture above, we see King Saul who refused to obey God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. Saul spared King Agag of the Amalekites with their sheep and oxen. As a result an Amelekite killed Saul and evil Haman the Agagite was born as a descendant from King Agag who persecuted Mordecai, Esther, and the Jews. Pictured above the prophet Samuel asks Saul at 1 Samuel 15:14 What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
The second picture shows us another Saul who became Paul who was on the road to Damascus to make prisoners of christians. Acts 9:3 says And as he (Saul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
The first King Saul remained stubborn all his life and continued to disobey God's command at 1 John 2:15 to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Saul chose to keep the material blessings of the Amelekites and sought counsel from a woman with a familiar spirit at Endor instead of serving and worshipping our Lord Jesus. The second Saul who later became Paul submitted to the Lord Jesus and became one of the most blessed preachers that lived on this earth who was inspired by God to write most of the bible.
The first Saul's stubbornness led to spiritism and suicide. The second Saul's submission led to a sanctified blessed eternal life. The first Saul started out with a crown and ended up with a cross of his own making. The second Saul started out by submitting to a cross and ended up with a crown. The first Saul died a suicide and lost a crown. The second Saul died a martyr and gained a crown.
The first Saul refused to humble himself and God demoted him. The second Saul humbled himself and God promoted him. The first Saul died on the road to Gilboa. The second Saul got blessed on the road to Damascus and became the beloved Paul. Two different roads from two different Sauls. What road are you traveling? The way of Saul or the way of Paul? Avoid King Saul's stubborn Gilboa Road and be changed to worship the Lord Jesus on the submissive Damascus Road with Paul.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. 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.
A Singing Congregation Sounds Fine
But I Wouldn't Want To Hear Them One At A Time
Snowflakes Are Frail, But If Enough Of Them Stick Together
They Can Stop Traffic
Notice in the pictures above that a singing congregation sounds fine but I wouldn't want to hear them one at a time. Snowflakes are frail but if enough of them stick together, they can stop traffic. I need you and you need me. It's important to attend church and pray together in groups. Prayers by groups of christians accomplish more than isolated prayers by individual christians. Attend your local church and pray for your brothers and sisters. Galatians 6:10 says As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
James 5:16 tells us to pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Notice that this scripture says to pray for others and not for yourself and Jesus will heal you. Most people pray for themselves. I pray in Jesus name we can learn to pray for others and preach the Lord Jesus. Right now Brother Bob prays for others instead of himself and says to all my friends everywhere get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Say every day I am crucified with Jesus Christ and covered by the blood of Jesus. Tell the devil the blood of Jesus has overcome and defeated you, evil must pass over me, and I am cleansed from all my sins.
Comparing The Two Sauls Of The Bible
King Saul And Saul (Paul)
Let's compare the two Sauls of the bible pictured above. In the first picture above, we see King Saul who refused to obey God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. Saul spared King Agag of the Amalekites with their sheep and oxen. As a result an Amelekite killed Saul and evil Haman the Agagite was born as a descendant from King Agag who persecuted Mordecai, Esther, and the Jews. Pictured above the prophet Samuel asks Saul at 1 Samuel 15:14 What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
The second picture shows us another Saul who became Paul who was on the road to Damascus to make prisoners of christians. Acts 9:3 says And as he (Saul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
The first King Saul remained stubborn all his life and continued to disobey God's command at 1 John 2:15 to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Saul chose to keep the material blessings of the Amelekites and sought counsel from a woman with a familiar spirit at Endor instead of serving and worshipping our Lord Jesus. The second Saul who later became Paul submitted to the Lord Jesus and became one of the most blessed preachers that lived on this earth who was inspired by God to write most of the bible.
The first Saul's stubbornness led to spiritism and suicide. The second Saul's submission led to a sanctified blessed eternal life. The first Saul started out with a crown and ended up with a cross of his own making. The second Saul started out by submitting to a cross and ended up with a crown. The first Saul died a suicide and lost a crown. The second Saul died a martyr and gained a crown.
The first Saul refused to humble himself and God demoted him. The second Saul humbled himself and God promoted him. The first Saul died on the road to Gilboa. The second Saul got blessed on the road to Damascus and became the beloved Paul. Two different roads from two different Sauls. What road are you traveling? The way of Saul or the way of Paul? Avoid King Saul's stubborn Gilboa Road and be changed to worship the Lord Jesus on the submissive Damascus Road with Paul.
Blessed Stories And Sayings To Make You Laugh And Smile
A preacher was eating dinner with a grandmother and her four year old little boy. When the preacher started picking at his food, the little boy said, "Preacher why won't you eat your food?" The preacher replied, "Son I have to preach tonight and I preach better when I don't eat." When the grandmother and the little boy went to hear the preacher, the preaching was boring and lousy. The little boy said to his grandmother, "He might as well went on and ate anyway."
A lousy boring preacher took an interpreter with him to China to hold revivals and save Chinese sinners. After preaching a lousy boring sermon, thousands of Chinese sinners came to the altar and got saved. A bystander asked the interpreter, "How can so many people get saved when the preaching is so lousy and boring?" The interpreter replied, "Me not tell them what the preacher said; Me tell them about Jesus." Jesus works in China. Jesus works in Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, and everywhere on this earth. Jesus is the door and the only way in to heaven.
Sin will take you farther than you plan to go
Keep you longer than you plan to stay and
Cost you more than you plan to pay
James 1:14 describes the blessed quote above. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Don't allow little tiny sins to create big trouble in your life. Every day continuously deny even the smallest sin. Ephesians 4:27 says Neither give place to the devil. Galatians 5:9 says A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Don't allow a tiny sin that you know is wrong to ruin your testimony for Jesus and create trouble in your life. Continuously deny even the smallest sin daily to experience peace.
Note the following two scriptures telling us to avoid tiny sin to prevent big trouble. Song of Solomon 2:15 says Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. And Ecclesiastes 10:1 says Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Some Blessed Thoughts About Eutychus
Here's some blessed thoughts about Eutychus (his name means fortunate) who fell into a deep sleep in a window while Paul was preaching a four hour sermon until midnight and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. Then Paul raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:7-12). The reason Eutychus fell out of the window was because he was more out in the world than he was in the church. We are all in a window sill spiritually. We're either tilted in more or tilted out more. If Eutychus was tilted in more, he would have only fallen 3 feet into the church and lived. But Eutychus was tilted out more and too far into the world and fell three floors down and died.
There are two morals we learn from the story about Eutychus. First, if you fall into a deep sleep in the church, you'll be dead in no time. Second, the reason his name was Eutychus: You'd have cussed too if you had to listen to a four hour sermon.
1) Don't open any emails from the Hormel Company: They might be spam.
2) What did Adam say to Eve the day before Christmas? It's Christmas Eve.
3) True saints are the faithful minority trying to reach the unfaithful majority on the inside of the church and the unbelieving multitude on the outside of the church.
4) When God says Go and saints say No the next word is Woe. But when God says Go and saints go, the next word is Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
5) An Indian was trying to make smoke signals with a blanket one day and an atomic bomb went off ten miles down the road with a big mushroom cloud. Immediately, the Indian rose up, folded up his blanket, and said, "I wish I'd said that."
6) A mother and father 100 years ago had a son that they named Odd. When Odd became an adult, he told his friends that when he was buried he wanted no name placed on his tombstone. He didn't want people to know that his name was Odd. After Odd died, a hundred years later when people passed by his tombstone with no name, they said Man that's Odd.
2) What did Adam say to Eve the day before Christmas? It's Christmas Eve.
3) True saints are the faithful minority trying to reach the unfaithful majority on the inside of the church and the unbelieving multitude on the outside of the church.
4) When God says Go and saints say No the next word is Woe. But when God says Go and saints go, the next word is Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
5) An Indian was trying to make smoke signals with a blanket one day and an atomic bomb went off ten miles down the road with a big mushroom cloud. Immediately, the Indian rose up, folded up his blanket, and said, "I wish I'd said that."
6) A mother and father 100 years ago had a son that they named Odd. When Odd became an adult, he told his friends that when he was buried he wanted no name placed on his tombstone. He didn't want people to know that his name was Odd. After Odd died, a hundred years later when people passed by his tombstone with no name, they said Man that's Odd.
7) When Joshua took over Jericho we saw a heritage to be received (Jericho), a hindrance to be removed (the devil), and a helper to be recognized (the Lord Jesus).
8) God's beauty recipe for women: Truth for the lips, praise for the voice, pity for the eyes, charity for the hands, uprightness for the figure, and love for the heart. The prescription will be filled without expense and the supply will be increased with continual use.
9) When the assembly of the anyones imagine that they're the only ones they forget their obligation to everyone.
Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning,
Confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel
That Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again
Good stuff Brother Bob. Very encouraging!
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