Where Are You Looking?

     Today, I ask the question Where are you looking? If you look around it's bad; if you look back it's worse; but if you look up and lift up your head to the Lord Jesus, things are looking pretty good. In other words The outlooks bad, the downlooks worse, but the uplook is looking pretty good. And if you have the right uplook, you'll have the right outlook and win souls to Jesus. Pictured above, our Lord Jesus said at Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else. In other words, look at Jesus who is God crucified daily to be saved all the ends of the earth. It's simple friends; just a look of faith at Jesus crucified on the cross will save you.  Right now, get saved and repent, stop sinning, make Jesus your God, and believe daily that Jesus died for you on the cross, was buried, and rose again.   

      In the second picture we remember that Moses placed a brasen serpent on a pole for the people to look at to be healed after the serpent devil bit them. All the people had to do was to look by faith at the brasen serpent on the pole to be saved and healed. And Jesus said at John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up (Jesus was lifted up on a cross). In other words Jesus told us to look by faith daily at the cross to receive victory and healing over any trouble. Note that Jesus said at John 12:32-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death he should die (proving that Jesus was lifted up from the earth when he died on the cross for our sins).  Friend, Jesus is saying all you have to do is look by faith at Jesus crucified instead of a brasen serpent on a pole to be saved and healed. 

     And notice that Isaiah 45:22 speaks to all the ends of the earth saying Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else. This offer of salvation is to the backside of China, to the outpost of Russia, to the North Pole, to the South Pole, to the east, and to the west. No nation or nationality is excluded from God's salvation. Just look by faith with your heart to Jesus crucified as God to be saved (not to Allah, Buddah, Gandhi, Confucious, or Mohammed who are all dead). Look to Jesus our God who is alive forevermore to be saved. And notice that the prophet Isaiah said that there is no other God (none else) to save you beside Jesus. Acts 4:12 tells us Neither is there salvation is any other, for there is none other name (Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.   

     Remember don't look around to people to get blessed. It's discouraging to look to any person for a blessing. Keep your eyes on Jesus and off the people. 2 Corinthians 10:12 warns us 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. Instead, look up to Jesus your redemption for your blessing. Luke 21:28 pictured above tells us And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption (Jesus) draweth nigh.

     When anyone says why can't I have the same blessing as my neighbor or coworker and be equally treated it's discouraging. Instead look up to Jesus who can bless you greater than any man. Remember Psalm 75:6 says For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south (this means no man or attorney to the east or west around you and no devil to the south under you can bless you). But God is the judge (north above your head) (All blessings come from our Lord Jesus), He putteth down one, and setteth up another. Be still and let Jesus as your Lord fight your battles. Right now say Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

     Let's get our eyes off earthly things and look at Jesus saying Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth. Right now look up to the hills and as you look up you'll see our Lord Jesus because Psalm 121:1 says I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

     OK, let's join the two pictures above and say Titus 2:12-13  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Notice the two bold words live looking and say I need to live looking for the blessed hope that is the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus in the clouds that we will soon see when we are caught up to live with Him in the clouds in the air forever in peace. Friend, are you rejoicing in this blessed hope? Romans 5:1-2 tells us to rejoice in this blessed hope saying Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus. By whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in (the blessed) hope of the glory of God (when Jesus appears in the clouds during the rapture of the saints).

     We should be looking for the Christ and not the antichrist. Most people reject the God who became a man named Jesus and will soon believe a man who claims to be God called the antichrist. Hebrews 12:2 is yet another scripture that tells us to look to Jesus crucified and says Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Look unto Jesus and be blessed because John 6:40 says And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son (and looks at Jesus crucified by faith) and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

     Like Moses, we should look by faith at our invisible Lord Jesus and not be afraid of our enemies around us. We overcome fear by looking to Jesus Christ crucified that is perfect love. 1 John 4:18 says There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. Jesus Christ crucified is perfect love that casteth out fear because Jesus is perfect and no greater love is there than when Jesus died on the cross for us as His friends (John 15:13). If you look by faith to Jesus crucified when you face your enemies you will not be afraid. Also if you have to speak before large numbers of people, try looking to Jesus Christ crucified and you will not be afraid or nervous because perfect love (Jesus Christ crucified) casts out all fear. 

     And when you look to Jesus Christ crucified it's impossible to think a bad thought because the blood of Jesus blocks the devil from putting any bad thoughts in your head. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought (all bad thoughts) to the obedience of Christ (by seeing the bad thought crucified with Jesus). Try looking to Jesus Christ crucified by faith and I guarantee you that it is impossible to think a bad thought when you see Jesus Christ crucified by faith.

      Greater is He (Jesus) that is within us than he that is in the world. Hebrews 11:27 says By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing Him (Jesus) who is invisible. Today claim Proverbs 28:1 and say The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion. I ain't chasin the devil and my enemies, but they run away anyway. Right now rejoice and say Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

      Like Moses, don't look at earthly things that you see but look at Jesus who you don't see and be blessed. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. The things on this earth are temporary and pass away but Jesus and the Word of God are eternal and last forever.

     Instead of the fading riches of this world that we see, choose Jesus and the eternal riches in the kingdom that are not seen. Just think about this; We'll be walking on a street of pure gold transparent glass surrounded by the precious rainbow gemstones in the foundation of the kingdom living in our own mansions that last forever. And the riches of this earth won't even be remembered when Jesus burns up and destroys this earth with just the brightness of His face before He creates new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). Revelation 20:11 tells us And I saw a great white throne, and Him (Jesus) that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 

     Friends, just look at Jesus crucified and receive the peace that passeth all understanding. It's better to have peace with Jesus when you sleep at night and all through the day than all the money and earthly treasures of this world. Hebrews 2:8 says But now we see not yet all things put under Him (Jesus). But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. In other words, it's good enough to just look at Jesus crucified by faith now and soon we will be rewarded when we as joint heirs with Jesus see the devil and all our enemies placed under our feet. Romans 16:20 promises And the God of peace (Jesus) shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

     Take heed to the warning stated at Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. They asked my friend Billy Mitchell what's worse TV or radio. Billy said TV is worse than radio because the bible mentions the lust of the eyes and not the lust of the ears. If David just heard the pouring of water, he wouldn't have committed adultery with Bathsheba. But David saw Bathsheba bathing with his eyes and committed adultery and killed Bathsheba's husband Uriah. Instead, let's say Psalm 16:8 I will set the Lord (The Word Of God) always before me. Truly Lord Jesus your Word is Spirit and it is life. Live looking daily to Jesus crucified and the Word of God.

     Isaiah 26:3 promises Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord (Jesus) for ever; for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength (strength is defined as Rock) (In other words the Lord Jesus is the everlasting Rock of Ages). Truly let's claim the promises of Psalm 18:2 and say The Lord (Jesus) is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

     I pray in Jesus name that this bible studies blesses multitudes with 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) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day.