Serve Jesus And Ignore Troubles Around You

     Friends everywhere, Brother Bob starts out today's bible study by asking you all to be like the Apostle Paul pictured above and be willing to lose your life and leave this world and everything for the Lord Jesus. In the above picture the prophet Agabus is warning Paul that if Paul goes to Jerusalem, he will be bound in his hands and feet and delivered to the Gentiles. Wow, Paul responds to Agabus and says I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Matthew 10:39 says He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Philippians 3:8 says Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

     The story about the above picture can be found at Acts 21:10 and says And as we tarried there many days, there came down fro Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered,, what mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

      Like Paul, Brother Bob had the same experience at age 21. I was told by all my Jewish family that if I preached and talked about Jesus that my entire Jewish family would have nothing to do with me. Hallelujah, at the age of 21, Brother Bob was willing to leave everything, family, money and this world for Jesus. And for 42 years Jesus has taken care of Brother Bob and met all of Brother Bob's needs. Mark 8:36 tells us For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Everyone is seeking to obtain a reward, but the true reward is Jesus and I claim in Jesus name that all who read this forevermore will seek the true reward Jesus while they leave everything in this world. Jesus said at Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

     OK, the above picture is of a hero to Brother Bob named Moses who like Brother Bob left family, money and everything for Jesus. Now friend reading this in any country, if you are like Brother Bob and have left everything for Jesus, I claim in Jesus name the promise of Mark 10:29-30. In Jesus name you will receive hundredfold now houses, lands, brethren, sisters, mothers, and children with persecutions. Mark 10:29-30 says And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

     Wow, do you realize in the above picture Moses left all the treasures of Egypt and the prospect of becoming the chief ruler or Pharoah over Egypt and chose to follow Jesus, suffering affliction with the people of God. Hebrews 11:24 tells us By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt (double straits or distresses or difficulties), not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

     Saint reading this anywhere, in Jesus name be like Moses and heed to Jesus' instructions to lay up treasures in heaven by blessing and caring for the poor around us. Matthew 6:19 says Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Jesus told us at Mark 10:21 to have treasure in heaven give to the poor and give your tithe and offering to the storehouse called the treasure house in heaven. Luke 10:7 tells us that the labourer is worthy of his hire and pastors and preachers should be blessed financially, but the true tithe and offering should go to the poor (the true storehouse spoken of at Malachi 3:10).

     Moses chose to obtain the everlasting inheritance of heaven instead of the fading treasures of Egypt. It's interesting to note that the word Egypt in Greek is called double straits or distresses or difficulties. You see if Moses chose the fading treasures of Egypt, Moses also would have received double distresses. 1 Timothy 6:10 says For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Hallelujah, Moses avoided the double distresses from the treasures of Egypt, and chose the everlasting inheritance from Jesus in heaven. 1 Peter 1:3 says Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from  the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

     Now, take a look at the above picture of how Jacob continued to hold on to the angel and believed Jesus would bless him even though the hollow of his thigh was out of joint. Saints everywhere, we all should be like Jacob and ignore the troubles around us and keep serving Jesus seeking to bless those around our lives. Galatians 6:9 tells us And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. The story about the above picture is stated at Genesis 32:25 and says And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Jacob continued to praise Jesus through difficulties and troubles and reminds Brother Bob of Job who said at Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him.

     Saint reading this anywhere notice the title of this message called serve Jesus and ignore troubles around you. Brother Bob will now proceed to give you many bible scriptures that tell us to ignore the troubles of this world and serve Jesus daily. Luke 9:62 says And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Get saved today and repent, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died for you on the cross, was buried, and rose again. Don't look back to your former life in this world. Luke 17:32 gives us all a warning and says Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. Lot's wife lost her life and turned into a pillar of salt for looking back and desiring the perishing world. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.

     It's amazing to Brother Bob that some saints will let a little trouble around them stop them from serving Jesus. I claim in Jesus name that Jesus will bless all those reading this bible study with strength and perseverance to continue to serve Jesus and overcome any trouble around them. If you find yourself complaining about the troubles around you because you serve Jesus, take a look at how the saints in history continued to serve Jesus and ignored many troubles listed at Hebrews 11:33.

     Hebrews 11:33 says Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions (speaking of Daniel), Quenched the violence of fire (the three Hebrew boys), escaped the edge of the sword (David when he escaped Saul's sword), out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured (Jeremiah placed in stocks and in a miry dungeon), not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment (Paul and Silas): They were stoned (Stephen), they were sawn asunder (history records that the prophet Isaiah was sawn asunder), were tempted, were slain with the sword (James was slain by Herod's sword): they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

     All these saints of history listed above looked to the future blessings of Jesus and ignored the troubles of this world. Hebrews 11:13 says These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hallelujah, now all these saints of Hebrews 11:33 have eternal peace with the true reward and treasure Jesus in the everlasting kingdom.

     John Bunyan in 1669 while in prison writing for Jesus stated shall the world venture the damnation of their souls for a poor corruptible crown; and shall not we venture the loss of a few trifles for an eternal crown. Hebrews 12:1 tells us Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 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. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

     Read Romans 8:35 and realize that Jesus is constantly with you irregardless of all the troubles listed below. Romans 8:35 says Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake, we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, or things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

     Notice the above picture of Noah's ark with one window at the top of the ark. You might ask Why did Jesus instruct Noah to only place one window at the top of the ark? The reason is because Jesus wants us to be like Noah and not look to the east, west, or south at the world or the trouble around us, but keep looking up to Jesus for our blessings. 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 our Lord Jesus. The bible verse that relates to the picture of Noah above is Genesis 6:16 and says A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

     Psalm 24:7 says Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah. 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. Luke 21:28 says And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

     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) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.