Saints for today's bible lesson, I want you to look at the above picture and learn that Jesus is the true gift. Now in order to receive Jesus as your gift we all must not pay or use our own works to earn Jesus as a gift. To properly receive a gift, just take Jesus as Lord by faith into your hearts today by confessing Jesus as God and believe that Jesus died for you on the cross and rose again and be saved.
Now let's all take a close look at the word grace that blesses a person as they receive the gift Jesus. First notice that grace comes from Jesus. This is proven by the following bible scriptures defining Jesus as the gift of grace. Romans 5:15 says But, not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 1 Corinthians 1:3 says Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.
Now what Brother Bob is going to do is give you many examples in the word of God proving that grace is not received by good deeds and works and that grace is received by pure faith only in the Lord Jesus. Ephesians 2:8 tells us For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. Notice in the above picture Martha (who is standing) is trying to earn grace by good deeds as she serves Jesus. But Mary (who is sitting in the above picture) receives the grace of Jesus by sitting and receiving Jesus by faith with no good deeds. Jesus always received and blessed sinners who did not proudly boast in their works. DL Moody wrote the difference between Martha and Mary was that Martha was trying to do something for the Lord and Mary was just taking something from Him as a gift.
As you look at the picture above meditate on the story of Mary and Martha recorded at Mark 10:40 that states But, Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (Note when we like Mary take time for Jesus persecutions come from people around us but Jesus will rescue us and deliver us). Mark 10:41 further states And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But, one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
As we all look at the picture above of the pharisee and the publican, note that the publican in the background received the gift of grace by stating God be merciful to me a sinner. The pharisee in the front of the picture did not obtain grace or justification because he boasted in his good deeds by saying I fast twice in the week and I give tithes of all that I possess. The story of the pharisee and the publican is found at Luke 18:10 and says Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Note the publican in the background received the gift of grace and was justified by confessing his sins and receiving Jesus by faith. DL Moody wrote the grace of Jesus will save a wretch on the borders of hell and make him an inhabitant of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus will always be a friend to a repentant sinner and speak against haughty pharisee hypocrites. But, poor, humble, and penitent sinners can always come to Jesus and find grace. Saint reading this anywhere, Jesus told me to tell you that if you confess your sins now to Jesus and say Lord Jesus come in my heart, the blood of Jesus will forever remove your guilty sins whether they be murder, rape, and all past wicked deeds.
My good friend David Berkowitz, a former serial killer who murdered six women and burned over 200 buildings confessed Jesus as his Lord in 1987 and the blood of Jesus removed all of David's past sins. Today, I am honored to say that David Berkowitz, the former Son of Sam is a true christian and a very close friend to Brother Bob and David writes me weekly with encouraging scriptures. A lot of these anointed writings in Brother Bob's book for Jesus come from the pen of David Berkowitz.
Now yet another picture above proving that the gift of grace is received by people that receive Jesus by faith, worshipping Jesus as God. Pictured above is the woman of Canaan who confessed to Jesus that she was a sinful dog, willing to just eat a crumb from the bread of life Jesus. Brother Bob is honored to admit that in myself I also am a sinful dog willing to just take one crumb of a blessing from the Lord Jesus. Like the woman of Canaan, let us all continue to worship and praise Jesus in all circumstances, confessing our sins, as we all receive the free gift of grace from Jesus.
The story of the woman of Canaan's faith is recorded at Matthew 15:22 and says And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David, my daughter is grieviously vexed with a devil. But He answered her not a word. And his disciples came, and besought Him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me. But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth Lord yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, Great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Now in conclusion, take a little time to meditate on the following two bible verses that prove that by faith in the Lord Jesus and not good works does a person receive the gift of grace from Jesus. Romans 4:5 says But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Titus 3:5 says Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Everyone, isn't the above picture precious of how a little girl searched for Jesus and found Jesus because Jesus also was searching for the little girl. Friend in any nation, as you look at the above picture, be encouraged and keep seeking for Jesus for Jesus is seeking for you. I'll prove this by two bible verses below. First Isaiah 55:6 says Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near. But, as we seek Jesus, Jesus seeks us for Luke 19:10 says For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Another scripture that proves as we seek Jesus, Jesus seeks us is James 4:8 that says Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. And the prophet Jeremiah gave us all the formula and solution for finding Jesus by stating seek for Jesus with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 says And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. King Solomon also told us a formula and way to seek Jesus and stated at Proverbs 8;17 I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me. Notice we are told at 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. Praying and seeking are different. Pray at all times morning, noon, and night. But to find Jesus, seek Jesus early in the morning. I guarantee if you wake up a half hour earlier than your normal wake up time and seek Jesus, you will find Jesus.
One final picture for today friends as I encourage all my friends to live peaceably with everyone. In the picture above we see a man arguing and suing someone in court and not just taking the wrong. As christians, Jesus tells us it is better to lie down at night in peace and take the wrong, instead of spending years in a bitter lawsuit winning money that will just eventually disappear. 1 Corinthians 6:7 says Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded.
2 Timothy 3:12 tells us Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Brother Bob will testify that there has been numerous occasions where Brother Bob had the opportunity to sue someone in court and win but chose to bless his enemies and take the wrong. I rejoice to tell all my friends that it is better to have peace and sleep with joy every night than to be burdened with the stress of a bitter lawsuit for years. Ecclesiastes 5:12 says The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Remember Romans 12:18 says If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
As always, I've enjoyed writing this bible study today. 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 our next meeting soon, keep lifting up our Lord Jesus and bless the name of Jesus.
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